Most-Viewed Bills In Congress: Week of Dec. 4

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Each week, Causes.com updates the most-viewed bills and resolutions in Congress. 

Causes.com provides a video summary, text summary, link to the full bill, and ways to Contact Your Reps. Take action now: Tell them if you SUPPORT or OPPOSE this popular legislation.

This is the legislation currently consuming your senators, representatives, and Americans...

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BILL: Should We Streamline the Visa Process For Skilled Migrant Workers? - EAGLE Act of 2023 - S.3291

Bill Overview

• The Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment Act of 2023, or the EAGLE Act, modifies requirements for employment-based visas. It allows employers to focus on hiring immigrants based on their merits rather than their birthplace.
• Eliminates the per-country cap for employment-based immigrant visas, and increases the per-country cap on family-based immigrant visas from 7% of the total number of visas available annually to 15%. Under the current 7% cap, certain countries like India and China, which account for over 40% of the world's population, receive the same number of visas as Denmark, a country that accounts for 0.001% of the world's population. 
• Imposes new requirements on an employer seeking an H-1B visa holder (a highly skilled foreign professional), such as prohibiting an employer from advertising that a position is only open to H-1B applicants or that H-1B applicants are preferred to protect American workers.
• Enables certain non-U.S. nationals to obtain lawful permanent resident status if the individual is in the country as a nonimmigrant, has an approved immigrant visa petition, and has waited at least two years for a visa.

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Bill Overview

• Limits the importation of uranium from Russia, specifically unirradiated low-enriched uranium, which has never been in a reactor. The ban would go into effect within 90 days of enactment.
• Establishes annual caps on the amount of low-enriched uranium that may be imported from Russia through 2027.
• Limits funding for the Department of Energy's (DOE) American Assured Fuel Supply program.
• The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to send the bill to the House floor on May 24, 2023.

Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill

Read the full text here: H.R.1042 - Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act

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BILL: Should We Invest in Child Care? - Child Care for Every Community Act - H.R.953

Bill Overview

• Provides funds to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for an affordable childcare and early learning program.
• Children who are not yet required to attend school can participate in the program regardless of family income, disability status, citizenship status, or employment status of family members.
• Under the program, HHS will support sponsors like states, local governments, tribal organizations, and nonprofit community organizations that provide childcare and early learning services for families.
• Centers and Family Child Care Homes will meet high-quality standards based on current U.S. military childcare and the Head Start program standards.
• Requires that wages and benefits for childcare workers be comparable to those of similarly credentialed local public school teachers. 

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BILL: Should We Fund Israel's Defense? - Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 - H.R.6126

Bill Overview

• Allows for a $14.3 billion emergency supplemental appropriations to assist Israel in responding to the Hamas attacks for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2024.
• Requires that the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State provide written reports to Congress detailing U.S. assistance to Israel to ensure accountability.
• The first major legislative action under new Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (La.)

 

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BILL: Should We Tax Wall Street Speculations? - The Tax on Wall Street Speculation Act of 2023 - H.R.4119

Bill Overview

• Imposes an excise tax on certain trading transactions to invest in American families and communities, improve infrastructure and environment, expand economic opportunity, and reduce market volatility. The tax will go towards free tuition under Lee and Sanders' co-sponsored free college bill.
• Levies a tax of 0.5% on stock trades, a 0.1% fee on bonds, and a 0.005% fee on derivatives and other financial instruments.
• Provides an income tax credit to offset the financial transaction tax for individuals with incomes less than $50,000 and married couples with incomes less than $75,000. 
• Economic analysis of this proposal has estimated that it would raise $220 billion per year or well over $2 trillion over 10 years.
• Payback for 2008 bailouts. Taxpayers provided Wall Street with the largest bailout in history following the 2008 financial crash: $700 billion from the Treasury Department and $16 trillion in total financial assistance from the Federal Reserve.

Read the full text here: H.R.4119 - Tax on Wall Street Speculation Act

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BILL: Should We Promote Tuition-Free College? - College for All Act of 2023 - H.R.4117

Bill Overview

• First introduced in 2015, the bill amends Lyndon B. Johnson's Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure College for All.
• Guarantees tuition-free community college for all students. Enables students from single households earning up to $125,000 a year, and married households earning up to $250,000 a year to attend college without fear of being forced into debt.
• Paid for by the Tax on Wall Street Speculation Act, introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the Senate and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) in the House, which puts a tax of 0.5% on stock trades, a 0.1% fee on bonds, and a 0.005% fee on derivatives.
• Doubles the maximum Pell Grant award from $7,395 to $14,790 for the 2024-2025 school year for students enrolled at public and private non-profit colleges.

 

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BILL: Should We Raise the Minimum Wage? - Raise the Wage Act of 2023 - H.R.4889

Bill Overview

• Pushes for an increase in the federal minimum wage. Would gradually raise the minimum wage to $17 by 2028 and give approximately 28 million Americans (19% of workers) a long-overdue raise.
• Pegs future increases in the federal minimum wage to median wage growth to ensure the value of minimum wage does not, once again, erode over time.
• Eliminates the tipped sub-minimum wage over seven years, the sub-minimum wage for workers with disabilities over five years, and the sub-minimum wage for youth workers over seven years.
• After more than a decade with no increase in the federal minimum wage — the longest period in U.S. history — millions of people are working full-time jobs but are still struggling to make ends meet.

