Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin

Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act or the WIPPES Act This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission to issue regulations requiring entities responsible for the labeling or retail packaging of certain premoistened, nonwoven wipes (e.g., baby wipes, cleaning wipes, or personal care wipes) to label such products clearly and conspicuously with the phrase Do Not Flush and accompanying symbol as depicted under specified industry guidelines. The commission is authorized to enforce this requirement. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency must award competitive grants to states, local or tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, or public-private partnerships to increase community outreach about such labels.

Affordable Loans for Any Student Act This bill addresses repayment options, loan disclosures, and loan counseling for student loans. The bill revises requirements concerning repayment options for student loan borrowers. For instance, the bill terminates interest capitalization and origination fees for Federal Direct Loans, provides assistance to low-income borrowers or borrowers who are delinquent on loan payments, and replaces the existing income-based repayment plans with two new plans. Under the new plans, borrowers may choose (1) a fixed repayment plan with equal monthly payments paid over a period of 10 years, or (2) an income-based repayment plan with monthly payments equal to 10% percent of their income above the poverty level. The income-based plan is capped at 20 years of payments. The bill also revises requirements concerning student loan disclosures and student loan counseling for borrowers. For instance, the bill requires the Department of Education to maintain online counseling tools that provide borrowers with entrance and exit student loan counseling.

Continuing Emergency Support for Restaurants Act This bill provides an additional $48 billion in FY2021 for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and designates specified amounts for fund administrative expenses and audits of grants made from the fund. The fund was established in response to COVID-19 to make grants to eligible food and beverage purveyors for covering specified costs such as payroll, operational expenses, and paid sick leave. The bill designates the funding as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits.

This resolution designates March 24, 2022, as National Women in Agriculture Day. It also recognizes the important role of women in agriculture as producers, educators, leaders, mentors, and more

This resolution expresses that the Senate declares its gratitude on behalf of the people of the United States to the journalists and news staff who continue to put themselves in harm's way to report on the humanitarian crisis and ongoing war on the ground in Ukraine following Russia's invasion of Ukraine; remembers the journalists and news staff who have lost their lives or have been severely injured reporting from Ukraine and conveys the sympathies and appreciation of the people of the United States to their families for their sacrifice; and honors the contributions of journalists and news staff reporting from the war in Ukraine as essential in the ongoing struggle for the rights of a free press and free speech internationally, pivotal in pushing back against false propaganda by tyrants, and crucial to informing the people of the United States and the world of the horrors being wrought against the Ukrainian people.

READ Act Reathorization [ sic ] Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes a law that requires the implementation of a strategy to promote quality basic education in partner countries by (1) expanding access to basic education for all children, particularly marginalized children and vulnerable groups; and (2) improving the quality of basic education and learning outcomes.

This resolution strongly condemns the ongoing violence, including war crimes and systematic human rights abuses, being carried out by Russia's military and its proxies at the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin. It also encourages the U.S. government and partner nations to use their influence and vote in international organizations to hold those responsible for such crimes and abuses accountable.

"Six Triple Eight" Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021 This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (commonly known as the Six Triple Eight) in recognition of their pioneering military service, devotion to duty, and contributions to increase the morale of personnel stationed in the European theater of operations during World War II.

Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response Reauthorization Act This bill revises eligibility criteria and other aspects of a program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that supports a network of centers for public health preparedness. Specifically, the bill makes nonprofits and institutions of higher education other than schools of public health eligible to participate in the program, whereas current participation is generally limited to accredited schools of public health. Further, the bill shifts the program's focus from curricula development and training public health practitioners to other areas, such as (1) researching and disseminating evidence-based practices to inform preparedness and response activities, and (2) providing technical assistance and expertise to health departments during public health emergencies. The bill also repeals a demonstration program for improving the detection of pathogens likely to be used in bioterrorism attacks.

This resolution condemns violence and threats of violence against historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and reaffirms the federal government's commitment to combating violence against HBCU students, faculty, and staff.