Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises Act or the RIFLE Act This bill repeals the excise tax on the transfer of firearms. The bill shall not be construed as placing any regulated firearms under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of Sex Ed For All Month.
Jobs and Childcare for Military Families Act of 2021 This bill allows an employer a work opportunity tax credit for hiring an individual who is certified by a designated local agency as being, as of the hiring date, the spouse or domestic partner of a member of the Armed Forces, and requires the creation of programs for uniformed services families to pay for childcare on a pretax basis. Specifically, an employer may receive a tax credit equal to 40% of a new employee's first-year wages if the employer hires a service member's spouse or domestic partner (as recognized under state law or by the Armed Forces). Currently, a similar tax credit exists for employers who hire certain disadvantaged individuals, including disadvantaged veterans. The bill requires the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security (with respect to the Coast Guard), the Department of Commerce (with respect to officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and the Department of Health and Human Services (with respect to the Public Health Service) to implement flexible spending arrangements that permit members of the uniformed services to use basic pay and compensation to pay for childcare services for their dependent children on a pretax basis.
Critical Infrastructure Employee Protection Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to support state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions in providing (1) priority COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) testing for essential critical infrastructure employees; (2) priority access to personal protective equipment, sanitizers, face coverings, and health-related or protective supplies necessary to safely perform essential critical infrastructure work; and (3) priority access to COVID-19 vaccinations for such employees. Essential critical infrastructure employees include, but are not limited to, medical and health care, telecommunications, information technology systems, defense, food and agriculture, transportation and logistics, energy, water and wastewater, and law enforcement. DOT must also issue regulations to adopt guidance from the Department of Homeland Security during any future health crisis to account for the transportation sector and ensure it takes substantially similar action regarding prioritization for essential critical infrastructure employees.
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for the provision of training or education based on critical race theory at the U.S. service academies (e.g., the Air Force Academy).
Search and Rescue Dog Protection Act This bill requires search and rescue dogs to be treated in the same manner as service animals in the event of a federally declared major disaster or emergency.
Maximizing Outcomes for Moms through Medicaid Improvement and Enhancement of Services Act or the MOMMIES Act This bill establishes a series of programs and requirements under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) relating to maternal health. For example, the bill expands eligibility for coverage under Medicaid and CHIP from 60 days to one year after the last day of pregnancy and requires such coverage to include oral health services. The bill also establishes a demonstration program in which states receive grants to implement or expand models for maternity care homes that provide services to Medicaid or CHIP beneficiaries. The Government Accountability Office must report on (1) gaps in coverage under Medicaid and CHIP for pregnant and postpartum women, and (2) the use of telehealth by state Medicaid programs to increase access to maternity care.
Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act This bill establishes a standard of care for the selection of brokers and other entities that contract with motor carriers for the shipment of goods or household goods. A broker is a person, other than a motor carrier or an employee or agent of a motor carrier, that as a principal or agent sells, offers for sale, negotiates for, or holds itself out by solicitation, advertisement, or otherwise as selling, providing, or arranging for, transportation by motor carrier for compensation. Specifically, the bill requires such entities to verify that a transporting motor carrier (1) is properly registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT); (2) has obtained the minimum required insurance coverage; and (3) is not determined unfit to safely operate commercial motor vehicles, or otherwise ordered to discontinue operations by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or a state. DOT must prescribe by regulation a process for revoking the registration of an owner or operator determined unfit to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle.
Health Care Prices Revealed and Information to Consumers Explained Transparency Act or the Health Care PRICE Transparency Act This bill provides statutory authority for requirements for hospitals and health insurance plans to disclose certain information about the costs for items and services. Specifically, hospitals must publish in their list of standard charges certain rates negotiated with insurers, discounts for cash payments, and billing codes. Further, hospitals generally must publish the standard charges for the services provided by the hospital that may be scheduled in advance. Additionally, insurance plans must publish the in-network and out-of-network charges for covered items and services and the negotiated prices for covered prescription drugs. Plans must provide a tool for consumers to search for this cost information. Consumers also may request additional information about the costs of specific items or services under their plans.
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act of 2021 This bill extends through FY2036 the authority of the Department of the Interior to provide assistance for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in North Carolina and removes the limitation on the total amount that may be appropriated for the heritage area.
Promoting Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency Act This bill provides for the continuation of assistance for public housing residents through certain service programs. Specifically, the bill allows residents of properties that have been converted through the Rental Assistance Demonstration Program to project-based subsidy contracts to continue to receive assistance through (1) the Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency grant program, (2) the Jobs Plus Initiative program, and (3) certain congregate housing services.
21st Century Federal Writers' Project Act This bill creates a grant program in the Department of Labor to provide eligible entities with funds to assist individuals who are unemployed or underemployed in order to document in writing and images American society and the broad impacts and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. In addition, Labor must (1) establish a repository of works developed through the grant program in which grantees submit completed works from subgrantees, including giving credit to each writer or artist, and make such works available to the public; and (2) forward the completed work to the Library of Congress to archive such material. The Library must establish an archive program in its American Folklife Center for collection and public availability, in a digital format of such written and visual works.