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BILL: Should We Regulate the Storage of Firearms? - Ethan's Law - H.R.660

Bill Overview

• Establishes a framework to regulate the storage of firearms on residential premises at the federal, state, and tribal levels.
• Establishes statutory requirements for firearms on residential premises to be safely stored in a secure gun storage or safety device if a minor is likely to gain access.
• Twenty-four states have already implemented some form of safe storage or child access prevention laws.
• The bill is named after Ethan Song, a 15-year-old from Guilford, Connecticut, who was tragically killed in 2018 when he was unintentionally shot and killed by an unsecured firearm in a neighbor's home. At the time of his death, the firearm was being stored in a Tupperware box in a closet alongside the ammunition and the keys to the gun lock. 
• There are loaded and unlocked guns in the homes of an estimated 4.6 million American minors, killing or injuring eight children or teens every day. Join the newsletter at #SongStrong to keep updated.

Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill

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BILL: Should We Defend Uyghur Human Rights? - Uyghur Policy Act of 2023 - H.R.2766

Bill Overview

• A bicameral, bipartisan bill that supports the human rights of the Muslim Uyghur minority group who reside primarily in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. There are about 11 million ethnic Uyghurs in the region, frequently subject to cultural repression, forced labor, and government crackdowns.
• Both Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Former Secretary of State Michael Pompeo have confirmed that the Chinese government has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs.
• Creates a comprehensive, multilateral strategy to raise international awareness and direct the State Department to effectively respond to human rights challenges. 
• Directs the U.S. Department of State to include Uyghur human rights activists in its U.S. Speaker program to speak at public diplomacy forums in Muslim-majority countries about the repression of Uyghurs and other minority groups in Xinjiang. 
• The Uyghur Policy Act passed the House with overwhelmingly bipartisan support last Congress.

 

Read the full text here: H.R.2766 - Uyghur Policy Act of 2023

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BILL: Should We Seek Environmental Justice? - A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice For All Act - H.R.1705

Bill Overview

• Named in honor of the House bill's original co-lead, the legislation is the most comprehensive environmental justice ruling in history that restores, reaffirms, and reconciles justice and civil rights.
• Environmental justice embraces the principle that all people and communities have a right to equal protection and enforcement of environmental laws and to pure air, clean water, and an environment that enriches life. 
• Expands equitable access to parks and outdoor recreation, prioritizing opportunities that benefit urban communities.
• Co-sponsored by Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), co-chairs of the Senate's first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus.

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BILL: Should We Reduce Food Deserts? - Food Deserts Act - H.R.1230

Bill Overview

• Establishes a grant program within the Department of Agriculture to reduce food deserts in underserved communities. Food deserts are regions where there is limited access to affordable, fresh, healthy foods, either from a lack of retail grocery stores or markets.
• Currently, over 29 million people (nearly 10% of the population) live without ready access to affordable, nutritious food. Over 2 million people have no access to transportation to get to the nearest grocery store.
• Requires states to use the funds to support the construction or maintenance of grocery stores in these areas. States must prioritize loaning money to stores that hire workers from the community, source food from local farms, and provide educational info on healthful diets.

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BILL: Should We Protect Domestic Violence Survivors From Eviction? - Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2023 - H.R.2918

Bill Overview

• Provides protection for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and sex trafficking under the Fair Housing Act. A fundamental component of ending domestic and sexual violence is securing safe and affordable housing for survivors.
• Helps ensure that people who are survivors of these crimes do not face eviction or other forms of retaliation for crimes committed against them. 
• While the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides protections for survivors living in public housing and Section 8 project-based programs, survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and sex trafficking have no explicit legal foundation to fight discrimination and eviction in the private housing market.
• 84% of survivors in domestic violence shelters reported needing help finding affordable housing.

 

Read the full text here: H.R.2918 - Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2023

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BILL: Should We Protect Vehicles From Climate Regulators? - Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act - H.R.1435

Bill Overview

• Prevents the EP from allowing California's climate regulators to limit the sale or use of new gas-powered motor vehicles.
• In 2022, California approved a new requirement that will effectively ban the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines by 2035 in favor of zero-emission vehicles. Seventeen states have laws in place that tether their vehicle emissions standards to those set in California, representing over 40% of total U.S. car purchases.
• Under the Clean Air Act, states can't adopt or enforce emission control standards for new motor vehicles unless the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a waiver authorizing them to do so. The bill blocks the EPA from issuing these waivers.
• In a 222-190 vote, the House approved the Act with 214 Republicans and eight Democrats voting in favor.

Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill

 

Read the full text here: H.R.1435 - Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act 

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BILL: Should We Fight Hunger? - Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2023 - H.R.3037

Bill Overview

• Currently, 34 million Americans, including 5 million children, depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to meet their nutritional needs. However, the rising cost of food in America outpaces SNAP benefits each year.
• This bill would improve food security for millions of Americans. The bill increases benefits by roughly 30% and amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require that supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits be calculated using the value of the low-cost food plan. 

Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill

 

Read the full text here: H.R.3037 - Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2023

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BILL: Should We Strengthen Our Nuclear Industry? - ADVANCE Act of 2023 - S.1111

Bill Overview

• Enhances U.S. civil nuclear leadership, supports the licensing of advanced nuclear technologies, and strengthens the domestic nuclear energy industry.
• Improves the regulation of nuclear energy, as well as empowers the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to be a leader in international forums.
• Authorizes funding to assist in cleaning up abandoned mining sites on Tribal lands.
• Provides the NRC Chair the tools to hire and retain highly specialized staff and requires the NRC to periodically review and assess performance metrics to ensure licensing can be completed on an efficient schedule.

