Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

Free Speech Protection Act This bill allows a natural person to bring a civil action against a person or entity that files a defamation claim against that natural person if (1) a court determines that liability is precluded for such defamation claim; and (2) the defamation claim is shown to be filed for the purpose of harassment, intimidation, or otherwise suppressing certain speech related to a matter of legitimate public concern.

Student Borrower Bankruptcy Relief Act of 2022 This bill allows student loans to be discharged in bankruptcy. Under current law, these loans are only dischargeable if such debt imposes an undue hardship on the debtor.

Maddy summaryThe Facial Recognition Act of 2022 regulates how law enforcement agencies can use facial recognition technology. It requires law enforcement to obtain court orders before using facial recognition with reference photo databases (with limited emergency exceptions), mandates removal of photos from arrest databases for people who weren't convicted, and requires annual accuracy and bias testing of facial recognition systems. The bill prohibits use for tracking constitutional rights, enforcing immigration laws, or using body camera footage, and establishes reporting requirements for agencies. It also provides individuals with the right to sue if their rights are violated by improper use of facial recognition.

Maddy summaryHR 8936, the Circuit Court Judgeships Act of 2022, authorizes additional judgeships for specific U.S. Courts of Appeals. It adds 1 judge to the First, Sixth, and Eighth Circuits; 7 to the Second; 2 to the Fourth; 13 to the Fifth; 16 to the Ninth; and 10 to the Eleventh Circuit. The bill amends a table in federal law to reflect these increased judicial staffing levels. This change directly affects the operational capacity of these federal appellate courts by expanding their bench size.

Safeguard Healthcare Industry Employees from Litigation and Distress Act or the SHIELD Act This bill establishes a framework to limit interference with persons seeking to provide or access reproductive health services at the state level. For the purposes of this summary, interference with persons seeking to provide or access reproductive health services includes acts to prevent, restrict, impede, or retaliate against a health care provider who provides reproductive health care services, any person or entity who helps health care providers to provide such services, any person who seeks to access such services, or any person or entity who helps another person to access such services. First, the bill reduces the allocation of funds under certain law enforcement grant programs for a state that has in effect a law authorizing state or local officers or employees to interfere with persons seeking to provide or access reproductive health services. Second, the bill prohibits interference with persons seeking to provide or access reproductive health care services by state or local officers or employees acting under color of law in any manner that would have a discriminatory effect on a woman, and by persons who are not state or local officers or employees and are attempting to implement or enforce a state law in circumstances affecting interstate commerce. The bill authorizes civil remedies for a violation, including damages and injunctive relief. Additionally, it authorizes criminal penalties for a violation involving the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon or the infliction of bodily injury.

Safe Zones Act of 2022 This bill makes changes to procedures relating to seeking asylum, including by requiring the Department of State to establish safe zones in which an individual may apply for asylum. The State Department must establish at least three safe zones along the U.S.-Mexico border and one safe zone in Guatemala.

Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act or the GUARD VA Benefits Act This bill imposes criminal penalties and/or fines on individuals for directly or indirectly soliciting, contracting for, charging, or receiving any unauthorized fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. The attempted commission of such offenses is also punishable by fine or imprisonment.

Afghan Adjustment Act This bill expands eligibility for special immigrant visas to certain Afghan nationals (and accompanying spouse and children) and addresses related issues. The Department of Homeland Security may provide such visas to Afghan nationals who provided qualifying service as a member of the Afghan Air Force or other specified entities and meet eligibility requirements, such as passing a background check. Currently, special immigrant visas for Afghan nationals are generally only available to those who were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Afghanistan. Such visas shall also be available to an Afghan national who is a qualifying relative of a veteran or member of the U.S. Armed Forces. The bill also modifies procedures for providing lawful permanent resident status to certain classes of Afghan nationals, such as by (1) providing a streamlined process with specified vetting requirements for certain individuals, including those who provided support to the U.S. government in Afghanistan; and (2) preserving the eligibility of certain battered spouses whose eligibility for such status stemmed from a marriage that has terminated. Furthermore, the Department of State (1) must respond to inquiries from Members of Congress about specific applications from Afghan nationals seeking special immigrant or refugee status; and (2) establish an office in Afghanistan to perform certain tasks, such as issuing visas, if no U.S. embassies are operational in Afghanistan. The President must establish a task force to develop and implement a strategy to assist Afghan nationals who qualify for admission to the United States.

Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop scenario-based training curricula (or identify existing curricula) that includes topics such as alternatives to the use of force, de-escalation tactics, and safely responding to an individual experiencing a mental, behavioral health, or suicidal crisis. The bill also directs DOJ to make grants to states for costs associated with providing the training to law enforcement officers or mental health professionals.

Deter PRC Support to the Russian War Effort Act The bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on persons associated with China for financial, material, or technological support contributing materially to Russia's military action in Ukraine.  The sanctions include, for example, blocking transactions in U.S. property and prohibiting U.S. entry visas.