This bill prohibits the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation from prohibiting or restricting the source of energy used by a power-generation project that has as its purpose the provision of affordable electricity in certain countries. Such countries are those that are eligible for support either solely from the International Development Association (IDA) or jointly from the IDA and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Further, the corporation (1) may not reject a power-generation project in such a country based on the source of energy used by the project; and (2) must promote a technology- and fuel-neutral energy development strategy for such countries that includes the use of oil, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric, wind, solar, and geothermal power and other sources of energy.
Preventing Restrictions and Empowering Speakers to Enable Robust and Varied Exchanges in Online Speech or the PRESERVE Online Speech Act This bill requires interactive computer services (e.g., social media companies) to issue a public disclosure containing specified information related to a request or recommendation by a government entity that the service moderate content on its platform. Examples of such moderation include eliminating the ability of a user to comment upon information or terminating or limiting a user's account. Failure to comply with this requirement shall result in a fine of $50,000 per day, which shall be deposited in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. The Federal Communications Commission must submit an annual report that includes the contents of each such public disclosure.
Protecting o ur Pharmaceutical Supply Chain from China Act of 2021 This bill requires the federal government to maintain a registry of certain foreign-sourced drugs, prohibits federal health care programs from purchasing drugs containing ingredients manufactured in China, requires drugs to be labeled for country of origin, and offers domestic manufacturing facility tax incentives. The Food and Drug Administration shall maintain (1) a list of foreign-sourced drugs and active ingredients that are critical for consumer health and safety, and (2) another list identifying such drugs that are produced exclusively in China or use ingredients produced in China. The bill phases in a restriction on federal health care programs purchasing drugs with active ingredients manufactured in China. By January 1, 2024, such programs may not purchase a drug with any active ingredients from China. The Department of Health and Human Services may issue a waiver for an agency or program that is unable to meet this requirement, but no waiver may apply to drugs purchased in or after 2026. Each drug must have labeling listing the country of origin of each active ingredient, and a drug without this labeling shall be deemed misbranded. The bill allows 100% tax expensing for qualified pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing property placed in service between 2020 and 2026.
New Partnerships Initiative Authorization Act This bill provides statutory authority for the New Partnerships Initiative within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The initiative aims to diversify the USAID's partner base by creating avenues for new, underutilized, and local partners to work with, and access funding from, the USAID. The bill defines new partner as a nonprofit that has not received USAID funding as a prime partner in the past five years, underutilized partner as a nonprofit that has received less than $25 million in direct or indirect awards from the USAID in the past five years, and local partner as a local entity or locally established partner of a U.S.-based nonprofit. The USAID must annually report to Congress on funding awarded to new, underutilized, and local partners.
Disclose Government Censorship Act This bill requires officers and employees of the legislative and executive branches to disclose communications with providers of interactive computer services (e.g., internet service providers) regarding restricting speech. Specifically, executive and legislative branch officers and employees must disclose their communications with a provider or operator of an interactive computer service regarding action to restrict access to material posted by another information content provider. The bill makes exceptions for legitimate law enforcement and national security purposes. The disclosure must be made within seven days of the date on which the communication is made. The bill establishes penalties for violations.
Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2021 This bill revises the scope, jurisdiction, and requirements of the Clean Water Act. It specifies the types of water bodies that are navigable waters and therefore receive protection. It defines navigable waters as waters of the United States that are (1) navigable-in-fact; or (2) permanent, standing, or continuously flowing bodies of water that form geographical features commonly known as streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes that are connected to waters that are navigable-in-fact. The bill limits the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over such waters, including by stating that ground water is under the jurisdiction of states. The bill prohibits the EPA from using a significant nexus test to determine federal jurisdiction over navigable waters and waters of the United States. The bill nullifies the Migratory Bird rule and a 2008 guidance document about the definition of waters under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. The bill prohibits the EPA and the Corps from issuing new rules or guidance that expands or interprets the definition of navigable waters unless expressly authorized by Congress. Federal agencies must obtain consent from private property owners to collect information about navigable waters on their land. If regulations relating to navigable waters or waters of United States diminish the value of a property, then the federal government must pay the property owner an amount equal to twice the value of the loss.
Guaranteeing Healthcare Access to Personnel Who Served Act This bill addresses the administration and provision of health care to veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-VA providers. First, the bill provides statutory authority for the eligibility thresholds for when a veteran must receive non-VA care under the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) for primary care, mental health care, noninstitutional extended care services, specialty care, or specialty services. Additionally, the bill establishes access to care standards for non-VA care under the VCCP, meaning a veteran's appointment must be within specified distances and time frames. Among other requirements, the VA must also implement an 18-month pilot program to allow certain veterans to use a website or mobile application to request, schedule, and confirm medical appointments with VCCP providers; ensure that VCCP third party administrators and credentials verification organizations comply with specified requirements to help ensure that certain health care providers are excluded from providing non-VA health care services; develop a strategic plan to ensure the effectiveness of the telehealth technologies and modalities delivered by the VA; and establish an online health care education portal for veterans. The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on (1) the VA program under which third parties provide transportation for veterans who are seeking VA services or benefits, (2) VA telehealth services, and (3) the VA's Foreign Medical Program. Finally, the Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply to the voluntary collection of information during research conducted by the Veterans Health Administration.
This bill expands eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to include veterans of World War II who are not already covered.
No CRT for our Military Kids Act This bill prohibits funding for the Department of Defense Education Activity from being used to (1) teach critical race theory in any school operated by the activity, or (2) develop or distribute any curriculum that incorporates critical race theory.
Preventing Assets and Investments with No Transparency from Executive Relatives Act or the PAINTER Act This bill extends the financial disclosures required under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to include any non-dependent child of the President or Vice President. Non-dependent child means any individual who is a son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter of the reporting individual that is over the age of 17 and that is not a dependent child of such reporting individual.
Accredited Investor Self-Certification Act This bill expands who may be considered an accredited investor for purposes of participating in private offerings of securities. Certain unregistered securities may only be offered to accredited investors. Specifically, the bill allows an individual to qualify by certifying to the issuer of securities that the individual understands the risks of investment in private issuers. Currently, accredited investors must satisfy certain requirements indicating their reduced exposure to financial risk, including those related to income, net worth, or knowledge and experience.
Equal Opportunity for All Investors Act of 2021 This bill expands who may be considered an accredited investor for purposes of participating in private offerings of securities. Certain unregistered securities may only be offered to accredited investors. Specifically, the bill allows an individual to qualify through an examination established by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The examination must ensure that to be designated as an accredited investor, an individual understands and appreciates the risks of investing in private companies; must be designed to ensure that an individual with financial sophistication or training would be unlikely to fail; and may be administered by a registered national securities association. Currently, accredited investors must satisfy certain requirements indicating their reduced exposure to financial risk, including those related to income, net worth, or knowledge and experience.
