The REDI Act (S 704) amends the Higher Education Act to create a loan deferment option for medical and dental residents. It directly affects borrowers with federal student loans who are enrolled in medical or dental internship or residency programs. The key provision allows these borrowers to temporarily pause both principal payments and interest accrual on their loans during their residency training. This change applies to loans made under the Higher Education Act and is designed to ease financial pressure during these critical training years.
HR 1434, the "Stop Our Sexual Assault in the Military Act," requires active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces to receive monthly self-defense training focused on preventing sexual assault as part of their regular physical training. This training replaces one day of existing monthly physical training, without increasing the total required training days. The bill directly affects all active-duty military personnel by integrating this specific self-defense component into their standard monthly training schedule. It mandates this change through a new provision (Section 2018) added to Title 10 of the U.S. Code. The law focuses solely on implementing this training requirement, with no other substantive policy changes described.
This bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell commemorative coins honoring the 1865 Sultana steamboat disaster, the worst maritime tragedy in U.S. history. It specifies three coin types ($5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar) with surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively) that will fund the Sultana Historical Preservation Society. The funds must be used to build, operate, and maintain a museum in Marion, Arkansas, to preserve the disaster’s history through exhibits, artifacts, and educational programs. The coins, sold only in 2023, are legal tender but will not circulate; the surcharge revenue directly supports the museum’s development and operations.
S 675, the REVIEW Act of 2023, requires federal agencies to delay implementing major regulations until after judicial review is complete. It defines "high-impact rules" as those potentially costing the economy $1 billion or more annually, mandating agencies submit such rules to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review before publication. Agencies must postpone a high-impact rule's effective date until all judicial review actions are resolved, unless no challenge is filed within 60 days of publication. This bill directly affects federal agencies creating significant economic regulations, adding a pre-implementation review step for major rules.
S 674, the RED Tape Act of 2023, requires federal agencies to repeal or amend at least two existing rules that impose financial or administrative costs on businesses or individuals before issuing a new rule with similar costs. Agencies must certify that the new rule’s cost does not exceed the combined cost of the repealed rules and publish all planned rule changes in the Unified Agenda. This directly affects agencies like the EPA or FDA when creating new regulations, aiming to reduce regulatory burdens by linking new rule issuance to prior rule removal. The bill applies only to rules adding costs, excluding internal agency policies or rules designed to reduce existing burdens.
This bill redefines "guidance" issued by entities with presidential authority (like task forces) to require Congressional review, similar to formal agency rules. It directly affects non-agency entities (e.g., presidential task forces) that issue operational guidance on policy or regulations. Key provisions expand the definition of "guidance" to include memoranda, letters, and directives, and mandate that these entities follow the same Congressional review process as federal agencies. The change ensures such guidance must undergo the same scrutiny as agency rules before taking effect.
The RESTRICT Act (S 686) gives the Secretary of Commerce authority to identify and address information and communications technology (ICTS) products or services that pose undue national security risks, particularly those involving foreign adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and others. It targets transactions or holdings by entities from designated foreign adversary countries or their controlled entities, with special focus on technology used by over 1 million U.S. users, including telecommunications, data services, and critical infrastructure systems. The Secretary can refer "covered holdings" to the President, who may then compel divestment or other mitigation measures to protect U.S. critical infrastructure, election security, and sensitive data. The bill establishes specific review procedures while limiting judicial review of these national security decisions.
HR 1415 creates federal grants to help high-need schools hire or retain school social workers, aiming to achieve a ratio of one social worker for every 250 students (and one for every 50 students in high-need cases). The bill authorizes $100 million annually (2024-2028) for grants to local school districts, requiring funds to supplement - never replace - existing budgets. School social workers funded through these grants must provide mental health support, crisis intervention, trauma-informed services, and help address barriers like homelessness or food insecurity. The law also establishes a national center to share best practices on school social work staffing and outcomes.
HR 1388 authorizes the minting of commemorative coins to honor the 1865 Sultana steamboat disaster, the deadliest maritime tragedy in U.S. history. It specifies three coin types ($5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar) with defined weights and compositions, to be sold at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively). All surcharges collected will fund the Sultana Historical Preservation Society for museum development, including exhibits, artifact preservation, and facility construction. The coins are legal tender but intended for collectors, with sales limited to a one-year period starting January 2023.
This bill eliminates waiting periods for disability benefits and Medicare coverage for people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. It amends two sections of the Social Security Act to add "metastatic breast cancer" to the list of conditions (alongside ALS) that qualify for immediate access to disability insurance benefits and Medicare coverage, bypassing the standard 24-month waiting period. Specifically, it modifies eligibility under Section 223(a) for disability benefits and Section 226(h) for Medicare coverage. The changes apply to applications or benefits filed/beginning after the bill's enactment date.
Patients' Right to Know Their Medication Act of 2023 This bill establishes requirements relating to the form, content, and distribution of patient safety labels for prescription drugs. Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration must issue regulations with requirements relating to the authorship, content, format, color, printing, and dissemination of such patient safety information. The regulations must require labels to include the drug's approved uses, known interactions with other drugs or substances, contact information for the drug's manufacturer, and other specified information relating to patient safety. The information must be in plain, neutral language and must be given in printed form with each prescription.
Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act of 2023 This bill establishes programs and requirements to support the inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in clinical research. For example, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to align the Food and Drug Administration's regulations for human subjects in clinical trials with other departmental regulations for pregnant women in clinical research. The bill also establishes (1) a national online clearinghouse with information about clinical trials that enroll pregnant and lactating women, (2) an advisory committee to help coordinate federal activities with respect to clinical research for pregnant and lactating women, and (3) an educational campaign on the importance of including pregnant and lactating women in clinical research. The National Institutes of Health must also prioritize certain research projects on new and existing medications for pregnant and lactating women based on need, feasibility, and the potential impact of the research.