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BILL: Should We End Mask Mandates? - No Mask Mandates Act of 2023 - S.172

Bill Overview

• Nullifies existing federal mask mandates and prohibits future actions to require individuals to wear face masks to respond to COVID-19 and other public health emergencies.
• Prohibits federal agencies or offices from issuing any future orders that mandate face masks or using previously appropriated federal funds to implement or enforce masking requirements to respond to COVID-19.

 

Read the full text here: S.172 - No Mask Mandates Act of 2023

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BILL: Should We Promote Free School Lunches? - Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023 - H.R.3204

Bill Overview

• Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to make breakfasts and lunches free for all children.
• Revives one of the coronavirus pandemic era's most popular social experiments: universal free school meals.
• Five states – California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, and New Mexico – have already passed laws to provide free universal school meals.
• Provides incentives for local food procurement, which will bolster and promote small family farms and local, healthy ingredients. 

 

Read the full text here: H.R.3204 - Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023

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BILL: Should We Protect Small-Scale Farmers? - Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers Act - S.2670

Bill Overview

• Re-establishes an agricultural system that works for small farmers by halting mergers of big agriculture businesses. These mergers have negatively impacted the livelihood of small-scale farmers and ranchers. The moratorium will last until the problem of market consolidation is addressed through comprehensive legislation.
• Requires the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to consider whether to unwind mergers if they are determined to have materially harmed competition nationally or in local markets, farmers or ranchers, workers, or consumers. 
• Strengthens antitrust laws across the agricultural sector. 
• Restores mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements for beef and pork products.

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BILL: Should We Address Disparities in Maternal Care? - Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act - S.1606

Bill Overview

• The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate of any high-income country in the world, with clear racial disparities in health outcomes. The number of pregnancy-related deaths in 2021 was nearly 80% higher than in 2018. The maternal mortality rate for Black women was almost three times higher than that of white women in the same year.
• The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act addresses this crisis through historic investments in the prevention of maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities in the U.S. The Act encompasses 12 individual bills sponsored by Black Maternal Health Caucus Members.
• The Social Determinants for Moms Act, included in the Momnibus, would establish a government-wide task force to address the maternal health crisis.

Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill

 

Read the full text here: S.1606 - Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act

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BILL: Should We Get Gov. Mandated Paid Sick Leave? - Healthy Families - Act H.R.3409

Bill Overview

• Ensures the U.S. joins almost every industrialized nation in guaranteeing paid sick leave to its workers. Currently, 34 million workers lack any paid sick time at all – including 25% of the private sector workforce and 9% of the public sector workforce.
• Allows workers in businesses with 15 or more employees to earn up to seven job-protected paid sick days each year.
• Provides a simple method for calculating accrued sick time. Workers would earn a minimum of one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year, unless the employer selects a higher limit.
• Expands eligibility to cover all workers who have earned at least $2,000 in income in the past two years, whether or not they are subject to Social Security taxes. Previously, only workers subject to Social Security taxes would have been eligible for paid leave benefits.

 

Read the full text here: H.R.3409 - Healthy Families Act

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BILL: Should We Protect Families From Climate Change? - Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act - H.R.3302

Bill Overview

• Makes robust investments in initiatives to reduce levels of exposure to extreme heat, air pollution, and other environmental threats to pregnant people, new mothers, and infants. Pregnant women, for example, are at heightened risk from extreme heat.
• Highlights the impact of pollution and climate change on women and babies. Research on over 32 million births in the U.S. found that “exacerbation of air pollution and heat exposure related to climate change may be significantly associated with risk to pregnancy outcomes in the U.S." 
• Is a pillar of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, which seeks to end racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, led by Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Representative Underwood. Minority women are disproportionately impacted by adverse health outcomes related to pollutants.

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BILL: Should Banks Offer Service to Marijuana Businesses? - SAFE Banking Act of 2023 - S.1323

Bill Overview

• The bill, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2023, provides protections for federally regulated financial institutions that serve state-sanctioned marijuana businesses and prevents federal banking regulators from penalizing these depository institutions.
• Currently, most financial institutions do not provide services to state-sanctioned marijuana businesses due to the federal classification of marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance. 
• Addresses the needs of the industry, which is cash-dependent and subject to frequent robberies and break-ins. Offering these businesses banking services would increase community safety by reducing their reliance on cash.

 

Read the full text here: S.1323 - SAFE Banking Act of 2023

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BILL: Should We Protect Workers' Rights to Organize? - Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2023 - H.R.20

Bill Overview

• Expands labor protections related to employees' rights to organize and bargain in the workplace.
• Revises the definitions of employee, supervisor, and employer to broaden the scope of individuals covered by the fair labor standards.
• Permits labor organizations to encourage their union members to participate in strikes initiated by different unions, known as secondary strikes, and prohibits employers from bringing claims against unions that conduct secondary strikes.
• Expands unfair labor practices to include prohibitions against the replacement of, or discrimination against, workers who participate in strikes.
• Allows collective bargaining agreements to require all employees represented by the union to contribute dues for the cost of such representation, notwithstanding a state law to the contrary.
• Prohibits employers from compelling employees to enter agreements where they waive the right to pursue collective and class-action litigation.

