Local Control Act This bill imposes requirements on the placement in a state of a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) without lawful immigration status. Specifically, before such an individual may be settled in, housed in, or transported to a state or political subdivision within a state, the Department of Homeland Security must notify the office of the governor of that state and the office of the chief executive of the political subdivision. No federal funds may be used for the proposed settling, housing, or transporting if (1) the state governor's office does not approve of the action, or (2) the political subdivision in question has a law or resolution prohibiting or disapproving of such an action. These requirements shall not apply to the use of federal funds to transport or detain such an individual for civil or criminal law enforcement purposes.
Guaranteeing Ukrainian Autonomy by Reinforcing its Defense (GUARD) Act of 2022 This bill provides support for Ukraine and imposes sanctions related to Nord Stream 2, the pipeline constructed to increase exports of natural gas from Russia. The Department of State must periodically report to Congress a determination as to whether Russia's government meets the criteria to be designated a state sponsor of terrorism. The bill authorizes the State Department to provide Foreign Military Financing assistance to Ukraine in FY2022. The bill also authorizes providing Ukraine with lethal assistance, such as anti-armor weapon systems and anti-aircraft weapons systems. From FY2022-FY2026, Ukraine shall have priority access to excess defense articles. During the same time period, the bill also authorizes providing Ukraine with assistance, including (1) International Military Education and Training assistance; (2) assistance to strengthen cybersecurity and intellectual property enforcement; (3) support and training for banking reform, subsidy reform, corporate governance, and the privatization of state-owned enterprises; and (4) assistance to combat corruption and improve the rule of law. Within 15 days of this bill's enactment, the President must impose sanctions on any entity responsible for planning, constructing, or operating Nord Stream 2, as well as any corporate officer of such an entity. The bill also subjects the President's authority to waive certain sanctions to congressional review. The U.S. Agency for Global Media may expand broadcasting in countries of the former Soviet Union to combat Russian disinformation. The bill requires reports to Congress on various topics, including a strategy on using U.S. diplomacy to support Ukraine.
Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency Act of 2021 This bill establishes programs, grants, and other activities to address substance use disorders. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish a program for purchasing and distributing opioid overdose reversal drugs for states and Indian tribes. HHS must also award grants for and otherwise support addressing substance use, particularly in states, tribes, territories, and localities with disproportionately high drug overdose rates; increasing access to preventive, medical, recovery, and related services; developing innovative models of delivering treatment and harm reduction services; and expanding the treatment capacity of Medicaid providers. In addition, HHS must issue model standards of care for treatment services and recovery residences and may award grants for training health care professionals. The bill also supports prevention and treatment services for workers, addiction and pain management research, and data collection on substance use disorders. Further, dispensers, distributors, and manufacturers of schedule II controlled substances (e.g., oxycodone), with the exception of opioid treatment programs, must certify that they maintain effective drug diversion controls. Violators are subject to specified civil and criminal penalties. Collected penalties shall be used for the grant programs and other substance use disorder activities established under the bill.
Federal Firearm Licensee Act This bill makes various changes related to federal firearms licensees, including by establishing physical security requirements and increasing licensing fees. It also amends several appropriations laws to remove limitations on the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to conduct activities related to the administration of federal firearms laws.
Upholding the Law at Our Border Act This bill requires the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to periodically investigate and report on certain issues until there have been fewer than 35,000 apprehensions at the southwest border for three consecutive months. When required, the reports must address certain issues, including (1) the vetting procedures applicable to aliens seeking entry into the United States who were apprehended along the southwest border, (2) the total number of individuals not lawfully present who have been processed and released into the United States, (3) the number of such individuals who have received parole, and (4) an audit of the parole applications. The office must submit such reports (and provide briefings on the reports) to the President, Congress, DHS, and the Department of Justice.
Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or the HALT Fentanyl Act This bill places fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act. Additionally, the bill establishes a new, alternative registration process for schedule I research that is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Veterans Affairs or that is conducted under an investigative new drug exemption from the Food and Drug Administration. The bill also makes several other changes to registration requirements for conducting research with controlled substances, including permitting a single registration for related research sites in certain circumstances, waiving the requirement for a new inspection in certain situations, and allowing a registered researcher to perform certain manufacturing activities with small quantities of a substance without obtaining a manufacturing registration.
Protect American Taxpayer Dollars from Illegal Immigration Act This bill prohibits expending federal funds for legal settlements to individuals who violated certain laws relating to the proper time and place to enter the United States, if the settlement pertains to claims based solely on the lawful detention of such an individual as part of a family unit after the individual's entry into the United States at the southern border after January 20, 2017.
Public Safety Enhancement Act of 2021 This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant program. Additionally, the bill requires a certain amount of funds made available under the COPS grant program to be used for the hiring and retention of law enforcement officers.
Repeal Existing Policies that Encourage and Allow Legal HIV Discrimination Act of 2022 or the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act of 2022 This bill addresses federal and state laws, policies, and regulations that may burden people living with HIV/AIDS. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the White House Office of National AIDS Policy to initiate a national review of federal (including military) and state laws, policies, regulations, and judicial precedents and decisions regarding criminal and related civil commitment cases involving people living with HIV/AIDS. DOJ must transmit to Congress and make publicly available the results of such review with related recommendations. The White House Office of National AIDS Policy must also develop and publicly release guidance to assist states with handling relevant cases. The office, DOJ, HHS, and DOD must transmit to the President and Congress any proposals necessary to implement adjustments to federal laws, policies, or regulations. This bill shall not be construed to discourage the prosecution of individuals who act with the intent to do harm to another individual by intentionally transmitting HIV.
Build Better Borders Act of 2021 This bill increases a civil penalty for improperly entering the United States and appropriates the collected funds for certain uses, including for the construction of a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border. Specifically, the civil penalty for an alien apprehended while entering (or attempting to enter) the United States at a time or place other than as designated by immigration officers shall be $450,000, or $900,000 for an individual who has been previously subject to the penalty. Under current law, the penalty is between $50 and $250, or between $100 and $500 for an individual who has been previously subject to the penalty. The bill appropriates the funds from such penalties for use by the Department of Homeland Security, and the funds may only be used to (1) plan, design, construct, or maintain a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border; and (2) purchase and maintain necessary vehicles and equipment for the U.S. Border Patrol.
Border Security is National Security Act of 2021 This bill modifies requirements for asylum applicants and addresses related issues. Under this bill, an alien may receive asylum only if the individual entered the United States at a port of entry. The bill also statutorily authorizes a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who otherwise meets the relevant requirements to act as an asylum officer. (Asylum officers interview each applicant for asylum and determine whether the applicant has a credible fear of persecution, a requirement to receive asylum.) The Department of Justice must appoint or hire 200 immigration judges (and support staff) to serve in specified judicial districts in Texas, California, Arizona, or New Mexico.
Ending Payments to Non-American Citizens Act This bill prohibits making amounts from the Judgment Fund available to an alien who is not a lawful permanent resident unless specifically authorized by law. (The Judgment Fund is an account for paying judgments and settlements against the United States.)
