Rep. Katie Porter

Stop Scam PACs Act This bill expands prohibitions with respect to fraudulent misrepresentation of campaign authority. For example, current law prohibits any person from fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as speaking or otherwise acting for or on behalf of any candidate or political party to solicit contributions or donations. The bill instead applies this prohibition to any misrepresentation and for purposes of soliciting money or any other thing of value.

Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the legacy of Harriet Tubman as an abolitionist. The Secretary may issue coins under this bill only during the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of such coins must be paid equally to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and The Harriet Tubman Home, Inc. in Auburn, New York, for the purpose of accomplishing and advancing their missions.

This bill establishes the Department of Defense Military Housing Readiness Council to review and make recommendations to the Department of Defense (DOD) regarding policies for privatized military housing. The council must also monitor compliance by DOD with statutory improvements to policies for privatized military housing and make recommendations to improve collaboration, awareness, and promotion of accurate and timely information about privatized military housing, accommodations available through the Exceptional Family Member Program, and other support services among policymakers, service providers, and targeted beneficiaries. The council must make all documents publicly available until the council ceases to exist.

Increasing Nuclear Safety Protocols for Extended Canister Transfers Act or the INSPECT Act This bill requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to assign a resident inspector to each commercial nuclear power plant that has permanently ceased operation. The inspector must (1) conduct inspections of decommissioning activities and spent nuclear fuel transfer activities, and (2) remain at the plant until all fuel is transferred from its spent fuel pools.

Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act of 2022 This bill requires air carriers and ticket agents to offer full cash refunds for airline tickets if (1) an airline cancels or significantly delays a flight, or (2) a passenger cancels their ticket for a flight up until 48 hours of the scheduled departure time. The bill permits air carriers and tickets agents to offer alternative forms of compensation, including credit, or vouchers, provided that such offer is valid indefinitely and the offer includes a clear and conspicuous notice of the passenger's right to a cash refund. Additionally, the bill requires air carriers and ticket agents to disclose to passengers, prior to the sale of airline tickets, that they can cancel their tickets and receive a full refund.

Safeguarding Treatment for the Restoration of Ecosystems from Abandoned Mines Act or the STREAM Act This bill allows a state to set aside up to 30% of its annual grant for abandoned mine reclamation provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for the treatment and abatement of acid mine drainage, which is the release of acidic water from abandoned coal mines.

Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 This bill makes it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon (SAW) or large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD). The prohibition does not apply to a firearm that is (1) manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action, except for certain shotguns; (2) permanently inoperable; (3) an antique; (4) only capable of firing rimfire ammunition; or (5) a rifle or shotgun specifically identified by make and model. The bill also exempts from the prohibition the following, with respect to a SAW or LCAFD: importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession related to certain law enforcement efforts, or authorized tests or experiments; importation, sale, transfer, or possession related to securing nuclear materials; and possession by a retired law enforcement officer. The bill permits continued possession, sale, or transfer of a grandfathered SAW, which must be securely stored. A licensed gun dealer must conduct a background check prior to the sale or transfer of a grandfathered SAW between private parties. The bill permits continued possession of, but prohibits sale or transfer of, a grandfathered LCAFD. Newly manufactured LCAFDs must display serial number identification. Newly manufactured SAWs and LCAFDs must display the date of manufacture. The bill also allows a state or local government to use Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds to compensate individuals who surrender a SAW or LCAFD under a buy-back program.

Maddy summaryThis resolution symbolically designates July 30, 2022, as "National Whistleblower Appreciation Day" to honor whistleblowers who report government misconduct. It urges federal agencies to recognize the day by informing employees, contractors, and the public about their legal right to report fraud, waste, or misconduct, and to acknowledge whistleblowers' contributions to saving taxpayer funds and upholding ethical standards. The resolution does not create new legal rights but encourages existing agency practices aligned with historical whistleblower protections dating to 1778.

No Tax Deductions for Workplace Harasser Buyouts Act This bill modifies the tax deduction for trade or business expenses to deny a deduction for payments made to any employee in connection with the termination of employment if a factor in the termination was sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, or workplace harassment based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or other specified factors.

Ending Secrecy About Workplace Harassment Act This bill requires every employer that must submit to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) an Employer Information Report EEO-1 to separately report on an annual basis the number of settlements reached by the employer involving workplace harassment. The bill also requires the EEOC and the Government Accountability Office to report information relating to claims of discrimination.