Pandemic Treatment Access and Affordability Act of 2021 This bill imposes licensing and price restrictions on federally supported drugs and other medicines intended to address COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) or other public health emergencies. With respect to a COVID-19 drug patent developed using certain types of federal support, any license granted by the federal government shall be open and nonexclusive. Similarly, a licensee or assignee for such a patent shall grant open nonexclusive licenses for the patent. An entity that receives a license shall pay reasonable royalties to (1) the patent holder, or (2) the owner of marketing exclusivity rights granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that were terminated under this bill. The bill requires that such drugs be offered at a fair and reasonable price based on certain considerations, such as access. If the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finds that the price of any drug to address a public health emergency is excessive, HHS must void any FDA-granted exclusivity for the drug and grant open and nonexclusive licenses to other manufacturers. Such licenses are subject to reasonable royalty requirements.
COVID-19 Justice and Accountability Act This bill provides a cause of action for harm suffered as a result of a violation of certain federal laws relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) and suspends certain predispute arbitration agreements and joint-action waivers during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Specifically, individuals may bring a cause of action in U.S. district court against any person for harm suffered as a result of a violation of, or a failure to comply with, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, or the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021. Further, during the COVID-19 public health emergency period and 180 days thereafter, no predispute arbitration agreement or joint-action waiver (an agreement to waive the right to participate in a joint, class, or collective action) is valid or enforceable with respect to employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights disputes.
National Office of New Americans Act This bill establishes the National Office of New Americans (NONA) within the Executive Office of the President to promote and support the integration of immigrants and refugees into the social, cultural, economic, and civic life of the United States. The NONA shall also establish the Federal Initiative on New Americans. The initiative shall establish a coordinated federal program to respond effectively to immigrant and refugee integration issues such as language learning, adult education and workforce training, health care, and naturalization.
This resolution expels Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from the House of Representatives.
Finding Federal Savings Committee Resolution This resolution establishes the House Committee on the Elimination of Nonessential Federal Programs to analyze underperforming or nonessential federal programs and recommend actions to modify or eliminate those programs. The resolution also establishes expedited procedures for legislation reported by the committee to eliminate programs or rescind funding. The committee shall cease to exist at the end of the 119th Congress.
This resolution urges the U.S. Capitol Police Board to direct the Architect of the Capitol to remove the fencing installed around the perimeter of the U.S. Capitol complex in response to the attacks of January 6, 2021, and it recommends the end of the National Guard's mission in the District of Columbia in response to those attacks.
This resolution condemns the military coup that took place in Burma (Myanmar) on February 1, 2021. It also calls on the Burmese military to (1) release all those detained arbitrarily in the coup, (2) restore all forms of communications, and (3) return to power all members of the civilian government.
Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act of 2021 This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, any grant or other assistance provided by the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act.
Debt Solution and Accountability Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to submit to Congress a debt report and a statement of intent within 60 days of an increase in the public debt limit. The debt report must include the historic, current, and projected levels of debt; the drivers and composition of future debt; and how the United States will meet debt obligations. The statement of intent must include a detailed explanation of proposals of the President to reduce the debt; the impact the increased debt limit will have on future government spending, debt service, and the position of the U.S. dollar as the international reserve currency; and projections of the fiscal health and sustainability of major entitlement programs (including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid). Treasury must make the information required by this bill available to the public on its website. Upon request, Treasury must submit to Congress specified financial and economic data relevant to determining the amount of the public debt.
Teach Relevant Apprenticeships to Drive Economic Success Act or the TRADES Act This bill provides statutory authority for federal regulations titled Apprenticeship Programs, Labor Standards for Registration, Amendment of Regulations published by the Department of Labor in the Federal Register on March 11, 2020.
Student Loan Disclosure Transparency Act of 2021 This bill requires lenders disbursing federal student loans to disclose additional information to borrowers and increase the frequency of such disclosures. Specifically, prior to disbursement, the lender making a loan must disclose (1) the principal amount, interest rate, and number of required monthly payments to be made on the loan; (2) the estimated balance owed by the borrower; and (3) the estimated aggregate amount the borrower will pay. Prior to repayment, the lender must disclose the projected total of interest charges that the borrower will pay on the loan, as well as projections of the borrower's monthly repayment amount. The bill also requires certain disclosures for the life of the loan. In particular, lenders must disclose information about loans on a monthly, rather than periodic, basis. Lenders must also provide borrowers who are not in a repayment status (e.g., a borrower who is in school or in a deferment period) with a monthly statement. The Department of Education must obtain feedback from borrowers and report on the usefulness and effectiveness of such disclosures.
Taiwan PLUS Act This bill provides Taiwan with preferential treatment when receiving U.S. defense articles and services. Specifically, Taiwan shall be subject to the requirements and procedures that apply to certain U.S. partners and allies, such as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries, South Korea, and Australia. Under this bill, certain defense transfers to Taiwan shall be subject to less stringent requirements, such as shorter waiting periods and higher minimum value thresholds before various oversight requirements kick in. Taiwan shall also be eligible to receive certain fee reductions and waivers related to defense transfers. Taiwan shall receive such treatment for the five-year period starting from this bill's enactment, and the Department of State may extend this treatment for additional five-year periods if doing so would support U.S. national security interests.
