Maine Congressional Bills

passed · Maine · Senate Apr 20, 2024

SRES 657: A resolution celebrating the 152nd anniversary of Arbor Day.

This is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 657) that formally recognizes April 26, 2024, as National Arbor Day and celebrates its 152th anniversary. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups - it simply acknowledges the historical significance of Arbor Day, which began in 1872 as a day to promote tree planting and environmental stewardship. The resolution encourages all Americans to participate in Arbor Day activities, such as community tree-planting events, to support urban forestry and sustainable forest management. As a procedural resolution, it has no legal effect beyond expressing the Senate's support for this annual observance.

passed · Maine · Senate Apr 19, 2024

SRES 655: A resolution honoring the life of Joseph Isadore Lieberman, former Senator for the State of Connecticut.

SRES 655 is a Senate resolution passed on April 18, 2024, to honor the late Joseph I. Lieberman, a former U.S. Senator from Connecticut (1988-2013), following his death. The resolution recognizes his career, including his role in creating the Department of Homeland Security, establishing the 9/11 Commission, and advocating for civil rights and environmental protections. It directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory and transmit a copy to his family, expressing the Senate's sorrow and respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, as it solely commemorates his legacy.

passed · Maine · Senate Apr 16, 2024

SRES 645: A resolution designating the week of April 20 through April 28, 2024, as "National Park Week".

SRES 645 is a ceremonial Senate resolution designating April 20-28, 2024, as "National Park Week." It does not create new laws or affect any group directly; instead, it formally recognizes this week to highlight the National Park System. The resolution encourages the public to responsibly visit, experience, and support national parks, referencing the system’s history, visitor statistics (325 million visits in 2023), and economic impact ($50.3 billion in 2022). As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal effect but serves to promote awareness of national parks.

passed · Maine · House Apr 16, 2024

HRES 288: Encouraging the EU to DESIGNATE Resolution

This resolution (HRES 288) urges the European Union to formally designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization under EU legal framework Common Position 931. It does not create new laws but requests the EU take this specific action, noting the EU has previously sanctioned IRGC individuals but not the organization as a whole. The resolution cites the IRGC's role in human rights abuses, support for proxy groups, and involvement in conflicts like Ukraine as context for the request. Introduced in April 2023 by 20+ House members, it is a non-binding expression of congressional preference.

Claudia Tenney (R) · 60 co-sponsors

passed · Maine · Senate Apr 15, 2024

SJRES 61: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Highway Administration relating to "National Performance Management Measures; Assessing Performance of the National Highway System, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure".

SJRES 61 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a Federal Highway Administration rule that established performance measures for the National Highway System, including a requirement to track greenhouse gas emissions from highway activities. The rule, published in December 2023, would have mandated that states and federal agencies assess highway performance using this emissions metric. If enacted, the resolution would block the rule from taking effect, preventing the implementation of the emissions tracking measure. This action is pursued under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to reject federal regulations with a simple majority vote.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment ✗ Transportation

Kevin Cramer (R) · 49 co-sponsors

passed · Maine · Senate Apr 11, 2024

SRES 638: A resolution calling for the immediate release of Ryan Corbett, a United States citizen who was wrongfully detained by the Taliban on August 10, 2022, and condemning the wrongful detention of Americans by the Taliban.

This resolution (SRES 638) calls on the Taliban to immediately release Ryan Corbett, a U.S. citizen wrongfully detained since August 2022 while visiting Afghanistan for business. It condemns the Taliban's detention of Corbett - held in a small cell under poor conditions without charges - and urges U.S. officials to prioritize his release. The resolution also demands the Taliban stop detaining Americans for political gain and calls for the release of other U.S. citizens wrongfully held in Afghanistan. As a symbolic congressional action, it does not create new law but expresses formal support for Corbett and his family.

passed · Maine · Senate Mar 23, 2024

SRES 333: A resolution designating 2024 as the Year of Democracy as a time to reflect on the contributions of the system of Government of the United States to a more free and stable world.

SRES 333 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating 2024 as the "Year of Democracy" to highlight the U.S. government system's global contributions to freedom. It does not create new laws or directly affect citizens, but encourages states, local governments, and the public to observe the year through activities that honor democratic principles. The resolution urges reflection on the U.S. system's role in promoting global freedom, appreciation for historical sacrifices, and respectful civic engagement. It has no binding effect and serves solely as a commemorative gesture.

passed · Maine · Senate Mar 21, 2024

SRES 612: A resolution recognizing the importance of maple syrup production to the State of Maine and designating March 24, 2024, as "Maine Maple Sunday".

This Senate resolution designates March 24, 2024, as "Maine Maple Sunday" to honor Maine's maple syrup industry. It recognizes Maine as the third-largest U.S. producer (17% of national output), generating over $55 million annually and supporting 560 jobs. The resolution is non-binding and symbolic, acknowledging the industry's cultural and economic significance. It follows an annual tradition observed for 41 years, with sugarhouses across Maine hosting events on the fourth Sunday in March.

passed · Maine · Senate Mar 21, 2024

S 1332: Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act

This bill creates a new job category for direct support professionals (DSPs) in the federal Standard Occupational Classification system. DSPs are workers who provide personalized care to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, helping them with daily tasks, community participation, and achieving independence goals. The bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to add a specific code (31-1123) under healthcare support occupations within 30 days of enactment. This change aims to improve data collection on DSP workforce shortages and high turnover rates, which currently affect service stability for people with disabilities. It does not change funding, services, or regulations - only how these workers are classified for statistical purposes.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maine · Senate Mar 20, 2024

SRES 604: A resolution designating March 21, 2024, as "National Women in Agriculture Day".

This Senate resolution designates March 21, 2024, as "National Women in Agriculture Day." It recognizes the contributions of women in agriculture as producers, educators, leaders, and mentors, highlighting their role in farming operations, agricultural sales (accounting for 36% of U.S. farm sales in 2022), and workforce development. The resolution encourages all citizens to acknowledge women's impact on the agricultural industry and support their participation in the field through initiatives like mentorship and education. As a symbolic gesture with no legal effect, it does not create new policies or obligations but aims to raise awareness of women's roles in agriculture.

Joni Ernst (R) · 64 co-sponsors

passed · Maine · Senate Mar 20, 2024

SRES 567: A resolution recognizing the seriousness of widespread health care worker burnout in the United States and the need to strengthen health workforce well-being, and expressing support for the designation of March 18, 2024, as the inaugural "Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness".

SRES 567 is a symbolic Senate resolution recognizing the serious issue of healthcare worker burnout in the U.S. and designating March 18, 2024, as the first "Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness." It does not create new laws or funding but highlights statistics showing 50% of healthcare workers reported burnout in 2020, along with high rates of depression, violence, and intent to leave the field. The resolution calls for raising public awareness and encouraging action across sectors - including government, healthcare systems, and employers - to support worker well-being and improve patient care. It aligns with existing federal initiatives like the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act.

passed · Maine · Senate Mar 19, 2024

SRES 595: A resolution recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the lives of the people and communities of the United States.

SRES 595 is a Senate resolution recognizing the service of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers across the U.S. It honors their 30-year impact, including 200,000 annual volunteers providing millions of service hours in education, disaster response, environmental protection, and community support. The resolution highlights how their work strengthens communities through programs like Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion, and notes members earned over $4.5 billion in education benefits. It encourages nationwide appreciation for their contributions and promotes continued participation in national service. As a commemorative resolution, it has no binding effect but formally acknowledges this volunteer workforce.

Maine Congressional Bills

Bill results