HR 2403, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2023, modifies federal firearm background check procedures to address delays. It requires firearm licensees to wait at least 10 business days after a prospective buyer submits a petition verifying they are not prohibited from owning firearms before completing a sale, if the background check system hasn't cleared the transaction. The bill also mandates the Attorney General to create an electronic petition form, provide timely responses to petitions, and track delays. Additionally, it requires multiple reports analyzing implementation, transaction delays, denial reasons by state, and potential impacts on domestic violence victim safety, with the first report due within 150 days of enactment.
The MODERN WIC Act of 2023 modernizes the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program by expanding remote participation options for eligible individuals. It allows certification, recertification, and nutritional risk evaluations via phone, video, or other interactive technology (ensuring ADA accessibility), with states required to collect health data within 30-90 days for remote cases. The bill also permits remote delivery of food benefits (e.g., electronic transfers or mail) without in-person pickup and allocates $60 million for technology upgrades to improve program access and secure data sharing. A report to Congress on remote technology use must be submitted within one year, detailing impacts on participation, satisfaction, and best practices.
Expand eXpertise in China Education and Language Act or the EXCEL Act This bill requires various actions to address competition with China. The Department of State must use direct hire authority to appoint at least 31 candidates with China-related linguistic, cultural, or regional expertise to positions in the competitive service. The bill requires the State Department to train certain employees on topics such as the domestic and foreign policy objectives of China and the Chinese Communist Party. Additionally, the bill establishes a China strategic advisory board and requires the Government Accountability Office to study the personnel capacity and capability of the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to support strategic competition with China.
HR 2445 establishes a new Office of the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance to oversee all U.S. military and nonmilitary aid to Ukraine since January 2022. The Inspector General will conduct independent audits and investigations into how funds are spent, track weapons transfers, review contracts, and monitor compliance with U.S. requirements, directly affecting all agencies administering Ukraine aid. Quarterly reports to Congress must detail all obligations, expenditures, and comparisons of U.S. support versus other NATO allies' contributions. The office is funded with $70 million for fiscal year 2023 and terminates 180 days after unspent aid drops below $250 million.
The ALIGN Act (HR 2406) permanently allows businesses to deduct the full cost of qualified equipment and machinery in the year of purchase, rather than spreading the deduction over multiple years. This applies to property placed in service after September 27, 2017, directly affecting businesses that make capital investments in eligible assets like manufacturing equipment or commercial facilities. The bill eliminates the previous requirement to depreciate these costs over time, reducing taxable income in the purchase year. It makes a temporary 2017 tax provision permanent, impacting businesses across various industries that purchase qualifying property.
HR 2427, the Hmong Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes Congress to award a gold medal to honor Hmong veterans who served with U.S. forces during the Vietnam War. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to strike the medal and present it to the Smithsonian Institution for display, recognizing their combat service, heavy casualties, and displacement after the war. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to cover costs. This procedural bill commemorates the Hmong people's military contributions and their refugee resettlement in the U.S., affecting the Hmong community as a whole.
The International Human Rights Defense Act of 2023 creates a permanent Special Envoy at the State Department to coordinate U.S. efforts against discrimination and violence targeting LGBTQI+ people globally. The bill requires the development of an annual global strategy to address criminalization, discrimination, and violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics. It also mandates that U.S. country reports on human rights practices include detailed information about laws and practices affecting LGBTQI+ communities. The legislation authorizes U.S. foreign assistance programs to support LGBTQI+ rights through health services, legal protections, and community capacity building. This bill aims to strengthen U.S. diplomatic engagement on LGBTQI+ rights as part of broader human rights policy.
This bill requires the Veterans Affairs Secretary to expand or modify an existing national cemetery (under National Cemetery Administration control) before Arlington National Cemetery reaches capacity, ensuring it provides full military honors using the same standards and eligibility criteria that applied to Arlington as of March 31, 2023. It directly affects veterans and their families seeking burial with full military honors at national cemeteries nationwide. The bill also mandates a joint report within one year to Congress on expanding cemetery capacity and assessing whether interment criteria should recognize exceptional service, including impacts on women, non-combat veterans, and other groups. The key mechanism is preserving current military honors standards at alternative cemeteries to prevent Arlington's capacity limits from disrupting existing burial practices.
This resolution commemorates the 190 th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Thailand. It also looks forward to enhancing the ties of friendship between the peoples of Thailand and the United States.
HR 1139, the GUARD VA Benefits Act, amends federal law to strengthen penalties for individuals or organizations charging veterans unauthorized fees when helping with VA benefit claims. It directly affects veterans seeking assistance with VA claims and the representatives (like advocates or attorneys) who might charge them fees. The bill adds a new provision making it a violation to solicit, charge, or receive any fee for preparing, presenting, or prosecuting VA claims, punishable by fines under Title 18. This change specifically targets unauthorized fee-charging while excluding fees covered under existing exceptions in sections 5904 or 1984 of the law.
The National Labor Relations Board Reform Act increases the NLRB's membership from 5 to 6 members, requiring 3 members to represent each of the two major political parties and establishing staggered terms for appointments starting in 2028. It changes the required Board majority for decisions from 3 to 4 members and adds a 30-day window for employers or employees to seek federal court review of General Counsel complaints if they lack substantial evidence. The bill also mandates that the NLRB issue final orders within one year of a case filing or the case is automatically discharged, becoming final without further action. These changes directly affect NLRB operations, employers, and employees involved in labor disputes under the National Labor Relations Act.
HR 1818, the Aviation Workforce Development Act, expands tax-advantaged savings plans (529 plans) to cover costs for specific aviation training programs. It allows funds from these plans to pay for tuition, fees, and required materials at FAA-certified aviation maintenance technician schools (Part 147) or commercial pilot training programs (Part 61 or 141). This directly affects students pursuing careers as aircraft maintenance technicians or commercial pilots by making these training costs more affordable through existing tax-advantaged savings. The bill amends the tax code to include these programs under "qualified higher education expenses" for 529 plan distributions.
