Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Maddy summarySRES 516 designates the week of February 7-11, 2022, as "National School Counseling Week." The resolution encourages the public to observe this week with activities that raise awareness about school counselors' role in supporting students' academic, social, and emotional development. It does not create new laws or alter funding but highlights existing challenges like the high student-to-counselor ratio (424:1 nationally) and counselors' contributions to student well-being. The resolution applies broadly to all U.S. schools and communities, aiming to increase recognition of counseling professionals' work.

This resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that Canada should not allow construction of a nuclear waste repository within the Great Lakes Basin. It also states that the President and the Department of State should work with Canada to prevent such construction and craft a long-term solution for nuclear waste storage that does not threaten the Great Lakes.

Schedules That Work Act This bill provides employees with the right to request changes to their work schedules related to the number of hours they are required to work or be on call, the location of the work, the amount of notification about work schedule assignments, and fluctuations in work hours. Employers must negotiate in good faith with employees who make such requests and comply with certain work schedule notice and split shift pay requirements for retail, food service, cleaning, hospitality, or warehouse employees.

Maddy summarySRES 510 is a Senate resolution designating January 25, 2022, as "National Poll Worker Recruitment Day." It recognizes the vital role of poll workers in elections and encourages eligible citizens to volunteer for the 2022 elections. The resolution does not create new laws or requirements but serves as a symbolic call to action to address poll worker shortages. It directly aims to engage the public in supporting election infrastructure through voluntary service.

Keep STEM Talent Act of 2022 This bill exempts certain aliens with advanced degrees in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field from direct limitations on the number of immigrant visas granted per year. Specifically, the alien must (1) have earned a master's level or higher degree in certain STEM fields while in the United States attending an accredited higher education institution, (2) be employed (or have a job offer) in a field related to the degree and earn at least the median wage for that occupation, and (3) meet certain labor certification requirements. The bill also allows an alien seeking a nonimmigrant F-1 (student) visa to obtain an advanced STEM degree to have dual intent. Specifically, such an alien may obtain the nonimmigrant visa or change nonimmigrant status even if the alien intends to seek lawful permanent resident status. (Generally, an alien may be denied a nonimmigrant visa if the alien actually intends to seek immigrant status, unless dual intent is allowed for that type of visa.)

Fostering Success in Higher Education Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of Education to provide formula grants to states for activities to improve college access, retention, and completion rates for foster and homeless youth. States that receive such grants must award subgrants to institutions of higher education to carry out these activities in partnership with child welfare agencies and organizations serving homeless youth.

First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment, collectively, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.

Nudging Users to Drive Good Experiences on Social Media Act or the Social Media NUDGE Act This bill requires social media platforms that have more than 20 million monthly active users to implement certain content-agnostic interventions to address social media addiction and the amplification or prioritization of certain content. First, the National Science Foundation and the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine must conduct a study to identify reasonable content-agnostic interventions such as limits on account creation and content sharing. Second, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) must issue regulations requiring social media platforms to implement appropriate interventions identified by the study. The bill provides for enforcement of the requirements of this bill by the FTC.

Cutting Medicare Prescription Drug Prices in Half Act This bill caps the cost of prescription drugs under Medicare at the amount that the Department of Veterans Affairs or the General Services Administration pays for the drug, whichever is lower.

America's Call To Improve Opportunities Now for National Service Act or the ACTION for National Service Act This bill (1) converts the Corporation for National and Community Service into the AmeriCorps Administration and revises its membership, leadership, and authority; (2) reauthorizes programs carried out by the administration; (3) establishes a National Service Foundation to accept and administer gifts on behalf of the administration; (4) modifies the calculation of national service educational awards; and (5) otherwise modifies provisions related to national and volunteer service programs. Additionally, the bill creates an interagency Civilian Climate Corps, operated by the administration, to conduct service projects addressing climate change.