Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

Nursing Home Improvement and Accountability Act of 2021 This bill establishes reporting, staffing, and other quality control requirements for Medicare skilled nursing facilities and Medicaid nursing facilities. For example, the bill requires facilities to have registered professional nurses available 24-7 and to provide infection control services overseen by infection preventionists at least 40 hours per week. It also establishes civil penalties for facilities that submit inaccurate reports relating to staffing data and prohibits facilities from entering into pre-dispute arbitration agreements. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must conduct additional quality control and oversight, including (1) auditing facility cost reports; (2) reviewing the quality and effectiveness of compliance surveys; and (3) establishing on-site educational programming for facilities that fail to meet applicable standards. The CMS must also establish minimum staff-to-resident ratios for nursing staff, as it determines appropriate. The bill also establishes a demonstration program to evaluate the impact of certain changes to facility design, staffing, and care coordination on the health outcomes of residents in skilled nursing facilities. Among other requirements, selected facilities must serve between 5 and 14 residents, offer private rooms, and have resident and family councils.

This resolution expresses the condolences of the Senate regarding the death of the Honorable Maurice Robert Gravel, former Senator from Alaska.

Small Business Reorganization Technical Corrections Act This bill modifies provisions related to small business reorganization bankruptcies. Specifically, it provides that a small business debtor includes a debtor that is an affiliate of certain publicly traded companies. Additionally, it authorizes the bankruptcy trustee to operate the business of the debtor if the debtor ceases to be a debtor in possession.

Real Corporate Profits Tax Act of 2021 This bill imposes an additional 7% tax on the adjusted net book income of a corporation that exceeds $100 million. It also allows a credit for a taxpayer, other than an S corporation, for a specified percentage of the taxpayer's net regular tax liability.

Advanced Energy Technologies and Grid Efficiency Act of 2021 This bill requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy (DOE) to research and report on matters relating to the integration of advanced energy technology (e.g., technology with zero or minimal greenhouse gas emissions) into the electric power grid. In addition, it requires DOE to provide support for such technology through grants or financial assistance agreements as specified by the bill.

Rewarding Efforts to Decrease Unrecycled Contaminants in Ecosystems Act of 2021 or the REDUCE Act of 2021 This bill imposes an excise tax on any taxable virgin plastic resin. The bill establishes a Plastic Waste Reduction Fund to carry out reduction and recycling activities, plastic waste and marine debris reduction, detection, monitoring, and cleanup activities, and address environmental justice and pollution impacts from plastic products.

Streamlining Interstate Transmission of Electricity Act or the SITE Act This bill establishes a process for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to authorize the construction, modification, and operation of interstate electric transmission facilities, including by exercising the right of eminent domain (the right of the government to take private property for public use).

Guarantee Oversight and Litigation on Doping Act or the GOLD Act This bill expands federal enforcement for criminal offenses related to international doping fraud conspiracies. Specifically, the bill makes the offenses predicate offenses (i.e., underlying offenses) for prosecutions under the federal money laundering statute and the federal racketeering statute.

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.

State Public Option Act This bill allows residents who are not already eligible for Medicaid and not concurrently enrolled in other health insurance coverage to buy into a state Medicaid plan beginning January 1, 2022, at the option of the state. State Medicaid programs may set premiums and cost-sharing requirements for such coverage in accordance with specified limitations. The bill also (1) provides the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) to every state that expands Medicaid coverage for individuals who are newly eligible under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, regardless of when such expansion takes place; and (2) requires state Medicaid programs to cover comprehensive reproductive health care services, including abortion services.