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SEC. 222. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR RE-
SEARCH ON EFFECTIVENESS AND OPPORTU-
NITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF VETERANS 
CRISIS LINE. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs for fiscal years 2022 and 2023, a total 
of $5,000,000 for the Mental Illness Research, Education, 
and Clinical Centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
to conduct research on the effectiveness of the Veterans Cri-
sis Line and areas for improvement for the Veterans Crisis 
Line. 
Subtitle C—Transition of Crisis 
Line Number 
SEC. 231. FEEDBACK ON TRANSITION OF CRISIS LINE NUM-
BER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall solicit feedback from veterans service organizations on 
how to conduct outreach to members of the Armed Forces, 
veterans, their family members, and other members of the 
military and veterans community on the move to 988 as 
the new, national three-digit suicide and mental health cri-
sis hotline, which is expected to be implemented by July 
2022, to minimize confusion and ensure veterans are aware 
of their options for reaching the Veterans Crisis Line.
2606 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(b) NONAPPLICATION OF FACA.—The Federal Advi-
sory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to any 
feedback solicited under subsection (a). 
(c) VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ means 
an organization recognized by the Secretary for the rep-
resentation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
TITLE III—OUTREACH TO 
VETERANS 
SEC. 301. DESIGNATION OF BUDDY CHECK WEEK BY SEC-
RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall designate one week each year to organize outreach 
events and educate veterans on how to conduct peer wellness 
checks, which shall be known as ‘‘Buddy Check Week’’. 
(b) EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—During Buddy Check Week, 
the Secretary, in consultation with organizations that 
represent veterans, nonprofits that serve veterans, 
mental health experts, members of the Armed Forces, 
and such other entities and individuals as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate, shall collaborate with 
organizations that represent veterans to provide edu-
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
cational opportunities for veterans to learn how to 
conduct peer wellness checks. 
(2) TRAINING MATTERS.—As part of the edu-
cational opportunities provided under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall provide the following: 
(A) A script for veterans to use to conduct 
peer wellness checks that includes information on 
appropriate referrals to resources veterans might 
need. 
(B) Online and in-person training, as ap-
propriate, on how to conduct a peer wellness 
check. 
(C) Opportunities for members of organiza-
tions that represent veterans to learn how to 
train individuals to conduct peer wellness checks. 
(D) Training for veterans participating in 
Buddy Check Week on how to transfer a phone 
call directly to the Veterans Crisis Line. 
(E) Resiliency training for veterans partici-
pating in Buddy Check Week on handling a vet-
eran in crisis. 
(3) ONLINE MATERIALS.—All training materials 
provided under the educational opportunities under 
paragraph (1) shall be made publicly available on a 
website of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(c) OUTREACH.—The Secretary, in collaboration with 
organizations that represent veterans, may conduct out-
reach regarding educational opportunities under subsection 
(b) at— 
(1) public events where many veterans are ex-
pected to congregate; 
(2) meetings of organizations that represent vet-
erans; 
(3) facilities of the Department; and 
(4) such other locations as the Secretary, in col-
laboration with organizations that represent veterans, 
considers appropriate. 
(d) VETERANS CRISIS LINE PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that a plan exists for handling the potential increase 
in the number of calls into the Veterans Crisis Line 
that may occur during Buddy Check Week. 
(2) SUBMITTAL OF PLAN.—The head of the Vet-
erans Crisis Line shall submit to the Secretary a plan 
for how to handle excess calls during Buddy Check 
Week, which may include the following: 
(A) Additional hours for staff. 
(B) The use of a backup call center. 
(C) Any other plan to ensure that calls from 
veterans in crisis are being answered in a timely
2609 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
manner by an individual trained at the same 
level as a Veterans Crisis Line responder. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘organization that represents vet-
erans’’ means an organization recognized by the Sec-
retary for the representation of veterans under section 
5902 of title 38, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 101 of such title. 
(3) The term ‘‘Veterans Crisis Line’’ means the 
toll-free hotline for veterans provided by the Secretary 
under section 1720F(h) of such title. 
SEC. 302. IMPROVEMENTS TO VETERANS JUSTICE OUT-
REACH PROGRAM. 
(a) OUTREACH REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall conduct outreach regarding the Veterans 
Justice Outreach Program to justice-involved veterans, 
military and veterans service organizations, and relevant 
stakeholders in the criminal justice community, including 
officials from local law enforcement, court, and jail systems 
and others as determined appropriate by the Secretary. 
Such outreach— 
(1) shall be designed— 
(A) to spread awareness and understanding 
of the Program;
2610 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(B) to spread awareness and understanding 
of veteran eligibility for the Program, including 
the eligibility of veterans who were discharged 
from service in the Armed Forces under condi-
tions other than honorable; and 
(C) to improve the identification of justice- 
involved veterans; and 
(2) may be conducted in person, virtually, or 
through other means, including by the dissemination 
of informational materials and contact information. 
(b) STRATEGIC PLAN.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall develop a strategic plan for the Veterans Justice 
Outreach Program. In developing such plan, the Secretary 
shall conduct— 
(1) an assessment of barriers to working with 
justice-involved veterans in rural, remote, and under-
served areas, including potential steps to address such 
barriers; and 
(2) a workforce gap analysis for the Program. 
(c) INCREASE IN NUMBER OF VJO SPECIALISTS.— 
(1) INCREASE.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall increase the number of Veterans Justice 
Outreach specialists responsible for supporting jus-
tice-involved veterans in rural, remote, or underserved 
areas, including areas located far from Department of
2611 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
Veterans Affairs medical centers, as determined by the 
Secretary, through— 
(A) the hiring of additional Veterans Jus-
tice Outreach specialists; 
(B) the reallocation of existing Veterans 
Justice Outreach specialists; or 
(C) such other means as may be determined 
appropriate by the Secretary. 
(2) DETERMINATION.—The Secretary shall deter-
mine the number of Veterans Justice Outreach spe-
cialists required, and the locations of such specialists, 
under paragraph (1) by taking into account— 
(A) such number and locations needed to 
achieve the mission and strategic goals of the 
Veterans Justice Outreach Program; 
(B) any gaps in the workforce of the Pro-
gram, including such gaps identified pursuant to 
subsection (b)(2); and 
(C) strategies to address such gaps. 
(3) USE
OF
TECHNOLOGY.—In carrying out 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider the use of 
virtual technology. 
(d) PERFORMANCE
GOALS
AND
IMPLEMENTATION 
PLANS.—
2612 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall establish performance goals and imple-
mentation plans for— 
(A) the Veterans Justice Outreach Program; 
(B) Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists; 
and 
(C) providing support for research regard-
ing justice-involved veterans. 
(2) CONSISTENCY WITH STRATEGIC PLAN.—The 
Secretary shall ensure that the performance goals and 
implementation plans under paragraph (1) are con-
sistent with the strategic plan under subsection (b) 
and include— 
(A) qualitative and quantitative milestones, 
measures, and metrics, and associated timelines 
for completion of the plans under paragraph (1) 
and barriers to such completion; 
(B) an identification of relevant staff; and 
(C) an estimate of resource needs and 
sources. 
(3) PERFORMANCE DATA.—The Secretary shall 
establish a process to regularly collect and analyze 
performance data to assess the efficiency and effective-
ness of implementing the plans under paragraph (1).
2613 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(e) TRAINING REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that all Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists receive 
training not less frequently than annually on— 
(1) best practices for identifying and conducting 
outreach to justice-involved veterans and relevant 
stakeholders in the criminal justice community; and 
(2) veteran eligibility for the Veterans Justice 
Outreach Program, including with respect to consist-
ently communicating changes regarding eligibility 
(including through the use of a script or other ref-
erence materials). 
(f) REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) FIRST
REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to Congress a report on the fol-
lowing: 
(A) An assessment of implementing sub-
section (c), including— 
(i) strategies to increase Veterans Jus-
tice Outreach specialists responsible for sup-
porting justice-involved veterans in rural, 
remote, or underserved areas; and 
(ii) the progress of the Secretary in ad-
dressing gaps in the workforce of the Vet-
erans Justice Outreach Program identified
2614 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
pursuant to paragraph (2) of such sub-
section. 
(B) The performance goals and implementa-
tion plans established under subsection (d)(1). 
(2) SUBSEQUENT REPORT.—Not later than three 
years after the date on which the first report is sub-
mitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall sub-
mit to Congress a report on the progress of the Sec-
retary in meeting the performance goals and carrying 
out activities under the implementation plans estab-
lished under subsection (d)(1). 
(g) REPORT ON VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS.—Not 
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney Gen-
eral, shall submit to Congress a report on the engagement 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs with veterans treat-
ment courts, including— 
(1) the availability and efficacy of veterans 
treatment courts in meeting the needs of justice-in-
volved veterans; 
(2) best practices for Department of Veterans Af-
fairs staff and justice-involved veterans in working 
with veterans treatment courts; and
2615 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(3) the ability of justice-involved veterans to ac-
cess veterans treatment courts, including any barriers 
that exist to increasing such access. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘justice-involved veteran’’ means a 
veteran with active, ongoing, or recent contact with 
some component of a local criminal justice system. 
(2) The term ‘‘Veterans Justice Outreach Pro-
gram’’ means the program through which the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs identifies justice-involved 
veterans and provides such veterans with access to 
Department services. 
(3) The term ‘‘Veterans Justice Outreach Spe-
cialist’’ means an employee of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs who serves as a liaison between the De-
partment and the local criminal justice system on be-
half of a justice-involved veteran. 
(4) The term ‘‘veterans treatment court’’ means 
a State or local court that is participating in the vet-
erans treatment court program (as defined in section 
2991(i)(1) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797aa(i)(1))).
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
SEC. 303. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS GOV-
ERNORS CHALLENGE PROGRAM. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into 
agreements with States, territories, and American Indian 
and Alaska Native tribes for the development and imple-
mentation of veteran suicide prevention proposals through 
the Governors Challenge Program. 
TITLE IV—MENTAL HEALTH 
CARE DELIVERY 
SEC. 401. EXPANSION OF PEER SPECIALIST SUPPORT PRO-
GRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS. 
(a) EXPANSION.—Section 506 of the VA MISSION Act 
of 2018 (Public Law 115–182; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) through (f) 
as subsections (e) through (g); 
(2) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
following new sentence: ‘‘Each such peer specialist 
shall be a full-time employee whose primary function 
is to serve as a peer specialist and shall be in addi-
tion to all other employees of such medical center.’’; 
(3) in the heading of subsection (b), by striking 
‘‘TIMEFRAME’’ and inserting ‘‘INITIAL TIMEFRAME’’; 
(4) in subsection (c)—
2617 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘SELEC-
TION’’ and inserting ‘‘INITIAL SELECTION’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary shall’’ and inserting ‘‘In establishing the 
program at initial locations, the Secretary 
shall’’; 
(5) by inserting after subsection (c) the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(d) TIMEFRAME FOR EXPANSION OF PROGRAM; SE-
LECTION OF ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) TIMEFRAME
FOR
EXPANSION.—The Sec-
retary shall make permanent and expand the pro-
gram to additional medical centers of the Department 
as follows: 
‘‘(A) As of the date of the enactment of the 
STRONG Veterans Act of 2022, the Secretary 
shall make such program permanent at each 
medical center participating in the program on 
the day before such date of enactment. 
‘‘(B) During the seven-year period following 
such date of enactment, the Secretary shall ex-
pand the program to an additional 25 medical 
centers per year until the program is carried out 
at each medical center of the Department.
2618 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(2) SELECTION OF ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS.—In 
selecting medical centers for the expansion of the pro-
gram under paragraph (1)(B), until such time as 
each medical center of the Department is partici-
pating in the program by establishing not fewer than 
two peer specialists at the medical center, the Sec-
retary shall prioritize medical centers in the following 
areas: 
‘‘(A) Rural areas and other areas that are 
underserved by the Department. 
‘‘(B) Areas that are not in close proximity 
to an active duty military installation. 
‘‘(C) Areas representing different geographic 
locations, such as census tracts established by the 
Bureau of the Census.’’; 
(6) in subsection (e), as redesignated by para-
graph (1)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘GENDER- 
SPECIFIC SERVICES’’ and inserting ‘‘CONSIDER-
ATIONS FOR HIRING PEER SPECIALISTS’’; 
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘location selected under subsection 
(c)’’ and inserting ‘‘medical center’’; 
(C) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and
2619 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(D) by striking paragraph (2) and insert-
ing the following new paragraph (2): 
‘‘(2) female peer specialists are hired and made 
available to support female veterans who are treated 
at each medical center.’’; and 
(7) by amending subsection (g), as redesignated 
by paragraph (1), to read as follows: 
‘‘(g) REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) PERIODIC REPORTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of the STRONG 
Veterans Act of 2022, and annually thereafter for 
five years, the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate a report on the pro-
gram, including the expansion of the program 
under subsection (d)(1). 
‘‘(B) ELEMENTS.—Each report under sub-
paragraph (A) shall include, with respect to the 
one-year period preceding the submission of the 
report, the following: 
‘‘(i) The findings and conclusions of 
the Secretary with respect to the program.
2620 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(ii) An assessment of the benefits of 
the program to veterans and family mem-
bers of veterans. 
‘‘(iii) An assessment of the effectiveness 
of peer specialists in engaging under sub-
section (f) with health care providers in the 
community and veterans served by such 
providers. 
‘‘(iv) The name and location of each 
medical center where new peer specialists 
were hired. 
‘‘(v) The number of new peer special-
ists hired at each medical center pursuant 
to this section and the total number of peer 
specialists within the Department hired 
pursuant to this section. 
‘‘(vi) An assessment of any barriers 
confronting the recruitment, training, or re-
tention of peer specialists. 
‘‘(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the Secretary determines that the program is 
being carried out at each medical center of the De-
partment, the Secretary shall submit to the Commit-
tees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa-
2621 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
tives and the Senate a report notifying such commit-
tees of such determination.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs to implement section 506 of the VA MISSION 
Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–182; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note), 
as amended by subsection (a), the following amounts: 
(1) $3,600,000 for fiscal year 2022. 
(2) $7,200,000 for fiscal year 2023. 
(3) $10,800,000 for fiscal year 2024. 
(4) $14,400,000 for fiscal year 2025. 
(5) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2026. 
(6) $21,600,000 for fiscal year 2027. 
(7) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. 
SEC. 402. EXPANSION OF VET CENTER SERVICES. 
(a) VETERANS AND MEMBERS USING EDUCATIONAL 
ASSISTANCE BENEFITS.—Section 1712A of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘clauses (i) through (vi)’’ both 
places it appears and inserting ‘‘clauses (i) through 
(vii)’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘in clause (vii)’’ both places it 
appears and inserting ‘‘in clause (viii)’’; 
(3) in subsection (a)(1)(C)—
2622 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(A) by redesignating clause (vii) as clause 
(viii); and 
(B) by inserting after clause (vi) the fol-
lowing new clause: 
‘‘(vii) Any veteran or member of the Armed 
Forces pursuing a course of education using covered 
educational assistance benefits.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (h), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) The term ‘covered educational assistance 
benefits’ means educational assistance benefits pro-
vided pursuant to— 
‘‘(A) chapter 30, 31, 32, or 33 of this title; 
‘‘(B) chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10; 
‘‘(C) section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery 
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 
(Public Law 115–48; 38 U.S.C. 3001 note); or 
‘‘(D) section 8006 of the American Rescue 
Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2; 38 U.S.C. 
3001 note prec.).’’. 
(b) GAO REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall submit to the Committees on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Sen-
ate a report assessing—
2623 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(1) the mental health needs of veterans pursuing 
a course of education using covered educational as-
sistance benefits (as defined in section 1712A(h)(6) of 
title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a)); and 
(2) the efforts of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs to address such mental health needs. 
SEC. 403. ELIGIBILITY FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1712A(a)(1) of title 38, 
United States Code, as amended by section 402, is further 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)(ii)— 
(A) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘and’’; 
(B) in subclause (II), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(III) in the case of a veteran or member 
who died by suicide, to the degree that counseling 
furnished to such individual is found to aid in 
coping with the effects of such suicide.’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (B)(i)(II)— 
(A) in item (aa), by striking ‘‘or’’; 
(B) in item (bb), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following;
2624 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(cc) coping with the effects of a sui-
cide described in subclause (III) of such 
clause.’’; and 
(3) in subparagraph (C)(vii)— 
(A) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end; 
(B) in subclause (II), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(III) veteran or member of the Armed 
Forces who died by suicide.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to family members of 
a member or veteran who died by suicide before, on, or after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 404. MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATIONS. 
(a) MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATIONS FOR VETERANS 
FILING FOR COMPENSATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter VI of chapter 11 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1167. Mental health consultations 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date on which a veteran submits to the Secretary a claim 
for compensation under this chapter for a service-connected
2625 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
disability relating to a mental health diagnosis, the Sec-
retary shall offer the veteran a mental health consultation 
to assess the mental health needs of, and care options for, 
the veteran. 
‘‘(b) AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) offer a veteran a consultation under sub-
section (a) without regard to any previous denial or 
approval of a claim of that veteran for a service-con-
nected disability relating to a mental health diag-
nosis; and 
‘‘(2) ensure that a veteran offered a mental 
health consultation under subsection (a) may elect to 
receive such consultation during the one-year period 
beginning on the date on which the consultation is of-
fered or during such longer period beginning on such 
date as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—A consultation pro-
vided to a veteran under this section shall not be construed 
as a determination that any disability of such veteran is 
service-connected for the purposes of any benefit under the 
laws administered by the Secretary.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘1167. Mental health consultations.’’.
2626 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(b) MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATIONS FOR VETERANS 
ENTERING HOMELESS PROGRAMS OFFICE PROGRAMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter VII of chapter 20 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 2068. Mental health consultations 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two weeks after the 
date on which a veteran described in subsection (b) enters 
into a program administered by the Homeless Programs Of-
fice of the Department, the Secretary shall offer the veteran 
a mental health consultation to assess the health needs of, 
and care options for, the veteran. 
‘‘(b) VETERAN DESCRIBED.—A veteran described in 
this subsection is a veteran to whom a mental health con-
sultation is not offered or provided through the case man-
agement services of the program of the Homeless Programs 
Office into which the veteran enters.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 20 of such title is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘2068. Mental health consultations.’’.
2627 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
TITLE V—RESEARCH 
SEC. 501. VETERANS INTEGRATION TO ACADEMIC LEADER-
SHIP PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs 
of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on 
the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership program 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The report shall in-
clude the following: 
(1) The number of medical centers of the Depart-
ment, institutions of higher learning, non-college de-
gree programs, and student veterans supported by the 
program, and relevant trends since the program 
began. 
(2) The staff and resources allocated to the pro-
gram, and relevant trends since the program began. 
(3) An assessment of the outcomes and effective-
ness of the program in— 
(A) supporting student veterans; 
(B) connecting student veterans to needed 
services of the Department or services provided 
by non-Department entities;
2628 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(C) addressing the mental health needs of 
student veterans; 
(D) lowering the suicide risk of student vet-
erans; and 
(E) helping student veterans achieve edu-
cational goals. 
(4) An assessment of barriers to expanding the 
program and how the Secretary intends to address 
such barriers. 
(5) An assessment of whether the program should 
be expanded outside of the Office of Mental Health 
and Suicide Prevention to support students veterans 
with needs unrelated to mental health or suicide. 
(b) UNIFORM BEST PRACTICES, GOALS, AND MEAS-
URES.—The Secretary shall establish best practices, goals, 
and measures for the Veterans Integration to Academic 
Leadership program of the Department that are uniform 
among the medical centers of the Department. 
(c) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall conduct outreach 
among the Armed Forces, veterans service organizations, in-
stitutions of higher learning, and non-college degree pro-
grams with respect to the Veterans Integration to Academic 
Leadership program of the Department. 
