Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2022 or the PAST Act of 2022 This bill addresses the practice of soring horses. The soring of horses includes various actions taken on horses' limbs to produce higher gaits that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness. Specifically, the bill expands soring regulation and enforcement at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions, including by establishing a new system for inspecting horses for soring. In addition, the bill increases penalties for violations.
National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop a national aviation preparedness plan for communicable disease outbreaks, including to (1) create a process to identify appropriate personal protective equipment to reduce the likelihood of exposure to a communicable disease that has the potential to cause an epidemic or pandemic of infectious disease that would constitute a public health emergency of international concern (i.e., a covered communicable disease); and (2) improve coordination between airports, air carriers, and governmental entities with respect to preparing for and responding to communicable disease outbreaks. In developing the plan, DOT must consult with aviation industry and labor stakeholders such as air carriers. The Government Accountability Office must conduct a study assessing the plan, including (1) whether the plan meets the obligations of the United States under international conventions and treaties, and (2) the extent to which the U.S. aviation system is prepared to respond to an outbreak of a covered communicable disease.
FedRAMP Authorization Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) within the General Services Administration (GSA). The GSA must establish a government-wide program that provides the authoritative standardized approach to security assessment and authorization for cloud computing products and services that process unclassified information used by agencies. Agencies must ensure that their cloud computing services meet GSA requirements. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress assessing the costs incurred by agencies and cloud service providers relating to the issuance of FedRAMP authorizations, the extent to which agencies have processes in place to continuously monitor the implementation of cloud computing products and services operating as federal information systems, how often and for which categories of products and services agencies use FedRAMP authorizations, and the unique costs and potential burdens incurred by cloud computing companies that are small business concerns as a part of the FedRAMP authorization process. The bill establishes the Federal Secure Cloud Advisory Committee.
Chai Suthammanont Healthy Federal Workplaces Act of 2022 This bill requires federal agencies to establish and publish safety plans that contain certain information for on-site employees and contractors during a nationwide public health emergency declared for an infectious disease. Specifically, the bill requires each agency to post a safety plan on its website that includes (1) the agency's mitigation efforts, including personal protective equipment provided and testing for on-site workers; (2) guidance on cleaning protocols and occupancy limits; (3) protections for employees whose work requires them to travel off-site; and (4) protocols that ensure the continuity of operations. Each agency must communicate the plan to new employees, contractors, and subcontractors not later than 30 days after an employee is hired or a contract is entered. Each agency's Office of Inspector General must report on whether the agency has published and implemented its safety plan.
Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 activities to implement the Global Food Security Strategy, a whole-of-government strategy to promote global food security, resilience, and nutrition. The bill also modifies aspects of the strategy, such as requiring the strategy to seek to improve the efficiency and resilience of agricultural production. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2028 activities related to the Emergency Food Security Program, an international market-based assistance program.
Mental Health Matters Act This bill requires certain federal actions to increase access to mental and behavioral health care. Among other provisions, the bill creates various grants to increase the number of school-based mental health services providers, establishes requirements for institutions of higher education concerning students with disabilities, prohibits arbitration and discretionary clauses in employer-sponsored benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and establishes an occupational research program on mental health.
Chance to Compete Act of 2022 This bill modifies examination requirements and other components of the federal hiring process for positions in the competitive service. Specifically, the bill provides that a qualifying examination includes a résumé review that is conducted by a subject matter expert. Additionally, beginning two years after the bill's enactment, the bill prohibits examinations from consisting solely of a self-assessment from an automated examination, a résumé review that is not conducted by a subject matter expert, or any other method of assessing an applicant's experience or education; an agency may waive these requirements when necessary but must report any such waivers. Agencies may use subject matter experts to develop position-specific technical assessments that allow applicants to demonstrate job-related skills, abilities, and knowledge; assessments may include structured interviews, work-related exercises, procedures to measure career-related qualifications and interests, or other similar assessments. The bill also allows agencies to establish talent teams to support and improve hiring practices. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must create online platforms through which agencies may share and customize technical assessments and share the résumés of qualifying applicants. The OPM must also create online platforms with information about (1) the types of assessments used and hiring outcomes, (2) educational requirements for certain positions and related justifications, and (3) authorities and programs that support agency recruitment and retention.
Credit Union Board Modernization Act This bill revises the frequency of meetings required to be held by a credit union's board of directors. Specifically, the bill requires monthly meetings for new credit unions during their first five years and for credit unions with a low soundness rating. All other credit unions must hold at least six meetings annually, with at least one meeting held during each fiscal quarter. Currently, all credit union boards must meet at least once a month.
Combating the Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should promote religious freedom in China and makes statements of policy related to such freedom. In particular, the bill states that it is U.S. policy to consider senior Chinese government officials who are responsible for the persecution of Christians or other religious minorities in China to have committed (1) a gross violation of internationally recognized human rights for the purpose of imposing certain sanctions, and (2) a particularly severe violation of religious freedom for the purpose of determining whether such an individual is admissible into the United States.
This resolution designates September 15, 2022, as International Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness Day. Myotonic dystrophy is an inherited disorder characterized by progressive muscle loss and weakness.
SRES 774 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating September 2022 as "National Democracy Month." It encourages the U.S. government, states, and local communities to observe this month through ceremonies and activities that reflect on the U.S. system of government and its global contributions to democracy. The resolution emphasizes educating citizens about democratic principles and honoring historical sacrifices that preserved U.S. freedoms. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups, as it is a symbolic, ceremonial designation.
This resolution (SRES 805) is a non-binding Senate measure supporting the designation of September 18-24, 2022, as "Telehealth Awareness Week." It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes telehealth's role in expanding healthcare access - especially during the pandemic - and urges efforts to raise awareness about its benefits. The resolution highlights telehealth’s use by over 28 million Medicare beneficiaries and calls for promoting continued access to telehealth services for all communities, including rural and underserved areas. It directly affects public awareness and advocacy efforts around telehealth, without imposing any legal requirements on government or providers.
