U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) kicked off the new session of Congress by introducing 10 bills focused on his priorities, including balancing the federal budget, protecting the local environment, promoting innovations in health care, and supporting law enforcement, among others.
“As we begin the new Congress, we need to focus on getting our country and our economy back on track,” the congressman said on Tuesday. “I look forward to a productive year in the new House majority and am committed to making our country and our communities safer and more prosperous.”
According to bill summaries from both the congressional record and Rep. Buchanan’s staff, the 10 bills are:
- House Joint Resolution 2, sponsored by the congressman on Jan. 9, proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require Congress to balance the federal budget, which the congressman considers an urgent priority as the U.S. national debt has reached $31 trillion and continues to grow.
- To promote new business innovation, Rep. Buchanan on Jan. 13 sponsored the American Innovation Act, H.R. 368. If enacted, the bill would remove some of the initial barriers to creating a business by quadrupling the amount of start-up costs small business owners may deduct from their federal income taxes, raising it from $5,000 to $20,000. H.R. 368 also would increase the threshold for tax deductions from $50,000 to $120,000 for start-up expenditures.
- The Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act, H.R. 367, which Rep. Buchanan proposed on Jan. 13, would prohibit gang members from entering the U.S., deport them if they are already here, and disqualify them from receiving asylum or temporary protected status.
- On Jan. 9, he also sponsored the No Pay Raise for Congress Act, H.R. 135, which would prohibit pay raises for members of Congress in any fiscal year that they fail to balance the budget.
- The Permanent Telehealth from Home Act, H.R. 134, would permanently eliminate the originating site and geographic limitations for using telehealth to expand originating sites for telehealth. Rep. Buchanan on Jan. 9 offered the bill alongside three original GOP cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Michelle Steel (R-CA) and Bill Johnson (R-OH).
- The bipartisan Mandating Exclusive Review of Individual Treatments (MERIT) Act, H.R. 133, sponsored on Jan. 9 by Rep. Buchanan and two original cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA), would amend the Social Security Act to clarify the use of the national coverage determination process under the Medicare program to help ensure coverage of potentially life-saving drugs and new treatments for program beneficiaries.
- The bipartisan Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act, H.R. 132, which Rep. Buchanan also sponsored on Jan. 9 with lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL), would amend the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include algal blooms in the definition of a “major disaster.” The change would require the Federal Emergency Management Administration to provide both technical and financial assistance to states suffering from outbreaks of harmful algal blooms.
- Also on Jan. 9, he sponsored the Manatee Protection Act of 2023, H.R. 131, which would upgrade the West Indian manatee from threatened to endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to address manatee population rehabilitation and increase federal resources, including more funding and personnel.
- The Thin Blue Line Act, H.R. 130, would toughen penalties against anyone who murders police officers and other first responders, and would make the murder or attempted murder of a first responder an “aggravating” factor in death penalty determinations. Rep. Buchanan sponsored H.R. 130 on Jan. 9, leading nine GOP original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Bill Johnson (R-OH), and Garret Graves (R-LA).
- The bipartisan Safe Disposal for Servicemembers Act, H.R. 129, would require the U.S. Department of Defense to maintain prescription drop boxes on all military installations to allow for the safe disposal of unused prescription drugs, including opioids. Rep. Buchanan sponsored H.R. 129 on Jan. 9 with lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH).
Rep. Buchanan also plans to focus on several other issues important to his constituents, according to his staff, such as protecting communities against deadly fentanyl, retaining low taxes, and combating mental health issues.