Search Results for keywords:"secretary of state"

Search Results: keywords:"secretary of state"

S. 3876 — To direct the Secretary of State to establish a national registry of Korean American divided families, and for other purposes.
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March 06, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:707
S. 3876 aims to establish a national registry of Korean American divided families to help reunite them with family members in North Korea. This involves identifying these families and collecting their information to aid future reunions. The bill authorizes $1,000,000 for this...
Simple Explanation
Imagine a special project where grown-ups are trying to help families who were split up between North Korea and America find each other and meet again. They want to make a special list of these families and talk to North Korea about bringing them back together, and they've set aside $1,000,000 to try and make it happen.
H. R. 8365 — To amend the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014 to make modifications to that Act.
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May 10, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:902
The H.R. 8365 bill proposes changes to a 2014 law concerning international child abduction, aiming to improve procedures when U.S. children are taken to other countries. It updates the definition of "abduction case" to include certain legal applications, adjusts the list of...
Simple Explanation
The bill wants to make better rules for when kids from the U.S. are taken to other countries without permission. It plans to change some definitions and rules to help bring the kids back home and find out what happens when they're taken away, with special research money set aside for this.
H. R. 7751 — To require the Secretary of State to report annually on adverse security clearance adjudications, and for other purposes.
March 20, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:636
H.R. 7751, titled the “Transparency in Security Clearance Denials Act,” mandates that the Secretary of State submit an annual report to Congress about adverse decisions on security clearances. This report must include details such as the number of affected individuals, appeals submitted,...
Simple Explanation
Imagine a big boss at work needs to check if people can be trusted with secrets. This bill says the big boss has to tell the government each year how many people didn’t get to keep those secrets, why they didn’t, and if they could try again to prove they were trustworthy. They also need to share details like what jobs those people do and who they are, while being careful not to share too much personal stuff.
H. R. 8232 — To authorize the Secretary of State to withdraw from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Federal funds previously made available to such organization.
May 02, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:224
H. R. 8232 is a bill introduced in the 118th Congress that seeks to authorize the Secretary of State to withdraw federal funds previously provided to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The bill instructs the Secretary of State to take...
Simple Explanation
Imagine a big piggy bank where the United States has been putting money to help a group called UNRWA, which supports people in Palestine. This new idea, called H. R. 8232, is like a plan to tell the person in charge to stop putting money in that piggy bank and to try and get back any money that hasn't been used yet.
H. R. 5245 — An Act To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to require certain congressional notification prior to entering into, renewing, or extending a science and technology agreement with the People’s Republic of China, and for other purposes.
September 10, 2024
Status:Referred in Senate
Congress:118
Words:1,897
H.R. 5245 proposes changes to the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to ensure Congress is notified before the U.S. enters into, renews, or extends any science and technology agreements with China. It emphasizes the need for safeguarding U.S. interests, ensuring...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 5245 is a bill that would make sure the U.S. government tells Congress when they plan to make or change science deals with China. This is to keep an eye on new technologies and make sure nothing that could be harmful is shared.
H. CON. RES. 88 — Expressing the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury should investigate the use of cryptocurrencies by Hamas (also known as Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya), and whether any cryptocurrencies were exchanged between Hamas and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
February 06, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:265
H. CON. RES. 88 expresses the opinion of Congress that the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, should conduct an investigation into the use of cryptocurrencies by Hamas, also known as Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya. The resolution also seeks to determine...
Simple Explanation
Congress wants the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury to look into whether a group called Hamas is using digital money, like cryptocurrencies, and if they are trading it with a group that helps people, to make sure everything is happening above board.
H. R. 7202 — To direct the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a report on funding provided by the United States to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and for other purposes.
February 01, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:396
H. R. 7202, titled the "Uncovering UNRWA’s Terrorist Crimes Act," aims to have the Secretary of State submit a report to Congress detailing the money the United States provided to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)...
Simple Explanation
This bill wants a report showing how much money the United States gave to a group that helps Palestinian refugees, and it also wants to stop giving them any more money.
S. 4044 — To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the consideration of the human rights records of recipients of support of special operations to combat terrorism, and for other purposes.
March 21, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:1,315
S. 4044, known as the "Upholding Human Rights Abroad Act," aims to amend the United States Code to ensure that the human rights records of recipients of U.S. special operations support are considered. The bill requires that before supporting foreign military or irregular...
Simple Explanation
S. 4044 is like a rule book that makes sure when the U.S. helps other countries' soldiers, it checks to see if they've been nice or mean to people. If the soldiers have been mean, they might not get help unless there's a really important reason.
H. R. 7089 — To authorize the Diplomatic Security Services of the Department of State to investigate allegations of violations of conduct constituting offenses under chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code, and for other purposes.
