Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2021 or the BTU Act of 2021 This bill expands the 30% energy tax credit to include open-loop biomass heating property and extends the residential energy efficient property tax credit for five years. The bill defines open-loop biomass heating property as any property that uses open-loop biomass to produce thermal energy in the form of heat, hot water, hot air, or steam and is used for space heating, air conditioning, domestic hot water, or industrial process heat, but does not include any boiler or furnace unless they operate at thermal output efficiencies of at least 75% and are installed indoors.
Defund the Wuhan Institute of Virology Act This bill prohibits making federal funds available to the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on federal funds given to the institute over the past 15 years. The report must list any such funds that the institute provided to the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party, or affiliates of these entities.
This bill waives certain eligibility requirements for hospitals participating in the 340B drug discount program (i.e., a program that allows entities to receive covered outpatient drugs at reduced prices from manufacturers) during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. Specifically, the bill waives the required minimum proportion of low-income patients served for hospitals that began participating in the program during or prior to the COVID-19 emergency.
This resolution designates National Pregnancy Center Week.
This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week.
FDA Review of Efficacy of EERW Double-Blinds of Opioids Act or the FREED of Opioids Act This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take certain actions to determine whether to permit the use of a certain methodology for drug clinical trials. Specifically, the FDA must seek to contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for the NAS to conduct a study on the effectiveness of using enriched enrollment randomized withdrawal methodology in demonstrating the efficacy of opioid drugs in treating chronic pain. The FDA must also convene a meeting of two specified FDA advisory committees to review the NAS study and vote on whether to permit the use of this methodology in drug clinical trials.
Student Loan Marriage Penalty Elimination Act of 2021 This bill allows married couples filing a joint tax return to apply the $2,500 limitation on the tax deduction for student loan interest separately to each spouse.
Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder Act of 2021 or the HELPER Act of 2021 This bill establishes a program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide mortgage assistance to law enforcement officers, elementary and secondary school teachers, firefighters, or other first responders. Specifically, these individuals may be eligible for a one-time mortgage on a primary family residence with no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance premium.
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act This bill requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine whether a state substantially provides public safety officers or employees the right to form and join a labor organization; recognition by public safety employers of the employees' labor organization, agreement to bargain with the organization, and reduction of any agreements to writing in a contract or memorandum of understanding; the right to bargain over hours, wages, and terms and conditions of employment; and binding interest arbitration to resolve an impasse in collective bargaining negotiations. The bill makes the authority responsible for (1) determining the appropriateness of units for labor representation; (2) supervising elections; (3) conducting hearings and resolving complaints of unfair labor practices; and (4) protecting the right of employees to form, join, or assist any labor organization, or to refrain from doing so. An employer, public safety officer, or labor organization may not engage in a lockout, sickout, work slowdown, strike, or any other organized job action that will measurably disrupt the delivery of emergency services and is designed to compel an employer, public safety officer, or labor organization to agree to the terms of a proposed contract.
Stop CRT Act This bill grants Executive Order 13950 the force and effect of law. That order prohibits federal agencies and contractors from advancing specified policies or training related to race or sex.
This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week.
DEA Enforcement and Authority Act of 2021 This bill modifies enforcement authorities of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). First, the bill modifies the required elements of an order to show cause issued by the DEA before it denies, revokes, or suspends a registration due to a violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Specifically, the bill eliminates the requirement that an order to show cause must notify the registrant of the opportunity to submit a corrective action plan. Second, the bill modifies the standard of review for an immediate suspension order. Currently, the DEA may immediately suspend the registration of a controlled substances manufacturer, distributor, or dispenser to prevent imminent danger to the public health or safety. This bill lowers the standard for determining imminent danger to the public health or safety—from substantial likelihood of an immediate threat of harm to probable cause that harm will occur.
