Legislative Notices

October 23, 2023

Glossary of Senate Terms

Adjourn: A motion to adjourn in the Senate (or in committee) ends that day’s session. Under the Constitution, neither chamber may adjourn for more than three days without the approval of the other. This approval is granted by a concurrent resolution approved by both chambers. Administration bill: An informal designation signifying that a bill’s text is part of the president’s agenda. Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending matter by striking or inserting new language, or both.... Continue Reading


July 30, 2022

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R.5376 – Build Back Better Act

NOTEWORTHY Bill Status: Democrats’ fiscal year 2022 budget resolution contained $1.75 trillion in reconciliation instructions to 13 House and 12 Senate committees. The substitute amendment to H.R.5376, which the Democrats are calling the Inflation Reduction Act, would enact their reckless tax and spend spree. H.R.5376 passed the House by a vote of 220-213 on November 19. The Senate may consider the bill on the floor in August. Overview of the Issue: A budget reconciliation bill is a... Continue Reading


June 22, 2022

S.2938 – The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

NOTEWORTHY Bill Status: The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was introduced June 21 by a bipartisan group of senators led by Senators Cornyn and Tillis on the Republican side, and Senators Murphy and Sinema on the Democratic side. The Senate voted 64-34 June 21 to proceed to a House message that will serve as the shell for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. On June 21, Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the shell, with the text of the... Continue Reading


June 3, 2022

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R.3967 – SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our Pact Act

NOTEWORTHY Bill Status: H.R.3967 passed the House on March 3 by a vote of 256-174. On May 26, Senate Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill. The Senate is expected to consider the amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R.3967 the week of June 6. Overview of the Issue: During deployment to a war zone, military personnel are often exposed to toxic hazards, many of which have been associated with chronic health issues, such as cancer and respiratory... Continue Reading


March 9, 2022

The House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R.2471 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022

NOTEWORTHY Bill Status: The House message to H.R.2471, as amended, is expected to pass the House on March 9. The Senate is expected to vote on the measure this week. A House message is privileged. The motion to proceed is not debatable, and 60 votes are required to end debate on the measure. Overview of the Issue: The federal government’s new fiscal year began October 1, 2021, but Congress has not yet completed action on the 12 annual funding measures. The government is currently... Continue Reading


February 24, 2022

H.R.3076 – Postal Service Reform Act of 2022

NOTEWORTHY Background: H.R.3076, Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, was introduced in the House on May 11, 2021. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the House Rules Committee advanced the bill on February 7 by voice vote. The bill passed the House on February 8 by a vote of 342-92. Floor Situation: The Senate could consider H.R.3076 as early as the week of February 14. Executive Summary: H.R.3076 makes reforms intended to increase the financial stability and reliability of the U.S.... Continue Reading


November 22, 2021

H.R. 5376 – Build Back Better Act

NOTEWORTHY Background: Democrats’ fiscal year 2022 budget resolution contained $1.75 trillion in reconciliation instructions to 13 House and 12 Senate committees. H.R.5376 would enact their reckless tax and spend spree. H.R.5376 passed the House by a vote of 220-213 on November 19. A budget reconciliation bill is a privileged piece of legislation. The motion to proceed is not debatable and requires only a simple majority. The Budget Act provides for 20 hours of debate on reconciliation... Continue Reading


November 2, 2021

FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act

NOTEWORTHY Background: The Senate Armed Services Committee filed the National Defense Authorization Act on September 22. The committee voted to advance the bill on July 22 by a vote of 23-3. The House version of the NDAA passed on September 2 by a vote of 316-113. The Senate NDAA is filed as amendment #3867 to H.R.4350, the House version of the NDAA. Floor Situation: The floor situation is unclear at this time, but Majority Leader Schumer could move to this bill as early as the end of this... Continue Reading


August 9, 2021

S.Conn.Res.14 – Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2022

NOTEWORTHY Background: A budget resolution is a privileged piece of legislation. It is not subject to filibuster, and debate time is limited to 50 hours, equally divided. Amendments to the budget resolution must be germane and are subject to a simple majority vote threshold. A senator can raise a point of order against an amendment that violates the Budget Act; a motion to waive that point of order would require 60 votes. Once all debate time has been used or yielded back, senators may continue... Continue Reading


August 3, 2021

H.R. 3684 – Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

NOTEWORTHY Background: The federal government has supported infrastructure across a variety of sectors through a range of programs. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes support for roads, bridges, passenger and freight rail, transportation safety, transit, broadband, ports and waterways, airports, drinking water and wastewater, and energy, among other initiatives. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to consider the bill this week. Cloture on the motion to proceed to the... Continue Reading


