HR 4367 is the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024, which allocates funding for the Department of Homeland Security's operations and programs for fiscal year 2024. The bill provides specific funding amounts for various DHS components including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Transportation Security Administration, with restrictions on fund usage such as prohibiting border crossing fees and requiring specific reporting on grants and contracts. This bill directly affects all DHS agencies and determines their operational capacity for border security, immigration enforcement, and emergency management in fiscal year 2024. The funding levels and restrictions in this bill determine how DHS can carry out its homeland security responsibilities during the 2024 fiscal year.
SRES 370 is a procedural resolution that establishes the majority party's membership on two Senate committees for the 118th Congress. It specifically designates Senator Benjamin Cardin as Chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations and Senator Jeanne Shaheen as Chair of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, listing the full membership for each committee. The resolution sets these appointments to remain in effect until successors are chosen, following standard committee assignment practices at the start of a new Congress. This resolution does not create new policy but formalizes existing committee leadership and membership.
This resolution designates September 17-23, 2023, as "Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week" to recognize the work of community school coordinators nationwide. It does not create new policies or funding but symbolically honors these coordinators for their role in connecting schools with community resources. The resolution highlights their contributions to improving student attendance, academic outcomes, and family engagement, as noted in supporting studies cited in the text. It urges participation in events celebrating these coordinators but has no binding effect on law or policy.
SRES 377 is a non-binding Senate resolution recognizing Hispanic Restaurant Week (September 22-October 3, 2023) and honoring Hispanic restaurant owners and employees. It highlights that Hispanic individuals own 41,817 food service businesses (2020 Census) and represent 25.1% of restaurant workers, noting the industry’s role as a major economic driver and "training ground" for diverse workers. The resolution celebrates their contributions to the U.S. economy and acknowledges how the restaurant sector enables Hispanic workers to support families and pursue opportunity. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new policies, funding, or obligations.
This resolution supports the designation of September 21, 2023, as National Teach Ag Day and recognizes the important role of agricultural education and the National FFA Organization in developing the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Senate Resolution 376 clarifies the existing requirement for business attire on the Senate floor, specifying that men must wear a coat, tie, and long pants. The resolution designates the Senate Sergeant at Arms to enforce this dress code and mandates that any future changes to the rule require a two-thirds vote of all senators. This procedural resolution formalizes current standards without altering them, ensuring consistency in Senate decorum.
SRES 374 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating September 2023 as "National Student Parent Month." It recognizes approximately 4 million student parents enrolled in postsecondary education - over 70% women, including many single mothers and students of color - who face significant challenges like food/housing insecurity, balancing work and childcare, and lower degree completion rates. The resolution expresses the Senate’s support for their contributions but has no legal effect or new policy provisions. It highlights their unique circumstances without proposing concrete solutions. This is a commemorative gesture, not a legislative measure with binding requirements.
SRES 366 designates September 2023 as "School Bus Safety Month" through a symbolic Senate resolution. It does not create new laws or programs but encourages media and organizations to share public service announcements focused on school bus safety, recognizing school bus operators, and promoting safer driving near buses. The resolution highlights that school buses transport over 26 million students annually and cites the Child Safety Network's work in training operators and providing safety resources. It directly affects the school bus industry and the public by raising awareness during this designated month.
SRES 368 designates the week of September 17-23, 2023, as "Telehealth Awareness Week" through a symbolic Senate resolution. It recognizes telehealth's role in expanding healthcare access, especially during the pandemic, and urges steps to raise public awareness, highlight telehealth resources, collect usage data, and promote continued access for all communities. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges telehealth's importance. It directly affects public awareness efforts and stakeholders (patients, providers, policymakers) by designating a focused week for advocacy. The bill is procedural, with no binding policy changes.
SRES 369 is a Senate resolution designating September 2023 as "Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month" to promote public education about sickle cell disease (SCD) across the United States. It encourages communities to hold events during September focused on raising awareness about SCD, which affects approximately 100,000 people in the U.S. (with higher prevalence in Black and African American communities), and emphasizes the need for research, early detection, effective treatments, and preventative care. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic call to action for public health engagement.
SRES 367 designates September 2023 as "National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month" to highlight the impact of spinal cord injuries affecting over 300,000 people in the U.S. The resolution supports increased research funding, clinical trials for new treatments, and commends organizations, researchers, and volunteers working to improve quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injuries and their families. It emphasizes the need for better therapies and a cure, referencing statistics on annual injuries and the high societal costs associated with these injuries. The resolution has no binding effect but aims to raise public awareness and encourage continued support for affected communities.
SRES 365 is a ceremonial Senate resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), established by the 1973 National Cemeteries Act. It honors the NCA's work managing 155 national cemeteries and 34 memorial sites that provide free burial benefits - including gravesites, headstones, and memorial certificates - to over 4 million veterans and their families. The resolution recognizes the NCA's role in operating the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (distributing over $1 billion to support state/tribal cemeteries) and its Veterans Legacy Program, which educates the public about veterans' service. This resolution does not create new policy or affect any specific group; it is a formal acknowledgment of the NCA's 50 years of service.
