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United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025
Washington, D.C. Admission Act This bill provides for the establishment of the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, and its admission into the United States. The state is composed of most of the territory of the District of Columbia (DC), excluding a specified area that encompasses the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court building, federal monuments, and federal office buildings adjacent to the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol. The excluded territory shall be known as the Capital and serve as the seat of the government of the United States, as provided for in Article I of the Constitution. The state may not impose taxes on federal property except as Congress permits. The bill provides for the DC Mayor to issue a proclamation for the first elections to Congress of two Senators and one Representative of the state. The bill eliminates the office of Delegate to the House of Representatives. The bill applies current DC laws to the state. DC judicial proceedings and contractual obligations shall continue under the state’s authority. The bill also provides for specified federal obligations to transfer to the state upon its certification that it has funds and laws in place to assume the obligations. These include maintaining a retirement fund for judges and operating public defender services. The bill establishes a commission that is generally comprised of members who are appointed by DC and federal government officials to advise on an orderly transition to statehood.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025
Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act This bill establishes the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans. The commission must (1) compile documentary evidence of slavery in the United States; (2) study the role of the federal and state governments in supporting the institution of slavery; (3) analyze discriminatory laws and policies against freed African slaves and their descendants; and (4) recommend ways the United States may recognize and remedy the effects of slavery and discrimination on African Americans, including through a formal apology and compensation (i.e., reparations). The commission consists of individuals from civil society and reparations organizations and individuals appointed by the President and congressional leadership; Members of Congress and governmental employees may not serve on the commission. The commission may hold hearings, subpoena witnesses and records, and contract with other entities to conduct its work. The commission must submit its final report within 18 months of its first meeting.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025
This resolution honors the life, achievements, legacy, and distinguished public service of former President Jimmy Carter. The resolution also (1) acknowledges President Carter's contributions to the state of Georgia, the United States, and the world; and (2) establishes his legacy as one of the great leaders and statesmen of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025
Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 This bill makes permanent temporary changes enacted by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) that generally expand eligibility for and increase the amount of the premium tax credit. Currently, eligible taxpayers may be able to claim the premium tax credit, which applies toward the cost of obtaining health insurance through health insurance exchanges. To be eligible for the premium tax credit, a taxpayer’s household income must meet or exceed 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and, after 2025, may not exceed 400% of the FPL (maximum income limit). For 2021-2025, the ARPA and IRA eliminated the maximum income limit, which generally expands eligibility for the premium tax credit. Further, under current law, the amount of the premium tax credit is (1) generally the plan premium (conditions apply), minus (2) the taxpayer’s household income multiplied by the applicable percentage. The applicable percentage is a specific percentage that varies depending on which of six income ranges (adjusted for inflation after 2025) the taxpayer’s household income falls within. For 2021-2025, the ARPA and IRA lowered the applicable percentages and eliminated the adjustment of the applicable percentages for inflation, which generally increases the amount of the premium tax credit. The bill makes permanent the elimination of the 400% maximum income limit, the lower applicable percentages, and the elimination of the inflation adjustment for the applicable percentages.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025
Proxy Voting for New Parents Resolution This resolution authorizes proxy voting in the House of Representatives for a Member who has given birth or whose spouse has given birth and pregnant Members who are unable to travel safely or have a serious medical condition. Under the resolution, a qualifying Member may designate a proxy to cast a vote in a committee, the Committee of the Whole, or on the House floor; however, proxies will not be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum. The proxy designation is valid for up to 12 weeks. To designate a proxy for House and Committee of the Whole votes, the Member must submit a signed and dated letter to the Clerk stating the Member’s qualifying circumstances and the name and state of the Member who has agreed to be designated as proxy. A Member who has designated a proxy according to these requirements may also designate a proxy for committee votes. To designate a proxy for committee votes, the Member must provide the committee chair and ranking minority member with a signed and dated letter specifying another member of the committee to cast a proxy vote. The resolution further provides that a Member may revoke the proxy authorization by (1) casting the Member’s own vote; (2) recording the Member’s own presence in the House or in the Committee of the Whole; or (3) in a committee, by submitting a signed letter to the chair and ranking minority member.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025
This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of Korean American Day and honors the 122nd anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025
Goldie's Act This bill expands enforcement provisions under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to document and record detailed descriptions of violations of the act observed during inspections and investigations. USDA must provide a copy of all records documenting violations to state, local, and municipal animal control or law enforcement officials within 24 hours of such inspections or investigations. Inspections must be held at least once a year of each research facility, the premises of each animal dealer, and each exhibitor of animals. If violations are found during inspections, then USDA must conduct any necessary follow-up inspections until all the violations are corrected. Inspectors must confiscate or destroy in a humane manner animals found to be suffering physical or psychological harm as a result of failure to comply with the AWA. Violators are subject to civil penalties as outlined in the bill.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2025
