This resolution recognizes (1) the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month; and (2) the integral role of Latinos and their manifold heritage in the economy, culture, and identity of the United States.
Peace Corps Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and modifies operations of the Peace Corps. Changes include increasing the readjustment allowance paid to volunteers when their service terminates and providing statutory authority for an executive order that grants returned volunteers noncompetitive eligibility for federal civil-service positions. Additionally, the bill entitles returned volunteers to sixty days of health care benefits. The Peace Corps must also provide volunteers with information about enrolling in U.S. health plans before service termination and mental health care during and after service. The bill also includes provisions to address involuntary termination of Peace Corps service in emergencies, including by expediting re-enrollment of involuntarily terminated volunteers. The Peace Corps must also adequately insure volunteers' safety and must coordinate with the Department of State to periodically update agreements concerning the security of Peace Corps volunteers and staff abroad. The bill also authorizes Peace Corps to recruit domestically based volunteers to serve in the United States at the request of another agency or to provide services in a host country virtually, modifies the Peace Corps National Advisory Council's membership and functions, expands whistleblower protections for volunteers, increases the rate of pay that applies to a volunteer's workers compensation claim, requires Peace Corps to implement a zero tolerance drug use policy regarding volunteer involvement with illegal drugs, and emphasizes the use of the internet in Peace Corps programs. Furthermore, the bill requires reporting, including on the provision of mental health services to volunteers.
Patient Advocate Tracker Act This act requires the Office of Patient Advocacy within the Veterans Health Administration to establish an information technology system that allows veterans or their representatives to electronically file a complaint with a patient advocate and review the status of a filed complaint.
Storing All Firearms Effectively and Safely Act or the SAFES Act This bill allows individual taxpayers a refundable tax credit for 90% of the aggregate amount paid for (1) any gun safe, for taxable years beginning before 2030; and (2) any gun safe, for taxable years beginning after 2029, determined to be highly effective in preventing unauthorized access. The bill limits the amount of the credit and denies the credit for any used safes.
Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2022 This bill establishes several requirements and standards relating to prior authorization processes under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Specifically, MA plans must (1) establish an electronic prior authorization program that meets specified standards, including the ability to provide real-time decisions in response to requests for items and services that are routinely approved; (2) annually publish specified prior authorization information, including the percentage of requests approved and the average response time; and (3) meet other standards, as set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, relating to the quality and timeliness of prior authorization determinations.
This resolution affirms the use of diplomacy with the African Union and its member countries and expresses support for implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022 This bill extends a payment increase under Medicare's physician fee schedule through the end of 2023 (currently set to expire at the end of 2022).
Maddy summaryHRES 1336 is a ceremonial resolution designating September 2022 as "National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month." It expresses congressional support for raising public awareness about prostate cancer and encourages efforts to promote screening, research, and access to care. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds but calls on the public and organizations to observe the month with activities focused on prostate cancer education. It directly affects the general public and health advocacy groups by highlighting the disease's impact through factual statistics about its prevalence and mortality.
This concurrent resolution (1) calls on the Members of Congress and all people of the United States to observe September 11, 2022, as a National Day of Service and Remembrance in honor of those who lost their lives or were injured in the September 11, 2001, attacks and in tribute to those who came to the aid of those in need and to the defense of the United States; and (2) recognizes the heroic actions of first responders and other citizens in New York, New York, the District of Columbia, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Home Internet Accessibility Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on broadband internet capacity in housing that is supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the Department of Agriculture. In its report, the GAO must identify such housing that lacks broadband capacity and estimate the costs and time frame necessary to provide broadband capacity in such housing. Additionally, HUD must develop a plan for retrofitting such housing to provide the capacity for broadband internet.
