Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2023 This bill restricts research that uses human fetal tissue from an induced abortion. Specifically, it prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from conducting or supporting such research. Additionally, the bill applies requirements on the research of transplantation of fetal tissue for therapeutic purposes to research on fetal tissue in general. The bill also prohibits soliciting or acquiring a donation of human fetal tissue from an induced abortion, other than for purposes of an autopsy or burial.
This bill would prohibit the FDA from approving new abortion medications or investigational uses of existing ones. It would restrict currently approved abortion drugs to in-person administration only in clinics, hospitals, or medical offices by certified providers who can handle complications like ectopic pregnancy or severe bleeding. The law requires detailed adverse event reporting (excluding patient identifiers) to the FDA by both manufacturers and prescribers, and mandates provider certification covering pregnancy assessment, surgical intervention capabilities, and patient safety documentation. These provisions apply directly to healthcare providers, patients seeking medication abortions, and manufacturers of abortion drugs.
Protecting Life and Taxpayers Act of 2023 This bill requires federally funded entities to certify that they will not, subject to certain exceptions, perform abortions or provide funding to other entities that perform abortions. The bill provides exceptions for abortions (1) in cases of rape or incest; or (2) when the life of the woman is in danger due to a physical disorder, injury, or illness.
This bill prohibits federal funding to Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates for one year unless they certify they won't perform or fund abortions (with exceptions for rape/incest or life-threatening conditions). It redirects $235 million in existing funding to community health centers for women's health services like contraception, cancer screenings, and prenatal care. The bill explicitly states that redirected funds will continue to support all women's health services previously provided by Planned Parenthood. It also requires repayment of funds if Planned Parenthood violates the certification, and clarifies that overall federal funding for women's health services remains unchanged.
SRES 18 amends Senate rules to require that all legislative text (bills, resolutions, etc.) be publicly available electronically for a minimum review period before the Senate can consider it. The key provision sets a mandatory review period equal to either 2 minutes per page of the bill or 72 hours - whichever is longer - starting when the text is first made public. Senators must also self-certify they have read the legislation before voting on it. This rule change directly affects all Senators and Senate staff by altering the procedural timeline for reviewing and voting on legislation.
This bill prohibits the FDA from approving new abortion drugs and restricts existing approved drugs to in-person administration by certified healthcare providers. It requires providers to be certified in pregnancy assessment, ectopic pregnancy diagnosis, and emergency care capabilities, and mandates that drugs can only be dispensed in clinics, offices, or hospitals. The bill also imposes new reporting requirements for adverse events (like hospitalizations or severe infections) and requires providers to document risks to patients before prescribing. These provisions apply to all drugs defined as "abortion drugs" under the bill, which includes any substance intended to terminate pregnancy (excluding specific medical exceptions).
This bill amends the Congressional Budget Act to require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director to assess whether health-related proposals could reduce future federal spending through preventive health measures. It directs the CBO to document and project these potential savings in budget analyses when requested by specific congressional committees (Budget, Finance, Health, or Energy committees in either chamber). The law defines "preventive health" as evidence-based actions that prevent disease and promote wellness, and mandates the CBO to include these savings estimates in budget projections for up to 20 years beyond the current budget cycle. The bill affects how federal spending reductions from preventive health programs are scored, not the programs themselves.
This bill prohibits U.S. federal funding for gain-of-function research on certain viruses. It directly affects universities and research institutions that conduct such research, banning new federal grants for them. The law defines gain-of-function research as work that could make influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses more dangerous or contagious in any organism. Federal agencies must stop awarding new grants to institutions performing this specific type of research.
HR 564 redirects unspent funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) to reduce the federal deficit. It requires all unobligated ARP funds - money allocated but not yet spent - to be sent to the Treasury's general fund upon the bill's enactment. This action directly affects federal budget accounting by canceling unused appropriations rather than creating new programs or aiding specific groups. The bill does not alter existing laws or services but focuses solely on reallocating existing, unspent federal funds. It is a procedural budget measure with no direct impact on taxpayers or beneficiaries of the ARP.
The Educational Choice for Children Act creates tax credits for individuals and corporations that contribute to scholarship granting organizations providing education scholarships. Individuals can claim a credit up to $5,000 or 10% of their income, while corporations can claim up to 5% of taxable income. The scholarships are available to students from households with income up to 300% of the area median income, and can be used for private school tuition, tutoring, and other educational expenses at elementary and secondary schools. The bill includes strict requirements for scholarship organizations to verify income, conduct audits, and prevent misuse of funds, while also prohibiting government control over these organizations and protecting private and religious schools from discrimination in the program. It establishes a $10 billion annual cap on the total tax credits available.
HR 572, the Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act of 2023, establishes a permanent Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program based on a successful 2018-2019 pilot. It allows private-sector employers to voluntarily self-audit payroll for Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations (minimum wage, overtime), submit detailed records to the Department of Labor, and resolve unpaid wages. Affected employees (excluding those covered by H-1B/H-2B visa programs or Davis-Bacon/Service Contract Acts) receive settlement offers; they can accept (waiving private lawsuits) or decline. The program aims to increase efficiency - showing in the pilot that self-audits paid more back wages per case and per enforcement hour than traditional methods.
This concurrent resolution calls on the President to abandon the One China policy in favor of one that recognizes Taiwan as an independent country that is not a part of China. The resolution also urges the President to bolster diplomatic and economic relations between the United States and Taiwan through specified means.
