Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022 This act reauthorizes, updates, and expands federal efforts to address domestic trafficking, including to make permanent the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking; reauthorize various grants, activities, and programs that support victims of domestic trafficking; and expand research and reporting related to trafficking. TITLE I--COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES Subtitle A--Programs To Support Young Victims Who Are Vulnerable To Human Trafficking (Sec. 101) This section authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Department of Justice (DOJ), to award competitive grants to support collaboration between state child-welfare and juvenile-justice agencies to address the needs of dual-status youth and their families. The term dual-status youth means children who come into contact with both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. (Sec. 102) This section makes permanent the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. (Sec. 103) This section establishes a pilot program to provide funding for community-based organizations in underserved communities to support youth at risk of being trafficked. Subtitle B--Governmental Efforts To Prevent Human Trafficking (Sec. 121) This section requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress on federal contract supply chain oversight related to the prevention of trafficking in persons. (Sec. 122) This section expresses the sense of Congress that federal agencies should incorporate a module on human trafficking into staff training requirements; the training should teach employees how to prevent, identify, and report trafficking in persons; and agencies should inform all candidates for employment about the anti-trafficking provisions in the code of conduct of the agency. Additionally, this section requires officers and employees of executive branch agencies to be subject to minimum standards with respect to human trafficking, including a prohibition on engaging in human trafficking while employed by the federal government. (Sec. 123) This section requires the GAO to (1) study the accessibility of mental health services and substance use disorder treatment and recovery for survivors of human trafficking in the United States of various ages, and (2) report to Congress on the findings of the study and recommendations for increased accessibility and affordability for survivors of trafficking. (Sec. 124) This section directs the National Science Foundation to support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on the impact of online social media platforms on the maintenance or expansion of human trafficking. Subtitle C--Monitoring Child, Forced, and Slave Labor (Sec. 131) This section requires federal agencies and departments that receive appropriations to award anti-trafficking grants to report on obligations and expenditures of federal funds for the purpose of combating human trafficking and forced labor. (Sec. 132) This section expresses the sense of Congress that companies headquartered or doing business in the United States that are not small business concerns (e.g., companies with 500 or more employees) should adopt a written policy that prohibits trafficking in persons. (Sec. 133) This section revises criteria for considering a child to be a victim of child abuse and neglect and of sexual abuse. Specifically, it provides that a child shall be considered a victim of child abuse and neglect and of sexual abuse if the child is identified as being a victim of human trafficking. Currently, a child is considered a victim of child abuse and neglect and of sexual abuse if the child is identified as being a victim of sex trafficking or a victim of severe forms of trafficking in persons. (Sec. 134) This section establishes the sense of Congress that (1) DOJ has failed to meet its reporting requirements under Title IV of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017, and (2) progress on critical data collection about human trafficking and crime reporting is in jeopardy as a result of the failure and must be addressed immediately. (Sec. 135) This section expresses the sense of Congress that (1) a person is qualified as a victim of child sex trafficking if the person is a victim, as a child, of human trafficking; and (2) all states and territories should evaluate whether to eliminate the requirement for third-party control to properly qualify a child as a victim of sex trafficking. (Sec. 136) This section expresses the sense of Congress that each state child welfare agency should report information on missing or abducted foster children and youth to the National Center on Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and to law enforcement for inclusion in the National Crime Information Center database. (Sec. 137) This section modifies the requirements for state plans for foster care and adoption assistance. The section specifies that the plans must require state child welfare agencies that report information on missing or abducted foster children and youth to the NCMEC and to law enforcement authorities to maintain regular communication and share information with the NCMEC and law enforcement agencies to provide a safe recovery of a missing or abducted child or youth. This includes sharing, where reasonably possible, a photo of the missing or abducted child or youth, a description of the child's physical features, and other health or risk factors (e.g., pregnancy status or vulnerability to being sex trafficked). TITLE II--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS This title reauthorizes activities and programs at various federal departments and agencies that support victims of trafficking in the United States. (Sec. 201) This section reauthorizes through FY2028 HHS and DOJ grants and programs to expand benefits and services to citizens and lawful permanent residents who are victims of severe forms of trafficking; Department of Labor activities to expand benefits and programs for victims of severe forms of trafficking; and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authority to investigate severe forms of trafficking in persons, including to establish a labor trafficking investigations team within DHS. (Sec. 202) This section authorizes amounts through FY2028 for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to strengthen enforcement of the prohibition on importing any product that was mined, produced, or manufactured by forced labor.
Dr. Joanne Smith Memorial Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2022 This act directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to publish and biennially update a list of all rehabilitation innovation centers. The act defines rehabilitation innovation centers as rehabilitation facilities that (1) hold specified federal research and training designations for traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury research, and (2) serve at least a certain number of Medicare patients. The CMS may waive such criteria as it deems appropriate.
Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021 This act provides for the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley. After it is awarded, the medal shall be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act This act addresses conflicts of interest in federal acquisitions. Specifically, the act directs the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to revise the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to provide and update definitions related to specific types of organizational conflicts of interest; definitions, guidance, and illustrative examples related to relationships of contractors with public, private, domestic, and foreign entities that may cause contract support to be subject to potential organizational conflicts; and illustrative examples of situations related to the potential organizational conflicts identified. Further, the council must revise the FAR to provide executive agencies with solicitation provisions and contract clauses to avoid or mitigate organizational conflicts, for agency use as needed, that require contractors to disclose information relevant to potential organizational conflicts and limit future contracting with respect to potential conflicts with the work to be performed under awarded contracts; allow agencies to tailor such solicitation provisions and contract clauses as necessary to address risks associated with conflicts of interest and other considerations that may be unique to the agency; require agencies to establish or update agency conflict of interest procedures to implement the revisions to the FAR made under this act and periodically assess and update such procedures as needed to address agency-specific conflict issues; and update FAR procedures to permit contracting officers to take into consideration professional standards and procedures to prevent organizational conflicts of interest to which an offeror or contractor is subject.
Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022 This act expands the allowable use of grants under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program. The program provides state, local, and tribal grants to improve the criminal justice system's response to people with mental health disorders. Among the provisions, the act allows funds for diversion and alternative prosecution and sentencing programs to be used for training for state and local prosecutors related to diversion programs; allows funds for multidisciplinary teams to be used to support police officers and mental health crisis workers responding together to mental health calls; and allows grants to be awarded for additional purposes such as suicide prevention programs and services, case management services, and state and local implementation of the 988 suicide hotline. Additionally, the act reauthorizes through FY2027 the requirement for the Department of Justice to examine and report on the prevalence of mentally ill offenders in prisons and jails.
Prison Camera Reform Act of 2021 This act establishes various requirements to ensure that the security camera, radio, and public address systems used by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) have the capabilities necessary to (1) ensure the health and safety of staff and inmates; and (2) ensure the documentation and accessibility of video evidence pertaining to misconduct, maltreatment, or criminal activity within correctional facilities. Among the requirements, the BOP must evaluate the systems currently in use at its facilities and implement a plan that addresses deficiencies in and makes upgrades to the systems.
Iran Hostages Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the 53 hostages of the Iran Hostage Crisis (November 4, 1979-January 21, 1981) in recognition of their bravery and endurance throughout their captivity.
Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act or the FLOODS Act This act addresses forecasting and the communication of flood, tornado, and hurricane events by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). For example, the act directs NOAA to establish a National Integrated Flood Information System to inform and provide for timely decisions to reduce flood-related effects and costs. NOAA must also establish partnerships with institutions of higher education and federal agencies to improve total water predictions. In addition, NOAA must (1) evaluate and improve flash flood watches and warnings, (2) estimate and communicate the frequency of precipitation, and (3) identify gaps in the availability of snow-related data to assess and predict floods and flood impacts. Further, NOAA must ensure that the tornado warning improvement and extension program periodically examines the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as acoustic or infrasonic measurements, observations from phased array radars, and observations from mesonets (i.e., a network of certain weather observing stations). In addition, the National Weather Service must designate a service coordination hydrologist at each of its River Forecast Centers to increase impact-based decision support services at the state and local level. Finally, the act establishes an Interagency Committee on Water Management and Infrastructure to ensure that federal agencies that engage in water-related matters work together where such agencies have joint or overlapping responsibilities.
Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act of 2022 This act modifies policies and procedures related to the payment of benefits under certain life insurance programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). If a primary beneficiary has not made a claim for payment within one year (currently two years) after the death of the insured under the National Service Life Insurance (NSLI) program or the United States Government Life Insurance (USGLI) program, the VA is authorized to make payment to another designated beneficiary as if the primary beneficiary had predeceased the insured. If no designated beneficiary makes a claim within two years (currently four years) after the death of the insured, the VA is authorized to make a payment to a person the VA deems to be equitably entitled to such benefit. The act also modifies the beneficiary designation process under NSLI and USGLI. Specifically, if a person does not designate a beneficiary for insurance, or if the designated beneficiary predeceases the insured person, the VA must determine the beneficiary in a specified order of succession. Additionally, the act requires the VA to improve its processes and procedures with respect to identifying, locating, and paying hard-to-find beneficiaries of life insurance policies, including by improving its website search tools.
MST Claims Coordination Act This act modifies the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims process for claims related to military sexual trauma (MST). During or immediately after a medical examination, hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals, or other relevant event, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) must coordinate with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to provide veterans who elect to receive materials with outreach letters, information on the Veterans Crisis Line, information on how to make an appointment with a mental health provider, and other information on available resources relating to MST. Additionally, the VHA and the VBA must provide such materials with the determination the VA provides to the claimant in connection with a claim for compensation. In a claim for compensation arising from MST experienced by a veteran who is enrolled in the VA health care system and consents to the notification system, the VBA must automatically notify the VHA before the veteran (1) participates in a medical examination, hearing, or other relevant event; or (2) receives a determination from the VA in connection with the claim for compensation.
This act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to conduct a comprehensive review of VA medical examinations provided to individuals who submit claims for compensation for a service-connected disability related to military sexual trauma. Specifically, NASEM must review VA examinations that are provided for mental and physical conditions linked to military sexual trauma and are conducted to assess the impairments of individuals arising from such trauma. NASEM must report on its review, and the VA must report on its plans to implement actions based on NASEM's findings and recommendations.
This act prescribes that a peer support specialist of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must not be responsible for providing assistance to a veteran regarding a claim for compensation for a covered mental health condition (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) based on military sexual trauma (MST) experienced during active service. Such specialists must only provide counseling services, guidance, and support and must not participate in the adjudication of the claim. As part of the forms for claims for compensation for a covered mental health condition based on MST, the VA must include an option for a veteran to elect to be referred to a MST trauma coordinator at the VA facility closest to the veteran's residence. Additionally, the VA must (1) ensure that its peer support specialists receive annual training on providing peer support regarding MST, and (2) provide annual training on the processing of claims for compensation for covered mental health conditions based on MST to its MST coordinators and peer specialists.
