United States · United States Congress · 5 August 2022
Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2022 This bill establishes a process to vacate convictions and expunge arrest records for certain criminal offenses committed by victims of human trafficking that directly result from or relate to having been a trafficking victim. It defines the offenses eligible to be vacated or expunged and sets forth procedures for filing a motion. The bill directs the Government Accountability Office to assess the impact of this process, including the number of human trafficking survivors who file motions to vacate convictions or expunge records. The bill permits certain grants for legal representation to be used to seek post-conviction relief. Finally, the bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that certain offenses were induced by duress if the defendant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that he or she was a victim of human trafficking at the time of the offense.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2022
Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop scenario-based training curricula (or identify existing curricula) that includes topics such as alternatives to the use of force, de-escalation tactics, and safely responding to an individual experiencing a mental, behavioral health, or suicidal crisis. The bill also directs DOJ to make grants to states for costs associated with providing the training to law enforcement officers or mental health professionals.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2022
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 123 South 3rd Street in King City, California, as the "Chief Rudy Banuelos Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2022
Protecting Families from Fertility Fraud Act of 2022 This bill establishes a new federal criminal offense for knowingly misrepresenting the nature or source of DNA used in assisted reproductive technology or assisted insemination. The term assisted reproductive technology includes any treatment or procedure that involves the handling of human oocytes or embryos, such as in vitro fertilization, gamete intrafallopian transfer, and zygote intrafallopian transfer. The term assisted insemination includes any procedure that involves the handling of sperm including intrauterine insemination. A violation is subject to a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both. Additionally, the bill makes the violation a predicate offense (i.e., an underlying offense) for prosecutions under the federal racketeering statute.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2022
VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2022 or the VALID Act of 2022 The bill requires a Federal Housing Administration mortgage notice to a veteran to contain comparative rate and fee information about loans available under the Veterans Affairs home loan program.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2022
This resolution urges the International Olympic Committee to recognize with a minute of silence at every future Olympics Opening Ceremony those who lost their lives at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2022
Billionaire Minimum Income Tax Act This bill imposes a minimum tax on individual taxpayers whose net worth for the taxable year exceeds $100 million. The tax is equal to 20% of the sum of a taxpayer's taxable income, plus net unrealized gains for the taxable year. The tax may not exceed 40% of the amount by which the taxpayer's net worth exceeds $100 million.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2022
Russia is a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act This bill designates Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. (A country with this designation is subject to certain restrictions, including a ban on receiving U.S. defense exports and limits on receiving U.S. foreign assistance.)
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2022
Housing Access Improvement Act This bill increases from 20% to 50% the amount of funding for the Housing Choice Voucher program that a public housing agency (PHA) may use for project-based vouchers. (This program subsidizes rent for low-income recipients.) Under current law, a PHA must use at least 80% of its funding for tenant-based vouchers (which subsidize recipients' rental of any private apartment that meets program guidelines) and may use up to 20% of its funding for project-based vouchers (which attach to a specific rental unit that the landlord commits to make available for voucher recipients for a contracted term).
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2022
Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of Shirley Chisholm, in recognition of her activism, independence, and groundbreaking achievements in politics, election as the first African American woman in Congress, and campaign to be the first African American to gain the nomination of a major political party for President of the United States. Following its award, the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution where it shall be available for display and research.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2022
Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings Act of 2022 or the SWIMS Act of 2022 This bill establishes prohibitions on capturing, importing, exporting, or breeding of orcas, beluga whales, false killer whales, or pilot whales for the purpose of public display. Specifically, the bill prohibits the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from issuing any permit under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 that authorizes the taking (e.g., capturing) or importation of such orcas or whales for the purpose of public display. The bill further revises the act to make it unlawful to export such orcas or whales, unless they are being transported to marine mammal sanctuaries or for release into the wild. Further, the bill makes it unlawful under the Animal Welfare Act for any person to breed or artificially inseminate such marine mammals for purposes of using their progeny for public display.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2022
This resolution condemns the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, extends condolences to the family of former Prime Minister Abe and the people of Japan, honors the life and legacy of former Prime Minister Abe, and calls for a renewed commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2022
