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51 records in US in 2022
United States · United States Congress · 30 December 2022
Developing Robust Investments in Vehicle Education for Roadway Safety Act or the DRIVERS Act This bill addresses statewide efforts to improve traffic safety for teen drivers. Specifically, the bill authorizes states to use highway safety program funding for affordable and accessible classroom-based driving instruction to prepare teens for state graduated driving license requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 23 December 2022
Blocked Rail Crossings Safety Improvement Act of 2021 This bill addresses safety and congestion along railroad right-of-way and highway-rail grade crossings. For example, the bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide grants to (1) assist state, local, and tribal governments in funding the cost of highway-rail grade crossing separation projects; and (2) help nonprofit organizations carry out public information and education programs to help prevent and reduce rail-related pedestrian, motor vehicle, and other incidents, injuries, and fatalities, and to improve awareness along railroad right-of-way and at highway-rail grade crossings. Additionally, the bill prohibits railroad carriers from obstructing travel at public highway-rail crossings for more than 10 minutes, except under limited circumstances (e.g., safety issues). Further, DOT must (1) establish a national blocked crossings database for the public to report blocked crossing incidents; (2) conduct a comprehensive review of the national highway-rail crossing inventory; and (3) revise its regulations, guidance, or other relevant agency documents to include the number of suicides on a railroad crossing or railroad right-of-way in the total number of rail fatalities it reports each year.
United States · United States Congress · 22 December 2022
Rare disease Advancement, surveillance Research, and Education Act of 2022 or the RARE Act of 2022 The bill reauthorizes through FY2028 the National Institutes of Health Rare Disease Regional Centers of Excellence and expands activities to facilitate research and increase awareness of rare diseases and conditions. (Rare diseases and conditions are those with a prevalence of fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States.) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may expand infrastructure and activities to track the epidemiology of up to four rare diseases and conditions and incorporate this information into a National Rare Disease or Condition Surveillance System. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality must expand its activities to increase health care providers' awareness of rare diseases and conditions. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, or another appropriate entity, must update the 2010 report Rare Diseases and Orphan Products: Accelerating Research and Development.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2022
Aviation Workforce, Opportunity, Recruiting, Knowledge, and Supply Act or the Aviation WORKS Act This bill extends through FY2028 and expands aviation workforce development programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Specifically, the bill directs DOT to establish an aviation manufacturing development grant program to develop the aviation manufacturing and supplier workforce. It also requires DOT to develop and support the education of workers who design or produce any aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance, or a component, part, or system thereof, that (1) is produced under a production approval issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), (2) has been issued a design approval by the FAA, or (3) has an active application for a design approval. Additionally, DOT must establish a program to provide grants for eligible projects to plan, establish, and expand workforce development partnership programs in the aviation and aerospace industry sector.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2022
This bill establishes bonding requirements for the recipient of a water infrastructure construction loan under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. A borrower must secure the financed project with payment and performance bonds in minimum amounts set out in the bill.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2022
Light Rail Transit Act This bill directs the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to establish a grant program to provide grants to state, local, and tribal governments for the design and implementation of light rail projects, including for the redesign, retrofit, renovation, update, and repair of existing light rail systems. As condition of receiving a grant, eligible entities must certify that fares for riding the light rail transit system shall not increase solely due to improvements carried out with grant funds and for any reason for at least one year after completion of a project funded by the bill. In carrying out the program, the FTA must prioritize projects located in economically disadvantaged communities.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2022
Bus Rapid Transit Act This bill directs the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to establish a grant program to provide grants to state, local, and tribal governments for the design and implementation of bus rapid transit systems, including for the redesign, retrofit, renovation, update, and repair of existing bus systems. As a condition of receiving a grant, eligible entities must certify that fares for riding the bus rapid transit system shall not increase solely due to improvements carried out with grant funds and for any reason for at least one year after completion of a project funded by the bill. In carrying out the program, the FTA must prioritize projects located in economically disadvantaged communities.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2022
