The 22 bills that became law in 2023

Politics

In a year of divided government, when Republicans in the House of Representatives were divided even against themselves, Congress was historically unproductive. The House has passed only 22 bills signed into law by President Biden. Still to come is the annual military policy bill that the House approved for Mr. Biden last week but which he has yet to sign.

Here’s a look at what Congress actually did in 2023, in the order the laws were passed.

Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the revised Criminal Code Act of 2022

Legislation blocking a rewrite of the criminal code for the District of Columbia that would have lowered mandatory minimum sentences for some violent crimes and increased them for others.
Covid-19 Origins Act of 2023

Legislation to require the Director of National Intelligence to release information on the origins of Covid-19.
In reference to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020

The law ended the national emergency related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023

An Act to establish a task force for improvements to “notice to air missions,” or NOTAMs, which warn pilots of conditions that could affect the safety of their flights, and to require the Federal Aviation Administration to establish a federal NOTAM system to make.
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Legislation to suspend the federal debt limit and impose limits on spending for two years, leading to a first-ever default on the national debt.
Veterans COLA Act of 2023

An act that would increase compensation rates for veterans with service-connected disabilities and increase dependency and compensation rates for survivors of certain disabled veterans.
CADETS Act

An act that would amend the age requirement for the Student Incentive Payment Program, which provides financial assistance to cadets who attend a state maritime academy and commit to serve after graduation, to allow certain cadets over the age of 25 to participate.
Fiscal Year 2023 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act

A measure to authorize major medical facility projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023.
Accountability through the Transparency Act of 2023

A law requiring every federal agency to include a link to a “one hundred word summary” of each proposed rule.
250th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Commemorative Coin Act

The law requires the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps and to support programs at the Marine Corps Heritage Center.
Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2023

An act taking land in San Diego County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Pala Band of Mission Indians.

To designate the Veterans Affairs Department clinic in Indian River, Michigan, as the “Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic”
United States-Taiwan Initiative on the Implementation Act of the 21st Century Trade First Agreement

An action to approve and implement an agreement between the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States relating to trade between the United States of America and Taiwan.
Securing the US Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act

A measure to allow the Health Resources and Services Administration to make the contracting process competitive for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, a national organ matching registry operated by a private organization with federal funding.
Continuation of Appropriations Act 2024 and other extension bill

A temporary spending measure to avoid a government shutdown at the end of September, which kept the money flowing until mid-November.

A bill to designate the Veterans Affairs Department clinic in Gallup, NM, as the Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura VA Clinic
Hunting Heritage Protection and Education Act

An act that exempts weapons used for training in archery, hunting, or other shooting sports from a ban on the use of federal education funds for certain weapons.
A bill to amend title 38 of the United States Code to enhance benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida, and for other purposes

An act that requires the Veteran Affairs Department to provide health care, job training, and lifelong financial benefits to certain children with spina bifida or other birth defects of Vietnam veterans or veterans who served in Korea or Thailand.
A bill to amend title 38 of the United States Code to expand and modify certain authorities and requirements relating to the Veterans Affairs Department

An act to expand the eligibility or applicability of various Veterans Affairs programs and benefits.
Korean American VALOR Act

Legislation to extend eligibility for medical and dental care to certain South Korean veterans who served in Vietnam.

Wounded Warriors Access Act

A law requiring the Veterans Affairs Department to establish a secure online tool that veterans can use to request a copy of their claims, and to educate veterans about predatory actors who may try to cheat them out of benefits to make.

Further Continued Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024

A second emergency measure to avoid a government shutdown in mid-November, creating two new deadlines, on January 19 and February 2, 2024, for keeping various agencies funded.