Floor SpeechUrgent2026-08-07

DIVERSITY JURISDICTION INFLATION ADJUSTMENT ACT

EconomyEnvironment

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On 2026-08-07, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) delivered a floor speech titled "DIVERSITY JURISDICTION INFLATION ADJUSTMENT ACT" in the Senate.

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DIVERSITY JURISDICTION INFLATION ADJUSTMENT ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 130 (Friday, August 7, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 130 (Friday, August 7, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4550-S4551] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] DIVERSITY JURISDICTION INFLATION ADJUSTMENT ACT Mr. MORENO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of S. 4850 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 4850) to amend title 28, United States Code, to adjust thresholds relating to jurisdiction for inflation. There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the Senate proceeded to consider the bill. Mr. MORENO. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The bill (S. 4850) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed as follows: [[Page S4551]] S. 4850 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Diversity Jurisdiction Inflation Adjustment Act''. SEC. 2. INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS. Section 1332 of title 28, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``of $75,000'' and inserting ``described in subsection (b)''; and (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: ``(b)(1) The matter in controversy described in this subsection is not less than $150,000, as adjusted under paragraph (2), exclusive of interest and costs. ``(2)(A) In this paragraph-- ``(i) the term `appropriate year' means the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the adjustment under paragraph (1) is to take effect; and ``(ii) the term `Consumer Price Index' means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of Labor. ``(B) Effective on January 1, 2030, and January 1 of each tenth year thereafter, the dollar amount then in effect as the minimum amount in controversy applicable under paragraph (1) shall be adjusted by an amount, rounded to the nearest $25,000 (or, if midway between multiples, to the next higher multiple of $25,000) which reflects the change in the Consumer Price Index for the month of September of the appropriate year, over the Consumer Price Index for-- ``(i) in the case of the initial adjustment, the month of September 2025; and ``(ii) in the case of each subsequent adjustment, September of the year preceding the last adjustment. ``(C) The Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall determine the amount of each adjustment under paragraph (1) and, not later than November 15 of the appropriate year, shall submit for publication in the Federal Register the amount (and the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index that is the basis for the amount) and the new minimum amount in controversy to take effect on January 1 of the succeeding calendar year. ``(3) Except when express provision therefor is otherwise made in a statute of the United States, where the plaintiff who files the case originally in the Federal courts is finally adjudged to be entitled to recover less than the sum or value required under paragraph (1) without regard to any setoff or counterclaim to which the defendant may be adjudged to be entitled, and exclusive of interest and costs, the district court may deny costs to the plaintiff and, in addition, may impose costs on the plaintiff.''. ____________________

Referenced legislation: S4850, S4850

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DIVERSITY JURISDICTION INFLATION ADJUSTMENT ACT Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 130 (Friday, August 7, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 130 (Friday, August 7, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4550-S4551] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] DIVERSITY JURISDICTION INFLATION ADJUSTMENT ACT Mr. MORENO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of S. 4850 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 4850) to amend title 28, United States Code, to adjust thresholds relating to jurisdiction for inflation. There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the Senate proceeded to consider the bill. Mr. MORENO. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The bill (S. 4850) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed as follows: [[Page S4551]] S. 4850 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Diversity Jurisdiction Inflation Adjustment Act''. SEC. 2. INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS. Section 1332 of title 28, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``of $75,000'' and inserting ``described in subsection (b)''; and (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: ``(b)(1) The matter in controversy described in this subsection is not less than $150,000, as adjusted under paragraph (2), exclusive of interest and costs. ``(2)(A) In this paragraph-- ``(i) the term `appropriate year' means the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the adjustment under paragraph (1) is to take effect; and ``(ii) the term `Consumer Price Index' means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of Labor. ``(B) Effective on January 1, 2030, and January 1 of each tenth year thereafter, the dollar amount then in effect as the minimum amount in controversy applicable under paragraph (1) shall be adjusted by an amount, rounded to the nearest $25,000 (or, if midway between multiples, to the next higher multiple of $25,000) which reflects the change in the Consumer Price Index for the month of September of the appropriate year, over the Consumer Price Index for-- ``(i) in the case of the initial adjustment, the month of September 2025; and ``(ii) in the case of each subsequent adjustment, September of the year preceding the last adjustment. ``(C) The Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall determine the amount of each adjustment under paragraph (1) and, not later than November 15 of the appropriate year, shall submit for publication in the Federal Register the amount (and the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index that is the basis for the amount) and the new minimum amount in controversy to take effect on January 1 of the succeeding calendar year. ``(3) Except when express provision therefor is otherwise made in a statute of the United States, where the plaintiff who files the case originally in the Federal courts is finally adjudged to be entitled to recover less than the sum or value required under paragraph (1) without regard to any setoff or counterclaim to which the defendant may be adjudged to be entitled, and exclusive of interest and costs, the district court may deny costs to the plaintiff and, in addition, may impose costs on the plaintiff.''. ____________________ Referenced legislation: S4850, S4850