Pennsylvania politics: July 1, 2025 – July 17, 2025
If something doesn’t get out of committee, it’s dead in the water. If one of our four politicians sits on committees that are considering legislation or resolutions, they’re hearing from me. Even if they are hopeless.
SENATE
Senate Concurrent Resolution 16 – A concurrent resolution recognizing the significance of equal pay and the disparity in wages paid to men and to Black women. Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Congress (1) recognizes the disparity in wages paid to Black women and its impact on women, families, and the United States; and (2) reaffirms its support for ensuring equal pay for equal work and narrowing the gender wage gap. The full text of this one is worth reading.
Introduced July 10, 2025 by Linda Blunt Rochester (D-NY). Co-sponsored by 31 Democratic Senators and one Independent. JOHN FETTERMAN co-sponsored on July 10, 2025.
Senate Resolution 240 – A resolution affirming that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are fundamental values of the United States and emphasizing the ongoing need to address discrimination and inequality in the workplace, pre-K through 12th grade and higher education systems, government programs, the military, and our society.
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) affirms its commitment to—(A) diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility as essential foundations for achieving the American Dream; and (B) fostering environments where all individuals have the freedom to be healthy, prosperous, and safe, the opportunity to realize their full potential, and the right to be equal members of our multiracial democracy; and
(2) encourages local, State, and Federal policymakers, educational institutions, workplaces, and other organizations to adopt, uphold, and promote inclusivity, expand diversity and accessibility, remove barriers, and provide equitable opportunities for all individuals to pursue their dreams, which, in turn, benefits all people.
The text of this resolution is worth reading in its entirety.
Introduced May 21, 2025 by Mazie Hirono (D-HI). Co-sponsored by 21 Democratic Senators. JOHN FETTERMAN co-sponsored on July 15, 2025. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
S 545 – Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. To prohibit certain uses of xylazine, and for other purposes. Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, acting through the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration and in coordination with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall submit to Congress a report on the prevalence of illicit use of xylazine in the United States and the impacts of such use, including—(1) where the drug is being diverted; (2) where the drug is originating; and (3) whether any analogues to xylazine, or related or derivative substances, exist and present a substantial risk of abuse.
Additional report.—Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, acting through the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration and in coordination with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall submit to Congress a report updating Congress on the prevalence and proliferation of xylazine trafficking and misuse in the United States.
Introduced February 12, 2025 by Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). Co-sponsored by twelve Democratic Senators and nine Republicans. JOHN FETTERMAN co-sponsored on July 16, 2025. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
S 1232 – Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. To direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an occupational safety and health standard that requires covered employers within the health care and social service industries to develop and implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 1, 2025 by Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). Co-sponsored by 25 Democratic Senators and one Independent. JOHN FETTERMAN co-sponsored on July 9, 2025.
S 1541 – SHIPS for America Act of 2025. To support the national defense and economic security of the United States by supporting vessels, ports, and shipyards of the United States and the U.S. maritime workforce.
Introduced April 30, 2025 by Mark Kelly (D-AZ). Co-sponsored by five Republicans and four Democrats. JOHN FETTERMAN co-sponsored on April 30, 2025. DAVE McCORMICK co-sponsored on July 8, 2025.
S 2051 – Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act of 2025. To authorize the Department of Housing and Urban Development to transform neighborhoods of extreme poverty into sustainable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to economic opportunities, by revitalizing severely distressed housing, and investing and leveraging investments in well-functioning services, educational opportunities, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 12, 2025 by Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-NY). Co-sponsored by three Democratic Senators. JOHN FETTERMAN co-sponsored on July 9, 2025. Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
S 2254 – A bill to codify the Federal Trade Commission's negative option rule. No text available.
Introduced July 10, 2025 by Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). Co-sponsored by JOHN FETTERMAN on July 15, 2025. Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
S 2266 – A bill to provide for automatic renewal protections, and for other purposes. Text not available.
Introduced July 14, 2025 by Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). Nine Democratic Senators and one Independent co-sponsored. JOHN FETTERMAN was one of the original ten co-sponsors. Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
S 2268 – A bill to amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 to include the Secretary of Agriculture as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 14, 2025 by Kevin Cramer (R-ND). JOHN FETTERMAN was one of the original three co-sponsors. The other two were Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD). Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
S 2293 – A bill to require the President to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, to direct the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress regarding such designation, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 15, 2025 by Ted Cruz (R-TX). DAVE McCORMICK was one of the original five Republican co-sponsors of this bill on July 15, 2025.
S 2298 – A bill to direct the Secretary of Labor to promulgate an occupational safety and health standard to protect workers from heat-related injuries and illnesses.
Introduced July 16, 2025 by Alex Padilla (D-CA). JOHN FETTERMAN was one of the original 24 Democratic and one Independent Senators who co-sponsored this legislation on July 16.
S 2312 – A bill to modernize unemployment compensation benefits. Text unavailable.
Introduced July 16, 2025 by Ron Wyden (D-OR). JOHN FETTERMAN was one of the original five Democratic and one Independent Senators who co-sponsored this legislation on July 16. Referred to the Committee on Finance.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HR 251 – Legal Workforce Act. To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make mandatory and permanent requirements relating to use of an electronic employment eligibility verification system, and for other purposes. Introduced January 9, 2025 by Ken Calvert (R-CA).
After seven Republicans and one Democrat co-sponsored this bill, LLOYD SMUCKER added his name to it on July 10, 2025. The sole Dem is Ed Case (D-HI). Republicans, with date of co-sponsorship, are: Tom McClintock (R-CA-01/09/25), Andy Biggs (R-AZ, 02/04/25), Ann Wagner (R-MO-02/04/25), Sheri Biggs (R-SC-02/06/25), Brandon Gill (R-TX-02/27/25), Christopher Smith (R-NJ-03/11/25), Lauren Boebert (R-CO-05/07/25), Mike Collins (R-GA-05/08/25).
