Alaska Congressional Bills

passed · Alaska · House May 9, 2024

HR 2925: Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2024

The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2024 clarifies rights for individuals and companies holding mining claims on public land. It defines "operations" broadly to include exploration, development, extraction, reclamation, and related infrastructure like roads or pipelines, even without finding minerals. Claimants must pay standard location and maintenance fees (or meet assessment work requirements) to maintain their rights to use and occupy land for these activities. This change ensures compliance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act by explicitly linking claimholder obligations to land use rights.

Topics ✗ Environment

passed · Alaska · Senate May 8, 2024

SRES 678: A resolution designating May 3, 2024, as "United States Foreign Service Day" in recognition of the men and women who have served, or are presently serving, in the Foreign Service of the United States, and honoring the members of the Foreign Service who have given their lives in the line of duty.

SRES 678 designates May 3, 2024, as "United States Foreign Service Day" to honor current and former members of the U.S. Foreign Service, including those who died while serving. The resolution recognizes the 100th anniversary of the Foreign Service (established by the Rogers Act of 1924) and acknowledges the work of approximately 16,000 Foreign Service personnel worldwide. It does not create new policies or obligations but serves as a symbolic recognition of their diplomatic, security, and humanitarian contributions.

passed · Alaska · Senate May 3, 2024

SRES 673: A resolution honoring the life of David Hampton Pryor, former United States Senator for the State of Arkansas.

SRES 673 is a commemorative Senate resolution honoring the late David Hampton Pryor, who served as a U.S. Senator for Arkansas from 1978 to 1997. The resolution expresses the Senate’s "profound sorrow" at his death and directs the Secretary of the Senate to share the resolution with the House and deliver a copy to his family. It does not create new laws or policies - it is purely ceremonial, recognizing Pryor’s career as a legislator, governor, and public servant. The resolution concludes with the Senate adjourning as a mark of respect for his legacy.

John Boozman (R) · 99 co-sponsors

passed · Alaska · Senate May 3, 2024

SRES 668: A resolution honoring the life of Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham, former Senator for the State of Florida.

This resolution (SRES 668) is a ceremonial Senate measure honoring the late Senator Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham of Florida, who died on November 9, 2023. It formally expresses the Senate's "profound sorrow" over his death and directs the Secretary of the Senate to share the resolution with the House of Representatives and deliver a copy to his family. The resolution commemorates Graham's career as a Florida senator (1987-2005), governor (1979-1987), and his work on the 9/11 intelligence inquiry, but does not create any new laws or affect constituents. As a commemorative resolution, it serves solely to memorialize his service.

Rick Scott (R) · 99 co-sponsors

passed · Alaska · Senate May 2, 2024

SRES 671: A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of April 28, 2024, through May 4, 2024, as "National Small Business Week" to celebrate the contributions of small businesses and entrepreneurs in every community in the United States.

SRES 671 is a ceremonial Senate resolution supporting the designation of April 28-May 4, 2024, as "National Small Business Week." It honors small businesses and entrepreneurs across the U.S. for their economic contributions, noting they support over 62 million jobs through 33 million businesses. The resolution expresses the Senate's recognition of small businesses' resilience and role in strengthening local economies. As a symbolic gesture with no new policies or funding, it does not impose requirements or directly affect specific entities.

Jeanne Shaheen (D) · 73 co-sponsors

passed · Alaska · Senate May 2, 2024

SRES 674: A resolution designating May 5, 2024, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls".

This resolution designates May 5, 2024, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls" to honor victims and raise public attention. It calls on the American public and organizations to commemorate affected women (both documented and undocumented cases) and show solidarity with families. The resolution is symbolic - requiring no new funding, laws, or government action - solely aiming to increase awareness of this crisis. It directly affects Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities by acknowledging their disproportionate vulnerability to violence. The resolution references specific statistics on violent crime rates against Native women and the case of Hanna Harris, a Northern Cheyenne woman whose murder highlighted this issue.

Steve Daines (R) · 26 co-sponsors

passed · Alaska · House May 2, 2024

HR 6285: Alaska’s Right to Produce Act of 2023

HR 6285, the Alaska’s Right to Produce Act of 2023, requires the federal government to reissue canceled oil and gas leases on six specific tracts (16, 17, 24, 26, 27, and 30) in Alaska’s Coastal Plain. It mandates the Secretary of the Interior to accept the highest valid bids from January 2021 within 30 days and issue leases by December 2024, while blocking new environmental reviews for the program. The bill also nullifies federal actions that paused leasing, including a 2023 BLM rule and a 2021 Secretarial Order, and restricts judicial review of related approvals. This directly affects oil companies that bid on the canceled leases and the Bureau of Land Management, requiring them to proceed under the 2020 Record of Decision.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

passed · Alaska · Senate Apr 19, 2024

SRES 655: A resolution honoring the life of Joseph Isadore Lieberman, former Senator for the State of Connecticut.

SRES 655 is a Senate resolution passed on April 18, 2024, to honor the late Joseph I. Lieberman, a former U.S. Senator from Connecticut (1988-2013), following his death. The resolution recognizes his career, including his role in creating the Department of Homeland Security, establishing the 9/11 Commission, and advocating for civil rights and environmental protections. It directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory and transmit a copy to his family, expressing the Senate's sorrow and respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, as it solely commemorates his legacy.

passed · Alaska · House Apr 17, 2024

HR 5917: Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act

HR 5917, the "Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act," expands sanctions against foreign individuals and entities that direct the use of civilians as human shields. It specifically adds members or agents of Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) to the list of targets for sanctions when they order or control civilians to shield military objectives. The bill requires the President to justify sanction decisions to Congress within 120 days and extends the sunset date for related sanctions from 2023 to 2030. Additionally, it mandates a Department of Defense report within 120 days detailing strategies to counter human shield tactics used by groups like Hamas and PIJ, including plans for international coordination.

Mike Gallagher (R) · 36 co-sponsors

passed · Alaska · Senate Apr 15, 2024

SJRES 61: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Highway Administration relating to "National Performance Management Measures; Assessing Performance of the National Highway System, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure".

SJRES 61 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a Federal Highway Administration rule that established performance measures for the National Highway System, including a requirement to track greenhouse gas emissions from highway activities. The rule, published in December 2023, would have mandated that states and federal agencies assess highway performance using this emissions metric. If enacted, the resolution would block the rule from taking effect, preventing the implementation of the emissions tracking measure. This action is pursued under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to reject federal regulations with a simple majority vote.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment ✗ Transportation

Kevin Cramer (R) · 49 co-sponsors

passed · Alaska · Senate Apr 15, 2024

SRES 641: A resolution designating the week of April 7 through April 13, 2024, as "National Water Week".

SRES 641 designates the week of April 7-13, 2024, as "National Water Week" to highlight the importance of clean water access and infrastructure. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws, allocate funds, or impose obligations - it serves as a commemorative observance. The resolution references ongoing challenges like aging water systems and lack of access in underserved communities but does not enact policy changes. It is a non-binding gesture to raise awareness, consistent with similar commemorative resolutions.

passed · Alaska · Senate Mar 21, 2024

S 1332: Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act

This bill creates a new job category for direct support professionals (DSPs) in the federal Standard Occupational Classification system. DSPs are workers who provide personalized care to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, helping them with daily tasks, community participation, and achieving independence goals. The bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to add a specific code (31-1123) under healthcare support occupations within 30 days of enactment. This change aims to improve data collection on DSP workforce shortages and high turnover rates, which currently affect service stability for people with disabilities. It does not change funding, services, or regulations - only how these workers are classified for statistical purposes.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment