This bill ends a specific tax rate used to fund hazardous waste cleanup under the Superfund program, effective January 1, 2023. It directly affects businesses and entities that paid this tax, as the rate will no longer apply after December 31, 2022. The bill also changes repayment rules for government advances from the Superfund, requiring quarterly repayments from unused funds until fully repaid. The title "Pay Less at the Pump" is misleading, as the bill does not address fuel costs or gas prices.
This bill includes phosphate and potash on the Department of the Interior's final list of critical minerals. (Under current law, Interior and other departments are required to conduct a variety of efforts to ensure a secure and reliable supply chain of critical minerals.) Interior must evaluate current policies relating to permitting and leasing of projects to develop critical minerals and issue recommendations to Congress to support domestic production of such commodities.
HR 3982, the Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act, creates a new tax credit for businesses capturing methane from mining operations. It directly affects mining facilities that capture at least 2,500 metric tons of methane annually from underground, abandoned, surface mines, or related activities, requiring the methane to be used for energy (with minimal leaks) or injected into compliant pipelines. The credit replaces carbon capture provisions in the tax code, defining "qualified methane" as methane captured at the source and verified for use or storage. The credit applies to methane captured after December 31, 2022, for facilities beginning construction before January 1, 2033.
This joint resolution (SJRES 31) seeks to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule implementing the "Federal Good Neighbor Plan" for ozone air quality standards established under the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standards. If approved, it would nullify the EPA rule (published June 5, 2023) that would have required certain states to address ozone pollution crossing state borders. The resolution uses a specific congressional disapproval process under Title 5 of the U.S. Code to prevent the rule from taking effect. This would directly affect states and industries subject to the ozone pollution regulations outlined in the EPA's submitted rule.
This bill (S 1895) requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to immediately reissue a 2020 rule that removed gray wolves from the federal endangered species list. It would directly affect gray wolf populations by ending their federal protections under the Endangered Species Act, impacting how states and wildlife agencies manage wolf populations. The bill mandates the agency reissue the specific rule within 60 days of enactment and explicitly prevents any court challenges to this reissuance. This policy change would shift management authority for gray wolves from federal to state-level oversight.
This bill amends the tax code to exempt certain income from mutual ditch irrigation companies and similar water organizations from taxable income. It specifically excludes revenue from selling, leasing, or exchanging water rights, water delivery contracts, or company stock from taxation. The change aims to support water conservation by allowing these organizations to retain income from water transactions without tax liability, provided the funds are used for eligible expenses like new water conveyance systems. The provision applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment.
The Tracking Bad Actors Act of 2023 mandates that federal financial regulators (including the SEC, CFTC, and FDIC) create a free, publicly accessible database within three years. This database will list individuals or entities convicted or held liable in financial misconduct cases brought by federal regulators, the DOJ, state agencies, or self-regulatory organizations. Key provisions require automatic removal of entries if cases are overturned or withdrawn, and the SEC will oversee the database’s operation. The law directly affects financial professionals and entities subject to enforcement actions, providing transparency for investors and employers.
S 1906, the Promising Pathway Act, creates a faster FDA approval pathway for new drugs treating serious or life-threatening conditions, allowing provisional approval within 90 days of application. It requires drug sponsors to establish patient registries tracking usage and outcomes (with 90% participation minimum), mandates insurers to cover these drugs identically to fully approved drugs, and sets 2-year provisional approval periods renewable up to three times (max 8 years total). The bill includes safety monitoring, with withdrawal if serious side effects outweigh benefits or if full approval isn’t sought within 180 days. This directly affects drug manufacturers, patients with serious conditions, and health insurers by altering approval timelines, coverage rules, and post-approval monitoring.
This bill directs the U.S. Treasury to instruct American representatives at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to oppose any increase in the Chinese renminbi's weight within the IMF's currency basket (used to value Special Drawing Rights), unless China meets four specific conditions. These conditions require China to comply with IMF rules, not have recently manipulated its currency (per U.S. trade laws), implement policies for the renminbi to be "freely usable," and adhere to international debt and export credit standards. The U.S. position on this issue would remain in effect for 10 years from enactment. The bill directly affects U.S. voting at the IMF and China's potential inclusion in the IMF's currency basket.
Freights First Act This bill eliminates Amtrak's preference over freight transportation in using a rail line, junction, or crossing if such rail line, junction, or crossing is located within 50 miles of a port or rail yard. Currently, Amtrak's priority status does not apply if there is an emergency.
S 1845, the Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act, creates a new 5-year Medicare model providing community-based palliative care to beneficiaries with serious illnesses like cancer, heart disease, or dementia. It directly affects Medicare Part A enrollees with qualifying conditions, replacing the current Medicare Care Choices Model and ensuring no exclusion for prior hospice use. Key provisions require 24/7 access (including telehealth), team-based care with at least one certified palliative provider, coordination across settings (homes, hospitals, or community sites), and coverage of services like pain management, mental health support, and advance care planning. The model aims to reduce unnecessary emergency visits and hospitalizations while improving care experience for high-risk Medicare beneficiaries.
This resolution requires the Clerk of the House of Representatives to place in the House Chamber a real-time display of the outstanding national debt.
