Student Borrower Bankruptcy Relief Act of 2022 This bill allows student loans to be discharged in bankruptcy. Under current law, these loans are only dischargeable if such debt imposes an undue hardship on the debtor.
Maddy summaryHR 8936, the Circuit Court Judgeships Act of 2022, authorizes additional judgeships for specific U.S. Courts of Appeals. It adds 1 judge to the First, Sixth, and Eighth Circuits; 7 to the Second; 2 to the Fourth; 13 to the Fifth; 16 to the Ninth; and 10 to the Eleventh Circuit. The bill amends a table in federal law to reflect these increased judicial staffing levels. This change directly affects the operational capacity of these federal appellate courts by expanding their bench size.
State Firearms Dealer Licensing Enhancement Act This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to award grants to states and tribal governments for the development, implementation, improvement, or evaluation of firearms dealer licensing programs.
Afghan Adjustment Act This bill expands eligibility for special immigrant visas to certain Afghan nationals (and accompanying spouse and children) and addresses related issues. The Department of Homeland Security may provide such visas to Afghan nationals who provided qualifying service as a member of the Afghan Air Force or other specified entities and meet eligibility requirements, such as passing a background check. Currently, special immigrant visas for Afghan nationals are generally only available to those who were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Afghanistan. Such visas shall also be available to an Afghan national who is a qualifying relative of a veteran or member of the U.S. Armed Forces. The bill also modifies procedures for providing lawful permanent resident status to certain classes of Afghan nationals, such as by (1) providing a streamlined process with specified vetting requirements for certain individuals, including those who provided support to the U.S. government in Afghanistan; and (2) preserving the eligibility of certain battered spouses whose eligibility for such status stemmed from a marriage that has terminated. Furthermore, the Department of State (1) must respond to inquiries from Members of Congress about specific applications from Afghan nationals seeking special immigrant or refugee status; and (2) establish an office in Afghanistan to perform certain tasks, such as issuing visas, if no U.S. embassies are operational in Afghanistan. The President must establish a task force to develop and implement a strategy to assist Afghan nationals who qualify for admission to the United States.
Deter PRC Support to the Russian War Effort Act The bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on persons associated with China for financial, material, or technological support contributing materially to Russia's military action in Ukraine. The sanctions include, for example, blocking transactions in U.S. property and prohibiting U.S. entry visas.
Backlog Justice Act of 2022 This bill requires certain actions to address the backlog of untested sexual assault kits. For example, the bill (1) directs the Bureau of Justice Assistance to establish a publicly accessible online database regarding untested kits, and (2) requires the Department of Justice to provide an increased amount of certain grant funding for states that have in place electronic evidence tracking systems for these kits.
PREA Rights Enforcement Act of 2022 This bill allows a person to file a civil action against the United States for violations in a federal prison of established national standards for the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of prison rape.
Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act of 2022 This bill eliminates the statute of limitations for a minor victim of a human trafficking offense or federal sex offense to file a civil action to recover damages.
Improving Federal Investigations of Organized Retail Crime Act of 2022 This bill requires various federal agencies to develop a strategy to improve coordination with state and local law enforcement entities to address organized retail crime. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Service, and other relevant agencies to improve federal information sharing about organized retail crime networks, assist state and local law enforcement in compiling materials and evidence needed to prosecute organized retail crime, and increase cooperation and information sharing with the retail industry and retail crime task forces. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on private sector and law enforcement collaboration to deter and investigate organized retail crime.
Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes for FY2022-FY2028 and otherwise revises grants for local and regional children's advocacy centers (CACs). CACs coordinate a multidisciplinary response to child abuse.
