Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act of 2021 This bill provides for the transition of certain financial contracts away from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), a reference interest rate based upon the lending terms certain banks offer to each other for various lengths of time. LIBOR is set to be retired in 2023. Various financial contracts reference LIBOR as a benchmark for prevailing interest rates and use LIBOR in calculating certain payments or obligations. In the event a contract referencing LIBOR does not have a fallback or replacement rate provision in effect when LIBOR is retired, or a replacement rate is not selected by a determining person as defined by the bill, the bill provides for a transition to a replacement rate selected by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The bill also provides for conforming changes to these contracts, the continuity and enforceability of these contracts, and protections against liability as a result of such a transition.
This joint resolution nullifies the rule titled Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination , which was issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on November 5, 2021. The rule requires health care providers, as a condition of Medicare and Medicaid participation, to ensure that staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
This resolution designates March 4, 2022, as "National Speech and Debate Education Day" to recognize the value of speech and debate programs in schools. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but encourages schools, communities, and individuals to celebrate these educational activities. The resolution highlights how speech and debate develop critical skills like communication, critical thinking, and civic engagement for students. It is a symbolic gesture with no direct impact on policy or affected populations.
This resolution designates the week of February 12, 2022, as National Entrepreneurship Week to recognize and celebrate the contributions of entrepreneurs to the U.S. economy and to communities across the country.
This resolution demands an immediate cease-fire and the full withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory and expresses unequivocal support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also backs the continued use of sanctions to fully isolate the Putin regime economically and urges the United States and its allies and partners to deliver additional and immediate defensive security assistance to Ukraine.
Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act of 2022 This bill addresses cybersecurity threats against critical infrastructure and the federal government. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) must perform ongoing and continuous assessments of federal risk posture. An agency, within a specified time frame, must (1) determine whether notice to any individual potentially affected by a breach is appropriate based on a risk assessment; and (2) as appropriate, provide written notice to each individual potentially affected. Each agency must (1) provide information relating to a major incident to specified parties, and (2) develop specified training for individuals with access to federal information or information systems. The bill requires reporting and other actions to address cybersecurity incidents. Entities that own or operate critical infrastructure must report cyber incidents and ransom payments within specified time frames. The bill limits the use and disclosure of reported information. The bill establishes (1) an interagency council to standardize federal reporting of cybersecurity threats, (2) a task force on ransomware attacks, and (3) a pilot program to identify information systems vulnerable to such attacks. The bill provides statutory authority for the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) within the General Services Administration (GSA). FedRAMP is a government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud computing products and services. The bill establishes a FedRAMP Board to examine the operations of FedRAMP and the Federal Secure Cloud Advisory Committee.
This resolution supports reopening the U.S. Capitol Building and Senate Office Buildings to visitors under the public visitation policies that were in place before the COVID-19 pandemic.
HRES 955, introduced March 1, 2022, is a procedural resolution electing Representative Mark DeSaulnier (not Jacobs, as corrected from the text error) to serve on the House Committee on Education and Labor. This resolution formally appoints a specific member to a standing committee, directly affecting that representative's committee duties and responsibilities. The bill does not change policy or law but follows standard House procedure for committee assignments. It was passed without debate as a routine administrative action.
HRES 950 is a procedural resolution that establishes the rules for the House to consider H.R. 3967, a bill aimed at improving health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances. It waives points of order against the bill and its amendments, allows one hour of debate equally divided between the committee chair and ranking member, and specifies the order for considering amendments. The resolution does not change the content of H.R. 3967 but streamlines its legislative process. This procedural step directly affects House members and the committee handling veterans' affairs.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 This bill authorizes Department of Defense (DOD) activities and programs for FY2022 and addresses various other issues. For example, the bill provides multiyear procurement authority for certain helicopters and destroyers; imposes various cost and operational limits on the F-35 aircraft program; requires DOD to establish a consortium of institutions of higher education to study irregular warfare; generally prohibits DOD from disposing of certain waste, including hazardous waste, in open-air burn pits outside of the United States; requires DOD to impose a temporary moratorium on burning perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly referred to as PFAS); expands Selective Service registration to include women; requires the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard to appoint special victim prosecutors; requires that a formal complaint alleging sexual harassment committed by a service member against another service member be investigated by an independent investigator; authorizes the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy to take actions to provide nonmedical counseling services to military families through the DOD Family Readiness System; directs DOD to implement certain recommendations for reducing gender-related inequities in out-of-pocket uniform costs; requires DOD to provide a basic needs allowance to low-income service members; extends temporary authorities for providing premium pay and benefits to certain DOD civilian employees; establishes within the General Services Administration the National Digital Reserve Corps to help address the digital and cybersecurity needs of executive agencies; extends authority for DOD to support stabilization activities in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Somalia; and imposes sanctions on entities (and certain officers and shareholders of such entities) responsible for operating, constructing, or operating the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Energy Emergency Leadership Act This bill requires the Secretary of Energy to assign energy emergency and energy security functions to an Assistant Secretary, including responsibilities with respect to infrastructure and cybersecurity. The Department of Energy must ensure that such functions are performed in coordination with relevant federal agencies.
This resolution honors the life of James Hagedorn, former Representative of Minnesota, and offers the condolence of the House of Representatives regarding his death.
