Analyzing the Duration of Remote Monitoring Services Act of 2021 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure that payment for remote physiologic monitoring services under Medicare continues to be made for a minimum of two days of data collection over a 30-day period until two years after the COVID-19 emergency period ends and regardless of a beneficiary's COVID-19 status. The CMS must also report on the appropriate number of days of data collection over a 30-day period that should be required with respect to payment for these and other remote monitoring services under Medicare after the emergency ends.
Small Refinery Exemption Clarification Act of 2021 This bill states that a small refinery may submit a petition to the Environmental Protection Agency for an exemption from the requirements of the Renewable Fuel Program only if that refinery has received an exemption continuously since 2011. Thus, small refineries may not request extensions of exemptions if previous exemptions are already expired.
Supporting Working Mothers Act This bill extends protections for a working mother who expresses breast milk for the employee's nursing child to cover salaried employees and other types of workers not covered under existing law. Further, time spent to express breast milk must be considered hours worked if the nursing mother is also working. The Government Accountability Office must report on the implementation and expansion of the workplace accommodations under this bill.
Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act This bill revises the licensing process of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for animal dealers and exhibitors to expand USDA's oversight and enforcement of animal welfare requirements. The bill also authorizes citizen suits to enforce the Animal Welfare Act. Dealers and exhibitors must apply to USDA for licenses or renewal licenses each year. In order to obtain the licenses or renewals, dealers and exhibitors must meet certain standards for the humane treatment of animals and pass inspections as specified by this bill. USDA may not issue or renew such licenses if the dealers or exhibitors have violated laws relating to animals or if the issuance of the licenses would facilitate the circumvention of state or local laws that prohibit the private ownership of certain animals. Further, USDA must suspend the licenses of dealers or exhibitors whose violations present a risk to animal welfare. USDA must revoke the licenses if the violations persist or if the licensees commit multiple violations. Dealers and exhibitors with suspended or revoked licenses may not be (1) granted another license, (2) granted another license through another person or entity, or (3) employed by another licensee to work with animals during the period of the suspension or revocation.
Law Enforcement Officer Recreation Pass Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior to make the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass available, without charge and for the lifetime of the passholder, to law enforcement officers.
This resolution honors the suppliers of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the work they are doing on the Artemis missions.
Federal Retirement Fairness Act This bill modifies the federal civilian service that is creditable service under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Specifically, it expands the nondeduction service that may be creditable under FERS. Nondeduction service is federal service where an employee's pay is not subject to retirement deductions (e.g., service under a temporary appointment). Currently, nondeduction service performed before January 1, 1989, is creditable under FERS so long as a deposit is made into the retirement fund to cover the period of nondeduction service. This bill allows nondeduction service performed on or after January 1, 1989, to be creditable under FERS so long as a deposit is made into the retirement fund.
Workflex in the 21st Century Act This bill establishes a voluntary option under which employers who provide flexible workplace arrangement plans that include a combination of paid leave and flexible work options are exempt from certain state and local laws regarding employee benefits. A flexible workplace arrangement plan must provide all employees with a minimum amount of paid leave per year that ranges from 12 to 20 days, depending on the size of the employer and the tenure of the employee. The plan must also provide employees that meet certain service requirements with at least one of the following flexible work options: a biweekly work program, a compressed work schedule, a remote work program, a job sharing program, flexible scheduling, or predictable scheduling. The bill also specifies various requirements for paid leave and the flexible work options.
Low Carbon Biofuel Act This bill allows certain taxpayers (defined by this bill as an oxygenate blender and a retailer ) a new business-related income tax credit for the sale or blending of E15 gasoline (more than 13 and not more than 15 volume percent ethanol) and other fuels containing more than 15 volume percent ethanol.
Rebuilding Communities After Disasters Act This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to increase the loan limits for the disaster loan program and to communicate certain information about the program following disasters. Specifically, the bill raises from $40,000 to $75,000 the loan amount for repair or replacement of household and personal effects and from $200,000 to $400,000 the loan amount for repair or replacement of a primary residence. Further, the bill requires the SBA to communicate through radio, television, print, and web-based outlets all relevant information needed by disaster loan applicants if a disaster is declared or the SBA declares eligibility for additional disaster assistance. (Currently, the SBA is only required to endeavor to communicate such information.) The SBA must submit a report on the disaster loan program that includes information such as the number and dollar value of program loans and the average estimated dollar value of damage sustained by borrowers.
Restore the Rights of Property Owners under the Eviction Moratorium Issued by the CDC Act of 2021 This bill nullifies beginning on July 1, 2021, the emergency order (and any extensions of the order) issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on September 4, 2020, that restricted residential evictions during the COVID-19 emergency. It also prohibits the order from being reissued unless specifically authorized by law.
Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program Act of 2021 This bill establishes a program to expand the mental health services workforce in schools. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Education to contract with graduate institutions to pay a share of the cost of attendance for graduate students pursuing careers in the school-based mental health profession (e.g., school counseling).