January 25, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:347
H.R. 7089, also known as the “Global Anti-Human Trafficking Enhancement Act,” allows the Diplomatic Security Services of the Department of State to investigate international human trafficking cases, especially those involving foreign nationals or crimes committed outside of...
Simple Explanation
The bill lets a special group of people in charge of security for the U.S. government check out cases where people are being hurt and moved from one place to another, like a bad kind of travel, especially if these happen in other countries.
H. R. 5375 — An Act To require a strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan and to seek to establish a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate closer cooperation on shared interests and values.
February 26, 2024
Status:Referred in Senate
Congress:118
Words:1,775
H.R. 5375, known as the "Strengthening the Quad Act," aims to enhance the collaboration between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan, collectively referred to as the Quad, to address mutual challenges and promote shared values such as democracy and economic growth...
Simple Explanation
The bill wants four countries—America, Australia, India, and Japan—to work together closely like friends to solve problems and help each other. It doesn't ask for more money but says people from these countries should meet up regularly to talk and plan things using what they already have.
H. R. 8234 — An Act To authorize the Secretary of State to designate additional persons eligible to serve as passport acceptance agents, and for other purposes.
November 21, 2024
Status:Referred in Senate
Congress:118
Words:497
The bill H. R. 8234 authorizes the Secretary of State to designate more individuals as passport acceptance agents. It also aims to improve services related to passport handling by increasing the number of companies certified to transport passport applications and deliver...
Simple Explanation
The bill wants to let more people help with passports and make it easier to send passport papers around. It also says that new passports will finish on the person's birthday in the future.
S. 3707 — To require the Secretary of State to submit annual reports reviewing the educational material used by the Palestinian Authority in schools, and for other purposes.
January 31, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:896
The bill S. 3707 requires the Secretary of State to submit annual reports on the educational materials used by the Palestinian Authority in schools. These reports should examine whether the curriculum promotes violence or intolerance toward other countries or ethnic groups,...
Simple Explanation
The bill wants the U.S. Secretary of State to check what Palestinian children are learning in school and report if the lessons teach anything mean or harmful. This is to help make sure their education is about being nice and peaceful, and everyone can read these reports online.
H. R. 9398 — To prioritize the processing of United States passport applications submitted at in-person appointments at passport agencies or through the mail, and for other purposes.
August 23, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:736
H.R. 9398, known as the 'Passport Processing Efficiency Act,' aims to speed up the processing of U.S. passport applications submitted in person or by mail over those sent by third-party couriers. It requires the Secretary of State to prioritize these applications and report...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 9398 wants to make getting a U.S. passport faster for people who apply in person or by mail, instead of through companies that charge money to help. It asks the government to check on these companies and let people complain if they cause problems.
H. R. 825 — An Act To prohibit contracting with persons that have business operations with the Maduro regime, and for other purposes.
November 19, 2024
Status:Placed on Calendar Senate
Congress:118
Words:1,125
H.R. 825, also known as the "Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime Act" or the "BOLIVAR Act," seeks to stop the U.S. government from contracting with companies that engage in significant business with the Maduro regime in...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 825 is a rule that says the U.S. government can't make deals with companies that do a lot of business with Venezuela's leader, who the U.S. doesn't think is the real boss. There are some exceptions for things like helping people or keeping the country safe, and it lasts for three years after it starts.
H. R. 2789 — An Act To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy on efforts to strengthen subnational cooperation between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes.
July 08, 2024
Status:Referred in Senate
Congress:118
Words:870
H. R. 2789, also called the "American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act," instructs the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to enhance cooperation between different regions of the United States and Mexico. The main goals are to improve law enforcement collaboration to...
Simple Explanation
H. R. 2789 is a plan that asks a special helper, the Secretary of State, to make friends and work better with people in Mexico, especially to stop bad stuff like drugs from crossing the border. It also wants to check how people in certain Caribbean countries can use banks more easily.
S. RES. 619 — Honoring the 65th anniversary of the uprising of the people of Tibet in defense of freedom.
March 22, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:313
S. RES. 619 is a resolution from the United States Senate recognizing the 65th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese control in 1959. The resolution supports the Tibetan people's efforts to protect their freedom and national identity and condemns China's actions...
Simple Explanation
S. RES. 619 is a message from the U.S. Senate saying they remember when people in Tibet stood up for their freedom 65 years ago and think it's important to support them; they want the U.S. to pay attention to how China treats Tibet and to talk about it when dealing with China.
S. 3999 — To require mandatory review of performance improvement plans during tenure and promotion appraisal process.
March 20, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:164
S. 3999 requires the mandatory review of Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) for Foreign Service officers during their tenure and promotion appraisals. The bill mandates the Secretary of State to ensure that all PIPs, issued to an officer in the past five years for...
Simple Explanation
In the Senate, there's a new rule that says when deciding if someone in the Foreign Service should get a promotion, they must check any old reports about how well that person has been doing their job if they haven't done great in the last five years. This helps make sure everyone is being judged fairly and clearly.
