Bills of The Day:

Water Rights Protection Act of 2024
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7544
Date Introduced: March 5, 2024
Sponsor: Maloy (R-UT)
Co-Sponsor(s): Estes (R-KS), Fulcher (R-ID), Lamborn (R-ID), Biggs (R-AZ)

Summary: This bill seeks to prevent the federal government, specifically the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, from requiring the transfer of any water rights to the United States as a condition for granting permits, leases, or other use agreements. It emphasizes respecting state laws and authorities related to water use, ensuring federal actions do not impose restrictions beyond what state water laws require. The legislation aims to protect individuals’ and entities' rights to use water without federal interference, reinforcing state jurisdiction over water rights management. It includes provisions to maintain the status quo on water rights in various contexts, including Indian water rights and interstate water compacts, while ensuring federal actions do not overstep state-established water rights parameters.

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

Food Traceability Enhancement Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7563
Date Introduced: March 6, 2024
Sponsor: Scott (R-FL)
Co-Sponsor(s): Bishop (D-GA), Panetta (D-CA)

Summary: This legislation is designed to improve compliance with the FDA Food Traceability Rule and enhance the process of investigating foodborne illness outbreaks. It proposes amendments to reduce recordkeeping burdens by exempting restaurants, retail food establishments, and warehouses from maintaining or providing traceability lot code information. The bill mandates conducting pilot projects to assess the impact of not using traceability lot code information in foodborne illness outbreak investigations and to explore low-cost food tracing technologies. It aims to delay the compliance date for the FDA's final rule on food traceability, allowing more time for the completion of these pilot projects. Additionally, the bill seeks a report from the Secretary of Health and Human Services on barriers to information sharing between the FDA and food establishments regarding foodborne illness outbreaks.

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

Limiting Immunity for Assisting Backers of Lethal Extremism Act (LIABLE Act)
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 3872
Date Introduced: March 5, 2024
Sponsor: Cruz (R-TX)
Co-Sponsor(s): Braun (R-IN), Hagerty (R-TN), Schmitt (R-MO), Rubio (R-FL), Scott (R-FL), Daines (R-MT), Barrasso (R-WY)

Summary: The Act seeks to amend the U.S. Code to ensure that international organizations can be held accountable in U.S. courts for cases related to terrorism. Specifically, it proposes removing immunity for international organizations in situations where damages are sought for personal injury or death caused by acts of torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, hostage taking, or the provision of material support for such acts by individuals acting on behalf of these organizations. The bill outlines conditions under which courts can hear these claims, focusing on the involvement of international organizations with terrorist groups recognized by the U.S. It establishes a statute of limitations of 20 years for bringing such actions.

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

Ensuring States Support Law Enforcement Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7553
Date Introduced: March 5, 2024
Sponsor: Tenney (R-NY)
Co-Sponsor(s): Langworthy (R-NY), Garbarino (R-NY), Williams (R-NY)

Summary: The bill proposes a condition for states to be eligible for grants under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. Specifically, it requires states to establish a policy granting the Secretary of Homeland Security access to their Department of Motor Vehicles records. This access aims to support the enforcement of immigration laws. The condition applies to fiscal years starting after the bill's enactment, tying state funding to cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement efforts.

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

National Public Health Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7538
Date Introduced: March 5, 2024
Sponsor: DeSaulnier (D-CA)
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: The National Public Health Act mandates that manufacturers of certain products develop, implement, maintain, and update a plan to mitigate their products' impacts on public health, particularly in response to identified public health crises. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is tasked with creating a list of these public health crises and a separate list of covered products that significantly impact the U.S. public health system financially. The legislation includes provisions for contracting an appropriate entity to assist in identifying public health crises and imposes civil penalties on manufacturers who fail to comply with the mitigation plan requirements. This initiative aims to proactively address and manage the potential negative health impacts of widely used products on the public.

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