Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act or the PRESS Act This bill prohibits the federal government from compelling journalists and providers of telecommunications services (e.g., phone and internet companies) to disclose certain protected information, except in limited circumstances such as to prevent terrorism or imminent violence. Specifically, the bill protects from disclosure any information identifying a source, as well as any records, contents of a communication, documents, or information obtained or created by journalists in the course of their work. Further, the bill protects specified third parties, such as telecommunications carriers or social media companies, from being compelled to provide testimony or any document consisting of a record, information, or other communication that is stored by the third party on behalf of a journalist.
Maintaining Access to Recreational Industry and Necessary Adjustments Act or the MARINA Act This bill addresses rental amounts, administrative fees, and lease terms with respect to certain marinas. The bill establishes that sales of food, beverages, fuel, boats, boat motors, and boat lifts must be capped at 1% for calculating the amount of rent charged to the operator of a marina for a lease. It directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to establish a standardized fee schedule for administrative fees assessed to operators of marinas that specifies under what circumstances and at what time such a fee is to be assessed. Additionally, the bill specifies that lease terms for a marina shall be at least 50 years for an initial lease or first renewal of a lease and at least 25 years for any subsequent renewal.
HRES 1360 is a symbolic resolution designating the week of September 18-24, 2022, as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. It does not create new laws or policies but expresses congressional support for raising public awareness about adult education, workforce skills, and family literacy programs. The resolution encourages Americans to support these programs, which aim to address literacy gaps affecting over 40 million adults in the U.S. (as noted in the resolution’s preamble). It directly affects no individuals or entities, as it is purely a gesture to highlight existing needs.
Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2022 This bill establishes several requirements and standards relating to prior authorization processes under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Specifically, MA plans must (1) establish an electronic prior authorization program that meets specified standards, including the ability to provide real-time decisions in response to requests for items and services that are routinely approved; (2) annually publish specified prior authorization information, including the percentage of requests approved and the average response time; and (3) meet other standards, as set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, relating to the quality and timeliness of prior authorization determinations.
This resolution remembers Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her more than 70 years of service in support of the British people and the Commonwealth of Nations. The resolution also expresses gratitude to Queen Elizabeth II for her efforts to maintain strong bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and the United States. Finally, the resolution extends condolences to the family of Queen Elizabeth II, to the people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and to the peoples of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Prioritizing Disaster Relief Act This bill allows COVID-19 relief funds to be used for disaster assistance. Specifically, the bill authorizes a state, local government, Indian tribe, or tribal organization to use such funds for expenses related to assisting communities, individuals, and businesses affected by and located within the designated area of a major disaster or emergency.
Simplify Timelines and Assure Regulatory Transparency Act or the START Act This bill sets forth a variety of provisions to expedite the environmental review of energy projects, such as the Mountain Valley Pipeline project.
Expand eXpertise in China Education and Language Act or the EXCEL Act This bill requires the Department of State to use direct hire authority to appoint at least 31 candidates with China-related linguistic, cultural, or regional expertise to the competitive service. The bill requires the State Department to train employees on competition with China and establishes a China strategic advisory board. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to study the capacity of the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to support strategic competition with China.
Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H-2A Modernization Act This bill expands the H-2A (temporary agricultural worker) visa program to cover additional types of labor, makes various changes to the program, and provides a safe harbor for errors in nonimmigrant worker visa applications in certain instances. The bill makes H-2A visas available to an alien providing temporary labor that falls within the federal government classification categories for (1) grounds maintenance workers; (2) farming, fishing, and forestry occupations; or (3) forest, conservation, and logging workers. The bill authorizes joint employers to file a joint petition for an H-2A alien. The bill allows (1) employers seeking to rehire an H-2A worker to submit a simplified petition, and (2) employers seeking to hire H-2A workers for different time periods during a fiscal year to submit a single petition for such workers. The Department of Labor shall establish an electronic filing and appeals system for H-2A petitions. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shall communicate electronically with an H-2A employer when USCIS requests evidence from the employer, if the employer asks to do so. An employer who uses a third-party service to apply for a nonimmigrant worker visa shall not be civilly or criminally liable for errors in the application if the employer reasonably believed that the application was accurate and complied with statutory requirements.
Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2021 or the SAFE Banking Act of 2021 This bill generally prohibits a federal banking regulator from penalizing a depository institution for providing banking services to a legitimate cannabis-related business. Prohibited penalties include terminating or limiting the deposit insurance or share insurance of a depository institution solely because the institution provides financial services to a legitimate cannabis-related business and prohibiting or otherwise discouraging a depository institution from offering financial services to such a business. Additionally, proceeds from a transaction involving activities of a legitimate cannabis-related business are not considered proceeds from unlawful activity. Proceeds from unlawful activity are subject to anti-money laundering laws. Furthermore, a depository institution is not, under federal law, liable or subject to asset forfeiture for providing a loan or other financial services to a legitimate cannabis-related business. The bill also provides that a federal banking agency may not request or order a depository institution to terminate a customer account unless (1) the agency has a valid reason for doing so, and (2) that reason is not based solely on reputation risk. Valid reasons for terminating an account include threats to national security and involvement in terrorist financing, including state sponsorship of terrorism.
Local News and Broadcast Media Preservation Act of 2022 This bill modifies ownership rules and limitations related to media such as newspapers and broadcast stations. Specifically, the bill repeals specified media ownership limitations and prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from disallowing multiple ownership of radio and television stations. It also prohibits the Federal Trade Commission from considering whether certain media mergers will substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly. Further, the bill creates a four-year safe harbor from antitrust laws for print, broadcast, or digital news companies to collectively negotiate with online content distributors (e.g., social media companies) regarding the terms on which the news companies' content may be distributed by online content distributors.
Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act This bill generally prohibits employees of executive agencies or who are otherwise in the competitive service from censoring the speech of others while acting in an official capacity, including ordering or advocating for the removal of lawful speech from a platform (e.g., social media).
