Alaska Congressional Bills

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 29, 2025

HR 2313: Celestial Time Standardization Act

HR 2313, the Celestial Time Standardization Act, directs NASA to develop a new time standard for lunar and deep space operations, addressing challenges with Earth-based time systems in space. It requires NASA to create a strategy for a coordinated lunar time, including features like accuracy for navigation, resilience without Earth contact, and scalability beyond the Moon. The bill mandates coordination with federal agencies (like Commerce and Defense), private companies, academic institutions, and international partners. NASA must report this strategy to Congress within two years, focusing on enabling future Moon missions and infrastructure.

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SRES 86: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI) and the harmful conflation of China's "One China Principle" and the United States'"One China Policy".

This Senate resolution (SRES 86) expresses the Senate's official position on a longstanding diplomatic issue. It clarifies that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (1971), which determined China's UN seat representation, does not endorse China's "One China Principle" (claiming Taiwan is part of China) or address Taiwan's political status. The resolution reaffirms the U.S. "One China Policy" does not accept China's sovereignty claim over Taiwan and opposes China's misuse of Resolution 2758 to isolate Taiwan from international organizations like the WHO or UN agencies. It specifically supports Taiwan's meaningful participation in international forums and opposes China's coercion of other nations to sever ties with Taiwan. The resolution is non-binding but aims to correct factual misrepresentations used to limit Taiwan's global engagement.

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 28, 2025

HR 3040: Preventing Ranked Choice Corruption Act

HR 3040, the "Preventing Ranked Choice Corruption Act," bans the use of ranked choice voting (RCV) for all federal elections (including U.S. House, Senate, and presidential elections) starting in 2026. It amends the Help America Vote Act to add a new provision prohibiting states from conducting federal elections using RCV, where voters rank candidates by preference. This directly affects states that currently use or plan to adopt RCV for federal races, requiring them to switch to alternative voting systems like plurality or runoff elections. The bill takes effect for elections held in 2026 or later, applying only to federal offices, not state or local elections.

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 24, 2025

HR 3010: No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act

HR 3010, the "No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act," prohibits pharmaceutical companies from deducting the costs of direct-to-consumer advertising for prescription drugs from their federal taxable income. Specifically, it amends the Internal Revenue Code to disallow tax deductions for advertising expenses related to covered drugs (prescription drugs and certain compounded drugs) when targeted directly at the general public through TV, radio, digital platforms, or billboards. This policy change directly affects pharmaceutical companies that run such advertising campaigns, requiring them to pay taxes on the full cost of these promotions. The bill does not apply to ads in medical journals or other professional publications. It takes effect for expenses incurred after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 17, 2025

HR 2925: Maritime Fuel Tax Parity Act

HR 2925, the Maritime Fuel Tax Parity Act, extends an existing tax exemption for alternative motorboat fuels to small vessels operating exclusively between ports on the Atlantic or Pacific coasts of the United States. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to include these single-coast vessels under the current exemption, ensuring they pay the same excise tax rate as other qualifying vessels. This change applies to fuel sales after December 31, 2023, directly affecting small maritime businesses that operate only along one coastal region. The key provision modifies Section 4041(g) to clarify that the tax exemption covers these specific vessels, promoting tax parity without creating new taxes or altering broader fuel regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 10, 2025

S 1404: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act amends federal law to strengthen legal tools for addressing organized retail crime, including theft from stores, online, and supply chains. It establishes a new Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts. The Center will share information, assist with investigations, track crime trends, and provide training to combat these crimes. The bill expands legal definitions to include organized retail crime as a specific category and requires annual reports on the Center's activities. The Center will operate for 7 years before sunset.

Chuck Grassley (R) · 49 co-sponsors

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 9, 2025

SRES 167: A resolution recognizing the importance of the Arctic Council and reaffirming the commitment of the United States to the Arctic Council.

This is a symbolic Senate resolution (SRES 167), not a binding bill. It formally recognizes the Arctic Council's role as a key forum for international cooperation on Arctic environmental protection, sustainable development, and Indigenous engagement. The resolution reaffirms the U.S. commitment to active participation in the Council, urges continued funding for U.S. Arctic Council activities, and emphasizes the importance of U.S. leadership - including maintaining the Arctic Ambassador-at-Large position - to address climate change and geopolitical challenges in the region. It directly affects U.S. diplomatic engagement with the Arctic Council and its member states.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 1391: Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025

S.1391, the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025, amends the 2009 Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act to improve collaboration on ocean acidification issues. It requires the federal advisory board to include two tribal representatives and mandates ongoing input mechanisms - like liaisons or online platforms - from coastal stakeholders, fishery councils, Indigenous knowledge groups, and non-Federal experts. The bill specifically directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to prioritize collaboration with Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and underserved coastal communities in research planning, vulnerability assessments, and adaptation efforts. These changes aim to integrate diverse community knowledge into federal ocean acidification monitoring and response strategies.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 1392: Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025

This bill establishes 7 regional "Ocean Innovation Clusters" across U.S. coastal areas to grow the sustainable ocean-based economy (Blue Economy), directly benefiting coastal communities, Tribal nations, small businesses, and diverse populations. It requires the Commerce Secretary to designate these clusters - led by nonprofits and including partners like universities, tribes, and governments - prioritizing underserved regions and economic diversity. The bill authorizes $10 million annually (2026-2030) for grants to support cluster operations, with each cluster managing a local "Ocean Innovation Center" providing shared workspaces, training, and collaboration hubs. These centers will focus on expanding job opportunities in sustainable sectors like seafood processing, ocean energy, and coastal resilience while improving cross-sector partnerships.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 8, 2025

S 1329: PEER Support Act

S.1329, the PEER Support Act, establishes formal standards for peer support specialists in mental health and substance use recovery. It defines the profession (requiring lived experience and certification), mandates the federal government to create a new occupational category for these specialists by 2026, and creates an Office of Recovery within SAMHSA to support workforce development and best practices. The bill also requires a federal report analyzing state criminal background check policies for peer specialists and recommending ways to reduce barriers to certification. This legislation directly affects peer support specialists, state certification agencies, and federal agencies like SAMHSA, aiming to professionalize the field and improve access to recovery support services.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 8, 2025

S 1342: Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act of 2025

This bill creates a new $30 million annual Weatherization Readiness Fund (2026-2030) to help states fix structural defects in low-income homes before weatherization can be installed. It directly affects low-income households in states receiving Weatherization Assistance Program funds, by requiring states to use these funds to repair hazards that block weatherization work. The bill also raises the maximum per-unit cost limit for fully weatherized homes from $6,500 to $15,000 and adds flexibility for the Secretary to adjust costs based on market conditions. These changes aim to streamline the weatherization process and increase funding efficiency for eligible homes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Housing

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 8, 2025

S 1345: America's First Fuels Act

This bill increases tax incentives for residential and commercial biomass heating systems. It raises the energy efficient home improvement credit cap to $2,000 for certain biomass stoves/boilers and $10,000 for others, effective after 2025. It also creates a new 30% investment tax credit for qualifying "open-loop biomass heating property" (systems using biomass for space heating, hot water, or industrial heat) that meet specific efficiency (75% minimum), size (under 50 MMBtu), and emissions control requirements. These changes directly affect homeowners and businesses installing eligible biomass heating equipment by reducing their tax burden for qualifying purchases.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Alaska Congressional Bills

Bill results