Category: Legislation

Federal news Bill passed H.R.133 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 [became Public Law No. 116-260 on 12/27/2020; View full text here] FY21 funding for relevant agencies are: $463,787,000 allocated to the National Library of Medicine (up from $456.9 million in FY20) $338,000,000 allocated to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (level with FY20 funding)…

Federal News Trump Administration Finalizes Rule Requiring Health Insurers to Disclose Price and Cost-Sharing Information [HHS.gov, 10/29/20] “Under this final rule, more than 200 million Americans with private-sector insurance (both individual-market and employer-based) will have access to a list of real-time price information, including cost-sharing, enabling them to know how much care will cost them…

Federal news S.2661 – National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 [became Public Law 116-172 on 10/17/2020] To designate 9-8-8 as the universal telephone number for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. S.785 – Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 [became Public Law 116-171 on 10/17/2020]…

Federal news Call for Action [MLAConnect, 9/29/2020] The MLA Governmental Relations Committee encourages members of the health sciences library community to share the statement, MLA/AAHSL Call for Transparency and Impartiality in the Dissemination of Health Information, with your elected officials. Help them understand how scientific evidence is being used to combat the CORONAVIRUS in your…

Federal News Senate Democrats block Republican Covid relief proposal [Politico, 9/10/2020] “Senate Democrats blocked a scaled-down, $500 billion Republican coronavirus relief measure Thursday, weakening the chances that Congress will approve another package before the November election.” (S.178) Pushing for Action on LSFA [American Libraries, 9/14/2020] “[The Library Stabilization Fund Act] (S. 4181/H.R. 7486) would establish…

Federal news S.2163 Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act [became Public Law 116-156 on 8/14/2020] Establishes the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys within the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Office of the Staff Director to conduct a systematic study of the conditions affecting Black men…

Federal news S.4091 Emergency Aid for Returning Americans Affected by Coronavirus Act [became Public Law 116-148 on 7/13/2020] Provides, “temporary assistance for U.S. citizens and their dependents who are returning from foreign countries due to a crisis and are without available resources,” including for medical care. The Latest on Broadband Bills [American Libraries, 7/15/2020] Bills…

From the ALA Public Policy & Advocacy Office: Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Representative Andy Levin (D-MI) are sponsoring legislation calling for $2 billion in economic recovery funding for America’s libraries through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Library Stabilization Fund Act would allow libraries across the country to retain staff, maintain…

Federal news Preparing for the Next Pandemic (comments submitted) [MLAConnect, 6/23/20] Black Caucus lays out legislative priorities for combating systemic racism [Roll Call, 7/1/20] SB4181/HB7486 The Library Stabilization Fund Act (informational flier) SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR CONGRESSPERSON [ALA Public Policy & Advocacy Office, 7/2/20] Operation Warp Speed’s opaque choices of COVID-19 vaccines draw Senate…