United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2022
PFAS Firefighter Protection Act This bill prohibits, under the Toxic Substances Control Act, the manufacture, import, processing, or distribution in commerce of any aqueous film forming foam for use in training and firefighting that contains a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance, commonly referred to as PFAS. These substances are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. No later than October 5, 2024, the bill also requires the prohibition of the use of fluorinated chemicals in firefighting foam at airports.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2022
This resolution recognizes, honors, and commends the women of Ukraine who have contributed to the fight for freedom and the defense of Ukraine. The resolution acknowledges the women who have risked their lives to travel through territory controlled by Russia, break siege tactics surrounding cities, and ensure the safety of children and the elderly. The resolution acknowledges the important role women must play in resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia as outlined in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 (2016) and required by the laws of the United States and regulations of Ukraine. The resolution further calls on all countries to promote the meaningful inclusion of women in negotiations and decision-making at all levels, including security decisions. Finally, the resolution commits to supporting the women of Ukraine wherever they are as they fight back against tyranny and work for the free and democratic future of Ukraine.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2022
Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take various actions to address transparency in contract terms and pricing in the cattle industry. Among these requirements, USDA must maintain a publicly available library or catalog of contracts entered into between meat packers and livestock producers for the purchase of cattle, including any schedules of premiums or discounts associated with the contracts and other specific details. USDA must make this information available to producers and other interested parties in a monthly report. The bill further requires USDA to establish five to seven regions encompassing the entire continental United States that reasonably reflect similar fed cattle purchase practices for processing plants and establish mandatory minimums for each region (i.e., the minimum percentage of cattle purchases that are required to be made through approved pricing mechanisms from producers that are not packers). Under the bill, approved pricing mechanisms are generally purchases of fed cattle made through a negotiated purchase, through a negotiated grid purchase, at a stockyard, or through trading systems or platforms where multiple buyers and sellers can regularly make and accept bids and offers. The bill also establishes a maximum penalty for mandatory minimum violations by covered packers. Under the bill, a covered packer is a packer that has slaughtered an average of 5% or more of the number of fed cattle slaughtered nationally during the immediately preceding five calendar years.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2022
LGBTQ Business Equal Credit Enforcement and Investment Act This bill requires financial institutions to report certain credit application data to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for the purposes of enforcing fair lending laws. Specifically, financial institutions must report this data regarding lesbian-, gay-, bisexual-, transgender-, or queer-owned businesses. Currently, this data is reported regarding women-owned, minority-owned, and small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2022
Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education for Autumn Act of 2022 or the SHINE for Autumn Act of 2022 This bill authorizes grants and establishes other programs to improve data collection on stillbirths. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may award grants for surveillance and data collection on stillbirths, and HHS must issue guidelines for health departments and vital statistics units concerning the collection of stillbirth data. HHS must also develop educational awareness materials about stillbirths and make them publicly available. Furthermore, HHS must implement a fellowship program to provide training in perinatal autopsy pathology and otherwise support research on stillbirths and fetal autopsies. The bill also requires HHS to issue a report with educational guidelines on stillbirths and stillbirth risk factors.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2022
Support Kids Not Red Tape Act of 2022 This bill extends and modifies the authority of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to waive certain requirements related to the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program. Current law authorizes USDA to waive certain requirements, such as those related to nutritional content and congregate feeding, for the purpose of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this bill, USDA shall have authority through FY2023 to grant such a waiver, with no waiver having effect past FY2023. Currently, USDA's authority to grant a waiver expires on June 30, 2022, with no waiver having effect past the 2021-2022 school year. If a state elects to receive a waiver that modifies the operation of a school breakfast or lunch program for the 2022-2023 school year, the state must provide a transition plan to USDA. USDA must provide technical assistance to help school food authorities and states meet nutritional standards and resume regular meal program operations for the 2023-2024 school year. While a waiver is in effect during the 2022-2023 school year, the state subject to the waiver must provide technical assistance in lieu of fiscal action for meal pattern violations due to supply chain disruptions. The bill also appropriates funds as necessary to carry out this bill's activities.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2022
