Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick

Fraud and Scam Reduction Act This bill expands activities to address mail, telephone, and internet fraud, particularly such scams targeting older adults. The bill establishes a Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Group, which must create model educational materials to educate employees of retailers, financial-services companies, and wire-transfer companies on how to identify and prevent scams that affect older adults. Further, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) must establish an advisory office in the Bureau of Consumer Protection to assist the FTC in monitoring scams targeting older adults, educating consumers, and receiving complaints.

NIH Clinical Trial Diversity Act of 2022 This bill sets out requirements to increase the diversity of clinical trial participants. The bill also requires other activities to foster participation in clinical trials. As a condition of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a clinical trial investigating a drug or device, a sponsor's application must include certain information related to diversity in its trial, such as goals for recruiting and retaining trial participants, plans for achieving the recruitment and retention goals and implementing less-burdensome clinical trial follow-up requirements, and education and training requirements related to diversity in clinical trials for researchers and other individuals who conduct or support the trial. A sponsor must also annually share demographic data of clinical trial participants with the NIH. The NIH must publish on its website information about the diversity of and other information concerning the clinical trials it funds. If a sponsor fails to meet its goals or other requirements with respect to trial diversity, the sponsor must develop and implement a strategic plan to increase the diversity of the clinical trial participants. Further, the NIH and the Food and Drug Administration must carry out a national campaign to increase awareness about the need for diverse clinical trials. The bill also requires studies on barriers to participation in clinical trials. The Government Accountability Office must study actions taken by federal agencies to address such barriers while the NIH must study regulations that govern reimbursements of out-of-pocket expenses of and incentives for clinical trial participants.

Promoting Responsible Emergency Protocols for All Students Act or the PREP for All Students Act of 2022 This bill establishes the Council on Emergency Response Protocols. The council must, among other duties, provide guidelines for states, early child care and education settings, local educational agencies, and institutions of higher education to use in developing and implementing emergency response protocols (e.g., gun violence response and prevention protocols, natural disaster preparedness procedures, and fire drills) that are inclusive and accessible.

Halting Academic Liaisons To Our Adversaries Act or the HALT Our Adversaries Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to identify academic institutions of China, Russia, and other countries that are known to provide support to China's People's Liberation Army or Russia's armed forces. Further, the bill prohibits an institution of higher education from receiving federal funds if it maintains a contract or other agreement with such an academic institution identified by DOD.

Taylor Force Martyr Payment Prevention Act of 2022 This bill expands the institutional factors the Department of the Treasury must consider when making a finding that a foreign financial institution is of primary money laundering concern and is therefore subject to special measures, including the prohibition of opening or maintaining correspondent accounts in U.S financial institutions. Specifically, Treasury must consider (1) the extent to which an institution knowingly provides financial services to Hamas, or to an agent of Hamas; and (2) the extent to which an institution, transaction, or type of account is used to facilitate or promote payments for certain acts of terrorism against U.S. and Israeli citizens.

Babies Need More Formula Now Act of 2022 This bill addresses the regulation of infant formula, including by authorizing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to waive certain requirements related to importation. The FDA may waive labeling requirements related to the importation (or distribution or sale) of infant formula from a country with requirements that provide a similar assurance of safety as U.S. requirements. The FDA must, when appropriate, enter into arrangements to harmonize U.S. regulatory requirements pertaining to infant formula with the requirements of other nations. The bill imposes time lines for the FDA to respond to submissions for market approval for new infant formula. The FDA must also issue guidance as to what types of changes in the ingredients of infant formula, if any, may not require a new growth study to meet FDA requirements. The bill also authorizes a person to import, without prior notice to the FDA, up to a three-month supply of infant formula for personal use from a country with formula safety standards similar to U.S. standards, such as Canada. Before recommending or requiring a recall of infant formula due exclusively to a labeling deficiency, the FDA must ensure that the recall will not negatively affect the supply of formula in the United States. The bill also requires the FDA to (1) notify Congress no later than 24 hours after initiating a formula recall, and (2) provide certain information to formula manufacturers about restarting production after an inspection of a manufacturing facility impacted by a recall.

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.

Maddy summaryHRES 1120 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing "National Public Works Week" (May 15-21, 2022). It honors public works professionals - including government engineers, managers, and private-sector employees - who maintain critical infrastructure like transportation systems, water supply, and public buildings. The resolution encourages the public to acknowledge their contributions to community health, safety, and pandemic recovery. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally supports annual recognition of this workforce.

Helping Employees Navigate Rabies Regulations from over Yonder or the HENRY Act This bill directs certain actions to allow federal officers and employees to bring dogs into the United States from countries that are considered high-risk for rabies. Among other provisions, the bill directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to allow federal officers and employees who are stationed abroad, including members of the military, to bring up to three dogs into the United States per entry; the CDC may allow for more dogs through specialized waivers.

This resolution expresses that the House of Representatives condemns the unjust detention and indicting of Russian opposition leader Vladimir Vladimirovich Kara-Murza; urges the U.S. government and other allied governments to work to secure the immediate release of Vladimir Vladimirovich Kara-Murza, Alexei Navalny, and other Russian citizens imprisoned for opposing the regime of Vladimir Putin and the war against Ukraine; and calls on the President to increase support provided by the U.S. government for those advocating for democracy and independent media in Russia.