Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

Maddy summarySRES 599 is a Senate resolution (not a law) introduced in April 2022 that honors military children during the National Month of the Military Child (observed each April). It recognizes the sacrifices of approximately 2 million military children who have experienced parental deployment since 9/11, live with disabled veterans, or have lost a military parent. The resolution urges all Americans to support military children through ceremonies and activities during April, aligning with existing Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs programs. It does not create new policies or funding but symbolically acknowledges military children's contributions and challenges.

This resolution honors the life, achievements, and legacy of the Honorable Madeleine K. Albright, who was the first woman to serve as Secretary of State of the United States. The resolution also commends to future generations Albright's example as a patriot and public servant in the pursuit of a more peaceful, prosperous, and cooperative world order. Finally, the resolution extends its condolences and sympathy to the family and friends of Madeleine Albright.

Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act or the Healthy H2O Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to establish a clean drinking water program to provide grants for water quality testing and for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of point-of use and point-of-entry water filtration systems that remove or significantly reduce contaminants in drinking water. Grants may be given to end users (such as homeowners), nonprofit organizations, and government entities.

This bill requires the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain, and the Architect of the Capitol to permanently install in the U.S. Capitol or on the U.S. Capitol Grounds, statues honoring Associate Justices of the Supreme Court Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Maddy summarySRES 593 is a Senate resolution honoring former U.S. Senator Kaneaster Hodges, Jr. of Arkansas, who served from 1977 to 1978. The resolution expresses the Senate’s "profound sorrow" at his death and directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy to his family. It also calls for the Senate to adjourn as a mark of respect. This is a ceremonial resolution with no policy provisions or direct impact on legislation or constituents.

This resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that the case of Peng Shuai is directly related to broader international concerns around the freedom of speech and safety in China. The resolution expresses that the failure of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to clearly and forcefully challenge the claims of China concerning Peng's safety raises questions about the ability and willingness of the IOC to stand up for the human rights of athletes participating in the Olympic and Paralympic games in Beijing, as well as in future games. The resolution also expresses that China should (1) allow Peng to provide independent and verifiable proof of her own whereabouts and safety without retribution, (2) allow Peng to engage directly with the Women's Tennis Association and the United Nations to independently verify her safety and explain her absence from public life since making her allegation, (3) open an independent and transparent investigation into Peng's allegations against former senior Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, (4) publicly commit to holding sexual violence abusers accountable, (5) cease all censorship of reporting and discussions of Peng's case, and (6) allow Peng to leave China if she so desires and prevent any retaliation against her family members remaining there. Finally, the resolution expresses that, by failing to clearly and forcefully challenge the Chinese Communist Party's narrative, the IOC has failed to uphold its own stated commitments with regard to respect for international conventions on protecting human rights.

Protecting American Capital Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to annually report to Congress on portfolio investments made by U.S. persons in China. The report must include the U.S. persons making the investments, including state pension funds and those making more than 2% of the total annual investments; and the Chinese entities receiving the investments, including Chinese entities subject to U.S. sanctions and Chinese entities receiving more than $100 million. The initial report must include investment information back to January 1, 2008.

This joint resolution requires either the advice and consent of the Senate or an act of Congress before the President may suspend, denounce, or withdraw the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty. No funds may be used to support any efforts to suspend, denounce, or withdraw the United States from the treaty unless (1) both the House and the Senate pass a joint resolution approving withdrawal by a two-thirds vote, or (2) the funds are used pursuant to an act of Congress. The President shall notify Congress in writing of any effort to suspend, denounce, or withdraw from the treaty at least 180 days before taking such action. The President must also consult with Congress before providing such written notification. This joint resolution also authorizes the Senate Legal Counsel and the General Counsel of the House of Representatives to represent Congress in judicial proceedings related to actions that are inconsistent with this resolution.

This resolution designates April 16 through April 24, 2022, as National Park Week. The resolution also encourages the people of the United States and the world to responsibly visit, experience, recreate in, and support the treasured national parks of the United States.

This resolution commends the government of Lithuania for its decision to deepen ties with Taiwan and standing up to the coercion and pressure towards Lithuania by the Chinese Communist Party. The resolution also commits to supporting Lithuania and Taiwan in the face of these challenges, including by exploring ways to increase economic cooperation with both countries.