July 28, 2021

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3237 – Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021

NOTEWORTHY Background: Congress has historically acted to provide supplemental appropriations outside the annual appropriations cycle to meet unexpected and urgent needs. Additional funds have been requested by the U.S. Capitol police to meet unanticipated needs resulting from enhanced security requirements for the U.S. Capitol complex. Supplemental funding is also urgently needed to fully fund the cost of the National Guard deployment to Capitol Hill. In addition, the Biden administration has... Continue Reading


May 19, 2021

S.1260 – The United States Innovation and Competition Act

NOTEWORTHY Background: The United States Innovation and Competition Act is comprised of bills reported out of the committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Foreign Relations; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and the Judiciary. It is intended to help address the rising military, geopolitical, and economic competition from China. Notable bills in the package include versions of the Endless Frontier... Continue Reading


April 23, 2021

S.914 – Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021

NOTEWORTHY Background: The federal government has provided financial support for water infrastructure projects over the years through a range of programs. The Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 builds upon legislation previously reported by the Committee on Environment and Public Works in 2020 under Republican leadership, which passed by a vote of 21-0. Floor Situation: The committee favorably reported S.914 by a unanimous vote on April 14. The majority leader filed... Continue Reading


March 1, 2021

H.R.1319 – American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

NOTEWORTHY Background: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is being considered under the budget reconciliation process. The fiscal year 2021 budget resolution, which passed the House by a vote of 219-209 and passed the Senate on a party-line vote of 51-50, with the vice president breaking a tie, included reconciliation instructions for 12 House committees and 11 Senate committees. The House committees reported legislation in February that was combined into the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.... Continue Reading


December 8, 2020

H.R.6395 – National Defense Authorization Act for FY2021, Conference Report

NOTEWORTHY Background: The Senate and House Armed Services Committees released the conference report for H.R.6395, the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 on Thursday, December 3. The Senate version of the bill, S.4049, passed on July 23 by a vote of 86-14. The Senate has passed the NDAA every year for the past 59 years. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to consider the report this week. Executive Summary: The National Defense Authorization... Continue Reading


June 24, 2020

S.4049 – National Defense Authorization Act for FY21

NOTEWORTHY Background: The Senate Armed Services Committee has filed S.4049, the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. The committee voted on June 11 to advance the bill to the Senate floor by a vote of 25-2. The Senate has passed the NDAA every year for the past 59 years. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to begin debate on the NDAA as soon as the week of June 29. Executive Summary: The fiscal year 2021 NDAA authorizes $740.5 billion for defense spending within the... Continue Reading


June 19, 2020

S.3985 – Just and Unifying Solutions to Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act

NOTEWORTHY Background: Following the death of George Floyd while being arrested by Minneapolis police, there has been a widespread, even international, push to reexamine and reform police practices. In a recent poll, 69% of Americans said that Floyd’s death was a sign of broader problems in treatment of black Americans by police. President Trump issued an executive order on June 16 directing the attorney general to send discretionary grant funding only to state and local law enforcement... Continue Reading


June 5, 2020

S.3422 – Great American Outdoors Act

NOTEWORTHY Background: The National Park Service has a nearly $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog, including needed repair and maintenance on roads, trails, buildings, utility systems, etc. The maintenance backlog at the U.S. Forest Service is $5.2 billion; $1.3 billion at the Fish and Wildlife Service; $960 million at the Bureau of Land Management; and $634 million at the Bureau of Indian Education. Repair and maintenance at these public lands sites throughout the country is normally... Continue Reading


March 11, 2020

H.R. 6172 – USA Freedom Reauthorization Act

NOTEWORTHY Background: Four major authorities of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act will lapse on March 15 unless Congress reauthorizes them. These are generally referred to as the “business records” provision, the “call detail records” authority, the “roving wiretaps” provision, and the “lone wolf” targeting provision. If these authorities of FISA lapse, the United States intelligence surveillance programs would mostly revert to their... Continue Reading


March 2, 2020

S.2657, American Energy Innovation Act

NOTEWORTHY Background: The American Energy Innovation Act consists of more than 50 energy-related measures reported by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee during the 116th Congress. Floor Situation: Majority Leader McConnell filed for cloture on February 27 on a motion to proceed to S.2657, the American Geothermal Innovation Leadership Act. This bill will be the vehicle for the AEIA. A vote to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed is scheduled for March 2, with debate and a... Continue Reading


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