7/6/2015: We've reached the six-month mark of the 114th Congress!
Since this Congress convened on January 6, 2015, 3,428 bills and resolutions were introduced in the House, and 1,916 were introduced in the Senate. Of these, 30 were signed by the President — and two were vetoed.
Here’s a look at the Top 20 Bills in the first 6-months of the 114th Congress. These were the bills that garnered the most activity on POPVOX—and what (if any) action they’ve gotten in Congress. The most active on POPVOX was the America Competes Reauthorization Act (HR 1806), which was passed by the House in May. Nearly 4,708 people weighed in, with the vast majority opposing the bill.
How many of these bills have you weighed in on?
Top 20 Bills x 6 Months on POPVOX
#1 America COMPETES Reauthorization Act (HR 1806)
Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) "The America COMPETES Act increases investments for basic energy research at the Department of Energy (DOE), as well as critical research in biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, engineering and mathematics at NSF, while keeping overall spending flat. The bill provides targeted increases for NSF research by over 4%; the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) by over 8%; and DOE’s Office of Science by over 5% above 2015 enacted levels," according to the House Science Committee. (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 0% Support | 100% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 4/15/2015; Passed by the House on 5/20/2015.
#2 Responsible Body Armor Possession Act (HR 378)
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) To prohibit the purchase, ownership, or possession of enhanced body armor by civilians, with exceptions. (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 2% Support | 98% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 1/14/2015.
#3 Fair Tax Act (HR 25)
Sponsor: Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA) "To promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States," according to the bill summary. Repeals the income tax, employment tax, and estate and gift tax. Imposes a national sales tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services. Sets the sales tax rate at 23% in 2017, with adjustments to the rate in subsequent years. Allows exemptions from the tax for property or services purchased for business, export, or investment purposes, and for state government functions. Prohibits the funding of the Internal Revenue Service after FY 2019. (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 95% Support | 5% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on the first day of the Congressional session, 1/6/2015.
#4 Fair Tax Act (S 155)
Sponsor: Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) The FairTax would repeal all federal personal income taxes, corporate income taxes, payroll taxes, self-employment taxes, capital gains taxes and gift and estate taxes, and replace those with a revenue-neutral, personal consumption tax on all retail sales of new goods and services. "The FairTax Act deserves to be heard in a committee setting, debated, and given an up or down vote," according to the bill sponsor. "This tax reform proposal would have a positive impact on millions of taxpayers, allowing Americans to once again be in charge of their lives and money." (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 94% Support | 6% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 1/13/2015.
#5 Ammunition and Firearms Protection Act (HR 1365)
Sponsor: Rep. Patrick Mchenry (R-NC) This bill would prevent the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) from classifying M855 ammunition as armor-piercing and from instituting any ban on the sale and manufacture of ammunition that is intended, marketed, and sold for rifle use. "The Ammunition and Firearms Protection Act would put an end to this attack on our Second Amendment by ensuring this popular ammunition used by countless law-abiding American sportsmen remains available and not subject to any future ATF bans,” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 95% Support | 5% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 3/16/2015
#6 Keystone XL Pipeline Act (S 1)
Sponsor: Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) — Bipartisan — The Hoeven-Manchin bill was the first piece of legislation brought to the floor in the 114th Congress. The legislation authorizes TransCanada to construct and operate the Keystone XL pipeline from Alberta, Canada, to the U.S. Gulf Coast, transporting an additional 830,000 barrels of oil per day to U.S. refineries, which includes 100,000 barrels a day from the Bakken region of North Dakota and Montana. Upon passage, a presidential permit would no longer be needed to approve the project. (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 71% Support | 29% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Passed by the Senate on 1/29/2015. Sent to the House for consideration. (The House passed its own version of the bill.) On 2/24/15, the President vetoed the bill, which became his third veto of his Presidency, and the Senate unsuccessfully attempted to override the President’s veto. The vote was 62 to 37.
#7 Authorizing a Lawsuit Against the President on Immigration Actions (HRes 11)
Sponsor: Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) Providing for authority to initiate litigation for actions by the President or other executive branch officials inconsistent with their duties under the Constitution with respect to the implementation of the immigration laws. “President Obama’s recklessly adding millions of illegal aliens to the pool of lawful workers both takes American jobs from already-struggling American families and undermines the wages of those Americans fortunate enough to have jobs. We must be steadfast in defending our Constitution; the separation of our branches of government are clearly defined and it is our duty as Americans to challenge actions that undermine them,” according to bill sponsor. (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 85% Support | 15% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 1/6/2015.
