American Security Drone Act of 2021 This bill bans the procurement or use by the federal government of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that are manufactured or assembled by certain entities, including entities subject to influence or control by China, with exceptions. The ban includes associated elements that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system. The Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Justice are exempt from the restriction under specified circumstances. The bill sets forth further exemptions regarding the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Federal funds may not be used to procure certain UAS from a foreign entity, with exceptions. All executive agencies must account for existing inventories of UAS manufactured or assembled by a foreign entity in their personal property accounting systems. Inventory data related to UAS manufactured or assembled by a foreign entity may be tracked at a classified level. The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council shall prescribe regulations or guidance to implement this bill's requirements pertaining to federal contracts. Government-issued purchase cards may not be used to procure any UAS from a foreign entity. The Office of Management and Budget shall (1) establish a government-wide policy for the procurement of UAS, taking into account information security; and (2) contract with a federally funded research and development center to study certain UAS-related issues.
Sponsored bills
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment related to the fundamental right to vote. Specifically, it grants every U.S. citizen of legal voting age the fundamental right to vote in any public election held in the jurisdiction in which the citizen resides. Next, it specifies that the fundamental right to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, a state, or a political subdivision of a state, unless the denial or abridgment is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest by the least restrictive means. Finally, it repeals a specific portion of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which allows for the denial of the right to vote based on crime. (Currently, some states disallow individuals from voting, either temporarily or indefinitely, after incarceration for a felony.)
Kids Online Safety Act This bill sets out requirements for covered platforms (i.e., social networks, video streaming services, or other applications that connect to the internet and are likely to be used by minors) to protect minors from online harm, including requirements relating to (1) safeguards to restrict access to the personal data of minors, (2) tools to help parents supervise a minor's use of a platform, and (3) reporting of harm to minors from using the platform.
Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act This bill extends to minors (ages 12–16) privacy protections previously applicable only to children (ages 0–12) and otherwise establishes greater online privacy protections for children and minors. Specifically, the bill prohibits an operator of a website, online service, online application, or mobile application directed to, or used or reasonably likely to be used by, a child or minor from collecting the user's personal information without providing notice and obtaining consent, providing a parent or minor with certain information upon request, conditioning participation by a user on the provision of personal information, establishing and maintaining reasonable procedures to protect the personal information collected from users. The bill also prohibits targeted marketing directed to a child or directed to a minor without the minor's consent.
Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers Act of 2021 or the CONTRACT Act of 2021 This bill exempts certain air traffic controllers from a required reduction in their retirement annuity payment on account of earnings from certain work performed while entitled to such annuity. Under current law, retired Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers receive an annuity payment during the period between the mandatory retirement age of 56 and the Social Security minimum age of 62. Such annuity payment is required to be reduced by a certain percentage of any excess earnings during this period. The bill exempts from such reduction in annuity payments an air traffic controller who participates in the Air Traffic Control Contract Program (a public-private partnership for air traffic control services) following mandatory retirement.
Right to Private Conduct Act of 2022 This bill provides statutory authority for the right of adults to engage in private, consensual sexual conduct with other adults.
Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2022 This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award competitive grants to consortia that represent various community entities (e.g., schools, businesses, and health and human services providers) for carrying out community mental wellness and resilience programs that use a public health approach.
Reese's Law This bill requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish product safety standards with respect to batteries that pose an ingestion hazard (e.g., button cell or coin batteries).
Maddy summarySRES 870 is a symbolic Senate resolution honoring former Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, who died on October 24, 2022. The resolution expresses the Senate's sympathy to his family, commends his public service career, and recognizes his work as Defense Secretary (2015-2017), including advancing gender equity in the military, supporting defense innovation, and leading efforts against the Islamic State. It does not create new laws or policies - it is purely a commemorative gesture. The Senate also adjourned in his memory as a mark of respect.
Right Whale Coexistence Act of 2022 This bill provides support for the conservation of North Atlantic right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis ). Specifically, it requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide financial assistance for certain projects designed to reduce the lethal and sub-lethal effects of human activities on North Atlantic right whales. In addition, NOAA must conduct surveys of plankton on an ongoing basis using a continuous plankton recorder.