Rep. Cliff Bentz

Maddy summaryHRES 1094 designates May 5, 2022, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. It directly supports Native American communities affected by disproportionately high rates of violence against women and girls, citing data showing murder rates over 10 times the national average in some Tribal communities. The resolution asks the public to honor victims and show solidarity with families, while acknowledging existing efforts like Savanna’s Act to address the crisis. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws but raises awareness about this ongoing issue.

No Timber From Tyrants Act This bill prohibits the importation of wood and related articles from Russia and Belarus. It also directs the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to replace these prohibited imports with timber production on certain lands. Specifically, the bill directs the President to prohibit the importation of all wood and related articles from Russia and Belarus. The President may terminate this prohibition upon certification to Congress that certain conditions have been met, including that Russia or Belarus (or both, as applicable) reached an agreement to withdraw forces in Ukraine. Additionally, the bill directs Interior and USDA to authorize timber harvest in an amount sufficient to equal the volume, with respect to calendar year 2021, of imports of wood and related articles from Russia and Belarus. Interior may authorize timber harvest only on public lands and USDA may authorize timber harvest only on National Forest System lands. The bill generally prohibits Interior and USDA from approving a plan that reduces the allowable sale quantity of timber.

This bill reduces the amount made available to the National Archives and Records Administration unless it processes and resolves before October 1, 2022, a personnel records backlog of 600,000 requests.

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.

Unleashing American Energy Act This bill requires a minimum amount of oil and gas lease sales a year on certain submerged lands of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and limits delays on federal oil and gas leases on such lands. Specifically, this bill requires the Department of the Interior to annually conduct a minimum of two region-wide oil and gas lease sales in each of the following regions of the OCS: (1) the Gulf of Mexico region in the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area, and (2) the Alaska region. In addition, the bill requires the President to obtain congressional approval before delaying federal oil and gas leases on the OCS.

Restore Onshore Energy Production Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to immediately resume sales of oil and gas leases in accordance with applicable onshore mineral leasing laws and specifies a minimum number of sales that Interior must conduct in each state where there is land available for oil and gas leasing. The bill also prohibits the President from taking actions to cancel, delay, or otherwise impede federal processes related to energy mineral leasing without congressional approval.

Energy Permitting Certainty Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to process applications for permits to drill under a valid oil or gas lease even if there are any pending civil actions, provided that the civil actions do not directly affect or involve the application or underlying lease.

Promoting Energy Independence and Transparency Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to take certain actions related to parcels of land that have been nominated for future sales of onshore oil and gas leases and related drilling permits. Specifically, Interior must (1) report to Congress about the status of the parcels, (2) publish on its website information concerning expressions of interest in nominated parcels and drilling permits, and (3) issue certain pending applications for drilling permits within 30 days.

Securing American Energy and Investing in Resiliency Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to conduct certain sales of oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf by a specified deadline.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of the late Representative Don Young and directs the Sergeant at Arms to designate a Don Young Reserved Seat on the floor of the chamber of the House of Representatives.