Sen. Kyrsten Sinema

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of September 19-23, 2022, as "Malnutrition Awareness Week" to highlight malnutrition as a significant health issue affecting vulnerable populations, including children, older adults, and communities of color disproportionately impacted by food insecurity. It acknowledges the role of existing federal nutrition programs, recognizes healthcare professionals working on malnutrition prevention, and supports continued funding for initiatives like the Older Americans Act and child nutrition programs. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic recognition to raise public awareness.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes funding for the National Park Foundation, which supports national parks through grants and programs. It increases the annual funding authorization from $5 million to $15 million and extends the funding period through 2030, replacing the previous 2023 end date. The key change is a significant funding boost and longer-term financial stability for the Foundation's operations. This directly affects the National Park Foundation and the national parks it assists, enabling continued support for park maintenance, education, and conservation projects. The bill makes no new policy changes beyond adjusting funding levels and duration.

Arizona Experiment Station Land Conveyance Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to convey to the University of Arizona approximately 13.3 acres of National Forest System land within the Coconino National Forest in Arizona for market value if the Arizona Board of Regents, acting on behalf of the University of Arizona Experiment Station, submits a written request to USDA to acquire such land.  The market value of the land must be determined by an appraisal to be conducted in accordance with this bill.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Boundary Modification Act of 2021 This bill modifies the boundary of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Arizona and provides for a study of the feasibility of designating the Don Young Legacy Trail in Alaska. Specifically, with respect to the monument, the bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to acquire private or state land or interest in land by donation, exchange, or purchase from willing sellers in order to expand the boundaries of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Arizona. The bill transfers administrative jurisdiction over specified parcels of Bureau of Land Management land to the National Park Service (NPS) or the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and specifies an exchange of land between the BIA and the NPS. Upon the acquisition of land or an interest in private or state land, and with respect to any transferred land, Interior shall administer the acquired or transferred land as part of the monument, and modify the boundary of the monument to include the acquired or transferred land. Interior may enter into an agreement with Arizona to provide for cooperative management of approximately 200 acres of specified state lands.

This resolution recognizes (1) the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15-October 15, 2022; and (2) the integral role of Latinos and their manifold heritage in the economy, culture, and identity of the United States.

Veterans Medical Mileage Adjustment Act of 2022 This bill increases the rate for beneficiary travel allowances based on mileage (from 41.5 cents to 45.5 cents per mile) for beneficiary travel to or from Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in connection with vocational rehabilitation, required counseling, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care.

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022 This bill provides federal workers' compensation to firefighters who contract certain illnesses as a result of their service. Specifically, the bill provides that heart disease, lung disease, and specified cancers of federal employees employed in fire protection activities for at least 5 years are presumed to be proximately caused by such employment if the employee is diagnosed with the disease within 10 years of employment. The Department of Labor must periodically review the bill's listed diseases and conditions and make appropriate additions. 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 extinguishment of fires or response to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk; and (4) performs such activities as a primary responsibility. Additionally, the Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture must jointly study the long-term health effects experienced by federal wildland firefighters who are eligible for workers' compensation. The bill also requires Labor to revise regulations so as to allow at least 60 days (rather than at least 30 days) for a claimant to submit any additional evidence that is requested by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs to support a federal workers' compensation claim.

Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2021 or the SAFE Banking Act of 2021 This bill generally prohibits a federal banking regulator from penalizing a depository institution for providing banking services to a legitimate cannabis-related business. Prohibited penalties include terminating or limiting the deposit insurance or share insurance of a depository institution solely because the institution provides financial services to a legitimate cannabis-related business and prohibiting or otherwise discouraging a depository institution from offering financial services to such a business. Additionally, proceeds from a transaction involving activities of a legitimate cannabis-related business are not considered proceeds from unlawful activity. Proceeds from unlawful activity are subject to anti-money laundering laws. Furthermore, a depository institution is not, under federal law, liable or subject to asset forfeiture for providing a loan or other financial services to a legitimate cannabis-related business. The bill also provides that a federal banking agency may not request or order a depository institution to terminate a customer account unless (1) the agency has a valid reason for doing so, and (2) that reason is not based solely on reputation risk. Valid reasons for terminating an account include threats to national security and involvement in terrorist financing, including state sponsorship of terrorism.

Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2021 or the RPM Act of 2021 This bill authorizes the modification of a vehicle's air emission controls for vehicles that are not legal for operation on a street or highway and are used solely for competition. In relation to the exemption of competition vehicles from anti-tampering provisions, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is prohibited from creating or authorizing a database of vehicle registration information that is required to be consulted at the point of manufacture, sale, installation, or use of parts or components. Additionally, the EPA may not require the registration of a vehicle, or part or component of a vehicle, by the manufacturer, seller, purchaser, installer, or user of the vehicle. The regulation prescribed by the EPA regarding the exemption must include certain components, including a description of the reasonable conditions for the applicability of the exemption.

Livestock Regulatory Protection Act of 2021 This bill prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing permits under the Clean Air Act for any carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, water vapor, or methane emissions resulting from biological processes associated with livestock production.