This symbolic Senate resolution (SRES 69) designates February 18-25, 2023, as "National FFA Week" to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the National FFA Organization. It recognizes FFA’s role in developing future agricultural leaders through its educational programs, which serve over 850,000 students across all 50 states and territories. The resolution has no legal effect - it is a ceremonial expression of support, not a policy change. It directly affects the FFA organization and its members by highlighting their educational mission during a designated week.
This resolution (SRES 63) is a symbolic Senate measure formally celebrating Black History Month. It acknowledges the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history and society, recognizes the origins of Black History Month (beginning as Negro History Week in 1926), and encourages nationwide reflection on this history. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a formal Senate acknowledgment of the significance of Black History Month in February. It aims to honor the legacy of African American pioneers and promote learning about their impact on the nation.
HJRES 24 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a District of Columbia law. It formally rejects the D.C. Council's approval of the "Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022" (D.C. Act 24-640), which would have granted voting rights to D.C. residents in local elections. The resolution prevents this D.C. law from taking effect by disapproving the Council's action under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. This is a procedural measure affecting D.C. residents' local voting rights, not a new federal policy.
HR 185 ends a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rule requiring foreign travelers entering the U.S. by air to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment, terminating the specific requirement outlined in the CDC’s April 2022 order (and any similar future orders). It also prohibits federal funding from being used to enforce this rule. This change directly affects foreign air travelers entering the United States, removing a vaccination proof requirement for their entry. The bill does not impact domestic travel, other entry methods, or vaccination requirements for U.S. citizens.
HCONRES 9 is a symbolic resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that formally denounces socialism as incompatible with American values, citing historical examples of socialist regimes causing widespread suffering and authoritarian rule. It states Congress opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States. This resolution has no legal effect, does not change any laws, and serves solely as a non-binding statement of congressional opinion. It directly affects no individuals or policies, as it is purely a declarative position.
SRES 28 is a symbolic Senate resolution commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003. It honors the seven astronauts who died - Colonel Rick Husband, Commander Willie McCool, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Anderson, Captain David Brown, Captain Laurel Clark, Dr. Kalpana Chawla, and Colonel Ilan Ramon - and expresses condolences to their families. The resolution also recognizes recovery personnel who lost their lives during debris searches and reaffirms the U.S. commitment to safety in space exploration, including future Artemis missions. As a procedural resolution, it has no legal effect but serves as a formal tribute to the crew's sacrifice.
This resolution designates the week beginning February 5, 2023, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week" to symbolically recognize these institutions. It directly honors the 35 accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities operating across 15 states, which serve over 230 federally recognized tribes and provide higher education access to American Indian, Alaska Native, and other students in underserved communities. The resolution calls for national recognition through appropriate activities but does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes. It is a ceremonial measure without binding legal effect.
HR 139, the SHOW UP Act of 2023, requires U.S. federal executive agencies to revert to their pre-pandemic telework policies and levels by January 30, 2024 (30 days after enactment). Agencies must conduct a study on pandemic-era telework impacts - including effects on mission performance, costs from underused offices or incorrect pay classifications, and employee productivity - and submit a new plan to Congress if they seek to expand telework beyond 2019 levels. This plan requires certification from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director confirming it will improve mission performance, reduce real property costs, lower locality pay expenses, and ensure secure remote work tools without increasing overall costs. The bill directly affects all federal executive agencies and their telework policies, mandating a return to pre-2020 practices while creating a formal process for any future telework expansion.
HR 382, the "Pandemic is Over Act," terminates the federal public health emergency declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill ends the emergency status declared on January 31, 2020, effective upon the bill's enactment. This action directly ends the federal authority tied to the emergency, including related public health measures and funding mechanisms under the Public Health Service Act.
This bill requires healthcare providers to give the same medical care to infants born alive during abortions as they would to any newborn, and to immediately admit such infants to a hospital. It mandates reporting of non-compliance to law enforcement and imposes penalties including up to 5 years in prison for violations. Women who undergo abortions can file civil lawsuits seeking money damages for injuries, three times the abortion cost, and punitive damages if care standards are not met. The bill also clarifies that abortion includes intentionally killing an unborn child or terminating pregnancy without specific exceptions (e.g., after viability to preserve life or removing a dead fetus).
HR 23, the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, rescinds unobligated funds previously allocated to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Specifically, it cancels unused balances from certain IRS funding provisions (sections 10301(1)(A)(ii), (iii), (B), (2), (3), (4), and (5)) of the Inflation Reduction Act. This bill does not change tax laws or directly affect taxpayers; it only redirects unspent IRS budget authority. The provision applies solely to funds that were not obligated by the IRS as of the bill’s enactment date.
HR 22, the *Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act*, blocks the U.S. government from selling petroleum from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to entities under Chinese Communist Party control or unless sellers guarantee the oil won’t be exported to China. It directly affects the Department of Energy’s management of the reserve and any foreign entities seeking to purchase reserve petroleum. The key mechanism requires the Secretary of Energy to prohibit sales to China-linked entities or impose strict export restrictions on any sale. This policy change aims to prevent strategic petroleum resources from reaching entities tied to China’s government.