(d) ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary shall assess the fea-
sibility and advisability of including the suicide rate for
2629 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
student veterans in the National Veteran Suicide Preven-
tion Annual Report of the Office of Mental Health and Sui-
cide Prevention of the Department. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘institution of higher learning’’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 3452 of title 
38, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘student veteran’’ means the fol-
lowing: 
(A) A veteran or member of the Armed 
Forces using educational assistance under any of 
the following provisions of law: 
(i) Chapter 30, 31, 32, or 33 of title 
38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 or 
1607 of title 10, United States Code. 
(ii) Section 116 of the Harry W. 
Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance 
Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–48; 38 U.S.C. 
3001 note). 
(iii) Section 8006 of the American Res-
cue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2; 
38 U.S.C. 3001 note prec.). 
(B) A veteran who is enrolled in an institu-
tion of higher learning or other training pro-
gram, without regard to whether the veteran is
2630 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
using educational assistance specified in sub-
paragraph (A). 
SEC. 502. IMPROVEMENT OF SLEEP DISORDER CARE FUR-
NISHED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Pursuant to the analysis conducted 
under subsection (b), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
take such action as the Secretary considers appropriate to 
improve the assessment and treatment of veterans with sleep 
disorders, including by conducting in-home sleep studies for 
veterans. 
(b) ANALYSIS.—The Secretary shall conduct an anal-
ysis of the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
to treat sleep disorders among veterans, including— 
(1) assessment and treatment options for such 
disorders; 
(2) barriers to care for such disorders, such as 
wait time, travel time, and lack of staffing; 
(3) the efficacy of the clinical practice guidelines 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Depart-
ment of Defense for such disorders; and 
(4) the availability of and efficacy of the use by 
the Department of Veterans Affairs of cognitive behav-
ioral therapy for insomnia.
2631 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives a report on— 
(1) the findings from the analysis conducted 
under subsection (b); and 
(2) any actions taken under subsection (a) to 
improve the assessment and treatment of veterans 
with sleep disorders. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS
FOR IN- 
HOME SLEEP STUDIES.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $5,000,000 to 
be used to conduct in-home sleep studies for veterans, as 
part of sleep disorder assessment and treatment conducted 
by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 503. STUDY ON INPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUB-
STANCE USE CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall complete the conduct of a study on access of 
veterans to care under the residential rehabilitation treat-
ment programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
determine—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(1) if there are sufficient geographic offerings of 
inpatient mental health care, especially for veterans 
in rural and remote communities; 
(2) if there are sufficient bed spaces at each loca-
tion, based on demand and drive time from the homes 
of veterans; 
(3) if there are any workforce-related capacity 
limitations at each location, including if beds are un-
able to be used because there are not enough providers 
to care for additional patients; 
(4) if there are diagnosis-specific or sex-specific 
barriers to accessing care under such programs; and 
(5) the average wait time for a bed in such a 
program, broken out by— 
(A) Veterans Integrated Service Network; 
(B) rural or urban area; 
(C) sex; and 
(D) specialty (general program, substance 
use disorder program, military sexual trauma 
program, etc.). 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR
MODIFICATIONS
TO 
TREATMENT PROGRAMS.—Using the results from the study 
conducted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall make 
recommendations for—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(1) new locations for opening facilities to par-
ticipate in the residential rehabilitation treatment 
programs of the Department; 
(2) facilities under such programs at which new 
beds can be added; and 
(3) any additional specialty tracks to be added 
to such programs, such as substance use disorder or 
military sexual trauma, in order to meet veteran need 
and demand. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after comple-
tion of the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate 
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the findings of the study conducted 
under subsection (a) and the recommendations made by the 
Secretary under subsection (b). 
SEC. 504. STUDY ON TREATMENT FROM DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS 
AFFAIRS 
FOR 
CO-OCCURRING 
MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DIS-
ORDERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall conduct a study examining— 
(1) the availability of treatment programs for 
veterans with co-occurring mental health and sub-
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
stance use disorders (including both inpatient and 
outpatient care); 
(2) any geographic disparities in access to such 
programs, such as for rural and remote veterans; and 
(3) the average wait times for care under such 
programs. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the House of Representatives a report on the findings 
of the study conducted under subsection (a). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall include— 
(A) any recommendations resulting from 
the study conducted under subsection (a) with re-
spect to improving timeliness and quality of care 
and meeting treatment preferences for veterans 
with co-occurring mental health and substance 
use disorders; and 
(B) a description of any actions taken by 
the Secretary to improve care for such veterans.
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SEC. 505. STUDY ON WORKLOAD OF SUICIDE PREVENTION 
TEAMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
acting through the Under Secretary for Health and the Of-
fice of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, shall conduct 
a study evaluating the workload of local suicide prevention 
teams of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study conducted under sub-
section (a) shall— 
(1) identify the effects of the growth of the sui-
cide prevention program of the Department on the 
workload of suicide prevention teams; 
(2) incorporate key practices for staffing model 
design in determining suicide prevention staffing 
needs; and 
(3) determine which facilities of the Department 
need increased suicide prevention coordinator staffing 
to meet the needs of veterans, with an emphasis 
placed on facilities with high patient volume and fa-
cilities located in States with high rates of veteran 
suicide. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the
2636 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives a report— 
(1) on the findings of the study conducted under 
subsection (a); and 
(2) indicating any changes made to the staffing 
of suicide prevention teams of the Department result-
ing from the determinations made under subsection 
(b)(3), including a list of facilities of the Department 
where staffing was adjusted. 
SEC. 506. EXPANSION OF SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MEN-
TAL HEALTH RESEARCH. 
(a) RESEARCH ON MORAL INJURY.—The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, acting through the Office of Research and 
Development of the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall 
conduct suicide prevention and mental health care improve-
ment research on how moral injury relates to the mental 
health needs of veterans who served in the Armed Forces 
after September 11, 2001, and best practices for mental 
health treatment for such veterans. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs an additional $10,000,000 to be used by the 
Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention of the Depart-
ment and the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research 
Education and Clinical Center for purposes of conducting
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
research on the factors impacting veteran suicide and best 
practices for early intervention and support. 
SEC. 507. STUDY ON MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PRE-
VENTION SUPPORT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense, shall conduct 
a study on secondary post-traumatic stress disorder and de-
pression and its impact on spouses, children, and caregivers 
of members of the Armed Forces. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than three years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs, in collaboration with the 
Secretary of Defense, shall submit to Congress, vet-
erans service organizations, and military support or-
ganizations a report on the findings of the study con-
ducted under subsection (a). 
(2) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) The term ‘‘military support organiza-
tion’’ has the meaning given that term by the 
Secretary of Defense. 
(B) The term ‘‘veterans service organiza-
tion’’ means an organization recognized by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representa-
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
tion of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 508. RESEARCH ON BRAIN HEALTH. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs an additional $5,000,000 for ongo-
ing and future research at the Translational Research Cen-
ter of the Department of Veterans Affairs for traumatic 
brain injury and stress disorders to provide better under-
standing of, and improved treatment options for, veterans 
who served in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, 
and who have traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic 
stress disorder. 
SEC. 509. STUDY ON EFFICACY OF CLINICAL AND AT-HOME 
RESOURCES FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 
DISORDER. 
Not later than two years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting 
through the Office of Research and Development of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs, shall conduct a study on— 
(1) the efficacy of clinical and at-home resources, 
such as mobile applications like COVID Coach, for 
providers, veterans, caregivers, and family members 
to use for dealing with stressors; 
(2) the feasibility and advisability of developing 
more such resources;
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(3) strategies for improving mental health care 
and outcomes for veterans with post-traumatic stress 
disorder; and 
(4) best practices for helping family members of 
veterans deal with secondary post-traumatic stress 
disorder or mental health concerns. 
DIVISION 
W—UNLEASHING 
AMERICAN INNOVATORS ACT 
OF 2022 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This division may be cited as the ‘‘Unleashing Amer-
ican Innovators Act of 2022’’. 
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 
In this division: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means the 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Prop-
erty and Director of the Office. 
(2) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the 
United States Patent and Trademark Office. 
(3) PATENT PRO BONO PROGRAMS.—The term 
‘‘patent pro bono programs’’ means the programs es-
tablished pursuant to section 32 of the Leahy-Smith 
America Invents Act (35 U.S.C. 2 note). 
(4) 
SOUTHEAST
REGION
OF
THE
UNITED 
STATES.—The term ‘‘southeast region of the United
2640 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
States’’ means the area of the United States that is 
comprised of the States of Virginia, North Carolina, 
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Ala-
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. 
SEC. 103. SATELLITE OFFICES. 
(a) AMENDMENTS TO PURPOSE AND REQUIRED CON-
SIDERATIONS.—Section 23 of the Leahy-Smith America In-
vents Act (35 U.S.C. 1 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘increase outreach ac-
tivities to’’; and 
(ii) by inserting after ‘‘Office’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘, including by increasing outreach 
activities, including to individual inventors, 
small businesses, veterans, low-income popu-
lations, students, rural populations, and 
any geographic group of innovators that the 
Director may determine to be underrep-
resented in patent filings’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(2) enhance patent examiner and administra-
tive patent judge retention, including patent exam-
iners and administrative patent judges from economi-
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
cally, geographically, and demographically diverse 
backgrounds;’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) with respect to each office established 
after January 1, 2023, shall consider the prox-
imity of the office to anchor institutions (such as 
hospitals primarily serving veterans and institu-
tions of higher education), individual inventors, 
small businesses, veterans, low-income popu-
lations, students, rural populations, and any ge-
ographic group of innovators that the Director 
may determine to be underrepresented in patent 
filings.’’. 
(b) SOUTHEAST REGIONAL OFFICE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
establish a satellite office of the Office in the southeast 
region of the United States.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—When selecting a site for 
the office required under paragraph (1), the Director 
shall consider the following: 
(A) The number of patent-intensive indus-
tries located near the site. 
(B) How many research-intensive institu-
tions, including institutions of higher education, 
are located near the site. 
(C) The State and local government legal 
and business frameworks that support intellec-
tual property-intensive industries located near 
the site. 
(c) STUDY ON ADDITIONAL SATELLITE OFFICES.—Not 
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Director shall complete a study to determine whether 
additional satellite offices of the Office are necessary to— 
(1) achieve the purposes described in section 
23(b) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (35 
U.S.C. 1 note), as amended by this section; and 
(2) increase participation in the patent system 
by individual inventors, small businesses, veterans, 
low-income populations, students, rural populations, 
and any geographic group of innovators that the Di-
rector may determine to be underrepresented in pat-
ent filings.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
SEC. 104. COMMUNITY OUTREACH OFFICES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) and 
(3), not later than 5 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Director shall establish not fewer than 
4 community outreach offices throughout the United 
States. 
(2) RESTRICTION.—No community outreach of-
fice established under paragraph (1) may be located 
in the same State as— 
(A) the principal office of the Office; or 
(B) any satellite office of the Office. 
(3) REQUIREMENT
FOR
NORTHERN
NEW
ENG-
LAND REGION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall estab-
lish not less than 1 community outreach office 
under this subsection in the northern New Eng-
land region, which shall serve the States of 
Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. 
(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In determining the 
location for the office required to be established 
under subparagraph (A), the Director shall give 
preference to a location in which— 
(i) as of the date of enactment of this 
Act—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(I) there is located not less than 1 
public institution of higher education 
and not less than 1 private institution 
of higher education; and 
(II) there are located not more 
than 15 registered patent attorneys, ac-
cording to data from the Office of En-
rollment and Discipline of the Office; 
and 
(ii) according to data from the 2012 
Survey of Business Owners conducted by the 
Bureau of the Census, less than 45 percent 
of the firms (as that term is defined for the 
purposes of that Survey) are owned by 
women, minorities, or veterans. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the community out-
reach offices established under subsection (a) are to— 
(1) further achieve the purposes described in sec-
tion 23(b)(1) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act 
(35 U.S.C. 1 note), as amended by this division; 
(2) partner with local community organizations, 
institutions of higher education, research institutions, 
and businesses to create community-based programs 
that—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(A) provide education regarding the patent 
system; and 
(B) promote the career benefits of innova-
tion and entrepreneurship; and 
(3) educate prospective inventors, including indi-
vidual inventors, small businesses, veterans, low-in-
come populations, students, rural populations, and 
any geographic group of innovators that the Director 
may determine to be underrepresented in patent fil-
ings, about all public and private resources available 
to potential patent applicants, including the patent 
pro bono programs. 
SEC. 105. UPDATES TO THE PATENT PRO BONO PROGRAMS. 
(a) STUDY AND UPDATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall— 
(A) complete a study of the patent pro bono 
programs; and 
(B) submit the results of the study required 
under subparagraph (A) to the Committee on the 
Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on 
the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. 
(2) SCOPE OF THE STUDY.—The study required 
under paragraph (1)(A) shall— 
(A) assess—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(i) whether the patent pro bono pro-
grams, as in effect on the date on which the 
study is commenced, are sufficiently serving 
prospective and existing participants; 
(ii) whether the patent pro bono pro-
grams are sufficiently funded to serve pro-
spective participants; 
(iii) whether any participation re-
quirement of the patent pro bono programs, 
including any requirement to demonstrate 
knowledge of the patent system, serves as a 
deterrent for prospective participants; 
(iv) the degree to which prospective in-
ventors are aware of the patent pro bono 
programs; 
(v) what factors, if any, deter attorneys 
from participating in the patent pro bono 
programs; 
(vi) whether the patent pro bono pro-
grams would be improved by expanding 
those programs to include non-attorney ad-
vocates; and 
(vii) any other issue the Director deter-
mines appropriate; and
2647 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(B) make recommendations for such admin-
istrative and legislative action as may be appro-
priate. 
(b) USE OF RESULTS.—Upon completion of the study 
required under subsection (a), the Director shall work with 
the Pro Bono Advisory Council, the operators of the patent 
pro bono programs, and intellectual property law associa-
tions across the United States to update the patent pro bono 
programs in response to the findings of the study. 
(c) EXPANSION OF INCOME ELIGIBILITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall work with 
and support, including by providing financial sup-
port to, existing patent pro bono programs and intel-
lectual property law associations across the United 
States to expand eligibility for the patent pro bono 
programs to an individual living in a household, the 
gross household income of which is not more than 400 
percent of the Federal poverty line. 
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in para-
graph (1) may be construed to prevent a patent pro 
bono program from electing to establish a higher eligi-
bility level, as compared to the level described in that 
paragraph.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
SEC. 106. PRE-PROSECUTION ASSESSMENT PILOT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish 
a pilot program to assist first-time prospective patent ap-
plicants in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a po-
tential patent application submitted by such a prospective 
applicant. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the pilot pro-
gram required under subsection (a), the Director shall es-
tablish— 
(1) a notification process to notify a prospective 
patent applicant seeking an assessment described in 
that subsection that any assessment so provided may 
not be considered an official ruling of patentability 
from the Office; 
(2) conditions to determine eligibility for the 
pilot program, taking into consideration available re-
sources; 
(3) reasonable limitations on the amount of time 
to be spent providing assistance to each individual 
first-time prospective patent applicant; 
(4) procedures for referring prospective patent 
applicants to legal counsel, including through the pat-
ent pro bono programs; and
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(5) procedures to protect the confidentiality of 
the information disclosed by prospective patent appli-
cants. 
SEC. 107. FEE REDUCTION FOR SMALL AND MICRO ENTI-
TIES. 
(a) TITLE 35.—Section 41(h) of title 35, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘50 percent’’ 
and inserting ‘‘60 percent’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘75 percent’’ 
and inserting ‘‘80 percent’’. 
(b) FALSE CERTIFICATIONS.—Title 35, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in section 41, by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(j) PENALTY FOR FALSE ASSERTIONS.—In addition 
to any other penalty available under law, an entity that 
is found to have falsely asserted entitlement to a fee reduc-
tion under this section shall be subject to a fine, to be deter-
mined by the Director, the amount of which shall be not 
less than 3 times the amount that the entity failed to pay 
as a result of the false assertion, whether the Director dis-
covers the false assertion before or after the date on which 
a patent has been issued.’’; and
2650 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(2) in section 123, by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(f) PENALTY FOR FALSE CERTIFICATIONS.—In addi-
tion to any other penalty available under law, an entity 
that is found to have falsely made a certification under this 
section shall be subject to a fine, to be determined by the 
Director, the amount of which shall be not less than 3 times 
the amount that the entity failed to pay as a result of the 
false certification, whether the Director discovers the false 
certification before or after the date on which a patent has 
been issued.’’. 
(c) LEAHY-SMITH AMERICA INVENTS ACT.—Section 
10(b) of the Leahy Smith America Invents Act (35 U.S.C. 
41 note) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘50 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘60 
percent’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘75 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘80 
percent’’. 
(d) STUDY ON FEES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall— 
(A) complete a study of the fees charged by 
the Office; and 
(B) submit the results of the study required 
under subparagraph (A) to the Committee on the
2651 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on 
the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. 
(2) SCOPE OF STUDY.—The study required under 
paragraph (1)(A) shall— 
(A) assess whether— 
(i) fees for small and micro entities are 
inhibiting the filing of patent applications 
by those entities; 
(ii) fees for examination should ap-
proximately match the costs of examination 
and what incentives are created by using 
maintenance fees to cover the costs of exam-
ination; and 
(iii) the results of the assessments per-
formed under clauses (i) and (ii) counsel in 
favor of changes to the fee structure of the 
Office, such as— 
(I) raising standard application 
and examination fees; 
(II) reducing standard mainte-
nance fees; and 
(III) reducing the fees for small 
and micro entities as a percentage of 
standard application fees; and
2652 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(B) make recommendations for such admin-
istrative and legislative action as may be appro-
priate. 
DIVISION X—EXTENSION OF AU-
THORIZATION FOR SPECIAL 
ASSESSMENT FOR DOMESTIC 
TRAFFICKING VICTIMS’ FUND 
SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR SPECIAL AS-
SESSMENT FOR DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING VIC-
TIMS’ FUND. 
Section 3014(a) of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by strik-
ing ‘‘December 23, 2022’’ and inserting ‘‘December 23, 
2024’’. 
DIVISION Y—CONTRACT ACT OF 
2022 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This division may be cited as the ‘‘Continuity for Op-
erators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Con-
tract Towers Act of 2022’’ or the ‘‘CONTRACT Act of 
2022’’. 
SEC. 102. ANNUITY SUPPLEMENT. 
Section 8421a(c) of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended—
2653 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(1) by striking ‘‘as an air traffic’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘as an— 
‘‘(1) air traffic’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1), as so designated, by strik-
ing the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) air traffic controller pursuant to a contract 
made with the Secretary of Transportation under sec-
tion 47124 of title 49.’’. 
DIVISION Z—COVS ACT 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This division may be cited as the ‘‘Computers for Vet-
erans and Students Act of 2022’’ or the ‘‘COVS Act’’. 
SEC. 102. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Access to computers and computer technology 
is indispensable for success in the 21st century. Mil-
lions of Americans do not regularly use a computer 
and research shows that substantial disparities re-
main in both internet use and the quality of access, 
with the digital divide concentrated among older, less 
educated, less affluent populations, especially vet-
erans, low-income students, and senior citizens. 
(2) The COVID–19 pandemic has highlighted the 
gap between those with computer access and those
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
without. Millions of students, their families, and 
workers from across the economy were unable to do 
schoolwork, work remotely from home, or connect to 
loved ones and their communities because of the dig-
ital divide. 
(3) Any Federal program that distributes sur-
plus, repairable Federal computers or technology 
equipment would benefit from a partnership with a 
nonprofit organization whose mission is bridging the 
digital divide. 
SEC. 103. REFURBISHMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF SUR-
PLUS COMPUTERS AND TECHNOLOGY EQUIP-
MENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 5 of title 
40, United States Code, is amended by inserting after sec-
tion 549 the following: 
‘‘§ 549a. Donation of personal property through non-
profit refurbishers 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date on which the Administrator provides State agencies 
for surplus property an opportunity to review surplus com-
puter or technology equipment under section 549, the Ad-
ministrator shall, as appropriate, transfer full title to such 
surplus computer or technology equipment that is deter-
mined to be eligible under subsection (b)(1) to nonprofit
2655 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
computer refurbishers for repair, distribution, and subse-
quent transfer of full title of the equipment to eligible recipi-
ents under this section. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY, PARTICIPATION, AND DUTIES.— 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBILITY.—Surplus computer or tech-
nology equipment is eligible for transfer under this 
section if a Federal agency determines that— 
‘‘(A) the surplus computer or technology 
equipment is repairable; and 
‘‘(B) the surplus computer or technology 
equipment meets the Guidelines for Media Sani-
tization issued by the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST Special Publi-
cation 800–88), or any successor thereto. 
