Fresh Start Act of 2021 This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to award grants for states to implement automatic expungement laws (i.e., laws that provide for the automatic expungement or sealing of an individual's criminal records).
Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1370) is a symbolic statement supporting National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day, observed September 18 each year. It directly affects older adults living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S., highlighting that over half of people with HIV are aged 50+ and many face late diagnosis and healthcare challenges. The resolution encourages governments, healthcare providers, and community organizations to recognize the day, reduce stigma, improve access to HIV testing and treatment (including for older adults), and support existing programs like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but urges action based on data showing older people with HIV often need culturally competent care and face unique barriers.
Maddy summaryHRES 1364 is a resolution recognizing access to water, sanitation, electricity, heating, cooling, broadband, and public transportation as basic human rights that must be accessible, safe, affordable, and climate-resilient for everyone. It specifically calls for banning utility shutoffs (including for nonpayment), ending predatory debt collection practices, and ensuring services are affordable based on income. The resolution also urges public control of utilities, prioritizes environmental justice communities for infrastructure investments, and requires utilities to report disconnection data by demographics and income. It directly affects all residents, with emphasis on low-income households and communities disproportionately impacted by unaffordable or unreliable services.
Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021 This bill establishes, modifies, and expands certain whistleblower protections for federal employees, including with respect to petitions to Congress, whistleblower identity, and protected disclosures. For example, the bill prohibits personnel action against employees who exercise their right to petition or furnish information to Congress and specifically precludes the President, Members of Congress, members of the uniformed services, and other federal employees from interfering with this right. It also generally prohibits employees from disclosing the identity of whistleblowers to individuals outside of the government and allows the Inspector General to determine whether to investigate a referral if the referral is found to have been made in retaliation for whistleblowing activity. Employees may request corrective action from the Merit Systems Protection Board with respect to such prohibited practices and may file an action in court if the board does not render a final decision within 180 days of a request. The bill also expands the list of recipients to whom an employee may make a protected disclosure to include a supervisor in the employee's direct chain of command. It also includes personnel actions involving furloughs of more than 14 days but less than 30 days, and furloughs of 13 days or less that are not due to funding lapses, as appealable adverse actions that are subject to certain procedural requirements.
Menstrual Products Right To Know Act of 2022 This bill establishes ingredient labeling requirements for menstrual products, including with respect to any fragrance allergens or other fragrance ingredients that may pose a safety concern.
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.
Worker Safety in Climate Disasters Act This bill provides paid emergency leave time (80 hours for a full-time employee) for an employee who is unable to work (or telework) due to certain climate disasters.
Wind Safety Standard Act of 2022 This bill requires the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue a standard for preventing workplace injuries caused by high winds (i.e., winds of such velocity that the winds could blow an employee from an elevated location, cause an employee to lose control of equipment or material, or expose an employee to other hazards).
Emergency Price Stabilization Act of 2022 This bill creates the Sub-Task Force on Emergency Price Stabilization under the White House Supply Chains Disruption Task Force. The new task force must monitor the price of essential goods and services, investigate corporate price increases, make recommendations to the President, and report plans and research to the public. The bill also grants the President the authority to enact or adjust price controls and regulations in accordance with these recommendations.
