Promoting Employment of Skilled Workers and Foster Youth Act of 2021 This bill expands the work opportunity tax credit to (1) allow the rehiring of certain construction industry employees participating in an apprenticeship program, and (2) include qualified pre-apprenticeship graduates and foster care transition youth as targeted group members for purposes of the credit.
Expanding Access to Graduate Education Act of 2021 This bill allows income-eligible graduate students who received Pell Grants during their undergraduate education to utilize their remaining Pell Grant eligibility toward their first graduate degree, subject to the existing 12-semester duration limit. Currently, Pell Grants are available only to undergraduate students.
Work Without Worry Act This bill modifies eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for individuals who have a disability that began before age 22. Under current law, these individuals may obtain SSDI benefits based on the work record of a retired, disabled, or deceased parent. However, an individual with earnings after age 22 that exceed a specified monetary limit (i.e., constitute substantial gainful activity) permanently loses eligibility for such benefits. This bill allows individuals to retain eligibility for such benefits regardless of the amount of earnings after age 22. Additionally, individuals who apply for SSDI benefits on a parent's record and also independently qualify for Social Security benefits on their own record will receive the larger of the two benefit amounts.
Trade Adjustment Assistance Modernization Act of 2021 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and otherwise revises the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program, including by expanding program eligibility to additional workers, increasing relocation and job search allowances, establishing a child care allowance, and expanding eligibility for and increasing the maximum benefit of wage insurance. The bill also permanently extends the tax credit for health insurance costs and increases the percentage of such credit.
Generalized System of Preferences and Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Modernization Act of 2021 This bill reauthorizes and revises specified U.S. trade programs and provisions. Specifically, the bill extends through December 31, 2024, the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which provides duty-free treatment to products imported from designated beneficiary countries. The bill makes various changes to the GSP, including by (1) adding human rights, environmental, and other criteria for designation as a beneficiary developing country; (2) requiring a review of laws relating to worker and gender rights; and (3) requiring a study on rules of origin and GSP utilization rates. Additionally, the bill provides through December 31, 2023, and retroactively applies to 120 days before this bill's enactment, temporary duty suspensions or reductions to eligible imported products. This authorization is commonly known as the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB). The last version of the MTB was enacted in September 2018 and the temporary treatment for those products listed in the MTB expired on December 31, 2020. The bill also extends the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016 for two future MTB cycles (one in 2022 and one in 2025). This extension allows the U.S. International Trade Commission to conduct the MTB petition, review, and recommendation process for those additional cycles.
Strengthening Unemployment Programs to Provide Opportunities for Recovery and Training for New Workers Act or the SUPPORT for New Workers Act This bill provides weekly payments to individuals who forego Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation by finding work with a new employer. An eligible individual receives a weekly payment of $180 for each week that the individual remains employed with the new employer, up to a maximum of nine weeks. This bonus payment is only available for weeks of employment after the bill is enacted and prior to September 6, 2021. These payments, made by states under the bill, are subject to 100% federal reimbursement in the same manner as Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payments.
American Renewable Energy Act of 2021 This bill establishes an annual renewable energy standard for retail electricity suppliers through 2030. Under the standard, the suppliers must (1) increase their renewable energy generation each year by specified amounts, and (2) generate at least 70% renewable electricity by 2030.
Unsubscribe Act of 20 21 This bill requires that certain consumer protections are included in negative option agreements (i.e., an agreement under which a consumer's failure to take an affirmative action is considered approval to be charged for goods or services). These agreements are prohibited unless the terms provide the consumer with a way to cancel the agreement, in the same manner by which the agreement was entered, before incurring further or increased charges. Further, under free-to-pay conversion contracts, where a consumer is charged a nominal introductory rate and an increased rate after the introductory period ends, the provider of the good or service must require the consumer to perform an additional action, like clicking a confirmation button, before the increased rate takes effect. The bill also requires that certain notifications are provided to consumers in the context of other forms of negative option agreements online, such as notice between two and seven days before an automatic renewal. The bill provides for enforcement of these requirements by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.
This resolution recognizes the historical significance to the nation of Juneteenth Independence Day (commemorating the end of slavery in the United States).
Resilience Investment, Support, and Expansion from Trauma Act or the RISE from Trauma Act This bill establishes and extends various programs to support infants, children, youth, and families who have experienced, or may experience, trauma. Specifically, the bill allows federal agencies to use specified discretionary funds to implement pilot projects to improve outcomes for children experiencing trauma. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide tool kits and other guidance to train frontline service providers and certain community members about trauma, toxic stress, and resilience. In addition, the Department of Justice (DOJ) must establish a national center to disseminate to law enforcement agencies best practices and other assistance to enhance interactions with infants, children, youth, and families who are exposed to violence and trauma. Furthermore, the bill establishes grants for multi-sector demonstration projects to prevent and mitigate trauma and toxic stress; interventions to improve outcomes for hospital patients who experience drug overdoses, suicide attempts, or violent injury; and clinical training in infant and early childhood mental health. The bill also authorizes DOJ grants to reduce violence and substance use by preventing children's trauma from exposure to violence and substance use. Additionally, it incorporates trauma-informed practices and otherwise addresses trauma in programs for health care professional education, increasing access to health services, and training for educators.
Restaurant Revitalization Fund Replenishment Act of 2021 This bill provides an additional $60 billion in FY2021 for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which was established to support restaurants and other food and beverage purveyors in response to COVID-19.
U.S. Park Police Modernization Act This bill revises the pay scale that applies to officers and members of the U.S. Park Police by reducing the number of, and the time between, pay grade steps.
