Reaching Every Homeless Veteran Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Labor, in administering homeless veterans reintegration programs, to (1) consider grant applications from entities in all states (to the maximum extent practicable), and (2) conduct an outreach and education program in states where no entity has been awarded a grant to ensure communities are aware of homeless veterans reintegration programs.
Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Training Act of 2021 This bill requires employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to undergo training developed by the Inspector General of the VA regarding the reporting of wrongdoing to, responding to requests from, and cooperating with the Office of the Inspector General.
United States Climate Leadership in International Mitigation, Adaptation, and Technology Enhancement Act of 2021 This bill sets out priorities for climate action, clean energy, energy diplomacy, reduced deforestation, and related U.S. foreign policy. The Department of State must incorporate climate action and climate diplomacy across all bureaus and U.S. missions abroad. In addition, the bill directs increased U.S. involvement in international climate change agreements and activities, including the Paris Agreement (a climate treaty adopted in 2015), the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol (amends a treaty on reducing ozone-depleting compounds to include hydrofluorocarbons) and efforts to reduce short-lived climate pollutants, the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, and Mission Innovation and the Clean Energy Ministerial (global initiatives to advance clean energy technologies and policies). In addition, the bill directs (1) increased U.S. engagement in international economic forums (e.g., G-7 and the World Economic Forum) related to climate action, including with a specific focus on China; and (2) efforts by the U.S. International Finance Development Corporation and U.S. representatives at international financial institutions to prioritize renewable energy projects and advance other climate-related policy objectives. The bill also establishes foreign assistance, financing mechanisms, and other programs to support developing countries transition to renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions. Furthermore, the bill outlines climate-related foreign policy and programs for particular regions (the Arctic, sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and North America) and countries (China, India, Brazil, and Indonesia). The bill also addresses climate change and its effects on women and girls.
Emergency Use Transparency Act This bill expands existing statutory provisions requiring the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to publish notices of authorizations, terminations, or revocations of emergency use authorizations for medical products. Specifically, the bill requires the FDA to publish such notices on its website. The bill also allows the FDA's disclosures to include a summary of data or information from additional types of submissions.
Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021 This bill expands liability protections for the donation of food and grocery products. Specifically, the bill expands the liability protections to include donations of an apparently fit grocery product or apparently wholesome food for which the recipient is charged a good Samaritan reduced price that is no greater than the cost of handling, administering, and distributing the food or product; or that is donated directly to a needy individual by a retail grocer, wholesaler, agricultural producer, restaurant, caterer, school food authority, or institution of higher education. The Department of Agriculture must issue regulations that clarify the quality and labeling standards that food products donated under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act must meet to be eligible for liability protection.
Low-Revenue Recipient Paycheck Protection Program Relief Act of 2021 This bill provides additional forgiveness and flexibilities to certain low-revenue recipients of Paycheck Protection Program loans.
This resolution condemns Turkey's continued occupation of Cyprus and calls on Turkey to withdraw all of its troops from the island. It also calls on Turkey to adhere to NATO's democratic principles and mission.
Protecting Community Television Act This bill revises the definition of a franchise fee that is paid by a cable operator or cable subscriber to encompass only a tax, fee, or other monetary assessment that is imposed by a franchising authority or other governmental entity.
Humane Cosmetics Act of 2021 This bill generally prohibits animal testing in the evaluation of cosmetic products, and it prohibits the sale or transport of cosmetics developed using animal testing, subject to civil penalties. These prohibitions begin one year after enactment. The bill specifies exceptions to these prohibitions, including if such animal testing (1) is conducted outside the United States to comply with a foreign regulatory authority; (2) is pursuant to a specified finding that there are no nonanimal alternatives to test the safety of a potentially dangerous cosmetic product or ingredient; (3) is of a product or ingredient for a drug or device subject to regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); or (4) is required for a noncosmetic purpose pursuant to a state, federal, or foreign regulatory authority. Further, no animal-testing evidence may be used to establish the safety of a cosmetic product or ingredient that is regulated by the FDA after the effective date of this bill, subject to limited exceptions.
Taiwan Preclearance Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to report to Congress on various issues, including (1) a plan for establishing a U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facility in the Indo-Pacific region; (2) an analysis of the feasibility and advisability of establishing a preclearance facility in Taiwan; and (3) an assessment of the impact that a preclearance facility will have on trade, tourism, and the security partnership between Taiwan and the United States. (Preclearance facilities are stations in designated foreign airports that inspect travelers prior to boarding U.S.-bound flights.)
Telehealth Extension Act of 2021 This bill expands and otherwise modifies coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. Specifically, the bill permanently (1) removes geographic restrictions on originating sites (i.e., the location of the beneficiary), (2) allows the home of the beneficiary to serve as the originating site for all services, and (3) allows federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner). The bill also extends any Medicare telehealth flexibilities that were granted during the COVID-19 public health emergency until two years after the emergency ends and generally allows such flexibilities to be granted during any public health emergency. In addition, the bill (1) allows for Medicare payment of outpatient critical access hospital services consisting of telehealth behavioral therapy until two years after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends; and (2) after the emergency ends, conditions payment for certain high-cost laboratory tests and durable medical equipment that are ordered via telehealth on at least one in-person visit during the preceding six-month period.
Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings Act or the MINDS Act This bill directs the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State to integrate mental health and psychosocial support activities across all U.S. foreign assistance programs, with a particular focus on children and other vulnerable populations. To facilitate this integration, the bill makes organizational changes at the USAID. It authorizes the USAID to appoint a coordinator to oversee and direct mental health and psychosocial support activities. The coordinator must ensure that these activities focus on children, adult caretakers and families, displaced populations, and other vulnerable groups. In addition, the bill establishes a working group comprised of representatives from every USAID bureau and the Department of State to coordinate interagency efforts related to, promote best practices for, and ensure sustainability and continuity of mental health and psychosocial support activities. The USAID and the State Department must brief Congress about the amount of foreign assistance spending on mental health and psychosocial support activities and related matters.
