This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to audit unspent funds from major pandemic relief packages - including the CARES Act, American Rescue Plan, and related bills - within 30 days of enactment. It mandates a report listing all unobligated funds remaining under these laws. The unspent amounts would then be automatically returned to the Treasury’s general fund for deficit reduction, with no further congressional action needed. The bill directly affects how the federal government handles leftover pandemic relief funds, focusing on accounting and fiscal responsibility rather than new program benefits.
This joint resolution (SJRES 7) seeks congressional disapproval of a 2023 rule defining "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS), which would have changed how federal agencies regulate wetlands and waterways. It targets a rule jointly issued by the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and other agencies (88 Fed. Reg. 3004, Jan. 18, 2023), directly affecting landowners, developers, and environmental regulators by altering jurisdiction over water resources. If passed, the resolution would nullify the rule under a specific disapproval process in Title 5 of U.S. Code, preventing it from taking effect. The resolution does not create new regulations but aims to block an existing federal rule. This is a procedural step, not a new law.
This bill prohibits the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from requiring publicly traded companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions related to the production, manufacturing, or harvesting of agricultural products. It specifically blocks disclosure requirements for emissions from "upstream activities" (initial production stages) and "downstream activities" (processing, delivery, and end-use) in the agricultural supply chain. The law directly affects agricultural businesses that are publicly traded companies by exempting them from existing SEC reporting rules on certain emissions data. Key provisions define agricultural products and clarify which emissions sources are excluded from disclosure mandates. This is a procedural policy change that removes a specific reporting obligation, not a new regulation.
This proposed constitutional amendment (SJRES 13) would require the federal government to balance its annual budget, meaning spending could not exceed revenue unless Congress passes a specific exception with a two-thirds vote. It also sets a limit of 18% of GDP for total government spending, with similar supermajority requirements to exceed this cap. The bill would mandate the President to submit a balanced budget proposal to Congress each year and require a two-thirds vote for tax increases or debt limit hikes. As a proposed amendment, it would only take effect if ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures.
This joint resolution (SJRES 12) seeks congressional disapproval of the District of Columbia Council’s approval of the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24-789). It directly affects D.C. residents and local government, as the resolution targets the District’s newly enacted criminal code. The mechanism is a formal congressional disapproval under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, requiring passage by both chambers to block the D.C. law from taking effect. The resolution does not alter the D.C. code itself but aims to halt its implementation through federal action.
SRES 53 is a Senate resolution defining "sex" under federal law as biological sex at birth and specifying that terms like "woman," "girl," and "mother" refer exclusively to human females. It requires federal agencies to collect sex-disaggregated data based on biological sex at birth for compliance with antidiscrimination laws. The resolution aims to clarify legal interpretations in areas like athletics, shelters, and data reporting, though it does not create new laws or alter existing statutes. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal effect but seeks to guide federal implementation of current laws.
SRES 45 is a non-binding Senate resolution introduced on February 9, 2023, by a group of senators expressing the Senate's view that the current migration levels at the U.S. southern border constitute a crisis. This resolution does not create new laws or policies, nor does it directly affect any individuals or groups - it serves solely as a symbolic statement of the Senate's position. It contains no concrete policy mechanisms or implementation plans, as resolutions of "sense" are typically used for expressing opinions rather than enacting change. The resolution was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee but has no legal effect.
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) for purposes of federal law, a person's sex means the person's biological sex at birth; and (2) distinctions between the sexes are justified in certain settings, laws, and policies.
This bill updates Medicare payment rules for outpatient surgery centers to improve quality transparency and patient affordability. It requires Medicare to publish side-by-side quality comparisons for surgery centers and hospitals on Medicare.gov, and limits patient copayments for these services to the inpatient hospital deductible amount. The bill also mandates that Medicare explain in writing why certain surgical procedures are excluded from coverage, citing specific federal criteria. These changes directly affect Medicare beneficiaries receiving outpatient surgeries and the surgery centers providing those services.
This bill changes asylum procedures for people entering the U.S. from Mexico or Canada after traveling through other countries. It requires such individuals to first get an interview at a U.S. embassy in Mexico or Canada to prove they face credible fear of persecution or torture before being allowed to apply for asylum in the U.S. The bill also blocks asylum eligibility for those who transited through other nations without seeking protection there, unless they meet specific exceptions like being trafficked or traveling through countries without refugee treaties. Additionally, it creates criminal warrants for immigration violations and removes limits on detaining asylum seekers under the Flores agreement. These changes primarily affect asylum seekers crossing the southern border after traveling through other countries.
This bill limits attorneys' fees for claims related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, affecting veterans, civilians, and their attorneys filing under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. It caps fees at 12% of administrative claim payments or 17% of court settlements/judgments, prohibits additional fees/costs, and requires attorneys to certify fee amounts. The bill also mandates annual reporting to Congress on all fees paid, including attorney names and amounts. These changes apply to all pending and future claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
WALL Act of 2023 This bill appropriates $25 billion for the construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and addresses other issues related to immigration. As offsets to this spending, the bill restricts the child tax credit, earned income credits, and lifetime learning credits to those with Social Security numbers and not prohibited from employment in the United States. Also, individuals who file taxes using an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number must pay a fee ($300 for each individual on the tax return using an ITIN). The bill restricts eligibility for certain federally-funded benefits, including unemployment compensation, supplemental nutrition assistance, and housing benefits, to those eligible to work in the United States. Agencies administering such benefits must use the E-Verify program to confirm the eligibility of applicants for such benefits. This bill also sets fines for non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who improperly enter the United States or overstay their visas.