Trauma-Informed Schools Act of 2022 This bill provides for the use of trauma-informed practices in public elementary and secondary schools and allows states to use certain federal funds to train teachers and other staff in such practices. The bill defines t rauma-informed practices to include evidence-based professional development that promotes a shared understanding among teachers and other staff that adverse and potentially traumatic experiences are common among students and that school-wide learning environments where all students and adults feel safe, welcomed, and supported can enable students to succeed despite such experiences; adoption of disciplinary procedures and practices that utilize evidence-based restorative practices that build a culture of trust; and activities that engage teachers, other staff, and families in a process of school-based planning to help all students feel safe and connected to the school community.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2022
Millennium Challenge Corporation Eligibility Expansion Act This bill modifies income-related eligibility requirements for assistance from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a program that provides assistance through a competitive selection process to eligible developing countries based on various factors, including a country's level of economic freedom and effectiveness of government. Currently, to be a candidate to receive MCC assistance, a country must, among other requirements, must (1) fit the World Bank's income-based criteria for a low- or lower-middle-income country, or (2) be among the 75 lowest per capita income countries according to the World Bank. Under this bill, a candidate country must have a gross national income per capita no higher than the 125th poorest country as identified by the World Bank for the fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2022
Coastal State Climate Preparedness Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Commerce to establish a coastal climate change adaptation preparedness and response program. Under the program, Commerce must (1) assist coastal states with voluntarily developing coastal climate change adaptation plans, and (2) provide financial and technical assistance as well as training for coastal states to implement the adaptation plans.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2022
Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 activities to implement the Global Food Security Strategy, a whole-of-government strategy to promote global food security, resilience, and nutrition. The bill also modifies aspects of the strategy, such as requiring the strategy to seek to improve the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2028 activities related to the Emergency Food Security Program, an international market-based assistance program.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2022
Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act This bill reauthorizes and expands (1) child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and other institutional food service programs; and (2) the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2022
Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 This bill expands eligibility for a program that authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to, at its discretion, provide lawful permanent resident status to certain long-term residents of the United States, including individuals who are unlawfully present. Currently, this program, sometimes referred to as the Registry program, is only available to eligible non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who entered the United States before January 1, 1972. The bill removes this entry cutoff date and opens up the program to eligible individuals who have resided in the United States for at least seven years. Existing requirements (e.g., the individual must not be inadmissible or deportable due to certain grounds related to crime or terrorism) continue to apply.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2022
Expanding Access to Family Planning Act This bill provides, subject to specified conditions, funding through FY2032 for federally funded family planning services and clinics. In particular, the funds must be used for (1) grants and contracts that support the provision of family planning services, and (2) clinic infrastructure (e.g., construction and renovation of clinics). Clinics that receive funding to provide family planning services must offer each patient with a positive pregnancy test the opportunity for nondirective counseling on (1) prenatal care and delivery; (2) infant care, foster care, and adoption; and (3) pregnancy termination. This counseling must include referrals if requested by a patient. Additionally, if a funding recipient makes subawards for the provision of family planning services, the recipient may not prohibit an entity from participating in a subaward program for reasons other than the entity's inability to provide family planning services.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2022
Respect for Marriage Act This bill provides statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages. Specifically, the bill replaces provisions that define, for purposes of federal law, marriage as between a man and a woman and spouse as a person of the opposite sex with provisions that recognize any marriage that is valid under state law. (The Supreme Court held that the current provisions were unconstitutional in United States v. Windsor in 2013.) The bill also replaces provisions that do not require states to recognize same-sex marriages from other states with provisions that prohibit the denial of full faith and credit or any right or claim relating to out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. (The Supreme Court held that state laws barring same-sex marriages were unconstitutional in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015; the Court held that state laws barring interracial marriages were unconstitutional in Loving v. Virginia in 1967.) The bill allows the Department of Justice to bring a civil action and establishes a private right of action for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2022
College Operational Reporting of Emergencies Involving Teens and Young Adults Safety Act of 2022 or the COREY Safety Act of 2022 This bill expands reporting requirements included in the annual security report provided to current and prospective students and employees of each institution of higher education (IHE). Specifically, the bill requires each IHE to include in its report information about the number of incidents that result in serious physical harm or death involving (1) transportation on foot or via bikes, scooters, skateboards, longboards, or motor vehicles; (2) ground level and high height slips and falls; (3) alcohol or drug overdoses; and (4) choking or drowning. Further, the IHE must also include in the report a statement containing the name, address, and distance from campus of the closest Level I trauma center. Additionally, the bill changes the name of the report from annual security report to annual campus safety report .
