This bill (SJRES 91) seeks to block a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule that set minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities (like nursing homes) and required transparency in Medicaid payments. If passed, it would cancel the rule (89 Fed. Reg. 40876), preventing it from taking effect under a specific congressional review process. The rule directly affects long-term care providers and Medicaid programs by imposing new staffing and reporting requirements. This resolution is procedural - it does not create new law but halts the implementation of the CMS rule.
HR 8614 authorizes the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study potential health risks for residents living near surface coal mines in Central Appalachia. The study will examine links between mining proximity and health effects, including environmental impacts on air/water quality, gaps in existing research, and effects of abandoned mines. It requires the Academies to assess scientific evidence, identify monitoring needs, and recommend research or safeguards for affected communities. The Academies must complete this study and issue a report within 24 months of the bill's enactment.
The S Corporation Modernization Act of 2024 modernizes key rules for S corporations. It increases the passive investment income limit from 25% to 60%, allowing more flexibility for S corporations that might otherwise lose their status. The bill also permits nonresident aliens to be S corporation shareholders with new tax treatment rules, allows IRAs to own S corporation stock, and creates a deduction for shareholders inheriting S corporation stock that can be amortized over 15 years. These changes aim to make S corporation rules more adaptable to current business practices and ownership structures.
This resolution (HRES 1271) is a symbolic gesture expressing the House's support for designating June 7, 2024, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and June 2024 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or policies but urges the public to wear orange, raise awareness about gun violence, and focus on community safety during summer months when such incidents often increase. The resolution references statistics on gun-related deaths and honors victims like Hadiya Pendleton, who was killed in 2013. It directly affects the public by calling on individuals and communities to participate in awareness activities. This is a non-binding, commemorative measure with no direct legal impact on legislation or regulations.
HR 5403, the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act, prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing or facilitating central bank digital currency (CBDC) directly or indirectly to individuals through financial institutions. It specifically bans Federal Reserve banks from offering digital products to individuals, maintaining individual accounts, or using CBDC for monetary policy implementation. The bill also clarifies that its restrictions do not apply to existing physical cash or private, permissionless digital payment systems. This bill directly affects the Federal Reserve's ability to develop or deploy a government-run digital dollar. The law aims to prevent the Federal Reserve from creating a digital currency that could enable transaction tracking or government oversight of personal financial activity.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2024 establishes a National Police Misconduct Registry to track complaints and disciplinary actions against officers, requiring all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to report use-of-force incidents with racial, gender, and age data. It bans chokeholds and carotid holds in police encounters, prohibits no-knock warrants in drug cases, and reforms qualified immunity to make it harder for officers to avoid accountability for misconduct. The bill mandates body cameras for federal officers, requires independent investigations of officer-involved shootings, and creates new data collection systems to monitor racial profiling and use-of-force patterns. It also includes provisions for civilian oversight boards, improved officer training on de-escalation and implicit bias, and restrictions on military equipment transfers to local police departments. This law affects all law enforcement agencies receiving federal funding under programs like Byrne and COPS grants.
HJRES 152 is a congressional resolution seeking to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule on managing coal ash waste from power plants, specifically for older disposal ponds (legacy CCR surface impoundments). The rule, published on May 8, 2024, established requirements for electric utilities to handle coal ash, including safety standards for existing disposal sites. If passed, this resolution would prevent the EPA rule from taking effect, removing the compliance requirements for utilities. This directly affects electric utilities that manage coal ash and the EPA's regulatory authority over waste disposal practices.
HJRES 150 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that established updated national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants from coal and oil-fired power plants. The resolution targets the EPA's specific rule published on May 7, 2024, which required these facilities to review residual risks and technologies to reduce emissions. If enacted, the resolution would nullify the rule, preventing the new standards from taking effect and keeping current regulations in place for power plants. This procedural bill uses the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code) to block the EPA rule without altering existing environmental laws.
This bill reauthorizes the National Alzheimer's Project Act through 2035 (extending the previous deadline of 2025) and adds new requirements to promote healthy aging and reduce Alzheimer’s risk factors. It mandates the program to provide information on healthy behaviors that may lower cognitive decline risk and expands the advisory group to include representatives from agencies like the Department of Justice, FEMA, and Social Security Administration, plus experts with diverse clinical trial experience. The bill directly affects Alzheimer’s research, care programs, and the federal advisory group overseeing national efforts. Key changes include requiring annual evaluations instead of initial ones and adding a focus on reducing health disparities in Alzheimer’s initiatives.
HR 8519 prohibits federal departments and agencies from using government funds for three specific research programs: disinformation research grants, Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace grants, and the National Science Foundation's Track F program focused on "Trust and Authenticity in Communications Systems." The bill directly affects federal agencies that administer research grants, preventing them from obligating or spending funds on these designated initiatives. It does not alter existing laws or regulations but restricts future funding allocations for these particular research areas. This is a procedural funding restriction, not a policy change affecting the public.
This bill amends the 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice Act to clarify and correct technical details. It updates eligibility requirements for claimants (requiring 30 days at Camp Lejeune and defining "latent harm" instead of "latent disease"), clarifies court jurisdiction for cases, and specifies attorney fee structures (20% pre-litigation, 25% post-litigation). The changes directly affect individuals who developed health issues due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, streamlining their legal process under the existing 2022 law.
The HELP Act of 2023 provides $550 million annually for 2024-2025 and $450 million for 2026-2030 to strengthen 211 (human services information and referral) and 988 (mental health crisis) services nationwide. It requires states to develop coordinated systems that ensure 24/7 accessibility, reduce non-emergency 911 calls, and connect individuals to appropriate human services and mental health resources. The bill mandates states to create comprehensive service databases, ensure accessibility for people with disabilities, and establish oversight councils with diverse representation to monitor racial equity and service effectiveness. States must also implement diversion programs to connect individuals with mental health responders instead of law enforcement for non-emergency situations. The legislation includes regular reporting requirements and biennial evaluations to measure how effectively the program connects people to needed services and reduces unnecessary law enforcement interactions.