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BILL: Should Abortions be Covered by Insurance? - EACH Act of 2023 - H.R.561

Bill Overview

• Requires federal health care programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to provide coverage for abortion services and requires federal facilities to provide access to those services.
• Repeals the Hyde Amendment, which restricts Medicaid coverage for abortion. Currently, coverage for abortion services under federal programs is generally only available in the case of rape, incest, or life endangerment. 
• Repeals a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that permits states to prohibit coverage of abortion services in plans offered through a health insurance exchange.
• The bill is not subject to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, which prohibits the federal government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion, even if the burden results from the application of a law.

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BILL: Should We Limit AI in the Work Environment? - The No Robot Bosses Act - S.2419

Bill Overview

• The bill targets artificial intelligence by protecting workers from "robot bosses." It would prevent employers from relying solely on automated systems like algorithms and machine learning tools in making hiring decisions.
• The bill would compel employers to maintain human oversight over any decisions made by AI in the workplace.
• The legislation responds to increasing reports of workers being fired and discriminated against by automated decision systems during the hiring process.
• The bill is cosponsored by Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and supported by the AFL-CIO, the Communications Workers of America, the National Employment Law Project, and the Economic Policy Institute.
• It would require employers to train their employees on how to use AI systems and assess the need for an AI governance framework, taking into account considerations related to algorithmic discrimination and biases, data privacy, and transparency.
• The bill would require timely disclosures from employers on the use of automated decision systems and the inputs and outputs of these systems.

 

Read the full text here: S.2419 - A bill to prohibit specific uses of automated decision systems by employers, and for other purposes

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BILL: Should We Fight Workplace Discrimination? - Paycheck Fairness Act - H.R.17

Bill Overview

• The bill addresses sex and gender-based wage discrimination pertaining to pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.
• It strengthens the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and ensures women can challenge pay discrimination and hold employers accountable.
• The bill increases civil penalties for violations of equal pay provisions.
  It limits an employer's defense that a pay differential is based on a factor other than sex to only "bona fide" job-related factors in wage discrimination claims.
• It enhances nonretaliation prohibitions and makes it unlawful to require an employee to sign a contract or waiver prohibiting them from disclosing information about the employee's wages.
• The bill requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to train employees and other affected parties on wage discrimination.

Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill

 

Read the full text here: H.R.17 - Paycheck Fairness Act

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Disney and NBC Keep Tabs on AI Tax Break Ban - New York Senate Bill S7422

 

Bill Overview

• The bill would amend the tax law to prohibit applicants of the Empire State Film Production tax credit from using artificial intelligence that would displace any natural person in their productions.
• The bill would cover any form of media, including text, images, video, or sound. It would apply to anything created fully or partially by AI.
• The bill dubs this "synthetic media" and bans it from any production using the tax credit.
• The future of AI and job security in the film industry have been central to ongoing, contentious Hollywood negotiations and strikes this year. The WGA members have been on strike for over three months in light of debates on the use of AI in film and television production.

Should we ban AI from the film industry?

Read the full text here: Senate Bill S7422

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BILL: Should We Invest in U.S. Aviation? - Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act - H.R.3935

Bill Overview

• The bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through fiscal year 2028. It authorizes funding for activities and programs related to airport planning and development, facilities, equipment, and operations.
• The act allows the reliable, predictable funding the FAA needs to invest in its critical priorities.
• The bill prohibits the requirement of masks or COVID-19 vaccines for passengers and crew.
• The bill directs the FAA to increase air traffic controller hiring targets and addresses staff shortages for commercial airline pilots.
• The bill prohibits aircraft dispatchers from working remotely, with limited exceptions for emergencies.
• The current FAA authorization ends on Sept. 30.

Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill

 

Read the full text here: H.R.3935 - Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act

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BILL: Should We Increase Wildland Firefighter Pay? - Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act - S.2272

Bill Overview

• This bipartisan bill would permanently increase base pay for Forest Service and Department of the Interior wildland firefighters.
• The bill would provide a new premium pay, termed an Incident Response Premium Pay, for all responders.
• It focuses on addressing the shortfall in firefighter pay funding and the high dropout rates from the field, particularly in light of a record fire season.
• The bill would direct agencies to work on solutions to limit burnout and focus on ensuring proper leisure and recuperation for firefighters.
• The federal wildland firefighting workforce comprises approximately 20,000 firefighters from the Forest Service and four agencies within the Department of the Interior.

Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill

 

Read the full text here: S.2272 - Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2023

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BILL: Should Ukrainian Refugees Be Eligible for PR? - Ukrainian Adjustment Act of 2023 - H.R.3911

Bill Overview

• The bill would provide for the adjustment of the status of nationals of Ukraine, many of whom are wrestling with their legal status in the U.S.
• The bill would grant permanent residency rights to thousands of Ukrainians who have entered the U.S. since 2014. This would allow them to work, contribute to society, and maintain a stable life in the U.S. until they can return home.
• Over 7 million Ukrainians have fled the country since the Russian invasion, many coming to the U.S.

 

Read the full text here: H.R.3911 - Ukrainian Adjustment Act of 2023

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Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Goes Into Effect

Bill Overview

• The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was signed into law by President Biden on Dec. 29, 2022. The act went into effect on June 27, 2023, after a decade of efforts by a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers. 
• The act expands protections for working mothers and requires employers with over 15 employees to make fair and reasonable accommodations for workers who require them due to pregnancy and childbirth. The accommodation must not cause the employer "undue hardship." 
• The act will not replace federal, state, or local laws in place that are currently more protective of workers.

