HR 5553 prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from providing or paying for surgical treatments related to gender transition. This directly affects transgender veterans who rely on VA healthcare for gender-affirming surgical procedures. The bill blocks VA funding specifically for these surgical treatments, without altering coverage for other healthcare services. It applies to all veterans seeking such care through the VA system.
Accountability in Foreign Animal Research Act This bill prohibits the National Institutes of Health from conducting or supporting research that involves testing on vertebrate animals in China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or other countries determined to be a foreign adversary.
This Senate resolution (SRES 409) symbolically designates the week beginning October 17, 2021, as "National Character Counts Week." It encourages schools, families, youth organizations, and communities to focus on character education during this week, highlighting traits like trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, and caring. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but calls for voluntary observance through ceremonies and activities to promote character development in young people. It is a non-binding, commemorative measure aimed at raising awareness about character education.
SRES 372 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating the week beginning September 13, 2021, as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week." It recognizes Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) - colleges and universities with at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment - as vital providers of higher education to underserved students, particularly Hispanic learners. The resolution calls on the public and organizations to observe the week with events supporting these institutions, which serve 2.3 million Hispanic students nationwide. This is a non-binding commemorative measure with no policy changes or funding impacts.
Service Contract Modernization Act This bill increases a threshold used to determine whether an employee of a federal services contractor or subcontractor is entitled to wages and fringe benefits prevailing in the locality where services are performed (or in a predecessor contractor's collective bargaining agreement). Under current law, a federal contractor or subcontractor that enters into a service contract in excess of $2,500 must comply with prevailing wage and related requirements. This bill increases that amount by adjusting it for inflation since 1965 and provides for future increases based on inflation.
Department of Defense Improved Hiring Act This bill makes permanent the Department of Defense (DOD) direct hire authority for domestic defense industrial base facilities (i.e., any DOD depot, arsenal, or shipyard in the United States), the Major Range and Test Facilities Base, and the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation.
Retain Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence (RIME) Act of 20 21 This bill directs the Department of Commerce to establish a pilot grant program to help eligible manufacturers retain retiring employees for up to 90 days for the purpose of transferring job-specific skills and training to other employees.
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment limiting Representatives to eight terms and Senators to three terms. Terms beginning before the ratification of this amendment do not count towards term limits.
Better Enforcement of Grievous Offenses by unNaturalized Emigrants or the BE GONE Act This bill expands, for immigration purposes, the definition of aggravated felony to include sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence. (Under current law, a conviction for an aggravated felony is grounds for deportation and may bar an individual from other immigration-related benefits.)
Chisholm National Historic Trail and Western National Historic Trail Designation Act This bill designates (1) the Chisholm National Historic Trail, and (2) the Western National Historic Trail. The Department of the Interior shall administer any portion of these trails that is located on nonfederal land only (1) with the voluntary consent of the owner of the nonfederal land, and (2) if the portion qualifies for certification as a component of the applicable trail. The approval by an owner of applicable nonfederal land of a certification agreement shall satisfy the voluntary consent requirement. A certification agreement may be terminated at any time. The establishment of these trails does not authorize any person to enter private property without the consent of the private property's owner. Interior may accept a donation of land or an interest in land for these trails, with specified exceptions. Land or an interest in land may not be acquired for these trails by eminent domain or condemnation.
Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole Protecting Family Legacies Act This joint resolution consents to the Hawaii legislature's amendments to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. In 2017, the Hawaii legislature reduced the minimum Native Hawaiian blood quantum required for an individual to inherit a homestead lease under the act.
Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority Act of 2021 This bill requires congressional approval for a presidential import adjustment due to a national security threat from an import related to military equipment, energy resources, or critical infrastructure essential to national security. Specifically, the bill requires the President to submit a proposal to Congress, which Congress may approve by a joint resolution. Under current law, the President determines whether any adjustment of an import is necessary and must submit to Congress the reasons for any action taken or not taken. The Department of Defense (currently, the Department of Commerce) must investigate the effect of these imports on national security. The bill retroactively applies to any proposed action made four years before enactment of this bill. In general, any rate of duty modification occurring in the time period beginning four years before and ending the day before enactment of this bill must revert to the previous rate unless it receives congressional approval.
