New Laws Passed!
by Amy West, GovTrack.us, Sep 27, 2024
Every session of Congress has tens of thousands of introduced bills. Of those, only a small percentage ever pass one chamber, let alone both.
This week, the House was unusually busy in general and passed several bills that will now become law in the process. To celebrate these bills literally beating the odds, we're going to focus on the ones that will become law in this week's recap.
If you want to see all the voice votes, the House Press Gallery X account remains the best bet. If you just want to see all the roll call votes, we recommend our site.
Government Funding
H.R. 9747: Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 passed the House 341-82 and the Senate 78-18. This resolution expires December 20, so both chambers may well be passing another continuing resolution near the end of the year.
The reason for this resolution and indeed the ones preceding it are the same: drafting a regular funding bill (aka an appropriation) that can pass on Republican votes alone has been consistently unsuccessful. So, to even get a bill out of the House that prevents a shut down, the Republican leadership has had to first let more conservative regular appropriations bills fail and then, finally, as time runs out, put up a continuing resolution that will garner Democratic votes and actually pass. A bill that House Democrats agree to has (so far) always been acceptable to enough Senators of both parties to pass there too.
What's a little weird about it all is that as we show below, on specific topics, there are bills that can pass handily. But appropriations in general keep getting caught up in internal Republican fights over priorities and methods, failing on the floor and then being put off by passage of continuing resolutions.
Government Administration
S. 1549: Congressional Budget Office Data Access Act passed by voice vote and goes to the President next. From the Library of Congress summary: "This bill exempts the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) from the Privacy Act of 1974 to expedite the sharing of data and information between CBO and federal agencies."
S. 679: GAO Database Modernization Act of 2023 passed by voice vote and goes to the President next. This bill would require agencies to let the Government Accountability Office know when a regulation is no longer in force so that GAO can keep its database up to date.
Alzheimer's Programs
S. 133: NAPA Reauthorization Act passed by voice vote and goes to the President next. It reauthorizes the programs under the National Alzheimer's Project.
S. 134: Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act passed by voice vote and goes to the President next. From the Library of Congress summary: "This bill requires the National Institutes of Health to annually submit, beginning in FY2024, an estimate of its budget and personnel needs for carrying out initiatives pursuant to the National Alzheimer's Project directly to the President for review and transmittal to Congress."
Homeland Security
S. 670: IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act passed by voice vote and goes to the President next. This bill provides support for Department of Homeland Security employees whose work with trafficking victims has been traumatic.
S. 794: CTPAT Pilot Program Act of 2023 passed by voice vote and goes to the President next. From the Library of Congress summary: "This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to carry out a pilot program that assesses whether allowing certain entities to participate in the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) would enhance port security, combat terrorism, prevent supply chain security breaches, or otherwise meet the goals of CTPAT."
S. 4698: DHS Joint Task Forces Reauthorization Act of 2024 passed by voice vote and goes to the President next.
H.R. 9106: Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 202 passed the House 405-0 and the Senate by unanimous consent. It goes to the President next. It provides for expanded Secret Service protection for presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Election Security
H.R. 6513: COCOA Act of 2024 passed the House a few weeks ago. Then the Senate made some changes and passed it with the changes by unanimous consent. Finally, the House accepted those changes and passed it 413-1. It goes to the President next for signing. This bill provides statutory authority for election observers designated by members of Congress.
Manufacturing
S. 2228: Building Chips in America Act of 2023 passed the House 257-125. It goes to the President next. The bill limits environmental reviews of proposed new semi-conductor production projects.
This is a controversial bill within the Democratic party. Most of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan centrist group in the House, voted for it, but the four no votes in that caucus came from Democrats. The New Democrat Coalition, also a centrist group but this time all Democrats, was more divided with 60 yes votes and 20 no votes. The House Progressive Caucus, again all Democrats, was largely in sync with 11 yes votes and 71 no votes. Overall, more Democrats opposed this bill than voted for it while nearly all voting Republicans were for it.
Programming note
Since Congress is out now until after the election, we plan to do another installment of our mailbag this coming week on some still unanswered questions you've sent us. We will also have one or two posts about some behind the scenes activities in Congress that might seem too inside baseball at first glance, but are worth hearing about because of how the outcome might affect how the next Congress functions.
Mostly though, we'll spend from October through the end of this Congress in January writing about how elections actually work in the US. We're pretty excited about this series and hope you'll find it enlightening!
View this post on the web. Send us an email with your questions about this post.
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Hawaii Congressional Delegation
Sep 17, 2024 11:56 p.m. — Legislation Coming Up
H.R. 1726: Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2023
This bill has been added to the House’s schedule for the coming week, according to the House Majority Leader. See the week ahead.
Last Action: This bill passed in the House on September 24, 2024 and goes to the Senate next for consideration.
