Alaska Congressional Bills

in committee · Alaska · Senate Dec 7, 2023

S 3456: Military Personnel Confirmation Restoration Act of 2023

This bill provides retroactive pay, benefits, and seniority for senior military officers (O-7 and above) whose promotions were delayed due to a suspension of Senate confirmation hearings starting in February 2023. It specifically applies to officers confirmed to their ranks between December 5 and December 31, 2023. The Secretary of Defense must pay retroactive compensation starting 30 days after the appointment was placed on the Senate Executive Calendar, use that date for seniority calculations, and waive any negative impacts from the confirmation delay. This addresses a specific backlog of promotions affected by the Senate's temporary suspension of its advice-and-consent process.

Mike Rounds (R) · 37 co-sponsors

in committee · Alaska · Senate Dec 7, 2023

S 3436: Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act

The Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act creates a new tax credit for developers and owners of middle-income housing projects. The credit equals a percentage (5-20%) of the qualified basis of buildings that meet specific affordability requirements: at least 60% of units must be rent-restricted for households earning 100% or less of area median income. The credit is available for 15 years, with projects required to maintain affordability through a 15-year commitment period. This policy change aims to incentivize the development of housing for middle-income households earning between 60-100% of area median income.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · Alaska · House Dec 7, 2023

HR 6653: Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023

This bill creates a 30% tax credit for owners of hydroelectric dams who make specific upgrades to their facilities. It directly affects dam operators who install qualifying improvements like fish passage systems, water quality enhancements, dam safety upgrades, or removal of obsolete river obstructions. The credit applies to property placed in service after December 2022, requires prior approval from FERC or state officials (before 2032), and covers items such as new turbines, sediment management systems, and small remote dams serving isolated communities. The tax code is amended to include this credit as a new provision under section 48F.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Alaska · Senate Dec 6, 2023

SJRES 52: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency entitled "Finding That Lead Emissions From Aircraft Engines That Operate on Leaded Fuel Cause or Contribute to Air Pollution That May Reasonably Be Anticipated To Endanger Public Health and Welfare".

This joint resolution (SJRES 52) seeks to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that determined lead emissions from aircraft using leaded fuel endanger public health and welfare. If approved, it would nullify the EPA's October 2023 rule (88 Fed. Reg. 72372), preventing it from taking effect. The rule directly affects aircraft operators and manufacturers using leaded aviation fuel, as it would have required addressing lead emissions under the Clean Air Act. The resolution, introduced by Senators Murkowski and Sullivan, uses a statutory process to halt the EPA's finding without creating new regulations.

Topics ✗ Environment

passed · Alaska · Senate Dec 6, 2023

SRES 488: A resolution recognizing Jobs for America's Graduates for helping young people of truly great promise in the United States succeed in school, on the job, and in postsecondary education, leading to generations of productive and rewarding careers.

SRES 488 is a symbolic Senate resolution recognizing Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG), a nonprofit organization supporting at-risk youth. It acknowledges JAG's work in helping young people succeed in school, careers, and postsecondary education across 39 states, citing its model serving over 1.6 million youth since 1980. The resolution specifically highlights JAG's high graduation rates and its comprehensive program including employability skills training and career pathway support. This resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally honors JAG's achievements.

passed · Alaska · Senate Dec 6, 2023

SRES 445: A resolution recognizing the importance of the economic relationship between the United States and Israel and affirming that trade facilitated by the United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement is a tool to support the economy of Israel during the conflict with Hamas.

SRES 445 is a Senate resolution recognizing the U.S.-Israel economic relationship and affirming that trade under the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement (signed in 1985) can support Israel's economy during the Hamas conflict. It highlights that bilateral trade has grown significantly since 1985, with the U.S. being Israel’s largest trading partner in 2022 ($14.2 billion in U.S. exports to Israel). The resolution states the agreement has fostered robust trade, investment (e.g., $10.6 billion in Israeli U.S. investments in 2022), and job creation, and urges maintaining this economic partnership amid the conflict. It does not create new policy but formally endorses existing trade mechanisms as a support tool.

