Arkansas Congressional Bills

in committee · Arkansas · Senate Jun 13, 2024

S 4546: STATUE Act

The STATUE Act (S 4546) makes it a federal crime to willfully damage or destroy public monuments, statues, plaques, or memorials on federal property or when the act involves interstate commerce. It specifically prohibits such actions under two circumstances: if the perpetrator uses interstate travel or mail, or if the monument is on federal land. Violators face fines (minimum $1,000 or the damage cost, whichever is higher) and prison sentences of 5 to 10 years. The law directly affects individuals who damage federally protected monuments or use interstate means to commit such acts.

in committee · Arkansas · Senate Jun 12, 2024

SJRES 96: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance".

Senate Joint Resolution 96 seeks to block a Department of Education rule that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools (e.g., colleges, K-12 programs receiving federal aid). If approved, it would invalidate the rule published April 29, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 33474), preventing it from taking effect under a congressional disapproval process. This would maintain existing nondiscrimination standards for education programs instead of implementing the new rule. The resolution directly affects all schools and programs receiving federal education funding.

Topics ✗ Education

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) · 40 co-sponsors

in committee · Arkansas · Senate Jun 12, 2024

S 4524: Conscience Protection Act of 2024

This bill prohibits federal and state entities from penalizing health care organizations or providers who decline to participate in abortion services, referrals, coverage, or facilitation. It creates a private right of action, allowing affected individuals or entities to sue for violations in federal court and seek remedies like injunctions or damages. The law covers hospitals, insurers, pharmacies, clinics, and other health care entities, ensuring they can maintain conscience-based objections without losing federal funding or facing retaliation. Enforcement would be handled by the Office for Civil Rights, which must investigate complaints and refer cases to the Justice Department when needed.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

James Lankford (R) · 20 co-sponsors

in committee · Arkansas · Senate Jun 5, 2024

SJRES 92: 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 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 joint resolution (SJRES 92) seeks to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that established new greenhouse gas emission standards for fossil fuel power plants and repealed an earlier rule. It targets the EPA's specific rule (published May 9, 2024), which set performance standards for new/modified plants, emission guidelines for existing plants, and removed the Affordable Clean Energy Rule. The resolution uses a procedural mechanism under the Congressional Review Act to disapprove the rule, meaning it would prevent the EPA rule from taking effect. If passed, the rule would have no legal force, directly affecting how power plants regulate emissions under federal law.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

in committee · Arkansas · Senate Jun 5, 2024

SJRES 93: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Commerce relating to "Revision of Firearms License Requirements".

This joint resolution (SJRES 93) seeks to block a specific rule proposed by the Department of Commerce. It targets the rule titled "Revision of Firearms License Requirements" (published April 30, 2024, in the Federal Register), which would have changed requirements for firearms licenses. If passed, the resolution would prevent this rule from taking effect by invoking a congressional disapproval process under Title 5, U.S. Code. The resolution directly affects the implementation of the Commerce Department's proposed firearms licensing changes, not the licensing requirements themselves.

Bill Hagerty (R) · 35 co-sponsors

in committee · Arkansas · Senate Jun 5, 2024

SJRES 94: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the proposed rule submitted by the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to the Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule.

This bill (SJRES 94) seeks to block a proposed rule from the Department of Health and Human Services that would have changed regulations for the Unaccompanied Children Program. The rule, published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2024, aimed to update how unaccompanied alien children are placed, cared for, and provided services. If approved, this resolution would prevent the rule from taking effect, keeping existing regulations in place. It directly affects the federal program that handles minors entering the U.S. without parents or guardians. The bill does not change the program's operations but stops the proposed regulatory changes.

Chuck Grassley (R) · 46 co-sponsors

in committee · Arkansas · House Jun 5, 2024

HJRES 166: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees".

HJRES 166 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a Department of Labor rule that would have changed overtime exemption standards for certain salaried workers. The rule, published in April 2024, aimed to redefine how executive, administrative, professional, outside sales, and computer employees are classified for overtime pay under federal law. If enacted, this resolution would block the rule from taking effect, preserving the existing classification system for these workers.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Tim Walberg (R) · 51 co-sponsors

in committee · Arkansas · Senate Jun 5, 2024

S 4459: Constitutional Citizenship Clarification Act of 2024

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify birthright citizenship by adding specific exceptions. It states that children born in the U.S. to parents who are unlawfully present (e.g., undocumented immigrants), serving as diplomats, or engaged in hostile activities (like terrorism) would not automatically gain U.S. citizenship at birth. The law directly affects children of these specific parent categories who are currently covered under current citizenship rules. It codifies existing judicial interpretations but does not change the 14th Amendment's core principle of birthright citizenship for most others.

Topics ✗ Immigration

in committee · Arkansas · Senate Jun 5, 2024

S 4483: Securing Europe’s Energy Security Act of 2024

This bill amends the existing Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act of 2019 by extending a waiver period. It removes a specific subsection (f) and changes the expiration date in another provision to January 1, 2031. The bill directly affects U.S. energy-related policies tied to Europe by delaying the end of a current waiver. It does not create new energy security measures but adjusts the timeline for an existing provision. The change is procedural, with no new substantive requirements added.

in committee · Arkansas · Senate Jun 5, 2024

S 4484: Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act

S 4484, the "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act," imposes U.S. sanctions on individuals or entities supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating or prosecuting "protected persons." It directly affects ICC officials, foreign nationals aiding ICC actions against U.S. citizens or officials from non-ICC ally nations (like Israel), and their immediate family members. Key provisions require the President to block property and deny visas to targeted individuals, while permanently rescinding all U.S. funding for the ICC. The bill defines "protected persons" as U.S. military personnel, government officials, and allied officials from nations not party to the ICC’s Rome Statute.

in committee · Arkansas · Senate Jun 5, 2024

S 3335: Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act

This bill creates a new grant program allowing state and local law enforcement agencies to hire retired federal law enforcement officers for specific non-sworn tasks like homicide investigations, forensics analysis, and computer network expertise. Agencies receiving grants must train civilian staff on these tasks and use retired officers to perform them. The bill includes strict accountability rules, requiring annual audits by the Justice Department's Inspector General, excluding agencies with unresolved audit findings for two years, and prioritizing applicants with clean audit histories. It also mandates reporting to Congress if multiple similar grants are awarded to the same agency. The program directly affects state/local police departments and retired federal officers who would be rehired under this initiative.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Amy Klobuchar (D) · 19 co-sponsors

in committee · Arkansas · Senate Jun 5, 2024

S 930: Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2024

S 930, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2023, creates a presumption that public safety officers (such as firefighters and police) who develop specific cancers after exposure during duty have work-related injuries. It defines "exposure-related cancer" to include 22 types (like lung, leukemia, and WTC-related cancers) and presumes these cancers are work-related if officers were exposed during service, diagnosed within 15 years of retirement, and the cancer caused death or permanent disability. The bill requires the Bureau to review scientific evidence to add new cancer types to the list within 180 days of a petition. This directly affects families seeking benefits for fallen officers by shifting the burden of proof to the Bureau, not the claimants.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Amy Klobuchar (D) · 37 co-sponsors

Arkansas Congressional Bills

Bill results