United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
Stopping Home Office Work's Unproductive Problems Act of 2023 or the SHOW UP Act of 2023 This bill reinstates the telework policies that were in place at all executive agencies on December 31, 2019, and requires each agency to submit a certified telework plan to Congress before such policies can be expanded. The bill requires each agency to conduct a study analyzing the impacts of telework policies implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the study must analyze any adverse impacts on the agency, real estate and locality costs, agency failures to provide adequate network and data access to employees, and any degree to which the expansion facilitated the dispersal of personnel around the United States. Each agency must submit a certified telework plan to Congress before expanding its telework policies. A plan must include a certification by the Office of Personnel Management that the plan will have a substantial positive effect on the agency, including by increasing the dispersal of personnel throughout the country and reversing any adverse impacts detailed in the agency's study. The certification must also provide that the plan will (1) substantially lower the agency's real property and locality pay costs; and (2) ensure that teleworking employees have adequate network capacity, communications tools, and related equipment to be fully productive without substantially increasing the agency's overall costs for these.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
This bill requires the Department of State to (1) submit to Congress any classified State Department cables or memos that express a dissenting opinion relating to the withdrawal of the U.S. Armed Forces from Afghanistan, and (2) make publicly available unclassified versions of such cables and memos.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration to issue or update guidance to minimize the risk for contamination of breast milk, baby formula, purified deionized water for infants, juice, and related products that are subject to re-screening or additional screening, including by ensuring adherence to hygienic standards. Related products include ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs, and other accessories required to cool breast milk, baby formula, and juice. In addition, the bill directs the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General to audit compliance with these requirements and submit a report to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
Maximize Americans' Retirement Security Act This bill revises the fiduciary duties for a retirement or employee benefit plan that is regulated under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The bill generally requires a fiduciary to select and maintain investments for a plan based solely on pecuniary factors. Under the bill, a pecuniary factor is a factor that is expected to have a material effect on the risk or return of an investment based on appropriate investment horizons that are consistent with the plan's investment objectives and funding policy. A fiduciary may only use nonpecuniary factors if the fiduciary is unable to distinguish between investment alternatives on the basis of pecuniary factors alone. In such a case, the fiduciary must provide specified documentation to the plan's participants and beneficiaries, including an explanation of how the chosen nonpecuniary factors are consistent with their interests.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
Book Minimum Tax Repeal Act This bill repeals the 15% alternative tax on the financial statement (i.e., book) income of certain corporations. The tax applies to companies that report over $1 billion in profits to their shareholders.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
WWII Nurses Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to World War II Army and Navy Nurse Corps members in recognition of their critical military service and devotion to duty.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
More Opportunities for Rural Economies from USDA Grants Act or the MORE USDA Grants Act This bill revises the process for awarding grants under certain programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to high-density public land counties and any units of tribal or local governments within such counties. A high-density public land county is a county that has a population of not more than 100,000 people and in which more than 50% of the land is owned or managed by the federal government. Any requirement for local matching funds under a qualifying grant program must be reduced by 50% with respect to such jurisdictions. On request, USDA must provide additional technical assistance to such jurisdictions before and during the annual application period for each qualifying grant program. USDA must also prioritize grant applications from such jurisdictions that have not received support under the qualifying grant program during the 10-year period preceding the date of the application.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
National American Indian Veterans Charter Act This bill grants a federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans Inc., which is a nonprofit corporation organized in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
Back the Blue Act of 2023 This bill establishes new criminal offenses for killing, assaulting, and fleeing to avoid prosecution for killing a judge, law enforcement officer, or public safety officer. Additionally, the bill expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer, judge, prosecutor, or firefighter or other first responder; broadens the authority of federal law enforcement officers to carry firearms; and limits federal court review of challenges to state court convictions for killing a public safety officer or judge.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2023
This bill establishes circumstances under which reinitiation of consultation related to endangered or threatened species is not required under a land and resource management plan or a land use plan. Specifically, the bill prohibits a land and resource management plan for a unit of the National Forest System or a land use plan for public lands from being considered to be a continuing federal agency action, or constituting a discretionary federal involvement or control for a distinct federal purpose. This makes certain consultation requirements related to endangered or threatened species inapplicable to such plans.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2023
