Correcting a Lack of Efficient, Adequate, and Reasonable Documentation Act or the CLEAR Documentation Act This bill establishes certain rules for the Food and Drug Administration to issue export certifications for medical devices that are manufactured outside of the United States. A certification for a medical device must be subject to a user fee.
USA Civics Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and revises the American History for Freedom grant program. The bill renames the program as the American Civics and History Education Program. The bill authorizes the Department of Education to award grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) at least once every three years to establish or strengthen academic programs to promote American political thought and history and the history, achievements, and impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally. Currently, these grants are awarded to IHEs for three years and are focused on traditional American history and the history and achievements of Western civilization. IHEs may use grants to support additional activities, such as collaborating with federal or state humanities programs and using open educational resources.
Middle-Class Savings and Investment Act This bill provides tax incentives for savings and investment for middle-income taxpayers. Specifically, it (1) increases the current tax bracket for capital gains and dividends; (2) allows an exclusion from gross income for up to $300 of interest income received by a taxpayer; (3) increases the threshold for the net investment tax for married couples filing jointly to $400,000, adjusted for inflation (thus eliminating the tax effect known as the marriage penalty); and (4) increases the maximum contribution amount and the rate of the saver's tax credit. As an offset to the cost of these incentives, the bill extends through 2028 the limitation on the deduction for state and local taxes.
INvestor Democracy is EXpected Act or the INDEX Act This bill establishes guidelines for passively managed funds (e.g., index funds) that vote shares on behalf of fund investors in proxy shareholder votes. Under the bill, these funds generally must vote shares on a proportional basis according to instructions from fund investors. The bill establishes an exemption for routine matters and matters requiring approval of a majority of outstanding securities. Additionally, the bill establishes a safe harbor from these requirements for investment advisers.
Fallen Heroes Flag Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 a program through which a Member of Congress may provide, at no cost, a Capitol-flown flag to commemorate a firefighter, law enforcement officer, or other public safety officer who died in the line of duty if an immediate family member of the deceased requests such a flag.
HR 8030, the Fentanyl is a WMD Act, reclassifies illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction under the Homeland Security Act of 2002. This requires the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office to treat illicit fentanyl as a WMD for the purposes of Title XIX of that Act. The bill changes how fentanyl is legally categorized without creating new penalties, programs, or enforcement tools. It directly affects federal law enforcement coordination under the existing WMD framework for addressing fentanyl trafficking.
Civics Secures Democracy Act This bill provides resources to expand educational programs in American civics and history, including by establishing grant and fellowship programs, reauthorizing various programs, and creating the Civics Secures Democracy Fund. First, the bill authorizes the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to states, qualified nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education (IHEs), and qualified researchers to support and expand access to civics and history education. Next, the bill establishes a fellowship program to diversify the civics and history education workforce. In addition, the bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and revises the American History for Freedom grant program. The bill renames the program as the American Civics and History Education Program. The bill revises the grant program to authorize ED to award grants to IHEs at least once every three years to establish or strengthen academic programs to promote American political thought and history and the history, achievements, and impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally. IHEs may use grants to support additional activities, such as collaborating with federal or state humanities programs and using open educational resources. Further, the bill revises the Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund and the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Trust Fund. The bill requires the National Assessment of Educational Progress in civics and history to be administered every two years to certain grade levels. The bill also establishes the Civics Secures Democracy Fund, through which funds shall be made available to carry out provisions of the bill. The bill transfers certain unobligated COVID relief funds to the fund.
Military Spouse Hiring Act This bill expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include the hiring of a qualified military spouse. (The WOTC permits employers who hire individuals who are members of a targeted group such as qualified veterans, ex-felons, or long-term unemployment recipients to claim a tax credit equal to a portion of the wages paid to those individuals.) A qualified military spouse is any individual who is certified by the designated local agency as being (as of the hiring date) a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces.
Safe Schools Act This bill allows state and local educational agencies to use certain COVID-19 emergency relief funds to carry out school security measures (e.g., trainings and security assessments).
Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2022 This bill revises provisions related to the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain aliens. DHS may detain an alien pending a removal decision for any length of time until the alien is subject to a final removal order. DHS must detain certain aliens, such as those convicted of an aggravated felony, beyond certain time limits for detaining an alien. The authority of the Department of Justice to review DHS custody decisions concerning an alien awaiting a removal decision shall be limited to whether the alien may be detained, released on bond, or released with no bond. DHS may release such an alien on bond only if the alien is not a flight risk or risk to the community. For an alien subject to a removal order, DHS may extend the 90-day removal period (generally the window in which DHS has to remove an alien after a final order of removal) in certain instances, such as when the alien's removal is stayed during an appeal. DHS may continue to detain an alien beyond the removal period and any removal period extensions. DHS shall periodically certify a justification for detaining an alien beyond the removal period. DHS shall establish a detention review process for aliens who (1) have made all reasonable efforts to comply with a removal order, and (2) are not subject to mandatory detention. DHS shall use the review process to determine whether an alien should be detained or released with conditions.
Stop Gun Criminals Act This bill increases the term of imprisonment for certain offenses involving firearms, particularly those that are committed by repeat offenders.
Safe Schools Act This bill allows state and local educational agencies to use certain COVID-19 emergency relief funds to carry out school security measures (e.g., trainings and security assessments).