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2025
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2025
John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices may take effect. Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights. A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if, during the previous 25 years: 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state; 10 or more violations occurred, at least 1 of which was committed by the state itself; or 3 or more violations occurred and the state administers the elections. A political subdivision as a separate unit shall also be subject to preclearance for a 10-year period if three or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years. States and political subdivisions that meet certain thresholds regarding minority groups must preclear covered practices before implementation, such as redistricting. States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices. The bill authorizes DOJ to require states or political subdivisions to provide certain documents or answers to questions for enforcing voting rights. The bill outlines factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the extent of any history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2025
End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act of 2025 This bill repeals or limits tax deductions and credits related to oil and gas production; increases the amortization period of geological and geophysical expenses; prohibits the use of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) accounting method by certain oil companies; and expands the definition of crude oil for certain purposes. The bill repeals the tax credits for producing oil and gas from marginal wells and enhanced oil recovery, tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs for oil and gas wells, percentage depletion, tax deduction for tertiary injectant expenses, and exception to the passive loss limitations for working interests in oil and gas property. The bill increases the amortization period for geological and geophysical expenses from two years to seven years and prohibits major integrated oil companies from using the LIFO accounting method. The bill excludes from the qualified business income tax deduction items related to oil and gas production, refining, processing, transporting, and distribution. The bill provides statutory authority for Internal Revenue Service regulations that exclude from the definition of a tax for purposes of the foreign tax credit levies imposed by foreign countries or U.S. possessions on persons that receive a specific economic benefit from the country or possession. Finally, the bill defines crude oil for purposes of the excise tax on imported petroleum and crude oil to include bitumen or bituminous mixtures or oil derived from such mixtures (including tar sands) and oil derived from kerogen-bearing sources (including oil shale).
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2025
Transparent Representation Upholding Service and Trust in Congress Act or the TRUST in Congress Act This bill requires a Member of Congress, as well as any spouse or dependent child of a Member, to place specified investments into a qualified blind trust (i.e., an arrangement in which certain financial holdings are placed in someone else's control to avoid a possible conflict of interest) until 180 days after the end of their tenure as a Member of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025
Rosie the Riveter Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue coins in recognition and celebration of the women who contributed to the U.S. home front during World War II. All sales of coins issued under this bill must include a surcharge to be paid to the Rosie the Riveter Trust to support the National Park Service in maintaining and repairing the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025
Prevent Tariff Abuse Act This bill prohibits the President from exercising authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose duties, tariff-rate quotas, or other quotas on imports entering the United States. (IEEPA provides the President with broad authority to regulate various economic transactions following a declaration of a national emergency.)
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act or the FAIR Act This bill modifies pay rates for federal employees in 2026. Specifically, the bill increases rates under the statutory pay systems and for prevailing rate employees by 3.3% and increases locality pay by 1%.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
Saving the Civil Service Act This bill generally prohibits changes to the classification of positions in the competitive service and excepted service unless certain conditions are met. (Competitive service positions are subject to competitive examination while excepted service positions are appointed under one of five schedules. Competitive service positions have notice and appeal requirements for adverse actions that are not applicable to most excepted positions, including those of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character under Schedule C.) On October 21, 2020, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that placed executive agency positions that are of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character, and that are not normally subject to change as a result of a presidential transition, under a new Schedule F in the excepted service. The order was subsequently revoked by President Joe Biden. The bill prohibits executive agency positions in the competitive service from being placed in the excepted service, unless such positions are placed in a schedule in the excepted service as in effect on September 30, 2020. The bill also prohibits positions in the excepted service from being placed in any schedule other than the aforementioned schedules. Additionally, agencies may not (1) transfer occupied positions from the competitive or excepted service into Schedule C without the consent of the Office of Personnel Management, or (2) transfer employees in the excepted service to another schedule or transfer employees in the competitive service to the excepted service without employee consent.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
Ensuring Military Readiness Not Discrimination Act This bill addresses the standards for eligibility for service in the Armed Forces. Specifically, the bill provides that any qualifications established or applied relating to eligibility for service in any of the Armed Forces must not include any criteria relating to the race, color, national origin, religion, or sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, or sex characteristics) of an individual. Additionally, any personnel policy developed or implemented by a military department with respect to members of the Armed Forces must ensure equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, or sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, or sex characteristics).