‘‘(2) PARTICIPATION.—The Administrator may 
establish partnerships with nongovernmental entities, 
at no cost and through cooperative agreements, to fa-
cilitate the identification and participation of non-
profit computer refurbishers under this section. 
‘‘(3) DUTIES OF REFURBISHERS.—A nonprofit 
computer refurbisher that receives surplus computer 
or technology equipment under this section shall— 
‘‘(A) make necessary repairs to restore the 
surplus computer or technology equipment to 
working order;
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(B) distribute the repaired surplus com-
puter or technology equipment to eligible recipi-
ents at no cost, except to the extent— 
‘‘(i) necessary to facilitate shipping 
and handling of such equipment; and 
‘‘(ii) that such cost is consistent with 
any regulations promulgated by the Admin-
istrator under subsection (d); 
‘‘(C) offer training programs on the use of 
the repaired computers and technology equip-
ment for the recipients of the equipment; and 
‘‘(D) use recyclers to the maximum extent 
practicable in the event that surplus computer or 
technology equipment transferred under this sec-
tion cannot be repaired or reused. 
‘‘(c) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) 
REFURBISHER
REPORTS.—A 
nonprofit 
computer refurbisher that receives surplus computer 
or technology equipment under this section shall pro-
vide the Administrator with any information the Ad-
ministrator determines to be necessary for required 
reporting— 
‘‘(A) including information about the dis-
tribution of such equipment; and
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(B) which shall not include any personal 
identifying information about the recipient of 
such equipment apart from whether a recipient 
is an educational institution, individual with 
disabilities, low-income individual, student, sen-
ior in need, or veteran for the purposes of eligi-
bility under this section. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS.—Annually and 
consistent with reporting requirements for transfers of 
Federal personal property to non-Federal entities, the 
Administrator shall submit to Congress and make 
publicly available a report that includes, for the pe-
riod covered by the report— 
‘‘(A) a description of the efforts of the Ad-
ministrator under this section; 
‘‘(B) a list of nongovernmental entities with 
which the Administrator had a partnership de-
scribed in subsection (b)(2); 
‘‘(C) a list of nonprofit computer refur-
bishers that received, made repairs to, and dis-
tributed surplus computer and technology equip-
ment, including disclosure of any foreign owner-
ship interest in a nonprofit computer refur-
bisher; and
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‘‘(D) a list of donated and subsequently re-
paired surplus computer or technology equip-
ment identifying— 
‘‘(i) the Federal agency that donated 
the surplus computer or technology equip-
ment; 
‘‘(ii) the State and county (or similar 
unit of local government) where the recipi-
ent is located; and 
‘‘(iii) whether the recipient is an edu-
cational institution, individual with dis-
abilities, low-income individual, student, 
senior in need, or veteran. 
‘‘(3) AGENCY REPORTS.—Not later than 5 years 
after the date of enactment of this section, and annu-
ally thereafter, the head of each Federal agency shall 
make publicly available a report on the number of 
pieces of repairable surplus computer or technology 
equipment that were sent to recycling, abandoned, or 
destroyed. 
‘‘(d) REGULATIONS.—The Administrator shall issue 
regulations that are necessary and appropriate to imple-
ment this section, including— 
‘‘(1) allowing nonprofit computer refurbishers to 
assess nominal fees (which shall not exceed fair mar-
2659 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
ket value) on recipients of refurbished surplus com-
puter or technology equipment to facilitate shipping 
and handling of the surplus computer or technology 
equipment; 
‘‘(2) determining, in coordination with other rel-
evant Federal agencies, eligibility and certification 
requirements for nongovernmental entities and non-
profit computer refurbishers to participate in the pro-
gram established under this section, including whether 
the participation of a nongovernmental entity or non-
profit computer refurbisher poses any actual or poten-
tial harm to the national security interests of the 
United States; 
‘‘(3) establishing an efficient process for identi-
fying eligible recipients; and 
‘‘(4) determining appropriate recyclers to dispose 
of surplus computer or technology equipment if it 
cannot be repaired or refurbished under this section. 
‘‘(e) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed to create any substantive or procedural right 
or benefit enforceable by law by a party against the United 
States, its agencies, its officers, or its employees. 
‘‘(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to supersede the requirements of the
2660 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (Pub-
lic Law 96–480; 15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.). 
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) 
ADMINISTRATOR.—The 
term 
‘Adminis-
trator’ means the Administrator of General Services. 
‘‘(2) DIGITAL DIVIDE.—The term ‘digital divide’ 
means the gap between those who have an internet- 
connected computer and the skills to use the computer 
and those who do not. 
‘‘(3) DISABILITY.—The term ‘disability’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 3 of the Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102). 
‘‘(4) EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION.—The term 
‘educational institution’ means— 
‘‘(A) any public or private child care cen-
ter, preschool, elementary school, secondary 
school, accredited institution of vocational or 
professional education, or institution of higher 
education; 
‘‘(B) in the case of an accredited institution 
of vocational or professional education or an in-
stitution of higher education composed of more 
than 1 school, college, or department that is ad-
ministratively a separate unit, each such school, 
college, or department; and
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‘‘(C) a home school (whether treated as a 
home school or private school for the purposes of 
applicable State law). 
‘‘(5) ELIGIBLE
RECIPIENT.—The term ‘eligible 
recipient’ means an educational institution, indi-
vidual with a disability, low-income individual, stu-
dent, senior in need, or veteran that is residing or 
based in the United States. 
‘‘(6) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘institution of higher education’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 101 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
‘‘(7) LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘low- 
income individual’ has the meaning given that term 
in section 351 of the Small Business Investment Act 
of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 689). 
‘‘(8) NONGOVERNMENTAL
ENTITY.—The term 
‘nongovernmental entity’ means an organization or 
group of organizations that— 
‘‘(A) are not part of a Federal, State, local, 
Tribal, or territorial government; and 
‘‘(B) are nonprofit computer refurbishers or 
other industry participants that— 
‘‘(i) primarily work to improve access 
to information and communication tech-
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
nology in their mission to bridge the digital 
divide through coordination and oversight 
of computer refurbishment and repair; and 
‘‘(ii) operate in the United States. 
‘‘(9) NONPROFIT
COMPUTER
REFURBISHER.— 
The term ‘nonprofit computer refurbisher’ means a 
nonprofit organization that— 
‘‘(A) primarily works to improve access to 
information and communication technology in 
their mission to bridge the digital divide; and 
‘‘(B) operates in the United States. 
‘‘(10) NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘nonprofit organization’ means an organization that 
is described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation 
under section 501(a) of such Code. 
‘‘(11) 
REPAIRABLE.—The 
term 
‘repairable’ 
means property that is unusable in its current state 
but can be economically repaired. 
‘‘(12) SECONDARY
SCHOOL.—The term ‘sec-
ondary school’ has the meaning given that term in 
section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
‘‘(13) SENIOR.—The term ‘senior’ means an in-
dividual who is 65 years of age or older.
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‘‘(14) SENIOR IN NEED.—The term ‘senior in 
need’ means a senior who experiences cultural, social, 
or geographical isolation that— 
‘‘(A) restricts the ability of the senior to 
perform normal daily tasks; or 
‘‘(B) threatens the capacity of the senior to 
live independently. 
‘‘(15) STATE
AGENCY
FOR
SURPLUS
PROP-
ERTY.—The term ‘State agency for surplus property’ 
has the meaning given the term ‘state agency’ under 
section 549(a). 
‘‘(16) STUDENT.—The term ‘student’ means any 
individual enrolled in an educational institution, but 
not a public or private child care center. 
‘‘(17) SURPLUS
COMPUTER
OR
TECHNOLOGY 
EQUIPMENT.—The term ‘surplus computer or tech-
nology equipment’ means computer or technology 
equipment that is property described under section 
549(b)(2). 
‘‘(18) 
TECHNOLOGY
EQUIPMENT.—The 
term 
‘technology equipment’ means any physical asset re-
lated to a computer or information technology, in-
cluding any peripheral component, tablet, commu-
nication device (such as a router, server, or cell
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
phone), printer, scanner, uninterruptible power 
source, cable, or connection. 
‘‘(19) VETERAN.—The term ‘veteran’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 549 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘549a. Donation of personal property through nonprofit refurbishers.’’. 
DIVISION AA—FINANCIAL 
SERVICES MATTERS 
TITLE I—REGISTRATION FOR 
INDEX-LINKED ANNUITIES 
SEC. 101. PARITY FOR REGISTERED INDEX-LINKED ANNU-
ITIES REGARDING REGISTRATION RULES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
COMMISSION.—The 
term 
‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Securities and Exchange Commission. 
(2) INVESTMENT COMPANY.—The term ‘‘invest-
ment company’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 3 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 
U.S.C. 80a–3). 
(3) MARKET
VALUE
ADJUSTMENT.—The term 
‘‘market value adjustment’’ means, with respect to a 
registered index-linked annuity, after an early with-
drawal or contract discontinuance—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(A) an adjustment to the value of that an-
nuity based on calculations using a predeter-
mined formula; or 
(B) a change in interest rates (or other fac-
tor, as determined by the Commission) that 
apply to that annuity. 
(4) PURCHASER.—The term ‘‘purchaser’’ means 
a purchaser of a registered index-linked annuity. 
(5) REGISTERED INDEX-LINKED ANNUITY.—The 
term ‘‘registered index-linked annuity’’ means an an-
nuity— 
(A) that is deemed to be a security; 
(B) that is registered with the Commission 
in accordance with section 5 of the Securities Act 
of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77e); 
(C) that is issued by an insurance company 
that is subject to the supervision of— 
(i) the insurance commissioner or bank 
commissioner of any State; or 
(ii) any agency or officer performing 
like functions as a commissioner described 
in clause (i); 
(D) that is not issued by an investment 
company; and 
(E) the returns of which—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(i) are based on the performance of a 
specified benchmark index or rate (or a reg-
istered exchange traded fund that seeks to 
track the performance of a specified bench-
mark index or rate); and 
(ii) may be subject to a market value 
adjustment if amounts are withdrawn be-
fore the end of the period during which that 
market value adjustment applies. 
(6) SECURITY.—The term ‘‘security’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 2(a) of the Securi-
ties Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77b(a)). 
(b) RULES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission 
shall propose, and, not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall 
prepare and finalize, new or amended rules, as ap-
propriate, to establish a new form in accordance with 
paragraph (2) on which an issuer of a registered 
index-linked annuity may register that registered 
index-linked annuity, subject to conditions the Com-
mission determines appropriate, which may include 
requiring the issuer to take the steps described in sec-
tion 240.12h–7(e) of title 17, Code of Federal Regula-
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
tions, or any successor regulation, with respect to the 
registered index-linked annuity. 
(2) DESIGN OF FORM.—In developing the form 
required to be established under paragraph (1), the 
Commission shall— 
(A) design the form to ensure that a pur-
chaser using the form receives the information 
necessary to make knowledgeable decisions, tak-
ing into account— 
(i) the availability of information; 
(ii) the knowledge and sophistication of 
that class of purchasers; 
(iii) the complexity of the registered 
index-linked annuity; and 
(iv) any other factor the Commission 
determines appropriate; 
(B) engage in investor testing; and 
(C) incorporate the results of the testing re-
quired under subparagraph (B) in the design of 
the form, with the goal of ensuring that key in-
formation is conveyed in terms that a purchaser 
is able to understand. 
(c) TREATMENT IF RULES NOT PREPARED AND FINAL-
IZED IN A TIMELY MANNER.—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If, as of the date that is 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Commission has failed to prepare and finalize the 
rules required under subsection (b)(1), any registered 
index-linked annuity may be registered on the form 
described in section 239.17b of title 17, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations, or any successor regulation. 
(2) PREPARATION.—A registration described in 
paragraph (1) shall be prepared pursuant to applica-
ble provisions of the form described in that para-
graph. 
(3) TERMINATION.—This subsection shall termi-
nate upon the establishment by the Commission of the 
form described in subsection (b). 
(d) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to— 
(1) limit the authority of the Commission to— 
(A) determine the information to be re-
quested in the form described in subsection (b); 
or 
(B) extend the eligibility for the form de-
scribed in subsection (b) to a product that is 
similar to, but is not, a registered index-linked 
annuity; or
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(2) preempt any State law, regulation, rule, or 
order. 
TITLE II—MASIH ALINEJAD 
HUNT ACT OF 2022 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Masih Alinejad Harass-
ment and Unlawful Targeting Act of 2022’’ or the ‘‘Masih 
Alinejad HUNT Act of 2022’’. 
SEC. 202. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that the Government of the Islamic Re-
public of Iran surveils, harasses, terrorizes, tortures, ab-
ducts, and murders individuals who peacefully defend 
human rights and freedoms in Iran, and innocent entities 
and individuals considered by the Government of Iran to 
be enemies of that regime, including United States citizens 
on United States soil, and takes foreign nationals hostage, 
including in the following instances: 
(1) In 2021, Iranian intelligence agents were in-
dicted for plotting to kidnap United States citizen, 
women’s 
rights 
activist, 
and 
journalist 
Masih 
Alinejad, from her home in New York City, in retalia-
tion for exercising her rights under the First Amend-
ment to the Constitution of the United States. Ira-
nian agents allegedly spent at least approximately 
half a million dollars to capture the outspoken critic
2670 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
of the authoritarianism of the Government of Iran, 
and studied evacuating her by military-style speed-
boats to Venezuela before rendition to Iran. 
(2) Prior to the New York kidnapping plot, Ms. 
Alinejad’s family in Iran was instructed by authori-
ties to lure Ms. Alinejad to Turkey. In an attempt to 
intimidate her into silence, the Government of Iran 
arrested 3 of Ms. Alinejad’s family members in 2019, 
and sentenced her brother to 8 years in prison for re-
fusing to denounce her. 
(3) According to Federal prosecutors, the same 
Iranian intelligence network that allegedly plotted to 
kidnap Ms. Alinejad is also targeting critics of the 
Government of Iran who live in Canada, the United 
Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. 
(4) In 2021, an Iranian diplomat was convicted 
in Belgium of attempting to carry out a 2018 bomb-
ing of a dissident rally in France. 
(5) In 2021, a Danish high court found a Nor-
wegian citizen of Iranian descent guilty of illegal es-
pionage and complicity in a failed plot to kill an Ira-
nian Arab dissident figure in Denmark. 
(6) In 2021, the British Broadcasting Corpora-
tion (BBC) appealed to the United Nations to protect 
BBC Persian employees in London who suffer regular
2671 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
harassment and threats of kidnapping by Iranian 
government agents. 
(7) In 2021, 15 militants allegedly working on 
behalf of the Government of Iran were arrested in 
Ethiopia for plotting to attack citizens of Israel, the 
United States, and the United Arab Emirates, ac-
cording to United States officials. 
(8) In 2020, Iranian agents allegedly kidnapped 
United States resident and Iranian-German jour-
nalist Jamshid Sharmahd, while he was traveling to 
India through Dubai. Iranian authorities announced 
they had seized Mr. Sharmahd in ‘‘a complex oper-
ation’’, and paraded him blindfolded on state tele-
vision. Mr. Sharmahd is arbitrarily detained in Iran, 
allegedly facing the death penalty. In 2009, Mr. 
Sharmahd was the target of an alleged Iran-directed 
assassination plot in Glendora, California. 
(9) In 2020, the Government of Turkey released 
counterterrorism files exposing how Iranian authori-
ties allegedly collaborated with drug gangs to kidnap 
Habib Chabi, an Iranian-Swedish activist for Iran’s 
Arab minority. In 2020, the Government of Iran al-
legedly lured Mr. Chabi to Istanbul through a female 
agent posing as a potential lover. Mr. Chabi was then
2672 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
allegedly kidnapped from Istanbul, and smuggled into 
Iran where he faces execution, following a sham trial. 
(10) In 2020, a United States-Iranian citizen 
and an Iranian resident of California pleaded guilty 
to charges of acting as illegal agents of the Govern-
ment of Iran by surveilling Jewish student facilities, 
including the Hillel Center and Rohr Chabad Center 
at the University of Chicago, in addition to 
surveilling and collecting identifying information 
about United States citizens and nationals who are 
critical of the Iranian regime. 
(11) In 2019, 2 Iranian intelligence officers at 
the Iranian consulate in Turkey allegedly orchestrated 
the assassination of Iranian dissident journalist 
Masoud Molavi Vardanjani, who was shot while walk-
ing with a friend in Istanbul. Unbeknownst to Mr. 
Molavi, his ‘‘friend’’ was in fact an undercover Ira-
nian agent and the leader of the killing squad, ac-
cording to a Turkish police report. 
(12) In 2019, around 1,500 people were allegedly 
killed amid a less than 2 week crackdown by security 
forces on anti-government protests across Iran, in-
cluding at least an alleged 23 children and 400 
women.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(13) In 2019, Iranian operatives allegedly lured 
Paris-based Iranian journalist Ruhollah Zam to Iraq, 
where he was abducted, and hanged in Iran for sedi-
tion. 
(14) In 2019, a Kurdistan regional court con-
victed an Iranian female for trying to lure Voice of 
America reporter Ali Javanmardi to a hotel room in 
Irbil, as part of a foiled Iranian intelligence plot to 
kidnap and extradite Mr. Javanmardi, a critic of the 
Government of Iran. 
(15) In 2019, Federal Bureau of Investigation 
agents visited the rural Connecticut home of Iran- 
born United States author and poet Roya Hakakian 
to warn her that she was the target of an assassina-
tion plot orchestrated by the Government of Iran. 
(16) In 2019, the Government of the Netherlands 
accused the Government of Iran of directing the assas-
sination of Iranian Arab activist Ahmad Mola Nissi, 
in The Hague, and the assassination of another oppo-
sition figure, Reza Kolahi Samadi, who was mur-
dered near Amsterdam in 2015. 
(17) In 2018, German security forces searched 
for 10 alleged spies who were working for Iran’s al- 
Quds Force to collect information on targets related
2674 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
to the local Jewish community, including kinder-
gartens. 
(18) In 2017, Germany convicted a Pakistani 
man for working as an Iranian agent to spy on tar-
gets including a former German lawmaker and a 
French-Israeli economics professor. 
(19) In 2012, an Iranian American pleaded 
guilty to conspiring with members of the Iranian 
military to bomb a popular Washington, DC, res-
taurant with the aim of assassinating the ambassador 
of Saudi Arabia to the United States. 
(20) In 1996, agents of the Government of Iran 
allegedly assassinated 5 Iranian dissident exiles 
across Turkey, Pakistan, and Baghdad, over a 5- 
month period that year. 
(21) In 1992, the Foreign and Commonwealth 
Office of the United Kingdom expelled 2 Iranians em-
ployed at the Iranian Embassy in London and a 
third Iranian on a student visa amid allegations they 
were plotting to kill Indian-born British American 
novelist Salman Rushdie, pursuant to the fatwa 
issued by then supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah 
Ruhollah Khomeini.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(22) In 1992, 4 Iranian Kurdish dissidents were 
assassinated at a restaurant in Berlin, Germany, al-
legedly by Iranian agents. 
(23) In 1992, singer, actor, poet, and gay Ira-
nian dissident Fereydoun Farrokhzad was found dead 
with multiple stab wounds in his apartment in Ger-
many. His death is allegedly the work of Iran-di-
rected agents. 