H. R. 9700 — To prohibit bilateral economic assistance, including assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, to foreign governments that abridge the right to free speech that would be speech protected by the Constitution of the United States, and for other purposes.
September 19, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:627
H.R. 9700, introduced in the House of Representatives by Ms. Mace and Mr. Burchett, aims to stop bilateral economic aid to foreign governments that restrict free speech, as would be protected by the U.S. Constitution. The bill specifically forbids spending U.S. assistance funds on countries...
Simple Explanation
Imagine there's a rule that says if another country doesn’t allow people to say what they want, like they can in the U.S., then the U.S. will stop giving them money to help out. This bill wants to make sure those countries let people talk freely, just like we do!
H. R. 9437 — To authorize co-location abroad with United States strategic partner countries.
August 30, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:406
H. R. 9437 aims to permit the United States to share office or building spaces abroad with governments of specific allied countries. The bill, titled the "Partners in Diplomacy Act," allows the U.S. Secretary of State to modify or furnish government-owned or leased properties...
Simple Explanation
The "Partners in Diplomacy Act" is a plan for the U.S. to share office spaces with friendly countries when they are abroad, making it easier for them to work together. It also mentions how these arrangements will be paid for and which countries can join in, like those in NATO.
S. 4118 — To establish the Open Translation Center, and for other purposes.
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April 11, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:2,524
S. 4118 proposes the establishment of the Open Translation Center (OTAC), which would be a federally funded research and development center. The center's primary mission is to translate and analyze foreign language government documents from countries like China to enhance...
Simple Explanation
S. 4118 is a plan to set up a special place that uses a lot of money to translate important papers from other countries, like China, to help understand their ideas better, but it needs to be careful about how it picks and spends money so it doesn't make mistakes.
H. R. 9082 — To direct the Secretary of State to host regular Summits of the Americas, and for other purposes.
July 22, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:682
H.R. 9082, titled the “Summit of the Americas Act,” proposes that the Secretary of State regularly hosts Summits of the Americas every four years, or more often if needed, to promote cooperation between the U.S. and other Western Hemisphere countries. The bill authorizes the...
Simple Explanation
The bill wants the U.S. Secretary of State to hold big meetings with other countries in the Americas every few years to help everyone work together better. It also asks the Secretary to make a special team to make sure promises made at these meetings are kept and to tell Congress how things are going each year.
H. R. 6306 — An Act To direct the Secretary of State to avoid or minimize the acquisition or lease of a consular or diplomatic post built or owned by an entity owned or controlled by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and for other purposes.
March 20, 2024
Status:Referred in Senate
Congress:118
Words:711
H.R. 6306, also known as the "Embassy Construction Integrity Act of 2023," aims to prevent the U.S. Secretary of State from acquiring or leasing consular or diplomatic buildings that have been built or owned by entities controlled by the Chinese government. The bill requires the Secretary to...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 6306 is a rule that tries to stop the U.S. from using buildings for embassies or consulates if those buildings are made or owned by companies controlled by China. If this rule is ever broken, the U.S. must explain why keeping the country's safety was more important.
S. 5085 — To condemn convicted felon, Joanne Chesimard, who is also known as Assata Shakur, and those celebrating her violent actions against New Jersey law enforcement members, to call for her immediate extradition or return to the United States from Cuba, where Ms. Chesimard is receiving safe haven to the United States to escape prosecution or confinement for criminal offenses committed in the United States, and to officially honor and commemorate the New Jersey law enforcement members killed and affected by her violent acts.
September 18, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:1,134
S. 5085 is a bill that seeks to address the case of Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, who is believed to be receiving safe haven in Cuba to avoid punishment for crimes committed in the United States, including the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper in 1973. The bill condemns...
Simple Explanation
This bill is all about asking a person named Joanne, who's hiding in Cuba, to come back to the U.S. because she's in trouble with the law here. It also wants to remember the police officers who were hurt by what she did.
S. 5076 — To require periodic updates to the comprehensive strategy to promote Internet freedom and access to information in Iran, to authorize grants to support and develop programs in Iran that promote or expand an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure Internet, and for other purposes.
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September 17, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:1,156
S. 5076, titled the "Iran Internet Freedom Act," aims to improve access to an open and secure Internet in Iran. This bill requires updates to an existing strategy under the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, mandating reviews and updates by the...
Simple Explanation
The Iran Internet Freedom Act is a plan to help people in Iran have better and safer Internet access by giving money to projects that support open communication. The bill provides $15 million each year to help make the Internet more free and open there.
H. R. 8234 — An Act To authorize the Secretary of State to designate additional persons eligible to serve as passport acceptance agents, and for other purposes.