This resolution designates March 24, 2022, as National Women in Agriculture Day. It also recognizes the important role of women in agriculture as producers, educators, leaders, mentors, and more.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2022
Military Spouse Hiring Act This bill expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include the hiring of a qualified military spouse. (The WOTC permits employers who hire individuals who are members of a targeted group such as qualified veterans, ex-felons, or long-term unemployment recipients to claim a tax credit equal to a portion of the wages paid to those individuals.) A qualified military spouse is any individual who is certified by the designated local agency as being (as of the hiring date) a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2022
Postal Banking Act This bill grants the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) the power to provide basic financial services, including low-cost, small-dollar loans, in specified amounts; small dollar lending servicing, which shall ensure that the customer's access to the products and the public interest is given significant consideration; small checking accounts and interest-bearing savings accounts in specified amounts; transactional and remittance services; and other basic financial services in the public interest. It grants the USPS the power to set interest rates and fees for the financial instruments and products provided by the USPS that meet specified requirements. The USPS (1) shall not be granted a bank charter or become an insured depository institution for the purpose of capital requirements, and (2) shall be subject to the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code regarding bank deposits and collections. The Federal Reserve Board of Governors shall transfer to the USPS such sums as necessary to carry out the services described in this bill, which shall (1) be sufficient to ensure that the products substantially decrease the number of people who do not have a bank account or use alternative financial products such as payday lending, check cashing, prepaid debt cards, and overdraft fees; and (2) be provided to the USPS through a separate account. The Government Accountability Office shall submit to Congress an annual report that includes the demographics, number of participants, and average balances and uses for such products.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2022
Erie Canalway National Heritage Reauthorization Act This bill increases the maximum amount of funding that may be authorized for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in the state of New York and extends the authority of the Department of the Interior to provide financial assistance for the corridor through FY2037.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2022
Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act This bill extends the authority of the Department of the Interior to make any grant or provide any assistance for the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area in New York through FY2037.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2022
Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 certain activities under the Impact Aid Program. The program provides funding to local educational agencies that have lost property tax revenue due to the presence of tax-exempt federal property or to those that have experienced increased expenditures due to enrollment of federally connected children (e.g., children living on Indian lands or military bases).
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2022
This resolution congratulates the people of Greece as they celebrate the 201st anniversary of Greece's independence. The resolution also expresses support for the principles of democratic governance to which the people of the United States and Greece are committed.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2022
Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act This bill authorizes the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to conduct on-site investigations of major fires and other fires under other specified circumstances. In the case of a major fire, the USFA may send incident investigators (e.g., safety specialists, fire protection engineers, codes and standards experts, researchers, and fire training specialists) to the site. Any such investigation shall (1) be conducted in coordination with appropriate federal, state, and local authorities; and (2) examine the determined cause and origin of the fire and assess broader systematic matters. Upon concluding any such investigation, the USFA must issue a public report to local, state, and federal authorities on the findings of such investigation or collaborate with another investigating federal agency on that agency's report. Additionally, the USFA may send fire investigators to conduct investigations at the site of any fire with unusual or remarkable context that results in losses less severe than those occurring as a result of a major fire.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2022
Flood Insurance Pricing Transparency Act This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to publish all formulas used by FEMA to calculate mitigation credits available to properties insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). (Under current NFIP rating methodology, individuals can receive premium credits for mitigation activity on their property such as installing flood openings, elevating the structure, and elevating machinery and equipment above the lowest floor.) FEMA must also develop a publicly available tool that estimates NFIP premium rates based on user inputs, including the change in rates as a result of mitigation activities.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2022
