United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2024
This resolution expresses the sorrow of the Senate upon the announcement of the death of James Ralph Sasser, former Senator for the state of Tennessee.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2024
Securing American Agriculture Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assess, on an annual basis, U.S. dependency on critical agricultural products or inputs that could be exploited in the event that China weaponizes such a dependency. USDA must submit a report to Congress on the assessment, which must include recommendations to reduce U.S. dependency on China to supply critical agricultural products or inputs. Under the bill, critical inputs include all farm management, agronomic, and field-applied production inputs (e.g., agricultural equipment, fertilizers, veterinary drugs, and seed). The bill specifies that, in conducting the assessment, USDA may not require a private entity to provide information to USDA. Further, the bill requires USDA to comply with certain confidentiality requirements and restricts disclosures of the information.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2024
This resolution acknowledges the 120th anniversary of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and commends the organization for its work mentoring the young people of the United States and strengthening thousands of communities.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2024
This resolution designates October 2024 as National Dyslexia Awareness Month and calls on Congress, schools, and educational agencies to recognize that dyslexia has significant educational implications that must be addressed.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2024
This resolution supports the designation of November 17, 2024, as National Warrior Call Day and encourages individuals to engage with warriors (i.e., members of the Armed Forces and veterans) to connect and provide support.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2024
Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy Act This bill expands the types of activities that are subject to criminal penalties related to damaging or destroying an interstate gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility. Under current law, a person who knowingly and willfully damages or destroys a pipeline facility is subject to criminal penalties, including a fine, a prison term of up to 20 years, or both. If a death results from the offense, the person may be imprisoned for any term of years or life. Under the bill, these criminal penalties also apply to a person who knowingly and willfully vandalizes, tampers with, or disrupts or prevents the operation or construction of the facility.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2024
This resolution designates National Ataxia Awareness Day to bring attention to this condition. Ataxia is a clinical manifestation that indicates degeneration or dysfunction of the brain that negatively affects coordination, precision, and accurate timing of physical movements.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2024
This bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to withdraw the final determination titled Adoption of Energy Efficiency Standards for New Construction of HUD- and USDA-Financed Housing and published on April 26, 2024. The determination adopted updated minimum energy efficiency standards for newly built homes (except manufactured housing) financed through certain HUD and USDA programs. Specifically, it adopted the (1) 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which applies to single family homes and multifamily low-rise buildings up to three stories; and (2) 2019 American National Standards Institute/American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers/Illuminating Electrical Society (ANSI/ASHRAE/IES) Standard 90.1, which applies to multifamily residential buildings with four or more stories. HUD and USDA must also revert to using the energy efficiency standards required before the determination. In addition, the bill prohibits HUD, USDA, and the Department of Veterans Affairs from taking actions or using federal funds to implement or enforce the determination or any substantially similar determination. It also prohibits the Federal Housing Finance Agency from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing a determination or rule relating to energy efficiency standards for single and multifamily housing. Finally, the bill prohibits HUD and USDA from adopting updates to the IECC or ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 in certain circumstances unless at least 26 states have adopted codes or standards that meet or exceed the update's requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2024
This resolution condemns the assassination attempt of former President Donald J. Trump during a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. The resolution also honors (1) Corey D. Comperatore, who died while protecting his family from the gunfire at the rally; and (2) David Dutch and James Copenhaver, who were critically injured.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2024
This resolution designates September 2024 as National Child Awareness Month to (1) promote awareness of youth-serving charities and organizations throughout the United States, (2) recognize the efforts made by those charities and organizations as critical contributions to the future of the United States, and (3) recognize the importance of meeting the needs of at-risk children and youth.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2024
Lulu’s Law This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to amend the rules governing wireless emergency alerts to explicitly permit authorized governments to transmit alerts to mobile phones in the event of a shark attack.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2024
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that a future presidential administration should (1) consider instituting a policy similar to Operation Legend that deploys federal law enforcement agents to systematically target crime in cities, and (2) provide significant grant funding to state and local governments for law enforcement.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2024
Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act or the TAKE IT DOWN Act This bill generally prohibits the online publication of intimate visual depictions of individuals, both authentic and computer-generated, and requires covered online platforms to promptly remove such depictions upon notice of their existence. Specifically, the bill prohibits the online publication of intimate visual depictions of an adult subject where publication is intended to cause or does cause harm to the subject, and where the depiction was created without the subject’s consent or, in the case of an authentic depiction, was created or obtained under circumstances where the adult had a reasonable expectation of privacy; or a minor subject where publication is intended to abuse or harass the minor or to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person. Violators are subject to criminal penalties including mandatory restitution and prison, a fine, or both. Threats to publish intimate visual depictions of a subject are similarly prohibited under the bill and subject to criminal penalties. Separately, covered online platforms must establish a mechanism through which subjects of intimate visual depictions may notify the platform of the existence of, and request removal of, an intimate visual depiction including the subject that was published without the subject’s consent. Covered online platforms must remove such depictions within 48 hours of notification. Under the bill, covered online platforms are defined as public websites, online services, or applications that primarily provide a forum for user-generated content.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2024
This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Department of Education titled Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance and published on April 29, 2024. The final rule addresses Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs or activities. Among other elements, the rule establishes certain definitions related to sex-based harassment and establishes additional requirements for grievance procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2024
Youth Lead Act of 2024 This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 National Institute of Food and Agriculture grants to the Girl Scouts of the USA, the Boy Scouts of America, the National 4–H Council, and the National FFA Organization. These grants must be used to establish pilot projects to expand the programs carried out by the organizations in rural areas and small towns.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2024
Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2024 This bill reauthorizes various federal grants for state, local, and tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and service providers to support individuals who reenter the community following a period of incarceration. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2029 the following: grants for adult and juvenile offender reentry demonstration projects; grants for family-based substance abuse treatment programs; grants to evaluate and improve educational methods at prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities; grants for career training education; the offender reentry substance abuse and criminal justice collaboration program; and grants to nonprofit organizations for community-based mentoring and transitional services.