Sen. Alex Padilla

Right Whale Coexistence Act of 2022 This bill provides support for the conservation of North Atlantic right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis ). Specifically, it requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide financial assistance for certain projects designed to reduce the lethal and sub-lethal effects of human activities on North Atlantic right whales. In addition, NOAA must conduct surveys of plankton on an ongoing basis using a continuous plankton recorder.

National Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy Act of 2022 This bill requires the President to identify or appoint a Chief Resilience Officer that must (1) direct a government-wide effort to build resilience to climate change vulnerabilities in the United States in collaboration with existing federal initiatives and interagency adaptation efforts, and (2) create working groups. The officer and the working groups must jointly submit to the President and Congress a strategy for the government to address such vulnerabilities in partnership with nonfederal partners, a plan to implement the strategy, and updates by specified deadlines.

Preventing Health Emergencies And Temperature-related Illness and Deaths Act of 2021 or the Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2021 This bill provides statutory authority for, and otherwise revises, the National Integrated Heat Health Information System to improve the capacity of the United States to prepare for, adapt to, and mitigate health risks of extreme heat. The bill tasks the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with administering the system. (Currently, the system is jointly administered by NOAA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.) The bill also authorizes financial assistance for projects to increase awareness, education, and research about extreme heat events and prioritizes projects that serve historically disadvantaged communities and communities with the greatest risk or highest incidence of heat-related illnesses and deaths. Additionally, NOAA must contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study relevant policy, research, and data gaps concerning extreme heat information and response. The bill also establishes an interagency committee within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a strategic plan and otherwise coordinate federal activities related to addressing health risks and impacts of heat.

Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act This bill expands the Smith River National Recreation Area in California into Oregon and designates specified segments of the North Fork Smith River as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (NWSRS). The management emphasis for any portion of the recreation area in Oregon shall be on roadless backcountry and white-water recreation. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) shall study the additions to the recreation area, including inventories and assessments of water features (e.g., streams and lakes). USDA shall modify any applicable management plan to protect the resources inventoried. USDA shall seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding with applicable Indian tribes to (1) provide them with access to the portions of the recreation area in Oregon to conduct historical and cultural activities; and (2) develop interpretive information to be provided to the public on the history of, and use of the area by, those tribes. On the adoption of a resolution by the State Land Board of Oregon, USDA shall acquire the 555 acres of land known as the Cedar Creek Parcel in Oregon. A streamside protection zone in which timber harvesting is prohibited (with exceptions) shall be established for each of the designated North Fork Smith River segments.

This concurrent resolution recognizes the disparity between wages paid to Latina women, and its impact on women, families, and the nation and reaffirms Congress' commitment to supporting equal pay for equal work and to narrowing the gender wage gap.

This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder than can lead to pain, anemia, infections, and stroke.

Maddy summarySRES 864 is a U.S. Senate resolution supporting a UN draft resolution that urges all member states to voluntarily refrain from conducting destructive anti-satellite missile tests. It directly addresses nations with space assets, citing risks like the 2021 Russian test (creating 1,500+ debris pieces) and the 2007 Chinese test (producing 3,400+ debris pieces that will persist for decades). The resolution highlights the U.S. 2022 voluntary moratorium on such tests and notes nine countries (including Canada, Germany, and Japan) that have already committed to the same approach. It calls on other nations, particularly those with significant space capabilities, to join this moratorium to prevent orbital debris that threatens satellites and space operations.

Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act This bill limits or repeals tax and royalty relief provisions that benefit certain large oil companies. It modifies foreign tax credit rules applicable to such companies and limits deductions for intangible drilling and development costs, percentage depletion, enhanced oil recovery, and other tax preferences. The bill repeals the outer Continental Shelf deep water and deep gas royalty relief provisions. Any savings resulting from this bill must be used for federal budget deficit reduction or, if there is no current budget deficit, for reducing the federal debt.

Collaborative Modifications to Aging Infrastructure Projects Act This bill allows the Bureau of Reclamation to modify project features for transferred works to increase public benefits as part the bureau's extraordinary operation and maintenance work on aging infrastructure projects. The bill also allows the reimbursable and nonreimbursable costs of these projects to be advanced from the Aging Infrastructure Account.

This concurrent resolution commends the bravery, courage, and resolve of the women and men of Iran who are (1) participating in the current protests to defend their fundamental human rights, and (2) risking their safety to speak out against the human rights abuses committed by the Iranian regime. The resolution condemns (1) the brutal beating and death of Mahsa Amini; and (2) the violent suppression by the Iranian regime of women and men participating in the current demonstrations, including children. The resolution calls for transparent accountability for all killings of protesters by Iranian security forces. Finally, the resolution encourages continued efforts by the Biden Administration to respond to the protests, including the recent sanctioning of the Iranian morality police.