Do you think the protections go far enough?

 

Read the full text here: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act 

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BILL: Make Fentanyl a Schedule I Drug? - Halt Fentanyl Act - H.R.467

Bill Overview

• If the act becomes law, fentanyl-related substances would be classified as Schedule I drugs, meaning they have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.
• Fentanyl-related substances will be classified as Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act under the bill. Schedule I controlled substances are drugs, substances, or chemicals that have a high potential for abuse and currently have no accepted medical value. 
• Under the bill, crimes involving fentanyl-related substances and fentanyl analogs will be subject to the same penalties (e.g., offenses involving 100 grams or more trigger a 10-year mandatory minimum prison term). 
• The bill will establish a new registration requirement and process for researching fentanyl-related substances to understand their overall health effects better. The changes would expedite research into these substances.
• It will provide police officers and other law enforcement with tools to help keep fentanyl or fentanyl-related substances off the streets.

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BILL PASSED: Do You Support Cost of Living Benefits For Veterans? - Veteran's COLA Act - S.777

 

Bill Overview

• The bipartisan legislation is an annual procedure for Congress, but it is vital in ensuring that veterans' benefits keep pace with inflationary costs.
• As of Dec. 1, the bill increases the rate of compensation for veterans with service-related injuries and indemnity compensation for the family members of the survivors of specific service-related injuries.
• The bill increases amounts payable for clothing allowances for certain disabled veterans. Veterans can expect to see higher benefit payments starting in Jan. 2024.
• To stay informed, subscribe to the #VetResources newsletter.

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BILL: Should We Fight Executive Overreach? - REINS Act of 2023 - H.R.277

Bill Overview

• The REINS Act would require congressional approval for any proposed federal agency rule with an economic impact of $100 million or more.
• It puts decision-making power in the hands of elected representatives and reclaims legislative power from unelected agencies.
• The bill would preserve Congress’ authority to disapprove of a “nonmajor rule” through a joint resolution.
• When a federal agency proposes a major regulation, the bill says it will need to submit the regulation to Congress for approval. Both the House and the Senate would have to pass a joint resolution of approval. If the resolution fails, the regulation will not go into effect.

Tell your reps to support or oppose the bill

 

Read the full text here: H.R.277 - REINS Act of 2023

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BILL: Should We Invest in Preventing Invasive Species? - Invasive Species Prevention and Forest Restoration Act - H.R.3174

Bill Overview

• The bill is a companion to the Senate legislation introduced by Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
• The bill would expand access to the U.S. Department of Agriculture emergency funding to combat the threat of non-native species to American forests. 
• It mandates a study to overcome the lack of centralization and prioritization of non-native insect and pathogen research and response within the federal government. The legislation would develop national strategies for saving tree species.

Should we invest in preventing invasive species?

 

Read the full text here: H.R.3174 - Invasive Species Prevention and Forest Restoration Act

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BILL: Ban Gas Stoves Amidst Health Concerns? - Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act - H.R.1615

Bill Overview

• On Feb. 1, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) proposed an "energy efficiency standard" for gas cooking products. The proposed rule would require energy performance standards for gas stoves and seeks to replace them over time with electric alternatives. The law would ban stoves that consume over 1,204 British thermal units annually.
• This bill prohibits the Consumer Product Safety Commission from using federal funds to regulate gas stoves as a banned hazardous product.
• It also blocks the Commission from enforcing product safety standards that prohibit the use or sale of gas stoves or substantially increase their price, making them less competitive.

Should we move toward electric stoves to protect the environment and health?

 

Read the full text here: H.R.1615 - Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act

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BILL: Expand the Accessibility of Federal Food Assistance? - EATS Act of 2023 - H.R.3183

Bill Overview

• This bill will permanently expand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility to millions of college students experiencing hunger.
• It seeks to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 by removing certain eligibility disqualifications restricting otherwise eligible students enrolled in higher education from participating in SNAP.
• Under the COVID-19 public health emergency, temporary exemptions were in place to aid students, but those provisions expire on June 11, 30 days after the expiration of the emergency measures.
• The bill would take effect on Jan. 2, 2024.

Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill

 

Read the full text here: H.R.3183 - EATS Act of 2023

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Bill Overview

• The bipartisan Re-Entry Support Through Opportunities for Resources and Essentials Act (RESTORE Act) seeks to repeal the 1996 ban on people with drug felony convictions receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, enabling them to apply for the program before their release.
• In 1996, Congress introduced a lifetime SNAP ban as a part of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act signed by President Clinton. SNAP provides food assistance to low-income individuals through an EBT card, which can be used like a debit card to purchase eligible food from authorized stores. It is the largest federal nutrition program in the U.S. 

