National Flood Insurance Program Consultant Accountability Act of 2021 This bill allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to terminate certain contracts under the National Flood Insurance Program on the basis of detrimental conduct to the program by a covered entity (an attorney, law firm, consultant, or third-party company that provides certain services under the contract). Specifically, on such basis, FEMA may terminate a contract between a covered entity and a Write Your Own company (a property and casualty company that writes and services federal standard flood insurance policies in its own name). FEMA shall establish a process for a covered entity to appeal such a termination. Neither FEMA nor a Write Your Own company is required to make an early-termination payout to a covered entity with respect to a contract terminated under the bill.
Vanessa Guillén Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act This bill modifies the process and policy related to the disposition of charges and convening of courts-martial for certain sexual assault cases and other specified offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Among other elements, the bill provides that the determinations on the preferral, disposition, and referral of charges for specified offenses under the UCMJ must be made by a commissioned officer of the Armed Forces who is designated as a court-martial convening authority (in grade O-6 or higher) and who is available for detail as trial counsel, has significant trial experience, and is outside the chain of command of the member subject to the charges.
Foreign Gain-of-Function Research Prevention Act of 2021 This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to conduct or support gain-of-function research involving potential pandemic pathogens by China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, or other foreign adversaries. Gain-of-function research is any research that is anticipated to confer an attribute on a pathogen to enhance its pathogenicity or transmissibility in mammals. If the Department of State finds that an entity has used funds for prohibited research, the entity may not receive any federal funding for a period of five years.
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that, if it creates a presumption of service-connection between the occurrence of a disease and exposure to an herbicide agent while serving in the Armed Forces between January 9, 1962, and June 30, 1976, at a military base in Thailand, such presumption must also apply to exposure at any military base in Thailand, regardless of where on the base the veteran was located or what military job specialty the veteran performed.
Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021 This bill addresses water infrastructure and the discharge of pollution (e.g., wastewater or stormwater) into waters of the United States, including by reauthorizing through FY2026 and revising the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. The clean water SRF program provides communities low-cost financing for water quality infrastructure projects.
This bill allows the Department of the Interior to extend the hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots. Currently, the hunting season must end no later than January 31 each year. This bill allows the hunting season to end no later than March 10.
Promoting Effective and Empowering Recovery Services in Medicare Act of 2021 or the PEERS Act of 2021 This bill specifies that peer support specialists may participate in the provision of behavioral health integration services with the supervision of a physician or other entity under Medicare. The bill defines peer support specialists as individuals who are recovering from a mental health or substance-use condition and have certain national or state credentials, as specified, to provide peer support services.
National Flood Insurance Program Consultant Accountability Act of 2021 This bill allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to terminate certain contracts under the National Flood Insurance Program on the basis of detrimental conduct to the program by a covered entity (an attorney, law firm, consultant, or third-party company that provides certain services under the contract). Specifically, on such basis, FEMA may terminate a contract between a covered entity and a Write Your Own company (a property and casualty company that writes and services federal standard flood insurance policies in its own name). FEMA shall establish a process for a covered entity to appeal such a termination. Neither FEMA nor a Write Your Own company is required to make an early-termination payout to a covered entity with respect to a contract terminated under the bill.
Telemedicine Everywhere Lifting Everyone's Healthcare Experience And Long Term Health HSA Act of 2021 or the TELEHEALTH HSA Act of 2021 This bill makes permanent the preferred treatment of telehealth and other remote care services for purposes of health savings accounts.
No Dollars for Dictators Act of 2021 This bill imposes additional restrictions on the U.S. government's authority to vote on Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocations at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). (The SDR is an international reserve asset maintained by the IMF based on contributions from IMF member countries. SDRs may be exchanged between member countries and may also be exchanged for currencies.) Specifically, U.S. representatives to the IMF may not vote for SDR allocations to a country if the President finds that the country's government has (1) committed genocide in the last 10 years, or (2) repeatedly supported international terrorism.
Increasing Rural Telehealth Access Act of 2021 This bill establishes, as part of certain grants for telehealth networks and resource centers, a pilot project to increase the use of remote patient monitoring technology in rural areas. Specifically, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) must award grants to coordinate care in rural areas for individuals with chronic conditions and conduct other activities using remote patient monitoring technology. To be eligible for a grant, entities must meet requirements for participating in telehealth networks and must use appropriate technologies. In awarding these grants, HRSA shall give priority to entities that are capable of establishing programs quickly and that use technologies that provide continuous, real-time coaching services.
Audio-Only Telehealth for Emergencies Act This bill requires Medicare to cover audio-only telehealth services during national emergencies. Payment for such services must be made at the same rate as for in-person services.
