This bill directs the Clerk of the House to correct a specific textual error in the engrossment of H.R. 7147 and apply that correction to H.R. 7148.
Juan Ciscomani
Representative
AZ-6
This bill directs the Clerk of the House to make a specific textual correction to H.R. 7147 during its engrossment. The correction modifies language within section 230(b) to specify applicability to the Department of Homeland Security. This change must also be reflected in the final version of H.R. 7148.
House Cleans Up Text: Bill Correction Narrows Homeland Security Rule to Specific Acts
Ever felt like you sent an email with a typo and just wished you could instantly fix it on the recipient’s screen? That’s essentially what this resolution does, but for a piece of legislation. This bill is a technical directive telling the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a very specific correction when preparing the final, official text of H.R. 7147. The fix focuses on section 230(b), changing the broad phrase “in this Act or any other act” to the much narrower “for the Department of Homeland Security in this or any prior Act.” It also mandates that the exact same correction must be included in H.R. 7148, per a separate House rule.
The Administrative Fine Print
Think of this as an administrative quality control check. While it doesn't change policy in a major way, it’s crucial for legal clarity. The original text of H.R. 7147 had language that could have been interpreted as applying broadly across the entire U.S. Code. By adding the specific phrase "for the Department of Homeland Security," the correction makes it crystal clear that this particular provision only relates to funding and operations within DHS. For the legislative staff and lawyers who have to implement these bills, this change is a huge win for precision.
Why This Matters for the Real World
For most people, a technical correction like this is invisible—and that’s a good thing. It means the system is catching and fixing errors before they cause confusion. If you’re a government contractor, a lawyer, or anyone dealing directly with DHS regulations, this clarification prevents future headaches. It removes ambiguity about whether this section 230(b) applies to, say, the Department of Energy or the Department of Education. Instead, it locks the provision into the context of Homeland Security funding. This is legislative housekeeping: boring, but essential for making sure the laws passed actually say what Congress intended them to say, avoiding messy legal challenges down the road.