Bills of The Day:

Ban Chinese Communist Party Access to U.S. Military Students Act of 2024
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 4029
Date Introduced: March 21, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Cotton
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: This bill aims to terminate and prohibit any future relationships between the Department of Defense (DoD) and Tutor.com, following the acquisition of Tutor.com and The Princeton Review by Primavera Capital Group, a Chinese-owned corporation linked to TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, in January 2022. The legislation highlights concerns over Tutor.com's collection of personal data, including location and session content, from its users—primarily members of the United States Armed Forces and their families. Given the laws in the People's Republic of China mandating companies to share data with the Chinese government, this bill seeks to protect the privacy of U.S. military personnel and their families from potential exposure to the Chinese Communist Party. The DoD is required to cease offering services through Tutor.com within 30 days post-enactment and to terminate any existing business relationships as swiftly as legally feasible.

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

Safeguarding Investment Options for Retirement Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7780
Date Introduced: March 21, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Murphy
Co-Sponsor(s): Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Ms. Tenney, Ms. Van Duyne

Summary: This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, establishing a prohibition against certain retirement plans from making investment decisions based on any criteria other than financial risk and return factors. It mandates that the assets of these plans, including trusts, annuity contracts, and governmental plans, be invested solely with the intention of financial risk and return, excluding any other considerations. This measure is applied to various plans, such as those governed by sections 401(a), 403(b), and 457(e) of the Internal Revenue Code, emphasizing the principle of investing for the exclusive benefit of participants and beneficiaries based purely on financial metrics. The implementation and administration of these provisions are delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury or their delegate, ensuring that the focus remains strictly on financial considerations to safeguard retirement investments from non-financial influences.

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

Upholding Human Rights Abroad Act
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 4044
Date Introduced: March 21, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Van Hollen
Co-Sponsor(s): Mr. Durbin

Summary: The legislation amends Title 10 of the United States Code to enforce the consideration of human rights records in the provision of support for special operations aimed at irregular warfare and combating terrorism. It mandates a thorough examination of credible human rights violations information before offering support to foreign forces, groups, or individuals. The bill outlines specific requirements for the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to ensure adherence to human rights standards, including a prohibition on funding support to entities with credible reports of gross human rights violations unless extraordinary circumstances necessitate a waiver. Additionally, the act emphasizes the integration of human rights considerations into the broader objectives of U.S. national security, requiring assessments of the alignment between support provided and U.S. priorities, including the promotion of governance, the rule of law, and human rights. It also mandates human rights training for supported units and the investigation of human rights abuses, with provisions for terminating support upon finding credible violations.

Next Action: The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations.

Help Hoover Dam Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7776
Date Introduced: March 21, 2024
Sponsor: Ms. Lee of Nevada
Co-Sponsor(s): Mr. Amodei, Mr. Horsford, Ms. Titus, Mr. Ciscomani, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Gosar, Mrs. Lesko, Mr. Stanton, Mrs. Napolitano

Summary: This bill seeks to amend the Boulder Canyon Project Act to grant the Secretary of the Interior the authority to use funds from the Colorado River Dam fund, including specific accounts, on a non-reimbursable basis for various activities associated with the Boulder Canyon Project at Hoover Dam. These activities include operations, maintenance, investigations and cleanup actions, and capital improvements within the Hoover Dam or related lands. The utilization of these funds is subject to the review and approval of the Boulder Canyon Project contractors in accordance with the Hoover Power Allocation Act of 2011. The amendment is aimed at facilitating the ongoing and future management, improvement, and sustainability of the Hoover Dam, ensuring its ability to serve its purposes effectively.

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

Farm Transitions Act of 2024
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7769
Date Introduced: March 21, 2024
Sponsor: Ms. Caraveo
Co-Sponsor(s): Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Nunn of Iowa

Summary: This bill proposes amendments to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to reauthorize and expand the scope of the Commission on Farm Transitions-Needs for 2050. It mandates the establishment of the commission within 60 days post-enactment. It broadens the study and recommendation areas to include affordable and timely access to agricultural assets, apprenticeships, mentoring, business training, and technical assistance programs. The commission is also tasked with evaluating the impact of State and Federal policies, including tax policies, on the agricultural sector, addressing heirs' property and succession planning, identifying unique barriers faced by historically underserved and women farmers and ranchers, and examining leasing and ownership trends, especially concerning foreign entities. The deadline for the commission's report is extended to two years following the enactment of this Act, with the commission's authorization extended through 2028.

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