Bills · 118th Congress · International Affairs

USA Act

Also known as Upholding Sovereignty of Airspace Act

Where it stands

  1. Introduced2/24/23
  2. Passed HousePassed 4/17/23
  3. Senate
  4. President
  5. Law

Passed the House 405–6 on April 17, 2023 (Roll Call 183 →). Received in the Senate on April 18, 2023. No Senate action since.

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Roll calls on this bill

Votes on passage
HouseOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · 4/17/23Suspension of the rulesA fast-track House procedure, usually for measures expected to have broad support. Debate is limited to 40 minutes, no amendments can be offered, and it needs a two-thirds vote of members voting — not a simple majority. A yes vote passes the bill. “As amended” means changes written into the motion itself are included.Rules of the House, Rule XV, clause 1 ↗
Passed
  • Democratic193 Yea · 4 Nay · 16 Not voting
  • Republican212 Yea · 2 Nay · 7 Not voting
  • Independent / Other0 Yea · 0 Nay · 0 Not voting
Official summary (CRS)

Upholding Sovereignty of Airspace Act or the USA Act

This bill requires and authorizes actions in response to the Chinese government's global surveillance program, including the Chinese government's use of surveillance balloons.

The President may impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on foreign individuals that directly manage or oversee the Chinese government's global surveillance balloon program.

Full text on congress.gov ↗
Sponsor
Rep. Gregory W. Meeks ( Democrat · NY-5)
Cosponsors
3
Introduced
2/24/23
Policy area
International Affairs

What happens next

The Senate must pass the same text, then it goes to the President.

If it isn't enacted by Jan 3, 2025, it expires when the 118th Congress ends.

All actions (13)
  1. 2/24/23Introduced in House
  2. 2/24/23Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
  3. 2/28/23Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
  4. 2/28/23Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  5. 4/17/23Mr. Mast moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  6. 4/17/23Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1735-1738)
  7. 4/17/23DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1151.
  8. 4/17/23At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  9. 4/17/23Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1739-1740)
  10. 4/17/23Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 6 (Roll no. 183). (text: CR H1735-1736)
  11. 4/17/23On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 6 (Roll no. 183). (text: CR H1735-1736)
  12. 4/17/23Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  13. 4/18/23Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.