Kenneth Meisel Public Servants' Claimant Fairness Act This bill requires the Department of Labor to revise regulations so as to allow at least 60 days (rather than at least 30 days) for a claimant to submit any additional evidence that is requested by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs to support a federal workers' compensation claim.
Crash Avoidance System Evaluation Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation to evaluate the performance of crash avoidance systems at detecting and classifying pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users, including those with different skin tones that represent different racial and ethnic groups. Crash avoidance system is defined as a system in a motor vehicle used to prevent or mitigate a crash, including a system using cameras, lidar, or radar.
COINTELPRO Full Disclosure Act This bill requires the U.S. government to release and publicly disclose, within six months, all records related to the COINTELPRO operation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) unless disclosure would cause harm. COINTELPRO was a series of covert and illegal projects aimed at surveilling, infiltrating, discrediting, and disrupting domestic political organizations, including the Black Panther Party. The bill requires the removal of J. Edgar Hoover's name from the FBI headquarters in the District of Columbia. The bill establishes the COINTELPRO Records Review Board to review determinations by government offices that do not fully disclose their records after six months. The review board shall make recommendations to the President regarding whether files that have been only partially disclosed should be fully released. The review board may request the Department of Justice to petition any U.S. court to release any information relevant to COINTELPRO that is held under court seal.
Helping Ensure Life- and Limb-Saving Access to Podiatric Physicians Act or the HELLPP Act This bill adds podiatrists as covered physicians under the Medicaid program. Additionally, the bill revises certain documentation requirements related to Medicare coverage of therapeutic shoes for individuals with diabetes. Finally, the bill subjects payments made to a Medicaid provider or supplier to a continuing levy for federal taxes owed by the provider or supplier.
Connecting America's Active Transportation System Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to carry out an active transportation investment program to provide competitive grants to state, local, and regional government entities, and Indian tribes to construct projects that connect walking and bicycling infrastructure within and between communities, metropolitan regions, or states. The bill sets forth various limitations on the use of funds by DOT, including that it must obligate at least 30% of funds to projects that connect people with public transportation, businesses, workplaces, schools, residences, recreation areas, and other community activity centers; set aside at least $3 million to provide planning grants for eligible entities; and set aside at least $2 million to cover the costs of administration, research, technical assistance, communications, and training activities under the program. The federal share of grants must not exceed 80% of the total project cost. However, DOT may increase the federal share to 100% for disadvantaged communities with a poverty rate of over 40%.
This resolution expresses support for the designation of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Build Responsible Infrastructure Development for the Global Economy Act or the BRIDGE Act This bill requires the Department of State to report to Congress on China's Belt and Road Initiative and U.S. efforts to counter the initiative. (The initiative is a Chinese government effort to boost infrastructure development and expand China's influence across most of the globe.) Within one year of the bill's passage, the State Department must also report to Congress a plan to implement a detailed strategy for the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Department of Commerce to coordinate resources to counter the initiative.
Department of Energy Biological Innovation Opportunities Act or the Department of Energy BIO Act This bill requires the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) within the Department of Energy to select and establish up to four bioenergy research centers. The centers must conduct research to inform the production of biofuels and to facilitate the translation of the research results to industry. ARPA-E may select existing bioenergy research centers and provide support for them under this bill.
Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Efficiency Act or the WISE Act This bill requires each state to use a certain percentage of funds it receives for capitalization of its clean water state revolving fund for projects to address green infrastructure, water or energy efficiency improvements, or other environmentally innovative activities.
Transit to Trails Act of 2021 This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish the Transit to Trails Grant Program to award grants to certain governmental and private entities for projects that increase transportation access and mobility to public lands, inland and coastal waters, parkland, or monuments for critically underserved communities. For example, DOT must (1) prioritize approving certain projects, such as projects that use low-or zero-emission vehicles and those that provide free or discounted rates for low-income riders; (2) develop transportation planning procedures for projects conducted under the program that are consistent with metropolitan and statewide planning processes; and (3) ensure that all new transportation connectors and routes developed under the program are accessible to people with disabilities. The bill requires grant awards to be at least $25,000 and not more than $500,000. Further, the bill requires publicized schedules and routes for transportation systems that are developed after the receipt of a grant under the program.
Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Commerce to conduct an interagency review of the global competitiveness of the United States in attracting foreign direct investment and addressing foreign trade barriers that firms in advanced technology sectors face in the global digital economy. Such review shall include an assessment of (1) the current economic impact of foreign direct investment in the United States, (2) trends in global cross-border investment and data flows, (3) federal government policies that are linked to the ability of the United States to attract and retain foreign direct investment, and (4) the adequacy of federal government efforts to increase the ease for foreign firms considering investment in the United States. Commerce must report the findings of such review and submit recommendations for increasing the global competitiveness of the United States in attracting foreign direct investment and developing new technologies and services.
Renal Anemia Innovation Support and Expansion Act or the RAISE Act This bill allows coverage of prescription vitamin and mineral products under the Medicare prescription drug benefit if the products are administered orally and are used to treat iron deficiency anemia in individuals who have chronic kidney disease.