November 20, 2024
Status:Engrossed in House
Congress:118
Words:513
H.R. 8234 authorizes the Secretary of State to expand the list of people who can serve as passport acceptance agents by including U.S. citizens employed by reputable companies and authorized as notaries or similar roles. The bill also requires the Secretary to increase the...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 8234 is like giving special stickers to more grown-ups so they can help people apply for passports, and making sure everyone's new passport ends on their birthday to make it extra special. Plus, they want to have more helpers available to quickly send and collect these passport papers.
S. 4849 — To require the Secretary of State to seek to enter into negotiations with the Government of Ukraine for the establishment by that Government of a foreign investment review mechanism.
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July 30, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:474
S. 4849 directs the Secretary of State to begin discussions with the Ukrainian government to help them create a system for reviewing foreign investments in Ukraine. This system would focus especially on investments from China, resembling the United States' investment review...
Simple Explanation
S. 4849 is a plan where the U.S. wants to help Ukraine set up a system to check if foreign countries, like China, are investing in Ukraine in a good way. It would give money and send helpers to Ukraine for five years to make sure everything goes smoothly.
H. R. 9762 — To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide explicit authority for the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to work with international partners on cybersecurity, and for other purposes.
September 23, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:1,605
H.R. 9762, titled the “DHS International Cyber Partner Act of 2024,” aims to modify the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to give formal authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) for partnering with...
Simple Explanation
The bill wants to let important people in the U.S. government work with people from other countries to protect computers and the internet from bad things, but they won't give extra money for it, and they have to tell Congress what they are doing.
S. 4179 — To extend and modify the lend-lease authority to Ukraine.
April 18, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:349
S. 4179 aims to extend and modify the lend-lease authority to Ukraine, originally established under the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022. The bill changes the timeline by extending the authority from fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to now cover until 2026. It also...
Simple Explanation
The bill lets the United States keep lending or leasing military stuff to Ukraine until 2026 so they can use it to defend themselves, and it also asks for a plan to get the stuff back.
H. R. 8608 — To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit access by certain individuals to certain areas of airports, and for other purposes.
June 04, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:575
H.R. 8608 seeks to amend title 49 of the United States Code to prevent individuals associated with certain countries from accessing specific areas in airports, such as the secured, sterile, and air cargo areas. The bill identifies these countries as those that have repeatedly...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 8608 is a rule that wants to stop people from certain countries that helped bad guys from getting into special parts of airports where they shouldn't be. The rule is made to keep us safe, and a special airport guard group will make sure it's followed.
H. R. 6875 — To amend the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to make Uruguay eligible for designation as a beneficiary country under that Act, to include Uruguay in the list of foreign states whose nationals are eligible for admission into the United States as E1 and E2 nonimmigrants if nationals of the United States are treated similarly by the Government of Uruguay, and to require a report on the eligibility of Uruguay for the visa waiver program, and for other purposes.
December 19, 2023
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:632
H. R. 6875 aims to make Uruguay eligible to be a beneficiary country under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act. It proposes allowing Uruguayan nationals to enter the U.S. as E1 and E2 nonimmigrants if Uruguay grants the same benefit to U.S. nationals. The bill also...
Simple Explanation
In simple terms, H. R. 6875 is a plan to let people from Uruguay trade and invest more easily in the U.S., if Uruguay lets people from the U.S. do the same. It also wants to see if Uruguay should join a group of countries that don't need a special permission to visit the U.S. for short trips.
H. R. 8452 — To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain membership status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization, and for other purposes.
May 17, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:1,455
H.R. 8452 aims to instruct the U.S. Secretary of State to create a plan for Taiwan to gain membership status in the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). The bill emphasizes Taiwan's important role in global security and crime-fighting and highlights the...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 8452 is a plan for a big helper in the U.S. government to find ways for Taiwan to join a group of police from all over the world, so they can work together better to catch bad guys. It’s important because Taiwan currently can’t easily share or get information about international crime, like other countries can.
H. R. 8011 — To designate certain organizations as foreign terrorist organizations.
April 15, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:1,012
H.R. 8011, also known as the "Iranian Terror Prevention Act," aims to classify specific groups as foreign terrorist organizations. The bill mandates the Secretary of State to make these designations within 90 days of its enactment and proposes sanctions on certain entities...
Simple Explanation
The bill wants to say that some groups are really bad guys, called terrorists, and should have strict rules put on them to make them stop being bad. It tells important people to decide this quickly and keep checking who else needs these rules.
H. R. 7232 — To direct the Secretary of State to revoke the visas of students who have engaged in antisemitic activities, and for other purposes.
February 05, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:545
H.R. 7232, known as the “No Visas for Anti-Semitic Students Act,” proposes regulations that direct the Secretary of State to revoke visas of students who have engaged in antisemitic activities. It requires automatic cancellation of nonimmigrant student visas for those who are...
