This resolution applauds the actions of the Women's Tennis Association to seek the security and safety of Peng Shuai, and hold the Communist Party of China (CPC) accountable for its authoritarian censorship of Peng. The resolution condemns the International Olympic Committee for cooperating in the CPC's suppression of Peng. The resolution condemns the CPC's violation of Peng's basic human rights to freedom of speech and movement. Finally, the resolution demands that the CPC prove that Peng is free from censorship, coercion, and intimidation; and fully investigate Peng's sexual assault allegation against former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.
This is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 470) commemorating the death of former U.S. Senator Bob Dole of Kansas. It formally expresses the Senate's sorrow, requests the Secretary of the Senate transmit a copy to Dole's family, and directs the Senate to adjourn as a mark of respect. The resolution has no policy or legal effect - it solely serves as a symbolic tribute to Dole's public service career. It does not affect any individuals or enact new laws.
State, Tribal, and Local Species Transparency and Recovery Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, to provide to affected states all data that is used as the basis of a determination on whether a species is an endangered species or a threatened species before making a determination. The appropriate department must also use data submitted by a state, tribal, or local government in making such a determination.
This bill repeals a specific tax provision related to chemical manufacturers. It reverses a change made by section 80201 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which had modified an excise tax under the Superfund program. The repeal directly affects chemical manufacturers who were subject to this tax modification, restoring the previous tax treatment. The bill makes no new policy changes but specifically undoes this one tax-related amendment.
FTC Integrity Act This bill prohibits votes on motions cast by commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission from having any effect after they leave the Commission if the voting has not closed before end of the commissioners' last day of service. The bill applies retroactively to any vote taken on or after January 1, 2021.
Biking on Long-Distance Trails Act This bill establishes requirements related to long-distance bike trails. The Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture shall identify not fewer than 10 long-distance bike trails; identify not fewer than 10 areas in which there is an opportunity to develop or complete long-distance bike trails; and coordinate with stakeholders on the feasibility of, and identifying any resources necessary for, completing the development of such trails.
Cape and Antler Preservation Enhancement Act or the CAPE Act This bill allows the Department of the Interior to authorize the donation and distribution of capes, hides, horns, and antlers from wildlife management activities carried out on National Park System lands in order to reduce the size of a wildlife population. Interior may give priority consideration of the donation of capes, hides, horns, and antlers to qualified volunteers that participated in the wildlife management activity.
Federal Interior Land Media Act or the FILM Act This bill bars requiring a permit or assessing a fee for certain commercial or noncommercial photography or content creation on lands administered by the Departments of the Interior or Agriculture. The content creation must meet specified requirements, such as taking place in an area where the public is allowed and not intruding on the experience of others. The departments may not require advance notification for the content creation.
This Senate resolution (SRES 464) expresses symbolic support for National Adoption Month (November) and National Adoption Day (November 20), encouraging public awareness of children awaiting adoption. It does not create new laws or allocate funding but urges U.S. citizens to consider adoption and support efforts to provide safety and permanency for children in foster care. The resolution highlights challenges like the pandemic's impact on foster care systems while affirming that every child deserves a permanent family. It directly affects no specific group through policy changes - it is a non-binding statement of support endorsed by 30+ senators.
Section 401 Certification Act The bill provides statutory authority for the rule published on July 13, 2020, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) entitled Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule . Under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, an applicant for a federal license or permit to conduct an activity that may result in any discharge into navigable waters must also obtain a certification—or waiver of such certification—from a relevant state, intrastate agency, or Indian tribe that the proposed activity will not violate certain water quality requirements of the state or Indian tribe. The rule revised existing regulations, including by limiting the scope of the certification review process as well as the time frame for a state, interstate agency, or Indian tribe to issue a certification.
Strategic Production Response Act or the SPR Act This bill limits the drawdown of petroleum in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Department of Interior issues a plan or updates a previously issued plan to increase the production of oil and gas on federal land. The bill defines federal land to (1) include Outer Continental Shelf land; and (2) exclude land otherwise not available for oil and gas development within the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Wilderness Preservation System, a National Marine Sanctuary, or Indian land.
HRES 815 is a symbolic resolution introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on November 18, 2021. It expresses congressional support for National Rural Health Day, which recognizes the importance of rural health care and celebrates providers serving rural communities. The resolution highlights challenges like hospital closures and access barriers faced by rural health facilities but does not create new laws or funding. It simply affirms commitment to improving rural health care accessibility through policy, without specifying concrete changes. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding effect on legislation or funding.
