Sen. Jim Banks

Maddy summaryHRES 1297 is a non-binding House resolution designating the week beginning November 7, 2022, as "National Pregnancy Center Week." It recognizes community-supported pregnancy centers - nonprofit organizations providing free services like pregnancy tests, counseling, ultrasounds, and material support - to individuals facing pregnancy decisions. The resolution highlights these centers' role in serving over 2 million people annually through local, volunteer-driven support. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new policies or alter funding, focusing solely on acknowledging their work.

Maddy summaryHRES 1293 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing Elisjsha Dicken, a resident of Seymour, Indiana, for stopping an armed shooter at a Greenwood mall in July 2022. The resolution cites Dicken's actions as saving lives within 15 seconds and notes Indiana's repeal of a handgun permit requirement enabled his lawful carry. It includes statistics on defensive gun use from a CDC study and quotes a police chief calling Dicken "heroic." As a commemorative resolution, it has no policy impact and solely honors Dicken's conduct. (HRES 1293, 117th Congress, 2022)

Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of 2022 or the SECURE Notarization Act of 2022 This bill allows a notary public commissioned under state law to remotely notarize electronic records and perform notarizations for remotely located individuals. The bill provides technical requirements for such notarizations, including the creation and retention of video and audio recordings and the use of communication technologies (i.e., video chat). Additionally, the bill requires U.S. courts and states to recognize notarizations—including remote notarizations of electronic records and notarizations of remotely-located individuals—that occur in or affect interstate commerce and are performed by a notary public commissioned under the laws of other states. The bill also allows a notary public to remotely notarize electronic records involving an individual located outside of the United States, subject to certain requirements.

Preventing Abortion Sanctuaries Act This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from providing funding to a state that permits abortions or that facilitates interstate travel for abortions. In particular, the prohibition on funding applies to any state that lacks laws providing gestational protection at any stage of development; establishes a fund, commission, or similar entity to provide direct financial or logistical support to an individual traveling to the state to receive an abortion; or prohibits enforcement of another state's laws authorizing civil actions against those who receive or seek abortions, perform or induce abortions, or otherwise aid or abet such conduct.

Great Lakes Restoration Semipostal Stamp Act of 2022 This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service to issue a semipostal stamp (a stamp sold at a premium to raise funds for a cause of national public interest) to contribute to funding operations supported by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

RETURN (Repealing Excise Tax on Unalienable Rights Now) our Constitutional Rights Act of 2022 or the RETURN our Constitutional Rights Act of 2022 This bill repeals the excise taxes on firearms and ammunition and on bows and arrows. It also repeals the excise tax on transferring and making firearms under the National Firearm Act.

Standing with Moms Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to disseminate information about pregnancy-related resources. Specifically, HHS must maintain a public website (life.gov) that lists such resources that are available through federal, state, and local governments and private entities. Additionally, HHS must maintain on its website a portal that provides a user, based on the user's responses to a series of questions, tailored information about pregnancy resources available in the user's zip code and risks related to abortion. HHS must develop a plan to conduct follow-up outreach to users of the portal (if the user consents to the outreach). States must recommend resources that meet criteria set by HHS for including through the portal. HHS may award grants to states to establish or support a system that aggregates resources to include on the portal. Further, the Health Resources and Services Administration must share information about life.gov and the portal through the Maternal Mental Health Hotline. HHS must also ensure that the life.gov website and hotline are available to families who speak languages other than English. The bill excludes from life.gov, the portal, and the hotline resources provided by entities that (1) perform, induce, refer for, or counsel in favor of abortions; or (2) financially support such entities. The bill also requires HHS to report on traffic to life.gov and the portal, gaps in services available to pregnant and postpartum individuals, and related matters.

Protecting Kids, Protecting Lunches Act of 2022 This bill prohibits the Department of Agriculture from establishing certain requirements related to reserved spaces for biological males and females under the school meal programs.

Unborn Child Support Act This bill requires states to apply child support obligations to the time period during pregnancy. This requirement is applicable retroactively based on a court order at the request of the pregnant parent and a determination by a physician of the month during which the child was conceived. Existing state requirements are applicable to these obligations, such as proof of parenthood.

Defunding Abortion Transportation Act This bill prohibits federal Medicaid payment for nonemergency transportation that is used to access medical care or services for which federal payment is prohibited (e.g., abortion services).