Protecting Americans from Unnecessary Spread upon Entry from COVID-19 Act of 2022 or the PAUSE Act of 2022 This bill maintains immigration restrictions put in place under public health emergency authorities to prevent the introduction of COVID-19 from foreign countries. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from rescinding or reducing the stringency of the restrictions. It also prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from stopping or reducing enforcement of the restrictions. These prohibitions remain in effect until (1) federal and state COVID-19 emergency orders are lifted, and (2) the risk of introducing COVID-19 in or from Canada and Mexico is minimal.
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to prohibit, with certain exceptions, individuals from entering the United States through a coastal or land port of entry or a Border Patrol station near a U.S. land border. This prohibition shall not apply to a (1) U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, (2) member of the U.S. Armed Forces or the spouse and children of a member, or (3) person from a foreign country with valid travel documents arriving at a designated port of entry. This prohibition shall be in place until February 1, 2025.
Ban Russian Energy Imports Act This bill declares that a national emergency exists with respect to the aggression of Russia against Ukraine. During this emergency, the President must prohibit the importation of crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, and coal in which Russia or a Russian national has any interest. The bill exempts products that are already loaded or in transit at the time of this bill's enactment.
Special Russian Sanctions Authority Act of 2022 This bill imposes sanctions pertaining to Russia and addresses related issues. The President must impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on (1) members of the United Russia Party in the lower house of Russia's legislature, (2) Russian government officials and officers of Russia's armed forces above certain levels or ranks, and (3) and members of Russia's intelligence apparatus. The President must also impose property-blocking sanctions on (1) specified individuals, including businessperson Roman Abramovich and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin; and (2) the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company. Furthermore, the bill designates (1) the Wagner Group as a specially designated global terrorist organization, (2) Vladimir Putin as a specially designated global terrorist, and (3) any country in the Western Hemisphere with a military cooperation agreement with Russia as having engaged in a grave hostile act of a foreign power. The bill also establishes the Joint Task Force on Russian Sanctions, which must coordinate the imposition of Russia-related sanctions. The President may confiscate and liquidate any Russian government property subject to U.S. jurisdiction and transfer the resulting funds to the government of Ukraine. The President may provide military hardware to Ukraine's government to resist the Russian invasion. The Department of State must close all Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States except for the Russian embassy in Washington, DC. The Department of the Treasury must impose certain reporting requirements related to residential real estate transactions involving Russian politically exposed persons.
Ukraine Emergency Appropriations Act of 2022 This bill provides emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance to Ukraine and for other related purposes. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) to (1) provide specified weapons and equipment to the government of Ukraine, (2) provide NATO member countries with certain weapons and defense articles to bolster deterrence efforts against Russia and to replace items such countries have donated to Ukraine, (3) enhance DOD capabilities to defend against a cyberattack originating from Russia or Belarus and targeting U.S. critical infrastructure or the ability of the United States to retaliate against a nuclear attack, and (4) deliver humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The bill also provides appropriations to the Department of State to (1) address humanitarian needs in Ukraine caused by Russia's invasion, (2) assist refugees from Ukraine, (3) rebuild infrastructure in Ukraine damaged by Russia's invasion, and (4) support the revitalization of Ukraine's economy after Russia's invasion.
No Most Favored Nation Trading with Russia Act This bill withdraws normal trade relations treatment from Russia. Additionally, the bill requires the President to encourage U.S. allies and partners to (1) consider taking similar actions; and (2) condemn, at the World Trade Organization (WTO), Russia's aggression in Ukraine. Further, the President must direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the WTO to seek suspension of Russia's membership in the WTO.
Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill modifies and reauthorizes through FY2027 programs and activities under the Violence Against Women Act that seek to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. The bill also authorizes new programs, makes changes to federal criminal laws, and establishes new protections to promote housing stability and economic security for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022 This bill authorizes security assistance for Ukraine, requires sanctions against Russia if it escalates hostilities in or against Ukraine, and addresses related issues. The bill (1) authorizes the Department of Defense to use various authorities to provide and expedite the delivery of defense articles to support Ukraine's armed forces, (2) allows the President to exercise drawdown authority to provide defense articles to Ukraine, and (3) authorizes the Department of State to provide International Military Education and Training assistance to Ukraine. The President must periodically determine whether Russia's government is significantly escalating hostilities in or against Ukraine and whether such an escalation has the aim or effect of undermining Ukraine's government or interfering with Ukraine's sovereignty or territorial integrity. If the President determines that Russia's government has engaged in such escalation, the President must impose sanctions on (1) certain government officials, including Russia's president and prime minister; (2) certain Russian financial institutions; (3) entities involved in certain transactions involving Russian debt; (4) entities (and corporate officers of such entities) involved in constructing or operating Russia's Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline; and (5) certain entities involved in Russian resource extraction industries. The President may terminate such sanctions after certifying to Congress that Russia's government has taken certain actions, such as entering into an agreed settlement with Ukraine's legitimate democratic government. The bill also authorizes Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to explore opening new bureaus to reach new audiences on Russia's periphery. The State Department must establish an initiative to deepen and foster ties with the Baltic states.
This bill prohibits the Department of Defense and the National Nuclear Security Administration from using funds for FY2022-FY2027 to reduce the nuclear forces of the United States. Specifically, no such funds may be obligated or expended to reduce (1) the total quantity of strategic delivery systems below the quantity of such systems as of January 1, 2021, (2) the quantity of deployed or non-deployed strategic delivery systems below quantities described as the Final New START Treaty Force Structure , or (3) the size of the nuclear weapons stockpile below the size of the stockpile as of January 1, 2021. Such prohibition does not apply to reductions made to ensure the safety, security, reliability, and credibility of the nuclear weapons stockpile and strategic delivery systems; temporary reductions in the quantity of nuclear weapons or deployed strategic delivery systems to facilitate the fielding of modernized replacements; nuclear weapons that are retired or awaiting dismantlement as of January 1, 2021; or reductions made pursuant to a treaty with respect to which the Senate has provided its advice and consent.
Multilateral Aid Review Act of 2022 This bill establishes a U.S. Multilateral Aid Review to assess U.S. government investments in multilateral entities. The President must establish a U.S. Multilateral Review Task Force, which must report to Congress the review's findings. The task force must establish and report the methodology for the reviews, which shall include assessments of (1) the relationship between such multilateral entities' stated goals and actual results, (2) the management practices and transparency of the entities, (3) the alignment between an entity's policies and practices with U.S. foreign policy objectives, and (4) whether U.S. goals may be better served by pursing a bilateral approach. The bill establishes a U.S. Multilateral Aid Review Peer Review Group, which must review the reports and provide feedback to the task force and to Congress.
This bill prohibits rescinding the designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism without Congressional approval. Specifically, before rescinding the designation, the President must certify to Congress that Cuba (1) is cooperating with U.S. antiterrorism efforts, (2) has ceased providing support for international terrorism, (3) has rendered to the United States all persons sought by the Department of Justice for crimes committed in the United States, and (4) has ceased providing support to the regime of former President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. Furthermore, the designation may not be rescinded unless a joint resolution from Congress approving the President's certification is enacted.
Stopping Censorship, Restoring Integrity, and Protecting Talkies Act or the SCRIPT Act This bill prohibits federal support for a U.S. company that alters political content in its motion pictures (e.g., movies and television shows) in response to or in anticipation of a request from China's government. Under this bill, political content is content relating to issues considered sensitive by the Chinese Communist Party or China's government, such as Taiwan or the Tiananmen Square massacre. To be eligible to receive federal support (e.g., a contract for production or access to a federally controlled asset) for a motion picture, a U.S. company must provide to the Department of State a list of motion pictures it has submitted to China's government for approval for dissemination during the reporting period (the previous 10 years or since this bill was enacted, whichever period is shorter). The U.S. company must also agree in writing to not (1) alter political content in its motion picture in response to or in anticipation of a request from China's government, or (2) coproduce the motion picture with an entity located in China that is subject to political content restrictions from China's government. A U.S. company that has taken such actions during the reporting period shall be prohibited from receiving federal support.
