Rep. Bobby L. Rush

Maddy summaryHRES 437 is a symbolic House resolution designating June 4, 2021, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and June 2021 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or policies but calls on the public to wear orange, increase awareness of gun violence, and focus on community safety efforts during summer months. The resolution references statistics on gun deaths and honors Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old victim of gun violence, to highlight the issue. It has no direct legal effect on individuals or communities but aims to promote public discussion.

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.

ATF Data and Anti-Trafficking Accountability Act or the ATF DATA Act This bill directs the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to report to Congress and make publicly available certain data sets regarding firearms tracing data.

Facial Recognition Ban on Body Cameras Act This bill establishes a framework to prohibit federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies from using facial recognition technology on images captured by body-worn cameras. Specifically, the bill prohibits federal law enforcement agencies from using facial recognition technology or other remote biometric surveillance systems on any image acquired by body-worn cameras of law enforcement officers. Additionally, the bill requires state and local governments to comply with a similar law or policy as a condition of receiving funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program.

Blair Holt Firearm Owner Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2022 This bill establishes new requirements and restrictions with respect to the sale, transfer, and possession of firearms. Among the requirements, the bill generally requires owners of certain firearms—handguns and semiautomatic rifles capable of accepting a detachable ammunition feeding device—to obtain a license, and establishes background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties.

Amir Locke End Deadly No-Knock Warrants Act This bill establishes requirements and restrictions related to the authorization and execution of warrants at the federal, state, and local levels.

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.

Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act This bill prohibits the sale or disposition of a firearm or ammunition to a person who is subject to a pretrial release order that prohibits the person from purchasing, possessing, or receiving firearms. It also establishes grants for states and Indian tribes to report information about pretrial release orders to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

Family Notification of Death, Injury, or Illness in Custody Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop policies and procedures for notifying next-of-kin or other emergency contacts in the event of the death, or serious illness or serious injury, of an individual in custody. The bill requires DOJ to implement the policies and procedures at its detention agencies. Further, the bill requires DOJ to distribute model policies and procedures to state, territorial, tribal, and local detention agencies.