This bill releases the United States' reversionary interest in approximately 593 acres of land owned by the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, transferring full ownership to the university without requiring payment. The land, identified by specific legal descriptions (including patent number 43-99-0012 and tracts D, G, J, and T), was previously held under a federal patent. The key provision eliminates the federal government's future claim to this property, allowing the University of Utah to manage it as fully private land. This is a straightforward property transfer bill directly affecting the University of Utah's land holdings.
Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act This bill makes the Bureau of Reclamation the lead agency for the purpose of coordinating all permitting and related activities required to construct certain new surface-water storage projects. Specifically, Reclamation must identify, notify, and coordinate all Federal agencies that may have jurisdiction over a review, analysis, opinion, statement, permit, license, approval, or decision for a qualifying project. A state where a project is being considered may also choose to participate as a cooperating agency. Reclamation's coordination responsibilities include (1) preparing a unified environmental review document, and (2) maintaining a consolidated administrative record and project data records. Additionally, Reclamation is authorized to accept and expend funds contributed by a nonfederal public entity to expedite the evaluation of a permit for such a project.
HJRES 33 is a symbolic congressional resolution acknowledging Vietnam War veterans' service and formally apologizing for their mistreatment upon returning home. It recognizes the sacrifice of over 58,000 service members killed and 300,000 wounded during the war, including veterans exposed to harmful herbicides like Agent Orange. The resolution urges the President to acknowledge this mistreatment as part of the Vietnam War Commemoration and issues a formal apology on behalf of the American people. It also calls for increased educational efforts in schools to highlight veterans' courage and the lack of support they faced after the war. (Note: This is a non-binding resolution, not a law, so it has no direct legal or financial impact.)
HR 1088, the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to honor Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress (1968) and the first Black candidate for a major party's presidential nomination (1972). The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike a gold medal featuring Chisholm's image, which will be presented by Congress and then permanently displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to the public to cover production costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint fund. This bill commemorates Chisholm's legacy and achievements without creating new laws or affecting any current policies.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the Supreme Court to no more than 9 justices. It would directly affect the composition of the Supreme Court by preventing future expansions beyond the current 9-justice structure. The key provision requires a constitutional amendment, which would need ratification by 38 state legislatures (three-fourths of states) within seven years of congressional submission. Congress would also gain authority to pass laws enforcing this limit. The amendment does not change the current court size but aims to restrict future changes to the Court's membership.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year. It would mandate that annual government spending (outlays) not exceed total revenue (receipts) and also limit spending to 18% of the previous year's gross domestic product (GDP). Exceptions allowing spending above these limits would require a two-thirds vote in both House and Senate, and new taxes or debt ceiling increases would similarly need a two-thirds vote. The amendment would only take effect if ratified by 38 states (three-fourths of all states), as it is a constitutional proposal, not an enacted law.
The GRAD Act requires colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid to publicly report detailed graduation rates. It mandates institutions to break down these rates by student type (full-time/part-time, first-time/non-first-time) and program length (4+ years or under 4 years), showing completion percentages at multiple timeframes (normal time, 150%, 200%, and 300% of normal program length). This provides prospective students with clearer, more specific data to compare institutions based on realistic graduation timelines. The bill directly affects higher education institutions and aims to improve transparency for students making college decisions. The changes amend existing reporting requirements under the Higher Education Act.
This bill requires any U.S. agreement with Iran regarding its nuclear program to be treated as a treaty, mandating Senate approval by a two-thirds vote before it can take effect. It directly affects the President, who cannot bypass this requirement to waive or reduce sanctions related to Iran's nuclear activities. The key provision blocks the President from granting sanctions relief or taking related actions under any Iran nuclear deal - including joint plans, side agreements, or future documents - without first securing Senate treaty approval. This applies to all forms of agreements, whether legally binding or not, and covers all related materials like annexes or technical understandings.
The CONSCIENCE Act of 2023 would require governments to provide religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccine mandates and prohibit policies that treat religious objections less favorably than non-religious ones. It would allow individuals to challenge vaccine mandates that impose significant burdens on religious exercise, requiring governments to prove they have a strong reason for the requirement and that they're using the least restrictive approach possible. The bill applies to all government entities and private entities operating under government contracts that implement vaccine requirements. It directly affects people with religious objections to the vaccine, government agencies, and private employers who require vaccines for employment.
This bill (S 471) gives states more flexibility in determining which Medicaid providers can participate in state plans if they perform abortions. It allows states to set their own criteria for excluding abortion providers from Medicaid participation, except in specific cases. The exceptions require coverage for abortions needed due to rape or incest, or when a physician certifies a life-threatening physical condition related to pregnancy. This directly affects Medicaid providers who perform abortions and state Medicaid programs, changing how states manage provider participation under federal Medicaid rules.
This bill amends U.S. immigration law to create specific, limited pathways for temporary parole into the United States. It directly affects military families (spouses/children of active-duty service members), Cuban nationals with approved petitions meeting strict criteria, and individuals facing urgent medical needs, family emergencies, or law enforcement-related public benefits. Key provisions require case-by-case decisions (not class-based eligibility), limit parole to 1 year (with possible 1-year extensions), and mandate annual congressional reporting on parole usage. Parole does not count as admission, so recipients cannot adjust to permanent residency through this status.
This bill repeals specific provisions from the Affordable Care Act (sections 6001 and 10601) and the 2010 Health Care Reconciliation Act (section 1106), which had limited Medicare exceptions for physician referrals to hospitals. It restores the prior rules that allowed physicians to refer patients to hospitals without triggering certain restrictions. The bill directly affects hospitals and physicians participating in Medicare by removing these referral limitations. This is a procedural change to revert to pre-2010 law regarding physician-hospital relationships under Medicare.
