Expanding Local Meat Processing Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to revise its regulations to allow certain packers to hold an ownership interest in, finance, or participate in the management or operation of a market agency selling livestock on a commission basis. The bill applies to packers that have a cumulative slaughter capacity of (1) less than 2,000 animal per day or 700,000 animals per year with respect to cattle or sheep, and (2) less than 10,000 animals per day or 3 million animals per year with respect to hogs.
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2022 This bill provides financial and technical assistance to states, territories, and the District of Columbia for the purposes of (1) recovering species listed as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act or under state law, or (2) avoiding the need to list species under such laws. For example, the bill establishes the Endangered Species Recovery and Habitat Conservation Legacy Fund. A portion of the fund must be used to establish an Endangered Species Recovery Grant Program. It also provides funding for (1) the conservation or restoration of wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need; (2) the wildlife conservation strategies of states, territories, or the District of Columbia; and (3) wildlife conservation education and recreation projects. The Department of the Interior must use a portion of the funding for a grant program. The grants must be used for innovative recovery efforts for species of greatest conservation need, species listed as endangered or threatened species, or the habitats of such species. In addition, the bill requires certain revenues generated from fees and penalties for violations of environmental requirements to be used as a source for the funding.
Securing America's Federally-funded Extramural Risky Research Act or the SAFE Risky Research Act This bill prohibits federally funded research on pathogens of pandemic potential or other dangerous biological agents or toxins if the research is carried out by foreign institutions located in countries of concern.
WIC Healthy Beginnings Act of 202 2 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make available online certain information about solicitations for infant formula bids under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Under current law, state agencies must control infant formula costs in the WIC program through competitive bidding for infant formula rebate contracts. The bill requires state WIC agencies to provide USDA with a description of open solicitations for these competitive bids that includes the title of the solicitation, the state agency administering the solicitation, and other relevant information for the USDA to publish online.
Banning Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to prohibit the export or sale of petroleum products (e.g., crude oil) from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to (1) China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran; (2) any other country the government of which is subject to sanctions imposed by the United States; and (3) any entity owned, controlled, or influenced by such countries or the Chinese Communist Party. However, DOE may issue a waiver of the prohibition if the export or sale of petroleum products is in the national security interests of the United States.
Taiwan Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022 This bill authorizes the President to lend or lease defense articles to Taiwan for protection against potential Chinese military aggression and requires the President to establish expedited procedures for delivering loaned or leased defense articles to Taiwan.
SRES 729 is a Senate resolution designating the week beginning November 7, 2022, as "National Pregnancy Center Week." It recognizes community-supported pregnancy centers across the United States for providing services like counseling, pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and material resources to individuals facing pregnancy decisions. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally acknowledges these centers' work through symbolic recognition. It highlights their role in serving over 2 million people annually, though the resolution itself has no binding policy effect.
HRES 1297 is a non-binding House resolution designating the week beginning November 7, 2022, as "National Pregnancy Center Week." It recognizes community-supported pregnancy centers - nonprofit organizations providing free services like pregnancy tests, counseling, ultrasounds, and material support - to individuals facing pregnancy decisions. The resolution highlights these centers' role in serving over 2 million people annually through local, volunteer-driven support. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new policies or alter funding, focusing solely on acknowledging their work.
Defense Production Oversight Act of 2022 This bill authorizes Congress to nullify the President's invocation of authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 by enacting a joint resolution disapproving of the invocation. It also outlines procedures for the consideration of the joint resolution. (The Defense Production Act of 1950 confers upon the President a broad set of authorities to influence domestic industry in order to provide essential materials and goods needed for the national defense.)
Credit Card Competition Act of 2022 This bill addresses network access and competition in electronic credit transactions. The bill generally prohibits credit card issuers from restricting the number of payment card networks on which an electronic credit transaction may be processed. Specifically, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System must prohibit certain credit card issuers with assets of over $100 billion from restricting the number of networks on which credit card transactions may be processed to one network, two or more networks operated by affiliated networks or persons, or the two networks with the largest market share of credit cards issued. Additionally, credit card issuers are prohibited from imposing certain limitations on the routing of electronic credit transactions, such as through penalties for failure to meet a specified threshold of transactions on a particular payment card network. The board must also provide for the designation of payment card networks that pose a security risk to the United States or are owned, operated, or sponsored by a foreign state entity.
This bill prohibits U.S. imports of specific uranium products from Russia, directly affecting companies and importers currently bringing Russian uranium into the United States. It bans articles classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes 2612.10, 2844.10, 2844.20, and 2844.30. The prohibition takes effect 45 days after the bill becomes law, applying to uranium entered into the U.S. or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption after that date. The law overrides existing provisions allowing such imports under the USEC Privatization Act.
Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act This bill establishes a fund that the Southwestern Power Administration may use for the operation and maintenance of power transmission facilities and other related expenses. The bill also transfers amounts into the fund from specified accounts.