Community and Hydropower Improvement Act This bill modifies requirements for hydropower projects, including by accelerating and coordinating the environmental review of the licensing of hydropower projects; expediting the licensing process for closed-loop or off-stream pumped storage projects; expediting the licensing process for certain nonfederal hydropower projects at existing nonpowered dams; increasing the involvement of Indian tribes in the licensing process; directing federal agencies and Indian tribes to consider certain effects of dams, such as any adverse effects on fish species; requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue regulations that establish procedures for license surrender proceedings initiated by licensees; and establishing a Licensing Administration Reimbursement Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2023
Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Education to award grants to institutions of higher education that sponsor construction and manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship programs for (1) expanding or supporting outreach to high schools, local businesses, local workforce development boards, and apprenticeship intermediaries; and (2) providing advising and support services to students who are enrolled in these apprenticeship programs.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2023
Campus Free Speech Restoration Act This bill addresses expressive activities (e.g., peacefully assembling, distributing literature, or carrying signs) on college campuses. First, the bill generally prohibits a public institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student-aid programs from restricting noncommercial expressive activities in outdoor areas on campus. Further, the bill prohibits a public IHE from receiving federal funds if the Department of Education determines that the public IHE (1) maintains a policy that infringes upon the expressive rights of students; or (2) maintains or enforces time, place, or manner restrictions on expressive activities, except in limited circumstances. In addition, the bill prohibits retaliation against an individual because the individual reported or complained about restrictions on expressive activities or participated in an investigation or hearing. The bill also requires a private IHE that receives federal funds to provide students with its policies related to expressive rights. The bill also establishes a framework for investigating complaints and for IHEs to regain eligibility for federal funds.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2023
Cutting Rampant Access to Crack Kits Act of 2023 or the CRACK Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the use of federal funds that are made available for treating substance use disorders to procure or distribute pipes (or other cylindrical objects) for smoking or inhaling illegal substances. Currently, some harm reduction programs distribute safe smoking kits that include glass stems, alcohol swabs, and other materials to prevent infectious diseases or injury from contaminated drug paraphernalia.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023
This bill designates U.S. Route 20 in the states of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts as the National Medal of Honor Highway.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023
This bill prohibits the use of Department of Defense funds or facilities for hosting, advertising, or otherwise supporting an adult cabaret performance (i.e., a performance that features topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, or male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to prurient interest).
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023
Border's Unused Idle and Lying Dormant Inventory Transfer Act or the BUILD IT Act This bill requires the federal government to transfer, upon request, materials associated with the construction of a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border to the governments of the states along that border (i.e., Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas). The transferred materials must be used to construct, repair, or reinforce a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border. The federal government must cancel any existing contracts relating to the maintenance and security of the materials if the cancellation is necessary to transfer the materials.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023
Make the Migrant Protection Protocols Mandatory Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to remove certain non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) from the United States while such an individual's application for admission is pending. Specifically, if such an individual arrived by land from a foreign country bordering the United States and the individual is not clearly and beyond a doubt entitled to admission into the United States, DOJ must return that individual to that bordering foreign country while the individual's application for admission is pending. (Currently, DOJ may choose to detain such an individual or return the individual to the bordering foreign country while the application for admission is pending.)
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2023
Spur Permitting of Underdeveloped Resources Act or the SPUR Act This bill (1) accelerates the environmental review of certain federal actions related to energy; (2) modifies various laws pertaining to energy and mineral development; (3) establishes requirements related to the supply and delivery of electricity and natural gas; and (4) makes requirements concerning other natural resources. Specifically, the bill sets forth provisions to expedite the environmental review of certain federal actions that involve energy and mineral development, energy supply, or natural resources, such as issuing permits to export liquefied natural gas. It also establishes requirements about leasing onshore and offshore federal land for oil and gas development, including by directing the Department of the Interior to immediately resume onshore quarterly lease sales. By September 30, 2023, Interior must also approve a final 2023-2028 offshore leasing program. The bill also sets forth provisions to prevent or remove certain limitations on mining federal land and make related requirements. In addition, the bill directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to adopt tariff provisions, rate treatments, and other changes that are necessary to protect the adequacy, affordability, reliability, and security of the supply and delivery of electricity and natural gas by interstate pipelines. The bill also modifies FERC's responsibilities under a variety of laws. Finally, the bill modifies other laws governing natural resources, such as by extending the renewal term for grazing permits and directing the Bureau of Land Management to withdraw a proposed rule titled Conservation and Landscape Health .
