This bill would allow individuals with valid concealed carry permits from their home state to carry concealed handguns in other states that either permit concealed carry for residents or don't ban it. It requires permit holders to have a government-issued ID, meet federal firearm possession rules, and carry only handguns (excluding machineguns or destructive devices). Carrying would still follow local restrictions in the destination state, such as bans in schools or government buildings. The bill does not change how states issue permits but creates automatic recognition of valid permits across participating states.
The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2023 would require Congress to approve most major federal regulations before they take effect. Major rules, defined as those with significant economic impact (estimated at $100 million or more annually), would need a joint resolution of approval from both chambers within 70 days. Agencies would be required to submit detailed reports to Congress before rules take effect, including cost-benefit analyses, economic effects, and other relevant information. This would increase congressional oversight of the regulatory process, though it includes exceptions for national security, emergencies, and monetary policy rules.
This bill prohibits U.S. federal funding for gain-of-function research on certain viruses. It directly affects universities and research institutions that conduct such research, banning new federal grants for them. The law defines gain-of-function research as work that could make influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses more dangerous or contagious in any organism. Federal agencies must stop awarding new grants to institutions performing this specific type of research.
This bill requires the U.S. government to prioritize payments for Social Security benefits, military pay, veterans' benefits, Medicare, and debt held by the public if the national debt reaches its legal limit. It mandates that the Treasury automatically increase the debt ceiling by the amount needed to cover these priority payments during any two-week period where revenue would otherwise fall short. The law directly affects Social Security recipients, active-duty military personnel, veterans, Medicare beneficiaries, and holders of U.S. Treasury debt. Key provisions include automatic debt limit adjustments based on revenue projections and holding excess funds for future payment periods. The bill aims to prevent default on these critical obligations without requiring new congressional action during debt limit crises.
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to prohibit, with certain exceptions, individuals from entering the United States through a coastal or land port of entry or a Border Patrol station near a U.S. land border. This prohibition shall not apply to a (1) U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, (2) member of the U.S. Armed Forces or the spouse and children of a member, or (3) person from a foreign country with valid travel documents arriving at a designated port of entry. This prohibition shall be in place until February 1, 2025.
Ban Russian Energy Imports Act This bill declares that a national emergency exists with respect to the aggression of Russia against Ukraine. During this emergency, the President must prohibit the importation of crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, and coal in which Russia or a Russian national has any interest. The bill exempts products that are already loaded or in transit at the time of this bill's enactment.
Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill modifies and reauthorizes through FY2027 programs and activities under the Violence Against Women Act that seek to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. The bill also authorizes new programs, makes changes to federal criminal laws, and establishes new protections to promote housing stability and economic security for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
This bill prohibits the Department of Defense and the National Nuclear Security Administration from using funds for FY2022-FY2027 to reduce the nuclear forces of the United States. Specifically, no such funds may be obligated or expended to reduce (1) the total quantity of strategic delivery systems below the quantity of such systems as of January 1, 2021, (2) the quantity of deployed or non-deployed strategic delivery systems below quantities described as the Final New START Treaty Force Structure , or (3) the size of the nuclear weapons stockpile below the size of the stockpile as of January 1, 2021. Such prohibition does not apply to reductions made to ensure the safety, security, reliability, and credibility of the nuclear weapons stockpile and strategic delivery systems; temporary reductions in the quantity of nuclear weapons or deployed strategic delivery systems to facilitate the fielding of modernized replacements; nuclear weapons that are retired or awaiting dismantlement as of January 1, 2021; or reductions made pursuant to a treaty with respect to which the Senate has provided its advice and consent.
This bill prohibits federal agencies from proposing, implementing, or finalizing a rule or guidance that bans hydraulic fracturing (i.e., fracking) in the United States. Hydraulic fracturing means a process that (1) stimulates or increases the production and recovery of oil or natural gas from a well by pumping a fluid and a propping agent (e.g., sand) at high pressure into a well to create fractures in the reservoir that the propping agent holds open, and (2) increases the surface of the formation available for oil and natural gas to flow into the well.
Coronavirus Origin Validation, Investigation, and Determination Act of 2022 or the COVID Act of 2022 This bill requires the President to impose sanctions and take other actions related to COVID-19 if certain conditions are not met. Specifically, if the President is unable to certify within 90 days of this bill's enactment that China's government has allowed a transparent international forensic investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and certain laboratories in the city of Wuhan, the President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions against (1) individuals with leadership positions in the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); and (2) officials of the Chinese Communist Party, China's military, or China's State Council who were involved in concealing or restricting information about the initial COVID-19 outbreak in China. If the certification cannot be made, the President must also (1) prohibit federal funding for collaborative projects between U.S.-based researchers and CAS researchers in any academic field, and (2) prohibit U.S.-based researchers and institutions that receive federal funding from engaging in certain research on viruses with individuals or institutions based in China.
Thin Blue Line Act This bill expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.
Full Faith and Credit Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to prioritize certain obligations if the federal debt limit is reached and provides for a limited increase in the debt limit to fund these priorities. If the federal government reaches the debt limit, the following obligations must be given equal priority over all other federal obligations: the principal and interest on the debt held by the public; Social Security benefits; pay and allowances for members of the Armed Forces on active duty and members of the U.S. Coast Guard; compensation, pensions, and payments for medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Medicare programs. If the debt limit has been reached and incoming revenue will be insufficient to pay the priority obligations over an upcoming two-week period, the bill requires (1) Treasury to notify Congress of the expected revenue shortfall for the two-week period, and (2) the debt limit to be increased by the amount of the expected shortfall. If the incoming revenue exceeds the expected shortfall, the excess revenue must be held in reserve and applied to the following two-week period.
