SRES 655 is a Senate resolution passed on April 18, 2024, to honor the late Joseph I. Lieberman, a former U.S. Senator from Connecticut (1988-2013), following his death. The resolution recognizes his career, including his role in creating the Department of Homeland Security, establishing the 9/11 Commission, and advocating for civil rights and environmental protections. It directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory and transmit a copy to his family, expressing the Senate's sorrow and respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, as it solely commemorates his legacy.
This House resolution condemns Iran's April 13, 2024 attack on Israel, which involved over 350 drones and missiles launched directly from Iran. It affirms support for Israel's right to self-defense, commends international efforts (including U.S., U.K., French, and Jordanian intercepts) that minimized damage, and calls for enforcing U.S. sanctions against Iran to disrupt its missile programs and support for proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses congressional support without creating new laws or funding.
HR 6046, the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act, requires the Secretary of State to designate Ansarallah (the Houthis) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization within 90 days of enactment and mandates the President to impose sanctions under existing authorities (Executive Orders 13224 and 13780) against Ansarallah and its members, agents, or affiliates. The bill directly affects Ansarallah and any foreign entities linked to it by triggering U.S. sanctions. Key provisions set strict 90-day deadlines for both the designation and sanctions implementation. The law focuses on reversing a prior designation revocation and enforcing existing legal mechanisms against the group.
HR 5947 terminates specific U.S. waivers and licenses related to Iran, ending a 2023 waiver that allowed funds transfer from South Korea to Qatar. It prohibits the Treasury Department from reissuing similar waivers or licenses for the same purpose and blocks the President from granting Iran access to certain designated financial accounts established under prior laws. The bill directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation by restricting how Treasury handles Iran-related financial transactions. It enacts concrete policy changes by ending existing authorizations and preventing future approvals for Iran to access specific accounts.
SRES 645 is a ceremonial Senate resolution designating April 20-28, 2024, as "National Park Week." It does not create new laws or affect any group directly; instead, it formally recognizes this week to highlight the National Park System. The resolution encourages the public to responsibly visit, experience, and support national parks, referencing the system’s history, visitor statistics (325 million visits in 2023), and economic impact ($50.3 billion in 2022). As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal effect but serves to promote awareness of national parks.
HRES 995 appoints 11 U.S. Representatives as managers to lead the House's case during the impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The resolution authorizes these managers to hire legal and support staff, cover related expenses using House funds, and gather evidence by requesting documents or witnesses. It also permits them to file legal documents with the Senate and take other necessary steps to prepare for the trial. This procedural resolution is a standard step to organize the House's role in the impeachment process.
This non-binding House resolution condemns the slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" as antisemitic, stating it promotes hatred against Jewish people and the State of Israel. It links the slogan to Hamas and other groups that reject Israel's existence, citing their charters and recent actions. The resolution calls for public condemnation of the slogan, noting it undermines peace efforts and aligns with positions of organizations like the Anti-Defamation League. It does not create new laws but expresses the House's stance on the phrase's harmful impact.
HRES 863 is a formal resolution introduced by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene impeaching Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. It alleges Mayorkas violated his constitutional duty by failing to secure the border, citing specific claims including approximately 10 million border encounters, 400,000 unaccompanied children, and the presence of individuals from nations linked to terrorism. The resolution asserts these failures breached the Secure Fence Act, the Guarantee Clause of the Constitution, and immigration laws, and cites rising fentanyl seizures and border-related deaths as evidence. This resolution, referred to the House Homeland Security Committee, formally charges Mayorkas with "high crimes and misdemeanors" for impeachment proceedings.
This resolution (HRES 288) urges the European Union to formally designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization under EU legal framework Common Position 931. It does not create new laws but requests the EU take this specific action, noting the EU has previously sanctioned IRGC individuals but not the organization as a whole. The resolution cites the IRGC's role in human rights abuses, support for proxy groups, and involvement in conflicts like Ukraine as context for the request. Introduced in April 2023 by 20+ House members, it is a non-binding expression of congressional preference.
HR 6408 would amend tax law to revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations providing material support (beyond a minimal amount) to groups designated as terrorists under existing law. It directly affects nonprofit organizations that, within three years of a Treasury designation, supplied resources like funds or equipment to terrorist organizations. Key mechanisms include requiring the Treasury Secretary to send written notice to the organization before designation, granting a 90-day "cure period" to prove no support was provided or return resources, and allowing rescission of the designation if errors occur or notice was not received. The bill applies to tax years beginning after its enactment.
HR 5921, the "No U.S. Financing for Iran Act of 2023," prohibits U.S. financial institutions from authorizing transactions related to Iran's imports or exports (excluding agricultural goods, food, medicine, and medical devices for civilians). It also requires the U.S. to oppose International Monetary Fund (IMF) financial aid to Iran and block Iran's access to IMF Special Drawing Rights. The bill amends the Export-Import Bank Act to ban U.S. financing for Iran's government or state-controlled entities. The law expires either 30 days after the President certifies Iran has stopped supporting international terrorism and is no longer a major money laundering concern, or 10 years from enactment.
SJRES 61 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a Federal Highway Administration rule that established performance measures for the National Highway System, including a requirement to track greenhouse gas emissions from highway activities. The rule, published in December 2023, would have mandated that states and federal agencies assess highway performance using this emissions metric. If enacted, the resolution would block the rule from taking effect, preventing the implementation of the emissions tracking measure. This action is pursued under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to reject federal regulations with a simple majority vote.
