Bill H.R.8610 titled “To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Office of Health Security, make technical corrections to the authorization of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, establish a Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Advisory Committee, establish a departmental biodefense strategy, and for other purposes” was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 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 by the House of Representatives. The bill is sponsored by Actions All with Yvette Clarke, Bennie Thompson, Lauren Underwood as cosponsors.
Most bills have a hearing where those involved explain why they are for or against the bill. Roughly 8,000 bills are addressed by committees each year but only about 800 make it to the floor of Congress, according to ushistory.org.
A 2019 report from the Brookings Institute argued committees aren’t capable of delving fully into the issues they address and are forced to rely on lobbyists.
| Bill Name | Sponsor | Action |
|---|---|---|
| To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Office of Health Security, make technical corrections to the authorization of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, establish a Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Advisory Committee, establish a departmental biodefense strategy, and for other purposes. | Rep. Demings, Val Butler | House of Representatives |
