This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau titled Small Business Lending under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) and published on May 31, 2023. The rule requires financial institutions to collect and report to the bureau credit application data for small businesses. On July 31, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas ordered the bureau not to implement or enforce the rule until a related pending case is resolved.
Simplifying Management, Access, Reallocation, and Transfer of Spectrum Act or the SMART Spectrum Act This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to implement an incumbent informing capability in its regulation of the electromagnetic spectrum. The bill also outlines minimum requirements for the capability that address protection of classified information and other matters. Incumbent informing capability is a mechanism that facilitates the sharing of spectrum allocated for both federal and nonfederal uses; it enables federal users to reliably inform nonfederal users when and where the federal systems are operating in order to manage harmful interference between the federal and nonfederal uses.
HCONRES 32 is a symbolic resolution supporting International Transgender Day of Visibility, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 30, 2023. It encourages Americans to observe the day through ceremonies and activities, celebrates transgender achievements, and recognizes the community's fight for dignity amid ongoing discrimination and anti-trans legislation. The resolution does not create new laws or policies - it is a non-binding statement of support, referencing over 700 anti-trans bills introduced in 2021-2023 that target education, healthcare, and identity documents. It directly acknowledges transgender individuals and their contributions without altering any legal rights or obligations.
This bill creates a legal process allowing generic drug manufacturers to challenge inaccurate patent listings by brand-name drug companies. Specifically, it permits generic applicants to file lawsuits seeking court orders to correct or delete misleading "use codes" in patent records related to a drug's method of use. This directly affects generic drug makers and brand-name sponsors who list patents for drug applications under FDA approval pathways. The key mechanism requires courts to address listings that don't match actual patents, cover unrelated uses, or are overly broad, aiming to clear patent-related barriers for generic competition.
The ADAPT 2.0 Act (S 1132) allows U.S. drug manufacturers to seek approval for new drugs using clinical and safety data from countries where the drug is already approved, such as the United Kingdom and South Africa. It requires the FDA to review these applications within 90 days and automatically approve them if the drug meets specific criteria, including being approved in the foreign country, safe, effective, and meeting manufacturing and patent requirements. The bill mandates the FDA to establish a new Foreign Drug Review Advisory Committee to evaluate applications within 60 days and publish approval decisions online. It also requires sponsors to conduct post-approval studies for certain drugs and submit promotional materials for review before dissemination. This law directly affects drug manufacturers seeking faster U.S. market access and the FDA’s review process for foreign-approved therapies.
This bill repeals two specific legal authorizations for U.S. military force against Iraq: the 1991 authorization (Public Law 102-1) and the 2002 authorization (Public Law 107-243). If enacted, it would end the legal basis for military operations in Iraq under these two resolutions. The repeal directly affects the executive branch’s authority to use military force against Iraq under these specific laws. It does not create new policy but removes existing legal permissions.
HR 2403, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2023, modifies federal firearm background check procedures to address delays. It requires firearm licensees to wait at least 10 business days after a prospective buyer submits a petition verifying they are not prohibited from owning firearms before completing a sale, if the background check system hasn't cleared the transaction. The bill also mandates the Attorney General to create an electronic petition form, provide timely responses to petitions, and track delays. Additionally, it requires multiple reports analyzing implementation, transaction delays, denial reasons by state, and potential impacts on domestic violence victim safety, with the first report due within 150 days of enactment.
The MODERN WIC Act of 2023 modernizes the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program by expanding remote participation options for eligible individuals. It allows certification, recertification, and nutritional risk evaluations via phone, video, or other interactive technology (ensuring ADA accessibility), with states required to collect health data within 30-90 days for remote cases. The bill also permits remote delivery of food benefits (e.g., electronic transfers or mail) without in-person pickup and allocates $60 million for technology upgrades to improve program access and secure data sharing. A report to Congress on remote technology use must be submitted within one year, detailing impacts on participation, satisfaction, and best practices.
Expand eXpertise in China Education and Language Act or the EXCEL Act This bill requires various actions to address competition with China. The Department of State must use direct hire authority to appoint at least 31 candidates with China-related linguistic, cultural, or regional expertise to positions in the competitive service. The bill requires the State Department to train certain employees on topics such as the domestic and foreign policy objectives of China and the Chinese Communist Party. Additionally, the bill establishes a China strategic advisory board and requires the Government Accountability Office to study the personnel capacity and capability of the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to support strategic competition with China.
HR 2445 establishes a new Office of the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance to oversee all U.S. military and nonmilitary aid to Ukraine since January 2022. The Inspector General will conduct independent audits and investigations into how funds are spent, track weapons transfers, review contracts, and monitor compliance with U.S. requirements, directly affecting all agencies administering Ukraine aid. Quarterly reports to Congress must detail all obligations, expenditures, and comparisons of U.S. support versus other NATO allies' contributions. The office is funded with $70 million for fiscal year 2023 and terminates 180 days after unspent aid drops below $250 million.
The ALIGN Act (HR 2406) permanently allows businesses to deduct the full cost of qualified equipment and machinery in the year of purchase, rather than spreading the deduction over multiple years. This applies to property placed in service after September 27, 2017, directly affecting businesses that make capital investments in eligible assets like manufacturing equipment or commercial facilities. The bill eliminates the previous requirement to depreciate these costs over time, reducing taxable income in the purchase year. It makes a temporary 2017 tax provision permanent, impacting businesses across various industries that purchase qualifying property.
HR 2427, the Hmong Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes Congress to award a gold medal to honor Hmong veterans who served with U.S. forces during the Vietnam War. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to strike the medal and present it to the Smithsonian Institution for display, recognizing their combat service, heavy casualties, and displacement after the war. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to cover costs. This procedural bill commemorates the Hmong people's military contributions and their refugee resettlement in the U.S., affecting the Hmong community as a whole.