Offshore Energy Modernization Act of 2022 This bill addresses the implementation and administration of offshore renewable energy projects, including by establishing the Offshore Power Administration to (1) construct, finance, facilitate, plan, operate, maintain, acquire, and study covered transmission infrastructure; and (2) support construction, financing, facilitation, planning, operation, maintenance, acquisition, and study of covered transmission infrastructure.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2022
Local Infrastructure Funding & Technical Assistance Act or the LIFT Act This bill authorizes the Department of Commerce to provide grants under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 for predevelopment projects—measures required to be completed before construction of resilient climate infrastructure occurs—and related technical assistance. Grants may be provided to economic development districts, states, Indian tribes, local governments, institutions of higher education, individuals, and other organizations as specified by the bill.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2022
School Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act or the SIFIA Act This bill allows a new tax credit for the issuance of school infrastructure finance and innovation bonds (SIFIA bonds). The bill defines SIFIA bonds as any bond issue if 100% of the project proceeds of such issue are to be used for the design, construction, expansion, renovation, furnishing, or equipping of qualified school facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2022
Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2022 This bill revises provisions related to passenger vessel security and safety. The bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop standards for cruise ship owners to provide passengers with a conspicuous and unambiguous summary of key terms of passage contracts before they are binding. Vessel owners must provide each passenger with a summary meeting those standards and include the summary in promotional literature. The bill prescribes civil and criminal penalties for violations. DOT must (1) establish a hotline for passenger complaints, (2) determine whether any of the enumerated rights in the international cruise line passenger bill of rights (adopted by the members of the Cruise Lines International Association) are enforceable under federal law, and (3) establish an advisory committee for passenger vessel consumer protection. Vessel owners must ensure that a vessel is staffed with sea marshals and medical staff. DOT must designate a director of victim support services, establish a 24-hour telephone number for crime victims, develop a written summary of rights for crime victims, maintain a statistical compilation of reported incidents, and study the feasibility of having an individual on board each vessel to provide victim support and related services. The Department of Homeland Security may withhold or revoke the clearance of, and the Coast Guard may deny entry into the United States to, any vessel owner who commits an act or omission for which a penalty is imposed under this bill or fails to pay the penalty.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2022
Stop Airplane Seat Shrinking Act This bill prohibits air carriers from reducing the size of passenger seats on aircraft until the Federal Aviation Administration issues a final rule establishing minimum dimensions for passenger seats.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2022
Prompt Refunds for Cancelled Flights Act This bill provides that it shall be an unfair or deceptive practice for an air carrier, foreign air carrier, or ticket agent who sells a ticket for air transportation to fail to provide a refund with respect to such ticket if the air transportation is cancelled or significantly changed. It does not apply to a ticket holder who voluntarily accepts alternative transportation or other compensation offered in lieu of a refund.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2022
Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund Act of 2022 This bill establishes the Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund within the Department of Homeland Security to fund the procurement, deployment, and sustainment of aviation security checkpoint technology.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2022
State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act This bill allows states, tribes, territories, and localities to use certain COVID-19 relief funds for new categories of spending, including for natural disasters and infrastructure projects. It also makes changes to expenditure deadlines and other aspects of this funding. Specifically, recipients may use funds for emergency relief from natural disasters and associated negative economic impacts of natural disasters. In addition, recipients may use a portion of their COVID-19 relief funds for designated infrastructure projects, such as nationally significant freight and highway projects. Furthermore, the bill allows recipients to expend COVID-19 relief funds on these types of infrastructure projects until September 30, 2026. Under current law, recipients must expend the funds by December 31, 2024. Other changes in the bill include (1) modifying eligibility and allocation requirements for funding set aside for counties and Indian tribes that are near public lands, (2) allowing Indian tribes an additional year to expend their COVID-19 relief funds, and (3) establishing a process for government entities to decline COVID-19 relief funds and requiring any declined funds to be used to reduce the federal deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2022
Safeguarding Treatment for the Restoration of Ecosystems from Abandoned Mines Act or the STREAM Act This bill allows a state to set aside up to 30% of its annual grant for abandoned mine reclamation provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for the treatment and abatement of acid mine drainage, which is the release of acidic water from abandoned coal mines.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2022
