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 · 13 September 2023
Countering CCP Fentanyl Trafficking Act This bill requires the President to impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on Chinese officials determined to having assisted or approved the transportation of pill presses, fentanyl products, or fentanyl precursors to one or more Mexican drug cartels. The President may waive imposition of sanctions on a case-by-case basis upon determining that a waiver is in the national interest of the United States.
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 · 1 September 2023
Defending Students' Civil Rights Act of 2023 This bill prohibits federally funded programs or activities from being premised on certain principles relating to race or sex. Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of federal funds for programs or activities that are premised on principles such as that (1) one race or sex is inherently superior to another, (2) the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist, and (3) an individual bears responsibility for the past actions of others of the same race or sex. The bill includes the use of these principles as a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs or activities.
United States · United States Congress · 1 September 2023
Empowering Local Curriculum Act This bill specifies that nothing in federal education law shall be construed to require the use, teaching, promotion, or recommendation of any academic discipline, program, or activity that holds certain principles related to race or sex. These prohibited principles include, for example, that the United States is a nation founded on White supremacy and oppression; one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex; the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist; any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of the individual's race or sex; or meritocracy or traits such as hard work ethic are racist, sexist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 2023
Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act of 2023 This bill eliminates provisions that reduce Social Security retirement benefits for certain beneficiaries who are younger than full retirement age and who have outside income above a certain threshold, also known as the Retirement Earnings Test (RET). Under the RET, benefits are reduced for beneficiaries who are younger than full retirement age if they earn more than the annual limit ($21,240 for 2023). Withheld benefits are subsequently added to monthly benefits once the beneficiary reaches full retirement age.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 2023
Helping Understand Narcotics Traces at the Executive Residence Act of 2023 or the HUNTER Act of 2023 This bill requires the Secret Service to report on any illicit use of controlled substances at the White House.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 2023
This resolution condemns the decision of the Department of Education to prohibit the use of funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) for hunter, archery, and other shooting sports education programs in schools. The resolution also explicitly affirms that school programs that train students in archery, hunting, or other shooting sports are eligible for federal funding under the ESEA.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2023
Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act This bill authorizes the use of federal elementary and secondary education funds to purchase or use dangerous weapons for purposes of training students in archery, hunting, or other shooting sports. Current law prohibits the use of these funds to provide any person with a dangerous weapon or training in the use of a dangerous weapon. The bill specifies that this prohibition shall not apply to training students in archery, hunting, or other shooting sports.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Getting Over Lengthy Delays in Care As Required by Doctors Act of 2023 or the GOLD CARD Act of 2023 This bill exempts physicians from prior authorization requirements under Medicare Advantage plans with respect to specific items and services if at least 90% of the physician's requests for such items and services were approved during the previous plan year.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Preserving Safety Net Integrity Act of 2023 This bill enacts with the force and effect of law the final rule of the Department of Homeland Security titled Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds and published on August 14, 2019. The bill also nullifies the final rule issued by DHS titled Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility and published on September 9, 2022. The 2019 final rule made it more likely that a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) would be denied admission or lawful permanent resident status because that individual is likely to become a public charge (i.e., receive certain public benefits). The 2022 final rule nullified the 2019 final rule.
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 · 27 July 2023
This resolution condemns Iran for the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. It also urges the Biden Administration and U.S. allies to publicly condemn the massacre and to pressure Iran to provide information to the families of the victims.
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 · 19 July 2023
Community News and Small Business Support Act This bill allows certain small businesses and employers of journalists tax credits for advertising in local media and for the wages of not more than 1,500 local news journalists in any calendar quarter. Specifically, the tax credit for advertising in local media allows small businesses with less than 50 full-time employees a limited credit for the expense of advertising in a local newspaper, or in any licensed broadcast radio or television station that serves a local community. The credit for the wages of a local news journalist is a payroll tax credit that takes into account wages not exceeding $12,500 in any calendar quarter.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
No Taxpayer Funding For Climate Zealots Advancing Radical Schemes Act or the No Taxpayer Funding For CZARS Act This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for any activity of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.
