SRES 355 is a Senate resolution recognizing that Native American communities on federal reservations, Alaska Native villages, and Native Hawaiian communities face critical barriers to clean drinking water, with nearly half lacking reliable access. It affirms the Federal Government’s trust responsibility to address this issue and directly urges the executive branch to take concrete action. The resolution calls for creating an interagency task force to expedite water infrastructure projects, provide technical assistance to tribes for accessing federal funding, and ensure infrastructure development is not delayed by unresolved water rights disputes. It emphasizes that existing funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act requires better support to be effectively implemented, without tying progress to water rights settlements. This resolution expresses the Senate’s policy stance but does not create new legal requirements.
HRES 720 designates the week of September 24-30, 2023 (and annually thereafter) as "Gold Star Families Remembrance Week" to honor families who have lost loved ones in military service. It specifically recognizes the sacrifices of families of fallen service members and veterans, and encourages Americans to observe the week through community service and celebrating the lives of those who died protecting the nation. This resolution is procedural and symbolic, with no new funding, regulations, or policy changes - only a formal designation to honor these families. It directly affects Gold Star families (those with members who died in military service) and the broader public through its call for observance.
S 2909, the "Deferring Executive Authority Act" (DEA Act), requires the Attorney General to submit a report to Congress before any federal rule can reschedule marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. Congress can then disapprove the rule within 60 days using a joint resolution, preventing the scheduling change from taking effect. This procedural bill directly affects the Attorney General's authority to alter marijuana's federal classification and gives Congress a 60-day window to block such changes. It does not change marijuana's legal status but establishes a review process for scheduling decisions.
This bill requires colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid to include hazing incidents in their annual security reports and publish detailed public transparency reports. It defines hazing as intentional acts causing physical or mental harm during group initiation or membership, and mandates institutions to create annual Campus Hazing Transparency Reports. These reports must list verified hazing incidents, organizational involvement, investigation timelines, and sanctions - while protecting student privacy - starting 12 months after enactment. Reports must be updated twice yearly and remain publicly available for seven years. The law applies to all U.S. institutions participating in federal higher education programs.
This bill expands Medicare's coverage for telehealth services by adding new categories of healthcare providers who can deliver these services and receive payment. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking therapy services (like physical, occupational, speech, or audiologic therapy) via telehealth, as well as the therapists and assistants providing them. Key provisions include authorizing Medicare to pay for telehealth services provided by qualified audiologists, occupational therapists and their assistants (under supervision), physical therapists and their assistants (under supervision), and speech-language pathologists. The bill also allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to specify additional eligible providers for telehealth services under Medicare.
S 2911, the "Protecting the Right To Keep and Bear Arms Act of 2023," prevents federal officials from using emergency declarations to impose gun control. It bans the President from declaring emergencies under the National Emergencies Act or the Stafford Act for gun control purposes, and stops the Health and Human Services Secretary from declaring public health emergencies for the same reason. The bill also amends the Stafford Act to explicitly prohibit emergency declarations that would restrict firearm possession, sale, or transfer of firearms, ammunition, or related accessories. This directly affects how federal emergency powers can be used during crises, limiting actions that could impact gun rights under the Second Amendment.
This bill requires the Secretary of State to notify Congress before entering, renewing, or extending any science and technology agreement with China. It mandates a 30-day waiting period after submitting detailed documentation to congressional committees, including the full agreement text, national security justification, risk assessments of technology transfer, human rights considerations, and monitoring plans. Existing agreements with China must be revoked unless the Secretary submits this notification within 60 days of the bill's enactment. The law directly affects U.S. diplomatic negotiations with China on scientific and technical collaborations.
HR 5636, the "Protect Children’s Innocence Act," prohibits federal criminal penalties for performing gender-affirming medical care on minors under specific circumstances. It defines prohibited care as surgeries (like hysterectomy or mastectomy), puberty blockers, and hormone therapies at supraphysiologic doses, with exceptions for medical emergencies, intersex conditions, or life-threatening illnesses. The law only applies when the care involves interstate commerce (e.g., payments, communications, or travel across state lines). Minors receiving such care cannot be prosecuted, but they may sue providers for civil damages. The bill directly affects minors under 18, healthcare providers, and families seeking gender-affirming medical treatment.
This bill prohibits federal funding for colleges and universities that require students or staff to get a COVID-19 vaccine to enroll, work, or access services. It directly affects institutions of higher education receiving federal funds, such as those participating in student aid programs. The key provision blocks all federal financial support if an institution enforces such vaccine requirements as a condition of enrollment, employment, or benefits. The law does not ban vaccine mandates outright but ties federal funding to compliance with this prohibition.
This bill renames the Food for Peace program after Peter O'Brien and makes key changes to how U.S. agricultural commodities are provided for international food aid. It prohibits using cash, vouchers, or food bought outside the U.S. for aid, limits non-commodity expenses to 50% of annual funds, and requires detailed annual reports on fund usage and program waivers. These changes directly affect U.S. agricultural exports and international food assistance programs administered by the U.S. government. The bill focuses on directing aid through U.S.-produced commodities while increasing transparency in how funds are spent.
This bill mandates the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to reissue a 2017 rule that removed grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem from the federal endangered species list, within 180 days of the bill's enactment. It directly affects grizzly bear management in that ecosystem by reinstating state-led management authority previously established under the 2017 rule. The key provision requires the rule's reissuance without any legal challenges, explicitly stating the action "shall not be subject to judicial review."
This non-binding resolution expresses Congress's support for Israel by declaring it is not a racist or apartheid state, rejecting antisemitism and xenophobia, and affirming the U.S. as a steadfast partner. It serves as a symbolic statement of bipartisan backing without creating new laws, funding, or obligations. Introduced by Senators Cotton, Cruz, and others in July 2023, it reflects congressional sentiment rather than policy change.
