This week, my Energy and Commerce Committee marked up 24 bills, including bills to improve America’s health care systems, bolster the travel and tourism industry, and protect animals from inhumane practices.

S. 1098, the Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act would provide much-needed relief for individuals who previously consolidated their student loan debt with their spouse. When Congress eliminated the joint consolidation loan program in 2006, it did not provide a way for borrowers to sever existing loans, even in the event of domestic violence, economic abuse, or unresponsiveness from a former partner. The bill would fix this oversight, which has unfortunately left too many borrowers liable for their former spouse’s student loan debt. This bill now heads to the president’s desk. Passed 232-193.

H.R. 6448, the Invest to Protect Act of 2022 would authorize $300 million in grants for law enforcement agencies with fewer than 125 officers, through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to support officer recruitment and retention; evidence-based training on de-escalation, use of force, duty of care, duty to intervene, victim-centered responses for domestic violence calls, responding to calls for service from people with substance use or mental health conditions, veterans, people with disabilities, vulnerable youth, people experiencing homelessness, and persons who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or trafficking; data collection for police practices on officer and community safety; and officer wellness initiatives in such small departments. Passed 360-64.

H.R. 8542, the Mental Health Justice Act of 2022 would authorize $250 million in funding and technical assistance to hire, employ, train, and dispatch mental health professionals to respond in lieu of law enforcement officers to situations involving a person experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis. Passed 223-206.

H.R. 4118, the Break the Cycle of Violence Act would authorize the investment in local governments and community-based, nonprofit organizations to establish or expand community outreach programs, hospital-based violence intervention programs, and other strategies, including focused deterrence, that provide tailored social services and supports to people at the highest risk of being impacted by community violence. The bill would also establish a $1.5 billion grant program to provide job training and work experience for youth in communities disproportionately affected by violence. Passed 220-207.

H.R. 8873, the Presidential Election Reform Act is a bipartisan bill to reform the Electoral Count Act to protect the rule of law and ensure Congress counts the votes as required by the Constitution, including by ensuring that Congress receives a single accurate electoral certificate from each state, requiring that States select electors in accordance with state law existing as of the date of the election, providing a federal judicial remedy in the event that a state governor refuses to certify the lawful result of a presidential election, and in other ways. The reforms do not benefit either political party. Passed 229-203.