Bills Introduced – 7-27-23

Yesterday, with the House and Senate preparing to recess until September, there were 305 bills introduced. Eight of those bills may receive additional coverage in this blog:

HR 5017 To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue guidance with respect to space systems, services, and technology as critical infrastructure, and for other purposes. Lieu, Ted [Rep.-D-CA-36] 

HR 5067 To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a task force to study and report on supply chains for local electric distribution grids in the United States, and for other purposes. Wittman, Robert J. [Rep.-R-VA-1]

S 2587 An original bill making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes. Tester, Jon [Sen.-D-MT] 

S 2605 An original bill making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes. Merkley, Jeff [Sen.-D-OR]

S 2618 A bill to rename the Office of Technology Assessment as the Congressional Office of Technology, to revise the functions and duties of the Office, and for other purposes. Lujan, Ben Ray [Sen.-D-NM]

S 2624 An original bill making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes. Baldwin, Tammy [Sen.-D-WI]

S 2625 An original bill making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes. Murphy, Christopher [Sen.-D-CT]

S 2715 A bill to authorize the Secretary of Defense to conduct detection, monitoring, and other operations in cyberspace to counter Mexican transnational criminal organizations that are engaged in certain activities that cross the southern border of the United States, and for other purposes. Rounds, Mike [Sen.-R-SD]

I will be covering S 2587, S 2605, S 2624, S 2625, and S 2715,

I will be watching HR 5017, HR 5067, and S 2618 for language and definitions that would include control system cybersecurity within the scope of the coverage of the bill.

Mention in Passing

I would like to mention one bill in passing:

S 2597 A bill to amend the Clayton Act to establish a new Federal commission to regulate digital platforms, including with respect to competition, transparency, privacy, and national security. Warren, Elizabeth [Sen.-D-MA]

The Clayton Act is an outcome based anti-trust statute. It’s use to regulate ‘digital platforms’ looks to be a novel way to control the internet, especially the inclusion of ‘national security’ as one of the areas for potential regulations. With Warren being the sponsor it would be easy to pass this off as a liberal bill with little chance of proceeding, but her sole Cosponsor is Sen Graham (R,SC) who is anything but liberal.