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.
This symbolic Senate resolution designates March 3, 2023, as "National Speech and Debate Education Day" to honor the value of speech and debate programs in schools. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups, but encourages educational institutions, businesses, and communities to recognize these programs. The resolution highlights how speech and debate education develops communication, critical thinking, and civic skills in students. It formally affirms the importance of these programs without imposing any requirements or funding changes.
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.
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.
HRES 12 establishes a new select subcommittee under the House Judiciary Committee to investigate alleged misuse of federal power against U.S. citizens, referred to in the bill as the "weaponization of the federal government." The subcommittee will examine how executive branch agencies collect, share, and use citizen data - including potential illegal or unconstitutional activities - and must issue a final report by January 2, 2025. This procedural resolution creates an oversight mechanism but does not enact new laws or directly affect citizens' rights.
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.
HR 582, the Credit Union Board Modernization Act, changes the required meeting frequency for boards of directors at federal credit unions. It replaces a simple "monthly" requirement with tiered schedules based on each credit union's performance rating under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System. Top-rated credit unions (ratings 1 or 2) must meet at least six times yearly, with one meeting per fiscal quarter. Lower-rated credit unions (ratings 3, 4, or 5) must meet monthly, and new credit unions must meet monthly for their first five years. This directly affects all federal credit unions by adjusting their board meeting obligations based on their regulatory rating.
The Financial Exploitation Prevention Act of 2023 requires investment companies and transfer agents to implement safeguards for "specified adults" (individuals aged 65+ or those with a mental/physical impairment that limits their ability to protect their own financial interests) who hold direct-at-fund accounts. It mandates collecting contact information for a trusted person to help verify account activity, and allows delaying redemption payments (for up to 25 business days total) if financial exploitation is suspected, after notifying the trusted contact and conducting an internal review. The law also requires detailed record-keeping, internal procedures for handling delays, and directs the SEC to submit a report to Congress within one year on further regulatory needs.
The Strategic Production Response Act (HR 21) requires the Secretary of Energy to develop a plan increasing oil and gas leasing on federal lands (managed by Interior, Agriculture, Energy, and Defense) by the same percentage as any initial drawdown of petroleum from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. This plan must be created before the first sale, exchange, or loan of reserve oil, and cannot increase leasing on federal lands by more than 10% overall. The bill mandates consultation with the Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, and Defense during plan development. It directly affects federal land management agencies and future oil/gas leasing decisions on public lands.
