Playground build: anything marked “Sample data” is fictional.
Congress is on break.No new federal law since October 22. Election Day is November 3.
What’s in the bill that isn’t about the bill?
We check every section of a federal bill against the bill’s own title and official summary. Sections that don’t fit are shown word for word, with a link to the official text. Read it and judge for yourself.
An AI model checks each section and drafts each flag. A person approves every flag before it’s published. Full launch in December 2026, starting with the year-end spending bills.
To provide for the transmission of emergency alerts by satellite, and for other purposes.
Our check
0 of 2 sections don’t fit
Every section is described by the bill’s title or official summary.
Two parts of Sec. 2 aren't mentioned in the official summary but deal with the same satellite alerts: providers can't charge extra for them (subsection (a)(5)), and providers that meet the law's requirements aren't liable to subscribers for alerts sent or not sent by satellite (subsection (c)).
Every section in the law (2)
Sec. 1Short titleGives the law its short title.Fits
Sec. 2Transmission of emergency alerts by satelliteSets up satellite emergency alerts: provider elections, FCC rules, subscriber notice and opt-out, which the summary describes.Fits
How it became law
IntroducedJan 12
CommitteeMar 25
HouseApr 20
SenateSep 30
SignedOct 22
As introduced:To provide for the transmission of emergency alerts by satellite, and for other purposes.
Key steps, cosponsors and text changes (20)
Sponsor
Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX)
Original cosponsors
Rep. Earl Carter (R-GA), Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX)
HouseReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Source: GovInfo bill status and text versions. 4 cosponsors.
Read the official summary we checked against
This bill provides for wireless emergency alerts to be transmitted to mobile devices via satellite. (Currently, wireless emergency alerts are sent via terrestrial mobile networks to individual devices in geographically targeted areas. Commercial mobile service providers are not required to participate; only devices connected to a participating service provider’s network receive alerts.)
Under the bill, commercial mobile service providers that participate in the wireless emergency alerts system must give notice to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) indicating whether they will transmit such alerts via satellite (in addition to sending alerts via terrestrial networks).
The FCC must establish technical standards and other regulations to enable satellite emergency alerts. Providers that opt to transmit emergency alerts via satellite must comply with such regulations.
If a provider elects not to transmit satellite alerts, the provider must give notice of that election to new and existing subscribers. Separately, mobile service subscribers may opt out of receiving satellite alerts.
The official summary was written for the bill as introduced in House (January 12, 2026).
Checked November 1, 2026 by an AI model (Claude Opus 5.5), rubric 1.0-draft. Approved by a Porkbarrel.ai reviewer. Checked section by section against the bill's titles and its official summary (the CRS summary of the bill as introduced). Sponsor and party were not used.Read the full text on Congress.gov
Bill data from Congress.gov as of October 31, 2026.
29 bills took a step between Oct 19 and Nov 1, 2026, out of 17,060 in this Congress. The most recent was recorded on Oct 29. Ranked by a fixed formula that never looks at sponsor or party.
Bill status from GovInfo as of Nov 1, 2026. Being listed says nothing about what’s in a bill.
Same bill number, different law
Congress often passes a big package by replacing the entire text of a bill that has already moved. The bill keeps its number; everything else changes. We found three laws made this way in the current Congress.
H.R. 6500 · Public Law 119-103 · Signed September 2, 2026
Introduced December 9, 2025
To extend duty-free treatment provided with respect to imports from certain countries in Africa under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, to extend customs user fees, and for other purposes.
3 sections
→
Signed into law as
Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027
112 sections
The original trade provisions are still in the law, as Secs. 2008–2010.
How it became law
IntroducedDec 9
CommitteeDec 10
HouseJan 12
SenateAug 8
SignedSep 2
As introduced:To extend duty-free treatment provided with respect to imports from certain countries in Africa under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, to extend customs user fees, and for other purposes.