On 01/09/2025, this was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. No movement since January.
HR 425 – Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act. Summary from Congress.gov: This bill repeals the Corporate Transparency Act. The Corporate Transparency Act requires existing companies and newly created companies to report beneficial ownership information to the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for purposes of addressing the financing of terrorism and money laundering.
Repeal of bill introduced on January 15, 2025 by Warren Davidson (R-OH). The repeal had 68 original co-sponsors, all Republicans. LLOYD SMUCKER signed on as co-sponsor on March 10, 2025. On July 14, 2025, JOHN JOYCE signed on as co-sponsor. Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services on January 15, 2025. No action since January.
HR 3062 – Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act. Summary (also from congress.gov): This bill establishes a new process for approving or revoking permits for the construction and operation of energy infrastructure across an international border of the United States. Thus, it replaces the existing process established under specified executive orders. It requires a person to obtain a certificate of crossing before constructing, connecting, operating, or maintaining a border-crossing facility for the import or export of oil or natural gas, or the transmission of electricity, across a U.S. border with Canada or Mexico. A certificate must be obtained from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a facility consisting of oil or natural gas pipelines or the Department of Energy (DOE) for an electric transmission facility. As a condition of issuing a certificate, DOE must require that an electric transmission facility be constructed, connected, operated, or maintained consistent with specified policies and standards.
FERC and DOE must meet a deadline for issuing a certificate as set forth by this bill. The bill also requires FERC to meet a deadline for approving applications to import or export natural gas to or from Canada or Mexico. The bill also requires the President to obtain the approval of Congress before revoking a permit issued under executive orders for constructing, connecting, operating, or maintaining an oil or natural gas pipeline, an electric transmission facility, or a related border-crossing facility.
Introduced April 29, 2025 by Julie Fedorchak (R-ND). Co-sponsored by Neal Dunn (R-FL-06/23/25) and JOHN JOYCE (07/02/25).
ALERT: This bill has passed all three committees and is now on “union calendar #151” eligible for floor consideration.
HR 3699 – Energy Choice Act. To prohibit States or local governments from prohibiting or limiting the connection, reconnection, modification, installation, transportation, distribution, or expansion of an energy service based on the type or source of energy to be delivered, and for other purposes. A State or local government, or instrumentality or regulatory agency thereof, may not adopt, implement, or enforce a law, regulation, ordinance, building code, standard, or policy that prohibits or limits, or has the effect of directly or indirectly prohibiting or limiting the connection, reconnection, modification, installation, transportation, distribution, expansion, or access to an energy service based on the type or source of energy that is sold in interstate commerce to be delivered to an end-user of such energy service.
Introduced 06/04/2025 by Nicholas Langworthy (R-NY). One Democratic co-sponsor, Vincente Gonzalez (D-TX-06/04/25). Sixty-seven Republican co-sponsors. JOHN JOYCE added his name on July 10, 2025. Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
HR 4313 – To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend acute hospital care at home waiver flexibilities, and to require an additional study and report on such flexibilities.
Co-sponsored by LLOYD SMUCKER, Dwight Evans (D-PA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL). Text of bill had not been provided as of July 17, 2025. Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
HR 4331 – To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a process to expand access to claims data under certain Federal health plans in order to facilitate research and quality improvement.
Co-sponsored by JOHN JOYCE and Kim Schrier (D-WA). Text of bill had not been provided as of July 17, 2025. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
HR 4389 – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a credit against tax, or refund of tax, for certain Federal insurance taxes for employees who are members of religious faiths which oppose participation in such insurance. Text is not avaiable.
Introduced July 15, 2025 by Troy Balderson (R-OH). LLOYD SMUCKER is one of the two original Republican co-sponsors of this bill. Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Introduced July 15, 2025 by Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA). JOHN JOYCE was one of the two original co-sponsors of this bill. No text available. Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
House Resolution 571 – A resolution solemnly marking the one-year anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Donald J. Trump. Condemning the multiple attempts against the President's life, condemning those who incite violence against political officials, and honoring the victims of the shooting.
Introduced July 10, 2025 by Mike Kelly (R-PA) and co-sponsored by fifty-one Republicans, no Democrats. JOHN JOYCE co-sponsored on July 10, 2025. Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Introduced July 10, 2025 by Linda Sánchez (D-CA). Co-sponsored by 127 Democratic representatives and 22 Republicans. JOHN JOYCE co-sponsored on July 10, 2025. Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Remark 171-114, page E644: On July 2, 2025, LLOYD SMUCKER honored Cheyenne Peckne, a 9-1-1 operator from York, for coaching a wife regarding CPR for her husband.
Remarks 171-120, page H3206: On July 14, 2025, JOHN JOYCE made four remarks on the record. In the first, he declared, “The golden age of America has arrived.” In the second, he said that violence is never the answer (re Butler, Pennsylvania, not J6). In the third, he announced Trump’s attendance at the inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit in Pittsburgh, stating that he wanted Pennsylvania to be the hub of AI development in the USA. In the fourth, he honored Ritchie’s Dairy of Martinsburg, PA.
Remark 171-120, page E664: On July 14, 2025, LLOYD SMUCKER recognized Ethan Albright of Hempfield High School for his “achievement” in local and international science fairs.
Remark 171-121, page E670: On July 15, 2025, LLOYD SMUCKER recognized the appointment of Master Sergeant Steven Williams of Lancaster County for his appointment as the 41st Drum Major of “The President's Own” Marine Band.
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© 2025 Denise Elaine Heap. Please message me for permission to quote.
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