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2022
Puerto Rico Status Act This bill provides for a plebiscite to be held on November 5, 2023, to resolve Puerto Rico's political status. Specifically, such plebiscite shall offer eligible voters a choice of independence, sovereignty in free association with the United States, or statehood. The Puerto Rico State Elections Commission shall carry out a nonpartisan voter education campaign through traditional paid media and make available at all voting locations voter education materials related to the plebiscites. All voter educational materials and ballots used to carry out this bill shall be made available in English and Spanish. The bill sets forth transition and implementation provisions for each choice offered in the plebiscite.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2022
Public Health Air Quality Act of 2022 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to take specified actions related to monitoring and improving air quality, including by implementing a program to administer or conduct emissions measurement and quantification, promulgating regulations related to specified source categories, and deploying not fewer than 1,000 air quality sensors.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2022
Youth Voting Rights Act This bill expands voting access for youth. Specifically, the bill establishes a private right of action to enforce the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, which prohibits denying or abridging the right to vote based on age. Additionally, the bill directs each state to designate as voter registration agencies all offices within public institutions of higher education (IHEs) that provide assistance to students, implement a preregistration process to allow minors who are 16 years or older to register to vote in federal elections that take place when or after the preregistered individual turns age 18, and ensure the availability of polling places on campuses of IHEs (with the availability of waivers). The bill prohibits durational residency requirements for voting in all federal elections. Currently, this prohibition applies only to voting for the offices of President and Vice President. States and local jurisdictions with voter identification requirements must treat IHE-issued student identification cards as voter identification. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must make grants to states to increase the involvement of individuals under age 18 in public election activities. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on trends related to voter registration, absentee voting, and provisional voting. The EAC must also collect and make publicly available certain data from states.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2022
Clean Shipping Act of 2022 This bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to require vessels on certain commercial voyages to comply with standards for the carbon intensity of the vessel's fuel on a specified schedule, with vessels on such voyages utilizing 100% less than the carbon intensity baseline by 2040 and beyond. Additionally, the EPA must promulgate and continually revise standards to eliminate emissions of specified greenhouse gases and air pollutants associated with vessels at anchorage or at berth in the contiguous zone of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2022
Upholding Human Rights Abroad Act This bill prohibits, with some exceptions, the Department of Defense (DOD) from providing certain support to forces (e.g., foreign forces or irregular forces) engaged in U.S. special operations if DOD has credible information that the force in question has committed a gross violation of human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2022
Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022 This bill prohibits anyone acting under state law from interfering with a person's ability to access out-of-state abortion services. ( Abortion services includes the use of any drugs that are approved to terminate pregnancies and any health care services related to an abortion, whether or not provided at the same time or on the same day.) Specifically, the bill prohibits any person acting under state law from preventing, restricting, impeding, or retaliating against health care providers who provide legal abortion services to out-of-state residents, any person or entity who helps health care providers to provide such services, any person who travels to another state to obtain such services, any person or entity who helps another person travel to another state to obtain such services, or the movement in interstate commerce of drugs that are approved to terminate pregnancies. The Department of Justice may enforce this bill through civil actions; the bill also establishes a private right of action for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2022
Reinforcing the Grid Against Extreme Weather Act This bill requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue a rule to establish minimum transfer capabilities between transmission planning regions to help stabilize the electric grid.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2022
Grid Resilience Act This bill requires the Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Electric Reliability Organization to jointly study the feasibility of establishing or modifying a reliability standard (i.e., a requirement to provide for reliable operation of the electric grid) for thermoelectric power plants during droughts.
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
This resolution affirms the leadership and commitment of the U.S. government in efforts to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and to support and protect survivors of such violence. The resolution calls on the United States to ensure mechanisms to hold perpetrators of sexual violence accountable are included in peacebuilding resolutions, and that women participate fully in such peace processes in accordance with the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2022
Telemental Health Parity Act of 2022 This bill requires private health insurance plans to apply benefits for mental health or substance use disorder services that are furnished via telehealth in the same manner as those services that are furnished in person. Under current mental health parity rules, insurance plans that provide benefits for mental health or substance use disorder services are generally required to make those benefits comparable to the benefits the plan provides for medical and surgical care.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2022
This resolution recognizes the significance of the 40th anniversary of Vincent Chin's death and mourns those of have lost their lives to anti-Asian hate. Vincent Chin was killed in a racially motivated assault.
