Sen. Christopher Murphy

No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act This bill denies employers a tax deduction for any expenditures incurred for attempting to influence their employees with respect to labor organizations or labor organization activities, such as elections, labor disputes, and collective actions. The bill requires employers to report on their attempts to influence their employees with respect to labor organizations and their activities.

Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act This bill requires the Department of Labor to address workplace violence in health care, social service, and other sectors. Specifically, Labor must issue an interim occupational safety and health standard that requires certain employers to take actions to protect workers and other personnel from workplace violence. The standard applies to employers in the health care sector, in the social service sector, and in sectors that conduct activities similar to those in the health care and social service sectors. In addition, Labor must promulgate a final standard within a specified time line.

National Liberty Memorial Preservation Act This bill extends through FY2027 the authority of the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. to establish a memorial on eligible federal land to honor the slaves and free Black persons who served as soldiers and sailors or provided civilian assistance during the American Revolution.

National Scenic Trails Parity Act This bill requires the North Country, Ice Age, and New England national scenic trails to be administered as units of the National Park System.

This resolution designates March 2022 as Irish-American Heritage Month. The resolution also recognizes the significant contributions of Irish Americans in the history and progress of the United States. Finally, the resolution supports the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement (also known as the Belfast Agreement) and subsequent agreements or arrangements for implementation of that agreement to support peace in Ireland.

Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act This bill requires employers to make initial and modified disclosures to employees of the terms of their employment, provide such employees with regular paystubs, and make a final payment to an employee for uncompensated work hours within 14 days of the employee's termination. Employers must also allow employees access to wage records. An employer must compensate an employee at the rate specified in an employment contract, including a collective bargaining agreement, that specifies a rate of pay higher than the minimum wage rate. The bill makes all of such unpaid wages recoverable through civil enforcement. The bill establishes new and increased civil and criminal penalties for violations of overtime or minimum wage requirements, including referral to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution of employers who engage in wage theft, falsification of wage records, or retaliation against employees. The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor must provide grants to specified organizations, including nonprofits and educational institutions, to enhance the enforcement of wage and hour laws. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on successful grant programs.

Mental Health Reform Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 various activities related to mental health services and resources. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes a policy laboratory housed within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that promotes evidence-based practices and service delivery models. Additionally, the bill reauthorizes and modifies grants and similar assistance for treatment and other services for adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbances, mental and behavioral health programs in the criminal justice system, priority mental health needs of regional and national significance, education and training for mental and behavioral health care providers, and integrated primary care and behavioral health care. The bill also addresses insurance coverage for mental and behavioral health. This includes (1) grants for assessing health insurance plans for compliance with requirements related to parity in the coverage of mental health, (2) applying the parity requirements to self-funded, nonfederal government health plans, and (3) requiring specified agencies to provide states with guidance about coverage recommendations for mental and behavioral health services. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must review claims data to assess the degree to which mental and behavioral health treatment aligns with evidence-based recommendations and standards of care. Other matters addressed by the bill include first episode psychosis activities (interventions to improve symptoms, reduce relapse episodes, and prevent deterioration and disability among individuals suffering from psychotic illness) and improving data collection and reporting of SAMHSA's activities.

This resolution expresses that the Senate has heard of the death of the Honorable Orrin G. Hatch, former U.S. Senator for the state of Utah. The resolution also expresses that the Senate honors the life and legacy of the late Senator Hatch for his unwavering dedication to Utah as a Senator and a public servant and accomplishments in legislating with principle and dedication for the good of the people of the United States. The resolution states when the Senate adjourns today, it stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Senator Hatch.

This resolution thanks the teachers of the United States and promotes the teaching profession by encouraging students, parents, school administrators, and public officials to recognize National Teacher Appreciation Week.

Promoting Accountability and Security in Transitions Act of 2022 or the PAST Act of 2022 This bill revises requirements for preservation of presidential records and requires that information be made available to the next administration in a timely fashion. Specifically, the bill (1) requires the President to receive written guidance from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) before destroying any records, (2) prohibits White House staff from using nonofficial electronic messaging accounts that cannot be easily copied or forwarded to official accounts, (3) establishes consequences for former Presidents who destroy presidential records, (4) requires former Presidents to cover the cost of digitizing records for display in a presidential library, and (5) requires NARA to ensure that newly inaugurated Presidents are granted easy access to national security information.