This resolution formally censures Rep. Adam Schiff (CA-30) for alleged misconduct related to his role on the House Intelligence Committee. It demands he appear before the House for a public censure and directs the Ethics Committee to investigate claims that he made false statements and misused classified information during investigations into the Trump-Russia matter. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but is a procedural action expressing the House's disapproval. It directly affects Rep. Schiff as the named recipient of the censure.
Patients Before Middlemen Act or the PBM Act This bill prohibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) under the Medicare prescription drug benefit or Medicare Advantage from receiving any income for their services other than bona fide service fees. Specifically, PBMs may not receive any income other than flat, bona fide service fees that are specified in their contracts with prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors. Such fees may not be based on drug prices, discounts, rebates, or any other remuneration. PBMs must turn over any excess amounts they receive to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. PDP sponsors and PBMs must annually certify their compliance with these requirements.
S 305 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell commemorative coins (gold, silver, and half-dollar denominations) to mark the U.S. Marine Corps' 250th anniversary in 2025. Each coin sale includes a surcharge ($5 to $35 per coin) that will fund the Marine Corps Heritage Center's educational programs, with proceeds paid directly to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. The coins will be sold from January 1 to December 31, 2025, and the surcharge structure ensures no net cost to taxpayers by covering production expenses through sales. This bill directly affects the U.S. Mint (in coin production), the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation (as recipient of funds), and the public (as potential buyers).
The Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2023 requires the President to appoint the Director of the Bureau of Prisons with Senate confirmation, replacing the current system where the Director is appointed directly by the Attorney General. It also establishes a 10-year term limit for the Director, though the current Director may continue serving for up to three months after the bill's enactment. This change directly affects the leadership structure of the Bureau of Prisons, which oversees over 176,000 federal inmates across 122 facilities and has a budget exceeding $7 billion annually. The bill aims to increase oversight of this major Department of Justice component by aligning its leadership appointment process with other senior Justice Department officials.
The Protecting Veteran Community Care Act expands access to mental health and substance-use services through the Veterans Community Care Program for veterans who cannot get timely care in VA residential treatment facilities. It requires community providers to meet state licensing and accreditation standards and prohibits the VA from denying community care solely because community providers cannot meet the same wait time standards as VA facilities. The bill also mandates the VA to track and report on requests for mental health care, including approvals, denials, and appeals. This applies directly to veterans facing delays in accessing VA residential mental health programs.
HJRES 42 is a congressional resolution disapproving the District of Columbia Council's approval of the *Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022* (D.C. Act 24-781), which the Council enacted on January 19, 2023. This resolution, introduced by 18 House members on March 9, 2023, formally expresses Congress's objection to the DC law but does not alter the law itself or its implementation in the District. The resolution targets the DC Council’s action under the Home Rule Act, requiring Congress to formally disapprove such local legislation before it takes effect. It affects DC’s local policing policies but does not directly change federal law or impact residents beyond this procedural disapproval.
This Senate resolution designates June 6, 2023, as National Naloxone Awareness Day to highlight naloxone's role in reversing opioid overdoses. It recognizes that opioid overdoses caused over 79,770 U.S. deaths in 2022 and emphasizes naloxone as a life-saving medication that can prevent fatalities when administered promptly. The resolution encourages public education about naloxone use and urges federal, state, and local entities to expand access and distribution efforts. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise awareness about overdose prevention.
This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to prioritize classical or traditional architectural styles for new or renovated federal buildings costing over $50 million, including courthouses, agency headquarters, and District of Columbia buildings. It defines "preferred architecture" as classical styles (like Neoclassical or Georgian) that "uplift public spaces" and "command respect," while limiting approvals of modern styles like Brutalism or Deconstructivism. The GSA must notify Congress and justify any deviation from preferred designs, including cost comparisons and public input, and submit annual reports on building styles. The bill creates a 5-year advisory council to recommend design policy updates and ensure compliance with these standards.
This bill ends a specific tax rate used to fund hazardous waste cleanup under the Superfund program, effective January 1, 2023. It directly affects businesses and entities that paid this tax, as the rate will no longer apply after December 31, 2022. The bill also changes repayment rules for government advances from the Superfund, requiring quarterly repayments from unused funds until fully repaid. The title "Pay Less at the Pump" is misleading, as the bill does not address fuel costs or gas prices.
The Tanning Tax Repeal Act of 2023 eliminates a federal excise tax on indoor tanning services that was previously imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. This bill directly affects tanning salons and their customers by removing a 10% tax on indoor tanning services performed after the law's enactment. The key mechanism is amending the tax code to repeal Chapter 49, which contained the tanning tax provision. The repeal takes effect for services provided after the bill becomes law, meaning tanning businesses will no longer collect or pay this specific tax.
Supply Chain Security Act This bill allows a taxpayer to make an election, without regard to specified Treasury regulations, for purposes of determining whether any Western Hemisphere tax is an income, war profits, or excess profits tax. A Western Hemisphere tax is any tax paid to any U.S. possession or any foreign country (other than Cuba or Venezuela) that is located in North, Central, or South America (including the West Indies).
This resolution expresses support for keeping AM radios in cars. (Several car manufacturers announced plans to remove AM radio options from some or all of their models.)