Key steps, cosponsors and text changes (24)
Sponsor
Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO)
Original cosponsors
Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE)
HouseReferred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
HouseOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 340 - 54 (Roll no. 14). (text: CR H637)
SenateCloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 89 - 4. Record Vote Number: 218. (CR S4405)
SenateMotion by Senator Thune to commit to Senate Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment SA 6740 fell when cloture on amendment SA 6732 was invoked in Senate.
SenatePassed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 90 - 6. Record Vote Number: 228.
Text replaced or amended (section count not available for amendment documents).
HouseOn motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 370 - 48 (Roll no. 286). (consideration: CR H5387; text: CR H5377-5383)
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 370 - 48 (Roll no. 286). (consideration: CR H5387; text: CR H5377-5383)
HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on motion to agree to the Senate amendments to H.R. 6500.
HouseMr. Cole moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H5377-5385)
HouseOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 340 - 54 (Roll no. 14). (text: CR H637)
HouseConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H646)
HouseAt 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.
HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6500.
HouseConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H637-642)
HouseMr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
SenateCloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4365)
SenateMotion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S4360)
SenateMotion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4414)
SenateCloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 89 - 4. Record Vote Number: 218. (CR S4405)
SenateMotion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4415)
SenateCloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4449)
SenateMotion by Senator Thune to commit to Senate Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment SA 6740 made in Senate.
SenateMeasure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S4448-4449)
SenateMotion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. (CR S4448)
SenateMotion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4448)
SenateMotion by Senator Thune to commit to Senate Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment SA 6740 fell when cloture on amendment SA 6732 was invoked in Senate.
SenateConsidered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4542, S4546-4547, S4553-4555)
SenatePassed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 90 - 6. Record Vote Number: 228.
Text replaced or amended (section count not available for amendment documents).
HouseOn motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 370 - 48 (Roll no. 286). (consideration: CR H5387; text: CR H5377-5383)
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 370 - 48 (Roll no. 286). (consideration: CR H5387; text: CR H5377-5383)
HouseAt 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.
HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on motion to agree to the Senate amendments to H.R. 6500.
HouseMr. Cole moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H5377-5385)
H.R. 5334 · Public Law 119-111 · Signed September 18, 2026
Introduced as:To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow early childhood educators to take the educator expense deduction, and for other purposes.(2 sections)
S. 1071 · Public Law 119-60 · Signed December 18, 2025
Introduced as:To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and for other purposes.(1 sections)
Source: GovInfo introduced and enrolled texts and official titles, as of November 1, 2026. A replaced text is a standard procedure, not a finding about any provision.
The biggest laws since 2021
Of the 772 federal laws enacted since January 2021, half have two sections or fewer. 33 have 50 or more, adding up to 19,689 sections. Big bills are the hardest to read in full, so they’re where we’re starting.
Rule: Every public law enacted from January 2021 to October 2026 whose enrolled text has 50 or more sections (counting appropriation paragraphs in spending bills). Source: GovInfo, as of 2026-10-31. None of these has been checked yet.
Daily puzzle
Bill in, law out
Five real laws a day. Guess whether each was signed as introduced or changed on the way, then see the record.
Fictional example · H.R. 0000 · Rural Broadband Expansion Act
Bill summary: Funds broadband service for rural households and schools.
Sec. 412. The Secretary of the Interior shall convey to the Harbor Point Marina Authority, without consideration, all right, title and interest in the parcel described in subsection (b).
Doesn’t fit: this section transfers federal land to a marina authority, which isn’t described by the bill’s title or official summary.
How it works
Step 1
We read the bill
Bill text, titles and the official summary come straight from Congress.gov.
Step 2
We check every section
Each section is compared with the bill’s own title and summary. Does it fit, or not?
Step 3
A person reviews every flag
Nothing is published until a reviewer approves it. Every flag shows the exact text.
The checker is never told who sponsored a bill, their party or their state.
Every bill gets the same test, and which bills we check is set by a fixed rule.
We’ll publish the exact instructions, the test set and a monthly party audit.
Our funding rule: we take no money from political parties, campaigns, candidates, PACs or any government. Every funder, sponsor and advertiser above $1,000 a year will be listed publicly, and money never decides what we check or what a flag says.