This resolution expresses support for the 2021 National Recovery Month theme (Recovery is for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community). National Recovery Month is an annual observance held in September to support the community of individuals in recovery from substance use, promote treatments and practices, and recognize service providers.
Afghanistan Withdrawal Oversight and Liability Act or the AWOL Act This bill prohibits using federal funds appropriated for FY2021 to provide support to the Taliban. The bill also requires reports and certifications related to Afghanistan. Specifically, no FY2021 funds may be used to (1) make payments or contributions of material support to the Taliban, or (2) provide relief from sanctions against the Taliban or its leaders. The bill requires the President to report to Congress on efforts to evacuate U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents from Afghanistan. The President must also certify to Congress when all such individuals seeking evacuation from Afghanistan have been evacuated. The Department of State must periodically report to Congress on any agreements between the United States and the Taliban. Within seven days of the United States reaching an agreement with the Taliban, the State Department must provide to Congress all materials relevant to that agreement. The bill also requires the Office of the Inspector General of the State Department to report to Congress about the State Department's compliance with legal requirements in connection to agreements with the Taliban. Specifically, the office must assess compliance with a law that requires the State Department to provide certain information to Congress when the United States enters certain international agreements. The Department of Defense must report to Congress concerning U.S. equipment, property, and classified material that was destroyed, surrendered, or abandoned in Afghanistan during a period starting from February 29, 2020.
This concurrent resolution condemns and censures President Joseph R. Biden for the military withdrawal from Afghanistan, which the resolution states was executed in a haphazard manner.
Ensuring Evacuation from Afghanistan Act of 2021 This bill prohibits providing federal funding to the government of Afghanistan until the President certifies to Congress that all U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, coalition partners, and Afghan allies who would like to evacuate from Afghanistan have been evacuated. The bill also requires asset-blocking sanctions on the Afghan government until the President makes the certification.
Next Generation Fuels Act of 2021 This bill supports the use of biofuels (e.g., gasoline blended with ethanol) in vehicles, including by establishing a minimum octane standard for gasoline as well as making related biofuel requirements for vehicles, their fuels, and fuel infrastructure.
This resolution states that the House of Representatives opposes diplomatic recognition of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. It also states that the House recognizes and supports Amrullah Saleh's leadership as the acting president of the former Afghan government and in the resistance against the Taliban.
This resolution condemns the President's failure to heed military and intelligence advisors about the speed and nature of the Taliban offense in Afghanistan and urges the President to commit to maintaining the evacuation operation as long as necessary to evacuate any U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or Afghan partner who requests evacuation assistance .
Biofuel Cell Research Act This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a research, development, and demonstration program to expand the use of biofuels in vehicles. Under the program, DOE must develop a commercially viable fuel cell system that uses biofuel as a fuel source.
Keep Physicians Serving Patients Act of 2021 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to use specified data regarding physician wages and office rent when determining certain geographic adjustment factors for the payment of physician services under Medicare. With respect to such payment, the bill also makes permanent certain minimum adjustments to the work geographic index and extends to all localities certain minimum adjustments to the practice expense index.
This bill requires the Inspector General of the Department of Defense to conduct a full investigation into the withdrawal of the U.S. Armed Forces from Afghanistan. The investigation must analyze (1) the extent to which, and reasons why, U.S. Humvees, helicopters, artillery, and drones ended up in the Taliban's possession; (2) the extent to which Afghan forces in possession of U.S. equipment entered Iran with such equipment; and (3) the effectiveness of the evacuation of U.S. and allied personnel.
Reservists Opportunity Act This bill requires the Department of the Army to ensure that members of its reserve components may access the Tour of Duty system using a personal internet-enabled device. The Tour of Duty system is an online system of listings for opportunities to serve on active duty for members of the reserve components of the Army through which such members may apply for the listed opportunities. The Department of the Army may restrict access to the system on personal devices if the restriction is necessary for security reasons.
Holding Countries Accountable for Negligent Chemical and Biological Programs Act This bill authorizes initial, intermediate, and final sanctions against countries that act grossly negligent (i.e., knew or should have known that an act or acts would harm another foreign state) with respect to a chemical or biological weapons program. Before imposing initial sanctions, the President must determine that a country acted with gross negligence. Following such a determination, the President must impose the initial sanctions (e.g., suspending scientific cooperative programs and restricting U.S. government contracting with entities operating in chemical or biological sectors of a sanctioned country). Within 120 days of imposing initial sanctions, the President must determine whether the country has taken adequate steps to redress its sanctionable conduct. If the country has not taken adequate steps, the President must impose intermediate sanctions (e.g., terminating financial assistance and prohibiting arms transactions). Within 210 days of imposing intermediate sanctions, the President must again determine whether the country has taken adequate steps to redress its sanctionable conduct. If the country has not taken adequate steps, the President must impose final sanctions (e.g., prohibiting certain transactions in foreign exchange or transfers of credit or payment). The sanctions may be removed after 12 months if the President certifies a country adequately redressed the sanctionable conduct. The bill also authorizes waivers of the sanctions, subject to certain restrictions. Furthermore, the President must determine and report to Congress about whether China meets the criteria for gross negligence with respect to its chemical or biological weapons program.
