African-American Burial Grounds Preservation Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish the United States African-American Burial Grounds Preservation Program within the National Park Service. In carrying out the program, Interior may make grants to other federal agencies; state, local, and tribal governments; other public entities; educational institutions; historic preservation groups; and private nonprofit organizations for the identification of historic African-American burial grounds, the preservation and restoration of African-American burial grounds, the interpretation of African-American burial grounds, and related research and documentation for historic African-American burial grounds.
Senator Johnny Isakson VA Regional Office Act of 2022 This act designates the Department of Veterans Affairs Atlanta Regional Office in Georgia as the Senator Johnny Isakson Department of Veterans Affairs Atlanta Regional Office or the Isakson VA Atlanta Regional Office.
Critical Mineral Independence Act of 2022 This bill requires the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the Defense Logistics Agency to develop and implement a strategy to transition the supply chain for critical minerals in the National Defense Stockpile away from reliance on geostrategic competitors and adversaries by 2027 through acquisition of critical minerals processed by the United States or allied countries.
Black Sea Security Act of 2022 This bill authorizes the National Security Council to direct an interagency strategy to (1) increase coordination with NATO and the European Union, (2) deepen economic ties, and (3) strengthen the security and democratic resilience of partners in the Black Sea region in accordance with U.S. values and interests.
Preventing Suicide Through Voluntary Firearm Purchase Delay Act This bill directs the Department of Justice to establish and maintain the Voluntary Purchase Delay Database. In particular, the bill (1) allows individuals to voluntarily place their names to (or request removal from) the database established by this bill, and (2) makes it unlawful to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to individuals listed in this database.
HR 7075 designates a specific triangular area in Washington, D.C. (bounded by 22nd Street NW, P Street NW, and Florida Avenue NW) as "Ukrainian Independence Park," including National Park Service reservations 57D and 360 (which contains the Taras Shevchenko Memorial). The bill updates all federal references to this area to use the new name and authorizes signage highlighting Ukraine's independence and U.S.-Ukraine solidarity. This is a procedural designation bill with no substantive policy changes, solely renaming a park area.
Ending China's Developing Nation Status Act This bill requires the Department of State to take actions to stop China from being classified as a developing nation by international organizations. (Generally, international organizations provide developing nations certain rights and beneficial treatment. For example, the World Trade Organization provides developing nations with so-called special and differential treatment , which includes measures that aim to increase trading opportunities for those nations.) Under this bill, the State Department must advocate for international organizations to (1) change China's status from developing nation to developed nation, or (2) develop a mechanism to change China's status to developed nation if no mechanism currently exists. The President may waive this requirement if doing so is in the national interest of the United States.
The Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027, increases funding for, and modifies the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. This program supports home visits for expectant and new parents who live in communities that are at-risk for poor maternal and child health outcomes. Changes to the program include setting out requirements for allocating program funds; increasing the percentage of funds reserved for tribal entities; establishing a publicly available dashboard that reports program outcomes; requiring activities to reduce unnecessary data collection, reporting, and other administrative requirements of the program; and allowing for virtual home visits (provided certain conditions are met). The bill also reduces funding for the Medicare Improvement Fund.
Uyghur Policy Act of 2021 This bill addresses human rights issues concerning the Uyghurs and other minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. The bill authorizes the establishment of a Special Coordinator for Uyghur Issues position within the Department of State. The State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs may, subject to appropriations, make certain funds available to human rights advocates working on behalf of Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups persecuted in China. The funds, if made available, shall be used to facilitate the presence of such human rights advocates at public diplomacy forums to speak on issues related to the human rights and religious freedoms of minority groups persecuted in China. The State Department must ensure that Uyghur language training is available to Foreign Service officers. It must also ensure that a Uyghur-speaking member of the Foreign Service is assigned to U.S. diplomatic and consular missions in China.
One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act of 2022 This bill authorizes grants to support community-based reentry resources for previously incarcerated individuals who return to their communities. First, the bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants for community-based nonprofit organizations to create community reentry centers. Second, the bill authorizes DOJ to make grants for states, Indian tribes, and local governments to operate reentry services assistance hotlines.
This resolution condemns Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the international covenants on human rights. Further, it calls on Iran to immediately release all imprisoned or detained Baha'is, and it urges the President and the Department of State to impose sanctions on Iranian officials and others who are responsible for serious human rights abuses, including abuses against Iran's Baha'i community.
Defending Religious Accommodations for Military Members Act of 2022 This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to audit the religious accommodations relating to COVID-19 for the Armed Forces to ensure all applicable federal laws, and guidance and policies of the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and each military department were followed.