#8 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (HR 240)
Sponsor: Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY) "The security of our homeland is one of our highest priorities. This bill provides $39.7 billion for that purpose – to protect our borders, defend against the threats of terrorism, and enforce our nation’s laws. Today, we will also consider amendments to the bill that will address the President’s recent executive action on immigration. One of these amendments would prohibit any funding, including that collected by fees, from being used to implement the order. The American people have spoken loud and clear – they want our immigration laws enforced, rather than unilaterally changed in a way that undermines the spirit of our constitution and the integrity of our laws,” according to bill sponsor. (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 33% Support | 67% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Passed by the House and Senate; into law by the President on 3/4/2015.
#9 Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act (S 405)
Sponsor: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) — Bipartisan — The legislation would increase access to public lands in Alaska and across the West for fishing, hunting, and recreational shooting, while advancing efforts to conserve our lands and waters, according to bill sponsor. "The Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act includes a broad array of measures to enhance opportunities for hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts; reauthorize key conservation programs; improve access to public lands; and help boost the outdoor recreation economy." (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 25% Support | 75% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 2/5/2015
#10 Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (S 615)
Sponsor: Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) — Bipartisan — This bipartisan legislation would mandate the President submit the text of any agreement to Congress and prohibit the administration from suspending congressional sanctions for 60 days. During that period, Congress would have the opportunity to hold hearings and approve, disapprove or take no action on the agreement. “There are few national security priorities for our country more important than preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and any agreement that seeks to do this must include Congress having a say on the front end. Allowing Congress to play its critical and historic role of reviewing international agreements will help, not hinder, these negotiations by ensuring any comprehensive agreement is verifiable and will stand the test of time. It is important that we preserve the integrity of the congressional sanctions, so this bipartisan legislation creates a responsible review process that will allow Congress the opportunity to approve or disapprove the agreement before the administration could attempt to remove these sanctions,” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 78% Support | 22% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 2/27/2015
#11 Repeal Executive Amnesty Act (S 129)
Sponsor: Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) “This bill stops unelected bureaucrats from using the dollars of hardworking taxpayers to implement the president’s unconstitutional executive actions. The bill takes important steps toward fixing rules that have been abused for too long, ensuring enforcement of our immigration laws, and eliminating the policies that led to the surge at our southern border last summer,” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 90% Support | 10% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 1/8/2015
#12 Student Success Act (HR 5)
Sponsor: Rep. John Kline (R-FL) According to the House Education and Workforce Committee: Will replace No Child Left Behind and "reduce the federal footprint, restore local control, and empower parents and education leaders to hold schools accountable for effectively teaching students. Replaces the current national accountability scheme based on high stakes tests with state-led accountability systems, returning responsibility for measuring student and school performance to states and school districts. Ensures parents continue to have the information they need to hold local schools accountable. Eliminates more than 65 ineffective, duplicative, and unnecessary programs and replaces this maze of programs with a Local Academic Flexible Grant, helping schools better support students.” (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 23% Support | 77% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 2/3/2015; passed by the House on 6/10/2015.
