Agua Caliente Land Exchange Fee to Trust Confirmation Act This act takes approximately 2,560 acres of specified lands in California into trust for the benefit of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Lands taken into trust shall be part of the tribe's reservation. Further, the act prohibits gaming on the land taken into trust.
HR 681 (passed December 27, 2022) is a private bill granting permanent residency to Rebecca Trimble, a specific individual. It waives standard immigration barriers that would otherwise prevent her from obtaining lawful permanent resident status, including removing any existing removal orders or inadmissibility findings against her. The bill allows her to apply for permanent residency within two years of enactment, and requires the State Department to reduce immigrant visa numbers for her country of birth by one to offset this special case. This is a one-time, individualized exception under immigration law, not a general policy change.
Don Young Alaska Native Health Care Land Transfers Act of 2022 This act directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to convey specified property in Alaska to certain nonprofit entities that support Alaska Native communities. Specifically, HHS must convey specified property in (1) Tanana, Alaska, to the Tanana Tribal Council for use in connection with health and social services programs; (2) Sitka, Alaska, to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium for use in connection with health and social services programs; and (3) Anchorage, Alaska, to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium for use in connection with health programs. These conveyances shall not require any consideration from, or impose any obligation, term, or condition on, the consortia or council or allow for any U.S. reversionary interest in the property. The consortia or council shall not be liable for any environmental contamination that occurred before these conveyances.
Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021 This act prohibits the exportation of Native American cultural items and archaeological resources that were illegally obtained; provides for the return of such items, including voluntary returns; and establishes and increases related criminal penalties. Specifically, the act makes it a federal crime to export, attempt to export, or otherwise transport from the United States Native American cultural items and archaeological resources without obtaining an export certification. U.S. Customs and Border Protection must detain any item requiring an export certification that does not have one. The act requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of State to each designate a liaison to facilitate and hold trainings and workshops on the voluntary return of human remains and cultural items. Additionally, Interior must refer individuals and organizations to Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to facilitate the voluntary return of human remains and cultural items; convene an interagency working group; and convene a Native working group consisting of representatives of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to provide advice on issues concerning the return of, and illegal trade in, human remains and cultural items. The act also increases the maximum criminal penalties for violating the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. In particular, the act increases from 5 years to 10 years the maximum prison term for an individual convicted of a second or subsequent violation of selling, purchasing, using for profit, or transporting for sale or profit human remains or cultural items that were illegally obtained.
Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2021 or the POWER 2.0 Act This act makes permanent the requirement for the chief judge of each federal judicial district to lead, at least annually, a public event to promote pro bono legal services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The requirement was enacted in 2018; it is scheduled to sunset after a four-year period.
Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances Act or the PFAS Act This act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop guidance for firefighters and other emergency response personnel on training, education programs, and best practices to protect them from exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFASs, from firefighting foam and to prevent the release of PFASs into the environment. These substances are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain the compounds, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing. DHS shall make available a curriculum designed to reduce and eliminate exposure to PFAS from firefighting foam and personal protective equipment (PPE); prevent the release of PFAS from firefighting foam into the environment; and educate firefighters and other emergency response personnel on foams and non-foam alternatives, PPE, and other firefighting tools and equipment that do not contain PFAS. The U.S. Fire Administration shall make recommendations to DHS as to the content of the curriculum. DHS must create an online public repository on tools and best practices to reduce, limit, and prevent the release of and exposure to PFASs.
Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy Act This act addresses research, education, and awareness concerning valvular heart disease and its treatment. This disease is caused by damage to or disease affecting any valve that controls blood flow in the heart. The National Institutes of Health may conduct or support research on the disease in consultation with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The NHLBI must also conduct a workshop on mitral valve prolapse, which occurs when the valve between the chambers of the left side of the heart seals improperly. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must develop best practices to treat valvular heart disease. HHS may also carry out other projects to increase education and awareness of the disease.
First Responder Fair Return for Employees on Their Initial Retirement Earned Act or the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act This act allows disabled federal first responders (e.g., law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, and firefighters) to continue receiving federal retirement benefits in the same manner as though they had not been disabled. Under current law, federal first responders are subject to a mandatory retirement age of 57. To facilitate this earlier retirement, federal first responders are required to pay a greater percentage of their salary towards retirement. Additionally, their annuity amount is calculated at a higher rate than other federal employees. This act allows a federal first responder to remain in the accelerated retirement system if they are placed in another civil service position outside of that system after returning to work from a work-related injury or illness. Further, if such an employee is separated from service before they are entitled to receive an annuity, they may receive a refund of their accelerated contributions.
Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act This act requires the Department of Labor to submit to Congress a study on the factors affecting employment opportunities for certain individuals with professional credentials obtained in a non-U.S. country, specifically individuals who are lawfully present noncitizens or naturalized U.S. citizens. The study shall include policy recommendations for better enabling such individuals to obtain skill-appropriate employment in the United States.
This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3900 Crown Road Southwest in Atlanta, Georgia, as the John R. Lewis Post Office Building.
Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2021 This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service to sell each copy of the Multinational Species Conservation Fund Semipostal Stamp and notify Congress when all copies have been sold.
American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)to establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee. The committee must provide advice to NOAA on an existing program that awards grants for fisheries research and development projects, such as projects concerning fisheries science or recreational fishing. Specifically, the committee must (1)identify the needs of the fishing community, (2) develop the request for proposals for the grant program, (3)review grant applications, and (4)provide NOAA with grant applications for approval. NOAA must establish six regions within the committee.In addition, NOAA must select members that represent the regions as well as at-large members that represent certain sectors of the fishing industry.
