Rep. Beth Van Duyne

Countering Communist China Act This bill addresses issues related to China, tax incentives, and other topics. The bill imposes visa- and property-blocking sanctions on certain entities and individuals that (1) are involved in acts of malign disinformation on behalf of a foreign government or political party, or (2) have engaged in a pattern of significant infringement of intellectual property belonging to a U.S. entity or individual. It also authorizes sanctions on developers and owners of software that makes unauthorized transmissions of user data to servers that are located in China and are accessible by China's government. The bill also provides tax incentives for relocating pharmaceutical, medical supply, or medical device manufacturing to the United States, including by allowing accelerated depreciation of nonresidential real property acquired in connection with such relocation; eliminates the five-year amortization requirement for research and experimental expenditures scheduled to begin in 2022, thus allowing continued expensing of such expenditures in the taxable years in which they are incurred; prohibits an institution of higher education from receiving certain federal funds if the institution has a contractual partnership with an entity controlled by China's government or organized under China's laws; modifies presumptions and evidentiary standards in administrative patent validity challenges; bars China from asserting sovereign immunity in certain instances; requires U.S. representatives to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to take certain actions, such as opposing any increase to the weight given to China's currency when determining the value of IMF Special Drawing Rights; and permanently rescinds unobligated funds previously made available for certain economic relief programs related to COVID-19.

Combating Predatory Lending in Higher Education Act of 2021 This bill includes Direct PLUS Loans that are made to graduate students and parents on behalf of dependent students in an institution of higher education's (IHE's) cohort default rate. This rate is the percentage of an IHE's borrowers who enter repayment and default on certain student loans. Further, the Department of Education must include this information in its annual report on cohort default rates.

This resolution condemns the President's failure to heed military and intelligence advisors about the speed and nature of the Taliban offense in Afghanistan and urges the President to commit to maintaining the evacuation operation as long as necessary to evacuate any U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or Afghan partner who requests evacuation assistance .

Bringing Back Main Street Act of 2021 This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study and report on the amount of small business assistance that has been received by foreign-based small businesses during the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on the bill's date of enactment.

This resolution commends Steve Verett for his lifelong dedication and service to the cotton industry and to Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. It also congratulates Mr. Verett on his retirement and extends him best wishes in all his future endeavors.

Safe and Certain Elections Act This bill establishes certain election security measures and requires a report on blockchain technology. Specifically, the bill requires a voting system used in a federal election to produce a permanent paper record for use in audits. In addition, the bill prohibits such a voting system from (1) connecting to the internet, or (2) directly tabulating a ballot that was transmitted online. Next, the bill specifies that a state must carry out and complete a program to remove the names of ineligible voters from the official list of eligible voters at least 90 days before a federal election. In addition, the bill directs the Election Assistance Commission to study and report on the use of blockchain technology to improve the security of federal elections.

Preserving Direct Seller Independence Act This bill excludes a real estate agent or a direct seller of consumer products from the definition of an employee for the purpose of applying the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

Parental Choices Not School Mandates Act of 2021 This bill prohibits certain educational institutions that receive federal funds from mandating COVID-19 vaccination for students. Specifically, the prohibition applies to elementary schools, secondary schools, or institutions of higher education through July 1, 2023.

Reversing Executive Negligence Towards American Laws Act or the RENTAL Act This bill prohibits a federal official from establishing, extending, maintaining, implementing, or enforcing a moratorium on evictions, unless the official has specific federal statutory authority.

Social Security Disability Insurance Return to Work Act This bill makes various changes to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), with a particular focus on returning individuals who receive SSDI to employment. Among other changes, the bill limits the amount of time an individual with a disability for which medical improvement is likely or expected may receive SSDI benefits, and it requires the Social Security Administration to establish a process to allow such individuals who return to employment before their benefits expire and whose earnings exceed a specified limit to receive an adjusted SSDI benefit.