Aviation Workforce, Opportunity, Recruiting, Knowledge, and Supply Act or the Aviation WORKS Act This bill extends through FY2028 and expands aviation workforce development programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Specifically, the bill directs DOT to establish an aviation manufacturing development grant program to develop the aviation manufacturing and supplier workforce. It also requires DOT to develop and support the education of workers who design or produce any aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance, or a component, part, or system thereof, that (1) is produced under a production approval issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), (2) has been issued a design approval by the FAA, or (3) has an active application for a design approval. Additionally, DOT must establish a program to provide grants for eligible projects to plan, establish, and expand workforce development partnership programs in the aviation and aerospace industry sector.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2022
Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus Act of 20 22 This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration to enter into an arrangement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to examine and report on the various health impacts of air traffic noise and pollution.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2022
Reducing Plastics in Wastewater Act This bill permits the use of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to construct or improve municipal water treatment facilities to reduce and remove plastic waste, microplastics, and other post-consumer materials from wastewater. That fund provides low-cost financing to communities for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2022
Short Line Railroad Relief Act This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to provide grants or enter into contracts and other agreements for capital projects to protect, repair, reconstruct, or replace short line railroad equipment and facilities in danger of suffering catastrophic damage, or that has suffered catastrophic damage, as a result of an emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2022
National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program through FY2027, directs the program to develop and implement new standards to make housing and infrastructure more resilient, and requires a study of the impacts of climate change on windstorms. Further, the bill encourages the implementation of cost-effective mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and property from windstorms through a coordinated federal effort, in cooperation with other levels of government, academia, scientific organizations, and the private sector.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2022
Trucker Bathroom Access Act This bill expands access to restroom facilities for certain commercial truck drivers, including drayage truck operators. Drayage truck operator means the driver of any in-use on-road vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 33,000 pounds operating on or transgressing through port or intermodal rail yard property for the purpose of loading, unloading, or transporting cargo, including containerized, bulk, or break-bulk goods. Specifically, the bill requires (1) retailers, warehouses, and other establishments to give commercial truck drivers access to existing restroom facilities when they are loading or delivering cargo; and (2) operators of ports and marine terminals to provide drayage truck operators with access to existing restrooms, additional restrooms if necessary, and parking while accessing such restrooms.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2022
Bridge Quality Preservation Act This bill establishes certain requirements to address corrosion control in bridge and railroad-bridge projects that receive federal assistance. Specifically, certified contractors must employ a substantial number of individuals who are certified by a qualified training program in corrosion control, mitigation, and prevention in order to work on certain aspects of bridge project activities. A certified contractor must also provide training for any non-certified coating applicators employed by the contractor to work on a project. The bill further requires bridge projects to implement a corrosion management system that utilizes industry-recognized standards and corrosion mitigation and prevention methods for construction, repair, and maintenance projects. In addition, the bill expands the scope of the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program to include corrosion control work on rail bridges. (This program provides direct loans and loan guarantees for the development of railroad infrastructure.) The bill also requires the Department of Transportation to study best practices for inspecting and addressing corrosion on weathering steel bridges. This report must be made available to state and local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and regional organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2022
Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act or the ALERT Parity Act This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to facilitate the provision of emergency communication services (e.g., 9-1-1 calls and emergency alerts) in unserved areas. An unserved area is one that has no commercial mobile service capable of providing emergency services because of a lack of infrastructure, destruction of infrastructure, a power outage, or other reason.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2022
Homeland Security Cyber Incident Response Roles and Responsibilities Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report on its roles and responsibilities, as well as those of its components, for responding to cyber incidents. DHS must coordinate with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on the report.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2022
