Vaccine Injury Compensation Modernization Act of 2021 This bill increases the compensation available under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program for vaccine-related deaths and injuries and otherwise modifies the program. This program provides compensation through a no-fault alternative to litigation for injuries and deaths caused by certain vaccines. Specifically, the bill increases the compensation for a vaccine-related death and the maximum compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress from a vaccine-related injury from $250,000 to $600,000. It annually adjusts these amounts based on a consumer price index. In addition, the bill extends from 36 months to five years the period of time after the onset of symptoms of a vaccine injury during which an individual may file a claim for compensation. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must update the Vaccine Injury Table, which lists and explains injuries and conditions that are presumed to be caused by vaccines, within six months of recommending a vaccine for routine administration to children, adults, or pregnant women. Current law requires the CDC to update the table within two years of recommending a vaccine for routine administration to children.
Clean Slate Act of 2021 This bill establishes a framework for sealing records related to certain federal criminal offenses. Courts must automatically seal records related to (1) a conviction for simple possession of a controlled substance or for any nonviolent offense involving marijuana, or (2) an arrest for an offense that does not result in a conviction. Additionally, an individual who meets certain criteria may petition to seal records related to a conviction for other nonviolent offenses.
Social Security Fairness Act of 2021 This bill repeals provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government. The bill eliminates the government pension offset , which in various instances reduces Social Security benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers who also receive government pensions of their own. The bill also eliminates the windfall elimination provision , which in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes. These changes are effective for benefits payable after December 2021.
Protections for Student Veterans Act of 2022 This bill authorizes covered individuals who are utilizing Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance benefits to withdraw or take a leave of absence after they receive orders for active service, inactive-duty training, or state active duty. A covered individual means a member of the Armed Forces (including reserve components) or the spouse of such a member. Institutions of higher education are prohibited from taking adverse actions against such individuals for withdrawing or taking a leave of absence, including assigning a failing grade, reducing the individual's grade point average, characterizing any absence as unexcused, or assessing financial penalties. The bill requires institutions of higher education to refund all tuition and fees (including for housing) for the academic term for which the individual withdraws. In situations where the individual takes a leave of absence, the institution of higher education must assign a grade of incomplete for the applicable term and permit the individual to complete the academic term after the period of service.
Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2022 This bill provides assistance to rural, multifamily rental-housing projects and tenants. Specifically, the bill provides statutory authority for a Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that supports the preservation and revitalization of affordable housing projects that are financed with USDA loans. Further, the bill makes changes to certain USDA rental assistance programs including by authorizing the USDA to provide rural housing vouchers for low-income households (including those not receiving rental assistance) residing in certain properties financed with or insured by USDA loans. The USDA must also report on preserving the affordability of rental projects financed by USDA loans for low-income families.
Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers Act This bill establishes leave policies for the military departments regarding abortion care for members of the Armed Forces, including policy elements related to privacy. Additionally, the bill requires the military departments to reimburse members for travel costs incurred if a member must travel to a different jurisdiction for an abortion. Under the bill, no member may be subject to any adverse action for requesting or taking leave in relation to abortion care.
No Surprises for Survivors Act of 2022 This bill requires health insurance plans to cover, with no cost sharing, medical forensic examinations for sexual assault patients.
Biologics Competition Act of 2022 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to evaluate (1) the differences between the requirements that apply to interchangeable biologics and the requirements that apply to therapeutically equivalent ratings for generic drugs, and (2) the effects of these differences on the approval of interchangeable biologics. The FDA must update the Purple Book with changes that better align the ways these requirements are communicated while still maintaining each distinct approval pathway. The Purple Book is an FDA publication that lists approved biological products, including biosimilars and interchangeable biologics. Interchangeable biologics are biologics that may be substituted for the original product without consulting the prescriber, similar to how generic drugs may be substituted for brand-name drugs based on therapeutic equivalence.
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to revise regulations so as to specifically require Medicare skilled nursing facilities and Medicaid nursing facilities to report the identity of medical directors and related information.
This resolution designates September 16, 2022, as "National Concussion Awareness Day" to highlight the health impact of concussions. It directly affects the public, medical professionals, and sports organizations by encouraging broader awareness of concussion risks and management. The resolution supports raising public and medical community understanding of concussions - particularly in sports-related injuries - and urges federal, state, and local policymakers to collaborate on improving diagnosis, management, and prevention efforts. As a symbolic measure, it does not create new laws or funding but aims to foster coordinated awareness and research.
HRES 1358 is a symbolic House resolution designating the week of September 17-24, 2022, as "National Estuaries Week." It expresses congressional support for raising public awareness about the ecological and economic importance of estuaries, highlighting their role in supporting jobs, fisheries, coastal protection, and biodiversity. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but acknowledges estuaries' contributions to the U.S. economy (e.g., $351 billion in GDP) and their vulnerability to threats like pollution and sea-level rise. It aims to encourage continued efforts by government and community partners to protect and restore these vital ecosystems.
Women's Business Centers Improvement Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes the Women's Business Center Program through FY2026, raises the cap on individual center grants, establishes an accreditation program for grant recipients, and revises the duties of the Office of Women's Business Ownership. Specifically, the bill modifies the Women's Business Center Program to enable the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide initial and continuation grants to eligible entities to operate women's business centers for the benefit of women-owned small businesses. The SBA must also publish standards for a program to accredit entities that receive grants from the Women's Business Center Program, and such entities' receipt of continuation grants shall be contingent upon their obtaining accreditation.
