Sen. Jon Ossoff

Maddy summarySRES 565 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring the late Representative Don Young (R-AK), who served 49 years in the U.S. House of Representatives - the longest tenure of any Alaska representative and the 45th Dean of the House. The resolution commemorates his life, service, and legacy, including his work on landmark legislation like the Trans-Alaska Pipeline authorization and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. It contains no policy changes or new laws; instead, it directs the Senate to mourn his passing, honor his bipartisan service, and transmit a copy to his family. This is a purely symbolic resolution with no direct impact on constituents or legislation.

Support Kids Not Red Tape Act of 2022 This bill extends and modifies the authority of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to waive certain requirements related to the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program. Current law authorizes USDA to waive certain requirements, such as those related to nutritional content and congregate feeding, for the purpose of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this bill, USDA shall have authority through FY2023 to grant such a waiver, with no waiver having effect past FY2023. Currently, USDA's authority to grant a waiver expires on June 30, 2022, with no waiver having effect past the 2021-2022 school year. If a state elects to receive a waiver that modifies the operation of a school breakfast or lunch program for the 2022-2023 school year, the state must provide a transition plan to USDA. USDA must provide technical assistance to help school food authorities and states meet nutritional standards and resume regular meal program operations for the 2023-2024 school year. While a waiver is in effect during the 2022-2023 school year, the state subject to the waiver must provide technical assistance in lieu of fiscal action for meal pattern violations due to supply chain disruptions. The bill also appropriates funds as necessary to carry out this bill's activities.

First Three Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a program to provide grants or loan guarantees for certain innovative technology projects at industrial plants. The technology must (1) be technically viable at pilot scale and ready for commercial-scale implementation, (2) be able to significantly reduce energy use or greenhouse gas emissions, and (3) have the potential to significantly reduce annual U.S. industrial energy use or greenhouse gas emissions if the technology is widely implemented at appropriate industrial plants in the United States.

This resolution commemorates the life and contributions of Charles Isham Taylor, and his impact in providing opportunities for African Americans in Indiana, on the 100th anniversary of his passing.

Port of Brunswick Navigation Channel Improvement Act This bill authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out the Brunswick Harbor Navigation Project in Brunswick, Georgia, in accordance with the plans for navigation channel modifications and improvements laid out in the report issued by the Chief of Engineers on March 11, 2022. The report recommends plans to widen the current authorized channel in three locations.

Access to Justice Act of 2022 This bill requires a federal judicial district (or two adjacent districts or parts of districts) to establish a defender organization (i.e., a federal public defender organization or community defender organization). Currently, a federal judicial district (or part of a district or two adjacent districts) may establish a defender organization if at least 200 persons annually require the appointment of counsel.

Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act This bill authorizes the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to conduct on-site investigations of major fires and other fires under other specified circumstances. In the case of a major fire, the USFA may send incident investigators (e.g., safety specialists, fire protection engineers, codes and standards experts, researchers, and fire training specialists) to the site. Any such investigation shall (1) be conducted in coordination with appropriate federal, state, and local authorities; and (2) examine the determined cause and origin of the fire and assess broader systematic matters. Upon concluding any such investigation, the USFA must issue a public report to local, state, and federal authorities on the findings of such investigation or collaborate with another investigating federal agency on that agency's report. Additionally, the USFA may send fire investigators to conduct investigations at the site of any fire with unusual or remarkable context that results in losses less severe than those occurring as a result of a major fire.

Open Courts Act of 2021 This bill requires the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to establish a single electronic system for all public federal court records that is publicly accessible, free of charge, and does not require registration.

Hydrogen for Trucks Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of Transportation to provide grants for the funding of capital projects to purchase heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles and related equipment.

This resolution condemns violence and threats of violence against historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and reaffirms the federal government's commitment to combating violence against HBCU students, faculty, and staff.