The 118th Congress is on track to be one of the most unproductive in modern history

https://www.axios.com/2023/12/19/118-congress-bills-least-unproductive-chart

https://www.congress.gov/search?q={"source"%3A"legislation"%2C"congress"%3A"118"%2C"type"%3A["bills"%2C"joint-resolutions"]%2C"bill-status"%3A"president"}

Second link is to the 35 bills and joint resolutions that Congress has sent to the President for signature.

22 were signed into law.
8 were vetoed.
5 are pending Presidential action.

All 8 vetoes were in regards to Congressional Joint Resolutions of disapproval.

By far the least productive Congress in modern history. Obviously, difficult to legislate when you can’t even pick a Speaker. Not looking much better for the second session. I seriously doubt the present Speaker will last much longer and the Republican majority is dwindling.

The chart at the first link says it all.

Here is the full list of the 35 bills and Joint Resolutions that made it to the President:

Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 - became law

Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act - became law

Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act - became law

United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act - became law

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 - became law

To designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian River, Michigan, as the “Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic”. - became law

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 - pending Presidential action

Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act - became law

TRANQ Research Act of 2023 - pending Presidential action

Wounded Warrior Access Act - became law

250th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Commemorative Coin Act - became law

Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2023 - became law

Korean American VALOR Act - became law

NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023 - became law

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to “Waivers and Modifications of Federal Student Loans”. - vetoed, veto sustained

Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022. - vetoed, veto sustained

Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Commerce relating to “Procedures Covering Suspension of Liquidation, Duties and Estimated Duties in Accord With Presidential Proclamation 10414”. - vetoed, veto sustained

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights”. - vetoed, veto sustained

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’”. - vetoed, veto sustained

Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022. - became law

Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020. - became law

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend and modify certain authorities and requirements relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. - became law

5G SALE Act - pending Presidential action

A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to extend the Administrative Fine Program for certain reporting violations. - pending Presidential action

Veterans’ COLA Act of 2023 - became law

COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023 - became law

A bill to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Gallup, New Mexico, as the Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura VA Clinic. - became law

CADETS Act - became law

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida, and for other purposes. - became law

Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act of 2023 - became law

Fiscal Year 2023 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act - became law

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to “Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)”. - pending Presidential action

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for Northern Long-Eared Bat”. - vetoed, veto sustained

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Control of Air Pollution From New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards”. - vetoed, veto sustained

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Lesser Prairie-Chicken; Threatened Status with Section 4(d) Rule for the Northern Distinct Population Segment and Endangered Status for the Southern Distinct Population Segment”. - vetoed, veto sustained

As a comparison, the 89th Congress, considered the most productive Congress in history, passed 349 public laws between January 3rd, 1965 and the end of its first session on November 8th, 1965.

They would go on to pass a grand total of 810 public laws, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Good.

The only thing better than them doing absolutely nothing would be them undoing 75% of what’s been passed in the last 30 years.

Do nothing. Keep up that track record.

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If a political candidate ever promised that, if elected, they would go to DC and do nothing, I’d hope that they would reconsider their calling to politics. I know that’s not exactly what you’re saying here, but it got me thinking. I believe that the job of every political representative is to actively engage in the legislative system in order to enact change. If party politics prevents legislation from moving forward, so be it, but opting out of the legislative process is a waste of everyone’s time, esp their constituents.

Not just opt out.

Actively be a wrench in the gears, and attempt to reverse what’s already done.

The less “work” that gets done in DC the better the rest of the country will end up.

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Is change always desired, though ?

Folks want a good idea of what govt doing things because “well they have to do something….” looks like?

Go out and take a long hard look at the gas can you fill your lawn mower with.

Doing nothing is better.

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The problem is that power abhors a vacuum.

Something will rush in to fill that vacuum.

In this case, the President of the United States, Presidents of both parties being little tin horned dictators the last several decades.

Things WILL get done, I assure you.

They will just get done by Presidential dictate or court order.

It would be better if Congress resumed its proper role in our Republican system.

Government by Presidential dictate or court order is not a Republican form of government.

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All perfect reasons as to why the government needs to be crammed, kicking and screaming, back into the tiny little “this is what’s federal” box the constitution allows it. Everything else goes to the states.

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Which is never going to happen. Neither political side wants it, with the exception of limited examples such as the Department of Education.

And the public would never stand for the elimination of many programs.

A pipe dream that will never happen.

Amen Bro! Doing nothing now is great especially since most of what Biden wants is bad for the country.

I had a hunch if Safiel was grumbling that they were actually doing good. :+1: :grinning:

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No, I was not, but thanks for making completely groundless assumptions.

We have plenty of needless laws on the books and based on things like the southern border disaster we have multiple laws that are never enforced.

I ll believe a congress is productive when it’s entire session is consumed with reducing spending, the size of government, and federal spending.

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There is a question of quantity vs quality…

If the only legislation passed was to reduce spending…

Balance the budget…

Build a wall and secure the border…

Review all federal spending to determine which cut be reduced or eliminated…

Eliminate needless departments like education …

Reform and simplify the tax code and reduce federal taxes…

Our work is done let’s go home….

That would be a productive Congress.

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The problem is that the House hasn’t even passed any of these kind of things. Very little has even passed the House of Representatives, due to the fact that the Republican Conference is too paralyzed with infighting to pass any of the stuff you mention.

There are some things that could be at least passed by the House so that Republicans could either negotiate with Democrats in the Senate or use them as political accomplishments to wave for the general election.

But Republicans have done almost nothing, so they have nothing to run on.

That is not good, considering their chances of holding the House in 2024 are poor at best. Passing a few things through the House would help them politically, even if they did not become law.

You are right it would be.

However Biden and the Senate Dems are 100 percent against all those things! :roll_eyes:

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No, not always. If you think something is working, leave it alone. But if you think something isn’t working then actively seek change through the legislative process.

If a politician wants to “opt out” they should resign. If they think something isn’t working, is wrong, or can be improved, do your job and work through the legislative process.

Good for us!

is this supposed to be a bad thing?

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