Simple Explanation
The No Visas for Anti-Semitic Students Act is like a rule that says if a student from another country says or does mean things about Jewish people, they might not be allowed to stay and study in the United States anymore. It wants to make sure students don't belong to groups that are unkind to Jewish people or say hurtful things about them.
H. R. 9976 — To amend the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act to establish a designation of state sponsor of wrongful or unlawful, and for other purposes.
October 11, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:1,219
H.R. 9976 aims to amend the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act by creating a new category for states that support wrongful or unlawful detention. This bill allows the Secretary of State to designate countries that repeatedly detain U.S....
Simple Explanation
H.R. 9976 is like a rulebook that helps the U.S. decide if a country is being mean by keeping American people they shouldn’t, and if they are, the U.S. can put them in timeout like taking away their goodies or not being friends with them anymore.
H. R. 7875 — To direct the Secretary of State to designate MS–13 as a foreign terrorist organization, and for other purposes.
April 05, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:277
H.R. 7875 is a bill introduced in the House of Representatives that directs the Secretary of State to designate the gang MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization. It requires the Secretary to take this action under the authority of section 219 of the Immigration and...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 7875 is a plan to officially call a gang called MS-13 a "bad guy" group like terrorists, which means people in the gang could get in big trouble and might not be allowed to enter the U.S. anymore.
H. R. 9793 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education from receiving gifts from certain countries, and for other purposes.
September 24, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:425
H.R. 9793 aims to change the Higher Education Act of 1965 to stop American colleges and universities from accepting gifts from certain foreign countries. The bill outlines that schools cannot receive gifts from countries that support terrorist organizations, as determined by...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 9793 is a rule that says colleges in the U.S. can't get gifts from certain countries like China, Russia, and North Korea to keep them safe, and they must tell a special office if someone from those countries tries to give them a gift.
H. R. 8683 — To require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State to monitor efforts by the People’s Republic of China to build or buy strategic foreign ports, and for other purposes.
June 11, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:637
H.R. 8683 requires the U.S. Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State to monitor and map strategic foreign ports that the People's Republic of China (PRC) is trying to build or buy. It lays out a plan for these ports to remain under the management of the U.S. or allied...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 8683 is a rule that asks two important U.S. leaders, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State, to keep an eye on ports around the world that China wants to build or buy, making sure these ports are managed by friendly countries. They also need to work with money groups to make sure China doesn't get too much control, and they have to tell Congress how things are going.
H. R. 7152 — An Act To direct the Secretary of State to establish a national registry of Korean American divided families, and for other purposes.
July 08, 2024
Status:Referred in Senate
Congress:118
Words:615
H. R. 7152, also known as the "Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act," directs the Secretary of State to create a national registry for Korean American families separated by the Korean War Armistice Agreement. The registry aims to help these families prepare...
Simple Explanation
The bill wants the government to make a big list of Korean American families who got separated because of a past war, so they might meet again someday. It also tries to get people talking to help these families reunite, and it checks how things are going every year.
H. R. 7353 — To provide temporary war risk insurance for certain commercial vessels operating importing goods to, or exporting goods from, Ukraine.
February 14, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:1,007
H.R. 7353 aims to provide temporary war risk insurance for certain commercial vessels transporting goods to and from Ukraine. The bill establishes the "Ukraine War Risk Insurance Act" which identifies eligible vessels and sets up the "Insurance for Ukraine Initiative" to...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 7353 is a plan to help ships that bring things to and from Ukraine by giving them special insurance for safety during wartime. This is to help Ukraine's economy and get other countries to work together to make shipping safe.
S. 5404 — To direct the Secretary of State to host regular Summits of the Americas, and for other purposes.
November 21, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:689
S. 5404 directs the Secretary of State to host regular Summits of the Americas to strengthen ties and promote cooperation between the United States and countries in the Western Hemisphere. The bill authorizes organizing a Summit of the Americas every four years, or more often...
Simple Explanation
The bill tells the Secretary of State to have regular meetings with other countries in the Americas to be friends and work together better. These meetings will happen every four years, and the Secretary of State will prepare a report each year to show how things are going.
H. R. 9299 — To make certain improvements relating to the coordination of efforts to promote internet freedom and access to information in Iran, and for other purposes.
August 02, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:913
H.R. 9299, titled the “Internet Reach and Access Now Act” or “IRAN Act,” aims to enhance the coordination of U.S. efforts to promote internet freedom and access to information in Iran. The bill designates the Secretary of State as the primary official responsible for these...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 9299 is like a helping hand from the U.S. to make sure people in Iran can use the internet freely and safely, even when the government tries to block it. It gives a special job to a big helper called the Secretary of State to figure out smart ways, like using secret internet pathways, so everyone can stay connected.
H. R. 8234 — To authorize the Secretary of State to designate additional persons eligible to serve as passport acceptance agents, and for other purposes.