Close Agency Loopholes to the Jones Act This bill eliminates several administrative exemptions to, and interpretations of, the Jones Act as enforced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Jones Act requires that vessels transporting cargo domestically must be U.S.-built and generally owned and crewed by U.S. citizens.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2022
This bill expands eligibility for the Bureau of Reclamation's competitive grant program for small water storage and groundwater storage projects. Under the bill, eligible projects must have a capacity of not less than 200 acre-feet (AF) of water. Current law requires an eligible project to have a capacity of not less than 2,000 AF of water. The bill also allows Reclamation to provide additional grants to certain dam rehabilitation and reconstruction projects provided that projects previously eligible under the program have received the necessary funding.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2022
This bill amends the Bureau of Reclamation's authority to carry out emergency work to include certain urban canals of concern and amends certain cost-sharing provisions. Specifically, the bill reclassifies Reclamation's urban canals of concern as emergency extraordinary maintenance and operation work necessary to ensure the continued safe, dependable, and reliable delivery of project benefits. An urban canal of concern conveys water through a densely populated urban area and the canal's failure would result in the loss of life and property in the vicinity of the failure. As emergency work, Reclamation may provide federal funds to an urban canal of concern project on a non-reimbursable basis sufficient to cover 35% of the cost. The bill further specifies that reimbursable funds provided under this provision must be considered a nonfederal source of funds for purposes of federal grant cost-sharing requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2022
Domestic Preferences for Building America Act This bill prioritizes U.S. contractors with respect to certain federally funded infrastructure projects. Specifically, amounts made available through a program for federal financial assistance may be obligated for an infrastructure project with a value of $100 million or more only if the recipient of such amounts certifies that, in obligating the amounts subject to the occurrence of adequate competition, the recipient shall award contracts only to U.S. persons and qualified U.S. joint ventures; and the recipient shall not award contracts to an entity that is owned or controlled by a corporation based in a country that has been identified as a nonmarket economy country, was included by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on the priority watch list, and is subject to certain monitoring by the USTR.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2022
Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin Act This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a final rule establishing evacuation standards for transport category airplanes that accounts for certain factors, including the ability of passengers of different ages (e.g., infants, children, and senior citizens) to safely and efficiently evacuate an airplane.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2022
Aviation Workforce Development Enhancement Act This bill expands aviation workforce development programs of the Federal Aviation Administration by providing additional grant funding for aircraft pilot development, the education and recruitment of aviation maintenance technical workers, and the development of the aviation manufacturing workforce.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2022
Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety and Oversight Improvements Act of 2022 This bill expands requirements for foreign manufacturers of cylinders used for transporting hazardous materials in the United States (e.g., compressed gas cylinders). Current regulations require foreign manufacturers to apply for approval from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration for testing such cylinders outside of the United States. For example, the bill requires that, to obtain an approval, manufacturers must answer in their applications specified questions, including whether the manufacturer is or has been subject to various civil or criminal penalties. The bill limits an approval to one year; however, the administration may extend an approval for five years if the manufacturer meets certain requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2022
Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin Act This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a final rule establishing evacuation standards for transport category airplanes that accounts for certain factors, including the ability of passengers of different ages (e.g., infants, children, and senior citizens) to safely and efficiently evacuate an airplane.
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2022
Methane Emissions Research Act of 2022 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a methane research pilot study to quantify methane emissions from infrastructure used for the production, gathering and boosting, processing, transmission, and storage of oil and natural gas in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2022
Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2022 This bill allows a new investment tax credit for 30% of the basis of any hydropower improvement property. The bill defines such property as property that, amount other things (1) adds or improves fish passage at a qualified dam (i.e., a hydroelectric dam licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or legally operating without such a license before the enactment of this bill); (2) maintains or improves the quality of the water retained or released by such a dam; (3) promotes downstream sediment transport processes and habitat maintenance for such a dam; (4) removes an obsolete river obstruction; or (5) places into service an approved remote dam (i.e., a hydroelectric dam that services certain communities and does not contribute to atmosphere pollution).