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023
Kids Online Safety Act This bill sets out requirements to protect minors from online harms. The requirements apply to covered platforms, which are applications or services (e.g., social networks) that connect to the internet and are likely to be used by minors. However, the bill exempts internet service providers, email services, educational institutions, and other specified entities from the requirements. Covered platforms must act in the best interest of minors using the applications or services, including by mitigating harms that may arise from that use (e.g., sexual exploitation and online bullying). Additionally, covered platforms must provide (1) minors (or their parents or guardians) with certain safeguards, such as settings that restrict access to minors' personal data; and (2) parents or guardians with tools to supervise minors' use of a platform, such as control of privacy and account settings. Covered platforms must also disclose specified information, including details regarding the use of personalized recommendation systems and targeted advertising; allow parents, guardians, minors, and schools to report certain harms; refrain from facilitating advertising of age-restricted products or services (e.g., tobacco and gambling) to minors; and annually report on foreseeable risks of harm to minors from using the platform. The bill provides for enforcement through the Federal Trade Commission and states. Further, the bill establishes a program to facilitate relevant independent research for noncommercial purposes and a council to advise on implementing the bill. It also requires guidance for market and product research focused on minors and an evaluation of options to verify a user's age.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2023
Living Donor Protection Act of 2023 This bill prohibits certain insurance carriers from discriminating against, and provides other protections for, living organ donors. Specifically, carriers may not deny, cancel, or otherwise impose conditions on policies for life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance based on an individual's status as a living organ donor. The bill also expressly specifies that recovery from organ-donation surgery constitutes a serious health condition that entitles eligible employees to job-protected medical leave. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services must update educational materials on living organ donation to include information about the benefits of living organ donation and about access to insurance for living organ donors.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2023
Clarifying Law Around Insurance of Marijuana Act or the CLAIM Act This bill generally provides a safe harbor from penalties or other adverse agency action for insurance companies that provide services to cannabis-related legitimate businesses in jurisdictions where such activity is legal. The Government Accountability Office must report on barriers to marketplace entry for minority-owned and women-owned cannabis-related businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2023
Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong Act or the LAKES Act This bill modifies requirements relating to the collection and retention of user fees at certain recreation facilities. Specifically, the bill modifies requirements for a cost-sharing program for the management of recreation facilities established by the Water Resources Development Act of 1992. Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may enter into cooperative agreements with nonfederal public and private entities to provide for operation and management of recreation facilities and natural resources at civil works projects. The bill requires private entities entering such agreements to be nonprofit. The bill requires the Corps, before entering into a cooperative agreement, to ensure that such entities have the authority and capability to (1) carry out the terms of the agreement, and (2) pay any damages in the event of a failure to perform. It also authorizes the Corps to allow private nonprofit entities to collect user fees. Currently, only nonfederal public entities may collect such fees. The bill also authorizes the Corps and other federal agencies to transfer to nonfederal public entities or private nonprofit entities user fees received by the Corps or another federal agency under a visitor reservation service for recreation facilities and natural resources managed by the nonfederal public entities or private nonprofit entities. In addition, the bill modifies requirements under the Flood Control Act of 1968 to direct the Corps to spend at least 80% of the fees collected at a recreational site for the operation and maintenance of that site.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2023
Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2023 This bill excludes Indian tribes and tribal enterprises and institutions on tribal land from requirements for employers under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). (Currently under the NLRA, employers may not engage in unfair labor practices and must allow employees to form unions, engage in collective bargaining, and take collective action.)
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2023
Servicemembers' Credit Monitoring Enhancement Act This bill makes available to uniformed service members free electronic credit monitoring that is currently available to active duty service members.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2023
Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2023 or the SAFE Banking Act of 2023 This bill provides protections for federally regulated financial institutions that serve state-sanctioned marijuana businesses. Currently, many financial institutions do not provide services to state-sanctioned marijuana businesses due to the federal classification of marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance. Under the bill, a federal banking regulator may not penalize a depository institution for providing banking services to a state-sanctioned marijuana business. For example, regulators may not terminate or limit the deposit or share insurance of a depository institution solely because the institution provides financial services to a state-sanctioned marijuana business. The bill also prohibits a federal banking regulator from requesting or ordering a depository institution to terminate a customer account unless (1) the regulator has determined that the depository institution is engaging in an unsafe or unsound practice or is violating a law or regulation, and (2) that determination is not based primarily on reputation risk. Additionally, proceeds from a transaction involving activities of a state-sanctioned marijuana business are no longer considered proceeds from unlawful activity. (Financial institutions that handle proceeds from unlawful activity are subject to anti-money laundering laws. Violators of these laws are subject to fines and imprisonment.) Furthermore, a financial institution, insurer, or federal agency may not be held liable or subject to asset forfeiture under federal law for providing a loan, mortgage, or other financial service to a state-sanctioned marijuana business.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2023
Prime Minister Golda Meir Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of Golda Meir, former Prime Minister of Israel, and the 75th anniversary of the United States-Israel relationship. All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of such coins must be paid to the American Friends of Kiryat Sanz Laniado Hospital Inc.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2023
Securing our Border Act This bill addresses issues concerning border security and immigration, including by transferring funds from the Internal Revenue Service to certain border-related projects. Specifically, the bill transfers certain funds previously appropriated for tax enforcement activities (e.g., collecting owed taxes and conducting criminal investigations) to fund (1) nonintrusive inspection systems along the northern border and southwest border of the United States, and (2) the construction of a border wall system along the southwest border. The bill also authorizes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to pay recruitment, retention, and relocation bonuses, subject to various requirements and limitations. For example, a relocation bonus may not exceed 15% of the agent's annual basic bay and must be conditioned on the agent agreeing to serve for at least three years at the new duty station. The bill also modifies the treatment of non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) arriving by land from a country next to the United States. Specifically, if such an individual is not clearly entitled to admission into the United States, the Department of Justice must (1) return the individual to that neighboring country or a safe third country while removal proceedings are pending, or (2) detain the individual while the individual's asylum application is under consideration. (Current law authorizes DOJ to return the individual to the neighboring country but does not require such action or detention.)
