This bill (S 827) prohibits the use of federal funds to implement, administer, or enforce a specific Department of Justice rule concerning firearms equipped with stabilizing braces. It directly affects the DOJ and federal agencies responsible for enforcing this rule, preventing them from using taxpayer money to carry out the regulation. The key mechanism is a funding restriction: federal money cannot be spent on any aspect of the rule's enforcement. This does not repeal the rule itself but blocks its practical application by cutting off financial resources.
HRES 230 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the service of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers across the U.S. It does not create new policies or funding but formally honors their contributions. The resolution highlights how these volunteers provide millions of service hours annually in areas like education, disaster response, and community support, while acknowledging their role in promoting volunteerism and national service. It specifically encourages public recognition during AmeriCorps Week and urges broader community involvement in service programs.
This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to change how tipped employees' wages are calculated. It removes the previous requirement that tipped workers must "customarily and regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips" to qualify for the lower cash wage rate. Instead, it requires employers to ensure that tipped employees' combined cash wages and tips meet or exceed the federal minimum wage for each pay period. Employers can choose the pay period (daily, weekly, biweekly, etc.) for calculating this combined wage, but must guarantee the total meets the minimum wage. The bill directly affects restaurant servers, bartenders, and other workers who rely on tips as part of their income.
The GAS PRICE Act (S 783) requires the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to produce annual reports detailing federal policies, regulations, or executive orders issued since January 2021 that may increase U.S. energy prices. These reports must be submitted to Congress and made public within 60 days of the bill's enactment and yearly thereafter. The bill does not change energy prices or create new regulations; it only mandates documentation of existing policies potentially affecting prices. The EIA is directly responsible for compiling and publishing these reports.
This bill allows physical therapists to use temporary replacement providers (locum tenens) under Medicare, aligning their coverage rules with those already available to physicians. It directly affects physical therapists and Medicare beneficiaries by enabling uninterrupted access to physical therapy services during provider shortages. The key change amends Medicare rules to treat outpatient physical therapy services the same as physician services for temporary staffing purposes. This policy shift takes effect after the bill's enactment, ensuring physical therapy care can continue without disruption during staffing gaps.
BUILDER Act of 2023 or the Building United States Infrastructure through Limited Delays and Efficient Reviews Act of 2023 This bill places limits on the environmental review of proposed major federal actions under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and establishes deadlines and other requirements to expedite the environmental review of such actions. Specifically, the bill limits the scope of the environmental review of major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment as specified by the bill. The bill also specifies the thresholds that trigger when agencies must issue environmental assessments and environmental impact statements for proposed agency actions, outlines when agencies are not required to prepare environmental documents for such actions, and establishes deadlines to complete such documents. The bill also establishes a process for designating a lead federal agency as well as a joint lead agency, such as a state government, to supervise the environmental review under NEPA. The lead agency must supervise the preparation of one environmental document (e.g., environmental impact statement), which satisfies the document requirement for all involved agencies, and prepare a schedule to complete the review of the action. If the lead agency is unable to meet the deadlines, it must pay $100 per day to the applicant until the applicant approves a new deadline. A lead agency may allow a project sponsor to prepare environmental documents under specified circumstances. Additionally, the bill limits judicial review of NEPA cases, including by establishing deadlines to file lawsuits under NEPA.
This bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the "Hello Girls" - female telephone operators who served in the Army Signal Corps during World War I. They provided critical battlefield communications in France (connecting 26 million calls), wore military uniforms, and faced combat risks, but were denied veteran benefits for 60 years due to being classified as civilian contractors. The medal recognizes their pioneering service, devotion, and the decades-long struggle to gain military recognition. The award follows similar recognition for other WWII women veterans and aims to correct the historical injustice they faced.
HR 1556, the "Define WOTUS Act," redefines which water bodies fall under federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction. It explicitly includes rivers, lakes, and wetlands connected to larger waterways, while excluding intermittent streams, groundwater, man-made ditches, and temporary water features like stormwater basins. The bill requires the Army Secretary to provide landowners with a binding, 60-day official ruling on whether waters on their property qualify as regulated "navigable waters." This directly affects property owners, developers, and farmers by clarifying regulatory boundaries and reducing uncertainty about federal water regulations.
HRES 219 is a symbolic resolution (not a binding bill) expressing the House’s support for inclusive public schools. It urges schools to adopt historically accurate, diverse educational materials that reflect the nation’s diversity, foster parent-educator partnerships, and eliminate discrimination based on race, disability, LGBTQ+ identity, or other factors. The resolution emphasizes creating safe, well-rounded learning environments that prepare all students for success while protecting students’ civil rights. It directly affects public school districts, educators, families, and students by encouraging practices that promote equity and inclusion.
This resolution expresses support for the designation of COVID-19 Victims and Survivors Memorial Day to memorialize the lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic.
HRES 181 is a non-binding House resolution expressing symbolic support for designating February 28, 2023, as "Rare Disease Day." It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the importance of raising awareness about rare diseases, improving early diagnosis, and supporting research for treatments. The resolution acknowledges that rare diseases affect over 25 million people in the U.S. and highlights ongoing efforts like the FDA’s Rare Disease Endpoint Advancement Pilot Program. It aligns with the global observance of Rare Disease Day, which began in the U.S. in 2009.
Restoring Competitive Property Insurance Availability Act This bill excludes from the gross income of specified insurance companies (other than life insurance companies) certain income from providing qualified real property insurance after a federally declared disaster. The bill defines qualified real property insurance income to mean the excess of premiums received by such insurance companies for real property insurance for property located in the disaster area, over deductions properly allocable to such premiums.
