This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the global COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak is a direct result of China's human rights abuses and propaganda campaign and that China should be held accountable for its handling of the outbreak.
Let States Cut Taxes Act This bill removes a prohibition on states and territories using COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) relief funding under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to offset a reduction in revenue resulting from a reduction in taxes or a delay in the imposition of a tax or tax increase.
NEPA Accountability and Enforcement Act This bills establishes (1) deadlines for federal agencies to complete reviews of the environmental effects of proposed major federal actions, and (2) penalties for agencies that do not comply with these deadlines.
Highway Formula Fairness Act This bill modifies the formula that the Department of Transportation uses to apportion federal highway funds among the states for the national highway performance program, the surface transportation block grant program, the highway safety improvement program, the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program, the national highway freight program, and metropolitan transportation planning.
Ports-to-Plains Highway Act of 202 1 This bill expands and designates certain route segments on the National Highway System. Specifically, the bill (1) designates the portion of the Heartland Expressway (relating solely to the portion from Limon, Colorado to Interstate Route I-76 in the vicinity of Brush, Colorado) and the Ports-to-Plains Corridor as future parts of the Interstate System; and (2) permits the continued operation of vehicles on any segment of the Heartland Expressway (relating solely to the portion from Limon, Colorado to I-76 in the vicinity of Brush, Colorado) and the Ports-to-Plains Corridor that is designated as a route on the Interstate System in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico, without regard to vehicle weight limitation requirements.
Undoing NEPA’s Substantial Harm by Advancing Concepts that Kickstart the Liberation of the Economy Act or the UNSHACKLE Act This bill revises the environmental review process required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), including by establishing deadlines for federal agencies to complete reviews of the environmental effects of proposed major federal actions; establishing penalties for agencies that do not comply with these deadlines; limiting the number of assessment documents required for proposed major federal actions, requiring agencies to reuse certain research or documents, and allowing agencies to adopt environmental documents prepared by states or third parties; requiring agencies to only consider alternatives to proposed actions that are technically and economically feasible; prohibiting agencies from considering whether proposed actions or alternatives to those actions will have an effect on climate change; and establishing requirements concerning the judicial review of NEPA cases.
Hotspots and Online Technology and Services Procurement for Our Tribes and States Act or the HOTSPOTS Act This bill establishes a two-year pilot program through which the Institute of Museum and Library Services must award grants to states, territories, Indian tribes, and organizations that primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians to purchase and distribute internet-connected devices to libraries in rural and low-income areas.
NEPA Agency Process Accountability Act This bill revises the environmental review process required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), including by limiting the number of assessment documents required for proposed major federal actions, requiring agencies to reuse certain research or documents in the NEPA process, and allowing agencies to adopt environmental documents prepared by states or third parties as specified under the bill. In addition, the bill requires agencies to only consider alternatives to proposed major federal actions that are technically and economically feasible. Agencies must track and report on specified NEPA data, such as the comprehensive costs of the NEPA process.
Businesses Preparing for a Better Tomorrow Act This bill allows employers a payroll tax credit in each calendar quarter of 50% of the their qualified workplace training expenses paid or incurred after March 12, 2020, and before January 1, 2022. The bill defines qualified workplace training expenses as employer expenses for education and training for the health and safety of employees in the workplace with respect to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), and the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
Civics Secures Democracy Act of 2021 This bill provides resources to expand educational programs in American civics and history, including by establishing grant and fellowship programs and reauthorizing various programs. First, the bill authorizes the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to states, qualified nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education (IHEs), and qualified researchers to support and expand access to civics and history education. Next, the bill establishes a fellowship program to diversify the civics and history education workforce. In addition, the bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and revises the American History for Freedom grant program. The bill renames the program as the American Civics Education Program. The bill revises the grant program to authorize ED to award grants to IHEs once every three years to establish or strengthen academic programs to promote American political thought and history; the history, achievements, and impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally; and the means of participation in political and civic life. IHEs may use grants to support additional activities, such as collaborating with federal or state humanities programs and using open educational resources. Further, the bill reauthorizes through FY2022 and revises the Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund and the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Trust Fund. Finally, the bill requires the National Assessment of Educational Progress in civics and history to be administered every two years to certain grade levels.
Coin Metal Modification Authorization and Cost Savings Act of 2021 This bill authorizes the United States Mint to modify the metallic composition of circulating coins (including by prescribing reasonable manufacturing tolerances with respect to those coins) if a study and analysis conducted by the Mint indicates that the modification will reduce costs incurred by the taxpayers; be seamless, which shall be determined by verifying that the coins will work interchangeably in most coin acceptors using electromagnetic signature technology; and have as minimal an adverse impact as possible on the public and stakeholders. The Mint must notify Congress before making the modification and provide a justification for the modification.
Public School Green Rooftop Program This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a grant program for installing and maintaining green roof systems on public elementary and secondary school buildings. Green roof refers to a layer of vegetation that is planted over a waterproofing system or to a waterproof management practice that is installed on a roof and may support plant growth. Specifically, DOE must award grants to public elementary and secondary schools, local educational agencies, and partnerships with nonprofit organizations to (1) pay the costs of planning assistance for green roof systems on school buildings (e.g., assessing structures, conducting financial and engineering analyses, and receiving cost estimates), and (2) install green roof systems on these buildings. Additionally, a grant recipient must complete the installation of a green roof system within four years of receiving the grant. A grant recipient that completes this installation requirement shall receive additional funding for maintenance activities, such as conducting routine inspections to monitor the condition of the green roof.
