Norman Y. Mineta Japanese American Confinement Education Act This bill increases the authorization of appropriations for the Japanese American Confinement Sites (JACS) grant program, which supports the preservation of U.S. confinement sites that were used to detain Japanese Americans during World War II (i.e., internment camps). It also establishes a program within JACS to provide grants to Japanese American nonprofits to educate individuals about the historical significance of these events.
Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 activities to implement the Global Food Security Strategy, a whole-of-government strategy to promote global food security, resilience, and nutrition. The bill also modifies aspects of the strategy, such as requiring the strategy to seek to improve the efficiency and resilience of agricultural production. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2028 activities related to the Emergency Food Security Program, an international market-based assistance program.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 This bill authorizes Department of Defense (DOD) activities for FY2023 and addresses other issues. For example, the bill authorizes the procurement of various items, including destroyers and aircraft; modifies inventory requirements for various Air Force programs; authorizes DOD to furnish electric vehicle charging stations at commissary stores and military exchanges; requires DOD to provide, subject to appropriations, support for the research and development of innovative bioindustrial manufacturing processes; requires DOD to carry out a pilot program to facilitate the transition of certain nontactical vehicles to electric vehicles; requires the Army and the Navy to jointly carry out a pilot program to evaluate the feasibility of using data recorders to monitor the operation of military tactical vehicles; prescribes end strengths for the branches of the Armed Forces; requires the branches of the Armed Forces to notify Congress before taking certain actions regarding reserve units, such as the deactivation or reassignment of such a unit; requires the Army to establish gender-neutral fitness standards for military occupational specialties that are higher than those for noncombat military occupational specialties; requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress recommendations for improving the retention and recruitment of members who specialize in Army air and missile defense systems, and requires the Army to implement the recommendations; requires the GAO to report to Congress a review of a major military health contract after DOD has entered into the contract; temporarily prohibits certain TRICARE programs (health care programs that cover current and former members of the uniformed services and their dependents) from imposing cost-sharing requirements for prescription contraceptives and certain related services; requires the Department of Homeland Security to designate a laboratory as the Chemical Security Analysis Center; requires the Department of the Treasury to take actions to support international initiatives to provide debt restructuring and relief to developing countries; prohibits federal regulators from taking certain adverse actions against a depository institution solely for providing financial services to a cannabis-related business operating pursuant to state or local law; provides statutory authority for an April 27, 2021, executive order raising the minimum wage for the employees of federal contractors; prohibits barring a veteran from federal employment solely because the veteran consumes or has consumed cannabis; imposes data standards requirements on certain federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; and establishes the San Gabriel National Recreation Area in California as a unit of the National Park System.
Visit America Act This bill implements measures to support the U.S. travel and tourism industry and to address the declining percentage of international visitors to the United States. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Commerce to develop a 10-year travel and tourism strategy with annual goals for the number of international visitors to the United States and for tourism commerce. The bill also establishes the role of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism, whose responsibilities shall include setting an annual goal for the number of international visitors to the United States and facilitating international business travel to the United States. Further, the assistant secretary must develop and implement a COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategy to assist the recovery of the U.S. travel and tourism industry. The bill also provides statutory authority for the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, which shall aid the assistant secretary in developing and implementing the COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategy.
Credit Union Board Modernization Act This bill revises the frequency of meetings required to be held by a credit union's board of directors. Specifically, the bill requires monthly meetings for new credit unions during their first five years and for credit unions with a low soundness rating. All other credit unions must hold at least six meetings annually, with at least one meeting held during each fiscal quarter. Currently, all credit union boards must meet at least once a month.
Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 202 2 This bill modifies and expands the schedule for graduated merger filing fees and requires that such fees be adjusted each year based on the Consumer Price Index. It also (1) requires parties to disclose in their premerger notification filings any subsidy received from a foreign entity of concern, (2) modifies the venue rules for multi-district antitrust litigation, and (3) establishes various reporting requirements.
Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities for Veterans Act or the AUTO for Veterans Act This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide (or assist in providing) an eligible veteran or service member with an additional automobile or other conveyance under the VA automobile allowance and adaptive equipment program. Currently, a veteran or service member with a specified service-connected disability or impairment may not receive more than one automobile or other conveyance under the program. The bill authorizes the additional benefit for such veterans and service members (1) if more than 25 years have passed since the person last received such benefit, or (2) beginning on the day that is 10 years after the enactment of this bill if more than 10 years have elapsed since the person most recently received such benefit. The bill also includes certain vehicle modifications (e.g., van lifts) under the definition of medical services for VA health care purposes. Additionally, the bill extends from January 14, 2031, to May 16, 2031, higher rates for certain loan fees under the VA home loan program.
Reduce and Eliminate Mental Health Outpatient Veteran Copays Act or the REMOVE Copays Act This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from imposing or collecting any co-payment for a veteran's first three mental health outpatient care visits in a calendar year. However, such prohibition must not apply with respect to the imposition or collection of copayments for medications.
National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act of 202 2 This bill establishes the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation to (1) develop a skilled and robust U.S. aviation and aerospace workforce; (2) serve as a national independent forum to support collaboration and cooperation between aviation and aerospace stakeholders regarding the advancement of the U.S. aviation and aerospace workforce; and (3) serve as a repository for research conducted by institutions of higher education, research institutions, or other stakeholders regarding the aviation and aerospace workforce, or related technical and skill development. The center must perform the following duties improve access to aviation and aerospace education and related skills training to help grow the U.S. aviation and aerospace workforce; support Armed Forces personnel and veterans seeking to transition to a career in civil aviation or an aerospace-related field through outreach, training, apprenticeships, or other means; and amplify and support the research and development efforts conducted as part of the National Aviation Research Plan and work done at the Federal Aviation Administration Technical Centers regarding the aviation and aerospace workforce. Additionally, the center may issue grants to certain entities to create, develop, deliver, or update middle and high school aviation curricula and aviation curricula used at institutions of higher education, secondary educations institutions, or by technical training and vocational schools; support the professional development of educators using the curricula; establish new education programs that teach technical skills used in aviation maintenance; establish scholarships, internships or apprenticeships for individuals pursuing employment in the aviation maintenance industry; support outreach about educational opportunities and careers in the aviation maintenance industry; and support the transition to career in aviation maintenance, including for members of the Armed Forces.
SRES 799 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating October 5, 2022, as "Energy Efficiency Day." It commemorates the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency, citing historical achievements like $800 billion in annual energy cost savings and 2 million jobs in the sector. The resolution does not create new policies or affect any group; it solely encourages public recognition through events and awareness activities. It references past bipartisan energy efficiency legislation but does not alter existing laws. This is a symbolic gesture celebrating existing progress, not a policy change.
SRES 798 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating September 19-25, 2022, as "Rail Safety Week" in the U.S. It expresses support for raising public awareness about rail safety, specifically to reduce accidents, fatalities, and injuries at railroad crossings and around tracks. The resolution encourages the public to participate in safety activities and educate themselves on safe behavior near trains and tracks, referencing efforts led by organizations like Operation Lifesaver. It does not create new laws or allocate funding but serves as a non-binding call to action for broader safety awareness.
Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act of 2022 This bill modifies the Nonprofit Security Grant Program of the Department of Homeland Security and reauthorizes appropriations for such program through FY2028. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must establish an office, headed by a senior FEMA official, to administer the program. Office responsibilities include those related to outreach, engagement, education, and technical assistance. FEMA must also publish grant guidelines and may prohibit states from closing application processes before the publication of the guidelines. FEMA must seek to enter into a contract or other agreement with an independent research organization for the conduct of a study that analyzes and reports on (1) the effectiveness of the program for preparedness against terrorism and other threats; (2) the risk-based formula and allocations under the program; and (3) the risk profile of and any identifiable factors leading to the low participation of traditionally underrepresented groups and states under the program.
