Rep. David J. Trone

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.

Maddy summaryHRES 1365 designates the week of September 18-24, 2022, as "Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week" to recognize the work of community school coordinators. The resolution formally supports this designation, thanks coordinators for their role in connecting schools with community resources, and encourages public participation in related events. It does not create new programs, allocate funding, or change existing policies. The bill solely serves as a symbolic gesture of appreciation for coordinators who support student success through community partnerships.

This resolution commemorates the second anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords, which created formal diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.

Maddy summaryHR 8868, the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2022, repeals the sunset provision in the 1996 Iran Sanctions Act, making existing sanctions against Iran permanent. It removes the expiration date from the sanctions regime, ensuring they remain in effect without needing periodic renewal. This bill directly affects the enforcement of current U.S. sanctions targeting Iran’s weapons programs, ballistic missile development, and support for terrorism, as defined under the 1996 Act. The key change is procedural, maintaining the status quo of existing sanctions without introducing new penalties or altering the scope of prohibited activities.

Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2022 This bill expands the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program. Among other provisions, the bill (1) renames the program the Educator Loan Forgiveness program, (2) expands program eligibility to early childhood educators and program directors serving in early childhood education programs and school leaders serving in public high-need schools, and (3) establishes a program in which the Department of Education cancels monthly student loan payments during qualifying service and provides complete loan forgiveness after five years of service.

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.

Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education Act This bill requires the Department of State to report on the curriculum used in schools in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority or located in Gaza and controlled by any other entity. Among other topics, the report must address (1) whether the materials used encourage violence or intolerance toward other nations or ethnic groups, (2) the steps the Palestinian Authority is taking to reform such materials, and (3) whether U.S. foreign assistance is used to fund the dissemination of the offending materials. The State Department must make such reports publicly available.

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).

Expanding Veterans' Options for Long Term Care Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a three-year pilot program to assess the effectiveness of providing assisted living services to eligible veterans, including by assessing the satisfaction of veterans participating in the pilot program. Eligible veterans are those who (1) are eligible for assisted living services as determined by the VA; and (2) are already receiving nursing home level care paid for by the VA, are eligible for such care from the VA, or exceed the requirements for domiciliary care paid for by the VA but do not meet the requirements for nursing home level care paid for by the VA. The Inspector General of the VA must report to Congress on the pilot program, and the VA must submit a follow-up plan to address any deficiencies that are identified in the report.

Driver Reimbursement Increase for Veteran Equity Act or the DRIVE Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to adjust the mileage rate for beneficiary travel to or from a VA facility in relation to vocational rehabilitation, required counseling, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care. Such rate must be adjusted to be at least equal to the mileage reimbursement rate for vehicles that are privately owned by government employees on official business.