Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act This bill revises the Fisheries Resource Disaster Relief Program and repeals or revises certain reporting requirements. The bill revises the procedures and process for determining whether there has been a commercial fishery failure as a result of a fishery resource disaster because of natural, man-made, or undetermined causes. The Department of Commerce shall have the sole authority to determine the existence, extent, and beginning and end dates of a fishery resource disaster. Additionally, Commerce must include in its budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the budget of Commerce for each fiscal year, (as submitted with the President's budget) a separate statement of the amount requested to be appropriated for that fiscal year for outstanding unfunded fishery resource disasters. The bill repeals a program that provides disaster relief assistance to fishermen, charter fishing operators, and others affected by a catastrophic regional fishery disaster, known as the regional coastal disaster assistance, transition, and recovery program. With respect to reporting requirements, the bill requires (1) biennial rather than annual reports (under current law, annual reports) relating to the recovery of Klamath River Coho salmon, and (2) inclusion of additional information in the biennial reports on international compliance regarding the conservation of living marine resources. The bill also repeals the requirement for annual reporting to Congress on bycatch reduction agreements.
Sponsored bills
Native Plant Species Pilot Program Act of 2022 This bill establishes a pilot program for native plant species. The National Park Service (NPS) shall establish a pilot program to prioritize the use of native plant species within geographically diverse units of the National Park System and public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Department of the Interior shall, in carrying out the pilot program, coordinate activities with the National Seed Strategy of the BLM, the Plant Conservation Alliance, and the Plant Materials Centers of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
This resolution recognizes Filipino American History Month in October 2022 as a testament to the advancement of Filipino Americans and a time to renew efforts toward researching and examining the history of Filipino Americans to give all people of the United States an opportunity to learn about their contributions.
Maddy summarySRES 799 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating October 5, 2022, as "Energy Efficiency Day." It commemorates the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency, citing historical achievements like $800 billion in annual energy cost savings and 2 million jobs in the sector. The resolution does not create new policies or affect any group; it solely encourages public recognition through events and awareness activities. It references past bipartisan energy efficiency legislation but does not alter existing laws. This is a symbolic gesture celebrating existing progress, not a policy change.
Maddy summarySRES 798 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating September 19-25, 2022, as "Rail Safety Week" in the U.S. It expresses support for raising public awareness about rail safety, specifically to reduce accidents, fatalities, and injuries at railroad crossings and around tracks. The resolution encourages the public to participate in safety activities and educate themselves on safe behavior near trains and tracks, referencing efforts led by organizations like Operation Lifesaver. It does not create new laws or allocate funding but serves as a non-binding call to action for broader safety awareness.
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.
This resolution designates September 2022 as National Voting Rights Month, encourages people to uphold the right to vote, encourages Congress to pass certain voting rights legislation, recommends the development of a curriculum in public schools and universities regarding voting, encourages the U.S. Postal Service to issue a special Representative John R. Lewis stamp during the month of September, and invites Congress to allocate funds for public service announcements regarding elections.
Puyallup Tribe of Indians Land Into Trust Confirmation Act of 2022 This bill takes approximately 17.264 acres of specified lands in Pierce County, Washington, into trust for the benefit of the Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation. Lands taken into trust shall be part of the tribe's reservation.
Youth Coastal Fishing Program Act of 2022 This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a program to award grants and provide technical assistance to certain entities for youth fishing projects. In awarding grants, NOAA must prioritize applicants with proposals for youth fishing projects that focus on an underserved community.
Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2022 or the DISCLOSE Act of 2022 This bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosures of campaign expenditures, and requiring additional disclosures regarding certain political advertisements. Specifically, the bill expands existing foreign money prohibitions to include disbursements for paid web-based or digital communications and federal judicial nomination communications. It also prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to campaigns related to ballot initiatives and referenda. The Government Accountability Office must, for each four-year election cycle, study and report on the incidence of illicit foreign money in federal elections. Next, the bill makes it unlawful to establish or use a corporation, company, or other entity with the intent to conceal an election contribution or donation by a foreign national. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. Covered organizations (e.g., corporations, labor organizations, and political organizations) must, within 24 hours, file reports with the Federal Election Commission to disclose campaign expenditures of more than $10,000 during an election cycle. The bill also requires organizations to provide additional disclosures regarding political advertisements, including the donors who contributed the most money to that organization in the last year.