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 · 11 July 2023
American Confidence in Elections Act or the ACE Act This bill addresses election administration and security, campaign finance, and other related provisions. Specifically, the bill directs the Election Assistance Commission's (EAC's) Standards Board and Local Leadership Council to issue voluntary considerations for states about various aspects of election administration. Additionally, the bill reduces certain election assistance payments for states and local jurisdictions that allow noncitizens to vote; requires states to provide designated congressional election observers with full access to observe the administration procedures of federal elections; prohibits federal agencies from using funds made available for salaries and expenses to solicit or enter into agreements with nongovernmental organizations to conduct voter registration or voter mobilization activities on the agency's property or website; prohibits federal funds for election administration for states that allow ballot harvesting, with exceptions; establishes various requirements for elections in the District of Columbia; makes various changes to the EAC; and prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions or donations in connection with state or local ballot initiatives or referenda. The bill also establishes the Twentieth Amendment Section Four Panel, which must recommend to Congress model legislation to resolve any vacancy created by the death of a candidate in a contingent presidential or vice-presidential election. The bill makes changes to campaign finance, including by (1) repealing limits on coordinated party expenditures, and (2) prohibiting federal funds from being used to make payments in support of a congressional election campaign. It also makes changes to the Federal Election Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023
Countering China’s Exploitation of Strategic Metals and Minerals and Child and Forced Labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Act This bill prohibits the importation of goods containing metals or minerals (particularly cobalt, lithium, and their derivatives) that are mined, produced, smelted, or processed by child labor or forced labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It also requires certain federal actions to address this issue. The prohibition does not apply if U.S. Customs and Border Protection (1) determines, based on clear and convincing evidence, that the goods were not made with child labor or forced labor; and (2) submits to Congress a report containing such a determination (and makes this report publicly available). The bill requires the President to annually report to Congress on each foreign person determined to have (1) knowingly engaged in child labor or forced labor in DRC's mining industry, and (2) knowingly engaged in efforts to contravene U.S. law regarding the importation of covered DRC goods. The President must impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions against each identified foreign person. The bill requires the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force to submit to Congress a report containing an enforcement strategy for effectively addressing child labor and forced labor in DRC's mining industry, the Department of State to submit to Congress a strategy for addressing child labor and forced labor in DRC's mining industry, and the U.S. Agency for International Development to increase efforts to prevent child labor and forced labor in DRC's mining industry.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023
Strengthening Manufactured Appliance Requirements towards Thoughtful Energy Efficiency Standards Act or the SMART Energy Efficiency Standards Act This bill modifies the date that regional energy efficiency standards established under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) apply to furnaces, central air conditioners, and heat pumps. EPCA applies the standard on the date such products are installed. The bill applies the standard on the date such products are manufactured or imported.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023
Access to Capital Creates Economic Strength and Supports Rural America Act or the ACCESS Rural America Act This bill increases the shareholder registration threshold for issuers (1) that did not issue securities in the previous fiscal year and do not intend to do so in the current fiscal year, and (2) that are receiving federal support to provide communication services to underserved areas. The bill also requires these issuers to make available certain financial information.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023
VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2023 or the VALID Act of 2023 The bill requires a Federal Housing Administration mortgage notice to contain comparative rate and fee information about loans available under the Department of Veterans Affairs home loan program.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2023
This bill designates the area between the intersections of International Drive, NW, and Van Ness Street, NW, and International Drive, NW, and International Place, NW, in Washington, DC, as Tiananmen Square Memorial Boulevard. The bill also specifies that the address of the Chinese embassy (3505 International Place, NW) shall be redesignated as 1 Tiananmen Square Memorial Boulevard.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2023
Falun Gong Protection Act This bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign persons that are knowingly responsible for, are complicit in, or have engaged in the involuntary harvesting of organs in China. The sanctions shall not apply to certain activities, such as authorized U.S. intelligence or law enforcement activities.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2023
Dillon's Law This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to give preference when awarding certain grants for preventive health service programs to states that (1) allow all trained individuals to administer epinephrine, and (2) provide civil liability protections related to that administration.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2023
Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 This bill addresses network access and competition in electronic credit transactions. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System must prohibit certain credit card issuers with assets of over $100 billion from restricting the number of networks on which electronic credit card transactions may be processed. These transactions must be able to be processed on at least two networks and must not be restricted to networks (1) owned by or affiliated with the issuer, (2) designated as a national security risk, or (3) that have the largest market share of credit cards issued. Additionally, credit card issuers are prohibited from imposing certain limitations on the routing of electronic credit transactions, such as through penalties for failure to meet a specified threshold of transactions on a particular payment card network. The board must also designate payment card networks that pose a security risk to the United States or are owned, operated, or sponsored by a foreign state entity.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2023
Asylum Claims Improvement Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from taking into account the mental health of a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) when determining whether that individual qualifies as a refugee. (Generally, a refugee is an individual who is unable to return to their country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of certain characteristics, such as race or religion.) The bill also prohibits DHS from taking into account a non-U.S. national's mental health when determining whether that individual is protected by a provision that generally prohibits removing an individual to a country where that individual's life or freedom would be threatened.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2023
Milk is Indisputably Liked by Kids Act of 2023 or the MILK Act of 2023 This bill revises requirements for milk provided by the National School Lunch Program of the Department of Agriculture. Currently, schools participating in the program may provide lactose-free and flavored and unflavored milk. Under the bill, these schools must offer students flavored milk and maintain the discretion to offer lactose-free milk and unflavored milk.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2023
No Free TRIPS Act This bill prohibits the U.S. government from negotiating or concluding any withdrawal from or modification to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) without explicit authorization from Congress. The TRIPS Agreement is one of several international agreements that led to the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In October 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several WTO members proposed a waiver of some TRIPS obligations, including obligations related to national patent laws.
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 · 31 May 2023
Guaranteeing Robust Agricultural Independence and Nutrition for America Act or the GRAIN for America Act This bill establishes a one-year moratorium on the enrollment of land in the Conservation Reserve Program, with a specified exception for land that is already subject to a contract under the program. It also prohibits the Department of Agriculture from enrolling prime farmland in the program. Additionally, the bill allows a participant who has entered into a contract under the program to terminate the contract at any time during the one-year period preceding the date on which the contact would expire.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2023
Transnational Repression Policy Act This bill seeks to reduce transnational repression (the actions of foreign governments to intimidate, silence, or harm members of diaspora and exile communities to prevent them from exercising their human rights). This bill requires the President to impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on certain foreign persons (individuals and entities) that directly engage in transnational repression. This bill also requires the Department of State to develop a strategy to promote initiatives that (1) enhance international awareness of transnational repression; (2) address transnational repression, including by raising the costs of perpetrating repressive activities and by protecting targeted individuals and groups; and (3) conduct outreach to those targeted by foreign governments. Additionally, the State Department and the Department of Justice must provide training to certain individuals (e.g., relevant federal employees and law enforcement partners) on specified aspects of transnational repression. The bill also directs the intelligence community to prioritize, to the extent feasible, the identification of those perpetrating transnational repression against communities in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2023
Protecting Federal Funds from Human Trafficking and Smuggling Act of 2023 This bill prohibits a nonprofit entity from receiving federal funds (and denies a tax exemption) unless the entity certifies compliance with certain federal laws (e.g., laws with respect to human trafficking and smuggling). The bill also establishes reporting requirements, including that the Government Accountability Office must annually report to Congress on those nonprofit entities that do not certify their compliance with these laws. Finally, the bill removes the provision of federal law that exempts nonprofit charitable organizations that provide federal public benefits from having to verify the eligibility of program participants.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Supporting All Producers Act of 2023 or the SAP Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to solicit input from maple industry stakeholders with respect to the research and education priorities of the maple industry for the Acer Access and Development Program (Acer). Specifically, the bill amends Acer to require USDA to consider the information provided through consultation with the maple industry when making program grants. The bill also extends the program's authorization through FY2028. The Acer competitive grant program promotes the domestic maple syrup industry through activities associated with research and education related to maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry, and the marketing of maple syrup and maple sap products. Acer also provides grants to encourage owners and operators of privately held land containing species of trees in the genus Acer to initiate or expand maple sugaring activities, or to voluntarily make the land publicly accessible for maple sugaring activities.
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.