Bills of The Day:

Securing American Agriculture Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 8003
Date Introduced: April 15, 2024
Sponsor: Mrs. Hinson
Co-Sponsor(s): Ms. Slotkin, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Alford, Mr. Carson, Mr. Scott Franklin of Florida, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mrs. Wagner, Ms. Davids of Kansas, Mr. Kustoff, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Kean of New Jersey, Mr. LaHood, Mr. Finstad, Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Nunn of Iowa, Mr. Van Orden, Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer

Summary: This bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to annually assess U.S. dependence on critical agricultural products or inputs sourced from China that could be weaponized. The assessment will detail domestic production capacities, supply chain bottlenecks, and provide recommendations to mitigate threats and reduce dependency on China. It covers a range of inputs including agricultural equipment, fuel, fertilizers, animal feed components, veterinary drugs, crop protection chemicals, and seeds. The information collected will be voluntary, kept confidential, and used solely for this assessment.

Next Action: The bill was referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

Government Spending Oversight Act of 2024
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 8009
Date Introduced: April 15, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Raskin
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: This legislation amends Title 5 of the United States Code to establish the Government Spending Oversight Committee within the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. The committee will oversee the use of substantial federal funds, including those from recent major legislations like the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan, to prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. The bill outlines the structure, duties, and powers of the committee, including its composition, the appointment of its Chairperson and Executive Director, and the specific funds to be monitored. This act aims to enhance transparency and accountability in federal spending.

Next Action: The bill was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

Gig Is Up Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 8013
Date Introduced: April 15, 2024
Sponsor: Mrs. Watson Coleman
Co-Sponsor(s): Ms. Norton, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Carson, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Thanedar, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Menendez

Summary: The bill seeks to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to mandate payroll tax withholding for independent contractors working with large businesses generating over $100 million in gross receipts and engaging at least 10,000 individuals as contractors. It establishes that payments to such contractors are treated as wages for tax purposes, doubling the tax rates under sections 3111(a) and (b) for Social Security and Medicare. This legislative change aims to ensure greater tax compliance and security for gig economy workers by equating their tax treatment with traditional employees.

Next Action: The bill was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Data for a Secured Border Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 8015
Date Introduced: April 16, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Stanton
Co-Sponsor(s): Mr. Ciscomani

Summary: This bill mandates the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to improve its border security metrics and reporting processes. It requires annual reviews of the current border security metrics and seeks improvements for their utility in assessing border challenges. Additionally, the bill tasks the Joint Requirements Council (JRC) of DHS with evaluating its capability gaps, redundancies, and overlaps and ensures it aids effectively in border security missions, including technological advancements in border management. The act emphasizes enhanced coordination within DHS for better decision-making and response to border-related issues, including drug trafficking and migrant processing.

Next Action: The bill was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security.

Blast Overpressure Safety Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 8025
Date Introduced: April 16, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Khanna
Co-Sponsor(s): Ms. Stefanik, Ms. Houlahan, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Ms. Lee of Nevada, Mr. Waltz, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Moulton, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Golden of Maine, Mr. Panetta

Summary: The Blast Overpressure Safety Act seeks to amend Title 10 of the U.S. Code to enhance the Department of Defense's approach to managing concussive and subconcussive brain injuries among service members. The bill mandates the creation of specific roles within the Department of Defense to monitor and mitigate brain injuries from blasts, including establishing baseline and annual neurocognitive assessments for all service members. It aims to integrate blast exposure logs into health assessments and enhance treatment protocols, reflecting a structured commitment to addressing brain health concerns raised by routine military training and combat exposures. The bill also honors service members affected by such injuries, recognizing the personal sacrifices and long-term impacts of their service.

Next Action: The bill was referred to the Committee on Armed Services.