(24) In 1980, Ali Akbar Tabatabaei, a leading 
critic of Iran and then president of the Iran Freedom 
Foundation, was murdered in front of his Bethesda, 
Maryland, home by an assassin disguised as a postal 
courier. The Federal Bureau of Investigation had 
identified the ‘‘mailman’’ as Dawud Salahuddin, 
born David Theodore Belfield. Mr. Salahuddin was 
working as a security guard at an Iranian interest 
office in Washington, DC, when he claims he accepted 
the assignment and payment of $5,000 from the Gov-
ernment of Iran to kill Mr. Tabatabaei. 
(25) Other exiled Iranian dissidents alleged to 
have been victims of the Government of Iran’s mur-
derous extraterritorial campaign include Shahriar 
Shafiq, Shapour Bakhtiar, and Gholam Ali Oveissi. 
(26) Iranian Americans face an ongoing cam-
paign of intimidation both in the virtual and phys-
2676 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
ical world by agents and affiliates of the Government 
of Iran, which aims to stifle freedom of expression 
and eliminate the threat Iranian authorities believe 
democracy, justice, and gender equality pose to their 
rule. 
SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) ADMISSION; ADMITTED; ALIEN.—The terms 
‘‘admission’’, ‘‘admitted’’, and ‘‘alien’’ have the mean-
ings given those terms in section 101 of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101). 
(2) 
APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional commit-
tees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Foreign 
Relations, the Committee on the Judiciary, and 
the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Sen-
ate; and 
(B) the Committee on Financial Services, 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee 
on the Judiciary, and the Permanent Select 
Committee on Intelligence of the House of Rep-
resentatives.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(3) 
CORRESPONDENT
ACCOUNT; 
PAYABLE- 
THROUGH ACCOUNT.—The terms ‘‘correspondent ac-
count’’ and ‘‘payable-through account’’ have the 
meanings given those terms in section 5318A of title 
31, United States Code. 
(4) FOREIGN FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.—The term 
‘‘foreign financial institution’’ has the meaning of 
that term as determined by the Secretary of the 
Treasury pursuant to section 104(i) of the Com-
prehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Di-
vestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8513(i)). 
(5) FOREIGN PERSON.—The term ‘‘foreign per-
son’’ means any individual or entity that is not a 
United States person. 
(6) UNITED STATES PERSON.—The term ‘‘United 
States person’’ means— 
(A) a United States citizen or an alien law-
fully admitted for permanent residence to the 
United States; or 
(B) an entity organized under the laws of 
the United States or any jurisdiction within the 
United States, including a foreign branch of 
such an entity.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
SEC. 204. REPORT AND IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH 
RESPECT TO PERSONS WHO ARE RESPON-
SIBLE FOR OR COMPLICIT IN ABUSES TO-
WARD DISSIDENTS ON BEHALF OF THE GOV-
ERNMENT OF IRAN. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treas-
ury, the Director of National Intelligence, and the At-
torney General, shall submit to the appropriate con-
gressional committees a report that— 
(A) includes a detailed description and as-
sessment of— 
(i) the state of human rights and the 
rule of law inside Iran, including the treat-
ment of marginalized individuals and com-
munities in Iran; 
(ii) actions taken by the Government of 
Iran during the year preceding submission 
of the report to target and silence dissidents 
both inside and outside of Iran who advo-
cate for human rights inside Iran; 
(iii) the methods used by the Govern-
ment of Iran to target and silence dissidents 
both inside and outside of Iran; and
2679 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(iv) the means through which the Gov-
ernment of Iran finances efforts to target 
and silence dissidents both inside and out-
side of Iran and the amount of that financ-
ing; 
(B) identifies foreign persons working as 
part of the Government of Iran or acting on be-
half of that Government or its proxies that are 
involved in harassment and surveillance and 
that the Secretary of State may also, as appro-
priate, determine, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of the Treasury, are knowingly responsible 
for, complicit in, or involved in ordering, con-
spiring, planning, or implementing the surveil-
lance, harassment, kidnapping, illegal extra-
dition, imprisonment, torture, killing, or assas-
sination, on or after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, of citizens of Iran (including citizens of 
Iran of dual nationality) or citizens of the 
United States, inside or outside Iran, who seek— 
(i) to expose illegal or corrupt activity 
carried out by officials of the Government of 
Iran; or 
(ii) to obtain, exercise, defend, or pro-
mote the human rights of individuals, in-
2680 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
cluding members of marginalized commu-
nities, in Iran; and 
(C) includes, for each foreign person identi-
fied under subparagraph (B), a clear expla-
nation for why the foreign person was so identi-
fied. 
(2) UPDATES OF REPORT.—The report required 
by paragraph (1) shall be updated, and the updated 
version submitted to the appropriate congressional 
committees, during the 10-year period following the 
date of the enactment of this Act— 
(A) not less frequently than annually; and 
(B) with respect to matters relating to the 
identification of foreign persons under para-
graph (1)(B), on an ongoing basis as appro-
priate. 
(3) FORM OF REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Each report required by 
paragraph (1) and each update required by 
paragraph (2) shall be submitted in unclassified 
form but may include a classified annex. 
(B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary 
of State shall post the unclassified portion of 
each report required by paragraph (1) and each 
update required by paragraph (2) on a publicly
2681 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
available internet website of the Department of 
State. 
(b) IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.—In the case of a for-
eign person identified under paragraph (1)(B) of subsection 
(a) in the most recent report or update submitted under 
that subsection, the President shall impose the sanctions de-
scribed in subsection (c), pursuant to this section or an ap-
propriate Executive authority. 
(c) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.—The sanctions described 
in this subsection are the following: 
(1) BLOCKING
OF
PROPERTY.—The President 
shall exercise all powers granted to the President by 
the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 
(50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to 
block and prohibit all transactions in all property 
and interests in property of a foreign person described 
in subsection (a)(1)(B) if such property and interests 
in property are in the United States, come within the 
United States, or are or come within the possession 
or control of a United States person. 
(2) INADMISSIBILITY OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS 
.— 
(A) INELIGIBILITY FOR VISAS AND ADMIS-
SION TO THE UNITED STATES.—In the case of a
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
foreign person described in subsection (a)(1)(B) 
who is an individual, the individual is— 
(i) inadmissible to the United States; 
(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other 
documentation to enter the United States; 
and 
(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted 
or paroled into the United States or to re-
ceive any other benefit under the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et 
seq.). 
(B) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—The visa or other 
entry documentation of an individual de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) shall be re-
voked, regardless of when such visa or other 
entry documentation is or was issued. 
(ii) IMMEDIATE
EFFECT.—A revoca-
tion under clause (i) shall— 
(I) take effect immediately; and 
(II) automatically cancel any 
other valid visa or entry documenta-
tion that is in the individual’s posses-
sion.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
SEC. 205. REPORT AND IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH 
RESPECT TO FOREIGN FINANCIAL INSTITU-
TIONS CONDUCTING SIGNIFICANT TRANS-
ACTIONS WITH PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR 
OR COMPLICIT IN ABUSES TOWARD DIS-
SIDENTS ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT 
OF IRAN. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not earlier than 30 days 
and not later than 60 days after the Secretary of State sub-
mits to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
required by section 204(a), the Secretary of the Treasury, 
in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report that 
identifies any foreign financial institution that knowingly 
conducts a significant transaction with a foreign person 
identified in the report submitted under section 204(a) on 
or after the date on which the foreign person is identified 
in that report. 
(b) IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.—The Secretary of the 
Treasury may prohibit the opening, or prohibit or impose 
strict conditions on the maintaining, in the United States 
of a correspondent account or a payable-through account 
by a foreign financial institution identified under sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 206. EXCEPTIONS; WAIVERS; IMPLEMENTATION. 
(a) EXCEPTIONS.—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(1) EXCEPTION
FOR
INTELLIGENCE, LAW
EN-
FORCEMENT, AND NATIONAL SECURITY ACTIVITIES.— 
Sanctions under sections 204 and 205 shall not apply 
to any authorized intelligence, law enforcement, or 
national security activities of the United States. 
(2) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA-
TIONS
HEADQUARTERS
AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 
under section 204(c)(2) shall not apply with respect 
to the admission of an individual to the United 
States if the admission of the individual is necessary 
to permit the United States to comply with the Agree-
ment regarding the Headquarters of the United Na-
tions, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and en-
tered into force November 21, 1947, between the 
United Nations and the United States, the Conven-
tion on Consular Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 
1963, and entered into force March 19, 1967, or other 
applicable international obligations. 
(b) NATIONAL INTERESTS WAIVER.—The President 
may waive the application of sanctions under section 204 
with respect to a person if the President— 
(1) determines that the waiver is in the national 
interests of the United States; and
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(2) submits to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report on the waiver and the reasons for 
the waiver. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION; PENALTIES.— 
(1) IMPLEMENTATION.—The President may exer-
cise all authorities provided to the President under 
sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to 
carry out this title. 
(2) PENALTIES.—A person that violates, at-
tempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a vio-
lation of section 204(c)(1) or 205(b) or any regula-
tion, license, or order issued to carry out either such 
section shall be subject to the penalties set forth in 
subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the Inter-
national Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 
1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an 
unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that sec-
tion. 
SEC. 207. EXCEPTION RELATING TO IMPORTATION OF 
GOODS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of this title, the authorities and requirements to impose 
sanctions under this title shall not include the authority
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
or a requirement to impose sanctions on the importation 
of goods. 
(b) GOOD DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘good’’ 
means any article, natural or manmade substance, mate-
rial, supply or manufactured product, including inspection 
and test equipment, and excluding technical data. 
TITLE III—TRADING 
PROHIBITIONS 
SEC. 301. TRADING PROHIBITION FOR 2 CONSECUTIVE 
NON-INSPECTION YEARS. 
Section 104(i) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (15 
U.S.C. 7214(i)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(A)(ii), by striking ‘‘the for-
eign jurisdiction described in clause (i)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘a foreign jurisdiction’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
‘‘3’’ and inserting ‘‘2’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (A), in the matter pre-
ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘3’’ and inserting 
‘‘2’’.
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TITLE 
IV—ANTI-MONEY 
LAUN-
DERING WHISTLEBLOWER IM-
PROVEMENT 
SEC. 401. WHISTLEBLOWER INCENTIVES AND PROTEC-
TIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5323 of title 31, United 
States Code, as amended by section 6314 of the Anti-Money 
Laundering Act of 2020 (division F of Public Law 116– 
283) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(b) AWARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In any covered judicial or 
administrative action, or related action, the Sec-
retary, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, 
in consultation with the Attorney General and subject 
to subsection (c), shall pay an award or awards to 1 
or more whistleblowers who voluntarily provided 
original information to the employer of the indi-
vidual, the Secretary, or the Attorney General, as ap-
plicable, that led to the successful enforcement of the 
covered judicial or administrative action, or related 
action, in an aggregate amount equal to— 
‘‘(A) not less than 10 percent, in total, of 
what has been collected of the monetary sanctions 
imposed in the action or related actions; and
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(B) not more than 30 percent, in total, of 
what has been collected of the monetary sanctions 
imposed in the action or related actions. 
‘‘(2) PAYMENT OF AWARDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Any amount paid 
under paragraph (1) shall be paid from the 
Fund established under paragraph (3). 
‘‘(B) RELATED
ACTIONS.—The Secretary 
may pay awards less than the amount described 
in paragraph (1)(A) for related actions in which 
a whistleblower may be paid by another whistle-
blower award program. 
‘‘(3) SOURCE OF AWARDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There shall be estab-
lished in the Treasury of the United States a re-
volving fund to be known as the Financial Integ-
rity Fund (referred to in this subsection as the 
‘Fund’). 
‘‘(B) USE OF FUND.—The Fund shall be 
available to the Secretary, without further ap-
propriation or fiscal year limitations, only for 
the payment of awards to whistleblowers as pro-
vided in subsection (b).
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‘‘(C) RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF FUND.—The 
Fund shall not be available to pay any personnel 
or administrative expenses. 
‘‘(4) DEPOSITS AND CREDITS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There shall be deposited 
into or credited to the Fund an amount equal 
to— 
‘‘(i) any monetary sanction collected 
by the Secretary or Attorney General in 
any judicial or administrative action under 
this title, chapter 35 or section 4305 or 
4312 of title 50, or the Foreign Narcotics 
Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1901 
et seq.), unless the balance of the Fund at 
the time the monetary sanction is collected 
exceeds $300,000,000; and 
‘‘(ii) all income from investments made 
under paragraph (5). 
‘‘(B) 
ADDITIONAL
AMOUNTS.—If 
the 
amounts deposited into or credited to the Fund 
under subparagraph (A) are not sufficient to sat-
isfy an award made under this subsection, there 
shall be deposited into or credited to the Fund an 
amount equal to the unsatisfied portion of the 
award from any monetary sanction collected by
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
the Secretary of the Treasury or Attorney Gen-
eral in the covered judicial or administrative ac-
tion on which the award is based. 
‘‘(C) EXCEPTION.—No amounts to be depos-
ited or transferred into the United States Vic-
tims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund pursu-
ant to the Justice for United States Victims of 
State Sponsored Terrorism Act (34 U.S.C. 
20144) or the Crime Victims Fund pursuant sec-
tion 1402 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 
(34 U.S.C. 20101) shall be deposited into or 
credited to the Fund. 
‘‘(5) INVESTMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) AMOUNTS
IN
FUND
MAY
BE
IN-
VESTED.—The Secretary of the Treasury may 
invest the portion of the Fund that is not re-
quired to meet the current needs of the Fund. 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBLE INVESTMENTS.—Investments 
shall be made by the Secretary of the Treasury 
in obligations of the United States or obligations 
that are guaranteed as to principal and interest 
by the United States, with maturities suitable to 
the needs of the Fund as determined by the Sec-
retary.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(C) INTEREST
AND
PROCEEDS
CRED-
ITED.—The interest on, and the proceeds from 
the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in 
the Fund shall be credited to, and form a part 
of, the Fund.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL
AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
Section 5323 of title 31, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraphs (1) and (5), by striking 
‘‘this subchapter or subchapter III’’ each place 
the term appears and inserting ‘‘this subchapter, 
chapter 35 or section 4305 or 4312 of title 50, 
the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act 
(21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), or .), and for conspir-
acies to violate the aforementioned provisions’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘covered’’ after ‘‘re-
spect to any’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘under this subchapter 
or subchapter III’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘action by the Sec-
retary or the Attorney General’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘covered action’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(B)(iii)—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(A) by striking ‘‘subchapter and subchapter 
III’’ and inserting ‘‘this subchapter, chapter 35 
or section 4305 or 4312 of title 50, and the For-
eign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 
U.S.C. 1901 et seq.)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘either such subchapter’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the covered judicial or adminis-
trative action’’; and 
(3) in subsection (g)(4)(D)(i), by inserting 
‘‘chapter 35 or section 4305 or 4312 of title 50, or the 
Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 
U.S.C. 1901 et seq.),’’ after ‘‘subchapter,’’. 
TITLE 
V—SMALL 
BUSINESS 
MERGERS, 
ACQUISITIONS, 
SALES, AND BROKERAGE SIM-
PLIFICATION 
SEC. 501. REGISTRATION EXEMPTION FOR MERGER AND AC-
QUISITION BROKERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 15(b) of the Securities Ex-
change Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o(b)) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(13) REGISTRATION EXEMPTION FOR MERGER 
AND ACQUISITION BROKERS.—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), an M&A broker shall be ex-
empt from registration under this section. 
‘‘(B) EXCLUDED
ACTIVITIES.—An M&A 
broker is not exempt from registration under this 
paragraph if such broker does any of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(i) Directly or indirectly, in connec-
tion with the transfer of ownership of an el-
igible privately held company, receives, 
holds, transmits, or has custody of the funds 
or securities to be exchanged by the parties 
to the transaction. 
‘‘(ii) Engages on behalf of an issuer in 
a public offering of any class of securities 
that is registered, or is required to be reg-
istered, with the Commission under section 
12 or with respect to which the issuer files, 
or is required to file, periodic information, 
documents, and reports under subsection 
(d). 
‘‘(iii) Engages on behalf of any party 
in a transaction involving a shell company, 
other than a business combination related 
shell company.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(iv) Directly, or indirectly through 
any of its affiliates, provides financing re-
lated to the transfer of ownership of an eli-
gible privately held company. 
‘‘(v) Assists any party to obtain fi-
nancing from an unaffiliated third party 
without— 
‘‘(I) complying with all other ap-
plicable laws in connection with such 
assistance, including, if applicable, 
Regulation T (12 C.F.R. 220 et seq.); 
and 
‘‘(II) disclosing any compensation 
in writing to the party. 
‘‘(vi) Represents both the buyer and the 
seller in the same transaction without pro-
viding clear written disclosure as to the 
parties the broker represents and obtaining 
written consent from both parties to the 
joint representation. 
‘‘(vii) Facilitates a transaction with a 
group of buyers formed with the assistance 
of the M&A broker to acquire the eligible 
privately held company.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(viii) Engages in a transaction in-
volving the transfer of ownership of an eli-
gible privately held company to a passive 
buyer or group of passive buyers. 
‘‘(ix) Binds a party to a transfer of 
ownership of an eligible privately held com-
pany. 
‘‘(C) DISQUALIFICATION.—An M&A broker 
is not exempt from registration under this para-
graph if such broker (and if and as applicable, 
including any officer, director, member, man-
ager, partner, or employee of such broker)— 
‘‘(i) has been barred from association 
with a broker or dealer by the Commission, 
any State, or any self-regulatory organiza-
tion; or 
‘‘(ii) is suspended from association 
with a broker or dealer. 
‘‘(D) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this paragraph shall be construed to limit any 
other authority of the Commission to exempt any 
person, or any class of persons, from any provi-
sion of this title, or from any provision of any 
rule or regulation thereunder. 
‘‘(E) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph:
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(i) BUSINESS COMBINATION RELATED 
SHELL COMPANY.—The term ‘business com-
bination related shell company’ means a 
shell company that is formed by an entity 
that is not a shell company— 
‘‘(I) solely for the purpose of 
changing the corporate domicile of that 
entity solely within the United States; 
or 
‘‘(II) solely for the purpose of 
completing a business combination 
transaction (as defined under section 
230.165(f) of title 17, Code of Federal 
Regulations) among one or more enti-
ties other than the company itself, none 
of which is a shell company. 
‘‘(ii) CONTROL.—The term ‘control’ 
means the power, directly or indirectly, to 
direct the management or policies of a com-
pany, whether through ownership of securi-
ties, by contract, or otherwise. There is a 
presumption of control if, upon completion 
of a transaction, the buyer or group of buy-
ers—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(I) has the right to vote 25 per-
cent or more of a class of voting securi-
ties or the power to sell or direct the 
sale of 25 percent or more of a class of 
voting securities; or 
‘‘(II) in the case of a partnership 
or limited liability company, has the 
right to receive upon dissolution, or 
has contributed, 25 percent or more of 
the capital. 
‘‘(iii) ELIGIBLE PRIVATELY HELD COM-
PANY.—The term ‘eligible privately held 
company’ means a privately held company 
that meets both of the following conditions: 
‘‘(I) The company does not have 
any class of securities registered, or re-
quired to be registered, with the Com-
mission under section 12 or with re-
spect to which the company files, or is 
required to file, periodic information, 
documents, and reports under sub-
section (d). 
‘‘(II) In the fiscal year ending im-
mediately before the fiscal year in 
which the services of the M&A broker
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
are initially engaged with respect to 
the securities transaction, the company 
meets either or both of the following 
conditions (determined in accordance 
with the historical financial account-
ing records of the company): 
‘‘(aa) The earnings of the 
company before interest, taxes, de-
preciation, and amortization are 
less than $25,000,000. 
‘‘(bb) The gross revenues of 
the 
company 
are 
less 
than 
$250,000,000. 
For purposes of this subclause, the 
Commission may by rule modify the 
dollar figures if the Commission deter-
mines that such a modification is nec-
essary or appropriate in the public in-
terest or for the protection of investors. 
