Monday, August 31st, 2026

Nine Justices Supreme Court
H.J. Res.1, a constitutional amendment to require that the U.S. Supreme Court be composed of nine justices, would be sent to the states for ratification. Three-quarters of state legislatures would have to approve the proposal within seven years for it to be added to the Constitution. The core controversy is that the measure is intended to prevent Democrats from expanding the Court in the future to shift its ideological balance back to the left.

Regulations Restricting Fishing
H.R.9436, the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act, extends for seven years, through Dec. 1, 2035, a moratorium on fishing regulations intended to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales. The core controversy is a conflict between protecting the endangered North Atlantic right whale and protecting the economic viability of the Northeast lobster industry, especially in Maine.

Condemn Socialism & Pass the SAVE Act
H.Res.1490, the resolution states that the House of Representatives condemns and denounces socialism in all its forms, including the Democratic Socialists of America, and opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States; in the "Whereas" clauses, it calls for Congress to enact the "common-sense" reforms of the SAVE Act. The core controversy is not really about creating new law. As a House resolution, it is primarily a political statement expressing the House's position on socialism and related political movements.

Expedited Permitting for Mining
H.R.1501, the Protecting Domestic Mining Act, permanently makes mining and mineral processing eligible for expedited environmental permitting under a process established by the FAST Act. The core controversy is whether the federal government should speed up approvals for mining projects to strengthen domestic mineral production or whether doing so could weaken environmental review and public oversight.

 No Federal Aid for Colleges that Boycott Strategic Partners
H.R.4795, the Protect Economic & Academic Freedom Act, prohibits colleges and universities from receiving federal aid if they engage in discriminatory commercial and academic boycotts of major strategic partners of the United States, including Israel. The core controversy is whether the federal government should use federal education funding to discourage university participation in boycotts of Israel, or whether doing so infringes on academic independence and First Amendment-protected political expression.