Sen. John Thune

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 679) formally commemorates June 19, 2022, as "Juneteenth National Independence Day" to honor the historical event of June 19, 1865, when Union troops announced the end of slavery in Texas. It references the significance of this date in U.S. history, specifically the moment news of emancipation reached enslaved people in the Southwestern States. The resolution does not create new legal obligations or affect any specific group; it is a symbolic recognition of this historical milestone. It aligns with Juneteenth’s established status as a federal holiday, which was officially designated in 2021.

Political Bias In Algorithm Sorting Emails Act of 2022 or the Political BIAS Emails Act of 2022 This bill restricts email providers from applying filtering algorithms that label political campaign messages as spam and requires providers to publicly report on their email delivery practices.

This resolution welcomes Finland and Sweden's decision to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The resolution acknowledges that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has dramatically changed the security situation in Europe, and that the reform and expansion of NATO is key to ensuring a safe and prosperous future for the United States and its critical allies and partners. The resolution also calls on the President to move expeditiously to complete all documents and reports needed to support the Senate's approval of the accession protocols. Finally, the resolution calls on all NATO members to move rapidly to complete their ratification processes.

Dynamic Airspace Pilot Program Act of 2022 This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a pilot program on developing and testing dynamic management of special activity airspace to accommodate emerging military training requirements through flexible scheduling and increase access to special activity airspace used by the Department of Defense (DOD) for test and training. Under the pilot program, the FAA and DOD must jointly test at least three areas of episodic or permanent special activity airspace designated for use by DOD, including at least two areas over U.S. land and one over U.S. coastal waters. Any increase in access to airspace made available for test and training shall not conflict with the safe management of the national airspace system or the safety of stakeholders of the system.

Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2022 This bill revises provisions related to the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain aliens. DHS may detain an alien pending a removal decision for any length of time until the alien is subject to a final removal order. DHS must detain certain aliens, such as those convicted of an aggravated felony, beyond certain time limits for detaining an alien. The authority of the Department of Justice to review DHS custody decisions concerning an alien awaiting a removal decision shall be limited to whether the alien may be detained, released on bond, or released with no bond. DHS may release such an alien on bond only if the alien is not a flight risk or risk to the community. For an alien subject to a removal order, DHS may extend the 90-day removal period (generally the window in which DHS has to remove an alien after a final order of removal) in certain instances, such as when the alien's removal is stayed during an appeal. DHS may continue to detain an alien beyond the removal period and any removal period extensions. DHS shall periodically certify a justification for detaining an alien beyond the removal period. DHS shall establish a detention review process for aliens who (1) have made all reasonable efforts to comply with a removal order, and (2) are not subject to mandatory detention. DHS shall use the review process to determine whether an alien should be detained or released with conditions.

Stop Gun Criminals Act This bill increases the term of imprisonment for certain offenses involving firearms, particularly those that are committed by repeat offenders.

Armed Forces Fuel Choice Act of 2022 This bill requires each commissary or exchange store located on a military installation in the United States (or any territory or possession of the United States) that offers gasoline for commercial sale to offer the sale of at least one fuel that contains not less than 13% ethanol not later than January 1, 2024. Commissaries and exchanges that require the replacement of an underground storage tank to offer such fuel must offer the sale not later than January 1, 2025.

Black Hills Forest Protection and Jobs Preservation Act of 2022 This bill provides for vegetation management projects and timber production projects on certain National Forest System lands in Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The bill directs the Forest Service to issue one or more decisions using expedited authorities for compliance with environmental review requirements to carry out vegetation management projects on land in the Black Hills National Forest. Furthermore, the Forest Service shall categorize the Black Hills National Forest and the Bighorn National Forest as being very high priority for ecological restoration that involves vegetation removal. The Forest Service must also use specified amounts made available for forest thinning and timber harvesting for timber production in the Bighorn National Forest, the Custer Gallatin National Forest, and the Black Hills National Forest. In carrying out such timber production, the Forest Service shall use, to the extent practicable, the categorical exclusion for certain forest management activities and specified emergency action authority. A vegetation management or timber production project carried out under this bill shall not be subject to judicial review. Such a project may not be carried out on (1) a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, or (2) an inventoried roadless area.

United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to the U.S. Army Rangers Veterans of World War II in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.

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.)