‘‘(iv) M&A BROKER.—The term ‘M&A 
broker’ means a broker, and any person as-
sociated with a broker, engaged in the busi-
ness of effecting securities transactions sole-
ly in connection with the transfer of owner-
ship of an eligible privately held company,
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
regardless of whether the broker acts on be-
half of a seller or buyer, through the pur-
chase, sale, exchange, issuance, repurchase, 
or redemption of, or a business combination 
involving, securities or assets of the eligible 
privately held company, if the broker rea-
sonably believes that— 
‘‘(I) upon consummation of the 
transaction, any person acquiring se-
curities or assets of the eligible pri-
vately held company, acting alone or 
in concert— 
‘‘(aa) will control the eligible 
privately held company or the 
business conducted with the assets 
of the eligible privately held com-
pany; and 
‘‘(bb) directly or indirectly, 
will be active in the management 
of the eligible privately held com-
pany or the business conducted 
with the assets of the eligible pri-
vately held company, including 
without limitation, for example, 
by—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(AA) electing executive 
officers; 
‘‘(BB) 
approving 
the 
annual budget; 
‘‘(CC) serving as an ex-
ecutive or other executive 
manager; or 
‘‘(DD) 
carrying 
out 
such other activities as the 
Commission may, by rule, 
determine to be in the public 
interest; and 
‘‘(II) if any person is offered secu-
rities in exchange for securities or as-
sets of the eligible privately held com-
pany, such person will, prior to becom-
ing legally bound to consummate the 
transaction, receive or have reasonable 
access to the most recent fiscal year- 
end financial statements of the issuer 
of the securities as customarily pre-
pared by the management of the issuer 
in the normal course of operations and, 
if the financial statements of the issuer 
are audited, reviewed, or compiled, any
2701 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
related statement by the independent 
accountant, a balance sheet dated not 
more than 120 days before the date of 
the offer, and information pertaining 
to the management, business, results of 
operations for the period covered by the 
foregoing financial statements, and 
material loss contingencies of the 
issuer. 
‘‘(v) SHELL COMPANY.—The term ‘shell 
company’ means a company that at the 
time of a transaction with an eligible pri-
vately held company— 
‘‘(I) has no or nominal oper-
ations; and 
‘‘(II) has— 
‘‘(aa) no or nominal assets; 
‘‘(bb) assets consisting solely 
of cash and cash equivalents; or 
‘‘(cc) assets consisting of any 
amount of cash and cash equiva-
lents and nominal other assets. 
‘‘(F) INFLATION ADJUSTMENT.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—On the date that is 
5 years after the date of the enactment of
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
this paragraph, and every 5 years there-
after, each dollar amount in subparagraph 
(E)(iii)(II) shall be adjusted by— 
‘‘(I) dividing the annual value of 
the Employment Cost Index For Wages 
and Salaries, Private Industry Work-
ers (or any successor index), as pub-
lished by the Bureau of Labor Statis-
tics, for the calendar year preceding 
the calendar year in which the adjust-
ment is being made by the annual 
value of such index (or successor) for 
the calendar year ending December 31, 
2020; and 
‘‘(II) 
multiplying 
such 
dollar 
amount by the quotient obtained under 
subclause (I). 
‘‘(ii) ROUNDING.—Each dollar amount 
determined under clause (i) shall be round-
ed to the nearest multiple of $100,000.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and any amend-
ment made by this section shall take effect on the date that 
is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
TITLE VI—PUBLIC AND FEDER-
ALLY 
ASSISTED 
HOUSING 
FIRE SAFETY 
SEC. 601. SMOKE ALARMS IN FEDERALLY ASSISTED HOUS-
ING. 
(a) PUBLIC HOUSING, TENANT-BASED ASSISTANCE, 
AND PROJECT-BASED ASSISTANCE.—The United States 
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 3(a) (42 U.S.C. 1437a(a)), by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Each public housing 
agency shall ensure that a qualifying smoke 
alarm is installed in accordance with applicable 
codes and standards published by the Inter-
national Code Council or the National Fire Pro-
tection Association and the requirements of the 
National Fire Protection Association Standard 
72, or any successor standard, in each level and 
in or near each sleeping area in any dwelling 
unit in public housing owned or operated by the 
public housing agency, including in basements 
but excepting crawl spaces and unfinished attics, 
and in each common area in a project con-
taining such a dwelling unit.
2704 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this 
paragraph, the following definitions shall apply: 
‘‘(i) SMOKE
ALARM
DEFINED.—The 
term ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given 
the term ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of 
the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 
Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2225(d)). 
‘‘(ii) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARM DE-
FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ 
means a smoke alarm that— 
‘‘(I) in the case of a dwelling unit 
built before the date of enactment of 
this paragraph and not substantially 
rehabilitated after the date of enact-
ment of this paragraph— 
‘‘(aa)(AA) is hardwired; or 
‘‘(BB) uses 10-year non re-
chargeable, 
nonreplaceable 
pri-
mary batteries and is sealed, is 
tamper resistant, and contains si-
lencing means; and 
‘‘(bb) provides notification 
for persons with hearing loss as 
required by the National Fire
2705 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
Protection Association Standard 
72, or any successor standard; or 
‘‘(II) in the case of a dwelling 
unit built or substantially rehabili-
tated after the date of enactment of this 
paragraph, is hardwired.’’; and 
(2) in section 8 (42 U.S.C. 1437f)— 
(A) by inserting after subsection (k) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(l) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each owner of a dwelling 
unit receiving project-based assistance under this sec-
tion shall ensure that qualifying smoke alarms are in-
stalled in accordance with applicable codes and 
standards published by the International Code Coun-
cil or the National Fire Protection Association and 
the requirements of the National Fire Protection Asso-
ciation Standard 72, or any successor standard, in 
each level and in or near each sleeping area in such 
dwelling unit, including in basements but excepting 
crawl spaces and unfinished attics, and in each com-
mon area in a project containing such a dwelling 
unit. 
‘‘(2) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub-
section, the following definitions shall apply:
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(A) SMOKE
ALARM
DEFINED.—The term 
‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given the term 
‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of the Federal 
Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
U.S.C. 2225(d)). 
‘‘(B) 
QUALIFYING
SMOKE
ALARM
DE-
FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ 
means a smoke alarm that— 
‘‘(i) in the case of a dwelling unit built 
before the date of enactment of this sub-
section and not substantially rehabilitated 
after the date of enactment of this sub-
section— 
‘‘(I)(aa) is hardwired; or 
‘‘(bb) uses 10-year non recharge-
able, nonreplaceable primary batteries 
and— 
‘‘(AA) is sealed; 
‘‘(BB) is tamper resistant; 
and 
‘‘(CC) 
contains 
silencing 
means; and 
‘‘(II) provides notification for per-
sons with hearing loss as required by 
the National Fire Protection Associa-
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
tion Standard 72, or any successor 
standard; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a dwelling unit 
built or substantially rehabilitated after the 
date of enactment of this paragraph, is 
hardwired.’’; and 
(B) in subsection (o), by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(22) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each dwelling unit re-
ceiving tenant-based assistance or project-based 
assistance under this subsection shall have a 
qualifying smoke alarm installed in accordance 
with applicable codes and standards published 
by the International Code Council or the Na-
tional Fire Protection Association and the re-
quirements of the National Fire Protection Asso-
ciation Standard 72, or any successor standard, 
in each level and in or near each sleeping area 
in such dwelling unit, including in basements 
but excepting crawl spaces and unfinished attics, 
and in each common area in a project con-
taining such a dwelling unit. 
‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this 
paragraph, the following definitions shall apply:
2708 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(i) SMOKE
ALARM
DEFINED.—The 
term ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given 
the term ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of 
the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 
Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2225(d)). 
‘‘(ii) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARM DE-
FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ 
means a smoke alarm that— 
‘‘(I) in the case of a dwelling unit 
built before the date of enactment of 
this paragraph and not substantially 
rehabilitated after the date of enact-
ment of this paragraph— 
‘‘(aa)(AA) is hardwired; or 
‘‘(BB) uses 10-year non re-
chargeable, 
nonreplaceable 
pri-
mary batteries and is sealed, is 
tamper resistant, and contains si-
lencing means; and 
‘‘(bb) provides notification 
for persons with hearing loss as 
required by the National Fire 
Protection Association Standard 
72, or any successor standard; or
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(II) in the case of a dwelling 
unit built or substantially rehabili-
tated after the date of enactment of this 
paragraph, is hardwired.’’. 
(b) SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY.—Sec-
tion 202(j) of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q(j)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each owner of a dwell-
ing unit assisted under this section shall ensure 
that qualifying smoke alarms are installed in ac-
cordance with the requirements of applicable 
codes and standards and the National Fire Pro-
tection Association Standard 72, or any suc-
cessor standard, in each level and in or near 
each sleeping area in such dwelling unit, includ-
ing in basements but excepting crawl spaces and 
unfinished attics, and in each common area in 
a project containing such a dwelling unit. 
‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this 
paragraph, the following definitions shall apply: 
‘‘(i) SMOKE
ALARM
DEFINED.—The 
term ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given 
the term ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 
Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2225(d)). 
‘‘(ii) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARM DE-
FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ 
means a smoke alarm that— 
‘‘(I) in the case of a dwelling unit 
built before the date of enactment of 
this paragraph and not substantially 
rehabilitated after the date of enact-
ment of this paragraph— 
‘‘(aa)(AA) is hardwired; or 
‘‘(BB) uses 10-year non re-
chargeable, 
nonreplaceable 
pri-
mary batteries and is sealed, is 
tamper resistant, and contains si-
lencing means; and 
‘‘(bb) provides notification 
for persons with hearing loss as 
required by the National Fire 
Protection Association Standard 
72, or any successor standard; or 
‘‘(II) in the case of a dwelling 
unit built or substantially rehabili-
tated after the date of enactment of this 
paragraph, is hardwired.’’.
2711 
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(c) SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DIS-
ABILITIES.—Section 811(j) of the Cranston-Gonzalez Na-
tional Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013(j)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each dwelling unit as-
sisted under this section shall contain qualifying 
smoke alarms that are installed in accordance 
with applicable codes and standards published 
by the International Code Council or the Na-
tional Fire Protection Association and the re-
quirements of the National Fire Protection Asso-
ciation Standard 72, or any successor standard, 
in each level and in or near each sleeping area 
in such dwelling unit, including in basements 
but excepting crawl spaces and unfinished attics, 
and in each common area in a project con-
taining such a dwelling unit. 
‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this 
paragraph, the following definitions shall apply: 
‘‘(i) SMOKE
ALARM
DEFINED.—The 
term ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given 
the term ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of 
the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 
Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2225(d)).
2712 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(ii) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARM DE-
FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ 
means a smoke alarm that— 
‘‘(I) in the case of a dwelling unit 
built before the date of enactment of 
this paragraph and not substantially 
rehabilitated after the date of enact-
ment of this paragraph— 
‘‘(aa)(AA) is hardwired; or 
‘‘(BB) uses 10-year non re-
chargeable, 
nonreplaceable 
pri-
mary batteries and is sealed, is 
tamper resistant, and contains si-
lencing means; and 
‘‘(bb) provides notification 
for persons with hearing loss as 
required by the National Fire 
Protection Association Standard 
72, or any successor standard; or 
‘‘(II) in the case of a dwelling 
unit built or substantially rehabili-
tated after the date of enactment of this 
paragraph, is hardwired.’’. 
(d) HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH 
AIDS.—Section 856 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Af-
2713 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
fordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12905) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(j) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each dwelling unit assisted 
under this subtitle shall contain qualifying smoke 
alarms that are installed in accordance with applica-
ble codes and standards published by the Inter-
national Code Council or the National Fire Protec-
tion Association and the requirements of the National 
Fire Protection Association Standard 72, or any suc-
cessor standard, in each level and in or near each 
sleeping area in such dwelling unit, including in 
basements but excepting crawl spaces and unfinished 
attics, and in each common area in a project con-
taining such a dwelling unit. 
‘‘(2) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub-
section, the following definitions shall apply: 
‘‘(A) SMOKE
ALARM
DEFINED.—The term 
‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given the term 
‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of the Federal 
Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
U.S.C. 2225(d)). 
‘‘(B) 
QUALIFYING
SMOKE
ALARM
DE-
FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ 
means a smoke alarm that—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(i) in the case of a dwelling unit built 
before the date of enactment of this sub-
section and not substantially rehabilitated 
after the date of enactment of this sub-
section— 
‘‘(I)(aa) is hardwired; or 
‘‘(bb) uses 10-year non recharge-
able, nonreplaceable primary batteries 
and— 
‘‘(AA) is sealed; 
‘‘(BB) is tamper resistant; 
and 
‘‘(CC) 
contains 
silencing 
means; and 
‘‘(II) provides notification for per-
sons with hearing loss as required by 
the National Fire Protection Associa-
tion Standard 72, or any successor 
standard; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a dwelling unit 
built or substantially rehabilitated after the 
date of enactment of this subsection, is 
hardwired.’’. 
(e) RURAL HOUSING.—Title V of the Housing Act of 
1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.) is amended—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(1) in section 514 (42 U.S.C. 1484), by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Housing and related facili-
ties constructed with loans under this section shall 
contain qualifying smoke alarms that are installed in 
accordance with applicable codes and standards pub-
lished by the International Code Council or the Na-
tional Fire Protection Association and the require-
ments of the National Fire Protection Association 
Standard 72, or any successor standard, in each level 
and in or near each sleeping area in such dwelling 
unit, including in basements but excepting crawl 
spaces and unfinished attics, and in each common 
area in a project containing such a dwelling unit. 
‘‘(2) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub-
section, the following definitions shall apply: 
‘‘(A) SMOKE
ALARM
DEFINED.—The term 
‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given the term 
‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of the Federal 
Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
U.S.C. 2225(d)). 
‘‘(B) 
QUALIFYING
SMOKE
ALARM
DE-
FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ 
means a smoke alarm that—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(i) in the case of a dwelling unit built 
before the date of enactment of this sub-
section and not substantially rehabilitated 
after the date of enactment of this sub-
section— 
‘‘(I)(aa) is hardwired; or 
‘‘(bb) uses 10-year non recharge-
able, nonreplaceable primary batteries 
and— 
‘‘(AA) is sealed; 
‘‘(BB) is tamper resistant; 
and 
‘‘(CC) 
contains 
silencing 
means; and 
‘‘(II) provides notification for per-
sons with hearing loss as required by 
the National Fire Protection Associa-
tion Standard 72, or any successor 
standard; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a dwelling unit 
built or substantially rehabilitated after the 
date of enactment of this subsection, is 
hardwired.’’; and 
(2) in section 515(m) (42 U.S.C. 1485(m)), by 
adding at the end the following:
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(3) QUALIFYING SMOKE ALARMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Housing and related facili-
ties rehabilitated or repaired with amounts received 
under a loan made or insured under this section shall 
contain qualifying smoke alarms that are installed in 
accordance with applicable codes and standards pub-
lished by the International Code Council or the Na-
tional Fire Protection Association and the require-
ments of the National Fire Protection Association 
Standard 72, or any successor standard, in each level 
and in or near each sleeping area in such dwelling 
unit, including in basements but excepting crawl 
spaces and unfinished attics, and in each common 
area in a project containing such a dwelling unit. 
‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this para-
graph, the following definitions shall apply: 
‘‘(i) SMOKE
ALARM
DEFINED.—The term 
‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning given the term 
‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of the Federal 
Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
U.S.C. 2225(d)). 
‘‘(ii) 
QUALIFYING
SMOKE
ALARM
DE-
FINED.—The term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ 
means a smoke alarm that—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(I) in the case of a dwelling unit built 
before the date of enactment of this para-
graph and not substantially rehabilitated 
after the date of enactment of this para-
graph— 
‘‘(aa)(AA) is hardwired; or 
‘‘(BB) uses 10-year non recharge-
able, nonreplaceable primary batteries 
and is sealed, is tamper resistant, and 
contains silencing means; and 
‘‘(bb) provides notification for 
persons with hearing loss as required 
by the National Fire Protection Asso-
ciation Standard 72, or any successor 
standard; or 
‘‘(II) in the case of a dwelling unit 
built or substantially rehabilitated after the 
date of enactment of this paragraph, is 
hardwired.’’. 
(f) FARM
LABOR
HOUSING
DIRECT
LOANS
& 
GRANTS.—Section 516 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 
U.S.C. 1486) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end;
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) that such housing shall contain qualifying 
smoke alarms that are installed in accordance with 
applicable codes and standards published by the 
International Code Council or the National Fire Pro-
tection Association and the requirements of the Na-
tional Fire Protection Association Standard 72, or 
any successor standard, in each level and in or near 
each sleeping area in such dwelling unit, including in 
basements but excepting crawl spaces and unfinished 
attics, and in each common area in a project con-
taining such a dwelling unit.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (g)— 
(A) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) the term ‘smoke alarm’ has the meaning 
given the term ‘smoke detector’ in section 29(d) of the 
Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
U.S.C. 2225(d)); and
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(6) the term ‘qualifying smoke alarm’ means a 
smoke alarm that— 
‘‘(A) in the case of a dwelling unit built be-
fore the date of enactment of this paragraph and 
not substantially rehabilitated after the date of 
enactment of this paragraph— 
‘‘(i)(I) is hardwired; or 
‘‘(II) uses 10-year non rechargeable, 
nonreplaceable primary batteries and— 
‘‘(aa) is sealed; 
‘‘(bb) is tamper resistant; and 
‘‘(cc) contains silencing means; 
and 
‘‘(ii) provides notification for persons 
with hearing loss as required by the Na-
tional Fire Protection Association Standard 
72, or any successor standard; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of a dwelling unit built or 
substantially rehabilitated after the date of en-
actment of this paragraph, is hardwired.’’. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out the amendments 
made by this section such sums as are necessary for each 
of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(h) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub-
sections (a) through (f) shall take effect on the date that 
is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(i) NO PREEMPTION.—Nothing in the amendments 
made by this section shall be construed to preempt or limit 
the applicability of any State or local law relating to the 
installation and maintenance of smoke alarms in housing 
that requires standards that are more stringent than the 
standards described in the amendments made by this sec-
tion. 
TITLE 
VII—BENJAMIN 
BERELL 
FERENCZ 
CONGRESSIONAL 
GOLD MEDAL 
SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Benjamin Berell 
Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act’’. 
SEC. 702. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Benjamin ‘‘Ben’’ Berell Ferencz was born on 
March 11, 1920, in Transylvania, now modern-day 
Hungary. 
(2) In 1920, Ben and his family fled anti-Se-
mitic persecution and emigrated to the United States. 
Ben grew up in New York City, and, in 1940, was
2722 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
awarded a scholarship to Harvard Law School where 
he graduated with honors. 
(3) After the onset of World War II, Ben enlisted 
in the United States Army in 1943, and joined an 
anti-aircraft artillery battalion preparing for the in-
vasion of France. As an enlisted man under General 
Patton, he fought in most of the major campaigns in 
Europe. 
(4) As Nazi atrocities were uncovered, Ben was 
transferred to a newly created War Crimes Branch of 
the Army to gather evidence of war crimes that could 
be used in a court of law to prosecute persons respon-
sible for these crimes. Ben documented the horrors 
perpetrated by Nazi Germany, visiting concentration 
camps as they were liberated. 
(5) At the end of 1945, Ben was honorably dis-
charged from the United States Army with the rank 
of Sergeant of Infantry. He had been awarded five 
battle stars. 
(6) In 1946, the United States Government re-
cruited Ben to join the team working on the Nurem-
berg tribunals, a novel independent court established 
to try top-ranking Nazi officials for crimes per-
petrated during the course of the war, including those 
crimes we now call the Holocaust. Mr. Ferencz was
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
sent to Berlin to oversee a team of 50 researchers in-
vestigating official Nazi records, which provided over-
whelming evidence to implicate German doctors, law-
yers, judges, generals, industrialists, and others in 
genocide. 
(7) By 1948, at age 27, Ben had secured enough 
evidence to prosecute 22 SS members of Nazi killing 
squads charged for the murder of over 1,000,0000 
Jewish, Roma, Soviet, and other men, women, and 
children in shooting massacres in occupied Soviet ter-
ritory. He was appointed chief prosecutor in the 
Einsatzgruppen Trial, in what the Associated Press 
called ‘‘the biggest murder trial in history’’. The court 
found 20 Nazi officials guilty of war crimes, crimes 
against humanity, and membership in a criminal or-
ganization for their roles in the murder of over a mil-
lion people. An additional two defendants were found 
guilty for membership in a criminal organization. 
