Rep. Trent Kelly

Reducing Farm Input Costs and Barriers to Domestic Production Act This bill addresses various provisions related to the regulation of domestic agricultural products, including by requiring the Department of Agriculture to publish criteria for considering requests from meat and poultry establishments to operate at line speeds in excess of the current regulatory limitations. The bill also nullifies the final rule issued by the Council on Environmental Quality on April 20, 2022, that reinstated various National Environmental Policy Act regulatory provisions.

Military School Temporary Uprooting Duty Year Act or the Military STUDY Act This bill permits the military departments to authorize temporary duty status, and travel and transportation allowances, for members who are reassigned between duty stations within the United States for not more than one year for the purpose of participating in professional military education or training classes with orders to return to the duty station of primary residence and where the dependents of such members reside. If the military department assigns permanent duty status to such a member, the member must be eligible for travel and transportation allowances at specified rates, including per diem while traveling between the permanent duty station and professional military education institution or training site.

This bill expands the period of time during which members of the Ready Reserve can earn credit to reduce the age at which they can receive retired pay. Under this bill, credit may be earned for qualifying types of active duty or active service performed after September 11, 2001. Current law permits this from January 28, 2008 onwards. The bill also allows credit to accrue for such active duty or active service which spans two fiscal years from September 11, 2001, onwards. Current law permits this from September 30, 2014, onwards. The bill applies to retired pay applications pending on or submitted on or after the date of the enactment of this bill.

Military Spouse Hiring Act This bill expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include the hiring of a qualified military spouse. (The WOTC permits employers who hire individuals who are members of a targeted group such as qualified veterans, ex-felons, or long-term unemployment recipients to claim a tax credit equal to a portion of the wages paid to those individuals.) A qualified military spouse is any individual who is certified by the designated local agency as being (as of the hiring date) a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces.

This concurrent resolution recognizes the historic significance of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army Special Forces and honors Colonel Aaron Bank for his role in establishing the U.S. Army Special Forces. The concurrent resolution also recognizes the sacrifices and accomplishments of U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers and other special operations soldiers in the Armed Forces.

Military Fitness Incentive Tuition Act or the Military FIT Act This bill requires the military departments to pay a monthly allowance for a gym membership to members of the Armed Forces who reside more than 10 miles from a military installation. The amount of the allowance must be determined based on the average cost of a gym membership in the military housing area in which a member resides.

Relief for Restaurants and other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act of 2022 This bill addresses support for restaurants, arts and entertainment venues, and small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill provides an additional $42 billion in FY2021 for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and gives priority to previous applicants who have not received a grant. The Small Business Administration (SBA) must provide to applicants an explanation for denied applications, establish a reconsideration process for denied applications, and institute an audit and oversight plan with respect to grant recipients. Additionally, the bill establishes the Hard Hit Industries Award Program for small businesses that suffered a pandemic-related revenue loss of 40% or more. Aggregate grant amounts are capped at $1 million. Funds may be used for expenses including mortgage, rent, and utility payments and payroll. SBA must prioritize entities that have experienced significant pandemic-related revenue loss, with first priority going to those that experienced a loss of at least 80%, and second priority going to those that experienced a loss of at least 60%. Finally, the bill extends to March 11, 2023 (or a later date as determined by the SBA), the time frame during which Shuttered Venue Operators Grant recipients may use grant funds to cover their expenses.

Maddy summaryHR 7837, the National Guard Promotion Improvement Act of 2022, addresses delays in Federal recognition of promotions for Army and Air National Guard reserve officers. It requires an independent study to review the promotion process and identify ways to reduce delays, mandates backdating promotions for officers affected by delays exceeding 60 days (unless caused by the officer), and establishes annual reporting requirements on processing times. The bill directly affects reserve commissioned officers in the Army and Air National Guard who face extended waits for Federal promotion approval. Key provisions include the study on best practices and IT solutions, automatic promotion date adjustments for eligible officers, and detailed annual reports tracking delay metrics to Congress.

Maddy summaryHRES 1131 is a resolution proposing to remove the January 13, 2021, impeachment of President Trump from the official congressional record, treating it as if it never occurred. It specifically targets the House resolution (H. Res. 24) that impeached Trump for "incitement of insurrection" following the January 6 Capitol riot. The resolution argues the impeachment lacked due process, omitted context about the 2020 election, and violated constitutional procedures by rushing the vote before Trump’s term ended. If passed, it would formally erase the impeachment from legislative history but would not affect Trump’s legal status or future eligibility for office. This is a symbolic procedural measure, not a binding law, and would not change the actual voting record or constitutional implications.

Veteran Affairs Home Loan Guaranty Resiliency And Concurrency Enhancement Act of 2021 or the VA Home Loan GRACE Act of 2021 This bill modifies provisions related to the Department of Veterans Affairs home loan program, including by establishing a penalty for knowingly making a false certification for a loan under the program.