Into the Light for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Act of 2022 or the Into the Light for MMH and SUD Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 a program that addresses maternal depression and, among other changes, expands its scope to include mental health and substance use disorders. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to maintain a national hotline to provide mental health and substance use disorder resources to pregnant and postpartum women and their families.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2022
Restoring Offshore Wind Opportunities Act This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to grant leases on the Outer Continental Shelf for activities that produce or support production, transportation, or transmission of energy from sources other than oil and gas (e.g., wind energy) in certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic and Straits of Florida Planning Areas. In September of 2020, presidential memorandums placed a moratorium on all energy leases in those areas for a 10-year period. This bill allows energy leases from such sources in those areas during that time.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2022
Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response Reauthorization Act This bill revises eligibility criteria and other aspects of a program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that supports a network of centers for public health preparedness. Specifically, the bill makes nonprofits and institutions of higher education other than schools of public health eligible to participate in the program, whereas current participation is generally limited to accredited schools of public health. Further, the bill shifts the program's focus from curricula development and training public health practitioners to other areas, such as (1) researching and disseminating evidence-based practices to inform preparedness and response activities, and (2) providing technical assistance and expertise to health departments during public health emergencies. The bill also repeals a demonstration program for improving the detection of pathogens likely to be used in bioterrorism attacks.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2022
Rural Prosperity Act of 2022 This bill addresses social, economic, and community well-being and resilience in rural communities. Specifically, the bill establishes, within the Executive Office of the President, the Office of Rural Prosperity to promote and support social and economic prosperity in rural areas. The office, among other duties, must develop (1) a strategy for rural development, and (2) metrics to measure the effectiveness of federal programs on rural areas. Additionally, the bill sets up a council that includes representatives from federal agencies and White House policy offices to ensure collaboration across federal agencies and with other stakeholders concerning the needs of rural areas. The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture to develop, and report on the implementation of, a rural prosperity action plan that addresses structural challenges that affect rural communities.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2022
Territories Medicare Prescription Drug Assistance Equity Act of 2022 This bill makes certain subsidies under the Medicare prescription drug benefit available to beneficiaries who reside in Puerto Rico or another U.S. territory. Current law makes such beneficiaries ineligible for premium and cost-sharing subsidies, but establishes a process for U.S. territories to apply for financial assistance with respect to the provision of Medicare prescription drugs. The bill eliminates this process and makes the subsidies available to beneficiaries who reside in a U.S. territory and are otherwise eligible.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2022
Susan Muffley Act of 2022 This bill restores the full vested monthly benefits for eligible participants of certain pension plans that were sponsored by Delphi Corporation and terminated as a result of General Motors' bankruptcy in 2009. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) must recalculate and adjust each plan participant's monthly benefits payment. The PBGC must also apply the recalculation to previously-made monthly payments and make a lump-sum payment for any additional benefits based on the recalculation. The bill establishes and provides appropriations to a fund for the payment of these benefits and specifies how the lump-sum payments are treated for tax purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2022
Striking Workers Healthcare Protection Act This bill prohibits an employer from terminating or significantly altering the employer-provided health insurance coverage of an employee engaged in a lawful strike. An employer that violates this prohibition is subject to a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for each violation.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2022
Arbitration Fairness for Consumers Act This bill deems as invalid or unenforceable a predispute arbitration agreement or joint-action waiver related to a consumer financial product or service.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2022
Continued Waiver of Interest on State Unemployment Loans during the Pandemic Act This bill extends the waiver on interest on State Unemployment Loans from September 6, 2021, to September 30, 2022.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2022
Job Protection Act This bill reduces from 12 months to 90 days the employment period required for employees (including federal employees) to become eligible for family and medical leave. Additionally, the bill makes the family and medical leave requirements applicable to all employers (currently, the requirements apply to employers with 50 or more employees).