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
Inaugural Fund Integrity Act This bill limits donations to inaugural committees and requires these committees to disclose donations and disbursements. Specifically, inaugural committees may not solicit, accept, or receive donations from corporations or foreign nationals. An individual may not make a donation in the name of another individual or authorize his or her name to be used to make such a donation. In addition, foreign nationals may not make donations or make promises to make donations to inaugural committees. Further, the bill caps the amount an individual may donate to an inaugural committee. Donations to inaugural committees may not be converted to personal use. Finally, inaugural committees must report certain information on donations and disbursements to the Federal Election Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025
Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act This bill protects and preserves approximately 225,504 acres of federal land and waters in a specified area in the Rainy River Watershed of Superior National Forest in Minnesota from certain mining, such as sulfide-ore copper mining. (The area is upstream from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.) Specifically, the bill withdraws those acres from entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. However, the Forest Service is authorized to permit the removal of sand, granite, iron ore, and taconite from national forest system lands within such area if the removal is not detrimental to the water quality, air quality, and health of forest habitat within the Rainy River Watershed. Land or interest in land within such area that is acquired by the United States must be immediately withdrawn in accordance with this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2025 This bill prohibits using federal funds to conduct a first-use nuclear strike unless Congress expressly authorizes such a strike pursuant to a declaration of war. A first-use nuclear strike is an attack using nuclear weapons against an enemy without confirming that there has been a nuclear strike against the United States, its territories, or its allies.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
Lady Liberty Act of 2025 This bill sets a floor of 125,000 for the maximum number of refugees who may be admitted into the United States each fiscal year beginning in FY2027. Under current law, the President sets the annual cap on refugee admissions at the beginning of each fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act of 2025 This bill establishes additional support for wildlife movement areas. It also reauthorizes and modifies (1) the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, and (2) wildlife-related cooperative research and training programs. Specifically, the bill establishes within the Department of the Interior a grant program for projects that improve or conserve habitat quality in movement areas of terrestrial vertebrate species. At least 50% of the amounts made available to carry out the grant program must be used for projects that directly conserve, restore, or enhance big game movement areas. Interior must also establish a research program that provides funds to state fish and wildlife agencies and Indian tribes to collect and analyze data on the identification, characteristics, or management of movement areas. The bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and expands the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program to allow Interior to use program funds to provide technical assistance to other federal agencies to implement voluntary programs with a focus on migration corridor or seasonal habitat conservation efforts on private and tribal land. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2031 cooperative research and training programs for fish and wildlife resources. At least 50% of the funding must be used for projects that improve habitat quality in movement areas of big game and other wildlife. Additionally, the bill directs the U.S. Geological Survey to work with, and provide technical assistance to, federal agencies, states, and Indian tribes to build on existing efforts to map movement areas.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
This resolution reaffirms the importance of the alliance between the United States and South Korea, particularly with regard to security in the Indo-Pacific. The resolution also celebrates the important contributions of Korean Americans to American society and supports the goals of Korean Culture-Kimchi Day.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2025
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies serve as a private economic and social support system, providing benefits to their members is necessary to support the charitable and fraternal activities of the volunteer chapters, and their work should continue to be promoted.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act This bill establishes that a foreign nongovernmental organization shall not be disqualified from receiving certain U.S. international development assistance solely because the organization provides medical services (including counseling and referral services) using non-U.S. government funds if the medical services do not violate the laws of the country in which they are being provided. Such foreign organizations shall not be subject to requirements relating to their use of non-U.S. funds for advocacy or lobbying activities other than those that apply to U.S. nongovernmental organizations receiving such assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should ensure that the U.S. Postal Service is not privatized and remains an independent establishment of the federal government.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2025
This resolution expresses support for the designation of Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day. The resolution also calls for increasing awareness of (1) the earned income tax credit, which is refundable; (2) other refundable federal tax credits; and (3) free tax filing assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2025
