Bills of The Day:

Judicial Ethics Enforcement Act of 2024
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 4167
Date Introduced: April 18, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Blumenthal
Co-Sponsor(s): Mr. Merkley, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Welch, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Booker

Summary: This bill establishes an Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Judicial Branch. The OIG is empowered to investigate alleged misconduct within the judicial system, excluding the Supreme Court. Additionally, it investigates violations of the Code of Conduct for Supreme Court Justices and alleged misconduct involving the Supreme Court itself. The OIG will conduct audits, supervise investigations, and work to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. It may recommend changes to laws and regulations. The OIG has the authority to subpoena witnesses and documents, hire staff, administer oaths, and secure services. Whistleblower protections are included, safeguarding individuals who provide assistance in investigations. The OIG cannot review matters directly related to court decisions or procedural rulings.

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

Making Pipelines Accountable to Consumers and Taxpayers Act (MPACT Act)
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 4171
Date Introduced: April 18, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Blumenthal
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: This bill amends the Natural Gas Act to improve consumer protection by ensuring that natural gas companies are held accountable for excessive rates. It mandates that companies furnish bonds to refund excessive rates and maintain detailed accounts of all charges. In case of hearings involving rate changes, the burden of proof rests on companies to show that the rates are justified. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is authorized to enforce refund requirements and establish effective refund dates. It also mandates FERC to conduct a study on the impact of these amendments on natural gas companies' cost of capital and average resolution time for proceedings. The findings will be reported to Congress.

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

Skills Investment Act of 2023
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7517
Date Introduced: March 1, 2024
Sponsor: Rep. Derek Kilmer
Co-Sponsor(s): Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. Brad Schneider, Rep. Glenn Thompson

Summary: The Skills Investment Act aims to modify the Internal Revenue Code to establish "Coverdell lifelong learning accounts" for individuals seeking career development or skill-building opportunities. It allows the renaming of Coverdell education savings accounts, expanding their use for eligible educational or skill development expenses such as training services, career education activities, and computer software purchases. The bill also provides employer tax credits for contributing to employee accounts and enables beneficiaries to deduct their contributions. The legislation adjusts age limits for contributions, allowing individuals up to age 70 to contribute, while limiting account balances to $10,000 beyond age 30.

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

Ban Chinese Communist Party Access to U.S. Military Students Act of 2024
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7789
Date Introduced: March 21, 2024
Sponsor: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY)
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: The proposed legislation mandates the Department of Defense (DoD) to cease using Tutor.com services within 30 days of the act's passage and to sever any business ties with the platform as soon as possible. This measure arises from concerns that Tutor.com, owned by Primavera Capital Group (a Chinese corporation affiliated with ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok), could potentially expose sensitive personal data of U.S. military personnel to the Chinese Communist Party due to national security laws in China. The DoD is also prohibited from forming any future relationships with Tutor.com if the platform remains under Chinese ownership.

Next Action: The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Defund NPR Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 8083
Date Introduced: April 19, 2024
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN)
Co-Sponsor(s): Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA), Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX)

Summary: The bill seeks to prohibit federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and any successor organizations. Under this legislation, no federal funds can be allocated to NPR, either directly or indirectly, after its enactment. This includes prohibiting federal dollars from being used by public broadcast stations to pay dues or purchase programming from NPR or its successors. The objective is to eliminate taxpayer support for NPR while potentially allowing these stations to fund NPR through other non-federal means.

Next Action: The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.