Bills Introduced – 3-21-24

Yesterday, with both the House and Senate in session, there were 82 bills introduced. Three of those bills may receive additional attention in this blog:

HR 7781 To require a report on the economic and national security risks posed by the use of artificial intelligence in the commission of financial crimes, including fraud and the dissemination of misinformation, and for other purposes. Nunn, Zachary [Rep.-R-IA-3]

S 4024 A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enable secure and trustworthy technology through other transaction contracting authority. Peters, Gary C. [Sen.-D-MI] 

S 4045 A bill to require a study on public health impacts as a consequence of the February 3, 2023, train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

All three of these bills appear to address issues that are tangentially similar to topics that I routinely cover in this blog. While I am normally able to point to specific issues that I would be looking for in such bills, all three of these bills address issues that may be more complex than I would be able to put into a routine ‘looking for’ statement. I suspect that S 4045 will be the most likely bill to receive further consideration here.

The Missing Bill

I had expected to see the House resolution that I discussed yesterday that forms the basis for the consideration of the 2^nd FY 2024 spending minibus. I have no idea why it was not introduced, but it is still on the list of legislation scheduled for consideration in the House today. It will almost certainly be one of the first things considered today so that there will be some time available for the Senate to take up the HR 2882, the bill that would be amended to be the spending bill. With any kind of luck, Sen Schumer (D,NY) has come to some sort of agreement about a list of amendments that will get floor votes before the final vote on the amended HR 2882. If that final vote does not happen by midnight, a technical shutdown will occur, but the effects would be somewhat limited because it is the weekend. If the Senate must adjourn, before the final vote on the bill (or the bill fails in a final vote), the partial government shutdown becomes more than technical.