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 · 22 June 2022
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights are human rights and protected by the U.S. Constitution; (2) LGBTQIA+ Pride Month should be celebrated; and (3) all Americans should be treated equally regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2022
James Weldon Johnson Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue 400,000 $1 silver coins emblematic of James Weldon Johnson, an influential writer, diplomat, educator, lawyer, and civil rights activist. All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of such coins must be paid to Historic Stanton, Inc. and the James Weldon Johnson Foundation.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2022
Facial Recognition Ban on Body Cameras Act This bill establishes a framework to prohibit federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies from using facial recognition technology on images captured by body-worn cameras. Specifically, the bill prohibits federal law enforcement agencies from using facial recognition technology or other remote biometric surveillance systems on any image acquired by body-worn cameras of law enforcement officers. Additionally, the bill requires state and local governments to comply with a similar law or policy as a condition of receiving funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2022
This resolution reaffirms the goals of World Refugee Day and the commitment of the United States to promote the safety and well-being of refugees and asylum seekers.
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
This resolution expresses that the House of Representatives demands the government of Russia treat all forcibly detained people with dignity and abide by the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, also known as the Humanitarian Law of Armed Conflicts; urges the United States and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to closely monitor the treatment of prisoners of war and ensure appropriate actions are taken to verify their safety and health; urges that the global community hold Vladimir Putin, the Russian government, and its allies accountable for war crimes committed during the military invasion of Ukraine; and condemns the continued use of unlawful and indiscriminate violence against civilian populations by the Russian government, its allies, and any other parties to the conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2022
Ukrainian Fighter Pilots Act This bill authorizes providing assistance and training to Ukrainian military pilots and other Ukrainian forces involved in flying or maintaining F-15 and F-16 aircraft.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2022
Good Jobs for Good Airports Act This bill addresses pay, benefits, and labor standards for certain airport service workers. Airport service workers include security officers, food service workers, cleaning staff, ticketing agents, and retail service workers. Specifically, the bill establishes a minimum wage and benefit standard for such airport service workers at large, medium, and small hub airports. It also prohibits small, medium, and large hub airports from accessing federal funds for airport development projects unless the airports certify that such airport service workers are paid no less than the higher of $15 per hour, the applicable state or local minimum wage and fringe benefits, or the prevailing wage and fringe benefits required under the Service Contract Act as established by the Department of Labor.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2022
This resolution recognizes the historical significance to the nation of Juneteenth Independence Day (commemorating the end of slavery in the United States).
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2022
Prioritizing Clean Energy and Climate Cooperation with India Act of 2022 This bill establishes the U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership and addresses related issues. The partnership shall serve as the primary forum and funding mechanism for U.S.-India cooperation on clean energy technology matters. The Department of State must report to Congress a comprehensive multiyear strategy for implementing the partnership. The bill requires programs to promote U.S.-India partnerships in (1) research and innovation for clean energy technologies, (2) initiatives for providing technical assistance for grid improvement and energy efficiency in India, and (3) initiatives to develop new renewable energy generation capacity in India. The U.S. Agency for International Development must work cooperatively with India's government on integrating scientifically supported climate change risk reduction and building resilience capacities in India. The State Department must report to Congress on the prospects for cooperation between U.S. states and states in India on clean energy issues.
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 · 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
Sustaining Our Democracy Act This bill establishes and provides funds through FY2032 for the State Election Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund for purposes of promoting election activities. Specifically, the bill establishes the Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program, through which the Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation (also established by this bill) shall make allocations to states for carrying out democracy promotion activities. These activities include improving the administration of federal elections, recruiting and training nonpartisan election officials and poll workers, and increasing voting access. The bill requires each state, in order to receive allocated funds, to (1) submit a plan for approval that describes how the state will distribute resources and carry out democracy promotion activities, and (2) establish uniform and nondiscriminatory state-based administrative complaint procedures. The bill prohibits states from using funds for certain activities, including any activity that diminishes the ability of any eligible voter to participate in the electoral process.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2022
Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Commerce to designate at least seven entities as Ocean Innovation Clusters. Ocean Innovation Clusters are hubs of operation and entrepreneurship for private, public, and academic stakeholders to collaborate on opportunities to promote and enhance the maritime industry. In designating entities, Commerce shall prioritize entities with a history of supporting cross-sector growth and development of the Blue Economy. Additionally, Commerce must designate at least one Ocean Innovation Cluster in (1) each of the regions covered by the five regional offices of the National Marine Fisheries Service, (2) the Great Lakes region, and (3) the Gulf of Mexico region. Commerce may award competitive grants for the establishment, operation, and administration of Ocean Innovation Clusters.
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.