Conceding Our Veterans' Exposures Now And Necessitating Training Act of 2021 or the COVENANT Act of 2021 This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for certain illnesses related to exposure to airborne hazards or open burn pits and addresses the care available through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans with illnesses they assert to be related to exposures during their service. Specifically, the bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for certain illnesses becoming manifest in covered veterans to a degree of 10% or more. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. A covered veteran is any veteran who served on or after August 2, 1990, in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, or the United Arab Emirates; or served on or after September 11, 2001, in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, or other countries the VA determines to be relevant. Among other elements, the bill requires the VA to provide medical examinations for veterans who submit a claim for disability compensation for an illness not listed in the bill but that is asserted to be related to airborne hazard or open burn pit exposure; authorizes the VA to stay pending claims for disability compensation related to the service and illnesses covered by this bill until the implementation of the bill; and provides VA hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to covered veterans.
Promoting Effective and Empowering Recovery Services in Medicare Act of 2021 or the PEERS Act of 2021 This bill specifies that peer support specialists may participate in the provision of behavioral health integration services with the supervision of a physician or other entity under Medicare. The bill defines peer support specialists as individuals who are recovering from a mental health or substance-use condition and have certain national or state credentials, as specified, to provide peer support services.
International Cybercrime Prevention Act This bill makes changes to the federal statutory framework commonly known as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which criminalizes various categories of computer-related conduct by individuals who act without authority or in excess of authorization. The bill broadens the scope of prohibited conduct and expands federal enforcement authorities with respect to existing computer fraud and abuse offenses. The bill also creates a new, related criminal offenses for aggravated damage to a critical infrastructure computer and trafficking in botnets.
Zero-Emission Nuclear Power Production Credit Act of 2021 This bill allows a new business-related tax credit through 2030 for the production of electricity from zero-emission nuclear power. It also allows taxpayers to elect direct payments of such credit and requires a recapture of credit amounts for contractors who fail to pay their employees the prevailing wage rate. The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the effectiveness of the credit in ensuring grid reliability and on ratepayer savings. Contractors must ensure that at least 15% of their workforce is composed of qualified apprentices unless there is a lack of availability of qualified apprentices in the applicable geographic area.
Puppy Protection Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. Specifically, the standards must require dog dealers to provide to dogs adequate housing, exercise, and veterinary care; appropriate and nutritious food; continuous access to potable water; and meaningful socialization with humans and compatible dogs for at least 30 minutes each day. The standards must also include requirements for breeders to use safe breeding practices and make all reasonable efforts to find humane placement for retired breeding dogs.
Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act This bill establishes resources and a program to address cybersecurity of elementary and secondary schools. First, the bill directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to establish an information exchange to disseminate information, best practices, training, and resources to improve cybersecurity in elementary and secondary schools. In addition, CISA must establish a registry to track cyber incidents affecting information technology systems that are owned or managed by schools and educational agencies. Schools and educational agencies may voluntarily submit information to the registry. Finally, the bill requires CISA to establish a program to address cybersecurity threats to school information systems.
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment.
This resolution acknowledges and condemns the discrimination against, wrongful termination of, and exclusion from the federal civil service, the Foreign Service, and the Armed Forces of the thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals who were affected by the anti-LGBT policies of the federal government. The resolution expresses that the Senate, on behalf of the United States, apologizes to the affected LGBT military service members, Foreign Service members, veterans, and federal civil service employees and their families. Finally, the resolution reaffirms the commitment of the federal government to treat all military service members, Foreign Service members, veterans, and federal civil service employees and retirees, including LGBT individuals, with equal respect and fairness.
Accountability for Federal Law Enforcement Act This bill revises procedures regarding an individual's right to file civil actions for deprivation of rights under color of law. The bill (1) provides statutory authority for individuals to sue federal law enforcement officers (current law restricts the ability of an individual to file a lawsuit against a federal law enforcement officer in many cases); and (2) makes federal law enforcement agencies liable for the conduct of an officer, regardless of whether the officer has a qualified immunity defense.
Jury Access for Capable Citizens and Equality in Service Selection Act of 2021 or the Jury ACCESS Act This bill prohibits the exclusion of individuals from jury service on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act This bill prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from detaining an individual during pregnancy or postpartum recovery and addresses related issues. DHS must immediately release any detainee found to be pregnant, unless the detainee presents an immediate and serious threat of hurting themselves or others. A DHS detention facility may not use a restraint on a detainee who is known to be pregnant, including during labor, transport to a medical facility or birthing center, and delivery, or during postpartum recovery, except for medical or safety purposes. The bill requires DHS to use the least restrictive restraint necessary and prohibits certain specified restraint types, including four-point restraints and binding hands behind the detainee's back. The bill prohibits DHS detention officers from being present during a detainee's pelvic exam, labor, delivery, or treatment relating to a pregnancy, unless specifically requested by medical personnel. If a detention officer is requested by medical personnel, such officer shall be female, if practicable, and remain at a reasonable distance from the detainee. A pregnant detainee must have access to health care services, including comprehensive services relating to reproductive health care and pregnancy. DHS must provide annual training about this bill's requirements to each employee who has a role in the detention or care of a pregnant detainee or a postpartum parent of a newborn. DHS must also provide each detainee notice of their rights under this bill in the detainee's native language.
Personal Care Products Safety Act This bill requires cosmetics brands and manufacturers to register with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), provides the FDA with various regulatory authorities, and addresses related issues. Cosmetics brand owners and contract manufacturers must annually register their manufacturing facilities with the FDA. Certain entities and facilities, such as manufacturers with gross sales below certain thresholds, are exempted. Registrants with gross annual sales above certain thresholds must pay a registration fee. Each registration must contain certain information, including an ingredient list for all cosmetic products from a registered facility, with different requirements for registrants that qualify as small businesses. The FDA may suspend a registration for various reasons, including if the registrant's product has a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse health consequences and the problem cannot be isolated to a single product. The FDA must annually conduct a safety review of at least five cosmetics ingredients or nonfunctional constituents and, if appropriate, issue a final finding on the safety of that ingredient or constituent. The FDA must also implement regulations for good cosmetics manufacturing practices. The bill also requires cosmetics brand owners and manufacturers to report to the FDA any serious adverse event associated with their products. The FDA shall have various authorities to regulate cosmetics, including to (1) order a mandatory recall of a product, (2) inspect the records of manufacturers and processors, and (3) require warning labels for certain products. The FDA must issue a proposed rule to ban using intentionally added perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances in cosmetics.
