Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student-aid programs to share contact information for suicide prevention resources with students. If IHEs distribute student identification cards, then they must include on the cards phone numbers for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and a campus mental-health center or program. If IHEs do not create such cards, then they must publish the numbers on their websites.
This bill increases the age (currently, age 72) at which taxpayers are required to make minimum distributions from tax-exempt retirement plans. For taxpayers who attain age 72 after December 31, 2026, the age is increased to 73; for taxpayers who attain age 73 after December 31, 2032, the age is increased to 75.
This bill exempts certain contracts from periodic inflation adjustments to the acquisition-related dollar threshold. Current law establishes dollar thresholds related to acquisition spending by federal agencies and it requires those thresholds to be adjusted every five years for inflation. The bill exempts certain contracts (e.g., contracts of more than $100,000 for the construction, alteration, or repair of any public building or public work of the federal government) from this adjustment.
Accessible Voting Act of 2021 This bill addresses voting accessibility for individuals with disabilities and older individuals. First, the bill establishes the Office of Accessibility within the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The office must serve as the advocate on behalf of voters with access needs, ensure state and local election officials are maintaining voting systems that meet Department of Justice accessibility standards, and make payments to states to implement the accessibility requirements outlined by the bill. In addition, the office must establish and operate a National Resource Center on Accessible Voting to provide state and local election officials, poll workers, and volunteers with the information and technical assistance needed to provide accessible voting. The office must also work with state and local election officials to collect data and administer a public national voter accessibility website. The bill requires each state to (1) ensure election websites are accessible and meet specified requirements, (2) designate a single office to provide information on federal elections to individuals with disabilities and older individuals, (3) notify the public of changes to voting practices, (4) expand access to absentee registration procedures and no-excuse mail-in absentee voting in federal elections, and (5) ensure all polling places and voter drop boxes are accessible. The EAC must coordinate with specified agencies to make grants to eligible entities to study, test, and develop accessible voting options. The bill also permanently reauthorizes and expands a Department of Health and Human Services grant program for increasing accessibility to polling places.
USPIS Surveillance Protection Act This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to implement, conduct, or otherwise carry out the Internet Covert Operations Program (commonly referred to as iCOP) operated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service or any other domestic surveillance program with politically motivated targets.
Green Climate Fund Authorization Act of 2021 This bill authorizes $4 billion in both FY2022 and FY2023 for U.S. contributions to the Green Climate Fund (a fund established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to finance projects that address climate change).
Taiwan International Solidarity Act This bill requires the Department of State to annually report to Congress on efforts by China to undermine Taiwan's participation in international organizations or Taiwan's relationships with other countries.
No Taxpayer Funding for the U.N. Population Fund This bill prohibits the use of funds to provide contributions directly or indirectly to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The UNFPA is a United Nations agency that supports access to sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, maternal health care, and sexuality education.
No Funding for Terrorists Act This bill prohibits the use of specified funds for the West Bank and Gaza that directly benefits the Palestinian Authority. Current law authorizes foreign aid for economic assistance to be made available for the West Bank and Gaza if the Department of State certifies that the Palestinian Authority is taking specified actions to end violence in the region. The bill repeals this authorization and prohibits the use of economic assistance funds for the West Bank and Gaza in a manner that directly benefits the Palestinian Authority.
This resolution condemns all manifestations of expressions of racism and anti-Asian and Pacific Islander or ethnic intolerance and calls for specified actions by the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and federal law enforcement. The resolution (1) calls on the Senate Judiciary Committee to consider holding a hearing related to the surge in violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and (2) applauds DOJ's commitment to conducting a 30-day review of violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The resolution calls on federal law enforcement officials, working with state and local officials, to expeditiously and vigorously investigate all reports of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States, work to improve the reporting of such hate crimes, and hold the perpetrators of those crimes accountable and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Data and Algorithm Transparency Agreement Act or the DATA Act This bill requires large websites and social networks that use algorithms for suggesting content to obtain express consent from their users before collecting or sharing their personal data. These websites must notify users of this requirement, including information about the type of data collected and the name of any third parties with which the data is shared. The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and a private right of action against a violator of the bill.
Fair Access to Small Business Lending Act This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to carry out an initiative to expand the availability of 7(a) loans to small businesses that are located in low- or moderate-income neighborhoods. (Under the 7(a) Program, the SBA provides business loans and loan guaranties to small business borrowers unable to obtain financing elsewhere.) The SBA must expand authorization for providing 7(a) loans to lenders that meet the criteria to make such loans but have not otherwise been approved to do so. Such lenders must ensure that at least 50% of loans they make that are guaranteed pursuant to the bill are made to small businesses in low- or moderate-income neighborhoods.
