United States · United States Congress · 1 July 2022
Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act of 2022 This bill modifies policies and procedures related to the payment of benefits under certain life insurance programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). If a primary beneficiary has not made a claim for payment within one year (currently two years) after the death of the insured under the National Service Life Insurance (NSLI) program or the United States Government Life Insurance (USGLI) program, the VA is authorized to make payment to another designated beneficiary as if the primary beneficiary had predeceased the insured. If no designated beneficiary makes a claim within two years (currently four years) after the death of the insured, the VA is authorized to make a payment to a person the VA deems to be equitably entitled to such benefit. The bill also modifies the beneficiary designation process under NSLI and USGLI. Specifically, if a person does not designate a beneficiary for insurance, or if the designated beneficiary predeceases the insured person, the VA must determine the beneficiary in a specified order of succession. Additionally, the bill requires the VA to improve its processes and procedures with respect to identifying, locating, and paying hard-to-find beneficiaries of life insurance policies, including by improving its website search tools.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 2022
ATF Data and Anti-Trafficking Accountability Act or the ATF DATA Act This bill directs the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to report to Congress and make publicly available certain data sets regarding firearms tracing data.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 2022
Backlog Justice Act of 2022 This bill requires certain actions to address the backlog of untested sexual assault kits. For example, the bill (1) directs the Bureau of Justice Assistance to establish a publicly accessible online database regarding untested kits, and (2) requires the Department of Justice to provide an increased amount of certain grant funding for states that have in place electronic evidence tracking systems for these kits.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2022
This resolution expresses support for implementing a Transgender Bill of Rights that guarantees certain rights for transgender and nonbinary people with respect to public services and accommodations, employment, housing, health care, and other specified areas.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2022
Transparency in Taxpayer-Funded Travel Act This resolution requires Members of Congress who use their Representational Allowance to pay for official travel expenses to disclose the purpose of, and other information about, the travel. The Representational Allowance provides funds to Members for operating their offices and carrying out their official and representational duties.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2022
Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act or the SAD Act This bill prohibits advertisements that use deceptive or misleading statements related to the provision of abortion services. Abortion services include (1) surgical and non-surgical procedures to terminate a pregnancy, or (2) providing referrals for such procedures. The Federal Trade Commission must promulgate rules to implement the prohibition, and the bill provides for enforcement by the commission.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2022
Fair Pricing with Cost Transparency Act of 2022 This bill revises requirements for government contractors to submit cost or pricing data and information supporting commercial product determinations. Specifically, in the event the contracting officer is unable to determine that proposed prices are fair and reasonable by any other means, an offeror who fails to make a good faith effort to comply with a reasonable request to submit data shall be ineligible for award unless the head of the contracting activity determines that it is in the best interest of the government to make the award based on specified factors. The senior procurement executive must submit an annual report to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy identifying offerors that have denied multiple requests for submission of uncertified cost or pricing data over the preceding three-year period but nevertheless received an award. The bill requires offerors of products proposed or determined to be commercial to identify the comparable commercial product that is used by the general public or nongovernmental entities and provide related information. Commercial product determinations must be periodically reviewed, at least every five years, to ensure that the initial decision was appropriate and that market conditions continue to support the designation. The Government Accountability Office must conduct a review of the prevalence and trends of contractors of executive agencies using distributors or other intermediaries as a means of avoiding legal or regulatory requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2022
Resilient Defense Assistance Act of 2022 This bill authorizes the Department of Defense to utilize various funds and programs to contribute to military climate resilience, including by authorizing funding from the Combatant Commander Initiative Fund to be used for climate resilience of military installations and essential civilian infrastructure.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2022
This resolution celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Federal Pell Grant program and expresses support for the designation of National Federal Pell Grant Day.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2022
Accountability for Workplace Misconduct Act This bill requires employers to establish a process for receiving and investigating allegations of discrimination, harassment and retaliation. It also limits the use of nondisclosure clauses in certain settlement agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2022
Professional Images Protection Act This bill restricts an employer from recording or using an image of an employee (e.g., photographs or video recordings) without the employee's consent.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2022
Fighting Foreign Influence Act This bill addresses foreign influence in federal elections. For example, the bill (1) requires tax-exempt charitable organizations to disclose in annual reports contributions and gifts exceeding $50,000 received from foreign governments and foreign political parties; and (2) prohibits any individual from registering or otherwise serving as the agent of a foreign principal if the individual at any time served as a Member of Congress, a senior political appointee, or a general or flag officer of the Armed Forces.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2022
My Body, My Data Act of 2022 This bill establishes protections, subject to certain limits, for personal reproductive or sexual health information. This includes information relating to past, present, or future surgeries or procedures, such as the termination of a pregnancy. Specifically, commercial entities, including individuals, nonprofits, and common carriers, may not collect, retain, use, or disclose personal reproductive or sexual health information except (1) with the express written consent of the individual to whom such information relates, or (2) as is strictly necessary to provide a requested product or service. Commercial entities also must provide individuals with access to, and a reasonable mechanism to delete, any of their reproductive or sexual health information upon request. Further, commercial entities must maintain and publish a privacy policy describing their practices with respect to such information. The bill's provisions do not apply to entities that are subject to certain existing health-related privacy regulations, such as the privacy regulations issued under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Additionally, the provisions do not apply to the disclosure of personal reproductive or sexual health information for the publication of newsworthy information of legitimate public concern. The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and by private civil actions.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2022
