Spectrum Innovation Act of 2022 This bill addresses auctions of, and other matters related to, portions of the electromagnetic spectrum allocated for federal use. The bill also establishes grants for and otherwise modifies provisions concerning next generation 9-1-1 systems (i.e., interoperable Internet Protocol-based systems for receiving 9-1-1 calls). The bill extends to March 31, 2024, the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to auction and license electromagnetic spectrum. (Under current law, the authority expires on September 30, 2022.) Additionally, the bill establishes a process for auctioning specified parts of the spectrum currently allocated for federal use. The Office of Management and Budget must transfer certain funding to federal entities for planning activities related to reallocating and auctioning spectrum while the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Executive Office of the President must oversee the planning. The Department of Commerce must, informed by the planning, identify the spectrum to auction. Further, the bill addresses shared use of spectrum bands by federal and nonfederal users. For example, the NTIA must implement an incumbent informing capability system to manage harmful interference when nonfederal users and incumbent federal entities share spectrum. The bill also establishes the Public Safety and Secure Networks Fund and directs a portion of spectrum auction proceeds to the fund for, among other purposes, reimbursing telecommunications providers for replacing equipment that poses risks to national security and safety.
Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of 2022 or the SECURE Notarization Act of 2022 This bill allows a notary public commissioned under state law to remotely notarize electronic records and perform notarizations for remotely located individuals. The bill provides technical requirements for such notarizations, including the creation and retention of video and audio recordings and the use of communication technologies (i.e., video chat). Additionally, the bill requires U.S. courts and states to recognize notarizations—including remote notarizations of electronic records and notarizations of remotely-located individuals—that occur in or affect interstate commerce and are performed by a notary public commissioned under the laws of other states. The bill also allows a notary public to remotely notarize electronic records involving an individual located outside of the United States, subject to certain requirements.
Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 a pediatric disease research initiative within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and requires the NIH to coordinate pediatric research activities to avoid duplicative efforts. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services must report, within five years, to Congress about research funded through the initiative.
This resolution authorizes (1) Jeffrey Kent, Director of the Press Photographers' Gallery, and Nate Russell and Diego Torres, custodians of records in the Senate Recording Studio, to provide relevant testimony in the case of United States v. Herrera , except concerning matters for which a privilege should be asserted; and (2) the Senate Legal Counsel to represent Kent, Russell, and Torres, and any current or former officer or employee of their offices, in connection with this case.
This resolution authorizes (1) Aidan Gavin, and any other current or former employee of Senator Rob Portman's office from whom relevant evidence maybe necessary, to testify and produce documents in the case of State of Ohio v. Huston , except concerning matters for which a privilege should be asserted; and (2) the Senate Legal Counsel to represent Mr. Gavin and any current or former employee of Senator Portman's office in connection with this case.
Original Slavery Remembrance Day Resolution of 2021 This resolution supports the designation of a Slavery Remembrance Day and condemns slavery and its progenies.
This resolution recognizes the Senate's observation of Countering International Parental Child Abduction Month in April 2022. It also urges the United States to lead in raising awareness about the devastating impact of international parental child abduction.
Right to Contraception Act This bill sets out statutory protections for an individual's right to access and a health care provider's right to provide contraception and related information. Contraception refers to an action taken to prevent pregnancy, including the use of contraceptives (i.e., a device or medication used to prevent pregnancy), fertility-awareness based methods, and sterilization procedures. Generally, the bill prohibits measures that single out and impede access to contraception and related information. However, a party may defend against a claim that a measure violates the bill's prohibitions by demonstrating, through clear and convincing evidence, that the measure significantly advances access to contraception and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. The Department of Justice, individuals, or health care providers may bring a lawsuit to enforce this bill, and states are not immune from suits for violations.
The National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2022 extends and increases funding for the National Park Foundation. It amends federal law to authorize $15 million annually (up from $5 million) for the Foundation through 2030 (extending from 2023). This bill directly affects the National Park Foundation by providing a longer-term, higher level of federal appropriations for its operations. The key change is a specific funding authorization adjustment in Title 54 of the U.S. Code, with no new program requirements or policy changes.
Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act This bill prohibits anyone acting under state law from interfering with a person's ability to access out-of-state abortion services. ( Abortion services includes the use of any drugs that are approved to terminate pregnancies and any health care services related to an abortion, whether or not provided at the same time or on the same day.) Specifically, the bill prohibits any person acting under state law from preventing, restricting, impeding, or retaliating against health care providers who provide legal abortion services to out-of-state residents, any person or entity who helps health care providers to provide such services, any person who travels to another state to obtain such services, any person or entity who helps another person travel to another state to obtain such services, or the movement in interstate commerce of drugs that are approved to terminate pregnancies. The Department of Justice may enforce this bill through civil actions; the bill also establishes a private right of action for violations.
Access for Veterans to Records Act of 2022 This bill directs the Office of the Archivist of the United States to submit to Congress a comprehensive plan for reducing the backlog of requests for records from, and improving the efficiency and responsiveness of operations at, the National Personnel Records Center. Such plan must include an estimate of the number of backlogged record requests for veterans; target time frames to reduce the backlog; a detailed plan for using existing funds to improve technology infrastructure, including secure access to appropriate agency federal records, to prevent future backlogs; actions to improve customer service for requesters; measurable goals with respect to the comprehensive plan and metrics for tracking progress toward such goals; and strategies to prevent future record request backlogs, including backlogs caused by an event that prevents employees of the center from reporting to work in person. The office must submit updates of such plan at specified intervals.
This concurrent resolution recognizes Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams, the last surviving recipient of the Medal of Honor for acts performed during World War II. The concurrent resolution also permits Williams' remains to lie in honor in the rotunda of the Capitol on Thursday, July 14, 2022, in order to honor the Greatest Generation and the more than 16 million men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces from 1941 to 1945.
