Explanation of H.J. Res. 92

This joint resolution allows Congress to give consent for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia to make changes to the Washington Area Transit Regulation Compact. The changes include the appointment process for Board Directors of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the requirements for their roles.

The resolution also includes provisions for altering, amending, or repealing the resolution in the future and ensuring that the United States' rights and jurisdiction over the region covered by the Compact are not affected. It states that the Compact should be interpreted broadly to achieve its goals and that any invalid parts will not impact the rest of the agreement.

The new rules will go into effect upon the enactment of this joint resolution.

Passed by the House of Representatives on July 17, 2017.

Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act

This bill aims to protect taxpayers from bearing financial responsibility for the reclamation of surface coal mining operations. It proposes changes to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to ensure that coal mining companies provide suitable bonding to cover the costs of environmental cleanup. Specifically, the bill prohibits self-bonding by coal mining companies, establishes rules for surety bonds to minimize financial risks, and sets requirements for collateral to be posted for bonds. It also allows the Secretary to include executive compensation as collateral for a bond.

The Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2017

This bill aims to make changes to the Horse Protection Act by designating additional unlawful acts, increasing penalties for violations, improving enforcement by the Department of Agriculture, and other purposes.

Key Points:

• Defines terms such as "action device" and "participate."
• Highlights findings related to soring horses and inadequate inspection programs.
• Sets rules for horse shows and exhibitions, including disqualifications.
• Lists unlawful acts, including the use of specific devices and materials.
• Specifies violations and penalties, including fines and potential disqualifications.
• Mandates the issuance of regulations within 180 days.

Explanation of the Paycheck Fairness Act

The Paycheck Fairness Act, also known as H.R. 1869, is a bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. The main purpose of this bill is to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages based on sex. The bill aims to address the ongoing issue of pay disparities between men and women in the workforce.

The bill highlights the following findings:

1. Women continue to earn significantly lower pay than men for equal work despite laws like the Equal Pay Act of 1963.
2. These pay disparities negatively impact working families, women's retirement security, labor resources utilization, and commerce.
3. Artificial barriers to eliminating wage discrimination based on sex still exist.

The bill proposes several provisions, including:

• Enhanced enforcement of equal pay requirements, including modifications to the bona fide factor defense.
• A prohibition on inquiring about or using a prospective employee's wage history in determining future wages.
• Establishment of the National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace to recognize employers making efforts to eliminate pay disparities.
• Collection of compensation data by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to better enforce equal pay laws.

Additionally, the bill includes sections for training programs on negotiation skills for girls and women, research on pay disparities, and technical assistance for small businesses to comply with the new requirements.

It's important to note that the bill does not affect compliance with immigration laws and emphasizes the need to address wage discrimination based on sex.