Terrorist Deportation Act of 2023 This bill establishes that non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) identified in the terrorist screening database, except for lawful permanent residents, shall be deportable and inadmissible into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may temporarily waive the inadmissibility of such an individual if it is in the national security interests of the United States. DHS shall grant such a waiver only with the unanimous concurrence of the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Department of State. An individual identified in the terrorist screening database shall be ineligible for various immigration benefits, including asylum, withholding or cancellation of removal, voluntary departure, or adjustment of status. DHS shall determine on an expedited basis whether to remove an individual identified in the terrorist screening database, if the individual has not received a waiver and does not have lawful permanent residence status. The individual shall be entitled to various protections, including the right to be represented by counsel (at no cost to the government) and judicial review.
HR 780, the "Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Act," blocks federal funding for state and local governments that refuse to share immigration information with federal authorities under existing law (8 U.S.C. 1373). It requires the Attorney General to annually identify non-compliant jurisdictions and report them to Congress, with affected areas losing all federal funding for at least one year until compliance is certified. The bill directly impacts local governments that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, such as those with policies limiting information sharing. This policy change creates a direct financial penalty for non-compliance, replacing discretionary federal funding with a mandatory cutoff.
FTO Passport Revocation Act of 2022 This bill authorizes the Department of State to revoke or refuse to issue a passport for an individual who has aided an organization that the State Department has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The individual may request a hearing with the State Department upon being notified of a revocation or refusal.
Visa Overstay Enforcement Act of 2023 This bill imposes various penalties on non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who overstay a visa or lawful immigration status. An individual who overstays shall be fined or imprisoned for up to six months, or both. Such an individual may not be admitted into the United States for 5 years, and may not be granted a visa for 10 years. For subsequent offenses, the individual shall be fined or imprisoned for up to two years, or both, and may not be admitted into the United States or granted a visa. The Department of Homeland Security shall make case-by-case exceptions for individuals who overstay due to medical necessity, public safety, or national security reasons.
Build up Illegal Line Defenses with Assets Lawfully Lifted Act of 2023 This bill directs certain amounts from the Department of Justice (DOJ) Assets Forfeiture Fund to the deployment of additional border security measures. Specifically, DOJ must report annually on the amount of total deposits into the fund that are derived from Mexican cartels. The bill makes available 50% of that amount for the construction of additional physical barriers and roads near the border to deter illegal crossings into the United States. Additionally, the bill prohibits the release of seized currency or contraband that likely belongs to or supports a foreign illegal trafficking organization while a civil forfeiture action is pending.
Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People's Republic of China Act This bill requires the President to prohibit nonresident aliens, foreign businesses, and agents associated with China's government from (1) purchasing agricultural (including ranching) real estate located in the United States, or (2) participating in Department of Agriculture programs that are unrelated to food and safety regulatory requirements.
SRES 24 is a symbolic Senate resolution supporting the annual observance of "National Girls & Women in Sports Day" on February 1, 2023. It aims to raise public awareness and celebrate the achievements of girls and women in sports, referencing ongoing efforts to address gender disparities in athletic participation and coaching. The resolution highlights statistics showing persistent inequities, such as female athletes comprising only 44% of college athletes and BIPOC women representing just 7% of head coaches. It specifically calls for continued support of Title IX and the Equal Pay for Team USA Act to advance gender equity in sports. As a resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the importance of this observance.
This bill allows timber landowners to claim a tax deduction for losses of uncut timber caused by disasters like fire, storms, insects, or drought. It sets a minimum deduction based on the pre-loss appraised value minus salvage value, requiring certified appraisals within one year (with an option to estimate initially). Crucially, landowners must reforest the affected area with hardwoods or softwoods within five years to maintain the deduction, or face recapture of the tax benefit. The provision applies only to timber held for business sale, not passive investments.
This bill requires healthcare providers performing abortions to provide the same immediate medical care and hospital admission to any infant born alive during or after the procedure, as they would for any newborn. It mandates reporting of any failure to provide this care to law enforcement and imposes penalties including fines or up to 5 years in prison for violations. Women who undergo abortions may pursue civil lawsuits for damages, including compensation for physical/psychological harm and three times the abortion cost, if providers fail to comply. The law directly affects abortion providers, hospitals, and the women receiving abortion services.
HR 715, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2023, requires background checks for all firearm transfers between private individuals, not just those through licensed dealers. It mandates that unlicensed sellers must involve a licensed dealer to conduct a background check before transferring a firearm, with exceptions for family transfers (like spouses or parents/children), law enforcement, temporary safety transfers, and certain hunting or range activities. The bill also requires licensed dealers to provide a notice and certification form in both English and Spanish to buyers. It explicitly states it won't create a national gun registry or override state laws on the same topic. The law would take effect 180 days after enactment.
HR 727 establishes a 12-member National Council on African American History and Culture within the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The Council, appointed by the President with Senate consent, advises the NEH on preserving and celebrating African-American history and culture. Its key duties include evaluating NEH programs, gathering information on cultural trends, developing national policy recommendations, and submitting annual reports to the NEH Chair. The Council terminates 10 years after the bill's enactment, with members serving five-year terms (initially staggered) and receiving partial compensation for their service.
This bill helps new car dealers affected by pandemic-era supply chain disruptions by changing tax rules for inventory sales. It allows dealers using LIFO accounting to treat certain sales of unsold vehicles (liquidations) between March 2020 and December 2021 as "qualified" for tax purposes. Dealers can defer recognizing income from these sales and have until 2026 to replace the sold vehicles before potential tax adjustments apply. The provision specifically targets dealers who couldn't replenish inventory during the supply chain crisis.
