Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2021 or the BEACH Act of 2021 This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 and expands a program that awards grants to state and local governments to monitor the water quality at beaches and notify the public when water is not safe for recreational activities. The bill expands the program to allow the Environmental Protection Agency to award grants for researching and identifying specific sources of contamination at certain coastal recreation waters and taking actions to mitigate those sources.
Broadband Incentives for Communities Act This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to establish a grant program to assist local governments and Indian tribes with efficient review and approval of zoning or permitting applications that facilitate the deployment of broadband infrastructure. Grant recipients must use awarded funds to build application processing capacity or to purchase technology, software, and equipment to facilitate the processing of applications. The NTIA must also establish the Local Broadband Advisory Council to develop solutions to challenges faced by local governments, Indian tribes, and infrastructure providers in facilitating wireless and broadband deployment, including in unserved and underserved communities.
Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act This bill specifically includes pharmacy services as part of covered home infusion therapy under Medicare, and specifies that certain payment components still apply regardless of whether or not a qualified supplier is physically present in the beneficiary's home. The bill also allows nurses and physician assistants to establish and review the plan of care for home infusion therapy.
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 bill allows a new tax credit for carriage of qualified independent programmers by eligible distributors and multichannel video programming distributors based on license fees and the number of subscribers. The bill defines eligible distributor as any person engaged in the trade or business of a qualified distributor or multichannel video programming distributor and any person engaged in the trade or business of being a virtual multichannel video programming distributor. The term multchannel video programming distributor is defined in federal regulations as any entity engaged in the business of making available for purchase, by subscribers or customers, multiple channels of video programming. Such entities include, but are not limited to, a cable operator, a BRS/EBS provider, a direct broadcast satellite service, a television receive-only satellite program distributor, and a satellite master antenna television system operator, as well as buying groups or agents of all such entities. The bill defines qualified independent programmer as a U.S.-based person engaged in the production, creation, or wholesale distribution of three or fewer television channels in which no multichannel video programming distributor, cable programmer, or broadcast network has attributable interest, and includes rural, women, socially disadvantaged, and minority-owned programmers.
This bill requires the Inspector General of the Department of Defense to conduct a full investigation into the withdrawal of the U.S. Armed Forces from Afghanistan. The investigation must analyze (1) the extent to which, and reasons why, U.S. Humvees, helicopters, artillery, and drones ended up in the Taliban's possession; (2) the extent to which Afghan forces in possession of U.S. equipment entered Iran with such equipment; and (3) the effectiveness of the evacuation of U.S. and allied personnel.
Championing Uncensored Bandwidth Access Act of 2021 or the CUBA Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of State to develop a strategy for expanding open access to the internet and other telecommunications services in Cuba and for countering efforts by the Communist Party of Cuba to disrupt such access. The State Department must also report to Congress on its actions taken to implement the strategy and additional resources needed to increase access to telecommunications services in Cuba.
Prioritize Evacuation of U.S. Citizens in Afghanistan Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of State to immediately submit to Congress a joint report with (1) a plan to remove U.S. persons from Afghanistan; and (2) a detailed list of DOD equipment and materials that were not fully dispositioned before the withdrawal from Afghanistan, along with the value of such equipment and materials.
This bill designates Little Wekiva River in Florida as a scenic river and as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
No Federal Funding for Confederate Symbols Act This bill prohibits federal funds from being used for the creation, maintenance, or display of any Confederate symbol on federal public land or other federal property. An exception to such prohibition is provided (1) if the use of such funds is necessary to allow for the removal of the Confederate symbol to address public safety; or (2) in the case of a Confederate symbol created, maintained, or displayed in a museum or educational exhibit.
Scientific Assistance for Very Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales Act of 2021 or the SAVE Right Whales Act of 2021 This bill provides support for the conservation of North Atlantic right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis ). Specifically, it requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide financial assistance for the conservation of such whales. In addition, NOAA must conduct surveys of plankton on an ongoing basis using a continuous plankton recorder.
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that policies concerning medication abortions should be grounded in science, be based on a review of medical evidence, and ensure equitable access for patients.
