Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 This bill provides appropriations to federal agencies for the remainder of FY2022, provides supplemental appropriations for activities to support Ukraine, and modifies or establishes various programs that address a wide range of policy areas. The bill includes the 12 regular appropriations bills that fund federal agencies for FY2022. These bills include the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022; the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022; the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2022; the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022; the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2022; the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2022; the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022; the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022; the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2022; the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022; the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2022; and the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022. The bill provides supplemental appropriations for several federal agencies to assist Ukraine in responding to the attack by Russia. For example, the bill provides funding for emergency food assistance, migration and refugee assistance, defense equipment, economic assistance, and enforcing sanctions against Russia. In addition, the bill reauthorizes several expiring programs and authorities, including the National Flood Insurance Program; several immigration-related authorities and programs; the Department of Agriculture's livestock mandatory reporting program; the special assessment on nonindigent people or entities convicted of certain criminal offenses (e.g., sexual abuse and trafficking); the authority for the Department of Health and Human Services to make certain appointments for the National Disaster Medical System; the temporary scheduling order issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration to place fentanyl-related substances in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act; the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program; the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency; programs and activities under the Violence Against Women Act that seek to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking; intelligence activities and programs; and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) enhanced-use leasing authority. The bill also includes several additional provisions that address a wide range of policy issues and programs, including: the regulation of synthetic nicotine; Medicare, Medicaid, and other health programs; fraud targeting the elderly; deceptive acts or practices targeting Native Americans; carbon monoxide poisoning; salaries for certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical positions; VA cemetery grants; credit union governance; the replacement of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) benchmark interest rate; recovery and assistance efforts for Haiti; reporting requirements and law enforcement activities related to cybercrimes; the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Program; the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program; and the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab countries.
"Six Triple Eight" Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021 This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (commonly known as the Six Triple Eight) in recognition of their pioneering military service, devotion to duty, and contributions to increase the morale of personnel stationed in the European theater of operations during World War II.
Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 This bill invalidates arbitration agreements that preclude a party from filing a lawsuit in court involving sexual assault or sexual harassment, at the election of the party alleging such conduct.
Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd Signal Services Company, known collectively as the Ghost Army , in recognition of unique and highly distinguished service during World War II.
Willie O'Ree Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Willie O'Ree or, if unavailable, to a member of his family, in recognition of his contributions and commitment to hockey, inclusion, and recreational opportunity. The amounts received from the sale of duplicate medals shall be deposited in the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act of 2021 or PRRADA This bill requires professionals employed in debt adjustment cases involving Puerto Rico to file verified statements disclosing their connections with interested parties before seeking compensation for their services. The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico must establish a list of such interested parties, which shall include the debtor, creditors, any attorney or accountant of the debtor or creditors, persons employed by the U.S. Trustee Program, persons employed by the board, and any other interested party. Compensation may be denied to such a professional if these disclosures are not filed, are inadequate, or if the professional is found to have certain conflicts of interest.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 This bill authorizes Department of Defense (DOD) activities and programs for FY2022 and addresses various other issues. For example, the bill provides or extends procurement authority for certain helicopters and amphibious shipbuilding programs; imposes various cost and operational limits on the F-35 aircraft program; provides statutory authority related to DOD Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratories, including direct hire authority with respect to advanced degree holders for positions at such laboratories; authorizes DOD to establish a consortium of institutions of higher education to study irregular warfare; establishes pilot programs for using private-sector partnerships to promote technology transition, deploying fifth-generation wireless telecommunications services on military installations, and digitally optimizing organic industrial base maintenance and repair operations; extends and modifies authorities to assist vetted Syrian groups and individuals, provide assistance to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, and support the activities of the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq; extends and modifies the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative and the Pacific Deterrence Initiative; extends a pilot program providing regional cybersecurity training for members of the Army National Guard; establishes a program within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to continuously monitor cybersecurity risks to critical infrastructure entities that support national critical functions; authorizes a Department of Energy program to improve defense environmental cleanup processes; authorizes the establishment of an Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs within the Department of State; and imposes limits on when the State Department may use a nonstandard design when constructing an embassy or consulate compound.
This bill authorizes the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the District of Columbia in honor of the extraordinary acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice displayed by Medal of Honor recipients. The foundation shall be solely responsible for the acceptance of contributions for, and the payment of expenses of, the establishment of the commemorative work. Federal funds may not be used to pay any expenses for the establishment of the commemorative work. The establishment of the commemorative work shall be in accordance with the Commemorative Works Act.
Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act This bill establishes grant programs to address neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), and contains other related provisions. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall award grants to eligible entities for scientific research utilizing data from expanded access to investigational ALS treatments for individuals who are not otherwise eligible for clinical trials. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shall award grants to public and private entities to cover the costs of research and development of drugs that diagnose or treat ALS and other rare neurodegenerative diseases. HHS shall also establish the Public-Private Partnership for Neurodegenerative Diseases between the National Institutes of Health, the FDA, and at least one eligible entity (generally, an institution of higher education or a nonprofit organization). The partnership shall support the development and regulatory review of drugs that address ALS and other rare neurodegenerative diseases. The FDA shall publish on its website a five-year action plan for fostering the development of drugs that improve or extend the lives of people living with rare neurodegenerative diseases. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress about the grants provided under this bill, including an analysis of the impact of such grants on research and development of treatments for ALS.
Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions Act or the REMOTE Act This act addresses the administration of certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational assistance benefits. First, the act extends through June 1, 2022, certain adjustments for veterans' education benefits that were put in place due to COVID-19. The act allows the VA to waive the requirement that an educational institution verify the enrollment of a student utilizing VA educational assistance if the VA determines the institution uses a flat rate tuition and fee structure that would make the use of a second verification unnecessary. The act provides an exception from the imposition of specified disciplinary actions (e.g., suspending course and program approval) in situations where an educational institution provides a commission, bonus, or other incentive payment to entities engaged in student recruiting or admission activities related to recruiting foreign students who reside in foreign countries and are ineligible for federal student assistance. Additionally, the act generally exempts from certain requirements and restrictions imposed by the VA or a state approving agency educational institutions (1) located in foreign countries, or (2) that provide information regarding the costs of a program of education using a form or template developed by the Department of Education. The act also exempts educational institutions located in foreign countries from (1) having records and accounts that pertain to an individual who is not receiving VA educational assistance examined by government representatives, and (2) furnishing certain information related to tests that require payment. The act authorizes the VA, in certain circumstances, to provide educational assistance (including a housing stipend) to veterans or eligible persons who are in their last academic period (e.g., semester) of a program of education and are pursuing the program on less than a half-time basis. Specifically, such assistance may be provided if the number of credits the person needs to complete the program of education is less than the number of credits that would constitute enrollment on more than a half-time basis for that last academic period and the person (1) is enrolled in or has completed every course offered by the program of education during that academic period, and (2) enrolls in an additional course that is not required for the program of education to reach enrollment on a more than a half-time basis. The act extends certain loan fee rates through January 14, 2031, under the VA's home loan program. Finally, the act removes the cap on the number of full-time VA employees who provide equal employment opportunity counseling.
This bill posthumously provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of the 13 service members who died on August 26, 2021, while stationed at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan.
Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement the maternity care coordination program. The VA must provide community maternity care providers (i.e., non-VA maternity care providers) with training and support with respect to the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum veterans, particularly regarding mental and behavioral health conditions in relation to the service of the veterans in the Armed Forces. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must report on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among pregnant and postpartum veterans, with a focus on racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes for veterans.
