Abortion: Congress approved P.L. 115-23, a resolution to repeal a regulation that prevented states from withholding Title X federal family planning funds from organizations that provide abortions (March 2017).
Child Protection: Congress approved P.L. 115-82, the Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology to
Eradicate Cyber Threats to (PROTECT) Our Children Act (October 2017).
DNA Backlog: In August 2017, Congress passed P.L. 115-50, the Rapid DNA Act. The measure would
integrate innovations to improve the testing of DNA in crimes.
Domestic Violence: The Senate passed S. Res. 320, a resolution “supporting the goals and ideals of
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month” (November 2017).
Food and Drug Administration: Congress passed P.L. 115-52, the Food and Drug Administration Reauthorization Act (August 2017). The bill would extend the FDA’s authority to collect user fees on prescription drugs, medical devices, and biosimilar products.
Health Care: In January, Congress approved S. Con. Res. 3, a budget resolution for FY2018 through FY2026. The nonbinding budget blueprint sets forth federal spending limits for FY2017 and includes provisions that begin the process of repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-
148), also known as Obamacare.
The Senate passed S. Res. 45, a resolution designating February 2017 as “American Heart Month” and February 3, 2017 as “National Wear Red Day” (February 2017).
Human Trafficking: In December 2017, Congress passed S. 1532, the No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act.
Congress approved P.L. 115-99, the Combatting Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act (December 2017).
The Senate passed S. Res. 68, a resolution raising awareness of modern-day slavery (March 2017).
International: Congress passed P.L. 115-56, the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act, as part of a package to fund the government, extend the statutory debt limit, and provide funding for recovery from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The READ Act amends the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961 to coordinate educational programs to improve basic education for women and girls (September 2017).
Congress approved P.L. 115-68, the Women, Peace, and Security Act (September 2017). The House had approved an earlier version of the bill (H.R. 2484) in June 2017.
The Senate approved S. Res. 84, a resolution recognizing International Women’s Day (March 2017).
In May 2017, the Senate passed S. Res. 149, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of World Malaria Day.
The House passed H. Res. 187, a resolution relating to the efforts to respond to the famine in South Sudan (April 2017).
Military: Congress approved the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 115-91) (November 2017). The measure contains several provisions regarding military sexual assault, health care, and child care. The bill also incorporates provisions of H.R. 2052, the Protecting the Rights of Individuals Against
Technological Exploitation (PRIVATE) Act.
The Senate approved S. Res. 112, which designates April 5, 2017, as “Gold Star Wives Day” (April 2017).
Reproductive Health: The Senate passed S. Res. 336, a resolution recognizing the seriousness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and designating September 2018 as “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness Month.”
“Rosie the Riveter”: In March 2017, the Senate approved S. Res. 76, a resolution designating March 21 as “National Rosie the Riveter Day.”
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): In February 2017, Congress passed P.L. 115-5, the Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act.
Congress approved P.L. 115-6, the Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act (February 2017).
Sexual Assault: Congress approved S. 1766, the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting (SAFER) Act of 2017 (December 2017).
Sexual Harassment: The Senate passed S. Res. 330, a resolution mandating anti-harassment training for Senators and officers, employees, and interns of, and detailees to, the Senate (November 2017).
The House passed H. Res. 630, requiring mandatory sexual harassment training for all Members, officers, and employees of the House of Representatives (November 2017).
Tax Policy: Congress approved P.L. 115-97, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (December 2017). The measure contains provisions regarding the child tax credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
Violence Against Women: The Senate passed S. Res. 41, a resolution to increase awareness and prevention of stalking by designating January 2017 as “National Stalking Awareness Month” (February 2017).
The Senate approved S. Res. 60, a resolution designating May 5, 2017, as the “National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls” (May 2017).
The Senate approved S. Res. 159, a resolution recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (May 2017).
Abortion: The House approved H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act (January 2017).
The House passed H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (October 2017).
Breastfeeding: The House approved H.R. 1174, the Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act (March 2017).
Child Protection: The Senate approved S. 860, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (August 2017). The House approved H.R. 1809, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act (May 2017). The bills contain provisions to address the needs of girls in, or at risk of entering, the juvenile justice system.
The Senate passed the Child Protection Improvement Act (S. 705) in October 2017. The House approved H.R. 695, its version of the Child Protection Improvement Act (May 2017). The measures would require background checks for those who have access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities as
part of their employment.
The Senate approved S. 534, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act (November 2017).
The House approved H.R. 883, the Targeting Child Predators Act (May 2017).
In May 2017, the House passed H.R. 1188, the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act. The legislation would reauthorize several sex offender registry programs.
The House approved H.R. 1761, the Protecting Against Child Exploitation Act (May 2017).
The House approved H.R. 1808, the Improving Support for Missing and Exploited Children Act (May 2017).
In May 2017, the House approved H.R. 1842, the Strengthening Children’s Safety Act. The measure would increase penalties for sex offenders who fail to register in their states.
The House approved H.R. 1862, the Global Child Protection Act (May 2017). The legislation seeks to address the issue of child “sex tourism.”
In May 2017, the House passed its version of the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act (H.R. 1973).
The House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 4203, the Combat Online Predators Act (November 2017).