Sep 20, 2024 11:14 a.m. — Vote
H.R. 9106: Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024
Passed 405/0
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Sep 23, 2024 — Introduced
S.Res. 840: A resolution supporting the designation of the week of September 15 through September 21, 2024, as “Telehealth Awareness Week”.
Sponsor: Sen. Brian Schatz [D-HI]
This resolution is in the first stage of the legislative process. It will typically be considered by committee next.
Sep 23, 2024 5:29 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN1399: Rose E. Jenkins, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years
Nomination Confirmed 69/17
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Sep 23, 2024 6:53 p.m. — Vote
S. 2228: Building Chips in America Act of 2023
Passed 257/125
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Nay
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Nay
Sep 23, 2024 7:12 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 8958: NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024
Passed 366/21
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Sep 23, 2024 7:18 p.m. — Vote
S. 3764: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2024
Passed 365/20
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Sep 24, 2024 — Introduced
S.Res. 845: A resolution expressing support for the recognition of September 23, 2024, to September 29, 2024, as “Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week”.
Sponsor: Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI]
This resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI] is a member of the committee.
Sep 24, 2024 12:05 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Michael Sfraga to be Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs.: Michael Sfraga, of Alaska, to be Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs
Cloture Motion Agreed to 56/36
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Sep 24, 2024 1:56 p.m. — Vote
On Ordering the Previous Question: H.Res. 1486: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3334) to provide for the imposition …
Passed 208/204
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Nay
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Nay
Sep 24, 2024 2:02 p.m. — Vote
H.Res. 1486: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3334) to provide for the imposition of sanctions on members of the National Communist Party Congress of the People’s Republic of China, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the
Passed 212/207
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: No
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: No
Sep 24, 2024 2:08 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 3208: DHS Cybersecurity On-the-Job Training Program Act
Passed 377/43
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Sep 24, 2024 2:11 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 8057: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9317 Bolsa Avenue in Westminster, California, as the “Little Saigon Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Post Office”.
Passed 415/0
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Sep 24, 2024 2:15 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN1342: Michael Sfraga, of Alaska, to be Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs
Nomination Confirmed 55/36
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Sep 24, 2024 2:17 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 7073: Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act
Passed 373/41
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Sep 24, 2024 5:37 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 8790: Fix Our Forests Act
Passed 268/151
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Nay
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Nay
Sep 25, 2024 — Introduced
H.Res. 1504: Recognizing the month of October 2024 as Filipino American History Month and celebrating the history and culture of Filipino Americans and their immense contributions to the United States.
Sponsor: Rep. Ed Case [D-HI1]
This resolution was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
1 cosponsor is on that committee.
Sep 25, 2024 — Introduced
S. 5168: A bill to make certain antidiscrimination laws applicable to the judicial branch of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI]
This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI] is a member of the committee.
Sep 25, 2024 — Introduced
S.Res. 857: A resolution expressing concern about the spreading problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States.
Sponsor: Sen. Brian Schatz [D-HI]
This resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI] is a member of the committee.
Sep 25, 2024 — Introduced
S.Res. 856: A resolution recognizing the month of October 2024 as Filipino American History Month and celebrating the history and culture of Filipino Americans and their immense contributions to the United States.
Sponsor: Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI]
This resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI] is a member of the committee.
Sep 25, 2024 12:12 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Proceed on S.Con.Res. 41: A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.
Motion to Proceed Rejected 39/56
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Nay
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Nay
Sep 25, 2024 1:11 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Byron B. Conway to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.: Byron B. Conway, of Wisconsin, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Cloture Motion Agreed to 58/37
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Not Voting
Sep 25, 2024 3:39 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN1902: Byron B. Conway, of Wisconsin, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Nomination Confirmed 58/37
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Sep 25, 2024 4:24 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 6513: COCOA Act of 2024
Passed 413/1
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Sep 25, 2024 4:31 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 9747: Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025
Passed 341/82
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Sep 25, 2024 4:37 p.m. — Vote
H.Amdt. 1220 (Nunn) to H.R. 3334: To add to the sanction list under section 4 any Chinese State-Owned Enterprise that knowingly manufactures or distributes any chemicals used in the production of illicit fentanyl.
Agreed to 419/1
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Aye
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Aye
Sep 25, 2024 4:45 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 3334: STOP CCP Act
Passed 243/174
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Nay
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Nay
Sep 25, 2024 4:52 p.m. — Vote
On Motion to Recommit: H.R. 8205: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit fraud in connection with …
Failed 206/212
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Sep 25, 2024 4:58 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 8205: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit fraud in connection with posting bail
Passed 255/161
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Nay
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Nay
Sep 25, 2024 5:10 p.m. — Vote
H.Res. 1469: Ensuring accountability for key officials in the Biden-Harris administration responsible for decisionmaking and execution failures throughout the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Passed 219/194
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Nay
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Nay
Sep 25, 2024 5:18 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 9747: Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025
Bill Passed 78/18
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea