Medicare for All Act of 2022 This bill establishes a national health insurance program that is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Among other requirements, the program must (1) cover all U.S. residents; (2) provide for automatic enrollment of individuals upon birth or residency in the United States; and (3) cover items and services that are medically necessary or appropriate to maintain health or to diagnose, treat, or rehabilitate a health condition, including hospital services, prescription drugs, mental health and substance abuse treatment, dental and vision services, and home- and community-based long-term care. The bill prohibits cost-sharing (e.g., deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments) and other charges for covered services, with the exception of prescription drugs. Additionally, private health insurers and employers may only offer coverage that is supplemental to, and not duplicative of, benefits provided under the program. Health insurance exchanges and specified federal health programs terminate upon program implementation. However, the program does not affect coverage provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs, TRICARE, or the Indian Health Service. Additionally, state Medicaid programs must cover certain institutional long-term care services. The bill also establishes a series of implementing provisions relating to (1) health care provider participation; (2) HHS administration; and (3) payments and costs, including the requirement that HHS negotiate prices for prescription drugs and establish a formulary. Individuals who are age 18 or younger may enroll in the program starting one year after enactment of this bill; other individuals may buy into a transitional plan or an expanded Medicare program at this time, depending on age. The bill's program must be fully implemented four years after enactment.
No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act This bill denies employers a tax deduction for any expenditures incurred for attempting to influence their employees with respect to labor organizations or labor organization activities, such as elections, labor disputes, and collective actions. The bill requires employers to report on their attempts to influence their employees with respect to labor organizations and their activities.
Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2022 This bill generally makes it unlawful to sell or offer for sale a good or service at an unconscionably excessive price during an exceptional market shock. The bill also provides additional funding to the Federal Trade Commission.
Support Ukraine Through Our Tax Code Act This bill denies the foreign tax credit and the tax deduction for income, war profits, and excess profits taxes paid to Russia and Belarus. The bill also denies certain other tax benefits in connection with the invasion of Ukraine, including any tax treaty benefits and exemptions from withholding requirements. The bill suspends tax information exchanges for Russia and Belarus under a tax treaty or an intergovernmental agreement during the period of the Ukraine invasion.
Secure Research Data Network Act This bill establishes a Secure Research Data Network (SRDN) pilot program in the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF shall direct the SRDN to carry out specified responsibilities, including supporting governmentwide evidence-building activities to support policymaking including implementation of agency multiyear evidence-building plans, deploying and operating a SRDN platform for authorized analysts to calculate statistics on data for evidence-building activity purposes using data assets made available by reporting entities for approved projects, and consulting with the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Task Force and considering how to integrate the Task Force's recommendations and road map for expanding access to critical artificial intelligence resources and educational tools into the SRDN. The NSF shall direct the SRDN to develop a plan for and operate a data quality service team who will help reporting entities evaluate their data and prepare it for use with the SRDN platform to achieve approved project goals. The NSF shall establish a SRDN Advisory Board. The Government Accountability Office shall conduct an evaluation of the SRDN pilot program.
Community-Based Workforce Development Act This bill provides grants to expand workforce training programs for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors.
Outlease Reform in Public Buildings Act or the OUR Public Buildings Act This bill establishes requirements for outleasing certain federal buildings. Specifically, the General Services Administration (GSA) must develop and require the use of standard clauses to use in any outlease agreement that is for a public building that is at least 150,000 gross square feet; is entered into by the GSA and a private entity; for which the leased space totals at least 51% of the usable square feet of the building; and for which the term of the lease, including options, is in excess of five years. Any such agreement must require the lessee to submit a form disclosing any foreign ownership interest in the outlease. The GSA may not enter into such an outlease with the President, the Vice President, the head of an executive agency, or a Member of Congress. The outlease shall not take effect if Congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval of the outlease and such joint resolution is signed by the President.
Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2022 This bill provides funding for and expands access to water resources for Native communities (i.e., Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian communities). First, the bill provides funding for the Indian Health Service to (1) provide essential sanitation facilities to community structures (e.g., schools, hospitals, and tribal offices) that were not previously considered eligible for such service; (2) provide technical assistance; and (3) operate and maintain water facilities that serve Native communities. Next, the bill provides funding for the Department of Agriculture to provide water and wastewater facility grants to eligible entities (e.g., Native communities) that have residents facing significant health risks due to inadequate water supply systems. The bill specifies that these funds shall not require any matching contribution. In addition, the bill reauthorizes through FY2032 the Bureau of Reclamation's Rural Water Supply Program. Further, the bill provides funding for and establishes a grant program for tribal clean water access projects. It also provides funding for the Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program.
NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act of 2021 or the NWR Modernization Act of 2021 This bill provides for the expansion of, and upgrades to, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio All Hazards network (NWR). NOAA shall expand coverage of NWR and ensure its reliability by maintaining support for existing systems serving areas not covered by cellular service or having poor quality cellular service; ensuring consistent maintenance of, and timely repairs to, broadcast transmitter site equipment and antennas; and enhancing the ability to amplify Non-Weather Emergency Messages via NWR as necessary. NOAA shall complete an assessment of access to NWR. NOAA shall enhance NWR to ensure its capabilities and coverage remain valuable to the public. In carrying out such activities, NOAA must prioritize practices, capabilities, and technologies recommended by the assessment to maximize accessibility, particularly in remote and underserved areas of the country.
Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022 This bill makes it easier for federally employed firefighters who contract certain illnesses to qualify for federal workers' compensation. Specifically, the bill provides that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mesothelioma, and specified other cancers of those employed in fire protection activities for at least five years are presumed to be proximately caused by such employment for purposes of a disability or death claim under the federal workers' compensation program. This presumption also applies to federal employees employed in fire protection activities for at least five years who experience a sudden cardiac event or stroke within 24 hours of performing a fire protection activity. The bill also requires the Department of Labor to conduct a review to determine whether breast cancer, gynecological cancer, and rhabdomyolysis should be included under the presumption and to conduct periodic reviews to determine whether other diseases should be included. In addition, a person may petition Labor to include another disease under the presumption. An employee in fire protection activities is a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, rescue worker, ambulance personnel, or hazardous material worker who (1) is trained in fire suppression; (2) has the legal authority and responsibility to engage in fire suppression; (3) is engaged in the prevention, control, and extinguishing of fires or response to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk, including the prevention, control, suppression, or management of wildland fires; and (4) performs such activities as a primary responsibility.
SRES 630 is a Senate resolution expressing support for designating the week of May 1-7, 2022, as "National Small Business Week" to honor small businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide. It highlights that small businesses support over 61 million jobs and demonstrate resilience amid pandemic challenges, though the resolution does not create new legal requirements or funding. The resolution symbolically recognizes their economic contributions and role in community rebuilding without imposing binding obligations. As a commemorative measure, it aligns with longstanding presidential designations dating to 1963.
Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2022 This bill provides for the establishment of a code of conduct for Supreme Court Justices, judges of the courts of appeals, judges of the district courts, and judges of the Court of International Trade.