Do you support or oppose repealing the ban on SNAP benefits? Tell your reps

 

Read the full text here: S.1753 - RESTORE Act of 2023

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BILL: Should the U.S. Leave the World Health Organization? - WHO Withdrawal Act - H.R.79

Bill Overview

• The bill requires the president to immediately withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO). It prohibits the use of federal funds for WHO projects.
• The bill also repeals the 1948 act authorizing the U.S. to join the WHO.
• It will prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to fund the organization. According to the Illinois Freedom Caucus, the U.S. has sent over $4 billion to WHO since 2010

Tell your reps to support or oppose the bill

 

Read the full text here: H.R.79 - WHO Withdrawal Act

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BILL: Should We Reduce Online Privacy in Fight Against Child Abuse? - EARN IT Act of 2023 - S.1207

 

Bill Overview

• Reintroduced from previous sessions, the legislation incentivizes the tech industry to take online child sexual exploitation seriously.
• The bill removes blanket immunity for violations of laws related to online child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
• It amends Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which states that users are legally responsible for the content they upload and not the platforms themselves.
• Service providers and platforms will now be responsible for helping to combat child sexual exploitation and eradicate CSAM.
• The bill establishes a National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention that will be responsible for developing voluntary best practices. 

Tell your reps to support or oppose the bill 

 

Read the full text here: S.1207 - EARN IT Act of 2023

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BILL: Increase Social Security Benefits for Public Sector Workers - Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 - H.R.82

Bill Overview

• The bill would ensure that public sector employees like firefighters, police officers, teachers, and their families receive full Social Security benefits regardless of other benefits they are entitled to receiving.
• The bill would repeal provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals already receiving other benefits, like a state or local government pension.
• The changes proposed in the bill will be effective for benefits payable after Dec. 2023.
• The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) from the Social Security Act. Both provisions were aimed at reducing high payouts and retirement windfalls.
• The bill is identical to the Senate version of the bill, the Social Security Fairness Act (S. 597), reintroduced by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) on March 1.

Do you support increasing Social Security benefits?

 

Read the full text here: S.597 - Social Security Fairness Act

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BILL: Should We Cut Spending on Social Programs? - Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023

 

Bill Overview

• The GOP-backed bill is designed to raise the debt ceiling while cutting government spending, implementing "commonsense spending reforms" targeted at wasteful spending.
• The plan would lift the debt limit by $1.5 trillion or until March 31, 2024, whichever comes first.
• The goal of the bill is to avert a historic default by the U.S. on its debt obligations by raising the debt ceiling and ensuring that spending on social programs is reduced.
• The U.S. Treasury reached the current debt limit of $31.4 trillion in February, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has employed "extraordinary measures" to avoid a default.
• The bill is designed to end the labor shortage "killing Main Street businesses" while reducing Democrat handouts to corporations.

Do you agree with cutting social spending as a condition for raising the debt ceiling?

 

Read the full text here: H.R.2811 - Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023

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BILL: Should We Ban Assault Weapons? - Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 - S.25

Bill Overview

• The bill bans the sale, manufacture, transfer, and importation of 205 military-style assault weapons by name.
• It exempts more than 2,200 guns from the ban, which can still be used for hunting, household defense, or recreational purposes.
• It shall be unlawful for a person to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semi-automatic assault weapon.
• It requires a background check on any future sale, trade, or gifting of an assault weapon banned under the bill.
• It will impose secure storage procedures for grandfathered semi-automatic assault weapons like a trigger lock.
• Anyone in possession of a grandfathered weapon can not keep it in a place where it is accessible to an individual prohibited from possessing the firearm.

Are we doing enough to address gun violence?

 

Read the full text here: S.25 - Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 

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BILL: Secure the Border Act of 2023 – H.R.2 – Tell Your Senators How To Vote

 

Bill Overview

• Sponsored by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), the Act passed in a 219-213 vote.
• The GOP's "Secure the Border Act of 2023" (H.R. 2) would severely restrict the right to seek asylum in the U.S., limit lawful immigration avenues, pressure border communities, and establish new criminal penalties related to immigration law.
• It would restart border wall construction, increase enforcement personnel, and defund NGOs that provide services to migrants.
• H.R. 2 would limit access and eligibility for asylum as well as roll back safeguards for children in detention by making it easier for families with minor children to be held in detention indefinitely and fast-tracking removal proceedings for vulnerable minors.
• The bill would limit executive branch parole powers and criminalize visa overstays with up to six months in prison for a first offense.

Tell your senators to support or oppose the act

 

Read the full text here: H.R.2 - Secure the Border Act of 2023

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BILL: Should Parents Control School Curriculum? - Parents Bill of Rights Act - H.R.5

Bill Overview

• The bill passed in a 213-208 vote. It ensures the rights of parents are honored and protected in the nation's public schools.
• The bill enshrines parents' rights to know what is going on in their children's education and a right to have access to teacher-parent meetings, school budget decisions, curriculum and books, and the ability to speak before a school board. 
• The bill encapsulates other GOP priorities, such as policies on transgender students.
• While there were no Democrat votes in support of the bill, some amendments received bipartisan support. One of these includes a requirement to provide parents with notice of major cyberattacks and the GAO to submit a report evaluating the impact of the bill on protecting parents' rights.
• The bill offers a national expansion of Florida's "Parental Rights in Education" Act, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
• The bill has a slim chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate or being signed by President Biden.

Do you support the GOP-led Parent's Bill of Rights?

 

Read the full text here: H.R.5 - Parents Bill of Rights Act

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BILL: Should Transgender Athletes Be Banned From Women's Sports? - The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act - H.R.734

Bill Overview

• Last month, a GOP-backed 'Save Women's Sports' bill passed the House 219-203, with Democrat lawmakers calling it an example of "transgender bullying."
• The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act aims to prevent transgender women and girls who were assigned male at birth from competing in women's sports.
• In a recent poll by the Washington Post and the University of Maryland, 55% of Americans opposed trans athletes in women's sports at the high school level, while 58% opposed it at the college level.
• Over two dozen states have banned transgender youth from playing on girls' and women's teams since 2021.
• Republican supporters say the bill will protect biologically female athletes from competing against biological men, who often dominate them in speed, strength, and endurance due to biological differences and "physical advantages."

