Exposing Lewd Outlays for social Networking companies Act or the ELON Act This bill requires a report on Department of Justice (DOJ) payments to certain companies (i.e., Twitter, Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Apple) and imposes a one-year moratorium on payments to these companies. Specifically, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to submit a report to specified congressional committees on all payments made by DOJ to these companies since January 1, 2015. Additionally, the bill imposes a one-year moratorium on DOJ that temporarily prohibits the use of federal funds to make payments to these companies, unless such funds are lawfully owed to any such company.
Lead by Example Act of 2023 This bill provides that, beginning January 3, 2025, the only health care plan the federal government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff shall be health care provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). By September 15, 2023, the VA and the Office of Personnel Management shall jointly submit to Congress a plan to carry out this bill, including recommendations for any necessary legislative actions.
This bill (HR 333) corrects an inaccurate title and updates military retirement pay rules for veterans. It allows military retirees with service-connected disabilities (including those rated under 50%) to receive both their full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation without reduction. Specifically, it removes the requirement that veterans must have a 50% disability rating to keep both payments and adjusts calculations for retirees with fewer than 20 years of service. The change directly affects military retirees receiving VA disability benefits who previously had their retirement pay reduced. The bill takes effect after enactment for payments starting in the following month.
Finish the Wall Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume activities related to the construction of a barrier system along the U.S.-Mexico border and addresses other border-related issues. DHS must resume all such construction activities that were planned or underway prior to January 20, 2021. DHS must also expend all funds appropriated or explicitly obligated since October 1, 2016, for construction of this barrier system. DHS may not cancel contracts for activities related to such construction entered into on or before January 20, 2021. Furthermore, within 14 days of this bill's enactment, DHS must certify to Congress that U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities that process adults taken into custody at the border are fully compliant with certain laws related to the collection of DNA. (Among other things, these laws allow for the collection of DNA samples from non-U.S. persons detained under U.S. authority.)
HR 29, the Border Safety and Security Act of 2023, grants the Secretary of Homeland Security authority to restrict entry at U.S. land or maritime borders for certain immigrants deemed "covered aliens" (those inadmissible under immigration law due to lack of proper documentation). The bill requires the Secretary to suspend entry if they cannot detain or process these individuals as required by existing immigration law. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the Secretary in federal court if they believe border policies harm their state's residents. The law defines "operational control" using terms from the Secure Fence Act of 2006. This bill directly affects immigrants seeking entry who fall under the specified inadmissibility category.
This joint resolution seeks congressional disapproval of a Department of Labor rule published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2022 (87 Fed. Reg. 73822), which addressed "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights." If enacted, it would block the rule from taking effect, directly affecting retirement plan fiduciaries (such as those managing 401(k) plans) who must follow these standards. The resolution uses a specific disapproval process under Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code, to nullify the rule without altering its content. This is a procedural action targeting the rule's implementation, not a new policy.
HJRES 31 is a procedural resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a specific rule issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) concerning reproductive health services. It targets the VA's September 2022 rule (published in the Federal Register as 87 Fed. Reg. 55287), which established policies for reproductive health care access for veterans. If passed, this resolution would nullify the VA rule, preventing it from taking effect under the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code). The bill directly affects the VA’s ability to implement its reproductive health services policy for veterans.
This resolution condemns Iranian state-sponsored terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and officials and Iranian dissidents. The resolution also expresses support for the people of Iran who are legitimately defending their rights for freedom against repression and condemns the killing of Iranian protesters by the Iranian regime.
S 293, the Fair Access to Banking Act, prohibits large financial institutions (with $10 billion+ in assets) from denying banking services to lawful businesses based on political reasons, bias, or industry category. It requires these "covered banks" to justify service denials using documented, objective risk assessments - not subjective political judgments - and to provide written explanations for denials. The bill directly affects businesses operating legally in industries often targeted by banks (like cannabis or firearms), ensuring equal access to services like loans, credit cards, or payment processing. Violations allow affected businesses to sue for treble damages and attorney fees, with payment networks and credit unions also barred from blocking access based on "reputational risk."
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General to regularly investigate and report on how people apprehended at the southwest border are processed. Specifically, it mandates reports every 60 days (until monthly apprehensions drop below 35,000 for three months) detailing vetting, releases, parole decisions, asylum applications, removal proceedings, and monitoring of individuals released without detention. The reports must cover specific data points like the number of people released without tracking devices, those given reporting notices, and where released individuals were resettled. The bill directly affects DHS operations and its oversight, focusing on transparency in border processing procedures rather than changing immigration laws.
HR 865, the United States Colored Troops Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to be presented to all African American soldiers and sailors who served with Union forces during the Civil War. The medal, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be awarded collectively to this group in recognition of their service and bravery. After presentation, the gold medal will be donated to the Smithsonian Institution for public display, with the option to sell bronze duplicates to cover costs. This bill does not change existing laws but formally honors the historical contributions of approximately 200,000 African American soldiers in the Union Army and 19,000 in the Union Navy.
HCONRES 13 is a concurrent resolution expressing Congress's support for maintaining the current policy that prohibits imposing new fees on local radio stations for playing music. It states that Congress should not impose any performance fee, tax, royalty, or charge on local radio stations for broadcasting sound recordings over the air, or on businesses like bars and restaurants that play music publicly. The resolution argues that such fees would harm local radio stations - critical sources for emergency information and community programming - and jeopardize the economic model that has supported both radio and the music industry for decades. This resolution does not create new law but formally opposes potential legislative changes to the existing fee structure.
