Protecting the Right to Organized, Transparent Elections through a Constitutionally Trustworthy Electoral College Act (PROTECT Electoral College Act) This bill temporarily suspends federal election security grants and conditions receipt of future grants on certain state certifications. The bill also requires a study on the 2020 presidential election. Specifically, the bill suspends through July 1, 2022, election security grants. During this time period, new grants may not be awarded and previous grant funds may not be expended. Further, the bill conditions receipt of future election security grants on a state legislature certifying certain matters, including that the state's mail-in voter verification procedures are specifically established in statute. The state legislature must also certify that unless there is a statute that specifically authorizes the practice, the state (1) does not provide mail-in ballots to voters unless a voter specifically requests a ballot; and (2) does not permit third parties, except for a voter's family member or caregiver, to return a voter's completed ballot. The bill prohibits election assistance funds from being used to further an election procedure that is not expressly set forth in state statute. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must study and report on the administration of the 2020 presidential election. The report must analyze specific matters for each state that received election security grants, including an analysis of a state's use of these grants and any subsequent actions taken by its state legislature.
Banning Lobbying and Safeguarding Trust Act or the BLAST Act This bill revises the post-employment lobbying ban on former Members and elected officers of Congress. Specifically, it imposes a permanent ban on lobbying contacts by a former Senator (currently, a two-year ban), a former Member of the House of Representatives (currently, a one-year ban), or a former elected officer of the House or Senate (currently, a one-year ban).
Stop Foreign Interference in Ballot Measures Act This bill prohibits contributions or donations by foreign nationals in connection with state or local ballot initiatives or referenda.
This bill eliminates the Office of Financial Research, which provides financial data and analysis to support the Financial Stability Oversight Council.
Modern Worker Empowerment Act This bill requires the use of common law rules for defining an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Generally, an individual is an employee under common law rules when an employer controls what work will be done and how it will be done, among other factors.
Verification and Oversight for Transparent Elections, Registration, and Identifications Act or the VOTER ID Act This bill requires states to conduct post-election audits of federal elections and attest to the integrity and security of voting procedures in those elections. Specifically, states must conduct a post-election audit after each federal election. The audit must include the accuracy of voting systems used in the election and an assessment of state compliance with applicable election laws and procedures, including those governing the requirements for voter identification and use of mail-in voting. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must develop best practices for conducting post-election audits, including recommendations to (1) conduct an audit using a bipartisan entity, and (2) complete an audit within 30 days after the state certifies the results of a congressional election. Additionally, states must attest to the integrity and security of their voter identification procedures and maintenance of voter registration lists. States must submit to the EAC, and make publicly available on their websites, these audit results and attestations.
Vaccine Transparency Act of 2021 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to periodically report to Congress on the serious adverse events in connection with a COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccine that have been reported to either agency.
Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Act This bill authorizes grants to expand training and support services for families and caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. The Department of Health and Human Services may award these grants to community organizations and health care and social service providers.
This resolution prohibits the Senate from considering any measure unless the text of the measure has been publicly available in electronic form for the mandatory minimum review period, and it requires each Senator to certify that they have read a measure prior to voting on it. The mandatory minimum review period, calculated from the time the measure is made publicly available, is the greater of (1) the number of minutes that are equal to two times the number of pages in the measure, or (2) 72 hours.
This resolution authorizes a congressional candidate to file a statement with the Clerk of the House regarding the candidate's intent to participate in a proposed small donor financing system in the next congressional election.
This resolution expresses support for the designation of COVID-19 Victims and Survivors Memorial Day to memorialize the lives lost to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
Earmark Elimination Act of 2021 This bill establishes a point of order in the Senate against considering legislation that includes an earmark. An earmark is generally any congressionally directed spending, tax benefit, or tariff benefit that benefits a specific entity, state, locality, or congressional district other than through a statutory or administrative formula or competitive award process. The point of order may be waived by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Senate. If the point of order is successfully raised and sustained, the earmark must be stricken from the legislation.
