Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue Act This bill establishes a delegation of up to 24 Members of Congress to periodically meet with European Parliament representatives to discuss issues of interest to the United States and the European Union.
Stop the Wait Act of 2022 This bill allows individuals with disabilities to begin receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in the month they become eligible for the benefits. It also allows these individuals to immediately enroll in Medicare if they cannot afford minimum essential coverage. (Under current law, an individual must generally wait 5 months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits and an additional 24 months to become eligible for Medicare.)
Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2022 This bill requires certain businesses that use automated decision systems to make critical decisions to study and report about the impact of those systems on consumers. Critical decisions include those that have a significant effect on a consumer's life such as the cost or availability of health care, housing, educational opportunities, or financial services. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in consultation with relevant stakeholders, must issue regulations to implement the bill. The bill provides for enforcement by the FTC and specified state officials. Further, the bill establishes a Bureau of Technology to advise the FTC about the technological aspects of its functions.
Office of Technology Assessment Improvement and Enhancement Act This bill renames and revises the functions and duties of the Office of Technology Assessment which, composed of a Technology Assessment Board and a director, provides Congress with assessments of probable technology application impacts. Specifically, the bill renames the office the Congressional Office of Technology, and it requires the office to undertake additional duties, such as providing to Members of Congress (1) certain information without the need for board review, (2) certain technical assistance on legislation related to science and technology without the need for board review, and (3) objective policy options on how Members may achieve goals with respect to science and technology policy. The bill authorizes individual Members of Congress to submit to the board a request that the office undertake an assessment activity. Additionally, the bill requires the Congressional Research Service and the Government Accountability Office to coordinate technology assessment activities with the office to avoid duplication or overlapping of research activities. The bill also (1) allows the office to temporarily appoint specified technical and professional personnel to work for the office, (2) requires the office to make the findings of completed analyses publicly available, (3) revises the appointment of board members, (4) requires the board to hold an annual meeting at which Members of Congress may appear and present information regarding technology assessment activities, and (5) requires the board to report annually on the activities of the office.
Striking Workers Healthcare Protection Act This bill prohibits an employer from terminating or significantly altering the employer-provided health insurance coverage of an employee engaged in a lawful strike. An employer that violates this prohibition is subject to a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for each violation.
Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act This bill authorizes through FY2027 specified provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for early childhood education. Specifically, the bill authorizes Part B, Section 619 (grants to states for preschool programs serving children with disabilities ages three to five) and Part C (grants to aid states in implementing early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families).
Transition-to-Success Mentoring Act This bill permanently reauthorizes educational programs that assist at-risk middle school students. It also establishes a transition-to-success mentoring program requiring the Department of Education to award grants to eligible entities (e.g., local educational agencies) to provide school-based mentoring programs to assist at-risk students in transitioning from middle to high school.
Heating and Cooling Relief Act This bill provides additional energy assistance to households, including heating and cooling assistance. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and revises the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Under the existing program, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may award grants to states for assisting low-income households that pay a high proportion of their income for home energy. To be eligible under the existing program, households must have incomes which do not exceed the greater of an amount equal to 150% of the poverty level for their state or an amount equal to 60% of the state median income. The bill expands eligibility to households with incomes which do not exceed the greater of an amount equal to 250% of the poverty line as defined in the Community Services Block Grant Act or an amount equal to 80% of the state median income. In addition, the bill expands eligibility to households with a monthly energy burden of 3% or more per year. It also requires states to establish procedures to protect households receiving assistance under the program from energy shutoffs and certain late fees. In addition, the bill requires HHS and the Department of Energy to jointly carry out a program that awards grants to states and local governments for developing and implementing interagency plans to reduce energy burdens for eligible households with high home energy use. The plans must promote the reduction of energy from fossil fuels.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 884) symbolically recognizes January 2022 as "National Mentoring Month" to highlight the value of mentoring relationships for youth. It does not create new laws or provide funding, but instead acknowledges mentoring's role in supporting young people's education, career development, and well-being. The resolution encourages promoting mentoring programs across communities, schools, and workplaces to address the "mentoring gap" where one in three youth lacks a supportive adult outside their home. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct legal effect on individuals or programs.
This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of Endometriosis Awareness Month. Endometriosis is a painful condition in which the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside the uterus.