May 02, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:657
H.R. 8234 allows the Secretary of State to appoint additional people to be passport acceptance agents, including court employees, postal workers, military personnel, and notaries. The bill also aims to increase the number of companies that can offer hand-carry passport...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 8234 lets the Secretary of State pick more people, like postal workers and notaries, to help with passport applications. It also changes how some companies drop off passports and makes passports expire on the owner's birthday.
H. R. 9503 — To direct the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to promulgate regulations to require all implementing partners receiving foreign assistance funds with activities in Afghanistan to submit a report on any payments or withholdings, including for taxes, fees, duties, and utilities, made to the Taliban, state-owned enterprises, or governing institutions in Afghanistan, and for other purposes.
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September 09, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:934
H.R. 9503, also known as the “Protecting Taxpayer Dollars from Taliban Theft Act,” is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. It aims to ensure that U.S. taxpayer funds are not used to benefit the Taliban or Afghan state-owned enterprises by requiring...
Simple Explanation
In simple words, this bill wants to make sure that U.S. money given to help Afghanistan doesn't accidentally end up with the Taliban. It says that any group using this money must tell how every penny is spent, especially if it goes to the Taliban or the Afghan government.
H. R. 6797 — To provide for enhanced United States leadership at international organizations, and for other purposes.
December 14, 2023
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:1,034
H.R. 6797, known as the “Restoring U.S. Leadership in International Organizations Act of 2023,” aims to enhance the United States' role in international organizations. The bill proposes amendments to the Foreign Service Act to promote experience within these organizations and requires federal...
Simple Explanation
The Restoring U.S. Leadership in International Organizations Act of 2023 is a plan to help America be a bigger leader in world groups by having certain government workers learn how to work better with people from other countries, and by making sure America pays its dues to these groups on time.
H. R. 8190 — To review and consider terminating the designation of the State of Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, and for other purposes.
April 30, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:1,222
H. R. 8190 mandates a review of the designation of Qatar as a major non-NATO ally of the United States. This bill was introduced in response to Qatar's alleged support for Hamas, a group recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., which has involved in attacks...
Simple Explanation
The bill is about checking if Qatar is still a good friend to the United States because they might be helping a bad group called Hamas. If they are helping, the United States might stop being friends with them.
S. 4478 — To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit access by certain individuals to certain areas of airports, and for other purposes.
June 05, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:561
S. 4478, also known as the "Secure Airports From Enemies Act" or the "SAFE Act", aims to tighten security at airports in the United States. It prohibits any individual representing a country identified by the Secretary of State as supporting terrorism from accessing critical...
Simple Explanation
The "SAFE Act" wants to make airports safer by not letting people from certain countries that support bad activities, like terrorism, go into important parts of the airport. This helps keep everyone safer by stopping those who might cause trouble from getting into sensitive areas.
H. R. 6904 — To direct the Secretary of State to further surge capacity to better support special immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of Afghanistan, and for other purposes.
December 22, 2023
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:402
H.R. 6904, also known as the “Support Our Afghan Partners Act of 2023,” aims to boost support for Afghan nationals who assisted the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and now face threats from the Taliban. The bill directs the Secretary of State to increase capacity to better support Afghan special...
Simple Explanation
This bill is trying to help people from Afghanistan who helped the USA when they were in trouble there. It wants to make it easier and faster for them to come to America safely by having more helpers to process their special visas.
H. R. 1157 — An Act To provide for the authorization of appropriations for the Countering the People’s Republic of China Malign Influence Fund, and for other purposes.
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September 10, 2024
Status:Referred in Senate
Congress:118
Words:1,559
H.R. 1157, titled the "Countering the PRC Malign Influence Fund Authorization Act of 2023," proposes a budget of $325 million per year from 2023 to 2027. This money is intended to counter the harmful activities of the Chinese Communist Party and the Government of the People's Republic of...
Simple Explanation
The bill is about giving America lots of money every year to help stop bad actions from China, like spreading lies or being unfair with money. It's like when a kid saves up their allowance to buy something important, and they need to keep track of how they spend it to make sure it really helps.
H. RES. 1041 — Condemning the order issued by the International Court of Justice on January 26, 2024, imposing provisional measures against Israel.
February 29, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:333
H. RES. 1041 is a resolution from the 118th Congress that condemns the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) order from January 26, 2024, which imposed provisional measures against Israel. The resolution criticizes South Africa for bringing a case against Israel in the ICJ,...
Simple Explanation
The bill is like a letter from Congress saying they don't agree with a court's decision that was against Israel. It says that the court's decision is unfair, and they think the claims about Israel are not true.
S. 4093 — To review and consider terminating the designation of the State of Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, and for other purposes.
April 10, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:1,231
S. 4093 is a bill introduced in the Senate to reconsider the designation of Qatar as a major non-NATO ally of the United States. The bill requests the Secretary of State to review Qatar's relationship with the United States and Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization...
