Responsible Additions and Increases to Sustain Employee Health Benefits Act of 2021 This bill modifies the tax exclusion for distributions from health flexible spending arrangements provided to employees under a cafeteria plan to (1) increase the annual limit on employee salary reduction contributions to $5,000, with an additional $500 for each additional employee dependent above two dependents that has not been taken into account by another person for the year; (2) revise the adjustment for inflation after 2021; and (3) allow a carryforward into the next year for unused amounts in such plans.
QUEST Act of 2021 This bill directs the Department of Energy to establish and carry out a program (to be known as the Quantum User Expansion for Science and Technology program or the QUEST program) to encourage and facilitate access to U.S. quantum computing hardware and quantum computing clouds for research purposes in order to (1) enhance the quantum research enterprise of the United States, (2) educate the future quantum computing workforce, and (3) accelerate the advancement of U.S. quantum computing capabilities.
COVID Community Care Act This bill provides FY2021 supplemental appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to the HHS Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund and the Indian Health Service for implementing programs to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 in medically underserved communities and among tribal populations, respectively. The bill designates the funding as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits.
Quantum Network Infrastructure Act of 2021 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to carry out a research, development, and demonstration program to accelerate innovation in quantum network infrastructure in order to (1) facilitate the advancement of distributed quantum computing systems through the internet and intranet, (2) improve the precision of measurements of scientific phenomena and physical imaging technologies, and (3) develop secure national quantum communications technologies and strategies. DOE shall submit to Congress a four-year research plan that identifies and prioritizes basic research needs relating to quantum network infrastructure.
Guard Reimbursement for Unhealthy Bites Act or the GRUB Act This bill requires the Department of Defense to pay National Guard members a per diem for each day they performed duty between January 26, 2021, and March 15, 2021, in response to the attacks on January 6, 2021, on the U.S. Capitol building and grounds. The per diem rate must be equal to the proportional meal rate determined by the Defense Travel Management Office for the National Capital Region.
No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act This bill modifies the tax treatment of the foreign source income of domestic corporations. The bill includes provisions that modify calculations of the gross income of U.S. shareholders to include net CFC tested income in the current taxable year, apply limitations on the foreign tax credit on a country-by-country basis, limit the tax deduction for the interest expense of a U.S. corporation that is a member of a financial reporting group (i.e., a group that prepares consolidated financial statements according to generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards), modify the rules for the taxation of inverted corporations (i.e., U.S. corporations that acquire foreign companies to reincorporate in a foreign jurisdiction with income tax rates lower than the United States), and treat certain foreign corporations managed and controlled primarily in the United States as domestic corporations for tax purposes.
Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy Act or the DRIVE-SAFE Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation to promulgate regulations to implement an apprenticeship program for licensed commercial motor vehicle drivers under the age of 21. Under the program, an apprentice must complete two probationary periods that total 400 hours of on-duty time, of which at least 240 hours must be driving time in a commercial motor vehicle. Additionally, the apprentice must be accompanied in the cab of the commercial motor vehicle by an experienced driver. Further, the bill requires all commercial motor vehicles used in the program for training to be equipped with safety technology such as active braking collision mitigation systems and video event capturing systems. An employer shall not knowingly allow, require, permit, or authorize a driver under the age of 21 to operate a commercial motor vehicle unless the driver is participating in, or has completed, an apprenticeship program that meets the requirements set forth in this bill.
Strengthening American Nuclear Competitiveness Act This bill requires expedited consideration of certain nuclear technology exports, and it requires the Department of Energy (DOE), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to author specified reports. Specifically, DOE must expedite consideration of authorization requests regarding the transfer of technology that involves specified low-proliferation-risk reactors to certain foreign countries. The bill also lifts the prohibition on licensing domestic nuclear projects in which U.S. allies invest if license issuance is not detrimental to common defense and security or the health and safety of the public. DOE must report on U.S. civilian nuclear commerce, including (1) an assessment of practices with respect to the civilian nuclear industry and the impacts of such practices on the industry in domestic and foreign commerce, (2) a comparison of U.S. practices to the practices of foreign countries with respect to their own civilian nuclear industry, and (3) recommendations to improve the competitiveness of U.S. civilian nuclear commerce. The NRC must report on (1) licensing issues or requirements relating to the use of nuclear energy for nonelectric applications, and (2) advanced manufacturing and construction techniques for nuclear energy projects. The GAO must report on actions by DOE regarding the retrospective risk pooling program that requires nuclear suppliers to help cover the contingent cost of certain nuclear incidents.
This resolution condemns the Chinese Coast Guard's military aggression against foreign vessels and the government of China's unlawful claims to the South China Sea. It also applauds the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard for their continued efforts to conduct freedom of navigation operations.
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Iran's decision to enrich uranium to 20% purity (a point from which it is quicker to develop weapons-grade uranium) is escalatory and that Iran should immediately reverse this decision and abandon its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy Act or the DRIVE Safe Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation to promulgate regulations to implement an apprenticeship program for licensed commercial motor vehicle drivers under the age of 21. Under the program, an apprentice must complete two probationary periods that total 400 hours of on-duty time, of which at least 240 hours must be driving time in a commercial motor vehicle. Additionally, the apprentice must be accompanied in the cab of the commercial motor vehicle by an experienced driver. Further, the bill requires all commercial motor vehicles used in the program for training to be equipped with safety technology such as active braking collision mitigation systems and video event capturing systems. An employer shall not knowingly allow, require, permit, or authorize a driver under the age of 21 to operate a commercial motor vehicle unless the driver is participating in, or has completed, an apprenticeship program that meets the requirements set forth in this bill.
NICS Denial Notification Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Justice to notify state and local law enforcement authorities following a firearms-related background check that results in a denial.
