This resolution designates September 2023 as "National Child Awareness Month" to promote public awareness of charities and youth-serving organizations working to support children across the United States. It specifically recognizes efforts to aid at-risk children, including those experiencing homelessness, in foster care, affected by trafficking or violence, or facing serious health needs. The resolution does not create new programs or funding but serves as a symbolic recognition of these organizations' work. It aims to encourage broader community support for children's services during the school year's start.
HR 1684 requires the U.S. State Department to submit annual reports to Congress detailing connections between Haitian criminal gangs (such as G9 Family and 400 Mawozo) and Haitian political or economic elites. The reports must identify specific gangs, list elites with gang ties, and explain how these relationships threaten Haiti’s security and U.S. interests. Within 30 days of each report, the President must impose U.S. sanctions on identified individuals under existing laws, with lists of sanctioned persons made publicly available. The requirement lasts for five years, ending on the date the bill is enacted plus five years.
HR 1176, the Taiwan International Solidarity Act, amends the TAIPEI Act of 2019 to clarify that UN Resolution 2758 does not address Taiwan's representation or sovereignty in international organizations. The bill directs U.S. representatives in international bodies to resist China's efforts to distort policies regarding Taiwan and encourages U.S. allies to oppose China's attempts to undermine Taiwan's diplomatic relationships. It also requires the U.S. government to report on China's initiatives promoting its "One China" position. These changes aim to strengthen Taiwan's international engagement through U.S. advocacy and policy coordination.
The Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act of 2023 directs the SelectUSA program (within the Commerce Department) to collaborate with state economic development organizations to boost foreign investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, particularly in vulnerable areas like chip fabrication and equipment production. It requires SelectUSA to gather state input on barriers to investment, develop strategies to attract foreign capital while avoiding benefits to adversaries, and report progress to Congress within two years. The bill uses existing funding for these efforts without authorizing new appropriations, focusing on leveraging current resources to strengthen supply chain resilience.
HR 813, the Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2023, requires the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a comprehensive review of U.S. competitiveness in attracting foreign business investments from "trusted countries" (those not deemed adversaries by the U.S.). The review will examine economic impacts, barriers like data localization and intellectual property issues, and address concerns about investments linked to the Chinese Communist Party, while focusing on sectors like technology and manufacturing. This procedural bill does not create new laws but mandates a report to Congress within one year, detailing findings and recommendations to improve the U.S. investment climate. It directly affects U.S. economic competitiveness, foreign investors from allied nations, and policies governing international business engagement. The review explicitly excludes matters handled by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
HRES 593 authorizes the House Speaker and Minority Leader to direct the recording of a specific joint meeting of Congress on July 19, 2023. The recorded proceedings would be used to create a public virtual reality educational experience. This resolution directly affects the public by providing a new educational tool, but does not change any laws or policies. It is a procedural measure focused solely on documenting one event for educational purposes, with no broader legislative impact.
SRES 297 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring Gloria Molina, the first Latina elected to the California State Legislature, Los Angeles City Council, and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The resolution recognizes her historic 32-year political career, including her roles as a State Assembly Member, City Council member, and County Supervisor, and her advocacy for social justice, health care, and Latino empowerment. It commemorates her legacy through existing tributes like the Gloria Molina Grand Park and the Gloria Molina Auditorium, following her passing in May 2023. This resolution has no policy provisions or implementation requirements, as it solely serves to honor her life and achievements.
HR 1548, the *Improving Access to Small Business Information Act*, is a procedural bill that modifies the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. It excludes actions taken by the Small Business Capital Formation Advocate from being classified as "collection of information" under the Paperwork Reduction Act (a law limiting government paperwork burdens). This change specifically affects how the Advocate’s work is regulated, not small businesses themselves. The bill does not create new policies or directly impact small business operations, but streamlines administrative processes for the Advocate’s role.
SRES 289 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing support for designating July 2023 as "American Grown Flower Month." It recognizes the domestic flower and foliage industry's economic impact (supporting hundreds of growers, thousands of small businesses, and tens of thousands of jobs) and encourages consumers to purchase domestically grown floral products. The resolution highlights that only 22% of flowers sold in the U.S. are domestically grown despite consumer preference for local products, and it urges Americans to support domestic flower farmers and the agricultural industry. This resolution does not create new laws or alter existing policies; it serves to raise awareness about the domestic floral industry's contributions.
This bill requires the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to revert mortgage guarantee fees for single-family homes to the rates in effect before May 1, 2023, effectively undoing a 2023 fee increase. It prohibits fees based on a borrower’s debt-to-income ratio and restricts future fee adjustments without following standard federal rulemaking procedures. The bill directly affects mortgage borrowers (particularly middle-class homeowners) and lenders who pay these fees, as it changes how mortgage finance agencies charge for loan guarantees. A GAO study will also examine the FHFA’s previous fee changes and their economic impact, with a report due within 14 months.
SRES 263 is a symbolic Senate resolution commemorating June 19, 2023, as "Juneteenth National Independence Day" to recognize June 19, 1865 - the date Union troops announced the end of slavery in Texas. It honors the historical significance of this date, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in the Southwestern U.S. after the Civil War. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges this observance as part of U.S. history and heritage, supporting nationwide recognition of the event. It affects all Americans by affirming a shared historical moment in the nation's journey toward freedom.
HRES 521 is a formal resolution censuring Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA, 30th District) for conduct deemed "unbecoming" of a House member. The resolution alleges Schiff repeatedly made false claims about Trump-Russia collusion, including spreading Steele Dossier information and releasing a flawed FISA memo, and misled the public during impeachment proceedings. If passed, it would require Schiff to appear in the House chamber for a public reading of the censure resolution. The resolution also directs the House Ethics Committee to investigate Schiff's "falsehoods and misrepresentations." This is a symbolic procedural action, not a law changing policy or affecting constituents.
