United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2024
Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2024 or the JUDGES Act of 2024 This bill creates 63 new permanent U.S. district court judgeships over a 10-year period and 3 temporary U.S. district court judgeships in 2025. The President must appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, additional judges for specified judicial districts. Specifically, the bill creates 63 additional permanent judgeships, which are added every two years from 2025 through 2035. The state and the total number of judgeships added over the 10-year period for the state are as follows: Arizona (2), California (21), Colorado (2), Delaware (2), Florida (9), Georgia (2), Idaho (1), Indiana (1), Iowa (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (3), New York (5), and Texas (13). Additionally, in 2025, the bill creates three temporary judgeships in Oklahoma. The bill adds locations for where district courts must be held in certain states. Specifically, the bill requires the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California to be additionally held in El Centro, California; the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston Division) to be additionally held in College Station, Texas; and the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah (Central Division) to be additionally held in Moab and Monticello, Utah. The Government Accountability Office must submit reports to Congress on judicial caseloads and detention space. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts must make publicly accessible, and submit to Congress, a specified biennial report on judgeship recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2024
Specialty Crop Security Act of 2024 This bill reauthorizes and provides additional funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The bill also modifies the SCBGP outreach and state plan requirements. Under the block grant program, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides grants to the state departments of agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops (i.e., fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture). Specifically, the bill reauthorizes the SCBGP through FY2028. The bill also requires that SCBGP grants be made based on priorities established annually by state program administrators, in consultation with specialty crop producers and producer groups. Further, the bill requires that the plan a state must submit to USDA under the program indicate how outreach to, and consultation with, specialty crop stakeholders will be achieved.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2024
This resolution recognizes April 22, 2024, as the 54th anniversary of Earth Day and commends the leadership of its founder, Senator Gaylord Nelson.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 2024
This resolution designates April 20-28, 2024, as National Park Week. The resolution also encourages the people of the United States and the world to responsibly visit, experience, recreate in, and support the treasured national parks of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2024
This resolution commends the work of library staff in the United States and supports the goals and ideals of National Library Week. The resolution also reaffirms (1) the fundamental right of the people of the United States to access information, and (2) certain fundamental and civil rights of library workers. Further, the resolution recognizes the right of library staff to speak out on matters of public concern.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2024
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 180 Steuart Street in San Francisco, California, as the "Dianne Feinstein Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2024
Codifying SAVE Plan Act This bill provides statutory authority for a Department of Education final rule published on July 10, 2023, that creates a new income-driven repayment plan called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2024
This resolution designates March 24, 2024, as National Women of Color in Tech Day to celebrate the contribution to the field of technology made by women of color.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2024
Help Hoover Dam Act This bill authorizes the Bureau of Reclamation to use amounts from a specified account within the Colorado River Dam Fund to pay for operations, maintenance, investigation and cleanup actions, and capital improvements within the Boulder Canyon Project at the Hoover Dam or on land used for the construction and operation of the Hoover Dam.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2024
Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act of 2024 This bill converts certain temporary district court judgeships to permanent judgeships in specified judicial districts in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2024
This resolution expresses support for initiatives to build the Black workforce and equip the Black community in the United States with the necessary tools to compete for stable jobs in every career and at every career level. It also expresses support for the goal of expanding economic opportunity, equity, and wealth creation for Black people in the United States at every socioeconomic level, in every industry, and in every residential setting.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2024
Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2024 or the PAST Act of 2024 This bill addresses the practice of soring horses. The soring of horses includes various actions taken on horses' limbs to produce higher gaits that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness. Specifically, the bill expands soring regulation and enforcement at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions, including by establishing a new system for inspecting horses for soring. In addition, the bill increases penalties for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2024
This resolution designates March 21, 2024, as National Women in Agriculture Day. It also recognizes the important role of women in agriculture as producers, educators, leaders, mentors, and more.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2024
This resolution celebrates the successes of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women and the contributions they have made in the United States. The resolution also recognizes the importance of providing for the safety and upholding the interests of these women.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2024
This resolution recognizes March 14, 2024, as Black Midwives Day. The resolution encourages federal, state, and local governments to address racial disparities in maternal health outcomes by supporting initiatives aimed at diversifying the perinatal workforce. The resolution also promotes TRICARE and Medicaid coverage of maternity care provided by midwives of all training pathways in the setting of choice of the birthing person.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2024
Right to Vote Act This bill addresses the right to vote in federal elections. Specifically, the bill declares that every citizen of legal voting age shall have the fundamental right to vote in federal elections. In addition, the bill prohibits federal, state, and local governments from substantially impairing the ability to vote in federal elections unless the government action furthers an important and particularized governmental interest. Further, the bill specifies that a government may not diminish the ability to vote in federal elections unless the action uses the least restrictive means to achieve such an interest. A violation of rights created by the bill may be challenged in district court, and a prevailing plaintiff may receive attorney fees. The bill outlines judicial review standards for challenges to voting practices.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2024
Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2024 This bill establishes a grant program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development for states and other entities to provide qualifying assistance to low-income, first-time, first-generation home buyers in purchasing their first homes. Qualifying assistance includes assistance for mortgage down payments, mortgage closing costs, reduction of mortgage interest rates, subsidies for shared equity homes, or for certain modifications to a home to accommodate persons with disabilities. The bill also establishes grant requirements regarding home buyer income, types of housing, homeowner occupancy, types of mortgages, and home buyer counseling.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2024
Transformational Artificial intelligence to Modernize the Economy against Extreme Weather Act or the TAME Extreme Weather Act This bill requires several agencies to develop programs that use artificial intelligence (AI) to support weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and the energy grid. For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must develop an Earth system reanalysis dataset that provides a record of past weather events so as to support AI weather forecast applications. NOAA must also develop an AI program that analyzes environmental data to support wildfire forecasts. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture must use AI to analyze data with respect to deforestation, the movement of illegal wood products, and associated changes. The Department of Energy must establish an AI program to optimize energy grids with respect to energy production, stability, and efficiency.
![Official portrait of Sen. Butler, Laphonza R. [D-CA]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b001320_200.jpg)