Simple Explanation
The bill wants the U.S. government to think carefully about whether Qatar should remain a special friend, or if that should change because of its links to a group called Hamas, which the U.S. sees as bad guys. If there isn't a good reason for Qatar to keep this friendship, the President might have to take it away.
H. R. 7206 — To designate the United Nations Relief and Works Agency as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, and for other purposes.
February 01, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:196
H.R. 7206 is a bill introduced in the House of Representatives that seeks to designate the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. If passed, the bill would require the Secretary of State to officially label UNRWA as a terrorist...
Simple Explanation
The bill wants to call a group called the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) a "bad group," like how people sometimes call bullies or villains "bad." But some people think this is a quick decision without a lot of reasons and might make other countries upset.
H. R. 7089 — An Act To authorize the Diplomatic Security Services of the Department of State to investigate allegations of violations of conduct constituting offenses under chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code, and for other purposes.
September 09, 2024
Status:Engrossed in House
Congress:118
Words:628
The Global Anti-Human Trafficking Enhancement Act authorizes the Diplomatic Security Services of the U.S. Department of State to investigate human trafficking and related offenses that occur partially outside the United States or involve foreign nationals. It expands the...
Simple Explanation
The Global Anti-Human Trafficking Enhancement Act lets special police at the U.S. Department of State help catch bad guys who do human trafficking, even if it happens in different countries or involves people from other countries. It lasts for seven years, and then it stops.
S. 4625 — To provide for the designation of the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
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June 20, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:3,620
S. 4625 aims to officially designate the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism. The bill includes a list of findings that support this designation, citing numerous acts of violence and international crimes allegedly committed or supported by the Russian...
Simple Explanation
The bill wants to officially call Russia a "bad guy country" because they did mean things that scare people. If this happens, the U.S. could stop sending them certain things, but would still allow food and medicine to be sent with special permission.
H. R. 6609 — To amend the Arms Export Control Act to increase the dollar amount thresholds under sections 3 and 36 of that Act relating to proposed transfers or sales of defense articles or services under that Act, and for other purposes.
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December 05, 2023
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:1,279
H.R. 6609, known as the "TIGER Act," aims to amend the Arms Export Control Act to raise the thresholds for dollar amounts involved in proposed transfers or sales of defense items and services by increasing specific monetary limits outlined in sections 3 and 36 of the Act. It also introduces...
Simple Explanation
The TIGER Act wants to change a law about selling military equipment to other countries by raising how much money can be involved without needing extra special permission. It's like saying you can buy a bigger toy without asking your parents each time, but some people worry this could mean wasting money or making decisions without everyone knowing what's going on.
H. R. 7152 — An Act To direct the Secretary of State to establish a national registry of Korean American divided families, and for other purposes.
June 25, 2024
Status:Engrossed in House
Congress:118
Words:626
H.R. 7152, titled the "Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act," requires the Secretary of State to create a national registry for Korean American families separated from relatives in North Korea after the Korean War. This registry aims to gather information...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 7152 is a plan to help Korean American families find and meet their lost family members in North Korea. It asks a special group in the government to make a list of these families and hopes to talk to North Korea about making family get-togethers happen.
H. R. 7181 — To require the Secretary of State to submit a report ranking the organizations of the United Nations.
February 01, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:186
H. R. 7181 requires the Secretary of State to create and submit a report to Congress that ranks each organization within the United Nations. This ranking is based on how vital the Secretary of State determines each organization is to the interests of the United States. The...
Simple Explanation
The bill wants the Secretary of State to make a list that shows which parts of the United Nations are most important to the United States, like making a top ten list of your favorite toys. This helps America know which of these groups they like working with the most.
H. R. 9160 — To impose sanctions with respect to the system of compensation of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority that supports acts of terrorism.
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July 25, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:2,618
H.R. 9160, titled the "PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act of 2024," aims to impose sanctions on the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority for providing financial compensation to terrorists and their families. The bill seeks to block the property and...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 9160 is a bill that wants to stop money from going to people who do bad things and their families by blocking bank accounts and stopping certain people from getting visas. It aims to encourage people to follow the rules by saying they will remove these blocks if the payments that encourage these bad things stop.
H. R. 3354 — An Act To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 North Hatcher Avenue in Purcellville, Virginia, as the Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Post Office Building.
September 25, 2024
Status:Reported to Senate
Congress:118
Words:321
H.R. 3354 is a bill that proposes naming a United States Postal Service facility at 220 North Hatcher Avenue in Purcellville, Virginia, as the “Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Post Office Building.” The bill specifies that all references to this facility in any official...
Simple Explanation
The bill wants to rename a post office building in Virginia to honor Madeleine Albright, who was an important person in the government. It just means they want to change the name of the building to remember her.
