Sen. Mike Crapo

Save Our Servicemembers Act of 2021 This bill requires the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness within the Department of Defense (DOD) to evaluate and standardize DOD's suicide prevention efforts. Specifically, the bill directs the Defense Suicide Prevention Office to collaborate with each military department to (1) develop and implement a process to ensure that individual nonclinical suicide prevention efforts are assessed for effectiveness, and (2) develop consistent suicide-related definitions for use throughout DOD. The bill also requires the use of such suicide-related definitions in any updated policies of DOD or each military department.

Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act This bill divides the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit into two judicial circuits: (1) the Ninth Circuit, and (2) a new Twelfth Circuit. The new Ninth Circuit shall be composed of California, Guam, Hawaii, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The new Twelfth Circuit shall be composed of the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The bill creates two additional circuit court judgeships for the Ninth Circuit. It creates 77 additional district court judgeships in specified judicial districts in Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Texas. Additionally, it converts eight temporary district court judgeships to permanent judgeships in specified judicial districts in Kansas, Missouri, Arizona, California, Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas.

Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder Act of 2021 or the HELPER Act of 2021 This bill establishes a program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide mortgage assistance to law enforcement officers, elementary and secondary school teachers, firefighters, or other first responders. Specifically, these individuals may be eligible for a one-time mortgage on a primary family residence with no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance premium.

Judicial Reorganization Act of 2021 This bill creates a new U.S. Court of Appeals by dividing the current U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The newly created U.S. Court of Appeals for the Twelfth Circuit shall have jurisdiction over Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit shall retain jurisdiction over California, Guam, and Hawaii.

FDA Modernization Act of 2021 This bill allows an applicant for market approval for a new drug to use methods other than animal testing to establish the drug's safety and effectiveness. Under this bill, these alternative methods may include cell-based assays, organ chips and microphysiological systems, computer modeling, and other human biology-based test methods.

Federal Courts of Appeals Modernization Act This bill establishes the Commission on Structural Alternatives for the Federal Courts of Appeals. The commission must (1) study the current structure of the federal courts of appeals, with particular reference to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; and (2) recommend changes to promote the expeditious and effective disposition of cases.

EMS Counts Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Labor, in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget, to revise the broad description under the occupational series 33-2011 Firefighters of the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification System of the Bureau of Labor Statistics to separately account for firefighters who also serve as paramedics or emergency medical technicians. Specifically, the classification system must include the following detailed occupations: Firefighters; Firefighter/EMTs; Firefighter/Paramedics; and Firefighters, All Other.

Recreational Lands Self Defense Act This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to allow an individual to possess a firearm in any area open to the public (other than a federal facility) at a Corps water resources development project as long as the individual's possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the state in which the project is located.

Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks (VIP) Act This bill makes the America the Beautiful-National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass available, without charge, to members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and Gold Star Families. The pass covers the entrance fee and standard amenity recreation fee for all federal recreational lands and waters.

Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority Act of 2021 This bill requires congressional approval for a presidential import adjustment due to a national security threat from an import related to military equipment, energy resources, or critical infrastructure essential to national security. Specifically, the bill requires the President to submit a proposal to Congress, which Congress may approve by a joint resolution. Under current law, the President determines whether any adjustment of an import is necessary and must submit to Congress the reasons for any action taken or not taken. The Department of Defense (currently, the Department of Commerce) must investigate the effect of these imports on national security. The bill retroactively applies to any proposed action made four years before enactment of this bill. In general, any rate of duty modification occurring in the time period beginning four years before and ending the day before enactment of this bill must revert to the previous rate unless it receives congressional approval.