Washington [US], December 25: CBS News reported today, December 25, that US President Joe Biden signed a total of 50 bills into law on Christmas Eve, including the first law officially recognizing the bald eagle as the national bird of this country.
Among the 50 bills passed, S. 4610 recognizes the bald eagle as the official bird of the United States. The federal government has never before granted official status to a bird representing the United States.
Other bills signed by President Biden on Christmas Eve include a law inspired by reality TV star and businesswoman Paris Hilton to protect teens in residential treatment facilities, a law against bullying, harassment or abuse on American college campuses, and a law that prevents members of Congress from receiving pensions if they commit crimes.
Hollywood celebrity and socialite Hilton was the driving force behind the Preventing Institutional Child Abuse Act, passed by both houses of the US Congress last week.
The Act requires the establishment of a federal task force on youth residential programs to manage the health, safety, care, and treatment of individuals under the age of 18 in treatment, rehabilitation, and other facilities.
Ms Hilton attended a parliamentary inquiry and told how she had been abused in a previous facility as a teenager.
Another law prevents members of parliament convicted of corruption-related offences from receiving pensions. The previous law allowed MPs to continue receiving pensions even if their appeals were unsuccessful.
The bipartisan legislation was passed after New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted this year of using political influence to benefit foreign businesses and governments in exchange for bribes.
The College Bullying, Harassment, and Abuse Prevention Act requires schools to disclose such incidents in their annual safety reports. The new law also requires schools to teach students about the dangers of such behavior.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper