Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2022 This bill provides financial and technical assistance to states, territories, and the District of Columbia for the purposes of (1) recovering species listed as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act or under state law, or (2) avoiding the need to list species under such laws. For example, the bill establishes the Endangered Species Recovery and Habitat Conservation Legacy Fund. A portion of the fund must be used to establish an Endangered Species Recovery Grant Program. It also provides funding for (1) the conservation or restoration of wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need; (2) the wildlife conservation strategies of states, territories, or the District of Columbia; and (3) wildlife conservation education and recreation projects. The Department of the Interior must use a portion of the funding for a grant program. The grants must be used for innovative recovery efforts for species of greatest conservation need, species listed as endangered or threatened species, or the habitats of such species. In addition, the bill requires certain revenues generated from fees and penalties for violations of environmental requirements to be used as a source for the funding.
Sponsored bills
Eviction Crisis Act of 2021 This bill creates several eviction-related grant programs and shields certain eviction records from consumer reports. Specifically, the bill requires the Bureau of Justice Assistance to award matching grants to state and local governments to support landlord-tenant focused community courts that allow social service representatives to assist tenants in the court process. The bill also permits the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to award grants to state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to provide financial assistance and housing stabilization services to extremely low-income households. HUD is also required under the bill to award grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations to collect data from landlords on illegal self-help evictions and to establish and maintain an eviction database. The bill also requires a consumer report obtained in association with a rental application to be provided to the consumer applicant and requires that eviction information be excluded from a consumer report in cases decided in favor of the tenant. Further, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to track historical eviction data and to report on savings and revenue generated by the grants awarded under the bill.
Lake Erie Water Quality Protection Act This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize implementation of dredged material management plans for federally authorized harbors in Ohio. Plans must limit open-lake disposal of dredged material and maximize its beneficial use.
Aquatic Invasive Species Control Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and otherwise expands a program for addressing invasive species with adverse effects on water quality, water quantity, or ecosystems.
This resolution expresses that the Senate views the actions of the Russian government, at the direction of President Vladimir Putin, as sponsoring acts of terrorism; and calls on the Department of State to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Comprehensive Care for Dual Eligible Individuals Act This bill provides states with the option to establish a separate health care program for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Programs must provide a core package of covered benefits to address the individualized medical, behavioral, long-term care, and social needs of enrollees, including all basic Medicare and Medicaid benefits. States may receive federal matching payments in accordance with a specified formula; the bill provides funds for the Federal Coordinated Health Care Office to implement the bill.
Maddy summarySRES 719 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing support for designating July 2022 as "Disability Pride Month." It acknowledges that over 61 million U.S. adults and 3 million children have disabilities, while noting ongoing challenges like discrimination. The resolution calls on the public, interest groups, and individuals to observe the month with celebrations and actively work to prevent exclusion and discrimination against people with disabilities. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or obligations but aims to raise awareness.
This resolution recognizes the importance of Radio Free Asia in its 25th year as an independent news organization chartered and funded by Congress with a mission to bring uncensored, accurate news to people living in closed societies in Asia. The resolution also honors the dedication and courage of the former and current journalists of Radio Free Asia in the face of threats and adversity from foreign governments and rising risks for press freedom in Asia and across the globe.
Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Benjamin Berell Ferencz in recognition of his service to the United States and the international community during the post-World War II Nuremberg trials and his lifelong advocacy for international criminal justice and the rule of law.
Peace Corps Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes the Peace Corps program through FY2027 and addresses other issues related to the program. For example, the bill (1) increases the readjustment allowances for returning Peace Corps volunteers; (2) provides statutory authority to an executive order that provides returning volunteers with noncompetitive eligibility for federal employment purposes (i.e., eligibility to be noncompetitively appointed to a competitive federal position); and (3) requires the Peace Corps to take all reasonable measures to prevent and address reprisal or retaliation against a volunteer by any person with supervisory authority over the volunteer, such as a Peace Corps officer.