Sen. Ben Ray Luján

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2022 This bill revises the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program to provide agricultural producers and owners of nonindustrial private forest land impacted by natural disasters the option to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments before carrying out emergency measures. The bill also expands eligibility for payments under the programs to include emergency measures to address damages caused by (1) a wildfire that is not caused naturally if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes, and (2) a wildfire that is caused by the federal government.

FDA Modernization Act 2.0 This bill authorizes the use of certain alternatives to animal testing, including cell-based assays and computer models, to obtain an exemption from the Food and Drug Administration to investigate the safety and effectiveness of a drug. The bill also removes a requirement to use animal studies as part of the process to obtain a license for a biological product that is biosimilar or interchangeable with another biological product.

Agriculture Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2022 This bill modifies access to Department of Agriculture disaster assistance programs and requires increased interagency cooperation in drought-related activities. The bill specifies that state and federal grazing permit holders are eligible for the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program. Further, emergency measures eligible for payments include new permanent measures, such as permanent water wells and pipelines. The bill also waives the 30-day comment period required for applications under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for emergency measures carried out during a drought emergency. Modifications to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program allow for one monthly payment when a county has four consecutive weeks of a D2 rating (severe drought) and two payments for eight consecutive weeks of D2. Currently, one payment is available for eight consecutive weeks of D2. The bill expands coverage for honey bee producers under the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for losses caused by adverse weather or drought, such as transportation costs and reduced honey crops. Further, the bill requires the ELAP payment rate for honey bee producers to incorporate additional factors, such as per-hive and per-colony rates of loss. The USDA must establish an interagency working group to improve the consistency and accuracy of U.S. Drought Monitor data. Finally, the Farm Service Agency and the Forest Service must enter into a memorandum of understanding to better align their drought response activities.

Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Forest Restoration Program Relief Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to waive the cost share requirement with respect to a payment provided for restoration of land damaged by the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. That fire started as the result of a prescribed burn initiated by the Forest Service in the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico, on April 6, 2022.

Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2022 This bill promotes the remediation of abandoned hardrock mine sites by Good Samaritans. A Good Samaritan means a person that is (1) not a past or current owner or operator of the abandoned site; (2) had no role in the creation of the historic mine residue; and (3) is not potentially liable under any law for the remediation, treatment, or control of the historic mine residue. The bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a Good Samaritan pilot program. Under the program, the EPA may issue permits to allow Good Samaritans to remediate historic mine residue at abandoned hardrock mine sites without assuming liability under specified environmental laws for past, present, or future releases, threats of releases, or discharges of hazardous substances or other contaminants at or from the abandoned mine site. In addition, the bill establishes a Good Samaritan Mine Remediation Fund for land management agencies that authorize Good Samaritans to conduct remediation projects on federal land.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates November 5, 2022, as National Bison Day to honor the historical, cultural, and economic significance of bison in the United States. It specifically recognizes bison as the national mammal (adopted in 2016), their vital role in Native American tribal heritage and conservation, and their contributions to rural economies. The resolution encourages the public to observe the day with ceremonies and activities, building on an annual tradition celebrated since 2012. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or regulations.

Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 This bill expands eligibility for a program that authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to, at its discretion, provide lawful permanent resident status to certain long-term residents of the United States, including individuals who are unlawfully present. Currently, this program, sometimes referred to as the Registry program, is only available to eligible non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who entered the United States before January 1, 1972. The bill removes this entry cutoff date and opens up the program to eligible individuals who have resided in the United States for at least seven years. Existing requirements (e.g., the individual must not be inadmissible or deportable due to certain grounds related to crime or terrorism) continue to apply.

Tribal Connect Act of 2022 This bill expands tribal access to the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support (E-rate) program, which provides discounted broadband internet access and telecommunications services to certain schools and libraries. It also establishes a pilot program to provide broadband internet access service to essential community-serving institutions (e.g., community centers) located on tribal land.

Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 400 North Main Street in Belen, New Mexico, as the "U.S. Senator Dennis Chavez Post Office."

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 794) officially designates the week of September 26-30, 2022, as "National Clean Energy Week." It does not create new laws or affect specific people or groups; instead, it symbolically recognizes the importance of clean energy. The resolution encourages Americans, businesses, and governments to support clean energy solutions and invest in affordable, low-emission technologies. It highlights clean energy’s role in job creation and economic growth but contains no binding requirements or policy changes.