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 2022
This resolution recognizes Black History Month as an opportunity to reflect on U.S. history and to commemorate the contributions of African Americans. It calls for the United States to (1) honor the contribution of pioneers who helped to ensure its legacy; and (2) move forward as a nation "indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 2022
Made in America Manufacturing Communities Act of 2022 This bill establishes the Manufacturing Communities Support Program to provide financial and technical assistance to support investments in U.S. manufacturing.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 2022
Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill makes various changes to the authorities and programs of regional economic and infrastructure development commissions. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes the Southwest Border Regional Commission, the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) and establishes and expands NBRC grant programs. The NBRC must establish a state capacity building program to provide grants to commission states (Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont) to better support business retention and expansion in eligible counties and for other specified purposes. Each commission state shall provide to the NBRC an annual work plan that includes the proposed use of the grant. Additionally, the NBRC may make grants for the planning, construction, equipment, and operation of demonstration health, nutrition, and child care projects. Such grants must give special emphasis to projects and activities to address substance use disorders, including opioid and methamphetamine use. The bill authorizes these regional commissions (as part of economic and infrastructure development grants) to (1) design, build, implement, or upgrade transportation or basic public infrastructure or workforce capacity to support the adaptation to and mitigation of climate challenges; and (2) promote the production of housing to meet economic development and workforce needs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2022
This resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that Canada should not allow construction of a nuclear waste repository within the Great Lakes Basin. It also states that the President and the Department of State should work with Canada to prevent such construction and craft a long-term solution for nuclear waste storage that does not threaten the Great Lakes.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2022
Put Trafficking Victims First Act of 2022 This bill sets forth provisions intended to help assess the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States and improve support for victims of trafficking and service providers. The Department of Justice (DOJ) must work with federal entities and other stakeholders to do the following: establish a working group to improve the collection and analysis of data on the incidence of trafficking, report on efforts to develop methodologies to determine the prevalence of human trafficking, and survey survivors to estimate the prevalence of human trafficking and improve services for victims. DOJ must also report on efforts to increase restitution to victims of trafficking.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 2022
Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill modifies and reauthorizes through FY2027 programs and activities under the Violence Against Women Act that seek to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. The bill also authorizes new programs, makes changes to federal criminal laws, and establishes new protections to promote housing stability and economic security for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 2022
STOCK Act 2.0 This bill expands restrictions on investment practices and requirements for financial disclosures that apply to specified high-level government officials. In particular, the bill bars individual stock trading by (1) Members of Congress, (2) the President and Vice President, (3) Supreme Court Justices, (4) governors of the Federal Reserve Board, and (5) presidents and vice presidents of Federal Reserve banks. Additionally, the bill requires financial disclosures to include loans, contracts, and other benefits (excluding salaries, compensation, or tax refunds) from the federal government. It also requires additional officials, namely judges and senior leaders of Federal Reserve banks, to make the disclosures. Further, the bill directs supervising ethics agencies to make the disclosures publicly available in formats that are easily searchable, sortable, and downloadable.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 2022
America's Call To Improve Opportunities Now for National Service Act or the ACTION for National Service Act This bill (1) converts the Corporation for National and Community Service into the AmeriCorps Administration and revises its membership, leadership, and authority; (2) reauthorizes programs carried out by the administration; (3) establishes a National Service Foundation to accept and administer gifts on behalf of the administration; (4) modifies the calculation of national service educational awards; and (5) otherwise modifies provisions related to national and volunteer service programs. Additionally, the bill creates an interagency Civilian Climate Corps, operated by the administration, to conduct service projects addressing climate change.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 2022
Slave-Free Business Certification Act of 202 2 This bill requires businesses with annual revenue greater than $500 million to audit their supply chains for labor practices or human trafficking activities that violate specified national or international standards and report the results to the Department of Labor.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2022
Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022 This bill requires owners of certain federally assisted rental dwelling units to install temperature sensors in those units within a year after the bill is enacted. The bill also requires those owners to record the temperature in those units at least six times each day and to report that information to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2022
Promoting Local Arts and Creative Economy Workforce Act of 2022 or the PLACE Act This bill establishes or modifies various programs that support opportunities for education or job training in a creative industry or occupation.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2022
