This concurrent resolution honors Ulysses S. Grant for his efforts and leadership in defending the union of the United States and affirms that he is among the most influential military commanders in the history of the country.
Start Making Adjustments and Require Transparency in Cocaine Sentencing Act or the SMART Cocaine Sentencing Act This bill reduces the federal sentencing disparity between drug offenses involving crack cocaine and powder cocaine. Currently, different threshold amounts of crack cocaine and powder cocaine (e.g., 28 grams of crack cocaine and 500 grams of powder cocaine) trigger the same statutory criminal penalties. This bill reduces the federal sentencing disparity by altering the threshold amounts of crack cocaine and powder cocaine that trigger statutory criminal penalties. Specifically, the bill increases the threshold amounts of crack cocaine (e.g., from 28 to 160 grams) and decreases the threshold amounts of powder cocaine (e.g., from 500 to 400 grams) that trigger statutory criminal penalties. The changes may apply retroactively, but only if the Department of Justice (DOJ) certifies that the sentence of a defendant should be reduced. The bill requires DOJ to review and report on various data related to crack cocaine and powder cocaine, including individual dosage amounts, addictiveness, and associated violence. Additionally, the U.S. Sentencing Commission must report publicly on cocaine offenses and offenders, including trends in cocaine trafficking patterns, price, and use; the interaction of state penalties with federal prosecutorial decisions; and federal case law developments related to federal cocaine sentencing.
Improve Management, Programs, Resources, and Oversight for Vital Entrepreneurs the SBA Act or the IMPROVE the SBA Act This bill makes various changes to the Small Business Administration's (SBA) programs and operations, including prohibiting the SBA from making direct loans under the 7(a) Program and requiring annual appearances before Congress to provide information about the effectiveness of specified SBA programs. The bill also prohibits the SBA from providing assistance under its programs to certain organizations, including (1) entities primarily engaged in lobbying, (2) entities established to conduct public policy research or advocacy, and (3) the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. or its affiliates.
Robocall Trace Back Enhancement Act This bill provides liability protection for specified information-sharing activities undertaken to trace the origins of unlawful robocalls. Specifically, the bill protects a designated consortium that conducts private-led efforts to trace unlawful robocalls from liability for receiving, sharing, or publishing information about illegal calls, including their origin or source. The bill also applies liability protection to a voice service provider (i.e., a provider of any service that enables real-time, two-way voice communications) or other entity or person that shares information with the consortium.
Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act This bill establishes a working group to determine the legal mechanisms that may be used to seize assets belonging to certain foreign persons (i.e., individuals and entities) affiliated with Russia's political leadership and addresses related issues. The interagency working group must determine the constitutional mechanisms by which the President may take steps to seize and confiscate assets belonging to any sanctioned foreign person whose wealth is derived through support for or corruption related to the regime of Russian president Vladimir Putin. The working group must report to Congress on certain issues including (1) recommendations to impose additional energy-related sanctions on Russia's government, and (2) any additional authorities the President needs to take steps to seize and confiscate the assets. The President must report to Congress a determination as to whether to expand existing sanctions related to certain Russian government activities to cover additional persons.
This joint resolution nullifies a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rule published on April 26, 2022, concerning regulatory definitions and identification of firearms.
This joint resolution nullifies the rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services on October 7, 2021, that reverts requirements for federally funded providers of family planning services to those in effect before May 3, 2019, and makes other changes to family planning programs. Specific changes in the rule include (1) removing restrictions on pregnancy options counseling and referrals for abortion services, (2) eliminating requirements for physical and financial separation between abortion-related activities and specified family planning activities, and (3) providing a particular focus on health equity.
This joint resolution nullifies the rule issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on February 3, 2021, that requires the use of face masks on planes, trains, buses, and other public conveyances and at transportation hubs to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
Protecting Americans from Unnecessary Spread upon Entry from COVID-19 Act of 2022 or the PAUSE Act of 2022 This bill maintains immigration restrictions put in place under public health emergency authorities to prevent the introduction of COVID-19 from foreign countries. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from rescinding or reducing the stringency of the restrictions. It also prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from stopping or reducing enforcement of the restrictions. These prohibitions remain in effect until (1) federal and state COVID-19 emergency orders are lifted, and (2) the risk of introducing COVID-19 in or from Canada and Mexico is minimal.
This resolution honors the life, achievements, and legacy of the Honorable Madeleine K. Albright, who was the first woman to serve as Secretary of State of the United States. The resolution also commends to future generations Albright's example as a patriot and public servant in the pursuit of a more peaceful, prosperous, and cooperative world order. Finally, the resolution extends its condolences and sympathy to the family and friends of Madeleine Albright.
Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2021 This bill makes it a violation of federal law for a recipient of federal funds who operates, sponsors, or facilitates athletic programs or activities to permit a person whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls. The bill specifies that sex shall be recognized based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.
Prescription Information Modernization Act of 2022 This bill allows health care providers to receive prescribing information for drugs electronically rather than in paper form from manufacturers.
