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.
Sponsored bills
This resolution commemorates the 55th anniversary of the fire onboard the USS Forrestal , recognizes the sailors and marines who gave their lives while fighting the fire, and commemorates the efforts of the sailors and marines who survived the fire.
Taxing Big Oil Profiteers Act This bill imposes an additional 21% tax through 2025 on the excess profits (i.e., current profits over normal return) of oil and natural gas companies that have average annual gross receipts during a three-year period of over $1 billion. The bill imposes on publicly-traded domestic corporations a tax equal to 25% of the fair market value of the stock of the corporation repurchased during the taxable year. The tax does not apply to a repurchase made after 2025 or that is treated as dividend. It also does not apply if the total value of the stock repurchased during a taxable year does not exceed $1 million. The bill disqualifies certain large oil and natural gas companies from the use of the LIFO (last-in first-out) inventory accounting method.
Livable Communities Act of 2021 This bill creates the Office of Sustainable Communities in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to coordinate the provision of long-term affordable housing, transportation, and environmental projects and to administer grant programs established in the bill. The bill creates the Comprehensive Planning Grant Program and the Community Challenge Grant Program to be administered by the office. Grants under the Comprehensive Planning Grant Program must be used for specified activities related to the coordination, development, or updating of a comprehensive regional plan across jurisdictions and agencies. Grants offered under the Community Challenge Grant Program must be used to promote integrated planning and investments across policy and governmental jurisdictions and to implement projects identified in a regional plan. The bill also creates a program that requires HUD to provide loans and loan guarantees to projects that meet specified criteria. Eligible projects must be part of a community-wide development plan, promote sustainable development, and ensure that housing units associated with the project are affordable and initially occupied by lower-income renters or homeowners.
Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development and Generating Renewable Energy to Electrify the Nation's Infrastructure and Jobs Act or the BUILD GREEN Infrastructure and Jobs Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a green transportation infrastructure program to provide competitive grants to states, local governments, and other entities for capital investments in electrified surface transportation infrastructure projects. DOT must select projects that maximize sustainability, including projects that (1) promote the electrification of all public transportation, (2) contribute to climate resilience and mitigation, (3) reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and (4) achieve energy savings and reduce energy usage compared to other eligible projects. Additionally, DOT must prioritize projects that (1) serve a frontline, vulnerable, or disadvantaged community; (2) are located in an area that has experienced high adverse health and environmental impacts on minority and low-income populations; (3) require federal funds in order to complete an overall financing package; or (4) add a new green space or new state or local park units and outdoor recreational areas. Grants issued under the program may not be less than $2 million, with the exception of grants for project planning, preparation, or design, which are not subject to a minimum amount. The federal share of the cost of a project may not exceed 85% for planning, design, and construction purposes and 50% of the operation and maintenance costs of the project for its first 10 years.
This resolution designates September 25, 2022, as National Lobster Day and encourages the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of a National Move Over Law Day and urges national, state, and regional incident management organizations to spread awareness of, and promote the existence of, and adherence to, state move over laws. Move Over laws generally require motorists to move at least one lane over when there is an emergency or rescue activity taking place on the shoulder or side of the roadway, or, if unable to do so safely, to slow down and pass the scene with caution.
Maddy summaryThis bill would add wigs to Medicare's list of covered durable medical equipment by amending the Social Security Act to include "cranial prostheses" (such as wigs) under coverage. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries requiring wigs for medical reasons, such as hair loss due to cancer treatment, who currently lack this coverage. The key provision requires a dermatologist, oncologist, or physician to provide written certification of medical necessity as part of rehabilitative treatment. This change would allow Medicare to cover wigs under the same framework as other durable medical equipment like walkers or wheelchairs.
College Athletes Bill of Rights This bill addresses issues of rights to compensation, health and safety standards, and educational opportunities for college athletes. Included among the bill's provisions are those that prohibit an institution of higher education, an intercollegiate athletic association, or a conference from restricting the ability of college athletes to market the use of their names, images, likenesses, or athletic reputations; set penalties for any such institution that violates specified protections for athletes; establish a Commission on College Athletics to protect the economic interests of college athletes and promote the health, wellness, and safety of college athletes and establish a medical trust fund to cover the cost of out-of-pocket expenses relating to any sports-related injury; and direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish health, wellness, and safety standards for intercollegiate athletic programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes fixed 18-year terms for all new Supreme Court justices, beginning on their commission date. It requires the President to nominate justices only during the first and third years after a presidential election, with Senate confirmation. Current justices are automatically retired in order of longest service as new appointments occur, ensuring the Court maintains its full membership without vacancies due to aging. The law directly affects all Supreme Court justices by replacing lifetime appointments with predictable term limits.