Rep. Jerry McNerney

This resolution condemns the Supreme Court's holding in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (that there is no constitutional right to abortion) and expresses a commitment to instituting judicial reform and supporting access to abortion and the communities affected by the Court's ruling. It also urges the executive branch to advance reproductive justice.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights are human rights and protected by the U.S. Constitution; (2) LGBTQIA+ Pride Month should be celebrated; and (3) all Americans should be treated equally regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the proposed constitutional amendment known as the Equal Rights Amendment has been duly proposed by Congress and ratified by the states and is therefore valid as the Twenty-Eighth Amendment to the Constitution. (The proposed amendment prohibits the United States or any state from denying or abridging equal rights under the law on account of sex.)

Maddy summaryHRES 490 is a symbolic House resolution (not a law) passed on June 22, 2021, that reaffirms the U.S. commitment to supporting refugees and displaced persons globally. It highlights the scale of the global displacement crisis (over 82 million forcibly displaced people in 2020) and emphasizes the importance of the U.S. refugee resettlement program as a tool for security, diplomacy, and humanitarian aid. The resolution calls on the Secretary of State to continue robust funding, uphold U.S. leadership in refugee protection, support host countries, and meet refugee admissions goals. It directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation and international humanitarian efforts, though it does not create new legal requirements or allocate funds.

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.

Animal Violence Exposes Real Threat of Future Violence Act of 2022 or the AVERT Future Violence Act of 2022 This bill directs the National Institute of Justice within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to study the factors that contribute to acts of animal cruelty. The report must also analyze acts of animal cruelty as a predictor of future violence against humans. Additionally, the bill authorizes DOJ to establish a grant program to support the development and strengthening of detection strategies and early intervention or diversion resources to stop acts of animal cruelty and rehabilitate offenders.

Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 This bill expands eligibility for a program that authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to, at its discretion, provide lawful permanent resident status to certain long-term residents of the United States, including individuals who are unlawfully present. Currently, this program, sometimes referred to as the Registry program, is only available to eligible non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who entered the United States before January 1, 1972. The bill removes this entry cutoff date and opens up the program to eligible individuals who have resided in the United States for at least seven years. Existing requirements (e.g., the individual must not be inadmissible or deportable due to certain grounds related to crime or terrorism) continue to apply.

Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2022 This bill prohibits government entities and insurance providers from denying community-based services to individuals with disabilities that require long-term service or support that would enable such individuals to live in the community and lead an independent life. Specifically, these entities may not discriminate against such individuals in the provision of community-based services by such actions as imposing prohibited eligibility criteria, cost caps, or waiting lists or failing to provide a specific community-based service. Additionally, community-based services must be offered to individuals with such disabilities prior to institutionalization. Institutionalized individuals must be notified regularly of community-based alternatives. The bill requires the Department of Justice to issue regulations requiring government entities and insurance providers to offer community-based long-term services to individuals with such disabilities who would otherwise qualify for institutional placement. Government entities must ensure sufficient availability of affordable, accessible, and integrated housing that is not a disability-specific residential setting or a setting where services are tied to tenancy. Regulations shall also (1) require government entities and insurance providers to perform self-evaluation on current services, policies, and practices and concerning compliance with requirements of this bill; and (2) require government entities to submit a transition plan. The bill provides funds for FY2022 for the Department of Health and Human Services to provide technical assistance with respect to transition plans. The bill allows civil actions by individuals subjected to, or about to be subjected to, a violation of its requirements.

Afghan and Iraqi Allies Resettlement Improvement Act This bill addresses the settlement of Afghan and Iraqi special immigrant visa (SIV) holders. (Generally, SIV holders are individuals who received visas due to their work with the U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq or Afghanistan.) The Department of Health and Human Services must survey long-term outcomes, such as employment, housing, and educational attainment, of SIV holders as part of its annual survey of refugees. The Department of State must implement additional ways to deliver information in certain languages (i.e., Dari, Pashto, or Urdu) to prospective SIV holders about resettlement in the United States to assist with their adjustment process. The State Department and the Department of Defense must jointly establish a temporary program to offer SIV holders employment as translators, interpreters, and cultural awareness instructors.

Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2021 This bill generally prohibits federal agencies and private businesses from publicly posting the personally identifiable information (e.g., home addresses) of federal judges and their immediate family members. It also (1) requires information to be removed upon written request from the federal judge concerned, (2) prohibits data brokers from purchasing or selling such information, and (3) establishes programs to protect such information at the state and local level and to enhance security for judges.