HR 52, the Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act, promotes safe firearm storage through several concrete measures. It requires firearm manufacturers to include a "SAFE STORAGE SAVES LIVES" notice with each new handgun, rifle, or shotgun sold, directing buyers to the Attorney General’s public website with safe storage guidance. The bill also creates a federal grant program ($10 million annually) for states and tribes to develop public programs distributing safe storage devices (like locked containers or trigger locks), and establishes a tax credit for individuals purchasing such devices. These provisions directly affect firearm manufacturers, state/local governments, and the public seeking to secure firearms responsibly.
COI Elimination Act This bill limits U.S. contributions to the United Nations pertaining to the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. Current law imposes a cap on the annual U.S. contribution to the U.N. budget. The bill lowers that cap by 25% of the amount budgeted for the commission. The bill also states that it shall be U.S. policy to seek the abolition of the commission and combat systemic anti-Israel bias in international bodies.
HR 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, would admit Washington, D.C. as the 51st state, named "Washington, Douglass Commonwealth," granting its residents full representation in Congress with two Senators and one Representative. The bill establishes procedures for admission, including elections for state officials, with the state initially having one Representative until the next congressional apportionment. It would create a "Capital" area (including the White House, Capitol, and other key federal buildings) that remains under federal jurisdiction as the seat of the U.S. government, while the rest of the District becomes the new state. The bill also includes provisions to ensure continuity of federal services, property management, and legal procedures during the transition to statehood.
HR 129 requires the Secretary of Defense to install secure drop boxes on every military installation for service members and their families to deposit unused prescription drugs. These boxes must be accessible to active-duty personnel and their dependents, providing a standardized way to handle unused medications. The bill defines "prescription drug" using existing federal law (Section 1074g(i) of Title 10, U.S. Code) but focuses on creating mandatory disposal points across all bases. This policy directly affects military communities by improving access to safe medication disposal.
HRES 641 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the 75th anniversary of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD). It celebrates NACD's history as a locally led conservation organization with 3,000 districts across all 50 states and territories, which works with landowners and governments to manage natural resources. The resolution describes NACD's mission of promoting voluntary, incentive-driven conservation programs at the local level. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or funding, but formally honors NACD's role in conservation efforts.
This bill authorizes the Thomas Paine Memorial Association to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the District of Columbia in honor of the philosopher and patriot, Thomas Paine. Thomas Paine is best known for writing Common Sense , a pamphlet that helped to inspire the Revolutionary War. The establishment of the commemorative work shall be in accordance with the Commemorative Works Act. Federal funds may not be used to pay any expense to establish the commemorative work.
Aviation Funding Stability Act of 20 21 This bill provides continuing appropriations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund if an appropriations bill for the FAA has not been enacted before a fiscal year begins or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations for the FAA is not in effect. The bill provides appropriations at the rate of operations that was provided for the prior fiscal year to continue programs, projects, and activities for which funds were provided in the preceding fiscal year.
Fair and Open Skies Act This bill prohibits the Department of Transportation (DOT) from issuing a foreign air carrier permit or an exemption from certain air carrier certificate requirements under the United States-European Union Air Transport Agreement of April 2007, unless DOT finds that issuing the permit or exemption would be consistent with Article 17 bis of the agreement, which provides that opportunities created by the agreement do not undermine labor standards or the labor-related rights and principles contained in the laws of the respective parties to the agreement; and imposes conditions on the permit or exemption necessary to ensure compliance with Article 17 bis . The bill modifies policy considerations relating to air carrier certificates to require DOT to consider preventing entry into U.S. markets by flag of convenience carriers (i.e., foreign air carriers established in a country other the home country of their majority owner in order to avoid regulations of the home country) and preventing the undermining of labor standards. In carrying out such air carrier certificate requirements, DOT must consider preventing entry of flag of convenience carriers into U.S. markets as being in the public interest and consistent with public convenience and necessity for safety in air transportation and air commerce. In formulating U.S. international air transportation policy relating to the elimination of discrimination and unfair competition, the Department of State and DOT must include in their considerations the undermining of labor standards.
Cooper Davis Act This bill establishes requirements for electronic communication service providers and remote computing service providers to report knowledge of various drug-related offenses (e.g., unlawful distribution of a controlled substance or a counterfeit substance) to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act of 2022 This bill provides statutory authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to authorize their personnel to act to detect, identify, monitor, track, and mitigate a credible threat that an unmanned aircraft system (i.e., drone) poses to the safety or security of certain facilities or assets. For example, DHS and DOJ may carry out a pilot program to evaluate the potential benefits of state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies taking actions to mitigate credible unmanned aircraft system threats. Additionally, DHS and DOJ must coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration before carrying out any action authorized by the bill to ensure the action does not adversely impact or interfere with safe airport operations, navigation, air traffic services, or the safe and efficient operation of the national airspace system.
Defense of United States Infrastructure Act of 2021 This bill sets out programs and requirements related to critical infrastructure and cybersecurity threats, including (1) a pilot program to enable federal and nonfederal entities to share information in order to prevent, identify, and mitigate cyber threats; (2) reporting about the federal government's efforts to support security certifications for information technology; and (3) a working group to develop a strategy for implementing security measures for foundational internet protocols.
Safeguarding American Innovation Act This bill addresses the security of federally funded research and development grants and export-controlled goods, technologies, or sensitive information. The bill establishes in the Office of Management and Budget a Federal Research Security Council to develop federally funded research and development grant making policy and management guidance to protect the national and economic security interests of the United States. Each executive agency on the council shall be responsible for assessing federal research security risks posed by persons participating in federally funded research and development. The bill prohibits any individual from knowingly (1) preparing or submitting a federal grant application that fails to disclose the receipt of any outside compensation, including foreign compensation, by the individual; or (2) forging, counterfeiting, or otherwise falsifying a document to obtain a federal grant. An alien shall be inadmissible to the United States if a consulate or the Department of Justice knows the alien seeks to enter the United States to acquire export-controlled goods, technologies, or sensitive information if the Department of State has determined that such acquisition would be contrary to U.S. national security (including economic security). The bill revises provisions relating to the disclosure of foreign gifts.
