Sen. Chris Van Hollen

Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act of 2021 This bill allows the Department of Housing and Urban Development to make competitive grants to local governments, public housing agencies, or nonprofit entities owning a major housing project to implement transformational housing programs in eligible neighborhoods with a concentration of extreme poverty and severely distressed housing. A program must, among other requirements, allow residents of public or assisted housing displaced by such a program to return to the replacement housing provided under the program.

Disaster Relief Medicaid Act This bill establishes a series of programs and requirements relating to Medicaid coverage of individuals affected by a federally declared major disaster. In particular, the bill provides for specific disaster relief coverage under Medicaid for individuals who meet specified income eligibility standards and, during the seven-day period preceding the disaster, were either residents of the impacted area or were employed in the impacted area (and subsequently lost employment). Coverage is effective for two years after the date of the disaster declaration. State Medicaid programs must provide disaster relief coverage that is at least as comprehensive as the state's Medicaid coverage and the Medicaid coverage of the individual's home state, as applicable. The bill applies a 100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) to such coverage and related administrative expenses.

Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion for Disasters Act or the REAADI for Disasters Act This bill establishes programs and requirements to assist individuals with disabilities and older adults (age 50 or older) with disaster preparedness. Among other provisions, the bill requires the establishment of an advisory committee that includes disabled individuals and older adults to oversee the use of funds made available by this bill; allows states to contract with Centers for Independent Living to provide services and support to disabled individuals in preparing for hazards; requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to carry out projects of national significance that, among other things, create opportunities for disabled individuals and older adults to directly contribute to disaster preparedness, recovery, and mitigation; modifies and expands the membership of the National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters to ensure that it represents the diversity of the disabled and older adult communities; and establishes the Disability and Disaster Preparedness Advisory Commission to review settlement agreements involving potential violations of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The Government Accountability Office must study the compliance of federal agencies with such enactments in expending funds to support disabled individuals and older adults in responding to, recovering from, and mitigating disasters.

Get Toxic Substances Out of Schools Act of 2021 This bill addresses the provision of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants to prevent and eliminate toxic substances, particularly in certain school environments. The EPA is authorized make grants to Indian tribes (in addition to the current authority to provide grants to states) to establish and operate programs to prevent or eliminate unreasonable risks associated with a chemical substance or mixture of which the EPA is unlikely to address during the 24-month period after the grant is made. The bill also authorizes the EPA to partner with the Department of Labor (with respect to enforcement of labor standards) to provide grants to states and Indian tribes to identify, prevent, or eliminate risks associated with the presence of a chemical substance or mixture in eligible facilities (i.e., public school facilities operated by a local educational agency, facilities operated by an early childhood education program, and center-based child care facilities operated by an eligible child care provider). The EPA has permanent authority to provide grants to Indian tribes (in addition to the current authority to provide such grants to states) to (1) provide technical assistance to local educational agencies, early childhood education programs, and eligible child care providers to address environmental concerns in eligible facilities; and (2) develop and implement state and tribal programs to support the remediation of toxic substances in eligible facilities. Under the bill, the EPA must also provide specified outreach and guidelines related to environmental hazards in eligible facilities.

Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Education to issue guidance and recommendations for institutions of higher education to remove criminal and juvenile justice questions from their admission applications.

Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the 369th Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the Harlem Hellfighters, in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during World War I.

Environmental Justice Act of 2021 This bill requires agencies to address and mitigate the disproportionate impact of environmental and human health hazards on communities of color, indigenous communities, and low-income communities resulting from agencies' programs and policies. The bill also requires agencies to address cumulative impacts of pollution in permitting decisions and expands the types of legal actions available to individuals regarding charges of federal discriminatory practices. Specifically, the bill provides statutory authority for a variety of existing programs, executive orders, federal guidance, and committees concerning environmental justice, including Executive Order 12898; a guidance issued in 1997 by the Council on Environmental Quality titled Environmental Justice Guidance Under the National Environmental Policy Act ; a guidance issued in 2016 by the Environmental Protection Agency titled EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes: Guidance for Discussing Tribal Treaty Rights ; the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council; the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program; and the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program. In addition, the bill requires agencies renewing or issuing specified permits under the Clean Water Act or the Clean Air Act to consider the cumulative impacts of pollution. The bill also allows individuals to bring actions under the Civil Rights Act against entities that receive federal assistance and engage in discriminatory practices that have a disparate impact. Currently, individuals must request that federal agencies bring such actions on their behalf.

Industrial Finance Corporation Act This bill establishes within the executive branch the Industrial Finance Corporation. The corporation must provide support for (1) manufacturing and supply chains in certain critical industries, (2) industries on the technological frontier, and (3) other economic objectives. The bill specifies the membership and structure of the corporation and authorizes the corporation to invest in projects, make loans, and manage programs to further the corporation's economic objectives. The corporation also has the power to purchase or lease property, enter contracts, borrow funds from the Department of the Treasury (up to a specified limit), and otherwise carry out its functions. A risk committee must develop and review the corporation's risk management policies and an audit committee must oversee the integrity of the corporation's finances. The bill also requires the corporation to develop a performance measurement system to evaluate and monitor projects and guide future projects. Further, the corporation must develop appropriate safeguards, policies, and guidelines to ensure that its projects supplement, rather than compete with, private sector supports. The corporation must periodically report on its projects and publish certain project-level information.

AuGmenting Research and Educational Sites to Ensure Agriculture Remains Cutting-edge and Helpful Act or the AG RESEARCH Act This bill provides funding for maintenance at agricultural research facilities. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must (1) revise its review process for evaluating proposals for agricultural research facilities to include consulting with representatives of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) peer review panels; and (2) establish a grant program within NIFA to provide agricultural research facilities with a federal share of the cost for the construction, alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, or remodeling of the research facilities or the equipment necessary for agricultural research. Additionally, USDA must use specified Commodity Credit Corporation funds to provide direct payments to research facilities of the Agricultural Research Service for addressing deferred maintenance. USDA must give priority to the most critical structures in accordance with the Agricultural Research Service Capital Investment Strategy (April 2012).

Child Care Access Means Parents In Schools Reauthorization Act or the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act This bill permanently reauthorizes and revises the Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program. The program awards grants to support the participation of eligible student parents in postsecondary education through the provision of campus-based child care services. Among other revisions to the program, the bill allows grant funds to be used for additional purposes (e.g., child care subsidies and support services) and specifies additional grant application requirements.