State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act This bill allows states, tribes, territories, and localities to use certain COVID-19 relief funds for new categories of spending, including for natural disasters and infrastructure projects. It also makes changes to expenditure deadlines and other aspects of this funding. Specifically, recipients may use funds for emergency relief from natural disasters and associated negative economic impacts of natural disasters. In addition, recipients may use a portion of their COVID-19 relief funds for designated infrastructure projects, such as nationally significant freight and highway projects. Furthermore, the bill allows recipients to expend COVID-19 relief funds on these types of infrastructure projects until September 30, 2026. Under current law, recipients must expend the funds by December 31, 2024. Other changes in the bill include (1) modifying eligibility and allocation requirements for funding set aside for counties and Indian tribes that are near public lands, (2) allowing Indian tribes an additional year to expend their COVID-19 relief funds, and (3) establishing a process for government entities to decline COVID-19 relief funds and requiring any declined funds to be used to reduce the federal deficit.
Financial Exploitation Prevention Act of 2021 This bill allows for the delay of the redemption of a security issued by an open-end investment management company if the company or transfer agent reasonably believes the redemption involves the financial exploitation of an individual age 65 or older or an individual age 18 or older who is unable to protect his or her own interests. Open-end investment management companies offer securities in pooled investment vehicles such as mutual funds. Additionally, the Securities and Exchange Commission must make legislative and regulatory recommendations to address the financial exploitation of such adults.
Afghanistan Security Through Intelligence Act This bill requires reports concerning the situation in Afghanistan and other specified countries. The National Intelligence Council within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) must submit to Congress a National Intelligence Estimate (a type of intelligence community assessment about a specific issue) on topics including (1) the presence of certain countries, including China, Iran, and Russia in Afghanistan and other specified countries, such as India and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries; (2) any change to threats to the United States as a result of the withdrawal of U.S. Armed Forces from Afghanistan on August 31, 2021; and (3) the political composition and stability of the governing body of Afghanistan. The ODNI must periodically report to Congress on issues such as (1) the intelligence community's collection posture with respect to issues involving Afghanistan, including the detection and prevention of any increased threat to the United States as a result of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan; (2) any plans or efforts to improve the intelligence collection posture in Afghanistan; and (3) the effect of publicly documenting the Taliban's abuses.
Housing Opportunities to Mitigate Expenses for Services for our Veterans Act of 2021 or the HOMES for our Veterans Act of 2021 This bill removes certain funding limitations on grants that assist eligible entities in establishing or modifying programs to furnish outreach, rehabilitative services, vocational counseling and training, and transitional housing assistance to homeless veterans.
Bring Animals Relief and Kibble Act of 2021 or as the BARK Act of 2021 This bill extends federal protection from civil and criminal liability that applies to donations of food or grocery products for needy individuals to the donation of pet food or supplies.
Treatment Restoration for Emergency Antibody Therapeutics Act or the TREAT Act This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from implementing any policy that restricts health care facilities from ordering and receiving COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapies directly from manufacturers and distributors. In addition, the bill expressly nullifies a policy announced on September 13, 2021, under which HHS allocated supplies of these therapies through state or territorial governments.
Stop Wasting All our Money on Palaces Act or the SWAMP Act This bill prohibits the construction by the General Services Administration or any other federal department or agency of a new federal building in the District of Columbia for a two-year period beginning on the date of this bill's enactment.
Simon Crosier Act This bill requires hospitals and other health care providers, as a condition of Medicare and Medicaid participation, to have certain written policies and procedures in place that limit the implementation of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders for unemancipated minors in accordance with specified criteria. Among other provisions, such policies and procedures must (1) require the informed consent of at least one parent and a reasonable attempt to contact the other parent before instituting a DNR order, (2) allow either parent to refuse to consent to a DNR order, and (3) allow a parent to transfer a minor to another facility after being informed of an intent to institute a DNR order.
This resolution recognizes the ultimate sacrifice of the unknown soldiers interred at Arlington National Cemetery and expresses gratitude and appreciation of all the members of the Armed Forces who have served during wars and peacetime. Additionally, the resolution commends all members of the 3d Infantry Regiment, specifically those who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.
Care for our Firefighters Act This bill establishes a program and provides additional leave to support mental health for federal wildland firefighters. The Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior must carry out a mental health awareness and support program for federal wildland firefighters. Components of the program must include an awareness campaign, relevant education and training, a peer-to-peer mental health support network, and increased access to mental health benefits. The bill also entitles each federal wildland firefighter to seven consecutive days of leave to be taken between June 1 and October 31 of each calendar year to maintain mental health. Leave not taken during that period expires.
Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2021 This bill makes changes to the administration and management of the Strategic National Stockpile. Among these changes, the bill authorizes through September 30, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to transfer supplies from the stockpile to any federal departments or agencies under certain conditions. HHS must also ensure the contents of the stockpile remain in working order and may enter into maintenance service contracts to carry out this requirement. Furthermore, as part of its management of the stockpile, HHS must establish and maintain domestic reserves of certain supplies, including by entering into cooperative agreements or partnerships to access facilities and equipment to produce these supplies. The authority for such agreements and partnerships terminates on September 30, 2024. Additionally, the bill temporarily authorizes HHS to award grants to states for maintaining stockpiles of certain equipment and supplies for use during public health emergencies. HHS must also develop transparent processes for the use and distribution of supplies from the stockpile that address, for example, the prioritization of requests. Additionally, during the COVID-19 emergency, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response must report monthly on requests for supplies from states, tribes, and other jurisdictions. These reports must include the rationale for any partially fulfilled or denied requests. Lastly, the Government Accountability Office must study the feasibility of establishing user fees to offset costs for procuring single-source materials for, and distributing such materials from, the stockpile.
Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2021 This bill establishes several requirements and standards relating to prior authorization processes under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Specifically, MA plans must (1) establish an electronic prior authorization program that meets specified standards, including the ability to provide real-time decisions in response to requests for items and services that are routinely approved; (2) annually publish specified prior authorization information, including the percentage of requests approved and the average response time; and (3) meet other standards, as set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, relating to the quality and timeliness of prior authorization determinations.
