A bill to block the implementation of certain presidential actions that restrict individuals from certain countries from entering the United States.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

S.246 through Congress

S.246 keeps its number as it moves between the House and Senate.

SenateJan 28, 2019IntroducedOfficial record

Major milestones in the imported record. See all actions.

No House action is available in our imported record yet.

Separate related House measures (1)

These are different measures identified as related by Congress.gov. Their text and outcomes may differ; they are not the House stage of S.246.

Related House bill: H.R.810 To block the implementation of certain presidential actions that restrict individuals from certain countries from entering the United States.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 28, 2019

This bill prohibits making funds, resources, or fees available to any federal agency to implement or enforce Executive Order 13780 and Presidential Proclamation 9645, which suspended individuals from several countries of concern, including Chad, Iran, and Libya, from entering the United States. The Proclamation also provided for enhanced U.S. vetting capacities.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] · D–CT

Committees

Judiciary Committee

32 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jan 28, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 28, 2019
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jan 28, 2019 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 810 · To block the implementation of certain presidential actions that restrict individuals from certain countries from entering the United States.

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.246 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.246, 116th Congress: A bill to block the implementation of certain presidential actions that restrict individuals from certain countries from entering the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/246

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-01-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s246/BILLS-116s246is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.246 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.246 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.246, 116th Congress: A bill to block the implementation of certain presidential actions that restrict individuals from certain countries from entering the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/246

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-01-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s246/BILLS-116s246is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.246 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.246 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.246, 116th Congress: A bill to block the implementation of certain presidential actions that restrict individuals from certain countries from entering the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/246

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-01-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s246/BILLS-116s246is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.246 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.246 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.246, 116th Congress: A bill to block the implementation of certain presidential actions that restrict individuals from certain countries from entering the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/246

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-01-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s246/BILLS-116s246is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.246 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.