The Investing in All of America Act of 2023 amends the Small Business Investment Act to expand eligibility for a leverage exclusion, allowing Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) to count more investments toward their leverage limits when funding businesses in low-income or rural areas, or in critical technology sectors vital to national security. It requires the Small Business Administration to adjust exclusion limits annually using the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation and to submit annual reports to Congress on economic activity and jobs generated by these investments. This bill directly affects SBICs and the businesses they support in designated underserved communities and strategic technology industries.
This bill establishes a 5-year pilot program to improve transition support for servicemembers leaving the military, directly affecting those separating from active duty. It requires the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs to jointly implement a program including: (1) a group education module covering transition risks (like isolation, PTSD, homelessness, and suicide risk factors), (2) one-on-one counseling before discharge to assess VA care needs, and (3) coordination to connect veterans with VA services in their intended communities. The pilot will operate at 10+ military locations serving 300+ annually, with participants sharing medical records with VA and receiving tailored service referrals. Reports will track demographics, program activities, and outcomes to assess whether the approach reduces suicide risk among transitioning veterans.
SRES 658 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating April 2024 as "Financial Literacy Month." It does not create new laws or funding but calls on federal, state, local, schools, nonprofits, and businesses to observe the month with awareness activities. The resolution cites statistics on financial challenges (like 5.9 million unbanked households and rising student debt) to emphasize the importance of financial education. It aims to raise public awareness about personal financial education's role in making sound money decisions and building wealth, without mandating any specific actions.
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.
This House resolution condemns Iran's April 13, 2024 attack on Israel, which involved over 350 drones and missiles launched directly from Iran. It affirms support for Israel's right to self-defense, commends international efforts (including U.S., U.K., French, and Jordanian intercepts) that minimized damage, and calls for enforcing U.S. sanctions against Iran to disrupt its missile programs and support for proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses congressional support without creating new laws or funding.
HR 5947 terminates specific U.S. waivers and licenses related to Iran, ending a 2023 waiver that allowed funds transfer from South Korea to Qatar. It prohibits the Treasury Department from reissuing similar waivers or licenses for the same purpose and blocks the President from granting Iran access to certain designated financial accounts established under prior laws. The bill directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation by restricting how Treasury handles Iran-related financial transactions. It enacts concrete policy changes by ending existing authorizations and preventing future approvals for Iran to access specific accounts.
HR 5917, the "Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act," expands sanctions against foreign individuals and entities that direct the use of civilians as human shields. It specifically adds members or agents of Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) to the list of targets for sanctions when they order or control civilians to shield military objectives. The bill requires the President to justify sanction decisions to Congress within 120 days and extends the sunset date for related sanctions from 2023 to 2030. Additionally, it mandates a Department of Defense report within 120 days detailing strategies to counter human shield tactics used by groups like Hamas and PIJ, including plans for international coordination.
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.
This non-binding House resolution condemns the slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" as antisemitic, stating it promotes hatred against Jewish people and the State of Israel. It links the slogan to Hamas and other groups that reject Israel's existence, citing their charters and recent actions. The resolution calls for public condemnation of the slogan, noting it undermines peace efforts and aligns with positions of organizations like the Anti-Defamation League. It does not create new laws but expresses the House's stance on the phrase's harmful impact.
HRES 863 is a formal resolution introduced by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene impeaching Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. It alleges Mayorkas violated his constitutional duty by failing to secure the border, citing specific claims including approximately 10 million border encounters, 400,000 unaccompanied children, and the presence of individuals from nations linked to terrorism. The resolution asserts these failures breached the Secure Fence Act, the Guarantee Clause of the Constitution, and immigration laws, and cites rising fentanyl seizures and border-related deaths as evidence. This resolution, referred to the House Homeland Security Committee, formally charges Mayorkas with "high crimes and misdemeanors" for impeachment proceedings.
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.
HR 5921, the "No U.S. Financing for Iran Act of 2023," prohibits U.S. financial institutions from authorizing transactions related to Iran's imports or exports (excluding agricultural goods, food, medicine, and medical devices for civilians). It also requires the U.S. to oppose International Monetary Fund (IMF) financial aid to Iran and block Iran's access to IMF Special Drawing Rights. The bill amends the Export-Import Bank Act to ban U.S. financing for Iran's government or state-controlled entities. The law expires either 30 days after the President certifies Iran has stopped supporting international terrorism and is no longer a major money laundering concern, or 10 years from enactment.
