Sen. Richard Blumenthal

Safeguarding America's Future and Environment Act or the SAFE Act The bill requires the development of an integrated national approach to help fish, wildlife, and plants adapt to extreme weather changes and climate change. Specifically, the bill requires the President to establish an interagency National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy Joint Implementation Working Group. The working group must adopt the 2013 National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy, which addresses the effects of extreme weather and climate change on fish, wildlife, and plants. After the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences releases a periodic scientific assessment required under the U.S. Global Change Research Program, the working group must use sound science to review and revise the strategy to incorporate new information and advances in the development of strategies to help fish, wildlife, and plants adapt. Each federal agency must integrate the strategy into agency plans, environmental reviews, and programs. The Department of the Interior must establish a National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center to assess and develop scientific information, tools, strategies, and techniques to support the working group and other interested parties in addressing the effects of extreme weather and climate change. Interior must establish an Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource Sciences to advise the working group.

Clean Slate for Kids Online Act of 2021 This bill allows individuals over age 13 (or their guardians, if applicable) to request the deletion of information collected from or about them while they were under age 13 by a website or online service that is directed to children. Specifically, the bill requires an operator of such a website or service to provide notice on their website about how an individual over age 13 (or the guardian of an individual over age 13) can request the deletion of all personal information in the operator's possession collected when the individual was under age 13; promptly delete, upon request, all such personal information; and provide written confirmation of deletion. The bill allows a limited exception to the deletion requirement if the personal information collected from or about a child is necessary to (1) respond to a judicial process, or (2) to provide information to law enforcement agencies or for an investigation related to public safety.

Promoting Auto Recalls Toward Safety Act of 2021 or the PARTS Act of 202 1 This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish a program to provide grants and other assistance, including technical assistance, to states for use in notifying motor vehicle owners and lessees about open recalls on their motor vehicles. Additionally, the bill (1) sets forth additional notice requirements for manufacturers regarding motor vehicle or equipment defects and noncompliance with safety standards, and (2) requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to publish an annual scorecard on how effectively manufacturers are completing recalls.

This bill provides for the award of Congressional Gold Medals posthumously to Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith (four Americans who were killed in the September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya) in recognition of their contributions to the nation.

Stay Aware For Everyone Act of 2021 or the SAFE Act of 202 1 This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to conduct research regarding the installation and use of driver monitoring systems to minimize or eliminate driver distraction, driver disengagement, automation complacency, and the foreseeable misuse of advanced driver-assist systems. DOT must also issue a final rule to establish performance standards for driver monitoring systems and require those systems to be installed on all new passenger motor vehicles. It must incorporate privacy and data security safeguards in the rule.

Early Warning Reporting System Improvement Act of 20 2 1 This bill expands early warning reporting requirements for manufacturers of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. It requires such manufacturers to provide additional information on accidents that involve a serious injury or fatality and on settlements in civil actions that restrict disclosure of information. The bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to make certain improvements to the publicly accessible vehicle safety databases of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It also requires DOT to provide public notice of each inspection or investigation related to motor vehicle accidents and make notices relating to enforcement actions available online.

Caring for Survivors Act of 2021 This bill increases the monthly rate of dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill also adjusts the amount payable to surviving spouses and children of veterans who were rated as totally disabled for a period of less than 10 years before their death.

Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act of 2021 This bill provides a presumption of service-connection for hypertension and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) for veterans who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.

Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act of 2021 This bill includes veterans who participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands between January 1, 1977, and December 31, 1980, as radiation-exposed veterans for purposes of the Department of Veterans Affairs presumption of service-connection for specified cancers. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.

Veterans Claim Transparency Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide the representative of a veteran with an opportunity to review a proposed determination regarding a claim for compensation or benefits before such determination becomes final. The VA must notify the representative in writing that a proposed determination is ready for review and may not make a final determination until the review period has ended. Under the bill, a representative has up to 48 hours to review the proposed determination.