(8) After the Nuremberg trials ended, Ben fought 
for compensation for victims and survivors of the 
Holocaust, the return of stolen assets, and other forms 
of restitution for those who had suffered at the hands 
of the Nazis. 
(9) Since the 1970s, Ben has worked tirelessly to 
promote development of international mechanisms to
2724 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
outlaw and punish aggressive war and the crimes of 
genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. 
His efforts contributed to the establishment of the 
International Criminal Court and to the recognition 
of aggression as an international crime. 
(10) Ben is a tireless advocate for international 
criminal justice and the conviction that the rule of 
law offers the world a sustainable path to stem con-
flict and reach peaceful conclusions to geopolitical 
disputes. His unwavering goal has been ‘‘to establish 
a legal precedent that would encourage a more hu-
mane and secure world in the future’’. 
(11) Ben, at age 102, is still active, giving 
speeches throughout the world about lessons learned 
during his extraordinary career. He is compelled by 
the imperative to ‘‘replace the rule of force with the 
rule of law’’, promoting judicial mechanisms that can 
resolve conflict. He often tells young people to ‘‘never 
give up’’ because the fight for peace and justice is 
worth the long struggle ahead. 
SEC. 703. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of the 
House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of 
the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the 
presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of
2725 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
appropriate design to Benjamin Berell Ferencz, in recogni-
tion of his service to the United States and international 
community during the post-World War II Nuremberg trials 
and lifelong advocacy for international criminal justice and 
rule of law. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the pres-
entation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the 
Treasury (referred to in this title as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall 
strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and in-
scriptions, to be determined by the Secretary. The design 
shall bear an image of, and inscription of the name of, Ben-
jamin Berell Ferencz. 
(c) DISPOSITION OF MEDAL.—Following the award of 
the gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal shall 
be given to Benjamin Berell Ferencz or, if unavailable, to 
his son, Donald Ferencz. 
SEC. 704. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may strike and sell 
duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to 
section 703, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, 
including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and 
overhead expenses. 
(b) UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MU-
SEUM.—
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide a 
duplicate bronze medal described under subsection (a) 
to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 
(2) SENSE
OF
CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the United States Holocaust Memorial 
Museum should make the duplicate medal received 
under this subsection available for display to the pub-
lic whenever the United States Holocaust Memorial 
Museum determines that such display is timely, fea-
sible, and practical. 
SEC. 705. STATUS OF MEDALS. 
(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—The medals struck pursuant 
to this title are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 
of title 31, United States Code. 
(b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 5134 
of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this 
title shall be considered to be numismatic items. 
SEC. 706. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS 
OF SALE. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS.—There is 
authorized to be charged against the United States Mint 
Public Enterprise Fund such amounts as may be necessary 
to pay for the costs of the medals struck under this title. 
(b) PROCEEDS OF SALE.—Amounts received from the 
sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section
2727 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
704 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public 
Enterprise Fund. 
TITLE VIII—CONGRESSIONAL 
OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 
SEC. 801. TERMINATION OF CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT 
COMMISSION. 
Section 4020(f) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9055(f)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2025’’ and inserting 
‘‘June 30, 2023’’. 
TITLE IX—FLOOD INSURANCE 
SEC. 901. REAUTHORIZATION OF NATIONAL FLOOD INSUR-
ANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) FINANCING.—Section 1309(a) of the National 
Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4016(a)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘September 30, 2022’’ and inserting ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2023’’. 
(b) PROGRAM EXPIRATION.—Section 1319 of the Na-
tional Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4026) is 
amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2022’’ and inserting 
‘‘September 30, 2023’’. 
(c) RETROACTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amend-
ments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect as 
if enacted on September 30, 2022.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
DIVISION BB—CONSUMER 
PROTECTION AND COMMERCE 
TITLE I—MANUFACTURING.GOV 
SEC. 101. MANUFACTURING.GOV HUB. 
(a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘Sec-
retary’’ means the Secretary of Commerce. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination 
with the Chief Information Officer of the Department of 
Commerce, shall modify the manufacturing.gov website by 
establishing a section of the website to be known as the 
‘‘manufacturing.gov hub’’. 
(c) FUNCTIONS.—The manufacturing.gov hub estab-
lished under subsection (b) shall— 
(1) serve as the primary hub for information re-
lating to every Federal manufacturing program, in-
cluding the programs identified in the report of the 
Government Accountability Office entitled ‘‘U.S. 
Manufacturing’’ (GAO 17–240), published on March 
28, 2017; 
(2) provide the contact information of relevant 
program offices carrying out the Federal manufac-
turing programs described in paragraph (1); 
(3) provide an avenue for public input and feed-
back relating to—
2729 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(A) the functionality of the website of the 
Department of Commerce; 
(B) the Federal manufacturing programs 
described in paragraph (1); and 
(C) any other manufacturing-related chal-
lenges experienced by manufacturers in the 
United States; 
(4) establish web pages within the hub that shall 
focus on— 
(A) technology and research and develop-
ment; 
(B) trade; 
(C) workforce development and training; 
(D) industrial commons and supply chains; 
and 
(E) small and medium manufacturers; and 
(5) use machine learning to— 
(A) identify frequently asked questions; and 
(B) disseminate to the public answers to the 
questions identified under subparagraph (A). 
(d) NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS.—No additional funds are 
authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying 
out this section.
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TITLE II—STURDY 
SEC. 201. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY STANDARD TO PRO-
TECT AGAINST TIP-OVER OF CLOTHING STOR-
AGE UNITS. 
(a) CLOTHING STORAGE UNIT DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘clothing storage unit’’ means any free-stand-
ing furniture item manufactured in the United States or 
imported for use in the United States that is intended for 
the storage of clothing, typical of bedroom furniture. 
(b) CPSC DETERMINATION
OF SCOPE.—The Con-
sumer Product Safety Commission shall specify the types 
of furniture items within the scope of subsection (a) as part 
of a standard promulgated under this section based on tip- 
over data as reasonably necessary to protect children up 
to 72 months of age from injury or death. 
(c) CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY STANDARD RE-
QUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub-
section (f )(1), not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Consumer Product Safe-
ty Commission shall— 
(A) in consultation with representatives of 
consumer groups, clothing storage unit manufac-
turers, craft or handmade furniture manufactur-
ers, and independent child product engineers and
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
experts, examine and assess the effectiveness of 
any voluntary consumer product safety stand-
ards for clothing storage units; and 
(B) in accordance with section 553 of title 
5, United States Code, and paragraph (2), pro-
mulgate a final consumer product safety stand-
ard for clothing storage units to protect children 
from tip-over-related death or injury, that shall 
take effect 180 days after the date of promulga-
tion or such a later date as the Commission de-
termines appropriate. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The standard promulgated 
under paragraph (1) shall protect children from tip- 
over-related death or injury with— 
(A) tests that simulate the weight of chil-
dren up to 60 pounds; 
(B) objective, repeatable, reproducible, and 
measurable tests or series of tests that simulate 
real-world use and account for impacts on cloth-
ing storage unit stability that may result from 
placement on carpeted surfaces, drawers with 
items in them, multiple open drawers, and dy-
namic force; 
(C) testing of all clothing storage units, in-
cluding those 27 inches and above in height; and
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(D) warning requirements based on ASTM 
F2057–19, or its successor at the time of enact-
ment, provided that the Consumer Product Safe-
ty Commission may strengthen the warning re-
quirements of ASTM F2057–19, or its successor, 
if reasonably necessary to protect children from 
tip-over-related death or injury. 
(3) TESTING CLARIFICATION.—Tests referred to 
in paragraph (2)(B) shall allow for the utilization of 
safety features (excluding tip restraints) to work as 
intended if the features cannot be overridden by con-
sumers in normal use. 
(4) TREATMENT
OF
STANDARD.—A consumer 
product safety standard promulgated under para-
graph (1) shall be treated as a consumer product safe-
ty rule promulgated under section 9 of the Consumer 
Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2058). 
(d) ADOPTION OF VOLUNTARY STANDARD.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If a voluntary standard exists 
that meets the requirements of paragraph (2), the 
Commission shall, not later than 90 days after the 
date on which such determination is made and in ac-
cordance with section 553 of title 5, United States 
Code, promulgate a final consumer product safety 
standard that adopts the applicable performance re-
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
quirements of such voluntary standard related to pro-
tecting children from tip-over-related death or injury. 
A consumer product safety standard promulgated 
under this subsection shall be treated as a consumer 
product safety rule promulgated under section 9 of the 
Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2058). Such 
standard shall take effect 120 days after the date of 
the promulgation of the rule, or such a later date as 
the Commission determines appropriate. Such stand-
ard will supersede any other existing standard for 
clothing storage units to protect children from tip- 
over-related death or injury. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The requirements of this 
paragraph with respect to a voluntary standard for 
clothing storage units are that such standard— 
(A) protects children up to 72 months of age 
from tip-over-related death or injury; 
(B) meets the requirements described in sub-
section (c)(2); 
(C) is, or will be, published not later than 
60 days after the date of enactment of this Act; 
and 
(D) is developed by ASTM International or 
such other standard development organization
2734 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
that the Commission determines is in compliance 
with the intent of this section. 
(3) NOTICE REQUIRED TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE 
FEDERAL REGISTER.—The Commission shall publish 
a notice in the Federal Register upon beginning the 
promulgation of a rule under this subsection. 
(e) REVISION OF VOLUNTARY STANDARD.— 
(1) NOTICE TO COMMISSION.—If the performance 
requirements of a voluntary standard adopted under 
subsection (d) are subsequently revised, the organiza-
tion that revised the performance requirements of such 
standard shall notify the Commission of such revision 
after final approval. 
(2) TREATMENT OF REVISION.—Not later than 
90 days after the date on which the Commission is 
notified of revised performance requirements of a vol-
untary standard described in paragraph (1) (or such 
later date as the Commission determines appro-
priate), the Commission shall determine whether the 
revised performance requirements meet the require-
ments of subsection (d)(2)(B), and if so, modify, in 
accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States 
Code, the standard promulgated under subsection (d) 
to include the revised performance requirements that 
the Commission determines meet such requirements.
2735 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
The modified standard shall take effect after 180 days 
or such later date as the Commission deems appro-
priate. 
(f) SUBSEQUENT RULEMAKING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning 5 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, subsequent to the publi-
cation of a consumer product safety standard under 
this section, the Commission may, at any time, ini-
tiate rulemaking, in accordance with section 553 of 
title 5, United States Code, to modify the require-
ments of such standard or to include additional pro-
visions if the Commission makes a determination that 
such modifications or additions are reasonably nec-
essary to protect children from tip-over-related death 
or injury. 
(2) PETITION FOR REVISION OF RULE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Commission re-
ceives a petition for a new or revised test that 
permits incorporated safety features (excluding 
tip restraints) to work as intended, if the fea-
tures cannot be overridden by consumers in nor-
mal use and provide an equivalent or greater 
level of safety as the tests developed under sub-
section (c)(2) or the performance requirements 
described in subsection (d)(2)(B), as applicable,
2736 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
the Commission shall determine within 120 
days— 
(i) whether the petition meets the re-
quirements for petitions set forth in section 
1051.5 of title 16, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, or any successor regulation imple-
menting section 9(i) of the Consumer Prod-
uct Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2058(i)); and 
(ii) whether the petition demonstrates 
that the test could reasonably meet the re-
quirements of subsection (c)(2)(B), and if 
so, the Commission shall determine by re-
corded vote, within 60 days after the deter-
mination, whether to initiate rulemaking, 
in accordance with section 553 of title 5, 
United States Code, to revise a consumer 
product safety standard promulgated under 
this section to include the new or revised 
test. 
(B) DEMONSTRATION
OF
COMPLIANCE.— 
Compliance with the testing requirements of a 
standard revised under subparagraph (A) may 
be demonstrated either through the performance 
of a new or revised test under subparagraph (A) 
or the performance of the tests otherwise required
2737 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
under a standard promulgated under this sec-
tion. 
(3) TREATMENT OF RULES.—Any rule promul-
gated under this subsection, including any modifica-
tion or revision made under this subsection, shall be 
treated as a consumer product safety rule promul-
gated under section 9 of the Consumer Product Safety 
Act (15 U.S.C. 2058). 
TITLE III—INFORM CONSUMERS 
SEC. 301. COLLECTION, VERIFICATION, AND DISCLOSURE 
OF INFORMATION BY ONLINE MARKETPLACES 
TO INFORM CONSUMERS. 
(a) COLLECTION
AND VERIFICATION
OF INFORMA-
TION.— 
(1) COLLECTION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An online marketplace 
shall require any high-volume third party seller 
on such online marketplace’s platform to provide, 
not later than 10 days after qualifying as a 
high-volume third party seller on the platform, 
the following information to the online market-
place: 
(i) BANK ACCOUNT.— 
(I) IN GENERAL.—A bank account 
number, or, if such seller does not have
2738 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
a bank account, the name of the payee 
for payments issued by the online mar-
ketplace to such seller. 
(II) 
PROVISION
OF
INFORMA-
TION.—The bank account or payee in-
formation required under subclause (I) 
may be provided by the seller in the 
following ways: 
(aa) To the online market-
place. 
(bb) To a payment processor 
or other third party contracted by 
the online marketplace to main-
tain such information, provided 
that the online marketplace en-
sures that it can obtain such in-
formation within 3 business days 
from such payment processor or 
other third party. 
(ii) CONTACT INFORMATION.—Contact 
information for such seller as follows: 
(I) With respect to a high-volume 
third party seller that is an indi-
vidual, the individual’s name.
2739 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(II) With respect to a high-volume 
third party seller that is not an indi-
vidual, one of the following forms of 
contact information: 
(aa) A copy of a valid gov-
ernment-issued identification for 
an individual acting on behalf of 
such seller that includes the indi-
vidual’s name. 
(bb) A copy of a valid gov-
ernment-issued record or tax doc-
ument that includes the business 
name and physical address of 
such seller. 
(iii) TAX ID.—A business tax identi-
fication number, or, if such seller does not 
have a business tax identification number, a 
taxpayer identification number. 
(iv) WORKING EMAIL AND PHONE NUM-
BER.—A current working email address 
and phone number for such seller. 
(B) NOTIFICATION
OF
CHANGE; ANNUAL 
CERTIFICATION.—An online marketplace shall— 
(i) periodically, but not less than an-
nually, notify any high-volume third party
2740 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
seller on such online marketplace’s platform 
of the requirement to keep any information 
collected under subparagraph (A) current; 
and 
(ii) require any high-volume third 
party seller on such online marketplace’s 
platform to, not later than 10 days after re-
ceiving the notice under clause (i), electroni-
cally certify that— 
(I) the seller has provided any 
changes to such information to the on-
line marketplace, if any such changes 
have occurred; or 
(II) there have been no changes to 
such seller’s information. 
(C) SUSPENSION.—In the event that a high- 
volume third party seller does not provide the in-
formation or certification required under this 
paragraph, the online marketplace shall, after 
providing the seller with written or electronic no-
tice and an opportunity to provide such infor-
mation or certification not later than 10 days 
after the issuance of such notice, suspend any fu-
ture sales activity of such seller until such seller 
provides such information or certification.
2741 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(2) VERIFICATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An online marketplace 
shall— 
(i) verify the information collected 
under paragraph (1)(A) not later than 10 
days after such collection; and 
(ii) verify any change to such informa-
tion not later than 10 days after being noti-
fied of such change by a high-volume third 
party seller under paragraph (1)(B). 
(B) PRESUMPTION
OF
VERIFICATION.—In 
the case of a high-volume third party seller that 
provides a copy of a valid government-issued tax 
document, any information contained in such 
document shall be presumed to be verified as of 
the date of issuance of such document. 
(3) DATA USE LIMITATION.—Data collected solely 
to comply with the requirements of this section may 
not be used for any other purpose unless required by 
law. 
(4) DATA SECURITY REQUIREMENT.—An online 
marketplace shall implement and maintain reason-
able security procedures and practices, including ad-
ministrative, physical, and technical safeguards, ap-
propriate to the nature of the data and the purposes
2742 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
for which the data will be used, to protect the data 
collected to comply with the requirements of this sec-
tion from unauthorized use, disclosure, access, de-
struction, or modification. 
(b) DISCLOSURE REQUIRED.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An online marketplace 
shall— 
(i) require any high-volume third 
party seller with an aggregate total of 
$20,000 or more in annual gross revenues 
on such online marketplace, and that uses 
such online marketplace’s platform, to pro-
vide the information described in subpara-
graph (B) to the online marketplace; and 
(ii) disclose the information described 
in subparagraph (B) to consumers in a 
clear and conspicuous manner— 
(I) on the product listing page 
(including via hyperlink); or 
(II) in the order confirmation 
message or other document or commu-
nication made to the consumer after 
the purchase is finalized and in the
2743 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
consumer’s account transaction his-
tory. 
(B) INFORMATION DESCRIBED.—The infor-
mation described in this subparagraph is the fol-
lowing: 
(i) Subject to paragraph (2), the iden-
tity of the high-volume third party seller, 
including— 
(I) the full name of the seller, 
which may include the seller name or 
seller’s company name, or the name by 
which the seller or company operates 
on the online marketplace; 
(II) the physical address of the 
seller; and 
(III) contact information for the 
seller, 
to 
allow 
for 
the 
direct, 
unhindered communication with high- 
volume third party sellers by users of 
the online marketplace, including— 
(aa) a current working phone 
number; 
(bb) a current working email 
address; or
2744 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(cc) other means of direct 
electronic messaging (which may 
be provided to such seller by the 
online marketplace), provided that 
the requirements of this item shall 
not prevent an online marketplace 
from monitoring communications 
between high-volume third party 
sellers and users of the online 
marketplace for fraud, abuse, or 
spam. 
(ii) Whether the high-volume third 
party seller used a different seller to supply 
the consumer product to the consumer upon 
purchase, and, upon the request of an au-
thenticated purchaser, the information de-
scribed in clause (i) relating to any such 
seller that supplied the consumer product to 
the purchaser, if such seller is different than 
the high-volume third party seller listed on 
the product listing prior to purchase. 
(2) EXCEPTION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph 
(B), upon the request of a high-volume third 
party seller, an online marketplace may provide
2745 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
for partial disclosure of the identity information 
required under paragraph (1)(B)(i) in the fol-
lowing situations: 
(i) If such seller certifies to the online 
marketplace that the seller does not have a 
business address and only has a residential 
street address, or has a combined business 
and residential address, the online market-
place may— 
(I) disclose only the country and, 
if applicable, the State in which such 
seller resides; and 
(II) inform consumers that there 
is no business address available for the 
seller and that consumer inquiries 
should be submitted to the seller by 
phone, email, or other means of elec-
tronic messaging provided to such sell-
er by the online marketplace. 
(ii) If such seller certifies to the online 
marketplace that the seller is a business that 
has a physical address for product returns, 
the online marketplace may disclose the sell-
er’s physical address for product returns.
2746 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(iii) If such seller certifies to the online 
marketplace that the seller does not have a 
phone number other than a personal phone 
number, the online marketplace shall inform 
consumers that there is no phone number 
available for the seller and that consumer 
inquiries should be submitted to the seller’s 
email address or other means of electronic 
messaging provided to such seller by the on-
line marketplace. 
(B) LIMITATION ON EXCEPTION.—If an on-
line marketplace becomes aware that a high-vol-
ume third party seller has made a false represen-
tation to the online marketplace in order to jus-
tify the provision of a partial disclosure under 
subparagraph (A) or that a high-volume third 
party seller who has requested and received a 
provision for a partial disclosure under subpara-
graph (A) has not provided responsive answers 
within a reasonable time frame to consumer in-
quiries submitted to the seller by phone, email, 
or other means of electronic messaging provided 
to such seller by the online marketplace, the on-
line marketplace shall, after providing the seller 
with written or electronic notice and an oppor-
2747 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
tunity to respond not later than 10 days after 
the issuance of such notice, suspend any future 
sales activity of such seller unless such seller con-
sents to the disclosure of the identity information 
required under paragraph (1)(B)(i). 