#13 Western Great Lakes Wolf Management Act (HR 843)
Sponsor: Rep. John Kline (R-MN) — Bipartisan — This act would protect livestock and pets by delisting the gray wolf under any status of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 in the Western Great Lakes states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. “Wolf attacks have become an increasing concern for farmers and livestock producers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, where the overpopulation of gray wolves is directly linked to the decline of livestock and other animals,” according to the bill sponsor. “This bipartisan legislation will remove the gray wolf from the federal endangered species list and return management to the states, providing greater flexibility and giving states exclusive jurisdiction over the wolves within their own borders.” (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 13% Support | 87% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 2/10/2015
#14 The President's Draft Authorization for the Use of Military Force
This draft AUMF would not authorize long term, large-scale ground combat operations like those U.S. conducted in Iraq and Afghanistan. Local forces, rather than U.S. military forces, would be deployed to conduct such operations. The authorization proposed would provide the flexibility to conduct ground combat operations in other, more limited circumstances, such as rescue operations involving U.S. or coalition personnel or the use of special operations forces to take military action against ISIL leadership. It would also authorize the use of U.S. forces in situations where ground combat operations are not expected or intended, such as intelligence collection and sharing, missions to enable kinetic strikes, or the provision of operational planning and other forms of advice and assistance to partner forces. (Read the President’s Letter to the Congress) (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 18% Support | 82% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 2/12/2015
#15 Enterprise Secondary Reserve Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act (HR 1673)
Sponsor: Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) To amend the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 to establish a secondary reserve fund for a housing enterprise under conservatorship to protect taxpayers against loss in the event of a housing downturn. Directs the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency to: (1) establish for any government sponsored enterprise (GSE, including the Federal National Mortgage Association [Fannie Mae] and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation [Freddie Mac]) operating in conservatorship a secondary reserve fund, and (2) deposit in it from any GSE revenues an amount equal to its required minimum capital level. (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 99% Support | 1% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 3/26/2015
#16 Defund Executive Amnesty Act (HR 227)
Sponsor: Rep. Steve King (R-IA) "My bill defunds all of the President's illegal and unconstitutional actions regarding immigration,” according to the bill sponsor. “Beginning with the Morton Memos and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and covering all of his most recent illegal and unconstitutional acts to expand DACA to 5 million more illegal immigrants. To make sure President Obama doesn't attempt to find other ways to circumvent the Constitution, my bill also has a catch-all provision that bars any similar actions in the future and has language to make it clear illegal immigrants are not authorized to work in the United States. This preserves the Constitution, reinforces the separation of powers, and fulfills Republican promises to the American people in the 2014 election." (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 89% Support | 11% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 1/8/2015
#17 Repealing the Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare (HR 596)
Sponsor: Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL) This bill will repeal ObamaCare and move forward on a replacement plan that actually lowers costs and increases competition. The legislation repeals ObamaCare in its entirety and calls on the relevant House committees to submit legislation within each committee’s jurisdiction to replace ObamaCare based on twelve guiding principles. "ObamaCare is driving up costs and placing a real burden on the American people,” according to bill sponsor. (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 82% Support | 18% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 1/28/2015; passed by the House on 4/29/2015.
#18 Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act (S 995)
Sponsor: Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) — Bipartisan — Establishes new trade-negotiating objectives that reflect today’s economic challenges, including measures to combat currency manipulation, and eliminate barriers to innovation and digital trade, among others. Updated provisions address government involvement in cyber theft, protect trade secrets and the negotiating objectives continue to call for trade agreements to provide a high standard of intellectual property protection. The bill also updates provisions to promote human rights, and strengthen labor and environment protection, to reflect America’s most recent trade accords, according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 11% Support | 89% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 4/16/2015.
#19 Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act (HR 1013)
Sponsor: Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) — Bipartisan — Would remove marijuana from the schedule set by the Controlled Substances Act; transition marijuana oversight from the jurisdiction of the Drug Enforcement Agency to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and regulate marijuana like alcohol by inserting into the section of the U.S. Code that governs “intoxicating liquors.” According to the bill sponsor: “While President Obama and the Justice Department have allowed the will of voters in states like Colorado and 22 other jurisdictions to move forward, small business owners, medical marijuana patients, and others who follow state laws still live with the fear that a new administration – or this one—could reverse course and turn them into criminals. It is time for us to replace the failed prohibition with a regulatory system that works and let states and municipalities decide for themselves if they want, or don’t want, to have legal marijuana within their borders.” (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 77% Support | 23% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Introduced on 2/20/2015
#20 Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HR 36)
Sponsor: Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) — Bipartisan — “Seeks to afford basic protection to mothers and their unborn children entering the sixth month of gestation,” according to the bill sponsors. Prohibits the abortion from being performed if the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is 20 weeks or greater, except: (1) where necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury, excluding psychological or emotional conditions; or (2) where the pregnancy is the result of rape, or the result of incest against a minor, if the rape has been reported at any time prior to the abortion to an appropriate law enforcement agency, or if the incest has been reported at any time prior to the abortion to an appropriate law enforcement agency or to a government agency legally authorized to act on reports of child abuse or neglect. (Read bill text)
On POPVOX: 68% Support | 32% Oppose
Action in the 114th Congress: Was scheduled for a House floor vote in January but was pulled from consideration. Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC) actively opposed some of the language in the bill: “I remain disappointed that the concern for the language of mandatory reporting of rape to law enforcement held by House Republican women and many men were not addressed before our leadership made the decision to pull the bill from the House floor in the eleventh hour.” Amended and passed by the House on 5/13/2015.
— Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of a complex legislative system. —
