Rep. Chris Pappas

Exposing Discrimination in Higher Education Act This bill requires the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights to publish prominently on its website the names of the institutions of higher education (IHEs) that request, and the names of the IHEs that receive, religious exemptions from the prohibition on sex discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities. It also requires an IHE that requests, receives, exercises, or intends to exercise such a religious exemption to publish prominently on its website certain information with respect to such exemption.

VA Caregiver Transparency Act This bill modifies the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and Program of General Caregiver Support Services, including by requiring any assistance or support decisions to be subject to the VA's clinical appeals process.

Transition for Success Act This bill allows members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces to participate in the Department of Defense's Skillbridge program, which provides job training to service members who are transitioning into civilian life.

Humane Research and Testing Act of 2021 This bill establishes the National Center for Alternatives to Animal Research and Testing within the National Institutes of Health to promote alternatives to animal research and testing and to reduce the number of animals used in such research and testing. In addition, federal departments or agencies and federally funded research entities that use animals for research and testing must develop plans to reduce the use of animals in their activities. They must also annually report the number of animals that they use to the center, and the center must make this information publicly available.

Empowering Parents' Healthcare Choices Act of 2021 This bill provides a 60-day time frame within which parents with separate health insurance plans may choose which plan provides primary coverage for their newborn child. The bill limits the application of certain standard health insurance provisions that determine which plan becomes the primary coverage of a dependent child based on the order of the parents' birthdays.

This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that government entities should consider using a portion of proceeds from litigation against opioid manufacturers and distributors for drug take-back programs.

This resolution supports the designation of Gold Star Children's Day to honor the sacrifices and hardships of the children of fallen service members.

Passport Emergency Extension Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of State to establish an expedited procedure for providing individuals who wish to use their U.S. passport that expired during the COVID-19 emergency (or that is scheduled to expire by March 31, 2022) with a marker to be affixed to such passport indicating a renewal or extension of validity through July 31, 2022.

School Milk Nutrition Act of 20 21 This bill revises requirements for milk provided by the National School Lunch Program of the Department of Agriculture. The bill permits schools participating in the program to offer students low-fat flavored milk.

Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs Act of 2021 or the Allies Act of 2021 This bill increases the number of special immigrant visas available to qualified Afghan nationals who worked for the U.S. government or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) missions in Afghanistan. The bill also relaxes certain qualifications for such visas. Specifically, this bill makes available an additional 8,000 visas for principal aliens under this special visa program, to be available until all such visas have been issued. (The numerical limitations in this program apply only to the principal alien who applies for the visa, not to any accompanying spouse or child.) Under this bill, an alien may qualify based on a credible basis for concern about the possibility of an ongoing serious threat in Afghanistan due to their work with the U.S. government or a NATO mission, where currently the alien must have experienced such a threat. The bill also eliminates a requirement for each applicant to submit a credible sworn statement describing that threat. Furthermore, for an applicant qualifying for a visa by performing duties for U.S. military personnel stationed with a NATO mission, this bill eliminates a requirement that the duties performed qualify as sensitive and trusted duties. If an alien submits a visa application that included an accompanying spouse or child but the alien passes away before the application is granted, the surviving spouse or child shall remain eligible to receive a visa under that application. Currently, a surviving spouse or child retains eligibility only if the application was approved before the alien passed away.