The Banning Toxics from Plastic Bottles Act of 2024 prohibits retailers from selling single-use beverage containers containing specific toxic substances (such as certain phthalates and bisphenols), polyethylene terephthalate glycol, polyethylene glycol, or non-transparent containers (except transparent blue or green). Violations carry fines up to $50,000 per violation, with collected funds supporting a new Local Clean Up of Plastics Fund. This fund provides grants to local governments for improving waste management, water systems, and recycling infrastructure, prioritizing rural and underserved communities. The law takes effect two years after enactment.
The Protecting Communities from Plastics Act of 2024 establishes new environmental justice protections for communities near plastics facilities by requiring environmental justice assessments for permits, setting a temporary moratorium on new permits for plastics facilities, and mandating new emissions standards. The bill directly affects covered facilities (plastics production facilities) and fenceline communities (low-income communities, communities of color, and Indigenous communities located near these facilities), requiring facilities to reduce emissions, provide community benefit agreements, and conduct environmental monitoring. It sets specific targets for reducing single-use plastics (25% source reduction by 2034) and increasing reusable alternatives (30% reuse/refill by 2034), with exemptions for medical products and certain food packaging. These provisions aim to address the disproportionate health and environmental impacts of plastics production on vulnerable communities through concrete regulatory changes.
This bill requires new warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages, foods containing non-sugar sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium. These labels must prominently display specific health warnings about diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay, with requirements for size, placement, and design. The bill also restricts marketing of these foods to children through "child-directed advertising" and creates a public education campaign about healthy eating habits. It funds additional research on nutrition science and gives the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce these labeling and advertising requirements, affecting food manufacturers, marketers, and consumers.
The Stop Predatory Investing Act disallows tax deductions for interest and depreciation on single-family rental properties owned by individuals or entities that own 50 or more such properties (defined as residential units with four or fewer dwellings, including townhouses as separate buildings). It applies to properties without low-income housing credits and excludes properties constructed by the owner or acquired before first occupancy. Exceptions allow deductions if the property is sold to an individual for their primary residence (per Section 121) or to a qualified nonprofit organization focused on affordable housing, such as community land trusts, housing nonprofits, or community development corporations. The law defines "disqualified" owners and specifies qualifying nonprofits under Section 163(n)(2)(C), effective for taxable years after enactment.
HR 8061, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024, ensures stable funding for the Crime Victims Fund by directing certain False Claims Act collections into it from 2024 through 2029. Specifically, it adds a provision requiring that amounts collected under the False Claims Act (excluding whistleblower rewards and government reimbursement for damages) be deposited into the fund during this period. This directly affects crime victims who rely on the fund for services like counseling and emergency aid, as it prevents potential shortfalls in funding. The bill makes a concrete policy change by redirecting specific federal civil penalties into the fund, rather than altering the fund's existing purposes or eligibility rules.
This resolution (SRES 647) symbolically recognizes April 11-17, 2024, as the seventh annual "Black Maternal Health Week" in the U.S. Senate. It does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally acknowledges the disproportionate maternal health disparities affecting Black women, including higher mortality rates and systemic barriers in care. The resolution highlights the work of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, which founded this annual observance to spotlight racial inequities in maternal health. It serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of ongoing health disparities, not a policy action.
This bill authorizes the U.S. Treasury to mint and sell commemorative coins honoring the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. It specifies three coin types: $5 gold coins (max 100,000), $1 silver coins (max 500,000), and half-dollar coins (max 750,000), all with designs reflecting soccer and the World Cup. A surcharge is added to each coin sale ($35 for $5 coins, $10 for $1 coins, $5 for half-dollars), with all surcharge revenue going directly to FWC2026 US, Inc. to fund U.S. soccer programs, particularly youth initiatives and underserved communities. The coins may only be sold during 2026 and must cover all costs to avoid government expense.
The Energizing Our Communities Act establishes a new fund to provide financial support to local communities hosting major electric transmission projects. It directs a portion of interest collected on qualifying federal loans (for projects transmitting at least 999 megawatts) to be deposited into the fund, which then makes payments to host communities (like cities, counties, or tribes) within 18 months of project construction. Host communities must use up to 80% of these funds for local services (e.g., schools, broadband, infrastructure, or renewable energy workforce programs) and at least 20% for conservation, recreation, or climate resilience projects like habitat restoration or park development. The bill requires annual reports on fund operations and ensures payments supplement, not replace, existing tax payments to communities.
This bill prevents the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from closing, consolidating, or moving operations at any processing and distribution center in a region that missed specific delivery targets in the previous year. It directly affects USPS operations in regions failing to meet two key 2023 performance goals: at least 93% on-time delivery for two-day first-class mail and 90.3% for three-to-five-day first-class mail. The restriction applies annually during any calendar year based on the prior year's performance data. The law aims to protect postal facilities in underperforming areas from closure due to delivery metrics.
SRES 644 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing support for designating April 1-30, 2024, as "Fair Chance Jobs Month." It highlights systemic barriers faced by formerly incarcerated individuals, including high unemployment (nearly 2/3 jobless), licensing restrictions in 20 states, and higher recidivism rates. The resolution affirms the Senate's backing for efforts to dismantle these barriers, expand workforce development programs (like pre-apprenticeships and career coaching), and foster collaboration between employers, government, and community organizations to improve employment opportunities. It does not create new laws or funding but raises awareness about fair-chance hiring practices.
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.
This bill permanently extends the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program, which incentivizes private investment in low-income communities. It modifies the tax code to keep the credit available indefinitely (replacing the previous 2020-2025 timeframe) and adds automatic annual inflation adjustments to the credit amount. The extension specifically benefits community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and investors who make qualified equity investments in designated low-income areas. It also provides relief from the alternative minimum tax for credits tied to investments made after December 2022.
