House Joint Resolution 147 seeks to disapprove an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule that would have established a process for workers to designate a representative to accompany OSHA inspectors during workplace safety inspections. The rule, published in the Federal Register on April 1, 2024, aimed to formalize this "walkaround" representative process during inspections. Under a federal disapproval procedure (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code), this resolution would invalidate the rule if passed. As a result, the designated representative process would not take effect, meaning OSHA inspections would proceed without this specific worker representation mechanism.
SRES 697 is a commemorative resolution designating the week of May 12-18, 2024, as "National Police Week" in the U.S. Senate. It aligns with the 1962 law authorizing the President to designate this week, honoring law enforcement officers who have died or been injured in the line of duty. The resolution expresses support for officers, recognizes their service in protecting communities, and encourages public observance to honor their mission and sacrifices. It does not create new policies or affect specific groups, as it is purely ceremonial.
HR 8372, the Debt Per Taxpayer Information Act, requires the President's annual budget and congressional budget resolutions to include annual estimates of the pro rata share of federal debt per individual income tax filer. It also mandates that the IRS include specific federal debt information on employees' W-2 forms, listing total revenue, outlays, deficit, gross debt, and the estimated per-taxpayer debt amount for the prior fiscal year. This directly affects all individual income tax filers by providing them with this debt information annually on their W-2s, starting with forms for remuneration paid after December 31, 2023. The bill focuses on making federal debt data more visible to taxpayers through existing government documents without changing tax law or fiscal policy.
This bill requires federal agencies to improve transparency around improper payments and fraud risks. It mandates that agencies report on programs failing to submit required improper payment reports, identify new programs (with over $100 million in first three years of operation) as susceptible to significant improper payments, and submit annual anti-fraud reports to Congress. These reports must detail fraud risk management structures, risk profiles, and anti-fraud strategies for all programs, including justifications for any gaps. The law directly affects all executive agencies managing federal programs and activities. It aims to strengthen accountability by making agencies document and address payment errors and fraud vulnerabilities.
This bill strengthens oversight of administrative spending actions by requiring the Director to submit detailed waiver explanations and budgetary impact estimates to congressional Budget Committees for any executive branch action exempting spending from budget neutrality rules. It modifies the threshold for such exemptions to apply only to actions increasing direct spending by $1 billion over 10 years or $100 million in any single year. The bill also clarifies that the purpose of the administrative PAYGO rules is to maintain budget neutrality for discretionary spending decisions. These changes apply directly to federal agencies making administrative spending decisions that exceed the new thresholds. The bill repeals a sunset provision and adds new reporting requirements for budget submissions.
This bill bans consumer products containing 10% or more sodium nitrite by weight, classifying them as hazardous under existing safety laws. It directly affects manufacturers and retailers selling such products, including some food items and industrial chemicals. The law requires these products to be removed from the market within 90 days of enactment. The key provision sets a clear 10% concentration threshold for the ban, targeting a specific chemical risk without altering broader safety regulations.
This joint resolution (SJRES 80) seeks congressional disapproval of a specific rule issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on April 5, 2024. The rule established regulations under the Endangered Species Act concerning protections for endangered and threatened wildlife. If approved, this resolution would nullify the rule, preventing it from taking effect and reversing the regulatory changes it proposed. The resolution directly affects how federal protections are applied to listed species under the Endangered Species Act.
SJRES 82 is a joint resolution that would block a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule regulating laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) - tests created and used within single clinical laboratories without prior FDA review. The rule, published in the Federal Register on May 6, 2024, would have required FDA oversight for these tests before clinical use. If enacted, this resolution would void the rule under the Congressional Review Act, maintaining the current regulatory framework where LDTs operate with minimal federal oversight. It directly affects the FDA's authority over LDTs and clinical laboratories relying on this existing system.
This bill (SJRES 81) seeks congressional disapproval of a National Marine Fisheries Service rule that updated regulations for interagency cooperation on protecting endangered and threatened wildlife. The rule, published in the Federal Register on April 5, 2024, aimed to streamline how federal agencies work together on species conservation efforts. By passing this resolution, Congress would block the rule from taking effect under the procedural process outlined in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. The direct effect is preventing the National Marine Fisheries Service from implementing these specific regulatory changes for endangered species protection.
This bill (SJRES 83) seeks to block a rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) that redefined who qualifies as a "dealer in firearms" under federal law. The rule, published in the Federal Register on April 19, 2024, would have changed how the ATF identifies and regulates firearm sellers. If passed, the resolution would make the rule invalid, preventing it from taking effect and leaving current dealer regulations unchanged. This directly affects firearm dealers (particularly small businesses and hobbyists) and the ATF’s enforcement authority under existing law.
This joint resolution (SJRES 84) seeks congressional disapproval of a specific rule issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on April 5, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 24300). It targets the FWS rule concerning the listing of endangered/threatened species and designation of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act. The resolution, if passed, would nullify that particular rule, preventing it from taking effect. This is a procedural measure under Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code, not a new law altering species protections.
This joint resolution (SJRES 85) seeks to block a specific rule issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The rule, published in the Federal Register on April 5, 2024, aimed to update protections for endangered and threatened species and designate critical habitats under the Endangered Species Act. Congress is using a statutory process (under Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code) to formally disapprove this rule, which would prevent it from taking effect. If approved, the rule would no longer have legal force, directly affecting how federal agencies manage species conservation programs.
