This resolution (1) supports the designation of July 14, 2023, as Collector Car Appreciation Day, (2) recognizes the collection and restoration of historic and classic cars as an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United States, and (3) encourages engagement in Collector Car Appreciation Day events.
The MAPS Act requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a database tracking essential medicines and their supply chains, focusing on drugs critical for public health emergencies or shortages. It mandates mapping production locations for key drug ingredients, finished products, and related materials across pharmaceutical manufacturers, with updates to be published by HHS. The bill also requires HHS to submit annual reports to Congress on progress, data gaps, and industry cooperation, while ensuring the database remains confidential and non-public. This primarily affects pharmaceutical manufacturers providing supply chain data and federal agencies coordinating on national security and health security threats.
HR 4708, the H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers Act, streamlines U.S. visa processes for agricultural (H-2A) and non-agricultural (H-2B) workers. It extends the validity of employer certifications and petitions for these visas from one year to three years, reducing administrative burdens. The bill also allows interview waivers for workers renewing status within four years of their previous visa expiration. Additionally, it requires the Department of Labor to publish seasonal employment data on its website at an employer's request, enhancing transparency for seasonal hiring. These changes directly affect U.S. employers seeking temporary foreign workers and the workers themselves.
HR 4721, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, makes a permanent the 20% tax deduction for eligible small business owners under Section 199A of the tax code. This provision directly affects pass-through business owners (like S-corps, partnerships, and sole proprietorships) who qualify for the deduction. The bill achieves this by removing the temporary expiration language (subsection (i)) from the existing tax code provision. The key change is ending the need for annual congressional extensions of this deduction, providing long-term tax certainty for small businesses.
This bill, HR 1282 (Major Richard Star Act), expands benefits for certain military retirees by allowing them to receive both veterans' disability compensation and military retirement pay simultaneously. It specifically affects combat-related disabled retirees under Chapter 61 of the military retirement system who have fewer than 20 years of service. The key change removes the automatic reduction of military retirement pay when these retirees also receive disability compensation, as amended in Section 1413a(b)(3) of Title 10. Technical updates to the law’s structure and effective date (starting after enactment) complete the provisions.
Mercury 13 Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to commemorate the Mercury 13 in recognition of their accomplishments as part of the First Lady Astronaut Trainees (FLATs) Program (a privately funded project testing women pilots for astronaut fitness in the 1960s), their work for gender equity, and their example of women in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
HR 4652, the Public Company Advisory Committee Act of 2023, establishes a new advisory committee within the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to provide input on public company regulations. The committee, composed of 10-20 members including at least half from public company executives and senior officials (excluding those in asset management or advisory services), will advise the SEC on corporate governance, shareholder voting, market trading, and capital formation. The SEC must publicly respond to each committee recommendation but is not required to adopt them. Members serve four-year terms with staggered appointments, and the committee operates under streamlined procedures exempt from standard federal advisory committee rules.
Orally Taken Contraception Act of 2023 or the OTC Act of 2023 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue guidance on the approval process for over-the-counter oral contraceptives so as to encourage drug manufacturers to submit applications for approval. The FDA must also evaluate (1) whether and to what extent consumers understand the labeling on oral contraceptives, and (2) whether the labeling could be improved.
This bill requires the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review real estate transactions involving foreign adversaries (including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea) near sensitive sites like military installations, ports, or critical infrastructure. It defines "elevated risk real estate transactions" as purchases or leases by foreign adversaries near such sites, creating a presumption that these deals pose unresolvable national security risks unless CFIUS explicitly approves them with evidence. The bill also adds food security considerations to CFIUS reviews and mandates declarations for these high-risk transactions. These changes aim to prevent foreign adversaries from gaining access to strategic U.S. land or infrastructure through real estate deals.
SRES 298 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating July 30, 2023, as "National Whistleblower Appreciation Day." It commemorates the historical date of July 30, 1778, when the Continental Congress passed early whistleblower protections. The resolution asks all federal agencies to recognize the day by informing employees, contractors, and the public about their legal right to report misconduct, fraud, or crimes through proper channels. It does not create new legal protections or funding but encourages agencies to acknowledge whistleblowers' role in saving taxpayer dollars and promoting ethical government. This is a procedural resolution focused on awareness, not policy change.
HRES 583 is a procedural resolution that sets the rules for debating and amending H.R. 2670, the bill authorizing military spending for fiscal year 2024. It restricts amendments to those listed in the Rules Committee report, limits debate time for specific amendments, and waives objections to streamline the process. This resolution directly affects House members and committee staff by governing how the defense spending bill is considered.
S 2327, the Afghan Adjustment Act, creates a pathway to permanent residency for Afghans who directly supported U.S. missions in Afghanistan between October 1, 2001, and September 1, 2021. The bill allows eligible individuals already in the U.S. (or paroled into the U.S.) to adjust their status to lawful permanent residents without being subject to visa numerical limits. It establishes a new category of special immigrant visas for at-risk Afghan allies and their relatives, requiring a vetting process equivalent to refugee vetting. The bill prohibits application fees, provides benefits similar to those for refugees, and sets a deadline for applications with authorized funding for implementation.
