Non-consensual Online Intimate Publications: Congress passed S.146, which prohibits the nonconsensual online publication of intimate visual depictions of individuals, both authentic and computer-generated (AI), and requires certain online platforms to promptly remove such depictions upon receiving notice of their existence. Violators are subject to mandatory restitution and criminal penalties, including prison, a fine, or both. It now heads to President Trump, who has said he will sign it.

Terminating National Emergency: The Senate once again failed to move forward on S.J.Res.49 (49-49), resulting in a tie vote, and forcing Vice President Vance to cast the tie breaking vote. The bill would have terminated the national emergency declared by President Donald Trump on February 1, 2025, which imposed an additional 25% tariff on most imports from Canada. The bill has now been set aside permanently.

Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries: The House passed H.R.973, which, would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to create a safety standard for the devices that use them. Lithium-ion batteries are widely used, from small toys to electric cars to large energy storage systems. While some lithium-ion batteries are already subject to regulations, rechargeable batteries are currently not subject to any federal safety standards.

Informing Consumers about Smart Devices: The House passed H.R.859, which would enhance consumer awareness about certain internet-connected devices that contain a camera or microphone. It establishes specific requirements for manufacturers regarding the disclosure of such features before a consumer completes a purchase.

Youth Poisoning Protection: The House passed H.R.1442, which would ban the consumer sale of products containing high concentrations of sodium nitrite, a meat-curing chemical that can be lethal when ingested. Sodium nitrite is typically sold at 100% concentration. At these high concentration levels, ingesting sodium nitrite has become common among teenagers and young adults who die by suicide. The bill does not conflict with commercial uses of sodium nitrite.

Event Ticket ‘All-In” Pricing: The House passed H.R.1402, which requires ticket sellers for concerts, performances, sporting events, and similar activities to clearly and prominently disclose the total ticket price for the event at the time the ticket is first displayed to an individual. The bill also requires ticket sellers to provide full refunds for tickets to canceled events; cracks down on websites that falsely claim to be “official” ticket resellers.

Repealing Environmental Waivers: The House passed several resolutions (H.J.Res.87, H.J.Res.88, H.J.Res.89) that would revoke Environmental Protection Agency waivers allowing California to adopt stricter vehicle emissions standards. The EPA waivers, approved during the Biden administration, allow California to exceed federal emissions mandates on gas-powered cars and trucks to curb pollution.

Budget Reconciliation: As markups for some of the most contentious aspects of a budget reconciliation package approach, Republican lawmakers are continuing to refine their proposals on Medicaid and taxes. House Ways and Means Committee Republicans are planning to meet to try to finalize a tax agenda. Central to tax talks is the current $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has been assigned by far the highest level of cuts, at least $880 billion in cuts over 10 years, meaning Medicaid will be facing deep scrutiny. Meanwhile, the House Natural Resources Committee has been directed to reduce the deficit by at least $1 billion over 10 years. But committee Republicans are aiming well beyond that goal with a proposal that seeks to reduce the deficit by roughly $10 billion over 10 years, primarily through increased fossil fuel production on public lands.

Gulf of America: The House Committee on Rules will be working on H.R.276, which would rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and direct federal agencies to update their documents and maps to incorporate the new name.

Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities: The House Rules Committee will also be working on H.R.881, which restricts funding to an institution of higher education (IHE) that has a relationship with a Confucius Institute, Thousand Talents Program, or Chinese entity of concern. The bill defines (1) Confucius Institute as a cultural institute funded by the Chinese government; (2) Thousand Talents Program as any technological or educational program funded or administered by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; and (3) Chinese entity of concern as generally any university or college in China that is involved in China's military, police, or intelligence activities.

Federal Budget Framework: The House passed H.Con.Res.14 (216-214), the Senate budget bill that outlines spending for the federal government for the next 10 years. The measure calls for steep tax cuts, an increase in spending for immigration enforcement, an expansion of the Pentagon as well as unspecified spending cuts and, a $5 trillion debt limit increase.

More specifically, the plan allows up to $5.3 trillion in tax cuts over the next decade. It will extend the 2017 tax cuts President Trump signed into law with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and provide for an additional $1.5 trillion in new tax cuts.

It also directs both chambers to slash the deficit through spending cuts, with the Senate setting a minimum of just $4 billion for the next decade and the House calling for $1.5 trillion in cuts over the same period. The chamber has also set aside an additional $175 billion for border enforcement and $150 billion for defense spending. Lawmakers will now begin the process of drafting a budget package.

SAVE: The House passed H.R.22 (220-208), which would require all applicants using the federal voter registration form to provide documentary proof of citizenship in person at their local election office. Among the acceptable documents are a valid U.S. passport and a government-issued photo ID card presented alongside a certified birth certificate. The bill now heads to the Senate.

