SJRES 31 is a joint resolution that would block a specific foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia. The sale, submitted to Congress under the Arms Export Control Act, includes 280 advanced air-to-air missiles, 596 missile launchers, and related support equipment. If enacted, the resolution would prohibit the U.S. government from proceeding with this transaction. This directly affects the U.S. government's ability to transfer these defense articles to Saudi Arabia.
Employee Retention Tax Credit Reinstatement Act This bill provides for a reinstatement of the employee retention tax credit through 2021. The credit was established to compensate employers whose businesses were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for wages paid to their employees.
CBD Product Safety and Standardization Act of 2021 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate food containing cannabidiol (CBD) derived from hemp as a food additive. (The FDA has determined that food containing added CBD cannot be sold in interstate commerce.) Under this bill, in order to be sold, a food containing CBD derived from hemp must conform with current FDA requirements pertaining to food additives or be generally recognized as safe (GRAS). (Under current law, a food additive with the GRAS designation is not subject to FDA premarket review and approval requirements.) In addition, such a food must comply with all other relevant FDA and labeling requirements. Such a food shall be exempt from an existing provision that prohibits the sale of a food containing an additive that is (1) an FDA-approved drug or biological product, or (2) subject to certain clinical investigations. The FDA must issue regulations pertaining to such foods that specify (1) the maximum amount of CBD derived from hemp per serving, (2) labeling and packaging requirements, and (3) any conditions for intended use.
This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make publicly available all records of information submitted to the FDA in conjunction with the emergency use authorization or licensing of a COVID-19 vaccine.
HRES 835 is a symbolic House resolution recognizing November 2021 as National Runaway Prevention Month. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally supports efforts to address youth homelessness by highlighting statistics showing over 4 million youth and young adults experienced homelessness in 2017. The resolution emphasizes raising public awareness about the crisis, particularly affecting vulnerable groups like LGBTQ youth, people of color, and those in foster care, and encourages collaboration among communities and organizations like the National Runaway Safeline. Its purpose is purely declaratory, aiming to promote existing prevention initiatives rather than implementing policy changes.
Protect American Taxpayer Dollars from Illegal Immigration Act This bill prohibits expending federal funds for legal settlements to individuals who violated certain laws relating to the proper time and place to enter the United States, if the settlement pertains to claims based on the lawful detention of such an individual as part of a family unit after the individual's entry into the United States at the southern border after January 20, 2017.
Eliminating Global Market Distortions to Protect American Jobs Act of 2021 This bill addresses unfair trade practices by making various changes to U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty law. Antidumping provides relief to U.S industries and workers that are materially injured or threatened with injury due to imports of like products sold in the U.S. market at less than fair value, while countervailing duty provides such relief from imports of products subsidized by a foreign government or public entity. Specifically, the bill establishes a process for successive antidumping and countervailing duty investigations. Successive investigations may be concurrent (an ongoing investigation of the same product from different countries) or recently completed (not more than two years before the date of the initiation of the successive investigation). Further, the bill establishes a time line for the Department of Commerce to issue determinations in successive investigations. Among other provisions, the bill authorizes Commerce to apply countervailing duty law to subsidies provided by a foreign government or public entity to a company operating in a different country, use another method for calculating the cost of production in specific circumstances, and require importers to provide a certification that the imported merchandise is not subject to an antidumping or countervailing duty order. Additionally, the bill establishes procedures for Commerce to conduct circumvention inquiries, including by specifying the deadlines for preliminary and final determinations. The bill repeals the Softwood Lumber Act of 2008, which addresses the importation of softwood lumber and softwood lumber products.
HR 6105 terminates the federal public health emergency declaration for COVID-19, ending the status effective December 25, 2021. This bill directly affects federal programs and authorities operating under the emergency declaration, such as expanded telehealth services and pandemic-related funding. The key provision is a specific termination date for the emergency status declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act. It does not create new policies but ends the legal authority for emergency measures. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on ending the declared emergency.
More Opportunities for Veterans Education Act or the MOVE Act This bill extends the delimiting period (the period after which no benefits may be paid) for the use of educational assistance benefits for certain individuals who first used benefits under the Veteran Readiness and Employment program.
POW Priority Care Act of 2021 This bill increases the priority status of former prisoners of war in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system to the highest priority for hospital care and medical services.
Strength in Diversity Act of 2021 This bill establishes a program through which the Department of Education may award planning and implementation grants to specified educational agencies (e.g., local educational agencies) to improve diversity and reduce or eliminate racial or socioeconomic isolation in publicly funded early childhood education programs, public elementary schools, or public secondary schools.
Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2021 This bill authorizes private civil causes of action for disparate impact violations (to the same extent as intentional violations) of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs or activities. Education programs that receive financial assistance authorized or extended by the Department of Education (ED) must designate at least one Title VI compliance coordinator to carry out responsibilities, investigate complaints, and provide assistance to ensure students and employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities. The bill requires ED to appoint a Special Assistant for Equity and Inclusion to (1) promote, coordinate, and evaluate efforts to engender program compliance and inform individuals of their rights; and (2) advise ED on matters relating to compliance.
