Future of Water Act of 2022 This bill prohibits the trading of futures contracts in water or water rights. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a commodity or financial instrument at a set price at a specific time.
Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act or the MORE Act This bill decriminalizes marijuana. Specifically, it removes marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana. The bill also makes other changes, including the following: replaces statutory references to marijuana and marihuana with cannabis , requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees, establishes a trust fund to support various programs and services for individuals and businesses in communities impacted by the war on drugs, imposes an excise tax on cannabis products produced in or imported into the United States and an occupational tax on cannabis production facilities and export warehouses, makes Small Business Administration loans and services available to entities that are cannabis-related legitimate businesses or service providers, prohibits the denial of federal public benefits to a person on the basis of certain cannabis-related conduct or convictions, prohibits the denial of benefits and protections under immigration laws on the basis of a cannabis-related event (e.g., conduct or a conviction), establishes a process to expunge convictions and conduct sentencing review hearings related to federal cannabis offenses, directs the Government Accountability Office to study the societal impact of state legalization of recreational cannabis, directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to study methods for determining whether a driver is impaired by marijuana, directs the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to study the impact of state legalization of recreational cannabis on the workplace, and directs the Department of Education to study the impact of state legalization of recreational cannabis on schools and school-aged children.
HR 7355, the "Stopping Excessive Climate Reporting Act," prohibits public companies from being required under securities laws to disclose certain climate-related information. Specifically, it prevents issuers from having to report greenhouse gas emissions from their own operations (Scope 1 and 2) or their supply chains and consumers (Scope 3 emissions). The bill also removes requirements for independent certification of this emissions data. This directly affects publicly traded companies subject to securities regulations by eliminating these specific disclosure obligations.
SRES 565 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring the late Representative Don Young (R-AK), who served 49 years in the U.S. House of Representatives - the longest tenure of any Alaska representative and the 45th Dean of the House. The resolution commemorates his life, service, and legacy, including his work on landmark legislation like the Trans-Alaska Pipeline authorization and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. It contains no policy changes or new laws; instead, it directs the Senate to mourn his passing, honor his bipartisan service, and transmit a copy to his family. This is a purely symbolic resolution with no direct impact on constituents or legislation.
Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes for FY2022-FY2028 and otherwise revises grants for local and regional children's advocacy centers (CACs). CACs coordinate a multidisciplinary response to child abuse.
Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act This bill requires the Small Business Administration to ensure that for each fiscal year the cost to small businesses of the administration's rulemaking (including the modification or repeal of a rule) is not greater than zero. The administration also must report on any regulations issued by other federal agencies that have an impact on small businesses.
HRES 1016 is a House resolution honoring swimmer Emma Weyant as the rightful winner of the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s 500-Yard Freestyle after her medal was stolen. It recognizes her Olympic silver medal, contributions to the University of Virginia’s 2022 NCAA championship, and role as a student-athlete role model. The resolution has no legal effect but formally acknowledges her achievement and the medal theft incident. It directly affects Weyant by providing symbolic recognition of her athletic accomplishment.
This resolution supports the preservation of the stepped-up basis tax rule that allows recipients of inherited assets such as land, equipment, or buildings to adjust the cost basis of the assets to reflect their fair market value. The resolution opposes any efforts to impose new taxes on family farms or small businesses and recognizes the importance of generational transfers of farm and family-owned businesses.
Continuing Emergency Support for Restaurants Act This bill provides an additional $48 billion in FY2021 for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and designates specified amounts for fund administrative expenses and audits of grants made from the fund. The fund was established in response to COVID-19 to make grants to eligible food and beverage purveyors for covering specified costs such as payroll, operational expenses, and paid sick leave. The bill designates the funding as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits.
Pregnant Students' Rights Act This bill requires a public institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student-aid programs to provide information to admitted and enrolled students on the rights and resources for students who are pregnant or may become pregnant. These rights and resources must exclude abortion services. Additionally, the IHE must establish a protocol to meet with students who believe they were discriminated against based on pregnancy. The IHE must also provide pregnancy-related questions to enrolled students and annually submit compiled responses to the Department of Education.
Cerebral Palsy Research Program Authorization Act of 2022 This bill expands research activities related to cerebral palsy (a group of disorders caused by abnormal brain development or damage that affects an individual's ability to move and maintain balance and posture). Specifically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must carry out a cerebral palsy research program that addresses diagnosis and treatment, public health surveillance, and related matters. Additionally, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development must update an existing strategic plan for cerebral palsy research.
Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 This bill authorizes appropriations through FY2023 for the Federal Maritime Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard, including appropriations for acquiring icebreaker vessels. It also revises a variety of requirements concerning the Coast Guard's personnel, operations, infrastructure, and environmental compliance. For example, the bill revises requirements concerning sexual assault, sexual harassment, foreign workers, vessel safety, navigation, ship construction, shipping cargo, marine mammals, aquatic nuisance species, and oil spills.
