Rep. Derek Kilmer

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022 This bill makes it easier for federally employed firefighters who contract certain illnesses to qualify for federal workers' compensation. Specifically, the bill provides that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mesothelioma, and specified other cancers of those employed in fire protection activities for at least five years are presumed to be proximately caused by such employment for purposes of a disability or death claim under the federal workers' compensation program. This presumption also applies to federal employees employed in fire protection activities for at least five years who experience a sudden cardiac event or stroke within 24 hours of performing a fire protection activity. The bill also requires the Department of Labor to conduct a review to determine whether breast cancer, gynecological cancer, and rhabdomyolysis should be included under the presumption and to conduct periodic reviews to determine whether other diseases should be included. In addition, a person may petition Labor to include another disease under the presumption. An employee in fire protection activities is a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, rescue worker, ambulance personnel, or hazardous material worker who (1) is trained in fire suppression; (2) has the legal authority and responsibility to engage in fire suppression; (3) is engaged in the prevention, control, and extinguishing of fires or response to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk, including the prevention, control, suppression, or management of wildland fires; and (4) performs such activities as a primary responsibility.

Building the Next Generation of Federal Employees Act This bill expands access to federal internships, provides for an internship preference, and allows for federal agencies to reimburse student interns for expenses. Specifically, the bill requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to: establish an internet platform to serve as a centralized resource for federal internship opportunities; carry out a pilot program to engage individuals from underrepresented demographics for possible participation in the civil service; establish the Pathways Program to promote federal employment to students and recent graduates by excepting program participants from competitive service requirements; and establish the Federal Fellowship and Scholarship Center within the OPM to manage all executive branch fellowships and internships. The bill also increases the number of recent college graduates that an agency head may hire through expedited hiring authority, creates a competitive hiring preference for former interns and fellows, and alllows executive agencies to reimburse student interns for transportation and subsistence expenses.

Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Benjamin Berell Ferencz in recognition of his service to the United States and the international community during the post-World War II Nuremberg trials and his lifelong advocacy for international criminal justice and the rule of law.

Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2021 This bill bars the Department of Agriculture from allowing the construction of roads, the reconstruction of roads, or logging in an inventoried roadless area where those activities are prohibited by the Roadless Rule (i.e., certain federal regulations relating to roadless area management).

This resolution extends collective bargaining rights prescribed in the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to employees of the House of Representatives.

This resolution supports the designation of Gold Star Families Remembrance Week and recognizes the sacrifices made by veterans' families and the families of members of the Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in order to defend freedom and protect the United States during active hostilities.

Aviator Cancer Examination Study Act or the ACES Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study the incidence and mortality of cancer among individuals who served in the regular or reserve components of the Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps as air crew members of a fixed-wing aircraft or personnel supporting generation of such an aircraft.

Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Reauthorization and Improvements Act of 2021 This bill permanently reauthorizes the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking, expands the responsibilities of the task force, and sets forth other provisions to eliminate wildlife poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

Maddy summaryHRES 1093 is a symbolic House resolution designating May 2022 as "Mental Health Awareness Month." It expresses support for raising public awareness about mental health, emphasizes that mental well-being is as important as physical health, and encourages efforts to reduce stigma and improve access to services. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding but calls for recognizing mental health as a national priority and applauds existing efforts by organizations. It was introduced by multiple representatives and passed in the House on May 6, 2022, as a non-binding gesture.

Maddy summaryHRES 1094 designates May 5, 2022, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. It directly supports Native American communities affected by disproportionately high rates of violence against women and girls, citing data showing murder rates over 10 times the national average in some Tribal communities. The resolution asks the public to honor victims and show solidarity with families, while acknowledging existing efforts like Savanna’s Act to address the crisis. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws but raises awareness about this ongoing issue.