United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2023
Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act or the DETERRENT Act This bill expands oversight and disclosure requirements related to foreign sources and institutions of higher education (IHEs). Specifically, the bill requires an IHE to annually disclose to the Department of Education (ED) any year in which the IHE receives a gift from a foreign country of concern (e.g., China or Russia) or foreign entity of concern of any dollar amount; receives a gift or contract from a foreign source (other than a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern) that is valued at $50,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts or contracts within a calendar year (current disclosure threshold is $250,000 or more), or which has an undetermined monetary value; enters into a contract with a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern after receiving a waiver for such contract; or is substantially controlled by a foreign source. Additionally, the bill prohibits IHEs from entering into contracts with a foreign country of concern or with a foreign entity of concern without obtaining a waiver, requires certain IHEs to disclose gifts or contracts between faculty members and foreign sources, and requires private IHEs with specified assets or investments to file annual investment disclosure reports. The bill authorizes ED to investigate possible violations of this bill and outlines the various penalties for each violation.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2023
This resolution states that the House of Representatives stands with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists, reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, and condemns Hamas' brutal war against Israel. The resolution also reaffirms the United States' commitment to Israel's security, supports emergency resupply and certain other types of assistance to Israel, and urges full enforcement of sanctions against Iran to prevent Iran's funding of terrorist groups.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2023
This resolution states that the House of Representatives stands with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists, reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, and condemns Hamas' brutal war against Israel. The resolution also reaffirms the United States' commitment to Israel's security, supports emergency resupply and certain other types of assistance to Israel, and urges full enforcement of sanctions against Iran to prevent Iran's funding of terrorist groups.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2023
FACE Act Repeal Act of 2023 This bill repeals provisions of federal criminal law that prohibit conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with persons who are seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2023
This resolution condemns the actions of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for violating the Second Amendment to the Constitution and depriving the citizens of New Mexico of their right to bear arms.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2023
CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act This bill prohibits a Federal Reserve bank from offering products or services directly to an individual, maintaining an account on behalf of an individual, or issuing a central bank digital currency (i.e., a digital dollar) directly or indirectly to an individual. Further, The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Open Market Committee are prohibited from using a central bank digital currency to implement monetary policy.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Thrifty Food Plan Accountability Act of 2023 This bill requires that, when the Department of Agriculture (USDA) reevaluates the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), the results of the reevaluation (1) be budget-neutral; and (2) only adjust the cost of the diet based on current standards (i.e., food price inflation, household size, and the cost of food in specific states). USDA created the TFP (the cost of purchasing a nutritionally adequate low-cost diet), which is used to determine maximum monthly benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). USDA calculates the cost of the TFP each year to account for food price inflation. Under a provision of the 2018 farm bill, USDA must reevaluate the contents of the TFP (i.e., the market basket of goods) every five years based on current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance. USDA last re-evaluated the TFP in 2021.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Paycheck Protection Act This bill prohibits federal agencies, including the U.S Postal Service, from deducting labor union dues, fees, or political contributions from employee pay. Under current law, an agency must deduct union dues upon receiving a request from an employee.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
This resolution supports the benefits veterans have earned through service and opposes any efforts to impose new fees or burdens on veterans for veterans benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
Personalized Care Act of 2023 This bill revises provisions relating to health savings accounts (HSAs), including to redefine eligible individual for HSA purposes to allow increased participation in HSAs, increase the limit on contributions to HSAs, permit the payment of health insurance premiums from HSAs, include within the definition of qualified medical expenses periodic fees paid for medical services and amounts paid by a member of a health care sharing ministry, treat periodic provider fees as deductible medical expenses, and lower the 20% penalty for nonqualified distributions from HSAs to 10%.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
Honey Identification Verification and Enforcement Act or the HIVE Act This bill directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish a standard of identity for honey based on U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) standards. (USP is an independent, scientific nonprofit organization whose work includes developing and publishing standards for food ingredients.) The FDA must submit a report to Congress on enforcement actions taken based on honey that is adulterated or misbranded. (A food is deemed misbranded and may not be sold if it does not meet the FDA-established definition and standard of identity.) Further, the bill modifies the Department of Agriculture country-of-origin labeling requirements for honey to require that the countries-of-origin be listed in order of predominance. The bill also establishes a requirement for including a certificate, mark, or statement on the label indicating that the honey meets the standard of identify established under this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
This bill nullifies requirements for a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of receiving certain immigration benefits (e.g., receiving a visa or obtaining lawful permanent resident status). Specifically, this bill nullifies such requirements imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Homeland Security.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Trucking Workforce Improvement Act This bill repeals the final rule of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that established new minimum training standards for entry-level commercial motor vehicle operators.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2023
Stopping Teachers Unions from Damaging Education Needs Today Act or the STUDENT Act This bill revises the federal charter for the National Education Association. The bill specifies that the corporation and its state and local affiliates may only accept payment of membership dues or fees from a state or local government employee if the employee (1) has been notified of the employee's right under the First Amendment to refrain from membership and payment of associated dues or fees, (2) has clearly and affirmatively consented to membership and payment of associated dues or fees, and (3) has authorized the transmittal of membership dues or fees without the use of payroll deduction. Further, the corporation and its state or local affiliates must process and honor cancellation requests for membership or payment of dues as soon as practicable following receipt of the request. The bill also outlines requirements for the corporation, such as prohibiting the corporation or its directors or officers from contributing to, supporting, or participating in political activities; requiring each officer of the corporation to be a U.S. citizen; requiring the corporation to submit annual reports to Congress; prohibiting the corporation and its affiliates from requiring staff, officers, affiliates, or members to affirm, adopt, or adhere to certain principles related to race or sex; and prohibiting the corporation and its affiliates from calling or participating in a strike, work stoppage, or slowdown affecting a state or local government. The bill repeals the corporation's exemption from District of Columbia property taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2023