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2022
Collaborative Modifications to Aging Infrastructure Projects Act This bill allows the Bureau of Reclamation to modify project features for transferred works to increase public benefits as part the bureau's extraordinary operation and maintenance work on aging infrastructure projects. The bill also allows the reimbursable and nonreimbursable costs of these projects to be advanced from the Aging Infrastructure Account.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2022
Aviation Workforce Development Act This bill expands the aviation workforce development grant programs of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by increasing annual funding for aircraft pilot development and the development of the aviation maintenance workforce. It also directs the FAA to establish a national strategic plan for addressing projected shortages of aviation workers in the aviation industry.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2022
Airport Energy Resiliency and Renewable Energy Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish a grant program to incentivize air carrier airports to acquire or install new renewable energy generation resources that directly and substantially benefit such airports, including solar photovoltaic panels, battery storage systems, or microgrids.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2022
Department of Energy Clean Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to enable production, distribution, and use of clean hydrogen and to advance the development of related hydrogen infrastructure. Under the bill, DOE must also enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to examine research pathways for hydrogen production processes with net-zero direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2022
National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center Authorization Act of 2022 or the NBACC Authorization Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to designate a specified laboratory as the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC). It shall be the lead federal facility dedicated to defending the United States against biological threats. The NBACC may include the National Bioforensic Analysis Center and the National Biological Threat Characterization Center. The NBACC shall engage in specified activities, including conducting studies and experiments to better understand current and future biological threats and hazards and pandemics; providing the scientific data required to assess vulnerabilities, conduct risk assessments, and determine potential impacts to guide the development of countermeasures; conducting and facilitating the technical forensic analysis and interpretation of materials recovered following a biological attack, or in other law enforcement investigations requiring evaluation of biological materials, in support of the appropriate lead federal agency; and coordinating with other national laboratories to enhance research capabilities, share lessons learned, and provide training more efficiently. The NBACC must engage in a continuously operating Work for Others program to make the unique biocontainment and bioforensic capabilities of the NBACC available to other federal agencies; and perform regularly scheduled and required maintenance of laboratory infrastructure, and procure mission-critical equipment and capability upgrades. The Office of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall conduct a mission needs assessment of the NBACC.
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2022
National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center Authorization Act of 2022 or the NBACC Authorization Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to designate a specified laboratory as the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC). It shall be the lead federal facility dedicated to defending the United States against biological threats. The NBACC may include the National Bioforensic Analysis Center and the National Biological Threat Characterization Center. The NBACC shall engage in specified activities, including conducting studies and experiments to better understand current and future biological threats and hazards and pandemics; providing the scientific data required to assess vulnerabilities, conduct risk assessments, and determine potential impacts to guide the development of countermeasures; conducting and facilitating the technical forensic analysis and interpretation of materials recovered following a biological attack, or in other law enforcement investigations requiring evaluation of biological materials, in support of the appropriate lead federal agency; and coordinating with other national laboratories to enhance research capabilities, share lessons learned, and provide training more efficiently. The NBACC must engage in a continuously operating Work for Others program to make the unique biocontainment and bioforensic capabilities of the NBACC available to other federal agencies; and perform regularly scheduled and required maintenance of laboratory infrastructure, and procure mission-critical equipment and capability upgrades. The Office of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall conduct a mission needs assessment of the NBACC.
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2022
Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide competitive grants to Indian tribes, states, metropolitan planning organizations, and local governments for projects that provide parking for commercial motor vehicles and improve the safety of commercial motor vehicle drivers on federal-aid highways or on a facility with reasonable access to such a highway or a freight facility. In providing grants, DOT must prioritize applicants that demonstrate a shortage of commercial motor vehicle parking capacity in the corridor in which the project is located; consultation with motor carriers, commercial motor vehicle drivers, public safety officials, and private providers of commercial motor vehicle parking; the project will likely increase the availability or utilization of commercial motor vehicle parking, facilitate the efficient movement of freight, and improve highway safety, traffic congestion, and air quality; and the ability to provide for the maintenance and operation of the facility.
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2022
Great Lakes Authority Act of 2022 This bill establishes a Great Lakes Authority to support economic growth and workforce development, water infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, broadband access, lead abatement, and other initiatives in the Great Lakes region (i.e., Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and parts of Ohio and Illinois). The authority must be composed of a cochairperson appointed by the President, a state cochairperson, and the governor of each Great Lakes region state that elects to participate in the authority.
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2022
Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022 This bill requires the posting of contact information of the national human trafficking hotline in specific places. Specifically, the information must be posted in a visible place in all federal buildings; in the restrooms of each U.S. aircraft, airport, over-the-road bus, bus station, passenger train, and passenger railroad station; and at each port of entry.
