UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act This bill makes changes to U.S. foreign policy in matters concerning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). For purposes of this policy, the bill defines Palestinian refugee as a person who (1) resided from June 1946 to May 1948 in Mandatory Palestine (a region controlled by Britain until 1948), (2) was personally displaced as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, and (3) has not accepted citizenship or other permanent adjustment in status in another country. Furthermore, under U.S. policy, derivative refugee status may only extend to the spouse or minor child of such a Palestinian refugee. The bill withholds U.S. funding for the UNRWA unless the Department of State makes certifications concerning the UNRWA's staff, partners, and funding. Specifically, the State Department must certify that neither UNRWA staff and partners nor its funding and facilities are affiliated with terrorism or engaged in the dissemination of certain rhetoric, such as calling for the destruction of Israel or describing Israelis as occupiers or settlers . Additionally, the State Department must certify that the UNRWA is subject to comprehensive independent financial audits and is unaffiliated with any financial institutions that the United States considers to be complicit in money laundering or terror financing. The State Department must also implement a plan to encourage other countries to align their activities and efforts regarding the UNRWA with U.S. policy objectives, including the phaseout of the UNRWA by resettling Palestinian refugees outside of Israel.
Sponsored bills
Thin Blue Line Act This bill expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.
Deterring Authoritarian Hostilities Act of 2022 This bill imposes sanctions pertaining to Russia and addresses related issues. The President must impose property-blocking sanctions with respect to Nord Stream 2 AG, the entity that operates the Nord Stream 2 pipeline designed to carry natural gas exports from Russia to Germany. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence must periodically report to Congress an assessment of whether Russia's government (or any foreign person acting on its behalf) has engaged in acts infringing on Ukraine's territorial integrity. If such an act has occurred, the President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on certain foreign persons, including (1) any person operating in certain sectors of Russia's economy, including energy and finance; and (2) the President of Russia and other senior Russian government leaders. If such sanctions are imposed, the Department of the Treasury must report to Congress on efforts to ensure that Russia's central bank and persons subject to the sanctions have been blocked from the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) financial messaging system. After this report, the President may impose sanctions on any financial communications services provider that has not blocked Russia's central bank and persons sanctioned under this bill from its service. Treasury must prohibit transactions by a U.S. person in the debt of Russia's government issued on or after this bill's enactment. The President may terminate sanctions imposed under this bill if Russia withdraws its military forces from Ukraine and makes credible commitments to not engage in such hostile actions in the future.
Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act of 2022 This bill requires states, as a condition of federal payment under Medicaid for family planning services, to report certain abortion data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Currently, reporting is voluntary.) The CDC must develop standardized questions for states with respect to specified variables (e.g., maternal demographics and methods of abortion).
This resolution condemns the repression of Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia and all brave Cuban activists, and demands their immediate and unconditional release from prison. The resolution also condemns the brutal torture and inhumane treatment of Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia by the Cuban regime and calls for an immediate humanitarian medical visit by an independent human rights organization to him and to all political prisoners who have been unjustly and illegally detained by the Cuban regime since July 11, 2021. Further, the resolution calls for the international community to stand with the Cuban people and against Cuba's totalitarian Communist regime for infringing on the freedom of thought, will, expression, assembly, and prosperity of the Cuban people. Finally, the resolution commends the courage of the pro-democracy movement and all freedom activists in Cuba for risking everything to bring freedom to the Cuban people.
Inflation Prevention Act This bill establishes a point of order that, when the annualized rate of inflation exceeds 4.5%, prohibits the Senate from considering legislation that provides new budget authority and is estimated to result in an increase to the rate of inflation. The prohibition may be waived by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Senate.
Maddy summarySRES 485 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Harry Mason Reid, Jr., of Nevada, who died in 2021. The resolution expresses the Senate's sorrow at his passing, extends condolences to his family, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to communicate the resolution to the House of Representatives and provide a copy to Reid's family. The Senate also adjourned in his memory as a mark of respect. This is a ceremonial tribute with no policy changes or legal effect.
Maddy summarySRES 484 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring the late Senator John "Johnny" Isakson of Georgia. It formally recognizes his 40+ years of public service, including his roles in the Georgia legislature, U.S. House, and U.S. Senate, and his reputation for bipartisan cooperation. The resolution requests the Senate Secretary communicate it to the House and send a copy to Isakson's family. As a commemorative resolution, it has no policy impact or direct effect on any individuals or programs.
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 resolution condemns the December 6, 2019, terrorist attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola and commemorates the service members and civilians who lost their lives or were injured in the attack. Additionally, the resolution remembers Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson, Petty Officer Third Class Mohammed Sameh Haitham, and Petty Officer Third Class Cameron Scott Walters, who were killed in the attack. Finally, the resolution commends (1) the decision to give medals and awards to the law enforcement officers, uniformed service members, and civilians who responded to the attack; and (2) the efforts undertaken by the Department of Defense to enhance security at military installations.