Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 679) formally commemorates June 19, 2022, as "Juneteenth National Independence Day" to honor the historical event of June 19, 1865, when Union troops announced the end of slavery in Texas. It references the significance of this date in U.S. history, specifically the moment news of emancipation reached enslaved people in the Southwestern States. The resolution does not create new legal obligations or affect any specific group; it is a symbolic recognition of this historical milestone. It aligns with Juneteenth’s established status as a federal holiday, which was officially designated in 2021.

Health and Location Data Protection Act of 2022 This bill generally prohibits data brokers from selling, reselling, licensing, trading, transferring, or sharing an individual's health data or location data.

Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Juvenile Justice System Act of 2022 This bill modifies provisions under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program in order to more specifically address racial and ethnic disparities with respect to arrests, secure detentions, and other decision points.

Military Vehicle Fleet Electrification Act This bill requires that not less than 75% of the total number of contracted non-tactical vehicles purchased, leased by, or for use of the Department of Defense (DOD) must be electric or zero emission vehicles (or a federally authorized alternative) and use a charging connector type that meets applicable industry accepted standards for interoperability and safety. The bill also authorizes DOD to furnish electric vehicle charging stations at a commissary store or MWR retail facility (i.e., exchange stores and other revenue-generating facilities operated by nonappropriated fund activities of DOD) for commercial use by individuals authorized to access such facilities.

Social Security Expansion Act This bill increases benefits and certain taxes related to the Social Security program. Changes to benefits include (1) increasing the primary insurance amount for certain beneficiaries; (2) revising the method of calculating cost-of-living adjustments; (3) establishing a new minimum benefit for certain low earners; and (4) allowing certain children of retired, deceased, or disabled workers to receive benefits until age 22 if they are a full-time student. Changes to taxes include (1) increasing the net investment income tax and making active trade or business income subject to this tax; and (2) extending payroll taxes on wages, salaries, and self-employment earnings to income above $250,000 (the maximum amount subject to the Social Security payroll tax is currently $147,000 for 2022). The bill also combines the existing Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund into a single Social Security Trust Fund.

This resolution expresses opposition to the application of criminal laws to pregnancy outcomes and affirms that people deserve access to high-quality health care without fear of reprisal or punishment.

Clean Competition Act This bill creates a carbon border adjustment mechanism to lower greenhouse gas emissions in high-polluting sectors. This mechanism imposes charges on imports from carbon-intensive (e.g., fossil fuels, refined petroleum products, petrochemicals) manufacturers, encourages decarbonization efforts, and funds future research, development, and deployment efforts to achieve a net-zero carbon future. The bill requires annual calculations of carbon intensity, imposes a carbon intensity charge on imports into the United States beginning after 2023, and allows for rebates for overpayments of charges. The bill also establishes a grant program in FY2025 and subsequent fiscal years for investments in new technology to reduce carbon intensity in existing facilities and ensure best-in-class carbon intensity for proposed facilities.

This resolution expresses support for the rights, freedoms, and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals. The resolution r ecognizes that LGBTQ rights are human rights and protected by the laws of the United States and international treaties. Additionally, the resolution encourages the celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month in June.

Affording Students A Path to Forgiveness Act or the ASAP Forgiveness Act This bill requires the Department of Education to cancel up to $30,000 of interest and principal due on any eligible Federal Direct Loan that is in repayment status for a borrower who (1) has made 60 monthly payments on the loan pursuant to any authorized repayment plan, and (2) has been employed for 10 years after graduating from or leaving the institution of higher education (IHE) for which the loan was made to enable the borrower to enroll at the IHE.

Zero-Percent Student Loan Refinancing Act This bill establishes temporary refinancing programs for federal and private student loans. Specifically, the bill establishes a program through which the Department of Education (ED) must make interest-free refinancing loans to borrowers of federal student loans from August 1, 2022, through December 31, 2025. The bill requires ED to automatically refinance Federal Direct Loans and notify each borrower of the refinancing. Borrowers who have other types of eligible loans (i.e., Federal Family Education Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, and certain health profession and nursing loans) must apply for refinancing. The bill also creates the Federal Direct Refinanced Private Loan to allow certain borrowers to refinance their private student loans. Borrowers must apply for refinancing between August 1, 2022, and December 31, 2025.