Heating and Cooling Relief Act This bill provides additional energy assistance to households, including heating and cooling assistance. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and revises the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Under the existing program, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may award grants to states for assisting low-income households that pay a high proportion of their income for home energy. To be eligible under the existing program, households must have incomes which do not exceed the greater of an amount equal to 150% of the poverty level for their state or an amount equal to 60% of the state median income. The bill expands eligibility to households with incomes which do not exceed the greater of an amount equal to 250% of the poverty line as defined in the Community Services Block Grant Act or an amount equal to 80% of the state median income. In addition, the bill expands eligibility to households with a monthly energy burden of 3% or more per year. It also requires states to establish procedures to protect households receiving assistance under the program from energy shutoffs and certain late fees. In addition, the bill requires HHS and the Department of Energy to jointly carry out a program that awards grants to states and local governments for developing and implementing interagency plans to reduce energy burdens for eligible households with high home energy use. The plans must promote the reduction of energy from fossil fuels.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2022
This resolution expresses gratitude for the personnel of the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Capitol Police for their bravery and service to the United States and reaffirms the dedication of the Senate to strengthening the rights of and support to those personnel.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2022
Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2022 This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, amounts received by members of the Nurse Corps as scholarships or loan forgiveness.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2022
Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2022 This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Constance Baker Motley in recognition of her contributions and service to the United States in advancing civil rights as an attorney, elected official, and judge.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 2022
Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022 This bill authorizes security assistance for Ukraine, requires sanctions against Russia if it escalates hostilities in or against Ukraine, and addresses related issues. The bill (1) authorizes the Department of Defense to use various authorities to provide and expedite the delivery of defense articles to support Ukraine's armed forces, (2) allows the President to exercise drawdown authority to provide defense articles to Ukraine, and (3) authorizes the Department of State to provide International Military Education and Training assistance to Ukraine. The President must periodically determine whether Russia's government is significantly escalating hostilities in or against Ukraine and whether such an escalation has the aim or effect of undermining Ukraine's government or interfering with Ukraine's sovereignty or territorial integrity. If the President determines that Russia's government has engaged in such escalation, the President must impose sanctions on (1) certain government officials, including Russia's president and prime minister; (2) certain Russian financial institutions; (3) entities involved in certain transactions involving Russian debt; (4) entities (and corporate officers of such entities) involved in constructing or operating Russia's Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline; and (5) certain entities involved in Russian resource extraction industries. The President may terminate such sanctions after certifying to Congress that Russia's government has taken certain actions, such as entering into an agreed settlement with Ukraine's legitimate democratic government. The bill also authorizes Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to explore opening new bureaus to reach new audiences on Russia's periphery. The State Department must establish an initiative to deepen and foster ties with the Baltic states.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 2022
Masks for All Act of 2022 This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to manufacture and distribute N-95 respirator masks to every individual in the United States and to provide N-95 masks to all individuals working in health care settings in the United States that are experiencing a shortage of such masks. FEMA must provide the masks at no cost to individuals and deliver them, to the greatest extent possible, using the U.S. Postal Service. Additionally, FEMA shall designate mask pickup sites in each community and shall provide masks to each site, allocated according to population; consider new designs for masks to improve comfort, fit, and size options; and submit to Congress a strategic plan that includes monthly, measurable targets to eliminate shortages and increase domestic production of N-95 masks and to fulfill all other requirements of this bill. The President shall make use of any and all available authorities (including emergency authorities) at the disposal of the federal government to procure and domestically manufacture N-95 masks and support the domestic manufacturing of N-95 masks.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 2022
New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act This bill requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Program, a nonregulatory program, to coordinate restoration and protection activities among government entities and conservation partners throughout the watershed. The bill also establishes the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Grant Program, a voluntary grant and technical assistance program, to provide competitive matching grants to certain entities to implement restoration and protection activities for the watershed.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 2022
Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act This bill requires each Member of Congress to divest or place in a blind trust any specified investment owned by the Member, the Member's spouse, or a dependent of the Member. This requirement applies for the entire period of a Member's service in Congress and for 180 days after that service ceases. A Member of Congress who does not comply with the bill's requirements is subject to a fine equal to the Member's monthly congressional salary. The fine must be assessed 30 days after notice of the violation is issued and at least every subsequent 30 days.
![Official portrait of Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/g000555_200.jpg)