Rep. Alma S. Adams

This resolution recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world, acknowledges the onset of Ramadan (the holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal for Muslims), and expresses respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world on this occasion.

Children's Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety of 2022 or the CARE Act of 20 22 This bill revises labor provisions for protecting child workers, including those employed in agriculture, and increases the civil penalties for violations of such provisions and imposes new criminal penalties for violations resulting in the death or serious injury or illness of a child worker. Specifically, the bill revises the definition of oppressive child labor to prohibit the employment of children under 14 years of age and imposes new employer reporting requirements for work-related injuries or deaths of agricultural employees under the age of 18. The Department of Labor must analyze, collect, and report on data concerning children under the age of 18 who are employed in agriculture and each work-related injury, illness, or death of any such child. Labor must also revise regulations to prohibit the employment of a child under the age of 18 as a pesticide handler.

Supporting Diverse STEM Students Act This bill authorizes minority institutions to use Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program funds to (1) provide direct financial assistance to students who are underrepresented in science (including computer science), technology, engineering, and mathematics; and (2) improve institutional capacity to provide students with certain services, such as guidance counseling, academic advising, work-study opportunities, and peer mentorship.

Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022 This bill makes various changes with respect to employer-sponsored retirement plans, including providing for the automatic enrollment of employees in certain plans and increasing the age at which participants are required to begin receiving mandatory distributions.

Emmett Till Antilynching Act This bill makes lynching a federal hate crime offense. Specifically, the bill imposes criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 30 years, or both—on an individual who conspires to commit a hate crime offense that results in death or serious bodily injury or that includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.

This resolution supports the goals and ideals of National Women's History Month and recognizes the women and organizations that continue to promote the teaching of women's history.

Electronic Currency And Secure Hardware Act or the ECASH Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to support the development of an electronic dollar. The electronic dollar must be payable to the bearer; considered legal tender; an obligation of the United States; placed into circulation by Treasury; able to be directly used by the public; and capable of instantaneous, offline transactions using hardware devices not involving a third-party intermediary. The bill also provides for privacy requirements applicable to any hardware device used for electronic dollar transactions. Merchants who accept physical currency and the federal government must accept electronic dollars as a form of payment. The bill also establishes the Electronic Currency Innovation Program to direct the development and implementation of electronic currency, the Digital Dollar Council to coordinate Treasury's activities with other government entities, and the Monetary Privacy Board to review and evaluate the electronic dollar program. Finally, the bill provides for the establishment of a Treasury Electronic Currency Innovation Fund Account to carry out related programs.

PCAOB Whistleblower Protection Act of 2022 This bill establishes a whistleblower protection program at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). Specifically, individuals reporting information to the PCAOB regarding securities law violations relating to audits (1) are protected from retaliation by an employer, and (2) could be eligible for a monetary reward. The reward program applies to individuals who voluntarily report original information that results in the PCAOB imposing civil penalties exceeding $250,000.

9-8-8 Implementation Act of 2022 This bill modifies provisions to increase access to behavioral health services, with a focus on crisis services and the 9-8-8 telecommunication system. (The 9-8-8 system provides callers with mental health or suicide crisis support and resources through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and is scheduled to take effect by July 16, 2022.) The bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and revises the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program and requires a national suicide prevention media campaign. In addition, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) must establish standards for a behavioral health crisis continuum of care that health care providers and communities may use in responding to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The continuum must include emergency treatment, stabilization, and related services. The bill expands Medicaid and other insurance coverage for such services. The bill further expands Medicaid coverage for behavioral health services. This includes permanently allowing coverage of certain community-based mobile crisis services and exempting some short-term stabilization services from coverage restrictions that apply to institutions for mental diseases. Additionally, the bill establishes (1) an office within SAMHSA to coordinate behavioral health activities; and (2) various grants, including a pilot program for mobile crisis care teams that respond to behavioral health crises rather than law enforcement and a capital improvement program for certain behavioral health facilities. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2027 and expands certain workforce programs for behavioral health providers. It also addresses training for emergency services dispatchers and coordination of the 9-1-1 system with the 9-8-8 system.

Protect Lifesaving Anesthesia Care for Veterans Act of 2022 This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from modifying its policy relating to anesthesia care in a manner that would provide any medical professional other than a physician anesthesiologist with full practice authority for the furnishment of anesthesia care to veterans under VA health care laws. The VA is also prohibited from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the provisions relating to anesthesia care of the proposed rule titled Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (81 Fed. Reg. 33155), or any substantially similar rule.