Safe Routes to School Expansion Act This bill expands eligibility under the Highway Safety Improvement Program to include certain safety projects related to safe routes to school infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks, crosswalks, signage, bus stop shelters or protected waiting areas. The bill increases the federal share for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to fund improvements for pedestrian or bicyclist safety, safety of people with disabilities, and safe routes to school infrastructure. DOT must also carry out a safe routes to school program for the benefit of children in primary, middle, and high schools.
Preparing Localities for an Autonomous and Connected Environment Act or the PLACE Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation to provide grants to institutions of higher education to (1) operate a national highly automated vehicle and mobility innovation clearinghouse; (2) collect, conduct, and fund research on how autonomous vehicles and mobility innovation can impact land use, urban design, transportation systems, real estate, accessibility, municipal budgets, social equity, availability and quality of jobs, air quality and climate, energy consumption, and the environment; (3) make such research publicly available online; and (4) conduct outreach and disseminate information on the research to assist communities.
Road User Charge Advancement Act of 2021 This bill revises the Surface Transportation Systems Funding Alternatives program. The program provides grants to states to demonstrate user-based alternative revenue mechanisms that utilize a user fee structure to maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. Specifically, the bill revises the program to set forth certain eligibility requirements, ensure that activities carried out using grant funds include test solutions to ensure the privacy and security of data collected for the purpose of implementing a user-based alternative revenue mechanism, increase the maximum amount of federal share that may payable for the costs of an activity from 50% to 80% of the total costs, and modify reporting requirements for the Department of Transportation to include annually publishing a report that contains a determination of the characteristics of the most successful mechanisms with the highest potential for future widespread deployment. The bill also provides funding for FY2022-FY2025 to carry out the program.
Bikeshare Transit Act of 2021 This bill allows bikeshare projects to be eligible for federal funding. The bill also makes shared micromobility (including bikesharing and shared scooter systems) projects eligible for funds if they shift traffic demand to non-peak hours or other transportation modes, increase vehicle occupancy rates, or otherwise reduce demand for roads.
Safe and Quiet Skies Act of 2021 This bill sets forth requirements for commercial air tour flights. Among other requirements, the bill prohibits tour flights within a half mile of military installations, national cemeteries, national wilderness areas, national parks, and national wildlife refuges; prohibits tour flights from operating at an altitude of less than 1,500 feet; requires tour flights over occupied areas (e.g., residential, commercial, and recreational areas) to be no louder than 55dbA; and allows states and localities to impose additional requirements that are stricter than the minimum federal requirements.
Freedom from Regulating Edible Supplies and Horticulture Trucking Act or the FRESH Trucking Act This bill modifies service hour requirements for drivers transporting perishable agricultural, horticultural, or floricultural commodities. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to establish that loading and unloading of commercial motor vehicles shall be excluded from on-duty time requirements, there shall be no requirement of a 30-minute rest break within the first 8 hours of the hours of service on-duty requirements and the carrier or driver may take breaks at any time during the trip, and such carrier or driver may complete a scheduled trip if they are over the hours of service maximum on-duty drive schedule and are within 150 miles of their scheduled delivery point.
Health Care Affordability Act of 2021 This bill revises the tax credit for health care premium assistance to expand the eligibility of low-income taxpayers for such credit and reduce the cost of health care premiums.
Wear Your Mask Act This bill requires each federal agency to take action to ensure that an individual is required to wear a face mask inside a federal facility under its jurisdiction if the individual is within six feet of another individual to minimize the transmission of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Each agency shall make face masks available at each entrance to a federal facility at which such agency maintains a presence. The bill terminates such requirements when the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases determines, and publishes in the Federal Register a notification, that the requirement to wear a mask is no longer necessary to prevent such transmission.
Secure U.S. Capitol Act This bill directs the Architect of the Capitol to install permanent fencing around the perimeter of the U.S. Capitol, taking into account specified factors relating to safety, security, access, and overall design. The fencing must be installed by January 1, 2023. On January 7, 2021, in response to the previous day's events, razor wire fencing was erected to secure the perimeter of the U.S. Capitol; the fencing is to remain in place for 30 days, with possible extensions.
This bill allows a refundable income tax credit for state income taxes paid by individuals providing services as first responders, doctors, nurses, or other health or emergency services. This credit expires after the Department of the Treasury certifies that the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period has ended. The bill requires a reduction in federal highway funds paid to a state that corresponds to the credit amount allowed by this bill.
Communities and Environment First Act of 2021 This bill establishes the For Communities Trust Fund to be funded by specified environmental taxes for the purpose of awarding grants to states in cooperative agreements with the Environmental Protection Agency to (1) assist in relocation efforts for individuals or groups who live within five miles of facilities that are a major source or area source of certain emissions, or (2) protect or remediate areas affected by emissions of hazardous air pollutants or releases of hazardous substances from such facilities. The bill increases the excise tax on certain chemicals to adjust for inflation and removes tax exemptions related to crude oil and petroleum products imported into the United States.
Noncontiguous Shipping Relief Act of 2021 This bill revises coastwise laws, commonly known as the Jones Act, that govern domestic transportation of merchandise or passengers by vessels. The Jones Act requires that vessels transporting merchandise or passengers between Puerto Rico and other U.S. ports be built in the United States, be at least 75% owned by U.S. citizens, and be mostly crewed by U.S. citizens. The bill exempts foreign-flag vessels transporting merchandise on a route in noncontiguous trade from Jones Act requirements. The bill sets forth other requirements, including (1) labor standards, (2) minimum requirements for vessels engaging in the transportation of cargo or merchandise in domestic coastwise trade, (3) environmental standards, and (4) requirements for certain non-citizens that irregularly engage in domestic coastwise trade.
