Green Climate Fund Authorization Act of 2021 This bill authorizes $4 billion in both FY2022 and FY2023 for U.S. contributions to the Green Climate Fund (a fund established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to finance projects that address climate change).
Taiwan International Solidarity Act This bill requires the Department of State to annually report to Congress on efforts by China to undermine Taiwan's participation in international organizations or Taiwan's relationships with other countries.
No Taxpayer Funding for the U.N. Population Fund This bill prohibits the use of funds to provide contributions directly or indirectly to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The UNFPA is a United Nations agency that supports access to sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, maternal health care, and sexuality education.
No Funding for Terrorists Act This bill prohibits the use of specified funds for the West Bank and Gaza that directly benefits the Palestinian Authority. Current law authorizes foreign aid for economic assistance to be made available for the West Bank and Gaza if the Department of State certifies that the Palestinian Authority is taking specified actions to end violence in the region. The bill repeals this authorization and prohibits the use of economic assistance funds for the West Bank and Gaza in a manner that directly benefits the Palestinian Authority.
This resolution condemns all manifestations of expressions of racism and anti-Asian and Pacific Islander or ethnic intolerance and calls for specified actions by the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and federal law enforcement. The resolution (1) calls on the Senate Judiciary Committee to consider holding a hearing related to the surge in violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and (2) applauds DOJ's commitment to conducting a 30-day review of violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The resolution calls on federal law enforcement officials, working with state and local officials, to expeditiously and vigorously investigate all reports of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States, work to improve the reporting of such hate crimes, and hold the perpetrators of those crimes accountable and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Data and Algorithm Transparency Agreement Act or the DATA Act This bill requires large websites and social networks that use algorithms for suggesting content to obtain express consent from their users before collecting or sharing their personal data. These websites must notify users of this requirement, including information about the type of data collected and the name of any third parties with which the data is shared. The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and a private right of action against a violator of the bill.
Fair Access to Small Business Lending Act This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to carry out an initiative to expand the availability of 7(a) loans to small businesses that are located in low- or moderate-income neighborhoods. (Under the 7(a) Program, the SBA provides business loans and loan guaranties to small business borrowers unable to obtain financing elsewhere.) The SBA must expand authorization for providing 7(a) loans to lenders that meet the criteria to make such loans but have not otherwise been approved to do so. Such lenders must ensure that at least 50% of loans they make that are guaranteed pursuant to the bill are made to small businesses in low- or moderate-income neighborhoods.
Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021 or the CONNECT for Health Act of 2021 This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. Among other provisions, the bill allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to waive certain restrictions, such as restrictions on the types of technology that may be used; permanently removes geographic restrictions on originating sites (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) and allows the home of the beneficiary to serve as the originating site for all services; permanently allows federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner); and allows the CMS to generally waive coverage restrictions during any public health emergency. Additionally, the CMS must report on the effects of expanded telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including with respect to the utilization, quality, and outcomes of services. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation may also test alternative payment models relating to expanded telehealth services.
World Press Freedom Protection and Reciprocity Act This bill establishes requirements related to the protection and support of journalists and media personnel abroad. Specifically, the President must establish a plan to (1) negotiate access for U.S. news and media organizations and their employees globally, and (2) work to enhance reciprocity for news and media organizations operating in the United States. The President may impose visa-blocking sanctions on any foreign person who is responsible for the jailing, killing, or torture of journalists or media personnel or significant efforts to harass or restrict the activities, terminate the visas, or threaten the safety of journalists or media personnel. Identification statements required to be placed on informational materials distributed in the United States by an agent of a foreign principal on behalf of such principal must be labeled, marked, or stamped conspicuously at the top of the first page of such materials. The annual country reports on human rights and development assistance and human rights and security assistance must include an assessment of freedom of expression with respect to electronic information in foreign countries. Lastly, the bill establishes the Global Press Freedom Defense Fund to provide assistance to foreign journalists and media personnel who are victims of restrictions on the internationally recognized right to freedom of expression, including assistance to pay for legal and other related expenses.
World Bank Integrity Preservation Act of 2021 This bill requires the U.S. Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to oppose any extension of financial or technical assistance by the bank to a country that both exceeds the graduation threshold of the bank and is designated as a country of particular concern for religious freedom.
Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 This bill modifies funding for a pediatric disease research initiative within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Currently, this initiative receives funding through FY2023 from the 10-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund. This bill directs certain penalties assessed by the Securities and Exchange Commission against pharmaceutical companies for specified violations to that fund. In making allocations from the fund, the NIH must prioritize pediatric research that does not duplicate existing research activities.
Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2021 This bill allows a qualified individual to carry a concealed handgun into or possess a concealed handgun in another state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. A qualified individual must (1) be eligible to possess, transport, or receive a firearm under federal law; (2) carry a valid photo identification document; and (3) carry a valid state-issued concealed carry permit, or be eligible to carry a concealed firearm in his or her state of residence.