This bill reauthorizes through FY2033 the Bureau of Reclamation's water cycle, drought, and climate change program, which Reclamation implements through the WaterSMART Basin Study Program. This program is authorized to coordinate with other appropriate agencies to assess global climate change with respect to water resources in the eight major reclamation river basins in the western United States. The program must also ensure watershed and aquifer system strategies are developed to address potential water shortages, conflicts, and other impacts to water.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2022
Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2022 or the PUPP Act of 2022 This bill permits the Department of Housing and Urban Development to award grants for interim and permanent housing that accommodates individuals (or families) who are homeless and have pets. Entities eligible for the grant include local governments, nonprofits, and entities that house or shelter homeless individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2022
Assault Weapons Excise Act This bill imposes an additional 1000% excise tax on large capacity ammunition feeding devices and semiautomatic assault weapons. It exempts from such additional tax devices and weapons acquired by the United States or by a state or local government.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2022
Ruthie and Connie LGBTQ Elder Americans Act of 2022 This bill addresses matters related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals in certain federal programs serving older Americans, particularly by including an individual's LGBTQ status within the scope of the greatest social needs served by such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2022
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 79125 Corporate Centre Drive in La Quinta, California, as the "Corporal Hunter Lopez Memorial Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2022
Student Loan Deferment for Sexual Violence Survivors Act This bill allows a borrower who is a victim of sexual violence (including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking) to defer payment of federal student loans for up to three years. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Department of Education to waive certain requirements for repayment of grant assistance or federal student loans for a borrower whose attendance was interrupted due to such violence.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2022
This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Dr. John Cheng in recognition of his heroic actions to protect others on May 15, 2022.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2022
This resolution supports access to contraception and related reproductive health services, including by affirming the substantive due process rights that protect such access.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2022
This resolution condemns in the strongest terms the great replacement theory, which it describes as a white supremacist conspiracy theory that has been used to falsely justify racially motivated, violent acts of terrorism domestically and internationally.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2022
Supporting Entrepreneurs and Economic Development Act or the SEED Act This bill requires lenders to refer applicants for certain small business loans to a resource partner if the applicant is determined ineligible for a loan under the program. Resource partners, such as small business development centers, provide informational tools and training to support business start-ups and existing business expansion. Lenders and the Small Business Administration must report on the number of resource partner referrals and the Government Accountability Office must periodically report on the rate of such referrals.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2022
This resolution supports the designation of National CASA/GAL Volunteers Day to commend the work of court-appointed special advocate (CASA) and guardian ad litem (GAL) volunteers.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2022
Keep Infant Formula Safe and On the Shelves Act of 2022 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to periodically inspect infant formula manufacturing facilities and addresses related issues. The FDA must periodically conduct inspections, including unannounced inspections, of infant formula manufacturer facilities. If the FDA makes a notable regulatory finding at such a facility, the manufacturer must undergo a comprehensive food safety audit that includes a root cause analysis, enhanced testing, and comprehensive environmental samples. A manufacturer of infant formula or essential medical food must notify the FDA no later than five business days after becoming aware of circumstances that could lead to a shortage of the relevant product in the United States. Further, the FDA must create and annually update a list of U.S. manufacturing facilities that could be converted to manufacture infant formula during a shortage. In the event of a shortage, the FDA may require infant formula manufacturers to provide certain information, such as the quantity of formula in a manufacturer's inventory. The bill also establishes under statute that food, including infant formula, is a critical material essential to the national defense and therefore subject to authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950. (Such authorities authorize the President to take various actions, such as requiring businesses to prioritize certain government contracts and incentivizing the domestic industrial base to expand the production of critical materials.) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration must issue a fact sheet and provide technical assistance to infant formula manufacturers to promote compliance with occupational health and safety standards.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2022
Military Access to Reproductive Care and Health for Military Servicemembers Act or the MARCH for Military Servicemembers Act This bill repeals the restriction on utilizing Department of Defense funds and facilities for performing abortions. The restriction only allows such funds and facilities to be used for abortions in cases of rape, incest, or where the mother's life is endangered.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2022
Stealthing Act of 2022 This bill establishes a civil action for the nonconsensual removal of a sexual protection barrier (e.g., a condom). A person may recover compensatory and punitive damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, and such other relief as a court may deem appropriate.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2022
Consent is Key Act This bill directs the Department of Justice to increase a state's allocation of funds under the Sexual Assault Services Program if the state has in effect a law that authorizes civil damages and equitable relief against a person who engages in the nonconsensual removal of a sexual protection barrier (e.g., a condom).
