This resolution recognizes the impact of COVID-19 on children who have lost a caregiver during the pandemic and the disproportionate effect of this impact on racial and ethnic minorities.
This resolution condemns the terrorist attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, on January 15, 2022. It also expresses support for the affected community, commends the actions of law enforcement and emergency responders, and reaffirms a commitment to combat hate, bigotry, anti-Semitism, and violence against Jewish Americans.
Clean Slate through Consolidation Act This bill provides for the removal of any adverse credit history related to a defaulted federal student loan from a borrower's credit history once the borrower has obtained a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan discharging the borrower's liability on the defaulted loan.
Ban Russian Energy Imports Act This bill declares that a national emergency exists with respect to the aggression of Russia against Ukraine. During this emergency, the President must prohibit the importation of crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, and coal in which Russia or a Russian national has any interest. The bill exempts products that are already loaded or in transit at the time of this bill's enactment.
Job Protection Act This bill reduces from 12 months to 90 days the employment period required for employees (including federal employees) to become eligible for family and medical leave. Additionally, the bill makes the family and medical leave requirements applicable to all employers (currently, the requirements apply to employers with 50 or more employees).
Choice in Affordable Housing Act of 2022 This bill establishes programs and grants to incentivize landlord participation in the Housing Choice Voucher program (i.e., Section 8 tenant-based housing assistance). The bill authorizes the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide one-time incentive payments to landlords, security deposit payments, bonuses to public housing agencies that employ landlord liaisons, and amounts for other recruitment purposes. Additionally, the bill allows dwelling units to meet Housing Choice Voucher program inspection requirements by satisfactory inspection through participation in other housing programs. Landlords not yet participating in a low-income housing assistance program may request inspection by a public housing agency to determine whether the dwelling meets requirements prior to selection by a tenant. Finally, HUD must expand the use of an alternative method of calculating fair market rent for purposes of the Housing Choice Voucher program.
Minorities in Aviation Education Act of 2022 This bill establishes grants for increasing the exposure of students who are underrepresented in aviation to that industry. The Department of Transportation must award the grants to state and local governments or educational agencies.
Regional Innovation Act of 2021 This bill establishes a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program and a Regional Clean Energy Innovation Program. The bill directs the Department of Commerce to establish the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program to encourage collaboration among local, state, and federal government entities, institutions of higher education, the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and others to promote inclusive regional innovation initiatives; designate eligible consortia as hubs and facilitate activities by such consortia in implementing their regional innovation strategies; and develop best practices for regional development and competitiveness in technology and innovation. Additionally, the Department of Energy shall establish the Regional Clean Energy Innovation Program to enhance the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States; accelerate the pace of innovation of clean energy technologies through regional clean energy innovation partnerships; improve the competitiveness of U.S. clean energy technology research, development, demonstration, and commercial application; and support the development of tools and technologies best suited for use in diverse regions of the United States, including in rural, tribal, and low-income communities. Commerce shall carry out a program of data collection and analysis of technology and innovation sectors critical to realizing national objectives, including national security, economic prosperity, and social welfare.
Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 This bill prohibits governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, abortion services. Specifically, governments may not limit a provider's ability to prescribe certain drugs, offer abortion services via telemedicine, or immediately provide abortion services when the provider determines a delay risks the patient's health. Furthermore, governments may not require a provider to perform unnecessary medical procedures, provide medically inaccurate information, comply with credentialing or other conditions that do not apply to providers whose services are medically comparable to abortions, or carry out all services connected to an abortion. In addition, governments may not (1) require patients to make medically unnecessary in-person visits before receiving abortion services or disclose their reasons for obtaining such services, or (2) prohibit abortion services before fetal viability or after fetal viability when a provider determines the pregnancy risks the patient's life or health. The bill also prohibits other governmental measures that are similar to the bill's specified restrictions or that otherwise single out and impede access to abortion services, unless a government demonstrates that the measure significantly advances the safety of abortion services or health of patients and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. The Department of Justice, individuals, or providers may bring a lawsuit to enforce this bill, and states are not immune from suits for violations. The bill applies to restrictions imposed both prior and subsequent to the bill's enactment.
Original Black History Month Resolution of 2022 This resolution recognizes the importance of commemorating Black History Month to acknowledge the achievements of Black Americans throughout history.