(3) REPORTING MECHANISM.—An online market-
place shall disclose to consumers in a clear and con-
spicuous manner on the product listing of any high- 
volume third party seller a reporting mechanism that 
allows for electronic and telephonic reporting of sus-
picious marketplace activity to the online market-
place. 
(4) COMPLIANCE.—If a high-volume third party 
seller does not comply with the requirements to pro-
vide and disclose information under this subsection, 
the online marketplace shall, after providing the seller 
with written or electronic notice and an opportunity 
to provide or disclose such information not later than 
10 days after the issuance of such notice, suspend any 
future sales activity of such seller until the seller com-
plies with such requirements. 
(c) ENFORCEMENT
BY FEDERAL TRADE COMMIS-
SION.— 
(1) UNFAIR
AND
DECEPTIVE
ACTS
OR
PRAC-
TICES.—A violation of subsection (a) or (b) by an on-
2748 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
line marketplace shall be treated as a violation of a 
rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice 
prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal 
Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)). 
(2) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
enforce subsections (a) and (b) in the same man-
ner, by the same means, and with the same juris-
diction, powers, and duties as though all appli-
cable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade 
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were in-
corporated into and made a part of this section. 
(B) PRIVILEGES
AND
IMMUNITIES.—Any 
person that violates subsection (a) or (b) shall be 
subject to the penalties, and entitled to the privi-
leges and immunities, provided in the Federal 
Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.). 
(3) REGULATIONS.—The Commission may pro-
mulgate regulations under section 553 of title 5, 
United States Code, with respect to the collection, 
verification, or disclosure of information under this 
section, provided that such regulations are limited to 
what is necessary to collect, verify, and disclose such 
information.
2749 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(4) AUTHORITY
PRESERVED.—Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to limit the authority of the 
Commission under any other provision of law. 
(d) ENFORCEMENT
BY
STATE
ATTORNEYS
GEN-
ERAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If the attorney general of a 
State has reason to believe that any online market-
place has violated or is violating this section or a reg-
ulation promulgated under this section that affects 
one or more residents of that State, the attorney gen-
eral of the State may bring a civil action in any ap-
propriate district court of the United States, to— 
(A) enjoin further such violation by the de-
fendant; 
(B) enforce compliance with this section or 
such regulation; 
(C) obtain civil penalties in the amount 
provided for under subsection (c); 
(D) obtain other remedies permitted under 
State law; and 
(E) obtain damages, restitution, or other 
compensation on behalf of residents of the State. 
(2) NOTICE.—The attorney general of a State 
shall provide prior written notice of any action under 
paragraph (1) to the Commission and provide the
2750 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
Commission with a copy of the complaint in the ac-
tion, except in any case in which such prior notice 
is not feasible, in which case the attorney general 
shall serve such notice immediately upon instituting 
such action. 
(3) INTERVENTION BY THE COMMISSION.—Upon 
receiving notice under paragraph (2), the Commission 
shall have the right— 
(A) to intervene in the action; 
(B) upon so intervening, to be heard on all 
matters arising therein; and 
(C) to file petitions for appeal. 
(4) LIMITATION ON STATE ACTION WHILE FED-
ERAL ACTION IS PENDING.—If the Commission has 
instituted a civil action for violation of this section 
or a regulation promulgated under this section, no 
State attorney general, or official or agency of a 
State, may bring a separate action under paragraph 
(1) during the pendency of that action against any 
defendant named in the complaint of the Commission 
for any violation of this section or a regulation pro-
mulgated under this section that is alleged in the 
complaint. A State attorney general, or official or 
agency of a State, may join a civil action for a viola-
2751 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
tion of this section or regulation promulgated under 
this section filed by the Commission. 
(5) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—For purposes of 
bringing a civil action under paragraph (1), nothing 
in this section shall be construed to prevent the chief 
law enforcement officer, or official or agency of a 
State, from exercising the powers conferred on such 
chief law enforcement officer, or official or agency of 
a State, by the laws of the State to conduct investiga-
tions, administer oaths or affirmations, or compel the 
attendance of witnesses or the production of documen-
tary and other evidence. 
(6) ACTIONS BY OTHER STATE OFFICIALS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to civil ac-
tions brought by attorneys general under para-
graph (1), any other officer of a State who is au-
thorized by the State to do so, except for any pri-
vate person on behalf of the State attorney gen-
eral, may bring a civil action under paragraph 
(1), subject to the same requirements and limita-
tions that apply under this subsection to civil 
actions brought by attorneys general. 
(B) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this 
subsection may be construed to prohibit an au-
thorized official of a State from initiating or
2752 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
continuing any proceeding in a court of the 
State for a violation of any civil or criminal law 
of the State. 
(e) SEVERABILITY.—If any provision of this section, 
or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, 
is held invalid, the remainder of this section and the appli-
cation of such provision to other persons not similarly situ-
ated or to other circumstances shall not be affected by the 
invalidation. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
COMMISSION.—The 
term 
‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Trade Commission. 
(2) CONSUMER PRODUCT.—The term ‘‘consumer 
product’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
101 of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty—Federal Trade 
Commission Improvement Act (15 U.S.C. 2301) and 
section 700.1 of title 16, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(3) HIGH-VOLUME THIRD PARTY SELLER.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘high-volume 
third party seller’’ means a participant on an 
online marketplace’s platform who is a third 
party seller and, in any continuous 12-month 
period during the previous 24 months, has en-
tered into 200 or more discrete sales or trans-
actions of new or unused consumer products and
2753 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
an aggregate total of $5,000 or more in gross 
revenues. 
(B) CLARIFICATION.—For purposes of cal-
culating the number of discrete sales or trans-
actions or the aggregate gross revenues under 
subparagraph (A), an online marketplace shall 
only be required to count sales or transactions 
made through the online marketplace and for 
which payment was processed by the online mar-
ketplace, either directly or through its payment 
processor. 
(4) ONLINE MARKETPLACE.—The term ‘‘online 
marketplace’’ means any person or entity that oper-
ates a consumer-directed electronically based or 
accessed platform that— 
(A) includes features that allow for, facili-
tate, or enable third party sellers to engage in 
the sale, purchase, payment, storage, shipping, or 
delivery of a consumer product in the United 
States; 
(B) is used by one or more third party sell-
ers for such purposes; and 
(C) has a contractual or similar relation-
ship with consumers governing their use of the 
platform to purchase consumer products.
2754 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
(5) SELLER.—The term ‘‘seller’’ means a person 
who sells, offers to sell, or contracts to sell a consumer 
product through an online marketplace’s platform. 
(6) THIRD PARTY SELLER.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘third party 
seller’’ means any seller, independent of an on-
line marketplace, who sells, offers to sell, or con-
tracts to sell a consumer product in the United 
States through such online marketplace’s plat-
form. 
(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘third party 
seller’’ does not include, with respect to an online 
marketplace— 
(i) a seller who operates the online 
marketplace’s platform; or 
(ii) a business entity that has— 
(I) made available to the general 
public the entity’s name, business ad-
dress, and working contact informa-
tion; 
(II) an ongoing contractual rela-
tionship with the online marketplace to 
provide the online marketplace with 
the manufacture, distribution, whole-
2755 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
saling, or fulfillment of shipments of 
consumer products; and 
(III) provided to the online mar-
ketplace identifying information, as 
described in subsection (a), that has 
been verified in accordance with that 
subsection. 
(7) VERIFY.—The term ‘‘verify’’ means to con-
firm information provided to an online marketplace 
pursuant to this section, which may include the use 
of one or more methods that enable the online market-
place to reliably determine that any information and 
documents provided are valid, corresponding to the 
seller or an individual acting on the seller’s behalf, 
not misappropriated, and not falsified. 
(g) RELATIONSHIP TO STATE LAWS.—No State or po-
litical subdivision of a State, or territory of the United 
States, may establish or continue in effect any law, regula-
tion, rule, requirement, or standard that conflicts with the 
requirements of this section. 
(h) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
2756 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
TITLE 
IV—VIRGINIA 
GRAEME 
BAKER POOL AND SPA SAFE-
TY ACT REAUTHORIZATION 
SEC. 401. COVERED ENTITY DEFINED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1403 of the Virginia 
Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 8002) 
is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), 
(7), and (8) as paragraphs (6), (7), (8), (9), and (10), 
respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘covered enti-
ty’ means— 
‘‘(A) a State; or 
‘‘(B) an Indian Tribe. 
‘‘(5) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian Tribe’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 4(e) of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)).’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Paragraph (10) of sec-
tion 1403 of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safe-
ty Act (as so redesignated) is amended by striking ‘‘section 
3(10) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C.
2757 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
2052(10))’’ and inserting ‘‘section 3(a) of the Consumer 
Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a))’’. 
SEC. 402. SWIMMING POOL SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1405 of the Virginia 
Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 8004) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1405. SWIMMING POOL SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations authorized by subsection (e), the Commission 
shall carry out a grant program to provide assistance to 
eligible covered entities. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant under 
the program, a covered entity shall— 
‘‘(1) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Com-
mission that, as of the date on which the covered enti-
ty submits an application to the Commission for a 
grant under this section, the covered entity has en-
acted and provides for the enforcement of a statute 
that— 
‘‘(A) 
except 
as 
provided 
in 
section 
1406(a)(1)(A)(i), applies to all swimming pools 
constructed in the State or in the jurisdiction of 
the Indian Tribe (as the case may be) on or after 
such date; and
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(B) meets the minimum State law require-
ments of section 1406; and 
‘‘(2) submit an application to the Commission at 
such time, in such form, and containing such addi-
tional information as the Commission may require. 
‘‘(c) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—The Commission shall de-
termine the amount of a grant awarded under this section, 
and shall consider— 
‘‘(1) the population of the covered entity; 
‘‘(2) the relative enforcement and implementa-
tion needs of the covered entity; and 
‘‘(3) allocation of grant funds in a manner de-
signed to provide the maximum benefit from the pro-
gram in terms of protecting children from drowning 
or entrapment. 
‘‘(d) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—A State or an Indian 
Tribe receiving a grant under this section shall use— 
‘‘(1) at least 25 percent of amounts made avail-
able— 
‘‘(A) to hire and train personnel for imple-
mentation and enforcement of standards under 
the swimming pool and spa safety law of the 
State or Indian Tribe; and
2759 
† HR 2617 EAS2 
‘‘(B) to defray administrative costs associ-
ated with the hiring and training programs 
under subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(2) the remainder— 
‘‘(A) to educate pool owners, pool operators, 
and other members of the public about the stand-
ards under the swimming pool and spa safety 
law of the State or Indian Tribe and about the 
prevention of drowning or entrapment of chil-
dren using swimming pools and spas; and 
‘‘(B) to defray administrative costs associ-
ated with the education programs under sub-
paragraph (A). 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for fiscal 
year 2023 $2,500,000 to carry out this section.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1406 of the 
Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (15 
U.S.C. 8005) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘the eligi-
bility of a State’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘the eligibility of a covered entity’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) STATE DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘State’ 
includes an Indian Tribe.’’.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
SEC. 403. REAUTHORIZATION OF CPSC EDUCATION AND 
AWARENESS PROGRAM. 
Section 1407 of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and 
Spa Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 8006) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1407. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall establish 
and carry out an education and awareness program to in-
form the public of methods to prevent drowning and entrap-
ment in swimming pools and spas. In carrying out the pro-
gram, the Commission shall develop— 
‘‘(1) educational materials designed for swim-
ming pool and spa manufacturers, service companies, 
and supply retail outlets, including guidance on bar-
rier and drain cover inspection, maintenance, and re-
placement; 
‘‘(2) educational materials designed for swim-
ming pool and spa owners and operators, consumers, 
States, and Indian Tribes; and 
‘‘(3) a national media campaign to promote 
awareness of swimming pool and spa safety. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for 
fiscal year 2023 $2,500,000 to carry out the education and 
awareness program authorized by subsection (a).’’.
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
TITLE V—RANSOMWARE ACT 
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Reporting Attacks from 
Nations Selected for Oversight and Monitoring Web Attacks 
and 
Ransomware 
from 
Enemies 
Act’’ 
or 
the 
‘‘RANSOMWARE Act’’. 
SEC. 502. INCLUSION OF REPORT. 
Section 2 of Public Law 116–173 is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘; and’’; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) 
the 
first 
report 
required 
by 
the 
RANSOMWARE Act.’’. 
SEC. 503. REPORT ON RANSOMWARE AND OTHER CYBER-RE-
LATED ATTACKS BY CERTAIN FOREIGN INDI-
VIDUALS, COMPANIES, AND GOVERNMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—With the transmission of the report 
required by section 2 of Public Law 116–173, and sepa-
rately in 2025 and 2027, the Federal Trade Commission 
shall transmit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report, 
which may include a classified annex for information that 
is nonpublic or related to Commission investigations or
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
interagency deliberations, and that shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The number and details of cross-border com-
plaints received by the Commission (including which 
such complaints were acted upon and which such 
complaints were not acted upon) that relate to inci-
dents that were reported to the Commission as com-
mitted by individuals, companies, or governments, in-
cluding those described in subsection (b), broken down 
by each type of individual, type of company, or gov-
ernment described in a paragraph of such subsection. 
(2) The number and details of cross-border com-
plaints received by the Commission (including which 
such complaints were acted upon and which such 
complaints were not acted upon) that involve 
ransomware or other cyber-related attacks that were 
reported to the Commission as committed by individ-
uals, companies, or governments, including those de-
scribed in subsection (b), broken down by each type 
of individual, type of company, or government de-
scribed in a paragraph of such subsection. 
(3) A description of trends in the number of 
cross-border complaints received by the Commission 
and reported to the Commission as incidents that 
were committed by individuals, companies, or govern-
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
ments, including those described in subsection (b), 
broken down by each type of individual, type of com-
pany, or government described in a paragraph of 
such subsection. 
(4) Identification and details of foreign agencies 
(including foreign law enforcement agencies (as de-
fined in section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission 
Act (15 U.S.C. 44))) located in Russia, China, North 
Korea, or Iran with which the Commission has co-
operated and the results of such cooperation, includ-
ing any foreign agency enforcement action or lack 
thereof. 
(5) A description of Commission litigation, in 
relation to cross-border complaints described in para-
graphs (1) and (2), brought in foreign courts and the 
results of such litigation. 
(6) Any recommendations for legislation that 
may advance the mission of the Commission in car-
rying out the U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2006 and the 
amendments made by such Act. 
(7) Any recommendations for legislation that 
may advance the security of the United States and 
United States companies against ransomware and 
other cyber-related attacks.
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(8) Any recommendations for United States citi-
zens and United States businesses to implement best 
practices on mitigating ransomware and other cyber- 
related attacks. 
(b) INDIVIDUALS, COMPANIES, AND GOVERNMENTS DE-
SCRIBED.—The individuals, companies, and governments 
described in this subsection are the following: 
(1) An individual located within Russia or with 
direct or indirect ties to the Government of the Rus-
sian Federation. 
(2) A company located within Russia or with di-
rect or indirect ties to the Government of the Russian 
Federation. 
(3) The Government of the Russian Federation. 
(4) An individual located within China or with 
direct or indirect ties to the Government of the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China. 
(5) A company located within China or with di-
rect or indirect ties to the Government of the People’s 
Republic of China. 
(6) The Government of the People’s Republic of 
China. 
(7) An individual located within North Korea or 
with direct or indirect ties to the Government of the 
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
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(8) A company located within North Korea or 
with direct or indirect ties to the Government of the 
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. 
(9) The Government of the Democratic People’s 
Republic of Korea. 
(10) An individual located within Iran or with 
direct or indirect ties to the Government of the Is-
lamic Republic of Iran. 
(11) A company located within Iran or with di-
rect or indirect ties to the Government of the Islamic 
Republic of Iran. 
(12) The Government of the Islamic Republic of 
Iran. 
TITLE VI—TRAVEL AND TOURISM 
SEC. 600. DEFINED TERM. 
In this title, the term ‘‘COVID–19 public health emer-
gency’’— 
(1) means the public health emergency first de-
clared on January 31, 2020, by the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services under section 319 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) with re-
spect to COVID–19; and 
(2) includes any renewal of such declaration 
pursuant to such section 319.
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Subtitle A—Travel Promotion 
SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Visit America Act’’. 
SEC. 602. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this subtitle are— 
(1) to support the travel and tourism industry, 
which produces economic impacts that are vital to 
our national economy; and 
(2) to establish national goals for international 
visitors to the United States, including— 
(A) recommendations for achieving such 
goals and timelines for implementing such rec-
ommendations; 
(B) coordination between Federal and State 
agencies; 
(C) the resources needed by each Govern-
ment agency to achieve such goals; and 
(D) the number of international visitors 
and the value of national travel exports. 
SEC. 603. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) setting a national goal for the number of 
international visitors to the United States is vital for 
aligning Federal tourism policy to support American 
jobs and economic growth;
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(2) setting a national goal for travel exports is 
vital for aligning Federal tourism policy to support 
American jobs, increase travel exports, and improve 
our Nation’s balance of trade; 
(3) the travel industry is an essential part of the 
United States services exports with respect to busi-
ness, education, medical, and leisure travel; 
(4) the promotion of travel and visitation by the 
Corporation for Travel Promotion (doing business as 
‘‘Brand USA’’) is vital to increasing visitation and 
articulating the visitation laws of the United States; 
and 
(5) there is an urgent need for a coordinated 
travel and tourism industry response and strategy to 
respond to the current state of such industry and fu-
ture unforeseen circumstances that may impact the 
travel and tourism industry. 
SEC. 604. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR TRAV-
EL AND TOURISM. 
Section 2(d) of the Reorganization Plan Numbered 3 
of 1979 (93 Stat. 1382; 5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘There shall be in the Depart-
ment two additional Assistant Secretaries’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(1) There shall be in the Department three 
additional Assistant Secretaries, including the Assist-
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ant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism,’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for 
Travel and Tourism shall report directly to the Under 
Secretary of Commerce for International Trade.’’. 
SEC. 605. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSISTANT SEC-
RETARY OF COMMERCE FOR TRAVEL AND 
TOURISM. 
(a) VISITATION GOALS.—The Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce for Travel and Tourism (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘‘Assistant Secretary’’) shall— 
(1) after consultation with the travel and tour-
ism industry, work with the Travel Promotion Com-
mittee and the United States Travel and Tourism Ad-
visory Board to establish an annual goal, consistent 
with the goals of the travel and tourism strategy de-
veloped pursuant to section 606(1), for— 
(A) the number of international visitors to 
the United States; and 
(B) the value of travel and tourism com-
merce; 
(2) develop recommendations for achieving the 
annual goals established pursuant to paragraph (1);
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(3) ensure that travel and tourism policy is de-
veloped in consultation with— 
(A) the Tourism Policy Council; 
(B) the Secretary of State; 
(C) the Secretary of Homeland Security; 
(D) the Corporation for Travel Promotion; 
(E) the United States Travel and Tourism 
Advisory Board; and 
(F) travel and tourism industry representa-
tives, including public and private destination 
marketing organizations, travel and tourism 
suppliers, gig economy representatives, and labor 
representatives from these industries; 
(4) establish short, medium, and long-term 
timelines for implementing the recommendations de-
veloped pursuant to paragraph (2); 
(5) conduct Federal agency needs assessments, in 
consultation with the Office of Management and 
Budget and other relevant Federal agencies, to iden-
tify the resources, statutory or regulatory changes, 
and private sector engagement needed to achieve the 
annual visitation goals; and 
(6) provide assessments and recommendations 
to—
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(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives; and 
(C) the public through a publicly accessible 
website. 