Education: The House Education and the Workforce Committee passed H.R. 4508, the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act. The bill would reauthorize the Higher Education Opportunity Act (P.L. 110-315) and contains provisions to address campus sexual assault.
Employment: The House passed H.R. 653, the Federal Intern Protection Act (May 2017). The legislation would protect interns in the federal government from sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace.
The House approved H.R. 1180, the Working Families Flexibility Act (May 2017). The bill would entitle employees to comp time in lieu of overtime.
The House approved H.R. 338, a bill to promote a 21st century energy and manufacturing workforce (June 2017). The legislation would prioritize education and training for energy and manufacturing related jobs. Such training would include outreach programs to increase the number of women and minorities trained to enter energy and manufacturing sectors.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved H.R. 680, the Eliminating Pornography from Agencies Act (March 2017).
Family Support: The House Financial Services Committee approved H.R. 4258, the Family SelfSufficiency Act (November 2017).
Global Health: The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved H.R. 1415, the End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act (November 2017).
Health Care: The House approved H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act (AHCA). The bill contains provisions to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) (P.L. 111-148), commonly known as “Obamacare” (May 2017).
The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved H.R. 3922, the Community Health and Medical Professionals Improve Our Nation (CHAMPION) Act (October 2017). The bill would extend federal funding for several programs, including the Community Health Centers, Family-to-Family Health Information Centers, Youth Empowerment, and Personal Responsibility Education (PREP) programs.
Human Trafficking: In September 2017, the Senate approved S. 1311, the Abolish Human Trafficking Act.
The Senate approved S. 1312, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (September 2017).
The House approved H.R. 1625, the Targeted Rewards for the Global Eradication of Human Trafficking (TARGET) Act (May 2017).
In July 2017, the House passed H.R. 2200, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Reauthorization Act.
The House approved H.R. 2473, the Enforcing Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (May 2017).
The House approved H.R. 2480, the Empowering Law Enforcement to Fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act (July 2017).
The House passed H.R. 2664, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act (July 2017).
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved S. 1848, the Trafficking Victims Protection (TVPA) Reauthorization Act (September 2017).
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved S. 1847, the Homeland Security for Children Act (October 2017). The bill contains a provision to protect children from human trafficking.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and transportation passed S. 1693, the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) (November 2017).
The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved H.R. 767, the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond (SOAR) to Health and Wellness Act (July 2017). The legislation would train health care providers to identify victims of human trafficking.
In November 2017, the House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 3249, the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act. The measure contains provisions to address human trafficking by gangs.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved H.R. 3813, the Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act (November 2017). Congress approved the Senate version of this bill in December 2017.
In November 2017, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also approved H.R. 3814, the No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act. Congress approved the Senate version of this bill in December 2017.
The House Financial Services and Foreign Affairs Committees approved H.R. 2219, the End Banking for Human Traffickers Act (December 2017). The bill would combat money laundering by human traffickers.
The House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 1865, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 (December 2017).
International: The House approved H.R. 600, the Digital Global Access Policy (GAP) Act. Among other provisions, the measure would encourage developing countries to improve gender equality with regard to access to the Internet (January 2017).
The House approved H.R. 2408, the Protecting Girls’ Access to Education Act (October 2017).
The House approved H. Con. Res. 90, a resolution condemning violence committed against the Rohingya (December 2017). The resolution addresses acts of violence, including the rape of women and girls, committed against the ethnic minority in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) and MCA (Millennium Challenge Act) Modernization Act (October 2017). Among other provisions, the bill would promote the role of women in sub-Saharan Africa.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved H.R. 3445, its version of the AGOA and MCA Modernization Act (September 2017).
Maternal Health: The House passed H.R. 315, the Improving Access to Maternity Care Act (January 2017).
The House approved H.R. 2824, the Increasing Opportunity through Evidence-Based Home Visiting Act (September 2017). The bill would extend the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.
Military: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved S. 1129, the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act. Among other provisions, the bill would address parental leave (May 2017).
State Department: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved S. 1631, the FY2018 Department of State Authorization Act. Among other provisions, the bill would authorize the Office of Global Women’s Issues within the State Department (July 2017).
STEM: The House passed H.R. 382, the 100 years of Women in Congress Act (March 2017). The measure recognizes Rep. Jeannette Rankin (R-MT), the first woman elected to Congress in 1916, as a pioneer for women in politics and science and would allow grants to promote women and minorities in science,
technology, engineering, and math.
The House approved H.R. 4254, the Women in Aerospace Education Act (December 2017).
In December 2017, the House passed H.R. 4375, the STEM Research and Education Effectiveness and Transparency Act. The measure contains a provision to study broadening participation of women and other underrepresented individuals in certain National Science Foundation research and education programs.
TANF: The House passed H.R. 2842, the Accelerating Individuals into the Workforce Act. The legislation would establish an employment demonstration project for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients to help low-income individuals enter into and retain employment.
Veterans: In July 2017, the House approved H.R. 95, the Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act.
The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health approved H.R. 907, the Newborn Care Improvement Act (April 2017).
The House Veterans Affairs Committee on Health approved H.R. 91, the Building Supportive Networks for Women Veterans Act (May 2017).
Violence Against Women: The House approved H.R. 3317, the Stopping Abusive Female Exploitation (SAFE) Act (December 2017).
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved S. 1870, the Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment (SURVIVE) Act (December 2017).