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2022
This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against the Houthis in Yemen within 30 days of the enactment of this joint resolution unless Congress authorizes a later withdrawal date, issues a declaration of war, or specifically authorizes the use of the Armed Forces. Prohibited activities include sharing intelligence or providing logistical support to enable offensive strikes by the coalition led by Saudi Arabia. This joint resolution shall not affect any military operations directed at Al Qaeda or associated forces.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 2022
Affordability is Access Act This bill establishes several requirements relating to health insurance coverage of, and access to, over-the-counter contraceptives. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury to specify that private health insurance plans must cover over-the-counter contraceptives that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), even without a prescription. Under current law, private health insurance plans (with some exceptions) must cover FDA-approved prescription contraceptives, without cost-sharing requirements. The bill also prohibits retailers from interfering with an individual's access to oral contraceptives that are meant for routine, daily use and are FDA-approved for use without a prescription.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2022
Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to issue a final rule that prohibits certain discharges of plastic pellets and other preproduction plastic into waters of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2022
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 396 South California Avenue in West Covina, California, as the "Esteban E. Torres Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2022
Water Efficiency, Conservation, and Sustainability Act of 2022 This bill establishes multiple grants that support activities to incentivize efficient water use by customers of public water systems, reduce water losses and leaks in water systems, and promote the adoption of water-efficient plumbing codes.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2022
Food and Agribusiness Merger Moratorium and Antitrust Review Act of 20 22 This bill places a moratorium on certain acquisitions between large agricultural and retail-related businesses and establishes the Food and Agriculture Concentration and Market Power Review Commission. The commission shall report to Congress and the President on (1) the nature and consequences of market concentration in the U.S. food and agricultural economy, and (2) recommended legal and regulatory changes to address such market concentration.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2022
Pathways to Policing Act This bill authorizes the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice to award grants to states, local governments, and law enforcement agencies to support recruitment of law enforcement officers. In particular, these grants may be used for (1) marketing and recruitment campaigns to encourage candidates to seek careers in law enforcement; and (2) developing, operating, or expanding Pathways to Policing programs (e.g., programs that facilitate entry into full-time law enforcement positions for certain candidates).
