S 1654, the Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2023, allows credit bureaus to include positive payment history for utility and telecommunications services in consumer credit reports. It directly affects consumers who pay utility bills (electric, gas) or telecom services on time, as well as utility and telecom companies that may now report these payments to credit bureaus. The bill permits reporting of payment performance under lease agreements for housing, utility payments, and telecom contracts, but only includes payment-related details - not usage data - and prohibits reporting late payments if a consumer is on a valid payment plan. A GAO study on the bill's impact is required within two years of enactment.
This bill creates a federal grant program to help state, local, and tribal governments purchase and distribute anti-blood loss supplies (like tourniquets, gauze, and wound-packing materials) in high-traffic areas and near automated defibrillators. It requires grantees to implement public training on using these supplies for medical emergencies, with $10 million authorized for fiscal year 2024. The grants cannot be based on population size or violent crime rates, but funds will be apportioned by population. Additionally, the bill mandates a study by the Comptroller General on access to bleeding control kits and training, with a report due to Congress within 18 months of enactment.
This bill recognizes women who served in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps (1943-1948) as veterans for specific benefits. It amends veterans' law to count their service as "active duty" for eligibility to benefits under Chapters 23 and 24 of Title 38 (including headstones), excluding Arlington National Cemetery interment. The Secretary of Defense must issue honorable discharges to qualifying individuals within one year of the bill’s enactment and may create commemorative medals or plaques. It clarifies that recipients gain veteran status for these specific benefits but do not qualify for other VA benefits solely based on this service. The bill directly affects women who were honorably discharged from the Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII.
The Stop TSP ESG Act (HR 3406) requires the Thrift Savings Fund (TSP) to delegate voting rights on securities to a qualified professional asset manager instead of its governing board. This amendment to Section 8438(f) of Title 5, U.S. Code, directly affects the TSP, which manages retirement savings for federal employees. The key mechanism mandates that voting on securities must be handled by an external professional manager, removing direct TSP Board control over investment decisions. The bill's title indicates it aims to prevent the TSP from incorporating ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors into its investment strategy.
HR 3442, the America’s CHILDREN Act of 2023, creates a pathway to permanent residency for certain college graduates who entered the U.S. as children on specific work visas. It directly affects individuals who were lawfully present as dependents of nonimmigrant visa holders (like H-4 or L-2) for at least 8 years, graduated from a U.S. college, and have lived in the U.S. for 10+ years total. Key provisions include protecting applicants from "aging out" of eligibility by basing age calculations on when their parent’s visa petition was filed (not current age), and allowing them to retain their original visa application date ("priority date") if they later switch to a different visa category. The bill aims to provide stability for young adults who grew up in the U.S. but face immigration barriers due to visa status.
The Empowering Law Enforcement Act of 2023 would allow state and local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration laws by investigating, arresting, and detaining individuals who are in the United States without proper authorization. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to add certain immigration violators (including those with final removal orders or expired visas) to the National Crime Information Center database and establishes procedures for transferring aliens apprehended by state officers to federal custody within 48 hours. It extends detention periods for some individuals and provides legal immunity for state officers who enforce immigration laws within their official duties. The bill also mandates that DHS create training materials for state and local law enforcement on immigration enforcement procedures. These provisions would directly affect state and local law enforcement agencies, immigration detainees, and the federal government's immigration enforcement system.
This bill allows utility companies (like electricity, gas, and internet providers) and landlords to report payment history for essential services to credit bureaus, expanding credit reporting beyond traditional loans. It directly affects consumers who pay these bills regularly but may lack traditional credit history, potentially helping them build credit. Key provisions limit reporting to actual payment behavior (not usage data) and prevent utilities from reporting late payments if a consumer is on a valid payment plan. The bill also requires a government study to assess the impact of this reporting on consumers within two years.
The Power of the Mint Act (HR 3402) requires Congress to explicitly approve any new digital currency issued by the Federal Reserve or directed by the Treasury Secretary. It amends federal law to prevent the Federal Reserve Board and Treasury from creating or directing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) without Congressional authorization. The bill directly affects the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department, ensuring they cannot unilaterally introduce a digital version of U.S. dollars. The law defines CBDC as a digital form of money in U.S. dollars that is a direct liability of the Federal Reserve.
The Housing PLUS Act of 2023 modifies federal homeless assistance funding under the McKinney-Vento Act to ensure grantees providing supportive services (like job training or addiction treatment) or requiring conditions for housing (such as sobriety) cannot be restricted from receiving funds. It mandates that at least 30% of Continuum of Care funds each year must support entities offering these wraparound services. The bill directly affects homeless assistance grantees, project sponsors, and faith-based organizations receiving federal housing funds. It also requires the Secretary to report annually to Congress confirming compliance with these funding rules.
This joint resolution fills a vacancy on the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents by appointing Antoinette Bush of Washington, D.C., as a citizen regent. It specifies that her six-year term begins on April 25, 2023 (the date Steve Case's term expired) or the resolution's enactment date, whichever is later. The resolution directly affects Antoinette Bush by confirming her appointment to this specific position on the Board of Regents, as required by federal law.
SJRES 28 is a procedural joint resolution reappointing Roger W. Ferguson as a citizen regent on the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. It fills a vacancy created when Ferguson's term expired on April 25, 2023, by reappointing him for a new six-year term starting on that date or the resolution's enactment date. The bill directly affects the Smithsonian Institution's governance by maintaining Ferguson's position on its board. This resolution follows standard procedure under 20 U.S.C. § 43 to reappoint an incumbent regent, with no substantive policy changes.
This joint resolution reappoints Michael Govan as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents, filling a vacancy caused by his term expiration on May 6, 2023. It directly affects Govan (a California resident) and the Smithsonian Institution by extending his service. The resolution authorizes a six-year term beginning on the later of May 6, 2023, or the resolution's enactment date, as required by law. This is a procedural measure to maintain board continuity without new nominations.
