IRS Reduction Act This bill rescinds all unobligated amounts appropriated by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 for the improvement of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Department of the Treasury must report on how the IRS plans to improve the efficiency of its services, including the processing of tax returns.
Military Bonus and Special Pay Increase Act of 2022 This bill increases the maximum amounts of certain bonuses and special pay authorities for enlisted members, nuclear officers (naval), officers in a regular or reserve component of a uniformed service who are training for or maintaining designations related to aviation, and members of a regular or reserve component of the uniformed services who serve in a critical career field or skill as designated by the applicable uniformed service.
Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022 This act extends death and disability benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program to certain public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who suffer or suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder, or trauma and stress-related disorders following an exposure to one or more traumatic events while on duty. The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who die or become disabled as a direct and proximate result of a personal injury in the line of duty. The act specifies that post-traumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder, or trauma and stress-related disorders suffered by a public safety officer following an exposure to a traumatic event while on duty constitutes a personal injury in the line of duty if exposure to the traumatic event was a substantial factor in the disorder. Further, for the purposes of death and disability benefits, the act creates a presumption that an officer's death or permanent disability was directly caused by a personal injury in the line of duty if the officer took an action intended to bring about his or her death and exposure to a traumatic event was a substantial factor in that action or that action occurred within 45 days of an exposure and was consistent with a psychiatric disorder. Finally, the act requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the details of benefits issued pursuant to this act, including recommendations to improve the PSOB program.
Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Law Enforcement Training Act or the TBI and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act This bill requires the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to consult with relevant agencies to establish crisis intervention training tools for first responders to address individuals with traumatic brain injuries, acquired brain injuries, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The BJA must ensure that at least one police department designated as a Law Enforcement Mental Health Learning Site utilizes the tools and that such tools are part of the Police-Mental Health Collaboration Toolkit. Additionally, the bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study and report about the prevalence and incidence of concussions among first responders.
Beagle Brigade Act of 2022 This bill provides statutory authority for the National Detector Dog Training Center that is operated by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture. The center trains dogs to inspect passenger baggage, cargo, mailed packages, and vehicles to detect foreign pests and diseases that threaten domestic agriculture and natural resources.
This bill directs the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to establish a grant program within its Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program for eligible institutions to develop and carry out agriculture workforce training programs to (1) promote the growth of the agriculture industry, (2) foster competitiveness within the industry, and (3) improve the training and retention of workers in the agriculture industry. The program must be implemented by January 31, 2024.
Taxpayers Support Life Act This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from finalizing, implementing, administering, or enforcing a proposed rule (published on August 4, 2022) that implements the statutory ban on discrimination in federally funded health programs and activities. Further, HHS may not use federal funds to contravene the administration or enforcement of the existing nondiscrimination rule, which became effective on June 19, 2020.
This resolution expresses that the Senate has heard the announcement of the death of the Honorable Jacqueline R. Walorski, Congresswoman for the Second Congressional District of Indiana. The resolution also honors Representative Walorski for her service to Indiana and the United States. The resolution expresses that when the Senate adjourns today, it stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Representative Walorski.
Responsible Education Assistance through Loan Reforms Act This bill makes various changes to the federal student loan system, including by (1) limiting the authority of the Department of Education to issue regulations, (2) establishing a new income-based repayment plan, (3) repealing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for new borrowers, and (4) allowing certain workforce development programs to be eligible for Pell Grants.
Achieving Thorough Transparency and Accessibility for Information Navigation on Mental Health Act of 2022 or the ATTAIN Mental Health Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a public-facing, online dashboard to publicize federally funded mental health grants. The dashboard must contain, for example, program names and opening and closing dates for applications. In addition, HHS must establish a process to include information voluntarily provided by states about their federally supported mental health grants on the dashboard. In developing the dashboard, HHS must consult with appropriate federal departments and agencies and other stakeholders.
This bill authorizes approval of certain commercial driver education programs for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational assistance if the programs meet specified requirements. Under current law, the VA may not approve enrollment of a veteran in courses for programs that do not lead to a standard degree that are offered at a new branch (i.e., a branch that has been operating for less than 2 years) of an educational institution. Under the bill, a commercial driver education program offered at a new branch of an educational institution may be approved if it is appropriately licensed and uses the same curriculum as a commercial driver education program offered by the educational institution at another location that is already approved for purposes of VA educational assistance. The educational institution must submit a report demonstrating the curriculum at the new branch is the same as the curriculum at the primary location in order to be exempt from the current prohibition against course approval at new branches.
Foster Care Stabilization Act of 2022 This bill requires the Administration for Children and Families to award demonstration grants to foster care stabilization agencies to improve services for foster youth awaiting placement and for other emergency assistance.
