Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman

Displaced Afghan Women and Girls Education Act of 2022 This bill provides certain educational resources to certain displaced Afghan women and girls domiciled in the United States. For example, the bill (1) requires such displaced Afghan women and girls to receive in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education, and (2) provides funding for and establishes the Displaced Afghan Women and Girls Scholarship Grant.

Federal Emergency Management Advancement of Equity Act or the FEMA Equity Act This bill addresses equity in federal disaster assistance policies and programs. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must develop and implement a process to ensure equity in the provision of federal assistance and throughout all FEMA programs and policies. Additionally, FEMA must establish metrics to measure the efficacy of the process and seek input from relevant representatives of state, regional, local, and tribal governments; community-based organizations; subject matter experts; and individuals from underserved communities impacted by disasters. FEMA must designate a senior official as an equity advisor. The bill establishes in FEMA an Equity Enterprise Steering Group. The chief executive officer of an affected county may submit a request for a presidential declaration that a major disaster exists if (1) the governor of the state or territory in which the county is located does not request such a declaration, (2) the affected county is not included in a request for assistance made by such governor, or (3) the affected county communicates with that governor about the disaster or potential request for a major disaster declaration before the relevant period has lapsed. The Government Accountability Office shall issue a report describing the factors that FEMA considers when evaluating a request from a governor to declare that a major disaster or emergency exists and to authorize specified assistance.

Maddy summaryHRES 1093 is a symbolic House resolution designating May 2022 as "Mental Health Awareness Month." It expresses support for raising public awareness about mental health, emphasizes that mental well-being is as important as physical health, and encourages efforts to reduce stigma and improve access to services. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding but calls for recognizing mental health as a national priority and applauds existing efforts by organizations. It was introduced by multiple representatives and passed in the House on May 6, 2022, as a non-binding gesture.

School Shooting Safety and Preparedness Act This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to publish an annual report on indicators of school crime and safety. The report must collect specified information, including the number of school shootings that have taken place nationwide and the number of those that were mass shootings; the number of people killed or injured in each school shooting; the age, gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality of each victim; the motivation of the shooter; how the shooting was stopped; the number and type of firearms and ammunition used in each shooting; and the response time of law enforcement. ED must direct the National Center for Education Statistics to collect and publish specified data on school shootings. The center must collect information on the existence or absence of specified measures at the time of the shooting, including physical and other types of security measures, a communication plan with local law enforcement, a response plan that includes coordination with local agencies, an active shooter response plan, and a trauma response plan.

This resolution recognizes the significance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States. The resolution also recognizes that the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities enhance the rich diversity of the United States.

Pride in Mental Health Act This bill expands programs that prevent and treat child abuse and neglect to address issues facing youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, nonbinary, or gender-variant members of indigenous communities (e.g., Two Spirit). Specifically, these programs include (1) research and reporting requirements, (2) providing technical assistance, (3) grants to states and local agencies to train child-welfare personnel, and (4) community-based prevention-service grants. The bill also establishes a grant program to provide mental and behavioral health resources for such youth, including trauma-informed care.

This resolution urges (1) the President to issue a proclamation recognizing Earth Day; and (2) governments and people to continue building upon the Paris Agreement and other efforts to ensure that future generations inherit a livable, sustainable, and ecologically rich planet. The resolution reaffirms that immediate action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ameliorate environmental injustices in order to protect our planet, public health, and overall well-being of all people and wildlife. In addition, it encourages the American people to mark Earth Day by working to address environmental challenges, uplift indigenous environmental knowledge and stewardship practices, educate others about the need for year-round action, and honor the stewardship ethic for which Senator Gaylord Nelson stood.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1072) designates April 30, 2022, as "National Adult Hepatitis B Vaccination Awareness Day" to raise public attention. It does not create new laws or policies but symbolically supports efforts to address hepatitis B, which affects millions in the U.S. and has serious health risks like liver cancer. The resolution encourages increased adult vaccination (currently at 30% coverage), testing, and linkage to care, particularly for high-risk groups including people with opioid use disorder and communities disproportionately impacted by the disease. It highlights that hepatitis B is highly infectious and often undiagnosed, with rising cases linked to the opioid epidemic in several states.

This resolution thanks the teachers of the United States and promotes the teaching profession by encouraging students, parents, school administrators, and public officials to recognize National Teacher Appreciation Week.

Advancing Equity Through the Arts and Humanities Act of 2022 This bill establishes an Advancing Equity Through the Arts and Humanities Program to increase engagement with public and nonprofit entities (including faith-based and community-based organizations that serve and are led by people of color) in supporting arts and humanities projects that directly combat systemic racism through the arts and humanities. The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities shall carry out this program. The bill also provides for a competitive grant program for the creation and expansion of programs to support public and nonprofit arts and humanities organizations that directly combat systemic racism through the arts and humanities.