How do you feel about the GOP-led ban on transgender athletes?

 

Read the full text here: The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act - H.R.734

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BILL: Should Kids Be Banned From Social Media? - The Protecting Kids on Social Media Act

Bill Overview

• The bipartisan bill would ban children under 13 from using popular social media sites and apps like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more, effectively creating a national minimum age.
• Children would still be able to view content on the sites without logging in but would not be able to create accounts or interact with other users.
• Teens under 18 would need parental consent to utilize social media sites.
• The legislation would put in place an age verification scheme to make it harder for kids to bypass the restrictions.

Do you support restrictions on social media use for kids under 18?

 

Read the full text here: The Protecting Kids on Social Media Act

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BILL: Should We Expand American Domestic Energy Production? - Lower Energy Costs Act - H.R.1

Bill Overview

• The Act will reverse policies that put domestic energy production and exports on the back burner.
• Streamlines energy infrastructure and export procedures to boost trade and the earning potential of American industry.
• Will take full commercial advantage of American minerals and energy deposits.
• The Act will repeal all restrictions on the import and export of natural gas.
• The aim of the legislation is to prevent federal regulations from being weaponized to block, stall, or politicize energy projects, according to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.)
• Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) said it would lift "regulatory burdens for the construction of more energy infrastructure" and what many Republican lawmakers feel is excessive bureaucratic red tape.
• Will repeal both the natural gas tax in Section 136 of the Clean Air Act and the greenhouse gas reduction fund in Section 134 of the Clean Air Act.
• Bolsters the resilience of American supply chains and energy security by reducing reliance on foreign supply chains, such as those controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.

Do you support expanding American energy infrastructure, including pipelines?

 

Read the full text here: H.R.1 - Lower Energy Costs Act

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Bill: Should We Go Back to a Gold Standard? - The Gold Standard Restoration Act - H.R. 2435

Bill Overview

• The "Gold Standard Restoration Act" seeks to define the dollar as a fixed weight of gold and make Federal Reserve notes redeemable for - and exchangeable for - gold at a fixed price.
• The Secretary of the Treasury would determine this price based on the market price of gold. Within 24 months of its enactment, the Treasury would be required to define the dollar in terms of a fixed weight of gold and make Federal Reserve notes redeemable for gold at this rate. 
• The bill claims that the purchasing power of the Federal Reserve Note has declined significantly since the passage of the Federal Reserve Act in 1913 and that the Fed's policy of long-term inflation has made American manufacturing uncompetitive.
• The bill argues that the gold standard would put control of the money supply with the market instead of the government and discourage excessive spending.
• The Secretary of Treasury and Federal Reserve would be required to make publicly available their holdings on gold, purchases, sales, swaps, leases, redemptions, and transfers of U.S. gold since 1971.

Should we return to the gold standard?

 

Read the full text here: Gold Standard Restoration Act - H.R.2435 

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BILL: Should We Protect Milk From Plant-Based Alternatives? - The Dairy Pride Act - S.549

Bill Overview

• The longer title of the act indicates the purpose of the bill: "Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese To Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday Act."
• The purpose of the bill is to ensure that no plant-based foods are sold under the designation of "milk" because they don't meet the definition or criterion set forth for dairy products.
• The DAIRY PRIDE Act would require the FDA to take enforcement action against manufacturers labeling dairy imitators as milk.
• The bill reinforces the stance of the Dietary Guidelines of America, which states that dairy products are an important part of a healthy diet for both children and adults.
• Congress finds that approximately 90% of the population of the United States does not meet the daily dairy intake recommendation.
• The bill purports that imitation dairy products, such as plant-based products derived from rice, nuts, hemp, coconut, and oat, are inadequate in their nutritional profiles. 
• The bill would invalidate the Food and Drug Administration's recent guidance that allows plant-based products to market themselves as milk.
• In their guidance, the FDA allows producers to qualify the word milk by including the true ingredient in the label, i.e., almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk.

Do you support protecting the dairy industry?

 

Read the full text here: The Dairy Pride Act - S.549

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Banning TikTok - The RESTRICT Act - S.686 

Bill Overview

• TikTok creators from an array of industries continue to voice opposition to a potential Congressional ban.
• Bon Appétit, for example, recently wrote:

"For budding chefs and food creators, the app has been vital for their career. They’re worried about what would happen if a ban becomes reality."

