Rep. Fred Keller

Simplified Joint Consolidation Separation Act This bill establishes a process for separation of joint consolidation loans. Specifically, the bill allows the two borrowers of a joint consolidation loan for their federal student loan debt to jointly request that the Department of Education or loan holder separate their existing joint consolidated loan into two individual consolidation loans. One borrower may request separation of the joint consolidation loan into two individual consolidation loans in the event that the individual has experienced domestic or economic abuse from the other individual borrower or is subject to a decree or agreement requiring the separation of such joint loans and obligations.

TCJA Permanency Act This bill makes permanent provisions affecting individual and business taxpayers that were enacted in 2017 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. The bill makes permanent reductions in individual and capital gain tax rates. The bill increases the standard tax deduction for individual taxpayers. It also increases and modifies the child tax credit and raises the contribution base for the tax deduction for charitable contributions. The bill allows additional contributions to ABLE accounts (tax-exempt accounts designed to enable individuals with disabilities to save and pay for disability-related expenses). It exempts from taxation combat zone benefits of members of the Armed Forces serving in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt and limits the deduction for moving expenses to active duty members of the Armed Forces. Additionally, the bill expands the types of elementary and secondary school expenses eligible for payment from qualified tuition programs (529 programs); lowers to $750,000 the amount of mortgage debt eligible for an interest expense tax deduction; reinstates after 2023 the exclusion of income from the gross income of student loan borrowers for loan debt discharged due to death or total and permanent disability; makes permanent the limitation on the tax deduction for state and local taxes and denies a deduction for foreign real property taxes; makes permanent the tax deduction of the income of certain pass-through business entities; repeals the tax deduction for personal tax exemptions and the exclusion of employer-provided bicycle commuter fringe benefits; terminates certain miscellaneous itemized tax deductions; doubles the estate and gift tax exemption amount; and makes permanent the increase of the alternative minimum tax exemption amount for individual taxpayers.

Protect the UNBORN (Undo the Negligent Biden Orders Right Now) Act or the Protect the UNBORN Act This bill prohibits federal implementation of and funding for specified executive orders that address access to reproductive health care services, including services related to pregnancy or the termination of a pregnancy.

Patient Advocate Tracker Act This act requires the Office of Patient Advocacy within the Veterans Health Administration to establish an information technology system that allows veterans or their representatives to electronically file a complaint with a patient advocate and review the status of a filed complaint.

Pharmacist Conscience Protection Act This bill prohibits the federal government and federally funded entities from discriminating or otherwise taking adverse action against a pharmacist, pharmacy owner, or pharmacy technician who declines to store, fill prescriptions for, or make referrals for drugs that cause abortions (or that the individual provider believes in good faith cause abortions). Individuals or the Department of Justice may bring civil actions for violations of this bill.

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.

Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education Act This bill requires the Department of State to report on the curriculum used in schools in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority or located in Gaza and controlled by any other entity. Among other topics, the report must address (1) whether the materials used encourage violence or intolerance toward other nations or ethnic groups, (2) the steps the Palestinian Authority is taking to reform such materials, and (3) whether U.S. foreign assistance is used to fund the dissemination of the offending materials. The State Department must make such reports publicly available.

Chiropractic Act of 2022 This bill expands Medicare coverage of chiropractic services to include evaluation and management services, including examination and imaging services, and other functions provided by chiropractors, rather than only subluxation corrections through manual manipulation of the spine. The bill also allows chiropractors to enter into private contracts with Medicare beneficiaries.

Taxpayers Support Life Act This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from finalizing, implementing, administering, or enforcing a proposed rule (published on August 4, 2022) that implements the statutory ban on discrimination in federally funded health programs and activities. Further, HHS may not use federal funds to contravene the administration or enforcement of the existing nondiscrimination rule, which became effective on June 19, 2020.

Responsible Education Assistance through Loan Reforms Act This bill makes various changes to the federal student loan system, including by (1) limiting the authority of the Department of Education to issue regulations, (2) establishing a new income-based repayment plan, (3) repealing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for new borrowers, and (4) allowing certain workforce development programs to be eligible for Pell Grants.