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2023
Competitive Bidding Relief Act of 2023 This bill extends until December 31, 2024, a higher payment rate (known as the 75/25 blended rate) for durable medical equipment in nonrural or noncontiguous areas under Medicare.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2023
Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence Off Fentanyl Act or the FEND Off Fentanyl Act This bill requires or authorizes various actions, including sanctions, targeting foreign persons (individuals and entities) engaged in trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit opioids. This bill requires that the sanctions specified in Executive Order 14059 (relating to sanctions on foreign persons involved in the global illicit drug trade), as well as any amendments to or directives issued pursuant to that executive order before the date of the enactment of this bill, shall remain in effect. The bill also requires the President to impose property-blocking sanctions on any foreign person knowingly involved in (1) significant trafficking of fentanyl, fentanyl precursors, or other related opioids by a transnational criminal organization; or (2) significant activities of a transnational criminal organization relating to the trafficking of fentanyl, fentanyl precursors, or other related opioids. The Department of the Treasury is authorized to take certain actions relating to classes of transactions that (1) involve a non-U.S. jurisdiction, and (2) are of primary money laundering concern in connection with illicit opioid trafficking. For such transaction classes, Treasury may require domestic financial institutions to (1) take certain special measures, (2) prohibit certain transmittals of funds, or (3) impose conditions on transmittals of funds. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network must issue guidance to U.S. financial institutions for filing reports of suspicious transactions related to suspected fentanyl trafficking by transnational criminal organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
Ending Duplicative Subsidies for Electric Vehicles Act This bill prohibits duplicative subsidies (i.e., loans, grants, or tax credits) for manufacturers of new clean electric vehicles.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2023
Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of 2023 This bill allows a notary public commissioned under state law to remotely notarize electronic records and perform notarizations for remotely located individuals. The bill provides technical requirements for the notarizations, including the creation and retention of video and audio recordings and the use of communication technologies (i.e., video chat). Additionally, the bill requires U.S. courts and states to recognize notarizations—including remote notarizations of electronic records and notarizations of remotely-located individuals—that occur in or affect interstate commerce and are performed by a notary public commissioned under the laws of other states. The bill also allows a notary public to remotely notarize electronic records involving an individual located outside of the United States, subject to certain requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2023
Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act of 202 3 This bill authorizes various activities in connection with Civilian Conservation Centers, which are residential workforce development or training facilities for underserved youth that are operated by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture (USDA). For example, the bill requires USDA and Interior to offer at Civilian Conservation Centers specialized training programs focused on (1) forestry and rangeland management, (2) wildland firefighting, or (3) any other topic related to the mission of the Forest Service or Interior or the public interest. The bill authorizes USDA and Interior to directly hire qualified individuals who have successfully completed a Civilian Conservation Center training program without regard to certain civil service hiring requirements. Additionally, USDA and Interior must establish a pilot program to expand available housing for wildland firefighters, volunteers, partner crew members, interns, and other agency employees. To carry out the program, USDA and Interior must employ individuals who are enrolled in a training program at a Civilian Conservation Center. USDA also may conduct career and technical training demonstration programs related to natural resource conservation, forestry, or wildland firefighting.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2023
Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act This bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to restrict migration and imports from foreign countries to prevent the introduction of illicit drugs into the United States. Current law authorizes HHS to restrict migration and imports from foreign countries to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases. Under this bill, HHS may also restrict migration and imports from a country if HHS determines that the existence of substantial illicit drug smuggling from that country poses a risk to public health.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2023
Sister City Transparency Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study of sister city partnerships between U.S. communities and foreign communities in those countries that score below a certain level on a public sector corruption perception index. Elements of the study include assessing the extent to which such partnerships (1) create vulnerabilities to malign market practices, (2) diminish freedom of expression, and (3) allow foreign communities to realize strategic objectives that hinder U.S. economic and national security interests.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2023
This resolution designates April 22-30, 2023, 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 · 18 April 2023
Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act This bill expressly prohibits health care providers and other entities involved in matching donated organs with recipients from denying or restricting an individual's access to organ transplants solely on the basis of the individual's disability, except in limited circumstances. Specifically, these entities may consider an individual's disability when making decisions about transplants only if a physician finds, based on an individualized evaluation, that the individual's physical or mental disability is medically significant to the provision of the transplant. A disability shall not be considered medically significant if the individual has an adequate support system in place to comply with transplant-related medical requirements. These entities must also make reasonable changes to their policies to make transplants and related care more available to individuals with disabilities. Aggrieved individuals may bring claims of discrimination to the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services or before a federal court. The bill provides for expedited resolutions of these claims. In addition, entities that receive federal contracts to manage all or part of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network may not issue policies that prohibit or hinder access to an organ transplant based solely on the individual's disability. This network is a public-private partnership linking professionals involved in the U.S. organ donation and transplantation system.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2023
Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023 This bill bars the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture from prohibiting or regulating the use of lead ammunition or tackle on federal land or water that is under the jurisdiction of such departments and made available for hunting or fishing. The bill makes exceptions for specified existing regulations and where the applicable department determines that a decline in wildlife population at the specific unit of federal land or water is primarily caused by the use of lead in ammunition or tackle, based on the field data from such unit, and the state approves the regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2023
Restore Public Health Institution Trust Act of 2023 This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on public health messaging and other recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report must specifically address (1) the data used to make recommendations; (2) the effect of inconsistent messaging on the public's trust in the CDC, willingness to follow the CDC's COVID-19 guidance, and attitudes about immunizations both in general and for specific populations; and (3) the degree to which outside entities influenced CDC recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
Death Tax Repeal Act of 2023 This bill repeals the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes. It also makes conforming amendments related to the gift tax.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
Journalism Competition and Preservation Act of 2023 This bill sets out a process through which certain broadcast or digital news providers may collectively negotiate with covered online platforms (e.g., social media companies) regarding use of the news providers' content by the platforms. Specifically, the bill authorizes an eligible provider (e.g., one with no more than 1,500 full-time employees and nonnetwork news broadcasters that engage in specified news practices) to jointly form an entity with other eligible providers to negotiate the pricing, terms, and conditions by which covered online platforms use the providers' content. A covered platform is generally one that (1) has at least 50 million monthly domestic users, and (2) is owned or controlled by a person with either sales or a market capitalization that exceeds a specified amount or at least one billion monthly users worldwide. The bill establishes requirements concerning the formation, governance, operation, and termination of the joint negotiation entity. It also exempts from antitrust laws certain actions by a joint negotiation entity (e.g., providers jointly denying a platform's access to the providers' content). The bill outlines requirements governing the conduct of the negotiations by, for example, requiring the parties to negotiate in good faith. Additionally, the bill provides for private rights of action if the requirements for a negotiation are not met and establishes requirements for arbitration in limited circumstances. The Government Accountability Office must study the impact of the joint negotiations, including their effects on local and regional news and the employment of journalists. In general, the bill's provisions terminate six years after its enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service titled Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat and published on June 24, 2022. The 2022 rule rescinds an earlier rule which limited the ability of the service to designate an area a critical habitat . Areas designated as critical habitat are subject to certain statutory restrictions.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
Accelerate Long-term Investment Growth Now Act or the ALIGN Act This bill makes permanent the expensing of certain new business equipment. Expensing allows the deduction of the full amount of an expense item in the same taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
Small Lenders Exempt from New Data and Excessive Reporting Act or the Small LENDER Act This bill exempts certain financial institutions and transactions from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reporting requirements with respect to data about small business credit applications. Under the bill, the requirements apply only to financial institutions that originate at least 500 credit transactions to small businesses in each of the preceding two years. The bill further defines small businesses as those with annual revenue of $1 million or less. Currently, the CFPB has proposed a rule that the requirements apply only to financial institutions that originate at least 25 annual credit transactions to small businesses in each of the preceding two years. The rule further defines small businesses as those with annual revenue of $5 million or less.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
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 · 30 March 2023
Coal Council Certainty Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to reinstate the National Coal Council (NCC), which provided DOE with advice and guidance about policies concerning coal until its charter expired in November 2021. The bill permanently extends the NCC's original charter and thus prevents the reinstated council from expiring.
![Official portrait of Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000618_200.jpg)