Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now Through Opening Opportunities to Leverage Science Act of 2022 or the GAIN TOOLS Act of 2022 This bill expands the definition of a qualified infectious disease product (QIDP) to include eligible biological products. Under current law, the first application (or supplement) for a specific product and indication to be designated a QIDP shall receive priority review for market approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Generally, a biological product designated as a QIDP is one that acts on bacteria or fungi and is intended to treat a serious or life-threatening infection. However, a biological product with a QIDP designation shall not receive the market exclusivity extension currently available to drugs that receive the designation.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySRES 485 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Harry Mason Reid, Jr., of Nevada, who died in 2021. The resolution expresses the Senate's sorrow at his passing, extends condolences to his family, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to communicate the resolution to the House of Representatives and provide a copy to Reid's family. The Senate also adjourned in his memory as a mark of respect. This is a ceremonial tribute with no policy changes or legal effect.
Maddy summarySRES 484 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring the late Senator John "Johnny" Isakson of Georgia. It formally recognizes his 40+ years of public service, including his roles in the Georgia legislature, U.S. House, and U.S. Senate, and his reputation for bipartisan cooperation. The resolution requests the Senate Secretary communicate it to the House and send a copy to Isakson's family. As a commemorative resolution, it has no policy impact or direct effect on any individuals or programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill corrects tax refund issues for Coast Guard veterans with combat-related injuries by clarifying which federal agencies handle tax refunds when the Coast Guard operates outside the Navy (e.g., under Homeland Security or Transportation). It amends the 2016 Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act to explicitly include the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Transportation in agency responsibilities for identifying and refunding improperly withheld taxes. The bill requires these agencies to identify past improperly withheld amounts and report findings within one year of enactment, while also preventing future withholding starting immediately. It directly affects Coast Guard veterans who received severance payments but had taxes incorrectly withheld due to the Coast Guard’s operational structure.
Protecting Guides and Outfitters from Coronavirus Vaccine Mandates in the Great Outdoors Act This bill prohibits the denying of certain permit applications for activities on federal lands and waters for reasons based on the coronavirus vaccination status of applicants or their employees. Specifically, the Department of the Interior shall not deny based on vaccination status (1) a commercial use authorization to provide services to visitors to National Park System units, or (2) a special recreation permit for specialized recreation uses of federal recreational lands and waters.
This bill generally aligns the position of podiatrists with that of physicians for pay and grade purposes within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Additionally, the bill replaces the Director of Podiatric Service position with a Podiatric Medical Director to be responsible for the operation of the podiatric service at the VHA. Such director must be a qualified doctor of podiatric medicine.
Reforming Disaster Recovery Act This bill addresses the response of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to disasters. The bill establishes the Office of Disaster Management and Resiliency at HUD to coordinate HUD disaster preparedness and response responsibilities. The office must also coordinate with other federal agencies in supporting recovery and resiliency activities. Further, the bill creates the Long-Term Disaster Recovery Fund to fund the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program. The program must provide states, tribes, and communities with grants for rebuilding affordable housing and infrastructure after a disaster. Grantees are required to certify that funds will be administered in compliance with specified fair housing and civil rights laws. Grantees must also prioritize assistance for extremely low-, low-, and moderate-income victims of disasters, as well as other vulnerable groups. The bill also provides for increased data sharing regarding disasters, including by requiring HUD to share data with other federal agencies regarding disaster benefits and by requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration to share data on disaster benefit applicants with HUD.
Chaplains Memorial Preservation Act This bill authorizes the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces (NCMAF) to update and make corrections to certain memorials in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Specifically, NCMAF may update the memorial to Protestant chaplains with a granite, marble or other stone base to host the bronze plaque of the memorial; add another plaque to such base that includes the name of each chaplain who died while on active duty since the original memorial was placed; make updates and corrections to the memorials to Catholic chaplains and Jewish chaplains as needed; and make other updates as needed. Additionally, NCMAF is authorized to verify the names of chaplains with their respective military branch for memorialization in Arlington National Cemetery.
This bill repeals the limitation on the cover over (i.e., payment) of taxes on certain distilled spirits into the treasuries of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It also requires that certain amounts collected on rum transported to the United States that are covered over be transferred to the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust Fund.
Medical Device Integrity Act This bill provides the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the authority to request records and information from an establishment that manufactures or otherwise prepares medical devices. Currently, the FDA only has statutory authority to make such requests to establishments that manufacture or otherwise prepare drugs. The bill also requires the FDA to include in its requests a rationale for requesting the information in question.