Sen. Christopher Murphy

Maddy summarySRES 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.

Fairness for 9/11 Families Act This bill authorizes and provides funding for lump-sum catch-up payments from the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund to 9/11 victims, 9/11 spouses, and 9/11 dependents. The bill also rescinds specified unobligated funds that were provided to the Small Business Administration for the Paycheck Protection Program.

Billy's Law or the Help Find the Missing Act This bill provides statutory authority for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) and requires certain data sharing between databases of the National Crime Information Center and NamUs. It also provides for grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to support reporting to these systems.

Solitary Confinement Reform Act This bill establishes standards for the use of solitary confinement at federal prisons. It generally limits the use of solitary confinement to situations that meet certain criteria, including confinement for the briefest term and under the least restrictive conditions practicable. It also limits the use of solitary confinement for certain categories of inmates, including pregnant women and individuals with serious mental illness. The bill requires the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to establish a transitional process for inmates in solitary confinement, provide comprehensive mental health evaluations for inmates in solitary confinement, train employees on mental illness and the psychological effects of solitary confinement, and report annually on the use of solitary confinement. It establishes, within the BOP, an Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsman. Finally, it establishes a solitary confinement resource center within the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance.

This resolution condemns the death and detention of Mahsa Amini (an Iranian woman who died in the custody of the Morality Policy of Iran after being detained for purportedly wearing her hijab improperly). It also calls on Iran to end its systemic persecution of women.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates October 8, 2022, as "National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day" through a symbolic Senate gesture. It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the importance of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. The resolution highlights their role in clean energy, transportation, space exploration, and grid reliability, citing their use in vehicles, power generation, and environmental applications. It affects no specific group or entity, serving solely as a ceremonial acknowledgment by the Senate.

Vote Without Fear Act This bill establishes new federal criminal offenses for possessing a firearm or causing a firearm to be present in or within 100 yards of a federal election site.

Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act This bill requires the Department of Education to encourage institutions of higher education to develop and implement comprehensive campus mental health and suicide prevention plans.

International Children with Disabilities Protection Act of 2022 This bill establishes the International Children with Disabilities Protection Program in the Department of State to assist organizations of persons with disabilities and family members of children with disabilities in communicating about and advocating for policies that ensure the family inclusion and transition to independent living of children with disabilities.

Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act of 2022 This bill requires entities that acquire or transfer human bodies or body parts for education, research, or the advancement of medical, dental, or mortuary science to register with the Department of Health and Human Services. Registered entities must comply with record-keeping, labeling, packaging, and disposition requirements. The registration and related requirements do not apply to (1) the acquisition or transfer of human bodies or body parts for use in human transplantation, or (2) the preparation, transportation, and final disposition of human bodies or body parts by funeral service professionals.