Washington Congressional Bills

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 15, 2022

S 1289: Marine Mammal Research and Response Act of 2021

Marine Mammal Research and Response Act of 2021 This bill provides support for efforts to protect marine mammals. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2026 and generally revises the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, including by renaming the program as the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program. The bill also establishes the Joseph R. Geraci Marine Mammal Rescue and Rapid Response Fund for providing emergency financial assistance for certain stranded or entangled marine mammals and otherwise provides support for marine mammals.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 15, 2022

S 381: National Ocean Exploration Act

National Ocean Exploration Act This bill provides statutory authority for the National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization Council and revises several programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that support ocean and coastal mapping, hydrographic surveys, and spatial data collection. The bill revises the national ocean exploration program to require NOAA to provide guidance to federal and state agencies, and others, on data standards, protocols for accepting data, and coordination of data collection, compilation, processing, archiving, and dissemination for data relating to ocean exploration and characterization. It also directs NOAA to conduct education and outreach efforts to disseminate information to the public on the discoveries made by the ocean exploration program and coordinate with the outreach strategies of other domestic or international ocean mapping, exploration, and characterization initiatives. Additionally, the bill repeals the undersea research program of NOAA. It also modifies NOAA's ocean and coastal mapping program to include ecosystem approaches in decision-making for natural resource and habitat restoration, emergency response, and coastal resilience and adaptation. NOAA must develop an integrated ocean and coastal mapping federal funding match opportunity to increase the coordinated acquisition, processing, stewardship, and archival of new ocean and coastal mapping data in U.S. waters. The bill also revises and reauthorizes through FY2026 the hydrographic services program of NOAA.

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 14, 2022

S 3642: Schedules That Work Act

Schedules That Work Act This bill provides employees with the right to request changes to their work schedules related to the number of hours they are required to work or be on call, the location of the work, the amount of notification about work schedule assignments, and fluctuations in work hours. Employers must negotiate in good faith with employees who make such requests and comply with certain work schedule notice and split shift pay requirements for retail, food service, cleaning, hospitality, or warehouse employees.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Elizabeth Warren (D) · 23 co-sponsors

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 14, 2022

S 3641: Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act

Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act This bill modifies various employment, leave, and pension rules with respect to part-time workers. Specifically, the bill removes the requirement that employees work a minimum number of hours during the preceding 12-month period before becoming eligible for family and medical leave. The bill also sets the maximum length of service on which employers may condition the eligibility of part-time employees for a qualified pension plan (e.g., 401(k) retirement plan). Except as required by an applicable collective bargaining agreement, such service requirement may be no longer than two consecutive 12-month periods of at least 500 hours of service for part-time employees who have reached the age of 21 by the end of such period. The bill further prohibits employers of more than 15 employees from setting disparate terms of employment or working conditions for part-time employees, including with respect to compensation, notice of work hours, and promotion opportunities. Additionally, the bill requires such employers to offer available, qualified part-time employees additional work hours before hiring new employees for such hours. Among other enforcement methods, employers must maintain three years of records for offers of additional hours and employee responses to such offers. The bill also provides a private right of action for employees to enforce the nondiscrimination requirements of this bill.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Washington · House Feb 10, 2022

HRES 920: Calling on the Senate to remove the name of Richard B. Russell from the Russell Senate Office Building.

This resolution calls on the Senate to remove the name of Richard B. Russell from the Russell Senate Office Building and revert to the building's original name—the Old Senate Office Building.

Al Green (D) · 46 co-sponsors

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 10, 2022

S 3638: Keep STEM Talent Act of 2022

Keep STEM Talent Act of 2022 This bill exempts certain aliens with advanced degrees in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field from direct limitations on the number of immigrant visas granted per year. Specifically, the alien must (1) have earned a master's level or higher degree in certain STEM fields while in the United States attending an accredited higher education institution, (2) be employed (or have a job offer) in a field related to the degree and earn at least the median wage for that occupation, and (3) meet certain labor certification requirements. The bill also allows an alien seeking a nonimmigrant F-1 (student) visa to obtain an advanced STEM degree to have dual intent. Specifically, such an alien may obtain the nonimmigrant visa or change nonimmigrant status even if the alien intends to seek lawful permanent resident status. (Generally, an alien may be denied a nonimmigrant visa if the alien actually intends to seek immigrant status, unless dual intent is allowed for that type of visa.)

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 10, 2022

S 3637: Guarding Mental Health Act

Guarding Mental Health Act This bill requires the U.S. Coast Guard to establish an interim behavioral health policy for its members that is equivalent to the behavioral health policy of the Department of Defense.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Washington · Senate Feb 10, 2022

S 3623: Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022

Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill modifies and reauthorizes through FY2027 programs and activities under the Violence Against Women Act that seek to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. The bill also authorizes new programs, makes changes to federal criminal laws, and establishes new protections to promote housing stability and economic security for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

Dianne Feinstein (D) · 58 co-sponsors

in committee · Washington · House Feb 10, 2022

HR 6662: EVs for All Act

Electric Vehicles for All Act or the EVs for All Act This bill requires the Department of Energy to provide grants to eligible entities (i.e., public housing agencies, local governments, and certain non-profit organizations) to facilitate electric vehicle sharing services operated at public housing projects.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

in committee · Washington · House Feb 10, 2022

HR 6698: Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act of 2022

Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act of 2022 This bill prohibits state Medicaid programs from using estate recovery to recoup the costs of benefits. States must withdraw property liens within 90 days of the bill's enactment.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

in committee · Washington · House Feb 9, 2022

HRES 923: Supporting the goals and ideals of Career and Technical Education Month.

This resolution supports the designation of Career and Technical Education Month to celebrate career and technical education across the United States.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Washington · House Feb 9, 2022

HRES 915: Approving certain regulations to implement provisions of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 relating to labor-management relations with respect to employees of the House of Representatives covered under section 220(e), and for other purposes.

This resolution extends collective bargaining rights prescribed in the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to employees of the House of Representatives.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Andy Levin (D) · 165 co-sponsors

Washington Congressional Bills

Bill results