Sen. Mike Rounds

CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act of 2022 This bill permanently reauthorizes and otherwise revises the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Bond Guarantee Program. Specifically, the bill (1) reduces the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program minimum issuance amount from $100 million to $25 million, and (2) reduces the amount allowed to be held in a CDFI's relending account. (CDFIs are financial institutions serving low-income communities. Designation as a CDFI allows an institution to participate in programs such as the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program. The program provides financing to CDFIs through federal credit subsidies that allow CDFIs to issue bonds.)

Trucking Regulations Unduly Constricting Known Service-providers Act of 2022 or the TRUCKS Act of 2022 This bill revises requirements for obtaining a commercial driver's license. The bill allows states to exempt employees in certain agriculture-related industries and employees of state, local, and tribal governmental entities from entry-level driver training requirements to obtain a commercial driver's license. Additionally, a state may issue restricted commercial driver's licenses to owners and employees of certain small businesses, including those that employ not more than nine employees who hold a commercial driver's license as of the date on which the restricted commercial driver's license is issued.

Veterans Medical Mileage Adjustment Act of 2022 This bill increases the rate for beneficiary travel allowances based on mileage (from 41.5 cents to 45.5 cents per mile) for beneficiary travel to or from Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in connection with vocational rehabilitation, required counseling, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care.

Simplify Timelines and Assure Regulatory Transparency Act or the START Act This bill sets forth a variety of provisions to expedite the environmental review of energy projects, such as the Mountain Valley Pipeline project.

This resolution designates August 10, 2022, as Toxic Exposure Awareness Day to honor and recognize the contributions of members of the Armed Forces and veterans who were exposed to toxic substances. Additionally, the resolution encourages the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans service organizations to conduct outreach and promote awareness of the resources available to those who were exposed to toxic substances.

This resolution expresses that the Senate has heard the announcement of the death of the Honorable Jacqueline R. Walorski, Congresswoman for the Second Congressional District of Indiana. The resolution also honors Representative Walorski for her service to Indiana and the United States. The resolution expresses that when the Senate adjourns today, it stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Representative Walorski.

Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security Act of 2022 or the PASS Act of 2022 This bill establishes requirements to address the national security risk to the agricultural sector of the United States. Specifically, the bill prohibits persons who are acting on behalf of China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea from purchasing or investing in U.S. agricultural land and companies. The President may waive this prohibition, on a case-by-case basis, if the President determines that the waiver is vital to U.S. national security interests. The bill also places the Secretary of Agriculture on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and requires CFIUS to review certain transactions involving investments by foreign persons in the U.S. agricultural sector. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture must report on the risks that foreign purchases of U.S. businesses engaged in agriculture pose to the agricultural sector of the United States.

Maddy summarySRES 747 is a 2022 Senate resolution expressing support for U.S. military cooperation with Finland and Sweden *before* their full NATO membership. It encourages the President to advance specific interim steps, including joint training exercises, technology sharing (like cybersecurity), and infrastructure coordination, to improve how Finland and Sweden's militaries work with U.S. and NATO forces. The resolution does not create new laws but urges the U.S. government to strengthen interoperability in areas like command systems, logistics, and Arctic operations, while also calling on all NATO members to take similar actions. It directly affects U.S. defense policy implementation regarding Finland and Sweden's NATO accession process.

This resolution commemorates the 55th anniversary of the fire onboard the USS Forrestal , recognizes the sailors and marines who gave their lives while fighting the fire, and commemorates the efforts of the sailors and marines who survived the fire.

Security to Avoid Violence in Educational Settings Act or the SAVES Act This bill transfers certain funds to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to carry out a grant program for school safety and security. Specifically, the bill transfers funds appropriated for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements at public school facilities (currently known as the Department of Energy's Renew America's Schools Program) to DOJ for the grant program. DOJ must award grants to states (and states must provide subgrants to eligible entities, such as local educational agencies and schools) for planning and designing school buildings and facilities, installing infrastructure, and implementing technology or other measures that strengthen security on school premises.