The RESTRICT Act (S 686) gives the Secretary of Commerce authority to identify and address information and communications technology (ICTS) products or services that pose undue national security risks, particularly those involving foreign adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and others. It targets transactions or holdings by entities from designated foreign adversary countries or their controlled entities, with special focus on technology used by over 1 million U.S. users, including telecommunications, data services, and critical infrastructure systems. The Secretary can refer "covered holdings" to the President, who may then compel divestment or other mitigation measures to protect U.S. critical infrastructure, election security, and sensitive data. The bill establishes specific review procedures while limiting judicial review of these national security decisions.
This bill amends U.S. financial sanctions law to require the Treasury Secretary to specifically consider whether foreign banks knowingly provide banking services (including personal accounts) to entities designated under the Taylor Force Act, which targets groups that murder U.S. citizens. It directs Treasury to designate as "of primary money laundering concern" foreign banks that facilitate terrorism payments, particularly those using U.S. correspondent accounts. The law adds two new factors for Treasury to evaluate: (1) whether a bank knowingly serves entities listed in the Taylor Force Act regulations, and (2) whether the bank’s accounts or transactions help fund acts of terrorism. This directly affects foreign financial institutions operating in the U.S. financial system that may inadvertently or intentionally support terrorist organizations.
HR 1379, titled the *Access to Small Business Investor Capital Act*, simplifies reporting requirements for investment companies that hold shares in business development companies (BDCs). The bill allows registered investment companies (like mutual funds) to exclude BDC-related fees and expenses from their standard "Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses" calculations in registration statements, instead disclosing these costs in a footnote. This change directly affects investment companies managing portfolios with BDC investments and the BDCs themselves, reducing administrative complexity. The provision modifies existing SEC disclosure rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940 without creating new capital access for small businesses.
The TABS Act of 2023 would rename the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to the Consumer Financial Empowerment Agency (CFEA) throughout U.S. federal law. This bill would change the agency's name in the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 and over 25 other federal statutes, including the Dodd-Frank Act and Truth in Lending Act. The bill does not alter the agency's responsibilities, authority, or budget structure - only its name. This is a procedural change affecting all federal documents, regulations, and references to the agency.
HR 1388 authorizes the minting of commemorative coins to honor the 1865 Sultana steamboat disaster, the deadliest maritime tragedy in U.S. history. It specifies three coin types ($5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar) with defined weights and compositions, to be sold at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively). All surcharges collected will fund the Sultana Historical Preservation Society for museum development, including exhibits, artifact preservation, and facility construction. The coins are legal tender but intended for collectors, with sales limited to a one-year period starting January 2023.
This bill reauthorizes the Conrad State 30 program, which allows U.S. states to request waivers enabling foreign medical graduates (J-1 visa holders) to work in medically underserved areas without having to return to their home countries. It extends the program's expiration date, creates new mechanisms for physicians to maintain legal status after completing service requirements, and adds protections against non-compete clauses in employment contracts. The bill modifies requirements for foreign medical graduates to work in underserved areas, including clarifying the 3-year service requirement and establishing a process for states to recapture waiver slots when physicians move between states. It also requires annual reporting on program usage by state and includes provisions for academic medical centers to request waivers without geographic constraints. The bill directly affects foreign-trained physicians, U.S. states, and health care facilities in underserved areas.
Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act of 2023 This bill establishes programs and requirements to support the inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in clinical research. For example, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to align the Food and Drug Administration's regulations for human subjects in clinical trials with other departmental regulations for pregnant women in clinical research. The bill also establishes (1) a national online clearinghouse with information about clinical trials that enroll pregnant and lactating women, (2) an advisory committee to help coordinate federal activities with respect to clinical research for pregnant and lactating women, and (3) an educational campaign on the importance of including pregnant and lactating women in clinical research. The National Institutes of Health must also prioritize certain research projects on new and existing medications for pregnant and lactating women based on need, feasibility, and the potential impact of the research.
SRES 93 is a procedural Senate resolution appointing specific U.S. Senators to serve on two joint committees: the Joint Committee on Printing and the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library. It names Senators Klobuchar, Merkley, Padilla, Fischer, and Hagerty for the Printing Committee, and Klobuchar, Warner, Ossoff, Fischer, and Hyde-Smith for the Library Committee. This resolution does not change laws or policies but formally sets membership for these committees, which oversee congressional printing operations and library services, respectively.
SRES 57 is a Senate resolution honoring David Ferdinand Durenberger, a former U.S. Senator from Minnesota (served 1978-1989). It commemorates his life and career, highlighting his role as the lead Republican sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act and his work protecting Minnesota's natural resources like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The resolution directs the Senate to formally recognize his passing and transmit a copy to his family. This is a ceremonial resolution with no policy changes or direct impact on constituents.
This resolution supports the designation of National FFA Week. It also (1) recognizes the important role of the National FFA Organization (Future Farmers of America) in developing the next generation of leaders who will change the world, and (2) celebrates the 90th anniversary of the iconic FFA jacket.
This bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor Navy pilot Everett Alvarez, Jr., for his service as a Vietnam War POW and subsequent public service. It directs the Speaker of the House and Senate President pro tempore to arrange for the medal's presentation, specifying it must bear his name and image. Bronze duplicates may be sold to cover production costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint fund. The bill is purely ceremonial, recognizing Alvarez's 8+ years as a prisoner of war and his post-military career. It does not create new policies or affect any government programs.
The Safe Step Act requires health insurance plans and employer-sponsored health coverage to create a transparent process for patients or their doctors to request exceptions to medication step therapy protocols. These protocols typically mandate trying a lower-cost drug first before covering a more expensive alternative. Exceptions must be approved if previous treatments failed, delaying coverage would cause severe harm, the required drug is unsafe, or the patient is stable on the requested drug. Health plans must respond to requests within 72 hours (or 24 hours in emergencies) and make the process details available online.
