Rep. Peter Meijer

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.

American Energy Independence from Russia Act This bill addresses U.S. energy security, the production of oil and gas, and the importation and exportation of oil and gas. Specifically, the President must submit an energy security plan that (1) evaluates U.S. crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas imports and exports; (2) assesses the energy security risks of such imports; and (3) includes strategies to encourage increased domestic production of crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas to offset Russian imports. The bill also approves the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline in Phillips County, Montana for the import of oil from Canada to the United States. In addition, the bill grants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to approve or deny applications for facilities to export natural gas from the United States to foreign countries or import natural gas from foreign countries. The President and federal agencies must obtain congressional approval before (1) prohibiting or substantially delaying certain new energy mineral leases or permits on federal lands, or (2) withdrawing certain federal lands from mineral and geothermal leasing activities. The Department of the Interior must resume issuing oil and gas leases on federal lands and offshore submerged lands in the Outer Continental Shelf as specified under the bill. Finally, the bill limits the drawdown of petroleum in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Department of Energy develops a plan to increase the percentage of federal lands leased for oil and gas production.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should urge Russia, Ukraine, and other groups involved in the war in Ukraine to implement an immediate cease-fire and engage in negotiations to end the bloodshed, while demanding that Russia withdraw its forces from Ukraine, the Ukrainian oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk, and the Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea; the President should direct the U.S. representative to the United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to immediately promote the establishment of an international justice mechanism for Russian war crimes and other crimes against Ukraine, and to prosecute the perpetrators of such serious crimes committed during the period of conflict in Ukraine; and the United States should urge all other interested states to apprehend persons indicted for international crimes, deliver them into the custody of an appropriate justice mechanism for Russian war crimes and other crimes against Ukraine, and provide any and all data and information pertaining to such crimes to that justice mechanism.

This resolution strongly condemns the ongoing violence, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and systematic human rights abuses being carried out by Russia's military and its proxies at the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin. It also encourages the U.S. government and partner nations to use their influence and vote in international organizations to hold those responsible for such crimes and abuses accountable.

Better Service for Taxpayers Act This bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to ensure that (1) each IRS office and division is staffed with employees to answer phone calls during standard business hours; and (2) within 15 business days of receipt of a mailed tax return, the agency acknowledges receipt of such tax return by mailing the taxpayer a hard copy response letter. The letter shall include a phone number for the taxpayer to call with questions and a notification of tax return processing.

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.

Direct Investigations on China, Take Action To Oppose Russia Act of 2022 or the DICTATOR Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of State to report to Congress on entities in China that assist or have assisted Russia's efforts to evade sanctions imposed by the United States following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The bill also requires the relevant federal agencies to brief Congress on U.S. efforts to (1) identify and sanction such entities, and (2) economically isolate Russia from outside support and economic assistance from China.

No Energy Revenues for Russian Hostilities Act of 2022 This bill prohibits, with some exceptions, the Department of the Treasury from authorizing certain energy-related transactions that would otherwise be blocked by an executive order barring transactions related to specified harmful foreign activities of the Russian government. The bill also revokes a license issued February 28, 2022, by the Office of Foreign Assets Control within Treasury that authorized certain transactions barred by the executive order. The bill allows a waiver from the limitation on an energy transaction if the transaction involves funds owed to a Russian person and the funds are to be used for the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical devices. The bill terminates on the earlier of five years after its enactment, or 30 days after the President reports to Congress that Russia has ceased activities destabilizing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

This joint resolution nullifies the rule titled Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination , which was issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on November 5, 2021. The rule requires health care providers, as a condition of Medicare and Medicaid participation, to ensure that staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

American Energy for Europe Act This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to evaluate the energy security of the United States and establish a program to reduce the reliance of allied European countries on natural gas, petroleum, and nuclear fuel produced in Russia. Under the program, DOE must provide resources, materials, equipment, financial assistance, and technical assistance to allies to reduce their reliance on Russian energy.