This resolution condemns Iranian state-sponsored terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and officials and Iranian dissidents. The resolution also expresses support for the people of Iran who are legitimately defending their rights for freedom against repression and condemns the killing of Iranian protesters by the Iranian regime.
The Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act of 2023 requires the Federal Aviation Administration to establish a regulatory pathway for commercial drone operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) within two years. It creates a new Office of Associate Administrator of UAS Integration to oversee drone integration into the national airspace system and establishes a UAS Certification Unit to develop certification processes for drones. The bill extends the FAA's authority to grant exemptions for drone operations until the new rules take effect, requiring risk-based approaches for authorizing operations. This legislation directly affects drone manufacturers, commercial operators, and the FAA by creating new regulatory processes to enhance U.S. competitiveness in drone technology while maintaining safety standards.
This bill requires prosecutors in large jurisdictions (population over 360,000) receiving federal crime funds to submit annual reports on how they handle serious crimes like murder, rape, robbery, and firearm offenses. The reports must detail cases declined for prosecution, plea agreements, and whether defendants had prior similar offenses or were on probation/parole. Prosecutors who comply receive priority in federal funding disbursement, while the Attorney General must publish the data for public access. It also prohibits federal funding for jurisdictions with policies banning cash bail for firearm-related offenses. The bill focuses on transparency and accountability in prosecution decisions, not altering legal standards.
HCONRES 13 is a concurrent resolution expressing Congress's support for maintaining the current policy that prohibits imposing new fees on local radio stations for playing music. It states that Congress should not impose any performance fee, tax, royalty, or charge on local radio stations for broadcasting sound recordings over the air, or on businesses like bars and restaurants that play music publicly. The resolution argues that such fees would harm local radio stations - critical sources for emergency information and community programming - and jeopardize the economic model that has supported both radio and the music industry for decades. This resolution does not create new law but formally opposes potential legislative changes to the existing fee structure.
This resolution designates the week beginning February 5, 2023, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week" to symbolically recognize these institutions. It directly honors the 35 accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities operating across 15 states, which serve over 230 federally recognized tribes and provide higher education access to American Indian, Alaska Native, and other students in underserved communities. The resolution calls for national recognition through appropriate activities but does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes. It is a ceremonial measure without binding legal effect.
The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023 requires large cattle packers to report detailed information about their cattle purchases and contracts to improve market transparency. The bill establishes mandatory minimums requiring packers to purchase a certain percentage of cattle through transparent pricing mechanisms like negotiated deals, rather than private contracts. Packers must also report daily slaughter schedules and carcass weights more frequently, and create a public library of all cattle purchase contracts. These requirements directly affect major cattle packers and aim to give cattle producers more information about market prices.
This bill clarifies that food products made from North American bison (specifically plains bison and wood bison) may legally use "buffalo" as a common name on labels. It explicitly allows "buffalo" for Bison bison bison (plains bison) and Bison bison athabascae (wood bison), while requiring "water buffalo" for other animals in the genus Bubalus. The bill directly affects food manufacturers and distributors who label bison meat products, ensuring compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. It resolves labeling confusion without changing existing food safety standards.
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.
Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People's Republic of China Act This bill requires the President to prohibit nonresident aliens, foreign businesses, and agents associated with China's government from (1) purchasing agricultural (including ranching) real estate located in the United States, or (2) participating in Department of Agriculture programs that are unrelated to food and safety regulatory requirements.
This concurrent resolution (SCONRES 3) is a symbolic statement affirming religious freedom as a fundamental human right protected under the U.S. Constitution. It specifically recognizes the 237th anniversary of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (enacted January 16, 1786) and affirms that religious freedom allows all people - of any faith or no faith - to live, work, and worship according to their beliefs. The resolution emphasizes that religious freedom is a unifying principle essential to American democracy, citing historical documents like the First Amendment and presidential proclamations. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any specific group, but serves to publicly affirm this principle on Religious Freedom Day.
This resolution congratulates the South Dakota State University football team on a successful season and for winning the 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision title.
The Public Health and Border Security Act of 2023 ends a pandemic-era suspension on certain international entries and imports. It requires the Surgeon General to notify Congress when the public health emergency declaration (including its continuation) ends, then mandates a 60-day waiting period before lifting the suspension. During this period, the Surgeon General must collaborate with agencies like Homeland Security to develop and submit a plan for managing potential increases in travel or goods, which must be provided to Congress within 30 days. If the plan isn’t submitted on time, the suspension’s termination is delayed until 30 days after the plan is delivered.
