Ending Dependence on Russian Energy Act This bill addresses the production of oil and gas, the importation of oil or natural gas from Russia, and the exportation of oil or natural gas to other countries. Specifically, the bill approves the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline in Phillips County, Montana for the import of oil from Canada to the United States. In addition, the bill requires the President to (1) prohibit the importation of oil or natural gas originating from Russia, and (2) seek to reduce restrictions on the exportation of oil or natural gas originating from the United States.
American Energy Independence from Russia Act This bill addresses U.S. energy security, the production of oil and gas, and the importation and exportation of oil and gas. Specifically, the President must submit an energy security plan that (1) evaluates U.S. crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas imports and exports; (2) assesses the energy security risks of such imports; and (3) includes strategies to encourage increased domestic production of crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas to offset Russian imports. The bill also approves the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline in Phillips County, Montana for the import of oil from Canada to the United States. In addition, the bill grants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to approve or deny applications for facilities to export natural gas from the United States to foreign countries or import natural gas from foreign countries. The President and federal agencies must obtain congressional approval before (1) prohibiting or substantially delaying certain new energy mineral leases or permits on federal lands, or (2) withdrawing certain federal lands from mineral and geothermal leasing activities. The Department of the Interior must resume issuing oil and gas leases on federal lands and offshore submerged lands in the Outer Continental Shelf as specified under the bill. Finally, the bill limits the drawdown of petroleum in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Department of Energy develops a plan to increase the percentage of federal lands leased for oil and gas production.
This resolution strongly condemns the ongoing violence, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and systematic human rights abuses being carried out by Russia's military and its proxies at the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin. It also encourages the U.S. government and partner nations to use their influence and vote in international organizations to hold those responsible for such crimes and abuses accountable.
Ban Russian Energy Imports Act This bill declares that a national emergency exists with respect to the aggression of Russia against Ukraine. During this emergency, the President must prohibit the importation of crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, and coal in which Russia or a Russian national has any interest. The bill exempts products that are already loaded or in transit at the time of this bill's enactment.
Direct Investigations on China, Take Action To Oppose Russia Act of 2022 or the DICTATOR Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of State to report to Congress on entities in China that assist or have assisted Russia's efforts to evade sanctions imposed by the United States following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The bill also requires the relevant federal agencies to brief Congress on U.S. efforts to (1) identify and sanction such entities, and (2) economically isolate Russia from outside support and economic assistance from China.
No Taxpayer Dollars for Communist China COVID Tests Act This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to procure at-home COVID-19 tests that are imported from or manufactured (in whole or in part) in China.
This resolution strongly condemns the ongoing violence, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and systematic human rights abuses being carried out by Russia's military and its proxies at the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin. It also encourages the U.S. government and partner nations to use their influence and vote in international organizations to hold those responsible for such crimes and abuses accountable.
Stop the Nosy Obsession with Online Payments Act of 2022 or the SNOOP Act of 2022 This bill modifies requirements for third party settlement organizations to eliminate their reporting requirement with respect to the transactions of their participating payees unless they have earned more than $20,000 on more than 200 separate transactions in an applicable tax period. A third party settlement organization is the central organization that has the contractual obligation to make payments to participating payees (generally, a merchant or business) in a third party payment network. This reverses a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that lowered the reporting threshold to $600 with no minimum on the number of transactions.
Israel Anti-Boycott Act This bill prohibits participation by certain entities and individuals in boycotts or requests for boycotts imposed by international governmental organizations (i.e., the United Nations and the European Union). Specifically, the bill applies to covered persons the prohibition of specified actions in compliance with or in support of a boycott against a country that is friendly to the United States and that is not itself the object of a U.S. boycott. The bill defines a covered person as a domestic concern, the U.S. government or a state government, or a representative or official of such domestic concern or government. The bill also adds to the list of specified prohibited actions the act of furnishing information to any foreign country or international governmental organization that furthers an imposed boycott. Under current law, a person who violates the prohibitions against such boycotts may be subject to a monetary fine or imprisonment; however, the bill removes imprisonment as a potential penalty for certain violations.
Prohibition on Imports of Russian Oil Act This bill requires the President to prohibit the importation of petroleum products from Russia. Petroleum product means crude oil, residual fuel oil, or any refined petroleum product, including natural gas liquid product. Further, the bill authorizes the President to (1) modify or remove the prohibition for some or all petroleum products if the President notifies Congress that such modification or removal is appropriate given the situation in Ukraine, and (2) use appropriate authorities to impose civil or criminal penalties as necessary to enforce the prohibition.
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the International Criminal Court should immediately proceed with prosecuting Russian President Vladimir Putin with war crimes should any harm befall Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a result of actions taken or directed by any Russian entity or authority.
This non-binding resolution, introduced in March 2022, calls for the House wing of the U.S. Capitol and House Office Buildings to reopen to the public, citing the unprecedented closure since March 2020 as the longest in history. It urges removing visitor restrictions like logs and prioritizing public access, noting that other state capitols and public venues operated safely during the same period. As a "sense" resolution, it does not mandate action but expresses the House’s position on restoring public access to a democratic symbol. The resolution specifically targets the House wing (not the full Capitol) and aims to encourage the Capitol Police and House leadership to act.
