Explanation of H.R. 277 in Layman's Terms

H.R. 277, also known as the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2023 or the REINS Act of 2023, aims to increase accountability and transparency in the federal regulatory process.

The Act requires that major rules created by the executive branch must receive approval through a joint resolution passed by Congress in order to have legal effect. This means that Congress must review and approve major rules before they can be implemented.

Some key provisions of the Act include:

1. Definition of major and nonmajor rules
2. Requirement for federal agencies to submit detailed information on proposed rules to Congress
3. Establishing procedures for Congressional review and approval of major rules
4. Exemption for rules related to monetary policy
5. Review of rules currently in effect and automatic expiration of rules not approved by Congress

The Act also includes provisions for budgetary effects of rules subject to Congressional approval and calls for a study by the Government Accountability Office to assess the number of rules in effect, the number of major rules, and the economic costs of these rules.

Overall, the goal of H.R. 277 is to ensure that Congress has a more active role in overseeing and approving major rules proposed by the executive branch, enhancing accountability and oversight in the regulatory process.

Explanation of H. J. RES. 11

This bill proposes to amend the Constitution of the United States by limiting the number of terms a Member of Congress can serve. If this resolution is approved by two-thirds of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and then ratified by three-fourths of the states within seven years, it will become part of the Constitution.

The proposed amendment includes the following key points:

SECTION 1: A person who has served 3 terms as a Representative in the House of Representatives will not be eligible for re-election. This includes counting a term when a person fills a vacancy for more than 1 year.

SECTION 2: A person who has served 2 terms as a Senator will not be eligible for re-election or appointment to the Senate. This also includes counting a term when a person fills a vacancy for more than 3 years.

SECTION 3: Terms served before the ratification of this amendment will not be counted when determining eligibility for re-election or appointment.

Explanation of H.R. 662

This bill, known as the 'Block Grant Assistance Act of 2023', aims to make changes to the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023 to provide improved funding for agricultural producers affected by disasters.

The bill states that the Secretary of Agriculture may now provide assistance in the form of block grants to eligible states and territories for losses described under the agricultural programs. This means that instead of providing direct funding for specific individual losses, the Secretary can give a lump sum of money to states and territories, which they can then use to support their agricultural producers who have suffered losses due to disasters.

It is important to note that this bill has been designated as an emergency requirement, meaning it is being treated as a priority and will bypass normal spending restrictions.

The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on June 12, 2023.