H. R. 7552 — To prohibit the use of materials that use the term West Bank, and for other purposes.
March 05, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:1,012
H.R. 7552 aims to stop U.S. government materials from using the term "West Bank" and instead use the historical names "Judea and Samaria" for territories annexed by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. The bill restricts the funding for any documents using "West Bank," while...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 7552 is a new rule that says people working for the U.S. government can't use the name "West Bank" in their documents and should instead use "Judea and Samaria," except in special cases. If they have to use "West Bank" for an important reason, they need to explain why to Congress.
H. R. 2789 — An Act To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy on efforts to strengthen subnational cooperation between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes.
June 25, 2024
Status:Engrossed in House
Congress:118
Words:887
H. R. 2789, known as the “American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act,” aims to enhance cooperation between the United States and Mexico at local and regional levels. The bill directs the Secretary of State, along with the U.S. Agency for International Development, to create...
Simple Explanation
H. R. 2789 is a plan to help the U.S. and Mexico work together better by focusing on stopping drug problems and helping towns near the border. The plan also wants to make it easier for people in the Caribbean to use banks, and it will keep Congress updated on how well this is going.
H. R. 8700 — To establish international artificial intelligence research partnerships, and for other purposes.
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June 11, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:1,080
H. R. 8700, known as the “International Artificial Intelligence Research Partnership Act of 2024,” seeks to create global partnerships for AI research by encouraging U.S. cities to collaborate with international cities. The bill directs the Secretary of State to support establishing these...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 8700 is a plan from Congress to help the U.S. and other countries work together to study and create new things with computers called artificial intelligence, but it makes sure they don't focus on secret stuff, and it talks about giving money each year to help these partnerships.
H. R. 7152 — To direct the Secretary of State to establish a national registry of Korean American divided families, and for other purposes.
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January 30, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:647
H. R. 7152 is a bill that aims to create a national registry of Korean American families who have been separated from their relatives in North Korea since the Korean War. The Secretary of State is directed to oversee this project, identify families wishing to reunite, and...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 7152 is like a big project to help Korean American families find their relatives in North Korea by making a special list to keep their information safe, and it gives $1,000,000 to make it happen.
S. RES. 537 — Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should recognize the 1994 genocide in Rwanda as the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
January 31, 2024
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:216
The resolution, S. RES. 537, expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States should recognize the 1994 genocide in Rwanda as "the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda." It highlights the call for the Secretary of State to publicly affirm this specific terminology and...
Simple Explanation
The Senate wants the United States to officially call the events in Rwanda in 1994 "the genocide against the Tutsi" while also remembering that many other people were hurt during that time.
H. R. 7774 — To amend title 10, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Defense relating to the consideration of the human rights records of recipients of certain support, and for other purposes.
March 21, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:1,512
The proposed legislation, titled the "Upholding Human Rights Abroad Act of 2024," aims to amend title 10 of the United States Code to improve how the Department of Defense considers human rights records when providing support to foreign forces, especially in counter-terrorism and irregular...
Simple Explanation
This bill wants to make sure that when the U.S. helps other countries' soldiers, it checks if those countries are being nice to their people and not hurting them. If a country is being mean, the U.S. might decide not to help them unless they promise to be better.
H. R. 10168 — To amend the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act to require the Secretary of State to provide additional information to Congress regarding United States nationals detained abroad, and for other purposes.
November 19, 2024
Status:Introduced in House
Congress:118
Words:732
H.R. 10168, known as the "American Detainee Transparency and Recovery Act," proposes changes to the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. This bill requires the Secretary of State to regularly review the detention status of U.S. nationals overseas and report...
Simple Explanation
H.R. 10168 is about making sure the U.S. government pays close attention to Americans who are in trouble in other countries and tells Congress what's happening every 6 months. If someone is stuck unfairly, their families should be told, but sometimes this might take longer if there's a safety worry.
S. 1862 — To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide explicit authority for the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to work with international partners on cybersecurity, and for other purposes.
December 09, 2024
Status:Reported to Senate
Congress:118
Words:2,825
S. 1862 is a bill that seeks to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to give clear authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to collaborate with international partners on cybersecurity...
Simple Explanation
S. 1862 is a bill that wants to let some U.S. security people work with other countries to keep computers safe from bad guys, making sure this doesn't cause any problems at home.
S. 3547 — To require the United States Government to assist in the establishment of national security councils in specified countries.
December 14, 2023
Status:Introduced in Senate
Congress:118
Words:1,366
The CONVENE Act of 2023 (S. 3547) instructs the United States Government to help establish national security councils in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. The goal is to improve these countries' coordination...
Simple Explanation
The CONVENE Act of 2023 asks the U.S. to help three small countries, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, create special groups to help everyone work together on staying safe, especially against bad things like hackers or illegal fishing.

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