This resolution declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of Alan R. Parker, former Staff Director and Chief Counsel of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate.
The Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027, increases funding for, and modifies the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. This program supports home visits for expectant and new parents who live in communities that are at-risk for poor maternal and child health outcomes. Changes to the program include setting out requirements for allocating program funds; increasing the percentage of funds reserved for tribal entities; establishing a publicly available dashboard that reports program outcomes; requiring activities to reduce unnecessary data collection, reporting, and other administrative requirements of the program; and allowing for virtual home visits (provided certain conditions are met). The bill also reduces funding for the Medicare Improvement Fund.
Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into contracts to pay for specified veterans (i.e., certain veterans who have service-connected disabilities and require nursing home care) to be placed in medical foster homes at their request. A medical foster home is a home designed to provide non-institutional, long-term, supportive care for veterans who are unable to live independently and prefer a family setting. Veterans receiving such care must agree, as a condition of payment for their care, to accept home health services furnished by the VA. Under the bill, no more than a daily average of 900 veterans may have their care in a medical foster home covered by the VA. The VA must create a monitoring system to assess its workload in carrying out the medical foster home payments. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must submit to Congress reports that assess the implementation of this program and provide recommendations for improvements. The bill also extends certain loan fee rates through February 15, 2031, under the VA's home loan program.
This resolution recognizes the efforts and sacrifices of the wildland firefighters who have risked their lives to fight intense wildfires in 2022. The resolution also (1) expresses support for communities throughout the West as they focus on recovery and rebuilding areas and communities affected by wildfires, and (2) extends gratitude to the families and loved ones of wildland firefighters for supporting the wildland firefighter community.
This Senate resolution (SRES 853) recognizes November 2022 as "National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally acknowledges the issue of homelessness affecting children and youth in the U.S. The resolution encourages businesses, state/local governments, organizations, educators, and volunteers to intensify efforts during November 2022 to raise awareness about child and youth homelessness and support prevention programs. It highlights statistics on homelessness impacts but focuses solely on symbolic recognition and awareness-raising, not policy changes.
This bill grants a federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated, establishing it as a legally recognized nonprofit organization. It directly affects American Indian veterans by creating a formal entity to unite them, advocate for their needs with government agencies, and support tribal veterans services through outreach and training. Key provisions include requiring the organization to maintain tax-exempt status, prohibiting stock or dividends, mandating annual congressional reports on its activities, and granting exclusive rights to its name and emblems. The charter imposes strict governance rules to ensure the organization remains focused on veteran advocacy without distributing assets to members.
This resolution recognizes November 2022 as National Native American Heritage Month and the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day.
Lymphedema Treatment Act This bill provides for Medicare coverage of lymphedema compression treatment items. Specifically, the bill provides for coverage of standard and custom fitted gradient compression garments and other approved items that are prescribed by a physician or other specified health care professional to treat lymphedema.
This non-binding Senate resolution (SRES 827) supports National Domestic Violence Awareness Month by recognizing the widespread impact of domestic violence in the U.S. It cites statistics showing over 12 million annual reports of intimate partner violence and highlights the work of victim service providers, including hotlines and shelters that serve over 1 million people yearly. The resolution commends advocates, service providers, and survivors while urging Congress to continue raising awareness and supporting programs that assist survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and end domestic violence. It does not create new laws or allocate funds.
Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act This bill revises the Fisheries Resource Disaster Relief Program and repeals or revises certain reporting requirements. The bill revises the procedures and process for determining whether there has been a commercial fishery failure as a result of a fishery resource disaster because of natural, man-made, or undetermined causes. The Department of Commerce shall have the sole authority to determine the existence, extent, and beginning and end dates of a fishery resource disaster. Additionally, Commerce must include in its budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the budget of Commerce for each fiscal year, (as submitted with the President's budget) a separate statement of the amount requested to be appropriated for that fiscal year for outstanding unfunded fishery resource disasters. The bill repeals a program that provides disaster relief assistance to fishermen, charter fishing operators, and others affected by a catastrophic regional fishery disaster, known as the regional coastal disaster assistance, transition, and recovery program. With respect to reporting requirements, the bill requires (1) biennial rather than annual reports (under current law, annual reports) relating to the recovery of Klamath River Coho salmon, and (2) inclusion of additional information in the biennial reports on international compliance regarding the conservation of living marine resources. The bill also repeals the requirement for annual reporting to Congress on bycatch reduction agreements.
Norman Y. Mineta Japanese American Confinement Education Act This bill increases the authorization of appropriations for the Japanese American Confinement Sites (JACS) grant program, which supports the preservation of U.S. confinement sites that were used to detain Japanese Americans during World War II (i.e., internment camps). It also establishes a program within JACS to provide grants to Japanese American nonprofits to educate individuals about the historical significance of these events.
Food Security for All Veterans Act This bill establishes the Office of Food Security within the Department of Veterans Affairs to, among other duties, provide information to veterans concerning the eligibility requirements for federal nutrition assistance programs and develop policies to identify and treat veterans experiencing food insecurity.
