Sen. Mike Rounds

Food and Energy Security Act This bill provides requirements for specified federal financial agencies when regulating activity that could impact the extension of capital or investments to agricultural- or energy-related businesses. Specifically, an agency must analyze the economic impact of any such regulation. If the analysis estimates that the regulation would increase prices, and if the consumer price index exceeds a certain level, the agency is prohibited from implementing the regulation.

Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Benjamin Berell Ferencz in recognition of his service to the United States and the international community during the post-World War II Nuremberg trials and his lifelong advocacy for international criminal justice and the rule of law.

Peace Corps Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes the Peace Corps program through FY2027 and addresses other issues related to the program. For example, the bill (1) increases the readjustment allowances for returning Peace Corps volunteers; (2) provides statutory authority to an executive order that provides returning volunteers with noncompetitive eligibility for federal employment purposes (i.e., eligibility to be noncompetitively appointed to a competitive federal position); and (3) requires the Peace Corps to take all reasonable measures to prevent and address reprisal or retaliation against a volunteer by any person with supervisory authority over the volunteer, such as a Peace Corps officer.

This resolution remembers former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe and his work to strengthen the alliance between the United States and Japan. It also extends condolences to his family and the people of Japan.

This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Sarcoma Awareness Month. Sarcoma is a cancer of connective tissues, such as nerves, muscles, joints, fat, bones, and blood vessels.

Maddy summarySRES 686 is a ceremonial Senate resolution designating July 23, 2022, as "National Day of the American Cowboy." It recognizes the cultural significance of cowboys and cowgirls in American history, highlighting their contributions to Western heritage, ranching economies, and community values. The resolution encourages all U.S. citizens to observe the day with appropriate activities but does not create new laws, funding, or obligations. This is a symbolic gesture with no direct impact on specific individuals or policies.

Discharge Review Board Outreach Improvement Act of 2022 This bill establishes the Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Discharge Review Board Committee to advise the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on matters relating to the boards that review the discharge or dismissal (other than a discharge or dismissal by sentence of a general court-martial) of any former member of an armed force. The committee must provide the Department of Defense (DOD) and the VA with recommendations on the strategic direction for the joint coordination and sharing efforts between and within DOD and the VA on matters regarding the review boards.

Month of Life Celebration Act This bill adds the Month of Life to the statutory list of patriotic and national observances. It also requires the President to annually issue a proclamation that (1) reaffirms the dignity of human life, (2) supports life inside and outside the womb and the life of the pregnant individual, and (3) commits to assist parents and children.

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase the amounts payable for wartime disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Specifically, the VA must increase the amounts by the same percentage as the cost-of-living increase in benefits for Social Security recipients that is effective on December 1, 2022. The bill requires the VA to publish the amounts payable, as increased, in the Federal Register. The VA is authorized to make a similar adjustment to the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who have not received compensation for service-connected disability or death.

Chase COVID Unemployment Fraud Act of 2022 This bill addresses fraud and overpayments of pandemic unemployment assistance, including by allowing states to retain a specified percentage of recovered funds and prohibiting the Department of Labor from allowing blanket waivers of overpayments.