• The Act grants the Secretary of Commerce new powers to ban Chinese-owned TikTok and any foreign-based technologies that pose a risk to national security.
• There has been growing concern that American data could be compromised or shared with the Chinese government. 
• TikTok rejects spying accusations and said it has spent more than $1.5 billion on data security efforts.
• The White House backed the legislation, which would create a formal process for the government to “deter, disrupt, prevent, prohibit, investigate, or otherwise mitigate” potentially dangerous technologies. 
• Comes a week after a vote on the DATA Act, which would enable Biden to sanction TikTok if user data was leaked

Tell Congress: Ban TikTok or Save TikTok

 

Read the full text here: S.686 - Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology (RESTRICT) Act

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BILL: Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act (H.R.140)

Bill Overview

• The bill aims to prohibit federal employees from censoring the speech and content of private entities, particularly on social media platforms. The bill defines censor or censorship as influencing or coercing an individual or entity to remove or modify lawful speech with respect to social media and other forms of public discourse.  
• Disallows employees of federal agencies from censoring a private entity while on duty, wearing a uniform, while in a government building or vehicle, or while using official government property. The bill also prohibits censorship of lawful speech outside of normal duty hours.
• The bill is a reaction to what some Republican politicians believe is government meddling in social media platforms, including efforts to remove unsavory or controversial opinions, which some politicians say include topics like COVID-19 and Hunter Biden.
• The bill states:

“It is the policy of the Congress that employees acting in their official capacity should neither take action within their authority or influence to promote the censorship of any lawful speech, nor advocate that a third party, including a private entity, censor such speech."

Do you support the GOP's bill to ban government censorship?

 

Read the full text here: H.R.140 - Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act 

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Denouncing the Horrors of Socialism - H.RES. 9

Bill Overview

• The resolution, Denouncing the Horrors of Socialism, states:

“...socialist ideology necessitates a concentration of power that has time and time again collapsed into Communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorship.”

• Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) said:

“[the resolution] outlines the pain and hardship experienced by millions around the world who have suffered under a socialist regime…It speaks to people who have known all too well the atrocities of socialism and it gives voice to their pain.”

• Many argue that the atrocities that McHenry pointed to, and the crimes that the resolution highlights, would more accurately be defined as authoritarian communism, not socialism.  

Want your reps "denouncing the horrors of socialism?"

 

Read the full text here: H.Con. Res. 9 - Denouncing the horrors of socialism

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End Vax Requirement for Air Travelers to the U.S. - H.R. 185

Bill Overview

• The Bill will end the vaccination requirement for air travelers entering the U.S. 
• No federal funds are to be used to enforce air travel vaccination requirements
• CDC to submit statistics on travelers who were denied entry 

Do you support terminating air travel vax requirements?

 

Read the full text here: H.R.185 - To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers and for other purposes.

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Fair Tax Act 0f 2023 - Abolish IRS, Eliminate Income Tax - H.R. 25

Bill Overview

• Abolishment of personal and corporate income taxes 
• Shutters the IRS
• Abolishes death, gift, and payroll taxes
• A 30% federal sales FairTax
• Provides a prebate - a monthly stipend to offset the tax liability for essential goods and services

Do you support or oppose the Fair Tax Act of 2023?

 

Read the full text here: H.R.25 - FairTax Act of 2023

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Sunshine Protection Act of 2021 - S.23, H.R. 69

Bill Overview

• The Sunshine Protection Act of 2021 would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent across the U.S. on November 5, 2023.
• Most of the U.S. operates under eight months of DST from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, with the remaining four months on Standard Time.
• Under this bill, the U.S. would transition to year-round DST by not “falling back” in November, thus eliminating the need to reset clocks twice a year.
• Should the U.S. Adopt Permanent Daylight Saving Time?

Do you support ending daylight saving time?

 

Read the full text here: S.623 - Sunshine Protection Act of 2021

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Designate AR-15 as the National Gun of the U.S. - H.R. 1095

Bill Overview

• AR-15 will become a formal national symbol, along with the American flag
• Acknowledges the place of the AR-15 in American life
• Reinforces the GOP's pro-Second Amendment position

Should the AR-15 become a national symbol of America?

 

Read the full text here: H.R. 1095 - To declare an AR-15 style rifle chambered in a .223 Remington round or a 5.56x45mm NATO round to be the National Gun of the United States.

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Should We Fight White Supremacy? - Leading Against White Supremacy Act of 2023 - H.R.61

Bill Overview

• The bill would prosecute white supremacist-inspired hate crimes
• The bill would strengthen legal actions against individuals involved in promoting, publishing, and spreading white supremacy-related content 
• A crime can be considered a conspiracy even if there is only one perpetrator
• The Justice Department would have enhanced authority to mitigate threats

Should we criminalize White Supremacist hate crimes?

 

Read the full text here: H.R.61 - Leading Against White Supremacy Act of 2023

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Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 - H.R. 5376 & Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 - H.R. 2617

Bill Overview

$1.7 Trillion Federal Spending Bill Covering Election Reform, Aid to Ukraine, TikTok Bans

Overhaul the 1887 Electoral Count Act by including a version of the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022.

• Explicitly states the vice president’s role in overseeing the counting of Electoral College votes is purely ceremonial
• Any legal challenge to state electors would be heard by a District Court panel of two appellate judges and one district judge.
• Appeals head straight to the Supreme Court.

$45 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine

Natural disaster assistance

• $40.6 billion for communities in the U.S. recovering from tornadoes, drought, hurricanes, flooding, wildfire, and other natural disasters.

Food assistance

• Establish a permanent nationwide Summer EBT program
• Children in rural areas would be allowed to take home or receive delivery of up to 10 days of meals. 
• The Children's Health Insurance Program - CHIP - will offer 12 months of continuous coverage for children

Military & Veterans 

• 4.6% pay raise for troops
• 22.4% increase in support for Veteran Administration medical care

Bans TikTok on all government-issued devices over security concerns.

Do you support the spending bill?

 

Read the full text here: H.R.5376 -  Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

Read the full text here: H.R.2617 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023

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