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2022
Accountability for Online Firearms Marketplaces Act of 2022 This bill removes the federal liability protection that a provider of an interactive computer service (e.g., a social media company) receives for content provided by third parties (sometimes referred to as Section 230 protection) if the provider operates an online firearms marketplace. Online firearms marketplace refers to an interactive computer service that (1) facilitates firearm-related transactions, (2) advertises or otherwise makes available proposals for transferring firearms, or (3) makes digital instructions for programming a three-dimensional printer to make a firearm.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2022
Health Care Providers Safety Act of 2022 This bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to health care providers for security services and other expenses related to physical security and cybersecurity.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2022
This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 and revises the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. For example, the bill modifies the name of the program to the Coastal Estuarine Resilience and Restoration Program. It also revises goals of the program to include (1) climate change mitigation; and (2) restoring developed property in vulnerable coastal and estuarine areas to a natural state to restore ecological function, allow for shoreline migration, and protect coastal communities. Additionally, the bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to designate at least five new national estuarine reserves.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2022
Water Data Act This bill requires federal departments and agencies involved in water resources management to jointly develop and implement a National Water Data Framework and establish an interagency council, advisory committee, and grant program. Specifically, the bill requires the departments to jointly develop and implement a National Water Data Framework for integrating, sharing, and using water data to support water resources management and access. The departments must (1) develop and adopt common national standards for water data, (2) integrate water data and tools through common approaches to data infrastructure and platforms, and (3) harmonize and align water data policies and programs. The bill further requires these departments to establish an interagency Water Data Council to support the development and implementation of the framework. The bill also requires the Department of the Interior to establish an Advisory Committee on Water Information to advise Interior, the departments, and the council on the framework. The advisory committee members must include those involved in water-related activities across different sectors (e.g., state and local governments, Indian Tribes, water agencies, private sector entities, and nonprofit organizations). Finally, the bill requires Interior to establish a Water Data Grant Program in coordination with the council for nonfederal entities to carry out the purposes of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2022
This resolution supports the goals and ideals of an International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia, and Intersexphobia. The resolution encourages (1) health care providers to offer culturally and clinically competent care to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and agender (LGBTQIA+) community; (2) schools to support the creation of gender and sexuality alliances; (3) individuals to learn about national resources for those who identify as LGBTQIA+; and (4) funding organizations, aid efforts, and governments to prioritize the health and human rights of LGBTQIA+ people.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2022
This concurrent resolution expresses opposition to the application of criminal laws to pregnancy outcomes and affirms that people deserve access to high-quality health care without fear of reprisal or punishment.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2022
Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2022 This bill generally makes it unlawful to sell or offer for sale a good or service at an unconscionably excessive price during an exceptional market shock. The bill also provides additional funding to the Federal Trade Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2022
Student Protection Act This bill expands the list of actions that may result in the change of control of an institution of higher education (IHE) to include a court-ordered receivership. Such changes of control disqualify an IHE from participating in federal student-aid programs unless the IHE establishes that it meets specific requirements following the change of control.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2022
Accountability in Student Loan Data Act of 2022 This bill revises the method for calculating a cohort default rate (the measurement of how many borrowers default on their federal student loans within a certain time period), and it establishes penalties for institutions of higher education that have a certain percentage of graduates who default on their student loans.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2022
CFPB Student Loan Integrity and Transparency Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to provide information related to student loans to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The bill prohibits ED from entering into an agreement with a contractor or vendor that services student loans unless the contractor or vendor agrees to provide requested information to the CFPB. It also requires the CFPB to maintain adequate staffing levels to carry out its duties.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2022
Judicial Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act of 2022 This bill makes various changes to the federal framework governing judicial ethics. Among the changes, the bill prohibits federal judges and Supreme Court Justices from owning individual stocks and securities; requires the Judicial Conference of the United States to issue regulations restricting the solicitation or acceptance of gifts in connection with a private judicial seminar; expresses the sense of Congress that the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges shall apply to Supreme Court Justices; requires federal judges and Supreme Court Justices to report on each association or interest that would require recusal, including any financial interest of a spouse or minor child who resides in the household; and establishes a committee to review complaints against the Supreme Court.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2022
Honor Our Commitment Act of 2022 This bill limits the detention or removal of qualified Vietnamese nationals from the United States and contains other related provisions. A national of Vietnam may not be detained or removed if that individual (1) is subject to a final order of removal, and (2) has continuously resided in the United States since July 12, 1995, or an earlier date. An otherwise qualifying alien may not receive such protections if (1) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determines that the alien is directly responsible for harming U.S. national security, or (2) the alien is subject to extradition. A qualified Vietnamese national shall receive authorization to work in the United States. DHS must notify each qualified Vietnamese national about the provisions of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2022
This bill designates the outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Ventura, California, as the Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner Outpatient Clinic.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2022
Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act This bill requires employers to make initial and modified disclosures to employees of the terms of their employment, provide such employees with regular paystubs, and make a final payment to an employee for uncompensated work hours within 14 days of the employee's termination. Employers must also allow employees access to wage records. An employer must compensate an employee at the rate specified in an employment contract, including a collective bargaining agreement, that specifies a rate of pay higher than the minimum wage rate. The bill makes all of such unpaid wages recoverable through civil enforcement. The bill establishes new and increased civil and criminal penalties for violations of overtime or minimum wage requirements, including referral to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution of employers who engage in wage theft, falsification of wage records, or retaliation against employees. The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor must provide grants to specified organizations, including nonprofits and educational institutions, to enhance the enforcement of wage and hour laws. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on successful grant programs.
![Official portrait of Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/p000618_200.jpg)