This bill revises oversight and disclosure requirements related to foreign sources and institutions of higher education (IHEs). For example, the bill establishes the Office for Foreign Gifts and Contracts Oversight within the Department of Education. Additionally, the bill requires an IHE to disclose to the office any gift or contract from a foreign source that (1) is valued at $50,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts or contracts within a calendar year (current disclosure threshold is $250,000 or more); or (2) has an undetermined monetary value.
American LNG First Act of 2022 This bill exempts certain vessels transporting methane or refrigerated liquid (commonly known as liquefied natural gas or LNG) from vessel documentation requirements as well as coastwise endorsement requirements. Specifically, the bill authorizes a vessel certificate of documentation (i.e., registration) to be issued for a vessel transporting methane or LNG, unless the vessel is (1) owned by a Russian national or Russia, (2) a Russian-flagged vessel, or (3) a vessel with any Russian crew member. The bill also authorizes a coastwise endorsement to be issued for a vessel that is transporting methane or LNG. Such an endorsement allows a vessel to engage in certain trade.
ID for EBT Act of 2022 This bill revises provisions related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to require states to include a photograph of one or more members of a household on electronic benefit cards that are issued to provide program benefits.
Pigs in Gestation Stalls Act of 2022 or the PIGS Act of 2022 This bill prohibits certain methods of confining breeding pigs that restrict their movement and establishes a program to assist pig producers to comply with the prohibitions.
Regaining Energy Freedom and Undeniable SEcurity and Preserving U.S. Trade Interests Now Act or the REFUSE PUTIN Act This bill addresses U.S. energy security and independence, the importation and exportation of fossil fuels, and drawdowns from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Specifically, the bill directs the President to prohibit the importation of fossil fuels from Russia. While the prohibition is in effect, the President may not ban the export of crude oil. The President must also rescind certain orders, including specified environmental executive orders relating to climate change. Further, agencies must repeal any regulations that have the intent or effect of substantially reducing U.S. energy independence. In addition, the bill grants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the exclusive authority to approve or deny applications for facilities, such as liquefied natural gas terminals, to export natural gas from the United States to foreign countries or import natural gas from foreign countries. Additionally, the Department of Energy may not drawdown petroleum in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until it develops a plan to increase the percentage of federal lands leased for oil and gas production. Finally, the bill also approves the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline in Phillips County, Montana for the import of oil from Canada to the United States.
Freedom from Russian Energy Enterprise and Domestic Oil Maximization Act or the FREEDOM Act This bill directs the President to prohibit imports of crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, and liquified natural gas from Russia. It also (1) authorizes the construction and operation of the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline to import oil from Canada into the United States, and (2) nullifies the Executive Order titled Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and signed January 27, 2021.
Promote Responsible Oversight and Targeted Employee background Check Transparency for Seniors Act or the PROTECTS Act This bill allows Medicaid and Medicare providers (e.g., skilled nursing facilities) to access, through the National Practitioner Data Bank, disciplinary information concerning affiliated physicians and other health care practitioners, as reported by state licensing authorities.
Water Design-Build Improvement Act of 2022 This bill allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to use the collaborative project delivery method for certain water infrastructure projects (e.g., building and upgrading wastewater and drinking water treatment systems). This method involves collaboration among those involved at various stages of a project from design through completion of construction. The bill also requires the EPA and USACE to study the use of the collaborative project delivery method in these projects and make the results public.
This joint resolution nullifies the rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services on October 7, 2021, that reverts requirements for federally funded providers of family planning services to those in effect before May 3, 2019, and makes other changes to family planning programs. Specific changes in the rule include (1) removing restrictions on pregnancy options counseling and referrals for abortion services, (2) eliminating requirements for physical and financial separation between abortion-related activities and specified family planning activities, and (3) providing a particular focus on health equity.
This resolution expresses that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that U.S. policy should encourage Russian government officials to abandon Vladimir Putin's war with Ukraine, and that Russian officials who defect should be granted expedited admission to the United States as refugees if they clear all applicable vetting and security procedures.
This resolution rejects and opposes engaging Russia as a main intermediary for reviving any nuclear agreement with Iran. The resolution rejects and opposes giving Russia any sanctions exemption or waiver as a condition to any nuclear agreement with Iran. The resolution rejects and opposes any agreement that lifts sanctions on Iran and legitimizes the regime's illicit nuclear program amidst an International Atomic Energy Agency investigation into undeclared sites, facilities, and material in Iran. The resolution also reaffirms that any nuclear deal with Iran reached by the Biden administration without congressional approval or Senate ratification as a treaty is illegitimate; to take every legislative opportunity to overturn such an agreement; to restore every single sanction, restrictive measure, designation, waiver, or general license the Biden administration removes; and to limit the Biden administration's or any future administration's ability to issue waivers and licenses for Iran sanctions, designations, or restrictive measures.
Assessing Children's Academic Development and the Emotional and Mental Health Implications of COVID-19 Act or the ACADEMIC Act This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to include an additional longitudinal component in an existing prekindergarten through 12th grade longitudinal educational study. Specifically, ED must include in the study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student outcomes and well-being.
