Arkansas Congressional Bills

in committee · Arkansas · House Sep 23, 2024

HR 9763: No Funding Without Freedom Act

This bill blocks U.S. funding for Afghanistan through the State Department until the Secretary of State certifies that all detained U.S. citizens held by Afghanistan's government or groups within Afghanistan have been released. It requires the President to provide detailed justification to Congress if a waiver is needed to release a detained citizen, and mandates quarterly reports to Congress on the status of detained Americans and efforts to secure their release. The bill also specifies that determinations about detained citizens must follow procedures outlined in the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery Act. It directly affects U.S. foreign aid funding for Afghanistan and the Afghan government/groups holding Americans.

in committee · Arkansas · House Sep 19, 2024

HJRES 144: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Department of Justice, relating to "Definition of 'Engaged in the Business' as a Dealer in Firearms".

HJRES 144 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a specific rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) on April 19, 2024. The resolution seeks to block the ATF's rule that redefined the term "engaged in the business" for firearm dealers, which would have affected how federal licensing requirements apply to certain sellers. If enacted, this resolution would nullify the rule, preventing it from taking effect under procedures in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. The bill directly impacts firearm dealers operating under the current regulatory framework and the ATF's enforcement authority.

Andrew S. Clyde (R) · 130 co-sponsors

in committee · Arkansas · House Sep 19, 2024

HR 9678: Federal Lands Amplified Security for the Homeland (FLASH) Act

The Federal Lands Amplified Security for the Homeland (FLASH) Act authorizes the construction of navigable roads on Federal lands along the southern border to improve U.S. Customs and Border Protection access, while establishing policies to reduce trash accumulation and address environmental damage from unauthorized border crossings. The bill requires agencies to develop protocols for mitigating wildfire risks through vegetation management, prohibits Federal funds from being used to provide housing for unauthorized immigrants on Federal lands, and includes provisions to address illegal cannabis cultivation and pesticide use. It mandates annual reports on waste collection and environmental impacts, and authorizes $16 million annually for initiatives to address contamination from trespass cannabis cultivation on covered Federal lands. The legislation directly affects land management operations on approximately 50 million acres of Federal lands administered by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Forest Service along the southern border.

Topics ✗ Immigration ✓ Transportation

Juan Ciscomani (R) · 38 co-sponsors

in committee · Arkansas · House Sep 18, 2024

HJRES 163: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; and Repeal of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule".

This bill (HJRES 163) is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule finalized on May 9, 2024. The EPA rule established new emissions standards for greenhouse gases from fossil fuel power plants (both new and existing) and repealed a previous rule called the Affordable Clean Energy Rule. The resolution would block this EPA rule from taking effect by invoking the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code). If passed, it would prevent the EPA rule from being enforced, directly affecting fossil fuel power plant operators and the EPA’s regulatory authority over emissions.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

Troy Balderson (R) · 164 co-sponsors

in committee · Arkansas · House Sep 18, 2024

HJRES 133: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3".

HJRES 133 is a congressional resolution seeking to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule titled "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3." This rule, published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2024, established new emissions requirements for large trucks and commercial vehicles. The resolution, if passed, would prevent the EPA rule from taking effect by formally disapproving it under standard congressional review procedures. The measure directly affects the EPA’s regulatory authority and vehicle manufacturers who would have been required to comply with the proposed standards.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment ✗ Transportation

Russ Fulcher (R) · 59 co-sponsors

in committee · Arkansas · House Sep 18, 2024

HJRES 117: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter".

H.J. Res. 117 is a joint resolution that would disapprove an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule concerning the reconsideration of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter. The EPA rule, published on March 6, 2024, was part of the agency’s process to review these standards, which set limits for harmful air pollutants. This resolution invokes a congressional disapproval procedure under federal law to block the rule from taking effect. If enacted, the rule would have no force or effect, preserving the existing air quality standards for particulate matter.

Topics ✗ Environment

Rick W. Allen (R) · 86 co-sponsors

in committee · Arkansas · Senate Sep 18, 2024

SRES 827: A resolution designating the week of September 15 through September 21, 2024, as "National Truck Driver Appreciation Week".

This resolution designates the week of September 15-21, 2024, as "National Truck Driver Appreciation Week" in the U.S. Senate. It formally thanks professional truck drivers for their role in moving 70% of U.S. freight annually (over 11 billion tons), delivering essential goods to 80% of communities, and supporting national security and emergency services. The resolution aims to raise public awareness of truck drivers' contributions and promote respect for their profession. It is a ceremonial measure with no binding policy changes or funding impacts.

in committee · Arkansas · House Sep 18, 2024

HRES 1467: Expressing support for the recognition of October 2024 as "National Dyslexia Awareness Month".

This resolution expresses support for designating October 2024 as "National Dyslexia Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or allocate funds but encourages Congress, schools, and state/local educational agencies to recognize dyslexia's significant educational impact. The resolution highlights dyslexia as a common learning disability affecting up to 1 in 5 people and emphasizes the importance of early screening and evidence-based interventions. It serves as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness about dyslexia's challenges and strengths, urging broader recognition without mandating specific actions.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Arkansas · Senate Sep 18, 2024

S 5083: A bill to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to extend the Every Kid Outdoors program.

This bill extends the Every Kid Outdoors program, which provides free access to national parks for fourth graders and their families, through September 30, 2031. It directly affects fourth-grade students and their families who use national parks under the program. The key change replaces the previous annual cycle (September 1 to August 31) with a fixed end date of September 30, 2031, and allows the Secretaries to determine the program's start date within a 12-month period. The amendment modifies the existing law to provide long-term stability for the program beyond its original 7-year term.

in committee · Arkansas · House Sep 18, 2024

HR 9648: Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2024

The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2024 would require Congress to approve most major federal regulations before they take effect, rather than allowing agencies to implement them directly. It defines a "major rule" as one with significant economic impact ($100 million+ annually) or substantial effects on competition, jobs, or the environment. Agencies would need to submit detailed reports including cost-benefit analyses to Congress before implementing such rules, with Congress having 70 days to approve or disapprove them. The bill would also require agencies to publish guidance documents online and conduct annual reviews of existing regulations.

in committee · Arkansas · House Sep 18, 2024

HR 7891: Kids Online Safety Act

The Kids Online Safety Act (HR 7891) would require major online platforms (with high revenue or user numbers) to implement safety features for children and teens, including default protective settings, parental controls, and age verification. It would mandate platforms to report annually on risks to minors and their safety measures, and prohibit advertising harmful products (like tobacco, alcohol, or gambling) to minors. The bill directly affects social media platforms, online video games, and video streaming services that are used by minors, with the goal of preventing mental health harms, compulsive usage, and cyberbullying.

Topics ✓ Technology

Gus M. Bilirakis (R) · 64 co-sponsors

in committee · Arkansas · House Sep 16, 2024

HR 705: Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act

HR 705, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from automatically sending veterans' personal information to the national background check system solely because a fiduciary (like a guardian) manages their benefits. It specifically blocks the VA from sharing this data with the Justice Department without a court order finding the veteran a danger to themselves or others. This directly affects veterans who have a fiduciary appointed due to incapacity but are not deemed dangerous, preventing automatic barriers to firearm purchases based only on their fiduciary status. The bill amends 38 U.S.C. § 5501B to require judicial authorization before such data can be transmitted.

Topics ✓ Technology ✓ Veterans

Mike Bost (R) · 73 co-sponsors

Arkansas Congressional Bills

Bill results