Rep. Don Bacon

This joint resolution nullifies a Department of Health and Human Services rule published on November 30, 2021, concerning vaccine and mask requirements to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Head Start programs. These programs provide comprehensive early education and development services to low-income children.

Maddy summaryHRES 1061 is a non-binding resolution supporting National Deaf History Month in April. It recognizes the contributions of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to U.S. society, referencing historical milestones like the founding of the American School for the Deaf (1817) and Gallaudet University (1864). The resolution encourages the public to observe the month with programs and activities but does not create new policies, funding, or requirements. It directly affirms the importance of deaf culture and history without affecting any specific group through legislative action.

This bill amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to prohibit local regulations relating to the sale, distribution, labeling, application, or use of any pesticide or device subject to regulation by a state or the Environmental Protection Agency under FIFRA.

Plain Prescription Prices Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to issue a rule requiring direct-to-consumer television advertisements for prescription drugs that are covered by Medicare or Medicaid to include a textual statement of the drug's list price.

Public Health and Border Security Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to meet conditions related to notification and planning before terminating certain restrictions on imports and individuals entering the United States. Current law authorizes HHS to restrict entries and imports from foreign countries to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases. HHS exercised this authority as part of its COVID-19 response, including to allow for the expulsion of undocumented migrants at the border without any asylum processing. Under this bill, HHS may not terminate the restrictions for (1) at least 60 days after it notifies Congress of the end of the COVID-19 emergency, and (2) at least 30 days after it submits to Congress a plan for addressing the possible influx of migrants or imports resulting from lifting the restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic resolution designates July 20, 2022, as "Glioblastoma Awareness Day" to highlight the challenges of glioblastoma, a devastating brain cancer with a very poor survival rate (median survival of 8 months). It encourages public awareness, honors individuals affected by the disease, and supports research efforts like the Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds but serves as a formal statement to elevate attention on this aggressive cancer.

Protection from Abusive Passengers Act This bill addresses the banning of abusive passengers from commercial aircraft flights. Abusive passenger is defined as any individual who engages in behavior that results in a civil penalty or conviction for assaulting, threatening, or intimidating a crew member or passenger on an aircraft flight, or who takes any action to interfere with security screening personnel or any security system related to civil aviation security. It requires the Federal Aviation Administration or the Attorney General to provide the identity, including the full name and date of birth, and gender of all abusive passengers to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The TSA must maintain a list of abusive passengers and develop and make publicly available policies and procedures for handling individuals included on the list. Any individual on the list shall be prohibited from boarding any commercial aircraft flight until the individual is removed from such list. Additionally, all abusive passengers shall be permanently ineligible to participate in the TSA PreCheck or the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry programs, with specified exceptions.

Postal Service Reform Act of 202 2 This bill addresses the finances and operations of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The bill requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish the Postal Service Health Benefits Program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program under which OPM may contract with carriers to offer health benefits plans for USPS employees and retirees. The bill provides for coordinated enrollment of retirees under this program and Medicare. The bill repeals the requirement that the USPS annually prepay future retirement health benefits. Additionally, the USPS may establish a program to enter into agreements with an agency of any state government, local government, or tribal government, and with other government agencies, to provide certain nonpostal products and services that reasonably contribute to the costs of the USPS and meet other specified criteria. The USPS must develop and maintain a publicly available dashboard to track service performance and must report regularly on its operations and financial condition. The Postal Regulatory Commission must annually submit to the USPS a budget of its expenses. It must also conduct a study to identify the causes and effects of postal inefficiencies relating to flats (e.g., large envelopes). The USPS Office of Inspector General shall perform oversight of the Postal Regulatory Commission.

This resolution supports a Month of the Military Child and urges the observation of the month with appropriate activities that show appreciation for military children.

Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act This bill requires private health insurance plans to cover diagnosis and treatment of congenital anomalies and birth defects, such as reconstructive services and items. Coverage must include services and items that functionally improve, repair, or restore any body part that is medically necessary for normal bodily functions or appearance, as determined by the treating physician. Coverage limits and cost-sharing requirements for such services and items may not be more restrictive than those applicable to all medical and surgical benefits under the plan.