No Rogue Rulings: The House passed H.R.1526 (219-213), which would limit the power of district judges to impose nationwide injunctions. The 2-page bill would limit the power of the 677 District Court judges to issue injunctions that restrict those beyond the parties directly involved in a case, effectively blocking nationwide injunctions. This comes after Judge James Boasberg barred the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants. 

Repealing Presidential Tariffs: House Republicans used all their legislative tools to prevent future votes on repealing President Donald Trump's tariffs -- doubling down on their support for the administration's policies as lawmakers narrowly passed a procedural hurdle to advance the Senate-approved GOP blueprint. GOP leaders inserted language into the "rule" for the budget blueprint that would prohibit the House, until at least September, from forcing a vote on legislation to rescind President Trump's national emergencies authority, which he used to issue the tariffs.

Repeal Limits on Excessive Overdraft Fees Rule: The House passed S.J.Res.18 (217-211), which would repeal the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s rule that limits steep overdraft fees charged by large banks and credit unions. The Biden administration rule curbs excessive overdraft fees in a flexible manner by giving banks and credit unions with more than $10 billion in assets the option of charging $5 or a fee that covers “no more than costs or losses.” The rule gives big banks and credit unions a variety of options to cover overdrafts. The bill now goes to the President, who is expected to sign it.

Digital Payment App Rule: The House passed S.J.Res.28 (219-213), which would repeal a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule called "Defining Larger Participants of a Market for General-Use Digital Consumer Payment Applications," which would have subjected digital payment apps to federal oversight. Essentially, it would have brought non-bank digital payment app providers, like Venmo and Apple Pay, under the CFPB's regulatory umbrella like banks and credit unions.

Water Heater Rule: The Senate passed H.J.Res.20 (53-44), which repeals the Department of Energy’s final rule issued on Dec. 26, 2024, setting new standards for instantaneous gas-fired tankless water heaters and set to take effect on Dec. 26, 2029. The rule would mandate a minimum efficiency level for the water heaters. The bill will now go to President Trump, who is expected to sign it.

Permanent Daylight Savings Time: Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz said there was general consensus among his colleagues that Americans should stop changing the clocks by adopting permanent daylight saving time—which makes it light later in the evening and later in the morning—or permanent standard time, which does the opposite. But there isn’t agreement on which standard to embrace.

Congress will be on Recess for the next two weeks and will return to normally scheduled business on April 28th. Be looking for your next R&P on May 5th.

Terminating National Emergency: The Senate passed S.J.Res.37 (51-48), which would terminate the national emergency declared by President Donald Trump on February 1, 2025, which imposed an additional 25% tariff on most imports from Canada (except for Canadian energy or energy resources, which have an additional 10% tariff).

Blocking Arms Sales to Israel: The Senate rejected two resolutions to block nearly $9 billion in military assistance to Israel. In a vote of 15-82, the Senate rejected S.J.Res.33, a resolution of disapproval that sought to block the proposed arms sale to Israel. A second resolution, S.J.Res.26, to halt the sale of certain defense articles and services to Israel, was also rejected by a vote of 15-83. The call to pass the resolutions came after Israel recently broke a ceasefire with Hamas.

Proxy Voting: The House canceled remaining votes earlier in the week after a group of Republicans joined Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) to reject a rule on the House floor and clear the way for a renewed effort to allow recent parents to vote by proxy. The proxy proposal (H.Res.23) would allow mothers and fathers to designate a colleague to vote on their behalf for up to 12 weeks after the birth of a child. Rep. Luna filed a discharge petition for the resolution in March and quickly hit the 218-threshold needed to force a vote on the House floor over the objections of leadership.

The House GOP, in response, attempted a procedural takedown of the discharge petition, slipping language into an unrelated rule (H.Res.282) setting up floor votes on conservative priorities, including a controversial election bill (H.22). The language would have tabled the proxy voting discharge petition and warded off future attempts to create a proxy carveout for new moms and dads. But eight Republicans joined Rep. Luna and all 213 Democrats in voting against the rule, scuttling the House GOP’s plan. 

Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Freezers Rule: The Senate passed H.J.Res.24 (53-42), which would repeal the Energy Department’s stricter efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and freezers. It would also prevent the department from issuing a substantially similar proposal. The Biden administration rule requires refrigeration companies to implement energy-reducing technologies for walk-in refrigeration systems starting Dec. 31, 2028. The already House-passed bill now heads to President Trump’s desk, where he is expected to sign it. 

Filing Relief for Natural Disasters: The House passed H.R.517, which authorizes the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to postpone federal tax deadlines for taxpayers affected by a qualified state declared disaster, upon written request by the state governor. The bill defines a qualified state-declared disaster as any natural catastrophe, fire, flood, or explosion that causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude.

Budget Resolution: The Senate passed (51-48) H.Con.Res.14, the Senate GOP's compromise budget. Internal disputes have centered on two main issues: the use of a "current policy" baseline to avoid offsetting the cost of pricey tax-cut extensions and the scope of possible cuts to Medicaid. Senators can offer up amendments for as long as they want once the vote-a-rama kicks off. If the budget resolution is adopted, it would go back to the House for another vote. The measure originated in that chamber, but the Senate is set to modify it. The measure now heads back to the House.

