The Investing in All of America Act of 2023 amends the Small Business Investment Act to expand eligibility for a leverage exclusion, allowing Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) to count more investments toward their leverage limits when funding businesses in low-income or rural areas, or in critical technology sectors vital to national security. It requires the Small Business Administration to adjust exclusion limits annually using the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation and to submit annual reports to Congress on economic activity and jobs generated by these investments. This bill directly affects SBICs and the businesses they support in designated underserved communities and strategic technology industries.
HR 8147 repeals the Corporate Transparency Act, which required certain businesses (typically those with more than 20 employees) to report beneficial ownership details to the Treasury Department. This bill eliminates the requirement for companies to disclose who ultimately owns or controls them, directly affecting business owners and financial institutions that previously submitted this information. The bill also makes minor technical changes to Title 31 of the U.S. Code to remove references to the repealed provisions. The repeal would end the existing financial transparency reporting obligation for covered entities.
This resolution (HRES 1157) is a symbolic gesture recognizing the work of linemen. It does not create new laws or policies; instead, it formally expresses the House's support for designating April 18, 2024, as "National Lineman Appreciation Day." The resolution highlights linemen's critical role in maintaining power infrastructure, their work as first responders during emergencies, and their safety risks. It directly affects no individuals or entities through policy changes - it solely offers ceremonial recognition of linemen's contributions to public safety.
This resolution symbolically recognizes April 11-17, 2024, as the seventh annual "Black Maternal Health Week." It highlights the disproportionately high maternal mortality and morbidity rates faced by Black women in the U.S., citing data showing Black women are 2-3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. The resolution emphasizes systemic racism, healthcare inequities, and barriers like limited access to care as key factors contributing to these disparities. It calls for policy action - including support for the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act - but does not create new laws or allocate funding.
HR 8132, the Balancing Incentives Act of 2024, requires patent owners to explicitly consent before certain patent challenges can be filed. Specifically, it amends patent law to add a new requirement that the patent owner must consent to the filing of petitions for inter partes review or post-grant review under Sections 312(a) and 322(a) of Title 35. This change directly affects patent owners and entities seeking to challenge patents through these review processes. The bill makes no substantive changes to patent law but modifies the procedural step for initiating these reviews.
This bill would reform the U.S. patent system by reverting to a "first-to-invent" system (replacing the current "first-to-file" system), abolishing inter partes and post-grant review proceedings, and ending automatic publication of patent applications after 18 months. It would restore patents as private property rights with a presumption of validity, strengthen remedies for patent infringement including a presumption of irreparable harm for injunctions, and eliminate fee diversion to fully fund the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The bill aims to protect inventors' rights and encourage innovation by making the patent system more favorable to patent holders. It would also reverse several Supreme Court decisions that have limited patentability for software and scientific discoveries.
HR 8053, the "No Propaganda Act," would terminate all federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports PBS and NPR. The bill prohibits the CPB from receiving any federal funds after the law's enactment and rescinds unobligated balances from recent appropriations bills. It amends the Communications Act to bar the CPB from accepting federal money, effectively ending its federal budget. This directly affects the CPB's operations, requiring it to seek alternative funding sources.
SRES 662 authorizes current and former Senate Members and employees to testify and produce documents in the federal criminal case *United States v. Robert Menendez, et al.* (pending in the Southern District of New York), specifically for matters related to their official Senate duties. The resolution also directs the Senate Legal Counsel to represent these individuals regarding the evidence they are required to provide. This procedural step ensures the Senate can cooperate with court requests while preserving the Senate’s constitutional privileges under Rule XI and the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
SRES 655 is a Senate resolution passed on April 18, 2024, to honor the late Joseph I. Lieberman, a former U.S. Senator from Connecticut (1988-2013), following his death. The resolution recognizes his career, including his role in creating the Department of Homeland Security, establishing the 9/11 Commission, and advocating for civil rights and environmental protections. It directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory and transmit a copy to his family, expressing the Senate's sorrow and respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, as it solely commemorates his legacy.
HR 8060, the CALL Act, requires refugee resettlement agencies to notify specific elected officials before placing refugees in a community. It directly affects resettlement agencies and requires them to notify Senators from the state, the local House representative, and applicable state legislators prior to making a placement within a state. The key provision amends immigration law to mandate this pre-placement notification, replacing a previous requirement with a clearer, multi-tiered notification process. This change aims to ensure local elected officials are informed about refugee placements in their jurisdictions.
HR 8061, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024, ensures stable funding for the Crime Victims Fund by directing certain False Claims Act collections into it from 2024 through 2029. Specifically, it adds a provision requiring that amounts collected under the False Claims Act (excluding whistleblower rewards and government reimbursement for damages) be deposited into the fund during this period. This directly affects crime victims who rely on the fund for services like counseling and emergency aid, as it prevents potential shortfalls in funding. The bill makes a concrete policy change by redirecting specific federal civil penalties into the fund, rather than altering the fund's existing purposes or eligibility rules.
This bill prohibits law enforcement and intelligence agencies from purchasing or obtaining certain personal records from data brokers or other third parties. It defines "covered records" as information about people in the US (including location data, communication contents, and online activity), requiring government agencies to follow FISA procedures to obtain such information. The bill also prohibits using illegally obtained records as evidence in court and limits how agencies can share such information. It directly affects data brokers who sell personal information and government agencies that seek to obtain personal data, strengthening privacy protections for US persons by requiring specific legal procedures.
