This resolution (HRES 1143) is a symbolic recognition of the USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723), a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, and its crew for their service to the United States. It honors the submarine’s 34-year career, including global deployments, support during the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing aftermath, and its role as the first Navy submarine to adopt all-electronic navigation. The resolution has no policy or legal effect - it does not fund, change laws, or directly affect any individuals or entities beyond expressing congressional appreciation for the vessel’s service. It was introduced in May 2022, following the submarine’s decommissioning on May 20, 2022.
Freight Rail Assistance and Investment to Launch Coronavirus-Era Activity and Recovery Act of 2022 or the Freight RAILCAR Act of 2022 This bill provides a new tax credit through 2024 for 10% of freight railcar fleet modernization expenses (i.e., railcar replacement and modernization expenses for meeting fuel efficiency and performance standards). The bill provides that no more than 2,000 freight railcars per taxpayer may be taken into account for purposes of determining the credit in a taxable year. The Department of the Treasury must report to Congress on the credit to provide information on the number of times the credit was claimed and the number of railcars scrapped or built as a result of the credit.
Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People's Republic of China Act This bill requires the President to prohibit nonresident aliens, foreign businesses, and agents associated with China's government from (1) purchasing agricultural (including ranching) real estate located in the United States, or (2) participating in Department of Agriculture programs that are unrelated to food and safety regulatory requirements.
This joint resolution nullifies the interim final rule submitted by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security and published on March 29, 2022, concerning procedures for the consideration of asylum claims and other related issues. (Among other changes, the interim final rule requires an asylum seeker subject to expedited removal to be screened by an asylum officer for a credible fear of persecution or torture, rather than a credible fear of persecution, reasonable possibility of persecution, or reasonable possibility of torture.)
This resolution designates June 6, 2022, as National CASA/GAL Volunteers Day to commend the work of court-appointed special advocate (CASA) and guardian ad litem (GAL) volunteers.
Urban Indian Health Confer Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to confer with urban Indian organizations regarding health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban areas. Currently, only the Indian Health Service (IHS) is required to confer with urban Indian organizations on matters relating to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. The bill requires HHS to ensure that the IHS and other agencies and offices within HHS confer with urban Indian organizations on (1) matters relating to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and (2) other provisions of law relating to health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
DHS Illicit Cross-Border Tunnel Defense Act This bill authorizes for FY2023 and FY2024 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activities to identify and remediate illicit cross-border tunnels. CBP shall also develop and report to Congress a strategic plan to guide and improve such operations.
Reverse Entry for Migrant Offenders and Violence Expulsion Act This bill establishes under statute that a conviction for certain crimes related to kidnapping or sexual abuse shall be grounds for (1) barring an individual from entering the United States, and (2) deportability. (Under current law, convictions for certain crimes, including crimes involving moral turpitude, are grounds for inadmissibility and deportability.)
No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act This bill establishes that any convention or agreement on pandemic-related issues reached by the World Health Assembly (WHA) pursuant to a specified negotiating body shall be deemed to be a treaty requiring the advice and consent of the Senate. Specifically, this bill applies to any international instrument negotiated by the intergovernmental negotiating body established by the WHA in December 2021 to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
This resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that the President, in consultation with Congress, should work to conclude negotiations for comprehensive trade agreements between the United States and the United Kingdom and between the United States and the European Union.
Defending Freedom of Conscience for Cadets and Midshipmen Act of 2022 This bill provides that a cadet or midshipman at a federal service academy (e.g., the U.S. Naval Academy) may not be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition for graduation and may not be dismissed from the academy as a result of refusing to be vaccinated. Cadets and midshipmen who are prohibited from fulfilling their service agreement due to their refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccination may not be subjected to repayment provisions (e.g., bonus repayment) or specified debt repayment collections.
This bill requires the federal government to fully fund the costs of dam safety modifications of certain dikes owned by the Bureau of Reclamation. The bill also requires the federal government to fully fund gate replacements or repairs for certain dams for the next 10 years. The bill applies to certain Reclamation-owned dams or dikes completed not later than December 31, 1948 (e.g., the Altus Dam and dikes in the W.C. Austin Project in Oklahoma). Under current law, the federal government is required to fully fund the operation and maintenance costs of certain Reclamation-owned dikes that were completed not later than December 31, 1945. However, current law requires the federal government to fund only 85% of certain dam safety modifications.
