The GAS Act (HR 337) prohibits any federal agency from banning the sale or use of gas-burning stoves in the United States. This applies to all agencies defined under federal law, including the Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Product Safety Commission. The bill directly blocks agencies from enacting new regulations that would restrict gas stoves, preventing future regulatory actions. It does not affect existing stove sales or current agency authority but sets a clear restriction on future rulemaking.
American Workforce Empowerment Act This bill allows tax-preferred college savings plans (529 plans) to fund certain postsecondary certificate programs and apprenticeship programs.
HRES 29 is a procedural resolution that would amend House rules to create the "Committee on the Elimination of Nonessential Federal Programs." This committee would study and recommend cutting underperforming or nonessential federal programs, requiring annual reports listing such programs and submitting related legislation. The resolution also establishes expedited procedures for bills reported by this committee, including limiting debate to 10 hours and making motions to proceed highly privileged. It does not directly affect constituents but changes House committee structure and procedures.
Preventing Unjust Red Flag Laws Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to implement or enforce red flag laws. The term red flag law means a risk-based, temporary, and preemptive protective order that authorizes the removal of a firearm without due process.
The Less is More Resolution (HRES 18) amends House rules to require that any bill funding a new federal program must include reductions in funding for at least two existing programs (each reduction equal to or greater than the new program's funding). It mandates that the introducing member submit a written certification confirming this offset, which must be made public. This procedural rule applies to all House members and aims to enforce budgetary offsets for new spending proposals without creating new fiscal obligations.
Qualified Immunity Act of 2023 This bill provides statutory authority for qualified immunity for law enforcement officers in civil cases involving constitutional violations. Current law provides a statutory civil cause of action against state and local government actors (e.g., law enforcement officers) for violations of constitutional rights, also known as Section 1983 lawsuits. The Supreme Court has also found an implied cause of action against federal law enforcement officers in certain situations (e.g., Fourth Amendment violations), also known as Bivens lawsuits. However, under the judicial doctrine of qualified immunity, government officials performing discretionary duties are generally shielded from civil liability, unless their actions violate clearly established rights of which a reasonable person would have known. The bill provides statutory authority for these principles with respect to law enforcement officers. Specifically, under the bill, law enforcement officers are entitled to qualified immunity if (1) at the time of the alleged violation, the constitutional right at issue was not clearly established or the state of the law was not sufficiently clear for every reasonable officer to know that the conduct was unconstitutional; or (2) a court has held that the specific conduct at issue is constitutional. The bill applies to federal, state, and local law enforcement officers. It also specifies that law enforcement agencies and local governments may not be held liable if their officers are entitled to qualified immunity.
The Marginal Well Protection Act amends the Clean Air Act to exempt small oil and gas wells from a methane emissions and waste reduction program. Specifically, it excludes facilities producing less than 15 barrels of oil per day and less than 90 thousand cubic feet of natural gas per day from the program's requirements. This directly affects small-scale producers operating "marginal wells" by removing them from the program's scope. The bill does not create new requirements but adjusts the definition of "applicable facility" to exclude these smallest operations.
HR 260, the Nickel Plan Act, establishes annual federal spending limits to control budget growth. It sets a cap of $5.95 trillion (less 5% for interest) for fiscal year 2024, decreasing by 5% each year through 2027, then tying future spending to 17.5% of GDP starting in 2028. If spending exceeds these limits, the Office of Management and Budget triggers automatic spending cuts (sequestration) by October 31 each year. The bill also prevents Congress from passing legislation that would breach these caps without a two-thirds vote in both chambers, enforcing the limits through procedural rules.
This bill establishes a "regulatory budget" system requiring federal agencies to estimate and report the costs of regulations on businesses, especially small businesses. It mandates the President to submit annual projections of regulatory costs for proposed rules, and creates a process for Congress to set limits on how much regulatory costs can grow. The Congressional Budget Office would analyze regulatory cost impacts of proposed legislation, while agencies would need to conduct cost-benefit analyses for significant regulations. The bill aims to increase transparency around regulatory costs and provide Congress with tools to monitor and control regulatory burdens on businesses.
HR 252, the Inflation Prevention Act of 2023, would require Congress to block any new spending bill or amendment that could increase inflation above 4.5%, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). If current inflation exceeds 4.5%, the bill would prevent consideration of new spending measures unless a three-fifths Senate supermajority votes to override the rule. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) would estimate the inflation impact of proposed spending and notify Congress if inflation rises above 4.5%. This rule applies to all spending bills, amendments, and conference reports in both the House and Senate, directly affecting how Congress processes budget-related legislation. The bill focuses on procedural rules for spending decisions, not on specific policies or affected groups.
This bill requires colleges and universities receiving federal funding to ban TikTok (and related ByteDance apps) on all school-owned electronic devices - including computers, tablets, and smartphones - within 90 days of enactment. It prohibits federal funding for institutions that fail to implement such a ban, with an exception for research related to national security, law enforcement, or cybersecurity. The policy directly affects all public and private higher education institutions that accept federal funds, including grants and student aid programs. It does not restrict TikTok use on personal devices or apply to non-federal funding sources.
HR 263, the STOVE Act, prohibits federal agencies from creating or implementing rules that ban or restrict gas-powered stoves, cooktops, ranges, or ovens in the United States. It blocks agencies like the EPA or DOE from proposing or finalizing regulations that would limit the sale or use of these appliances. The bill directly affects federal rulemaking processes related to home energy appliances, preventing new restrictions from being enacted. This is a policy change that stops federal action on appliance bans, not a change to existing appliance use.
