Rep. Barbara Lee

Heating and Cooling Relief Act This bill provides additional energy assistance to households, including heating and cooling assistance. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and revises the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Under the existing program, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may award grants to states for assisting low-income households that pay a high proportion of their income for home energy. To be eligible under the existing program, households must have incomes which do not exceed the greater of an amount equal to 150% of the poverty level for their state or an amount equal to 60% of the state median income. The bill expands eligibility to households with incomes which do not exceed the greater of an amount equal to 250% of the poverty line as defined in the Community Services Block Grant Act or an amount equal to 80% of the state median income. In addition, the bill expands eligibility to households with a monthly energy burden of 3% or more per year. It also requires states to establish procedures to protect households receiving assistance under the program from energy shutoffs and certain late fees. In addition, the bill requires HHS and the Department of Energy to jointly carry out a program that awards grants to states and local governments for developing and implementing interagency plans to reduce energy burdens for eligible households with high home energy use. The plans must promote the reduction of energy from fossil fuels.

This resolution expresses the policy of the United States for addressing and mitigating national security challenges, including the spread of infectious diseases and pandemics, the climate crisis, the proliferation and threat of the use of nuclear weapons, human rights violations, corruption, conflict, and violence, authoritarianism, gender, economic, and social inequality, and transnational White supremacist violence and racist nationalism.

Refuge From Cruel Trapping Act of 2021 This bill prohibits, with specified exceptions, the use or possession of body-gripping traps in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The bill imposes on persons who possess or use such traps in the system (1) for a first offense, a civil fine of up to $500 for each body-gripping trap possessed or used; and (2) for subsequent offenses, a civil fine of up to $1,000 for each body-gripping trap possessed or used, imprisonment for up to 180 days, or both such a civil fine and imprisonment. The bill makes any body-gripping traps that are possessed or used in violation of this bill, and any wildlife captured by the use of such traps, including the pelts and raw fur, subject to civil forfeiture. Persons found to be in violation of such prohibition shall pay all associated court costs.

Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2021 This bill provides statutory authority for the Coastal Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Among other things, the program identifies the most important natural resource problems and solutions in priority coastal ecosystems in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, private individuals, and corporations; and assists in the development and implementation of monitoring protocols to ensure the success of coastal ecosystem restoration and enhancement measures.

Climate Risk and Emergency Support In Livable Inclusive and Equitable Neighborhoods and Communities Everywhere Act or the Climate RESILIENCE Act This bill makes changes to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to take into account climate change. The bill includes extreme temperature events, such as heat waves or freezes, within the scope of the act and defines resilience for purposes of disaster assistance and mitigation efforts. Federal and state preparedness and mitigation assistance may be used for reducing the impacts of extreme temperatures and improving air quality and mitigating against wildfire smoke.. The bill authorizes implementing predisaster hazard mitigation measures that will be cost-effective and equitable long-term and provide enhanced protection to the community. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must (1) provide technical assistance to underserved and disadvantaged communities for such measures; and (2) provide guidance to implement the latest published editions of relevant consensus-based codes, specifications, and standards that incorporate the latest hazard-resistant designs. The bill includes within the hazard mitigation program requirements the abatement of lead, mold, mildew, radon, asthma, and allergen triggers, or other pollutants and hazardous materials directly caused by a major disaster or emergency. FEMA must report to Congress regarding challenges posed by FEMA requirements for determining the cost-effectiveness of mitigation activities and how such requirements may disproportionately burden underserved or disadvantaged communities.

This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of Korean American Day and honors the 119th anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States.

Masks for All Act of 2022 This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to manufacture and distribute N-95 respirator masks to every individual in the United States and to provide N-95 masks to all individuals working in health care settings in the United States that are experiencing a shortage of such masks. FEMA must provide the masks at no cost to individuals and deliver them, to the greatest extent possible, using the U.S. Postal Service. Additionally, FEMA shall designate mask pickup sites in each community and shall provide masks to each site, allocated according to population; consider new designs for masks to improve comfort, fit, and size options; and submit to Congress a strategic plan that includes monthly, measurable targets to eliminate shortages and increase domestic production of N-95 masks and to fulfill all other requirements of this bill. The President shall make use of any and all available authorities (including emergency authorities) at the disposal of the federal government to procure and domestically manufacture N-95 masks and support the domestic manufacturing of N-95 masks.

Tiny Homes for Homeless Veterans Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a six-year pilot program to provide grants for the creation of five villages of tiny homes for homeless veterans. Under the bill, the villages must have associated supportive services to allow veterans to build and live in energy efficient homes, maintain social connections with each other, learn skills, and receive critical counseling. Under the bill, a tiny home is an individual housing unit that is approximately 240 square feet for one person or approximately 340 square feet if the home is for a family.

PrEP Access and Coverage Act This bill requires private health insurance plans to cover prescription drugs that prevent HIV, including related screenings, diagnostic procedures, administrative fees, and clinical follow-ups, without any cost-sharing obligation for the plan holder. Further, insurance plans must not impose any preauthorization requirement for this coverage. These coverage requirements also apply to public health insurance programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Additionally, the bill prohibits denying, limiting, or qualifying coverage or increasing premiums for disability insurance, long-term care insurance, or life insurance policies based on an individual taking medication for HIV prevention. The bill further requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to states, or directly to eligible local organizations, to provide uninsured individuals and underinsured individuals access to prescription drugs and related services that prevent HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also must develop a public awareness campaign that focuses efforts in communities with a high need for HIV prevention treatment.

College Student Hunger Act of 20 21 This bill modifies the eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to make additional students at institutions of higher education eligible for benefits.