Marsha Blackburn (R) · 26 co-sponsors

in committee · Alaska · Senate Dec 6, 2023

S 2860: SAFER Banking Act

The SAFER Banking Act provides legal protections for banks and financial institutions that serve state-legal marijuana businesses and related service providers. It creates a "safe harbor" preventing federal banking regulators from penalizing institutions for offering services to these businesses, even though marijuana remains illegal under federal law. The bill also allows income from state-legal marijuana businesses to be considered "legal income" for mortgage qualification purposes and establishes guidance for suspicious activity reporting related to these businesses. Similar protections are extended to hemp-related businesses and service providers, without requiring banks to serve these businesses.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Jeff Merkley (D) · 36 co-sponsors

in committee · Alaska · House Dec 6, 2023

HR 6625: Chinese Spy Balloon Assessment Act

HR 6625, the Chinese Spy Balloon Assessment Act, requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress within 90 days of the bill's enactment. The report must detail the national security effects of surveillance conducted by China via a high-altitude balloon shot down in U.S. airspace in February 2023, including impacts on military installations and an analysis of recovered technology's country of origin. This bill directly affects the Department of Defense and Congress by mandating a specific, time-bound assessment of a single incident. It does not create new policies or funding but establishes a procedural requirement for transparency about the 2023 balloon event. The report must be unclassified, though it may include a classified annex.

Russell Fry (R) · 21 co-sponsors

in committee · Alaska · Senate Dec 5, 2023

SRES 485: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate relating to the commemoration of the 190th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand.

This resolution (SRES 485) is a ceremonial Senate expression of support for the 190th anniversary of U.S.-Thailand diplomatic relations, marked by the 1833 Treaty of Amity and Commerce. It commemorates the historic alliance without creating new laws or affecting any individuals or entities. The resolution reaffirms the U.S. commitment to Thailand as a strategic partner based on shared values, highlights longstanding cooperation in security (like the Cobra Gold military exercises), trade ($74 billion annually), and regional initiatives, and looks forward to strengthening future ties. As a symbolic gesture, it has no direct policy impact.

in committee · Alaska · Senate Dec 5, 2023

S 3403: Medicare Patient Empowerment Act of 2023

Medicare Patient Empowerment Act of 2023 This bill allows any Medicare beneficiary to enter into a contract with an eligible professional, regardless of whether the professional is a participating or non-participating physician or practitioner, for any item or service covered by Medicare. Such beneficiaries may submit a claim for Medicare payment in the amount that would otherwise apply, except that, where the professional is considered to be non-participating, payment shall be paid as if the professional were participating. An eligible professional is a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse-midwife, clinical social worker, clinical psychologist, registered dietitian or nutrition professional, physical or occupational therapist, qualified speech-language pathologist, or qualified audiologist. A Medicare beneficiary must agree in writing in such a contract to (1) pay the eligible professional for a Medicare-covered item or service; and (2) submit, in lieu of the eligible professional, a claim for Medicare payment. However, a beneficiary may negotiate, as a term of the contract, for the eligible professional to file such claims on the beneficiary's behalf. The bill preempts state laws from limiting the amount of charges for physician and practitioner services for which Medicare payment is made.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Alaska · House Dec 5, 2023

HR 5785: To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the requirements of the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship.

HR 5785 modifies the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship for veterans and military dependents pursuing STEM degrees. It updates eligibility by adding "or graduate" to degree requirements, reduces maximum benefit periods from 60 to 45 months for undergraduate and 90 to 67.5 months for graduate study, and adds new priority criteria for beneficiaries who've used the most entitlement months or are studying STEM fields. The bill also requires veterans to exhaust all other educational benefits before using this scholarship. These changes directly affect individuals seeking STEM education benefits under the program.

Topics ✓ Education ✗ Veterans

Nikki Budzinski (D) · 22 co-sponsors

passed · Alaska · Senate Dec 4, 2023

SRES 483: A resolution commending the officers of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service for 225 years of work protecting, promoting, and advancing the health and safety of the United States.

This resolution (SRES 483) formally commends the officers of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service for their 225 years of service protecting public health. It recognizes their work in disease prevention, emergency response (including pandemics like COVID-19), and care for underserved communities. The Senate passed this symbolic resolution to mark the Corps' anniversary, with no policy changes or funding impacts. It is a ceremonial gesture, not a legislative action affecting laws or programs.

Alaska Congressional Bills

Bill results