Aviation-Impacted Communities Act This bill increases access to noise mitigation measures for aviation-impacted communities. Under the bill, an aviation-impacted community is a community that is located not more than one mile from any point at which a commercial or cargo jet route is 3,000 feet or less above ground level. The bill expands noise mitigation program funding under the Airport Improvement Program to include aviation-impacted communities that are not currently within the 65 day-night average sound level (DNL) standard. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must conduct outreach to aviation-impacted communities to inform them of the opportunity to be a designated community. A designated community must form a community board to provide information to airport operators and the FAA concerning aviation impacts (e.g., aircraft noise). A community board may petition the FAA to conduct a community assessment and, based on the assessment, the FAA must devise an action plan that alleviates or addresses the community’s concerns. In addition, the FAA must enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study and provide the FAA with a framework and diagnostic tool for conducting community assessments. The FAA must provide grants for necessary noise mitigation in a designated community for residences, hospitals, nursing homes, adult or child day care centers, schools, and places of worship. Further, the FAA and airport operators must provide (1) noise mitigation grants for communities subject to significant frequency of overhead flights, and (2) noise mitigation for residences impacted by significant nighttime aircraft noise.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025
This resolution condemns Russia's nuclear escalatory rhetoric and implied threats on the potential use of nuclear weapons in the context of its invasion of Ukraine. The resolution also (1) condemns Russia's purported suspension of participation in the New START Treaty, (2) emphasizes the value of arms control agreements between the United States and Russia, and (3) calls on the administration to continue pursuing nuclear arms control and risk reduction with Russia and China.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025
This bill provides for the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to the Freedom Riders, in recognition of their contribution to civil rights by fighting for equality in interstate travel.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025
National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act or the NO BAN Act This bill imposes limitations on the President's authority to suspend or restrict aliens from entering the United States. It also prohibits religious discrimination in various immigration-related decisions, such as whether to issue an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa, unless there is a statutory basis for such discrimination. The President may temporarily restrict the entry of any aliens or class of aliens after the Department of State determines that the restriction would address specific and credible facts that threaten U.S. interests such as public safety. The bill also imposes limitations on such restrictions, such as requiring the President, State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to (1) only issue a restriction when required to address a compelling government interest, and (2) narrowly tailor the suspension to use the least restrictive means to achieve such an interest. Before imposing a restriction, the State Department and DHS shall consult with Congress. The State Department and DHS shall report to Congress about the restriction within 48 hours of the restriction's imposition. If such a report is not made, the restriction shall immediately terminate. Individuals or entities present in the United States and unlawfully harmed by such a restriction may sue in federal court. The bill transfers the authority to suspend the entry of aliens traveling to the United States on a commercial airline that failed to comply with regulations related to detecting fraudulent travel documents from the Department of Justice to DHS.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025
United States Trade Leadership in the Indo-Pacific Act This bill requires certain actions related to trade in the Indo-Pacific region. Specifically, the bill directs the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate the effects of existing Indo-Pacific regional trade agreements (e.g., the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) on U.S. exporters and competitiveness in the region. Additionally, the bill establishes the Indo-Pacific Trade Strategy Commission to develop findings and recommendations for a comprehensive trade strategy for the Indo-Pacific region.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025
Stop the Wait Act of 2025 This bill phases out the initial waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and eliminates the waiting period for certain disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare. Under current law, individuals generally must wait five months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits. The bill would gradually reduce this waiting period before eliminating it entirely in the year 2030. Further, the bill would eliminate the 24-month waiting period for certain disabled workers and other individuals to become eligible for Medicare. Under current law, individuals under the age of 65 may generally enroll in Medicare after they have been eligible for SSDI or Social Security child’s, widow’s, or widower’s benefits by reason of disability for 24 months. The bill would eliminate this waiting period for individuals for whom the annual cost of certain medical insurance would exceed a specified percentage of their household income (i.e., those who cannot afford minimum essential coverage). Medicare eligibility for these individuals must be available retroactively to the first month that an individual qualified for SSDI or Social Security child’s, widow’s, or widower’s benefits by reason of disability.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025
This resolution disapproves of pardons for individuals who were found guilty of assaulting U.S. Capitol Police officers.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025
US-Kazakhstan Trade Modernization Act This bill addresses trade between the United States and Kazakhstan. Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to determine that Section 402 of the Trade Act of 1974 (commonly known as the Jackson-Vanik amendment) does not apply to Kazakhstan. The Jackson-Vanik amendment denies normal trade relations (NTR) status to some current and former nonmarket economy countries unless they comply with certain freedom-of-emigration requirements. Under a provision of this amendment, the President may extend NTR status to a country affected by the amendment by waiving the freedom-of-emigration requirements or determining that the country is not in violation of those requirements, subject to an annual review. Kazakhstan has received temporary NTR status since 1992. Additionally, the bill authorizes the President to extend permanent NTR status to Kazakhstan.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025