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2022
Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act of 2022 This bill revises the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project (a water infrastructure project in New Mexico), including by extending through December 31, 2029, the deadline for constructing project facilities and allowing for additional project service areas.
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 2022
Industrial Agriculture Accountability Act of 2022 This bill establishes additional requirements for larger animal feeding operations (AFOs) owned or controlled by industrial operators and increases handling requirements for livestock and poultry. Specifically, the bill establishes the Office of High-Risk AFO Disaster Mitigation and Enforcement within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and requires such industrial operators to register with the office and submit annual disaster mitigation plans (e.g., for public health emergencies and major disasters). In addition, industrial operators must pay annual disaster mitigation maintenance fees to the office and are liable for costs associated with disaster events or depopulation (the rapid destruction of animals in response to urgent circumstances). Industrial operators are restricted from using specified methods of depopulation; any person may sue an industrial operator or USDA over a violation. Further, USDA must establish depopulation standards that rapidly induce unconsciousness and death with minimal pain and distress. The Department of Labor must enforce minimum labor standards for industrial operators regarding covered workers or affected contract growers in disaster mitigation events, including whistleblower protections and health insurance requirements. Further, industrial operators may not use incarcerated workers in these events. The bill also includes provisions on the handling of livestock and poultry, such as requiring USDA to set additional standards for animal transport; including poultry in the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1958 and creating a USDA grant program to transition processing facilities to a different slaughter method; requiring USDA to promulgate certain regulations regarding the humane treatment, euthanasia, and disposition of nonambulatory livestock; and terminating programs that allow for slaughter speeds that exceed existing limits or reduce the use of federal inspectors.
United States · United States Congress · 22 November 2022
Resources for Emergency and Security Infrastructure Logistics In Every Neighborhood to Curb Extremism Act of 2022 or the RESILIENCE Act of 2022 This bill requires the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to establish a pilot program to train state, local, tribal, and territorial government officials to carry out security vulnerability or terrorism risk assessments of critical infrastructure. CISA must also maintain one or more clearinghouses for critical infrastructure owners and operators to access security guidance and other relevant information.
United States · United States Congress · 22 November 2022
Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement Support Act This bill addresses projects in the Klamath River Basin in Oregon and California. The Bureau of Reclamation must support lowering the Klamath Irrigation District's net delivered power cost through certain agreements (e.g., an agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration). Further, Reclamation may enter into contracts and agreements with state and local governments, tribes, and private parties to plan, construct, operate, and maintain projects in the basin watershed to include facilities to reduce fish entrainment (i.e., the transport of fish along the flow of water, out of their normal habitat and into unnatural or harmful environments); projects that reduce or avoid impacts on aquatic resources caused by diversion of water for irrigation; and projects that restore basin watershed habitats, including tribal fishery resources held in trust. The bill also authorizes Reclamation to pay for a portion of the operation and maintenance costs of an irrigation pumping plant in Tulelake, California. It also provides for contracts to cover certain costs involved with the replacement of the C-Canal flume within the Klamath Project. Further, the bill provides statutory authorization for Reclamation to implement a 2016 agreement to take ownership and operation of the Keno Dam and operation of the Link River Dam.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2022
Ensuring America's Critical Infrastructure Act This bill expands the definition of critical infrastructure under the Critical Infrastructures Protection Act of 2001 in the USA PATRIOT Act. The term currently means systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, or national public health or safety. The bill includes certain sectors as part of the existing definition, including communications, dams, emergency services, energy, financial services, food and agriculture, healthcare, information technology, transportation systems, and water and wastewater systems.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2022
Interactive Federal Review Act This bill revises the environmental review process for federal-aid highway projects. Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must encourage recipients of federal highway funding to utilize interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms when carrying out environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA); select at least 10 federal-aid highway projects to demonstrate the use of interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms in carrying out the environmental impact analysis and community engagement processes under NEPA; and publish technology-neutral best practice guidance to encourage sponsors of projects that receive federal funds from DOT to use an interactive, digital, cloud-based platform in carrying out the environmental impact analysis and community engagement processes required under NEPA.