(b) DOMESTIC TRAVEL AND TOURISM.—The Assistant 
Secretary, to the extent feasible, shall— 
(1) evaluate, on an ongoing basis, domestic pol-
icy options for supporting competitiveness with re-
spect to the strengths, weaknesses, and growth of the 
domestic travel industry; 
(2) develop recommendations and goals to sup-
port and enhance domestic tourism, separated by 
business and leisure; and 
(3) engage public and private stakeholders to 
support domestic tourism. 
(c) WORKFORCE.—The Assistant Secretary shall— 
(1) consult with the Secretary of Labor to de-
velop strategies and best practices for improving the 
timeliness and reliability of travel and tourism work-
force data; 
(2) work with the Secretary of Labor and the 
Bureau of Economic Analysis to improve travel and 
tourism industry data;
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(3) provide recommendations for policy enhance-
ments and efficiencies; and 
(4) provide policy recommendations regarding 
the gig economy as it relates to travel and tourism. 
(d) FACILITATION
OF
INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS 
TRAVEL.—The Assistant Secretary, in coordination with 
relevant Federal agencies, shall strive to increase and facili-
tate international business travel to the United States and 
ensure competitiveness by— 
(1) facilitating large meetings, incentives, con-
ferences, and exhibitions in the United States; 
(2) emphasizing rural and other destinations in 
the United States that are rich in cultural heritage 
or ecological tourism, among other uniquely American 
destinations, as locations for hosting international 
meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions; and 
(3) facilitating sports and recreation events and 
activities in the United States. 
(e) RECOVERY STRATEGIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
amounts are appropriated to the Department of Com-
merce to accomplish the purposes of this section, the 
Assistant Secretary, in consultation with the entities 
referred to in subsection (a)(3), shall develop recovery 
strategies for the travel and tourism industry in re-
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sponse to the economic impacts of the COVID–19 
pandemic and in anticipation of other unpredictable 
catastrophic events that would significantly affect the 
travel and tourism industry, such as hurricanes, 
floods, tsunamis, tornadoes, wildfires, terrorist at-
tacks, and pandemics. 
(2) COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS.—In developing the 
recovery strategies under paragraph (1), the Assistant 
Secretary shall conduct cost-benefit analyses that take 
into account the health and economic effects of public 
health mitigation measures on the travel and tourism 
industry. 
(f) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The Assistant Sec-
retary, subject to the availability of appropriations, 
shall produce an annual forecasting report on the 
travel and tourism industry, which shall include cur-
rent and anticipated— 
(A) domestic employment needs; 
(B) international inbound volume and 
spending, taking into account the lasting effects 
of the COVID–19 public health emergency and 
the impact of the recovery strategy implemented 
pursuant to subsection (e)(1); and
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(C) domestic volume and spending, includ-
ing Federal and State public land travel and 
tourism data. 
(2) BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS.—The Di-
rector of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, subject to 
the availability of appropriations and to the extent 
feasible, should make quarterly updates to the Travel 
and Tourism Satellite Accounts, including— 
(A) State-level travel and tourism spending 
data; 
(B) travel and tourism workforce data for 
full-time and part-time employment; and 
(C) Federal and State public lands outdoor 
recreational activity and tourism spending data. 
(3) NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM OFFICE.— 
The Director of the National Travel and Tourism Of-
fice— 
(A) in partnership with the Bureau of Eco-
nomic Analysis and other relevant Federal agen-
cies, shall provide a monthly report on inter-
national arrival and spending data to— 
(i) the Travel and Tourism Advisory 
Board; and 
(ii) the public through a publicly ac-
cessible website; and
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(B) shall include questions in the Survey of 
International Air Travelers regarding wait- 
times, visits to public lands, and State data, to 
the extent applicable. 
SEC. 606. TRAVEL AND TOURISM STRATEGY. 
Not less frequently than once every 10 years, the Sec-
retary of Commerce, in consultation with the United States 
Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, the Tourism Policy 
Council, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Home-
land Security, shall develop and submit to Congress a 10- 
year travel and tourism strategy, which shall include— 
(1) the establishment of goals with respect to the 
number of annual international visitors to the United 
States and the annual amount of travel and tourism 
commerce in the United States during such 10-year 
period; 
(2) the resources needed to achieve the goals es-
tablished pursuant to paragraph (1); and 
(3) recommendations for statutory or regulatory 
changes that would be necessary to achieve such goals. 
SEC. 607. UNITED STATES TRAVEL AND TOURISM ADVISORY 
BOARD. 
Section 3 of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to encourage trav-
el in the United States, and for other purposes’’ (15 U.S.C. 
1546) is amended to read as follows:
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‘‘SEC. 3. UNITED STATES TRAVEL AND TOURISM ADVISORY 
BOARD. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the United 
States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (referred to in 
this section as the ‘Board’), the members of which shall be 
appointed by the Secretary of Commerce for 2-year terms 
from companies and organizations in the travel and tour-
ism industry. 
‘‘(b) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The Assistant Secretary 
of Commerce for Travel and Tourism shall serve as the Ex-
ecutive Director of the Board. 
‘‘(c) EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT.—The National Travel 
and Tourism Office of the International Trade Administra-
tion shall serve as the Executive Secretariat for the Board. 
‘‘(d) FUNCTIONS.—The Board’s Charter shall specify 
that the Board will— 
‘‘(1) serve as the advisory body to the Secretary 
of Commerce on matters relating to the travel and 
tourism industry in the United States; 
‘‘(2) advise the Secretary of Commerce on gov-
ernment policies and programs that affect the United 
States travel and tourism industry; 
‘‘(3) offer counsel on current and emerging 
issues;
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‘‘(4) provide a forum for discussing and pro-
posing solutions to problems related to the travel and 
tourism industry; and 
‘‘(5) provide advice regarding the domestic travel 
and tourism industry as an economic engine. 
‘‘(e) RECOVERY STRATEGIES.—The Board shall assist 
the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tour-
ism in the development and implementation of the recovery 
strategies required under section 605(e)(1) of the Visit 
America Act.’’. 
SEC. 608. DATA ON DOMESTIC TRAVEL AND TOURISM. 
The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and 
Tourism, subject to the availability of appropriations, shall 
collect and make public aggregate data on domestic travel 
and tourism trends. 
SEC. 609. COMPLETION OF PROCEEDING. 
If the Secretary of Commerce, before the date of the 
enactment of this Act, has taken any action that, in whole 
or in part, implements this title or the amendments made 
by this title, the Secretary is not required to revisit such 
action to the extent such action is consistent with this title 
and the amendments made by this title.
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Subtitle B—Travel Safety 
SEC. 611. STUDY AND REPORT ON EFFECTS OF COVID–19 
PANDEMIC ON TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUS-
TRY IN UNITED STATES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) PANDEMIC
PERIOD.—The term ‘‘pandemic 
period’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘emergency 
period’’ in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B)), excluding any 
portion of such period after the date that is 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce. 
(3) TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.—The term 
‘‘travel and tourism industry’’ means the travel and 
tourism industry in the United States. 
(b) INTERIM STUDY AND REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, 
after consultation with relevant stakeholders, includ-
ing the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory 
Board, shall— 
(A) complete an interim study, which shall 
be based on data available at the time the study 
is conducted and provide a framework for the
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study required under subsection (c), regarding 
the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on the 
travel and tourism industry, including various 
segments of the travel and tourism industry, 
such as domestic, international, leisure, business, 
conventions, meetings, and events; and 
(B) submit a report containing the results 
of such interim study to— 
(i) 
the 
Committee 
on 
Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate; 
and 
(ii) the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall make the 
report described in paragraph (1) publicly available 
on the website of the Department of Commerce. 
(c) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation 
with the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board 
and the head of any other Federal agency the Secretary con-
siders appropriate, shall complete a study on the effects of 
the COVID–19 pandemic on the travel and tourism indus-
try, including various segments of the travel and tourism 
industry, such as domestic, international, leisure, business, 
conventions, meetings, and events.
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(d) MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.—In conducting 
the interim study required under subsection (b) and the 
study required under subsection (c), the Secretary shall con-
sider— 
(1) changes in employment rates in the travel 
and tourism industry during the pandemic period; 
(2) changes in revenues of businesses in the trav-
el and tourism industry during the pandemic period; 
(3) changes in employment and sales in indus-
tries related to the travel and tourism industry, and 
changes in contributions of the travel and tourism in-
dustry to such related industries, during the pan-
demic period; 
(4) the effects attributable to the changes de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (3) in the travel 
and tourism industry and such related industries on 
the overall economy of the United States, including— 
(A) an analysis of regional economies (on a 
per capita basis) during the pandemic period; 
and 
(B) the projected effects of such changes on 
the regional and overall economy of the United 
States following the pandemic period; 
(5) the effects attributable to the changes de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (3) in the travel
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
and tourism industry and such related industries on 
minority communities, including Native Americans, 
Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives; 
(6) reports on the economic impact of COVID– 
19 issued by other Federal agencies; 
(7) the costs and health benefits associated with 
COVID–19 requirements for air travel for entry into 
or exit from the United States and any consequent 
disincentives for tourism; 
(8) any Federal barriers related to the response 
to the COVID–19 pandemic that are disincentivizing 
international tourism in the United States, including 
the source and policy rationale for these barriers; and 
(9) any additional matters that the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
(e) CONSULTATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT.—In con-
ducting the study required under subsection (c), the Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) consult with representatives of— 
(A) the small business sector; 
(B) the restaurant or food service sector; 
(C) the hotel and alternative accommoda-
tions sector; 
(D) the attractions or recreation sector; 
(E) the outdoor recreation sector;
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(F) the travel distribution services sector; 
(G) destination marketing organizations; 
(H) State tourism offices; 
(I) the passenger air, railroad, bus, and 
rental car sectors; and 
(J) labor representatives for— 
(i) the sectors referred to in subpara-
graph (I); and 
(ii) security screening personnel des-
ignated by the Administrator of the Trans-
portation Security Administration; and 
(2) provide an opportunity for public comment 
and advice relevant to conducting such study. 
(f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after 
the completion of the study required under subsection 
(c), the Secretary, in consultation with the United 
States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and the 
Tourism Policy Council, shall submit a report to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce of the House of Representatives that 
contains— 
(A) the results of such study; 
(B) policy recommendations for—
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(i) promoting and assisting the travel 
and tourism industry generally; and 
(ii) promoting and assisting travel and 
tourism to Native American, Native Hawai-
ian, and Alaska Native communities, by 
fully implementing the Native American 
Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience 
Act (Public Law 114–221); and 
(C) a description of the actions that should 
be taken by the Federal Government to accelerate 
the implementation of travel and tourism poli-
cies and programs authorized by law. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall make the 
report described in paragraph (1) publicly available 
on the website of the Department of Commerce. 
DIVISION CC—WATER RELATED 
MATTERS 
SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATIONS RELATED TO 
FISH RECOVERY PROGRAMS. 
Section 3 of Public Law 106–392 (114 Stat. 1603; 123 
Stat. 1310) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘2023’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘2024’’; 
(2) 
in 
subsection 
(b)(1), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$179,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$184,000,000’’;
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(3) 
in 
subsection 
(b)(2), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$30,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$25,000,000’’; 
(4) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘, at least 1 
year prior to such expiration,’’; and 
(5) in subsection (j), by striking ‘‘2021’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘2022’’. 
SEC. 102. COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM CONSERVATION PILOT 
PROGRAM. 
Section 206 of the Energy and Water Development and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (43 U.S.C. 620 
note; Public Law 113–235), is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘additional 
funds’’ and inserting ‘‘funds for new water conserva-
tion agreements or’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘2022’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2024’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2025’’. 
SEC. 103. SALTON SEA PROJECTS. 
Section 1101 of the Reclamation Projects Authoriza-
tion and Adjustment Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–575; 106 
Stat. 4661) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) 
as subsections (c) through (e), respectively;
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL PROJECT AUTHORITIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclama-
tion, may provide grants and enter into contracts 
and cooperative agreements to carry out projects lo-
cated in the area of the Salton Sea in southern Cali-
fornia to mitigate impacts from dust from dry and 
drying lakebeds and to improve fish and wildlife 
habitat, recreational opportunities, and water qual-
ity, in partnership with— 
‘‘(A) State, Tribal, and local governments; 
‘‘(B) water districts; 
‘‘(C) joint powers authorities, including the 
Salton Sea Authority; 
‘‘(D) nonprofit organizations; and 
‘‘(E) institutions of higher education. 
‘‘(2) INCLUDED
ACTIVITIES.—The projects de-
scribed in paragraph (1) may include— 
‘‘(A) construction, operation, maintenance, 
permitting, and design activities required for the 
projects; and 
‘‘(B) dust suppression projects.’’; and
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(3) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), by 
striking ‘‘project referred to in subsection (a)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘projects referred to in subsections (a) and 
(b)’’. 
SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION OF SUN RIVER PROJECT, MON-
TANA. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Commissioner of Reclamation and pursuant to the rec-
lamation laws, may construct, operate, and maintain fa-
cilities in the Sun River project, Montana, for the purpose 
of hydroelectric power generation. 
(b) EFFECT.—The authorization under subsection (a) 
shall— 
(1) be in addition to any other authorizations 
for the Sun River project under existing law; and 
(2) not limit, restrict, or alter operations of the 
Sun River project in a manner that would be adverse 
to the satisfaction of valid existing water rights or 
water deliveries to the holder of any valid water serv-
ice contract.
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SEC. 105. ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN-
VESTMENT AND JOBS ACT OF SMALL WATER 
STORAGE 
AND 
GROUNDWATER 
STORAGE 
PROJECTS. 
Section 40903(b)(1)(B)(i) of the Infrastructure Invest-
ment and Jobs Act (43 U.S.C. 3203(b)(1)(B)(i)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2,000’’ and inserting ‘‘200’’. 
DIVISION DD—PUBLIC LAND 
MANAGEMENT 
SEC. 1. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY. 
In this division, the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Sec-
retary of the Interior. 
TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF THE 
INTERIOR PROVISIONS 
SEC. 101. PILOT PROGRAM FOR NATIVE PLANT SPECIES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) INVASIVE SPECIES.—The term ‘‘invasive spe-
cies’’ means, with respect to a particular ecosystem, 
a nonnative organism, the introduction of which 
causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental 
harm or harm to human, animal, or plant health. 
(2) LOCALLY
ADAPTED.—The term ‘‘locally 
adapted’’ means, with respect to plants, plants that— 
(A) originate from an area that is geo-
graphically proximate to a planting area; and
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
(B) are environmentally adapted to and 
likely to become established and persist in that 
planting area. 
(3) NATIVE PLANT SPECIES.—The term ‘‘native 
plant species’’ means, with respect to a particular 
ecosystem, a species that, other than as a result of an 
introduction, historically occurred or currently occurs 
in that ecosystem. 
(4) NONNATIVE.—The term ‘‘nonnative’’ means, 
with respect to a particular ecosystem, an organism, 
including the seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological 
material of the organism capable of propagating that 
species, that occurs outside of the natural range of the 
organism. 
(5) PLANT MATERIAL.—The term ‘‘plant mate-
rial’’ means a plant or the seeds, eggs, spores, or other 
biological material of a plant capable of propagating 
the species of the plant. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date on which funds are made available to carry out 
this section, the Secretary shall, in accordance with any ex-
isting laws and management policies, carry out a pilot pro-
gram to prioritize the use of native plant species within 
geographically diverse units of the National Park System
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
and public land administered by the Bureau of Land Man-
agement. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—In carrying out the pilot pro-
gram under subsection (b), the Secretary shall, to the extent 
practicable— 
(1) give preference to the use of locally adapted 
native plant materials where appropriate; 
(2) incorporate efforts to prevent, control, or 
eradicate the spread of invasive species; 
(3) incorporate efforts to use native plants in 
areas that have experienced a recent wildfire event; 
and 
(4) identify situations in which the use of non- 
native plants may be warranted. 
(d) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall, in carrying 
out the pilot program under subsection (b), coordinate ac-
tivities with— 
(1) the National Seed Strategy of the Bureau of 
Land Management; 
(2) the Plant Conservation Alliance; and 
(3) the Plant Materials Centers of the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service. 
(e) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—The authority to 
carry out the pilot program under subsection (b) terminates
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
on the date that is 5 years after the date on which the pilot 
program is established under that subsection. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date on 
which the authority to carry out the pilot program termi-
nates under subsection (e), the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report describing— 
(1) the results of the pilot program carried out 
under subsection (b); and 
(2) the cost-effectiveness of using native plants in 
units of the National Park System and public land 
administered by the Bureau of Land Management. 
SEC. 102. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE HIGHLANDS CON-
SERVATION ACT. 
The Highlands Conservation Act (Public Law 108– 
421; 118 Stat. 2375) is amended— 
(1) in section 3— 
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) HIGHLANDS REGION.—The term ‘Highlands 
region’ means— 
‘‘(A) the area depicted on the map entitled 
‘The Highlands Region’, dated June 2004, up-
dated after the date of enactment of this sub-
paragraph to comprise each municipality in-
cluded on the list of municipalities included in
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† HR 2617 EAS2 
the Highlands region as of that date of enact-
ment, and maintained in the headquarters of the 
Forest Service in Washington, District of Colum-
bia; and 
‘‘(B) a municipality approved by the Direc-
tor of the United States Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice under section 4(e).’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by amending sub-
paragraph (B) to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) identified by a Highlands State as 
having high conservation value using the best 
available science and geographic information 
systems; and’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ‘‘; or’’ 
and inserting ‘‘, including a political subdivi-
sion thereof; or’’; and 
(D) by striking paragraphs (5) through (7); 
(2) in section 4— 
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘in the 
Study’’ and all that follows through the end of 
the paragraph and inserting ‘‘using the best 
available science and geographic information 
systems; and’’; 
(B) in subsection (c), by amending para-
graph (5) to read as follows:
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‘‘(5) provides that land conservation partnership 
projects will be consistent with areas identified as 
having high conservation value in accordance with 
the purposes described in section 2 in the Highlands 
region.’’; 
(C) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘fiscal 
years 2005 through 2021’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal 
years 2023 through 2029’’; 
(D) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (g); and 
(E) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) REQUEST FOR INCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL MU-
NICIPALITY.—The Director of the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service may, at the request of a Highlands State, 
with the concurrence of the municipality, approve the inclu-
sion of a municipality within the State as part of the High-
lands region. 
‘‘(f) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.— 
‘‘(1) FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary 
of the Interior may not expend more than $300,000 
for the administration of this Act in each fiscal year. 
‘‘(2) STATE ADMINISTRATION.—A State that re-
ceives funds under this section for a land conservation 
partnership project may not use more than 5 percent
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of the funds to administer the land conservation part-
nership project.’’; 
(3) in section 5— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘the 
Study, Update, and any future study that the 
Forest Service may undertake in’’; 
(B) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘, in-
cluding a Pennsylvania and Connecticut 
Update’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘the 
findings’’ and all that follows through the 
end of the paragraph and inserting ‘‘with 
stakeholders regarding implementation of 
the program; and’’; and 
(C) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘2005 
through 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘2023 through 
2029’’; and 
(4) in section 6, by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(f) APPRAISAL METHODOLOGY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to an appraisal 
related to a land acquisition carried out under this 
Act, a Highlands State shall use an appraisal meth-
odology approved by the Secretary of the Interior.
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‘‘(2) ALTERNATIVE APPRAISAL METHODOLOGY.— 
A Highlands State may petition the Secretary of the 
Interior to consider an alternative appraisal method-
ology when there is a conflict, in any Highlands 
State, between— 
‘‘(A) an appraisal methodology approved by 
the Secretary of the Interior under paragraph 
(1); and 
‘‘(B) applicable State law.’’. 
SEC. 103. CADASTRE OF FEDERAL REAL PROPERTY. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CADASTRE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘cadastre’’ 
means an inventory of real property developed 
through collecting, storing, retrieving, or dissemi-
nating graphical or digital data depicting nat-
ural or man-made physical features, phenomena, 
or boundaries of the earth, and any information 
related to the data, including— 
(i) surveys; 
(ii) maps; 
(iii) charts; 
(iv) satellite and airborne remote sens-
ing data; 
(v) images; and