Rep. Ritchie Torres

Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2022 This bill removes limitations on the civil liability of gun manufacturers and the disclosure of gun trace data in civil actions. Specifically, the bill repeals the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which prohibits civil actions against a firearm or ammunition manufacturer, seller, importer, dealer, or trade association for damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm. Additionally, the bill states that firearms trace data maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is not immune from legal process. Such data is subject to discovery; is admissible as evidence; and may be used, relied on, or disclosed in a civil action or administrative proceeding.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1245) is a symbolic gesture expressing the House's support for designating November 22, 2022, as "Kimchi Day." It acknowledges kimchi's cultural significance in Korean cuisine (dating back over 2,000 years), its UNESCO recognition as intangible cultural heritage, and its health benefits as a probiotic food. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any individuals or policies; it simply formally supports the designation of a day to celebrate kimchi's cultural and culinary role. It was introduced by representatives with Korean-American connections and references kimchi's growing popularity in the U.S. as an example of multicultural exchange.

This resolution recognizes the mental health concerns faced by adolescents and the need for adequate mental health resources to address those concerns, particularly among minority populations.

Right to Contraception Act This bill sets out statutory protections for an individual's right to access and a health care provider's right to provide contraception and related information. Contraception refers to an action taken to prevent pregnancy, including the use of contraceptives (i.e., a device or medication used to prevent pregnancy), fertility-awareness based methods, and sterilization procedures. Generally, the bill prohibits measures that single out and impede access to contraception and related information. However, a party may defend against a claim that a measure violates the bill's prohibitions by demonstrating, through clear and convincing evidence, that the measure significantly advances access to contraception and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. The Department of Justice, individuals, or health care providers may bring a lawsuit to enforce this bill, and states are not immune from suits for violations.

LGBTQI+ and Women's History Education Act of 2022 This bill directs the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution to carry out, among other things (1) the development and national dissemination of accurate, relevant, and accessible national resources for classrooms to administer LGBTQI+ and women's history education in an inclusive and intersectional approach; (2) the development, national dissemination, and implementation of principles of sound pedagogy for administering LGBTQI+ and women's history education; and (3) the development, operation, and expansion of a teacher fellowship program to cultivate and support leaders in LGBTQI+ and women's history education. In addition to the activities described in this bill, the museum shall develop and maintain on its website content designated for educators, students, and families to improve their awareness and understanding of LGBTQI+ and women's history education.

Justice in Power Plant Permitting Act This bill addresses renewable energy use and facility contracting requirements and also establishes the Just Energy Transition Fund to, among other purposes, support projects to replace plants that are denied under the revised Clean Air Act permitting process established by this bill.

This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the individuals responsible for the July 1999 murders of U.S. citizens Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi in Serbia should be brought to justice and that the United States should devote sufficient resources to fully assist and monitor Serbia's efforts to investigate and prosecute such individuals.

Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act This bill prohibits anyone acting under state law from interfering with a person's ability to access out-of-state abortion services. ( Abortion services includes the use of any drugs that are approved to terminate pregnancies and any health care services related to an abortion, whether or not provided at the same time or on the same day.) Specifically, the bill prohibits any person acting under state law from preventing, restricting, impeding, or retaliating against health care providers who provide legal abortion services to out-of-state residents, any person or entity who helps health care providers to provide such services, any person who travels to another state to obtain such services, any person or entity who helps another person travel to another state to obtain such services, or the movement in interstate commerce of drugs that are approved to terminate pregnancies. The Department of Justice may enforce this bill through civil actions; the bill also establishes a private right of action for violations.

EPA Regulatory Authority Act of 2022 This bill provides that in identifying the best system of emission reduction for purposes of a standard performance under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency may include measures that apply beyond an individual stationary source or category of stationary sources. Additionally, the bill provides that each determination in the Clean Power Plan (i.e., the final rule titled Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units published in the Federal Register on October 23, 2015) with respect to a best system of emission reduction is deemed as authorized.

This resolution condemns the terrorist attacks and violence carried out by ISIS-Mozambique in the Cabo Delgado Province and urges the government of Mozambique to take actions to counter violent extremism and protect its citizens.