Bills Introduced – 3-29-24

Yesterday, with the House meeting in pro forma session, there were 25 bills introduced. One of those bills will receive additional attention in this blog:

HJ Res 123 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Accidental Release Prevention Requirements: Risk Management Programs Under the Clean Air Act; Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention". Crenshaw, Dan [Rep.-R-TX-2]

While this bill may have a chance of passage in the House, it is unlikely to do so in the Senate. In any case there would not be enough votes in either house to overcome the expected presidential veto.

Mention in Passing

I would like to mention one bill in passing:

H.R.7846 To prohibit Federal personnel charged with certain criminal offenses from receiving classified information, and for other purposes. Sherrill, Mikie [Rep.-D-NJ-11]

According to a press release from Rep Sherrill’s office:

The GUARD Act would prohibit access to classified information to individuals charged or convicted of a covered criminal offense, including: obstructing an official proceeding, unlawful retention of national defense information, the unlawful disclosure or improper handling of classified information, acting as a foreign agent [emphasis added], or compromising the national security of the United States. 

While the press release makes it clear that the legislation is targeted at former President Trump, the inclusion of the ‘acting as a foreign agent’ language would also include Sen Menendez (D,NJ) within the scope of the prohibition.

Needless to say, this bill will not be going anywhere in the Republican “controlled” House. Even if that control were to slip for a couple of weeks with additional Republican resignations, the ‘foreign agent language’ would make it difficult to pass in the Senate.