Rep. Paul Tonko

Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill extends through FY2029 the Highlands Conservation Act, which provides for land conservation in Highlands states (i.e., Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania). The bill authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Service to add a municipality to the Highlands region upon the request of a Highlands state, with the concurrence of the municipality. The bill revises the way in which land is identified for conservation to require using the best available science and geographic information systems. The bill allows political subdivisions of states to enter into agreements with the Department of the Interior for land conservation projects. A Highland state that receives funds for a land conservation partnership project may not use more than 5% of the funds to administer that project. The bill extends through FY2029 Forest Service and other Department of Agriculture programs to conserve land and natural resources in the Highlands region. With respect to an appraisal related to a land acquisition carried out under this bill, a Highlands state shall use an appraisal methodology approved by the Department of the Interior.

This bill expands training under the national service programs (e.g., AmeriCorps) to provide participants with the skills to apply for federal grants for entities in rural and underserved communities.

Prescription Information Modernization Act of 2022 This bill allows health care providers to receive prescribing information for drugs electronically rather than in paper form from manufacturers.

Armenian Genocide Education Act This bill requires the Library of Congress to maintain a public website and otherwise support educational initiatives to promote understanding about the Armenian Genocide.

Sexual Harassment Independent Investigations and Prosecution Act This bill provides for the inclusion of sexual harassment as an offense subject to the authority of special trial counsel under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and sets forth requirements related to independent investigations of sexual harassment under the UCMJ.

Maddy summaryHRES 1045 (2022) is a symbolic resolution supporting National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (observed April 10). It calls on federal, state, and local entities to recognize the day and encourages efforts to address HIV disparities among youth, including promoting inclusive sex education, removing outdated HIV criminalization laws, and supporting youth-friendly healthcare access. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding but affirms existing policies like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and the Affordable Care Act's protections for young people living with HIV. It focuses on raising awareness and reducing stigma rather than mandating specific actions.

Federal Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of Energy to remove and permanently store, as is economically feasible, specified amounts of carbon dioxide on a specified schedule, culminating in 10 million net metric tons of carbon dioxide removal for FY2035 and each fiscal year thereafter.

Electric Vehicle Grid Readiness, Improvement, and Development Act or the EV GRID Act This bill requires the Department of Energy to complete and publish a study that assesses the ability of the electric system to meet the electricity demand of electric vehicle charging infrastructure that is installed on or after the enactment of this bill.

Maddy summaryHR 7477, the CERTS Tax Exemption Act, ensures that grants provided under the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act are tax-free for eligible transportation service providers. The bill directly affects companies and organizations providing transportation services that receive these specific federal grants. Key provisions state that grant amounts cannot be counted as taxable income, deductions related to grant-funded costs cannot be denied, and tax attributes (like basis increases) must be treated as tax-free for partnerships and S corporations. This change simplifies tax treatment for recipients by preventing unintended tax liabilities on relief funds.

Maddy summaryHRES 1034 is a non-binding resolution supporting Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month, observed each April. It recognizes math and statistics as foundational to STEM fields, innovation in areas like medicine and cybersecurity, and daily life applications. The resolution urges the House to celebrate these disciplines, highlight their importance to U.S. economic prosperity, and acknowledge ongoing efforts to increase diversity in math and statistics education and careers. It does not create new laws or programs but formally endorses the annual observance.