The revised budget plan -- needed to move forward with a broad, filibuster-proof bill reconciliation containing GOP priorities -- would keep a set of more ambitious spending cut targets for House committees while setting a minimal spending cut floor for Senate panels. The resolution would also set the stage to extend about $3.7 trillion in expiring tax cuts and enact up to $1.5 trillion in additional tax breaks over 10 years.

Restricting Presidential Tariff Authority: A pair of Republican Senators have released draft legislation that would require the president to notify Congress of a decision to impose or raise tariffs within 48 hours with an explanation for the levy and of the impact on U.S. consumers. Congress would have to approve the tariffs within 60 days with a joint resolution, or they would expire. Congress could also end them at any time with a resolution of disapproval. 

University Foreign Disclosures: The House passed H.R.1048 (241-169), which would require higher education institutions that are federally funded and receive gifts from or enter into contracts with foreign entities be subject to increased disclosure requirements. Schools that receive federal aid currently have to disclose twice a year to the Education Department any gifts from and contracts with foreign sources that are worth at least $250,000 under the Higher Education Act. They also have to report information when owned or controlled by a foreign entity. Foreign countries of concern would include China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia, or any country determined to be detrimental to US national security or foreign policy.

Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers Rule: The House passed H.J.Res.24 (203-182), which would repeal the Energy Department’s stricter efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and freezers. It would also prevent the department from issuing a substantially similar proposal. The Biden administration rule requires refrigeration companies to implement energy-reducing technologies for walk-in refrigeration systems starting Dec. 31, 2028. Republican lawmakers say the new efficiency standards suppress consumer choice. 

Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Refrigerators Rule: The House passed H.J.Res.75 (214-193), which would repeal the Department of Energy’s new efficiency standards for commercial refrigerators and freezers. Under the Biden administration rule, commercial refrigeration equipment will have to include new technologies to reduce energy usage starting in Jan. 22, 2029. Republican lawmakers have criticized the appliance efficiency rules, arguing they would impose unnecessary costs on manufacturers that would be passed onto consumers.

Repeal Limits on Excessive Overdraft Fees Rule: The Senate passed S.J.Res.18 (52-48), which would repeal the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s rule that limits steep overdraft fees charged by large banks and credit unions. The Biden administration rule curbs excessive overdraft fees in a flexible manner by giving banks and credit unions with more than $10 billion in assets the option of charging $5 or a fee that covers “no more than costs or losses.” The rule gives big banks and credit unions a variety of options to cover overdrafts.

IRS Cryptocurrency Reporting Rule: The Senate passed H.J.Res.25 (70-28), which would repeal the IRS's December rule that certain decentralized exchanges must report their customers’ gross sales of digital assets through Form 1099. The House passed the bill earlier this month. It now heads to President Trump who is expected to sign it. 

Pollution-Free Cement, Concrete: The House passed H.R.1534, which would requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a temporary program that supports advanced production of low-emissions cement, concrete, and asphalt. Specifically, the program must support research, development, and commercial application of production processes for low-emissions cement, concrete, and asphalt that are more cost-effective, durable, or resource-efficient (i.e., advanced production). The program must particularly focus on carbon capture technologies, energy-efficient processes, research involving novel materials, and other specified technologies and innovative processes.

No Rogue Rulings: The House is set to hold a floor vote this week on H.R.1526, which would limit the power of district judges to impose nationwide injunctions. The 2-page bill would limit the power of the 677 District Court judges to issue injunctions that restrict those beyond the parties directly involved in a case, effectively blocking nationwide injunctions. This comes after Judge James Boasberg barred the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants. 

Safeguard American Voter Eligibility: The House is also set to take up H.R.22, which would require states to obtain documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering an individual to vote in a federal election. The bill sets forth a universe of acceptable means for demonstrating citizenship and directs states to establish an alternative process for those who lack documentary proof of citizenship, but who are, in fact, citizens. It requires states to establish a process for removing non-citizens from existing voter rolls and adds federal penalties for knowingly registering a non-citizen to vote in a federal election.

Debt Limit: Lawmakers are staring down a deadline of August or September to raise or suspend the debt limit to allow the Treasury Department to continue to meet its financial obligations. The agency has been operating under "extraordinary measures" since late January. But if the government's borrowing needs are more than the CBO projects, the Treasury Department could hit the cap in "late May or sometime in June."

Budget Resolution: A compromise budget resolution could hit the Senate floor for a so-called vote-a-rama as soon as this week, teeing up the budget reconciliation blueprint for potential House adoption ahead of the two-week April recess. The compromise would provide a different, lower set of spending-cut targets for Senate committees than for their House counterparts.