Security First Act This bill provides statutory authorization for the Operation Stonegarden program from FY2022 through FY2025 and contains other provisions related to border security. (Operation Stonegarden provides grants to enhance the border security capabilities of state, local, and tribal governments.) From FY2022 through FY2025, the money from unreported monetary instruments seized from individuals crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and transferred into the Department of the Treasury general fund shall be made available without further appropriation to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fund Operation Stonegarden. DHS shall report to Congress on (1) DHS hiring practices from 2017 to 2020, and (2) whether certain Mexican drug cartels meet the criteria to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. DHS shall also periodically report to Congress about the technology needed to secure the U.S.-Mexico land border.
Stop China's IP Theft Act This bill directs the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to deny entry into the United States to senior Chinese Communist Party officials, the spouses and children of such officials, members of the cabinet of the Chinese government, and active duty members of China's armed forces. This prohibition shall not apply in any year in which the Office of the Director of National Intelligence certifies to Congress that China's government has stopped sponsoring, funding, facilitating, and actively working to support efforts to infringe the intellectual property rights of U.S. citizens and companies.
This resolution expresses support for National Public Health Week and recognizes the role of public health in preventing infectious disease outbreaks such as COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
This resolution urges all levels of government, health care entities, and others to implement plans to allocate COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccines that account for health disparities and inequities related to the disease.
Reduce Impaired Driving for Everyone Act of 2021 or the RIDE Act of 2021 This bill directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to prescribe through rulemaking a motor vehicle safety standard that requires newly manufactured passenger motor vehicles to be equipped with technology for detecting and preventing impaired and drunk driving. The technology must be capable of (1) passively and accurately detecting if a driver is impaired or has a blood alcohol level that exceeds the legal limit in the jurisdiction where the vehicle is located, and (2) preventing or limiting the vehicle's operation in response. The NHTSA must issue the a final rule prescribing a vehicle safety standard within two years after the enactment of this bill. Further, the rule's compliance date must be not more than two model years after its effective date. However, the NHTSA may delay issuing the rule for up to three additional years if it determines the standard cannot meet the requirements set out in the bill. In the event of such a delay, the NHTSA must report annually to Congress about the reasons for not prescribing a safety standard and the anticipated time line for issuing the standard.
Partnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation. It also authorizes the establishment of the National Energy Technology Laboratory. The Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation, a nonprofit corporation, must support DOE's mission and increase private and philanthropic sector investments that support efforts concerning the development, deployment, and commercialization of innovative technologies that address crosscutting national energy challenges. The foundation may award fellowships and grants for activities relating to research, development, demonstration, maturation, or commercialization of energy and other technologies supported by DOE. In addition, the National Energy Technology Laboratory may establish a nongovernmental Federal Laboratory-Associated Foundation to advance U.S. energy security as specified by the bill.
Lymphedema Treatment Act This bill provides for Medicare coverage of lymphedema compression treatment items. Specifically, the bill provides for coverage of (1) standard and custom fitted gradient compression garments that are prescribed by a physician or other specified health care professional to treat lymphedema, and (2) other devices determined to be effective in the prevention or treatment of lymphedema.
Agriculture Resilience Act of 2021 This bill establishes, expands, and revises multiple programs and activities of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) primarily to reduce carbon emissions from the agriculture sector. Specifically, USDA must finalize and implement a plan to achieve net-zero emissions from the sector by 2040. USDA must periodically review and revise the plan, as necessary, and annually report on its implementation. Additionally, the bill expands the scope of various USDA research, extension, and education programs; conservation programs; and livestock programs to incorporate climate change adaption and mitigation. Expanded activities include efforts to improve soil health and preserve farmland and grassland. Further, the bill changes programs that support renewable energy in rural areas to address carbon emissions in the agriculture sector. Among these changes, the bill provides statutory authority for a program for reducing methane emissions from livestock waste that is carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency and transitions the program to USDA. The bill also addresses food waste, for example, by (1) standardizing the voluntary labels used by food producers to indicate the date by which food should be used or discarded, and (2) making composting activities eligible for support through USDA conservation programs. Moreover, the bill establishes grants to reduce and prevent food waste in landfills and in schools.
Honoring National Recovery Month Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop communication materials, distribute best practices, and carry out other activities in recognition of National Recovery Month. SAMHSA may undertake these activities or enter into an agreement with a national organization to do so. National Recovery Month is an annual observance to celebrate individuals who are in recovery from a substance use disorder or mental illness, educate the public, and combat stigma.
Social Security Fairness Act This bill repeals provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government. The bill eliminates the government pension offset , which in various instances reduces Social Security survivors' benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers who also receive government pensions of their own. The bill also eliminates the windfall elimination provision , which in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes. These changes are effective for benefits payable after December 2021.
Child Care for Working Families Act This bill provides funds and otherwise revises certain child care and early learning programs for low- to moderate-income families. Specifically, the bill provides funds for the Child Care and Development Block Grant program and reestablishes it as a child care and development assistance program. The bill also allocates program funds for states to provide services and supports to infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities. Further, the bill revises the program to require each state to create a tiered and transparent system for measuring the quality of child care providers, which must include evidence-based standards and payment rates that are based on a certain cost estimation model; ensure that copayments are based on a sliding scale and that no family receiving assistance pays more than 7% of its household income on child care; and use quality child care amounts for certain activities, such as increasing the supply of child care providers. The bill also provides funds and establishes grants for states to create preschool programs for low- to moderate-income children between the ages of three and five years. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must make grants to Head Start agencies to provide children with access to full-school-year and full-school-day services, provide access to additional service hours for migrant and seasonal agencies, or enhance the quality of existing services. Finally, the bill requires, and provides funds for, HHS to assist Head Start agencies with ensuring their teachers and staff are paid a living wage.
Farm to School Act of 20 21 This bill modifies and expands the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Farm to School Program. The program currently provides grants and technical assistance to schools, state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers, and nonprofit entities to improve access to local foods in schools. Among other things, the bill reauthorizes the program through FY2027; permits USDA to provide land-grant colleges and universities with grants, research, evaluation, and technical assistance under the program; expands the purposes for grants awarded under the program to include implementing educational activities relating to agriculture, nutrition, or food; requires USDA to provide technical assistance, research, and information to increase awareness of and participation in farm to school programs among agricultural producers, including beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers; directs USDA to seek to improve local food procurement and distribution options for agricultural producers and eligible institutions; authorizes USDA to fund projects that include innovative approaches to aggregation, processing, transportation, and distribution; establishes new limitations on the amount and duration of grants; and limits funds that may be used for administrative costs.
