This resolution honors the veterans of the Philippine Commonwealth Army during World War II for their sacrifice to the United States and for their selfless service.
This resolution commemorates the Assyrian Genocide and urges Turkey to officially recognize the Assyrian Genocide.
This resolution condemns the Chinese Communist Party and its violation of the human rights of the people of China.
This resolution expresses opposition to any effort that undermines Columbia's democracy or sovereignty.
Leveraging Opportunities for Americans Now Act of 2021 or the LOAN Act of 2021 This bill revises interest rates and repayment plans for federal student loans. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to set the interest rate on federal student loans made on or after July 1, 2022, at 0% and replace the interest with a one-time financing fee. Further, the bill permits ED to credit or refund borrowers who pay the balance of their loan earlier than required by their repayment plan with the amount of the financing fee. In addition, the bill establishes an income-dependent education assistance repayment plan as the default repayment plan for federal student loans. A borrower may select either this new plan or a 10-year fixed repayment plan. ED must calculate annual repayment amounts and provide annual statements to borrowers. The Department of the Treasury must transmit tax information to ED as necessary to determine a borrower's repayment obligations and financing fee adjustments.
Countering the Chinese Government and Communist Party's Political Influence Operations Act This bill directs the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to devise a long-term strategy to counter the Chinese government's political influence operations. The strategy must seek to counter the ruling Chinese Communist Party's campaigns to corrupt democratic countries and undermine democratic institutions, both in the United States and elsewhere. It must also seek to increase awareness of such campaigns and help other countries develop the capacity to counter them. The strategy must also ensure that Chinese nationals living in the United States, as well as Chinese Americans and members of the Uyghur, Mongolian, Korean, Taiwanese, and Tibetan diaspora, are protected against malign political influence operations, such as surveillance and intimidation. The State Department must annually report to Congress about Chinese government efforts to exert influence in the United States and in U.S. partner countries, and suggestions for countering such efforts. The report shall address issues including attempts to (1) influence government institutions and officials, (2) undermine democratic institutions and freedom of speech, and (3) suppress public information.
Foreign Americium Disposal and Storage Act or the FADS Act This bill authorizes the collection, storage, and safe disposal of certain foreign-origin, proliferation-attractive fissile materials or radiological materials (or similar foreign-origin materials) at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, which is the United States' only repository for the disposal of transuranic nuclear waste.
UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act This bill makes changes to U.S. foreign policy in matters concerning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). For purposes of this policy, the bill defines Palestinian refugee as a person who (1) resided from June 1946 to May 1948 in Mandatory Palestine (a region controlled by Britain until 1948), (2) was personally displaced as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, and (3) has not accepted citizenship or other permanent adjustment in status in another country. The bill withholds U.S. funding for the UNRWA unless the Department of State makes certifications concerning the UNRWA's staff, partners, and funding. Specifically, the State Department must certify that neither UNRWA staff and partners nor its funding and facilities are affiliated with terrorism or engaged in the dissemination of anti-American, anti-Israel, or anti-Semitic ideologies. Additionally, the State Department must certify that the UNRWA is subject to comprehensive financial audits by an independent auditing firm and is unaffiliated with any financial institutions that the United States considers to be complicit in money laundering or terror financing. The bill also requires the State Department to implement a plan to encourage other countries to align their activities and efforts regarding the UNRWA with U.S. policy objectives, including the phase out of the UNRWA by resettling Palestinian refugees in countries other than Israel and in territories not controlled by Israel. The State Department must report to Congress on this plan.
Passport Backlog Elimination Act This bill requires the Department of State to submit and implement a plan containing specified actionable strategies to eliminate the backlog of passport applications that is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entity List Verification Act This bill prohibits the Department of Commerce from removing an entity from the entity list until Commerce certifies that the entity is no longer reasonably believed to be involved in activities contrary to U.S. national security interests or foreign policy interests. The entity list provides the names of foreign entities who are subject to specific license requirements for the export, reexport, or transfer of specified items.
Curbing China's Vaccine Diplomacy Act This bill requires the Department of State, in carrying out the international distribution of COVID-19 vaccine doses, to prioritize distribution to and ensure that at least 25% of such doses are reserved for Taiwan and certain Latin American allies. The State Department may not make such distribution until the Administration determines that all Americans have been afforded ample opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Further, the State Department must ensure that at least 25% of COVID-19 vaccine doses intended for international distribution are reserved for and distributed to Taiwan and Latin American allies, and it may not distribute any doses internationally to any recipient or country until Taiwan and Latin American allies receive their first shipment of such doses.
Central American Women and Children Protection Act of 2021 This bill temporarily authorizes the Department of State to enter into bilateral compacts with the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to strengthen criminal justice systems, social supports, and other means to protect women and children from domestic and gender-based violence. At least 15 days before entering a compact, the State Department must submit to Congress a copy of the proposed agreement and related materials. Authority to enter a compact terminates on September 30, 2023, and a compact may last no more than six years. To support the objectives outlined in a compact, the State Department may provide assistance to international organizations, civil society, or other private entities for programs and activities to prevent and respond to domestic and gender-based violence in a compact country. The bill bars the provision of assistance to the government of a compact country as direct budgetary support. The State Department may suspend or terminate the assistance if a compact country or entity receiving the assistance engaged in conduct contrary to U.S. national security interests or inconsistent with the objectives of the compact. The State Department must notify Congress at least 15 days before suspending or terminating assistance. The bill also requires the State Department to annually report on progress made under each compact, including its effect on reported violence against women and children and other domestic and gender-based violence indicators.
