SJRES 95 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would have regulated the disposal of coal ash (coal combustion residuals) from power plants, particularly focusing on old, unlined surface impoundments. If enacted, the resolution would nullify the EPA rule, preventing it from taking effect and preserving current disposal requirements for electric utilities. This bill uses the Congressional Review Act process to block the rule, which was published in the Federal Register on May 8, 2024. It directly affects power plants managing coal ash waste but does not create new regulations.
This bill amends the existing Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act of 2019 by extending a waiver period. It removes a specific subsection (f) and changes the expiration date in another provision to January 1, 2031. The bill directly affects U.S. energy-related policies tied to Europe by delaying the end of a current waiver. It does not create new energy security measures but adjusts the timeline for an existing provision. The change is procedural, with no new substantive requirements added.
The Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2024 streamlines congressional review of "midnight rules" - regulations issued by federal agencies near the end of a presidential term. It allows Congress to disapprove multiple such rules in a single joint resolution, rather than requiring separate resolutions for each rule. This change applies specifically to rules for which the agency report was submitted during the final year of a president’s term. The bill directly affects federal agencies issuing these late-term regulations and Congress, which gains a more efficient process to block them.
S 4484, the "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act," imposes U.S. sanctions on individuals or entities supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating or prosecuting "protected persons." It directly affects ICC officials, foreign nationals aiding ICC actions against U.S. citizens or officials from non-ICC ally nations (like Israel), and their immediate family members. Key provisions require the President to block property and deny visas to targeted individuals, while permanently rescinding all U.S. funding for the ICC. The bill defines "protected persons" as U.S. military personnel, government officials, and allied officials from nations not party to the ICC’s Rome Statute.
S 930, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2023, creates a presumption that public safety officers (such as firefighters and police) who develop specific cancers after exposure during duty have work-related injuries. It defines "exposure-related cancer" to include 22 types (like lung, leukemia, and WTC-related cancers) and presumes these cancers are work-related if officers were exposed during service, diagnosed within 15 years of retirement, and the cancer caused death or permanent disability. The bill requires the Bureau to review scientific evidence to add new cancer types to the list within 180 days of a petition. This directly affects families seeking benefits for fallen officers by shifting the burden of proof to the Bureau, not the claimants.
This bill (SJRES 91) seeks to block a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule that set minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities (like nursing homes) and required transparency in Medicaid payments. If passed, it would cancel the rule (89 Fed. Reg. 40876), preventing it from taking effect under a specific congressional review process. The rule directly affects long-term care providers and Medicaid programs by imposing new staffing and reporting requirements. This resolution is procedural - it does not create new law but halts the implementation of the CMS rule.
Senate Resolution 717 calls on the Biden Administration to pursue three specific actions regarding Iran's nuclear program: censure Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), refer the issue to the UN Security Council, and reaffirm measures to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. It directly addresses the executive branch, urging diplomatic and multilateral steps based on Iran's noncompliance with nuclear safeguards under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The resolution cites Iran's enrichment of uranium to 60% purity, advanced centrifuge development, and obstruction of IAEA inspections as key justifications. It does not create new laws or impose direct requirements but seeks to guide U.S. diplomatic strategy at international forums.
HJRES 152 is a congressional resolution seeking to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule on managing coal ash waste from power plants, specifically for older disposal ponds (legacy CCR surface impoundments). The rule, published on May 8, 2024, established requirements for electric utilities to handle coal ash, including safety standards for existing disposal sites. If passed, this resolution would prevent the EPA rule from taking effect, removing the compliance requirements for utilities. This directly affects electric utilities that manage coal ash and the EPA's regulatory authority over waste disposal practices.
HJRES 150 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that established updated national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants from coal and oil-fired power plants. The resolution targets the EPA's specific rule published on May 7, 2024, which required these facilities to review residual risks and technologies to reduce emissions. If enacted, the resolution would nullify the rule, preventing the new standards from taking effect and keeping current regulations in place for power plants. This procedural bill uses the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code) to block the EPA rule without altering existing environmental laws.
HJRES 146 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule published on May 8, 2024, that would have clarified eligibility for health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and certain other noncitizens. The rule aimed to allow these individuals to access premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, and basic health programs through health insurance marketplaces. If enacted, this resolution would block the CMS rule from taking effect, maintaining current restrictions that prevent DACA recipients from qualifying for these subsidies.
This bill (HR 8433) requires the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to select grant and award recipients based solely on the scientific merit and research benefits of proposals, prohibiting the use of mandatory diversity statements as a condition for funding. It directly affects researchers and institutions applying for NIH grants by banning requirements for applicants to submit statements about their race, gender, diversity experiences, or views on social justice topics. The bill defines "diversity statements" broadly to include any documentation discussing race, gender identity, anti-racism, or related concepts as a qualification. This policy change eliminates a specific application requirement for NIH funding, though it allows NIH to still collect demographic data for research purposes.
HJRES 154 is a resolution seeking to block a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule that would have updated the process for leasing federal lands for oil and gas extraction. The rule, published in the Federal Register on April 23, 2024, specifically addressed "Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process" (89 Fed. Reg. 30916). If passed, this resolution would cancel the rule under the Congressional Review Act, preventing it from taking effect. This action would directly impact the BLM's regulatory authority and oil and gas companies operating on federal lands.