Main Street Tax Certainty Act This bill makes permanent the tax deduction for qualified business income. (Under current law, the deduction expires after December 31, 2025.) Qualified business income is defined as the net amount of qualified items of income, gain, deduction and loss with respect to any trade or business, excluding capital gains or losses, dividends, interest income, or income earned outside the U.S.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2023
This resolution censures Representative Adam Schiff for conduct that misleads the American people and directs the Committee on Ethics to investigate that conduct.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2023
No Welfare for the Wealthy Act of 2023 This bill requires all households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to meet the program's income and asset requirements. Federal requirements generally provide two pathways for SNAP financial eligibility. A household may meet program-specific federal eligibility requirements, which include both income eligibility and an asset test. A household may also be automatically or categorically eligible for SNAP based on eligibility for or receiving cash benefits from other specified low-income assistance programs (e.g., Temporary Assistance for Needy Families [TANF]). Under this categorical eligibility, households that already meet financial eligibility rules in a program like TANF are not required to go through another financial eligibility determination in SNAP. Further, a majority of states also provide broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE), a policy that makes most households with an income below a certain threshold categorically eligible for SNAP. Under BBCE, these states typically make households categorically eligible through receiving or being authorized to receive a minimal non-cash TANF benefit or service (e.g., a pamphlet). A state may set its own BBCE financial eligibility requirements for a household so long as the income requirement is below a certain level. A state's requirements do not have to match SNAP program-specific eligibility requirements. For example, most states that provide BBCE do not have an asset test for SNAP eligibility. The bill requires all SNAP households, including those that qualify under categorical eligibility, to meet the SNAP program's income and asset requirements. These requirements take effect one year after the bill's enactment and do not apply to certification periods that begin before the effective date.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2023
Symmetry in Rules Act This bill prohibits the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from issuing a proposed rule or finalizing a rule that conflicts with an existing rule or another proposed rule. The SEC must also take a specific industry's costs of compliance with multiple rules into consideration before a rulemaking.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2023
Stop Government Overreach in Ranching Act This bill repeals the guidance that was issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 11, 2021, relating to over-the-counter (OTC) antimicrobial drugs for animals. The guidance provides information for sponsors of medically important antimicrobial new animal drug products who wish to change the status of these drugs from OTC to veterinary prescription, in accordance with the FDA's recommendation that these drugs be administered with veterinary oversight to reduce the possibility of antimicrobial resistance.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2023
This resolution condemns and censures Representative Adam Schiff for conduct that misleads the American people and directs the Committee on Ethics to investigate that conduct.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2023
Freights First Act This bill eliminates Amtrak's preference over freight transportation in using a rail line, junction, or crossing if such rail line, junction, or crossing is located within 50 miles of a port or rail yard. Currently, Amtrak's priority status does not apply if there is an emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2023
U.S.-Israel Partnership and Abraham Accords Enhancement Act of 2023 This bill modifies and extends certain authorities related to Israel. For example, the bill extends the authorization for the Department of Defense (DOD) to transfer certain defense items to Israel; extends the authorization to finance cooperative projects among the United States, Israel, and developing countries related to water resources, agriculture, and energy storage; extends energy cooperation and authorizes the Department of Energy to make grants to Israel to support advanced nuclear technologies, as well as for carbon capture, utilization, and storage; requires the U.S. Agency for International Development to ensure that applicants from Abraham Accord countries are eligible for Middle East Regional Cooperation grants; and requires the Department of State to report to Congress on U.S. diplomatic efforts to oppose politically motivated investigations against the United States and Israel at the International Criminal Court.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2023
Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum Act or the SHIP Act This bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions against foreign persons that knowingly transport, process, refine, or otherwise deal in petroleum and petroleum products originating in Iran. These sanctions also extend to certain foreign persons associated with the sanctioned individual, such as adult family members and any entities owned or controlled by the sanctioned individual.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act This bill prohibits federal funding of, or support for, state databases that list (1) firearms lawfully owned or possessed by individuals, or (2) individuals who lawfully own or possess firearms.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023
Stop TSP ESG Act This bill prohibits a qualified professional asset manager from exercising voting rights associated with the ownership of securities by the Thrift Savings Fund. Under current law, the term qualified professional asset manager includes certain banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, and investment advisers.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2023
Protecting America's Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act of 2023 This bill prohibits persons associated with the governments of Iran, North Korea, China, or Russia from purchasing or leasing agricultural land in the United States. Specifically, the President must prohibit any person (individual or entity) owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of these foreign governments from purchasing or leasing (1) public agricultural land that is owned by the United States and administered by a federal department or agency, or (2) private agricultural land that is located in the United States. A person that violates or attempts to violate this prohibition is subject to civil and criminal penalties. This prohibition does not require a person that owns or leases agricultural land as of the date of this bill's enactment to sell that land. Further, the President must prohibit a person associated with these foreign governments and who leases, or who has full or partial ownership of, agricultural land in the United States from participating in Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Exceptions are included to allow for participation in USDA programs related to food safety, the health and labor safety of individuals, or certain reporting and disclosure requirements. The restrictions established by the bill do not apply to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. The bill also amends the agriculture foreign investment disclosure reporting requirements to include reporting on security interests and leases. Finally, USDA must submit a report every two years on foreign ownership of agriculture land in the United States.
![Official portrait of Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b001316_200.jpg)