Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or the HALT Fentanyl Act This bill places fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act. Additionally, the bill establishes a new, alternative registration process for schedule I research that is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Veterans Affairs or that is conducted under an investigative new drug exemption from the Food and Drug Administration. The bill also makes several other changes to registration requirements for conducting research with controlled substances, including permitting a single registration for related research sites in certain circumstances, waiving the requirement for a new inspection in certain situations, and allowing a registered researcher to perform certain manufacturing activities with small quantities of a substance without obtaining a manufacturing registration.
VA Electronic Health Record Transparency Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to report on the costs of its Electronic Health Record Modernization Program, including by describing all expenses driven by the program.
This concurrent resolution authorizes the use of the Capitol rotunda on December 9, 2021, for the lying in honor of the remains of the Honorable Robert Dole, formerly a Senator and a Representative from Kansas. The resolution also directs the Architect of the Capitol to move the catafalque (a wooden platform) from the Capitol Visitor Center to the Capitol rotunda for use in connection with services for the Honorable Robert Dole.
HRES 839 is a ceremonial resolution expressing the House of Representatives' sorrow over the death of Senator Robert J. Dole (R-Kansas), who served as a U.S. Senator and former Senate Majority Leader. The resolution formally acknowledges his passing, directs the Clerk to share the resolution with the Senate and Dole's family, and calls for the House to adjourn immediately as a mark of respect. This resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on any constituents or laws; it is purely a formal expression of mourning by the House. It was introduced and passed on December 7, 2021.
Community Bank Relief Act of 2021 This bill requires banking agencies to set the community bank leverage ratio between 8% and 8.5% for calendar years 2022, 2023, and 2024 for community banks seeking to satisfy simplified capital adequacy requirements. Currently, banking agencies are statutorily required to set the rate between 8% and 10% through rulemaking. Under current regulations, the rate will increase from 8.5% to 9% on January 1, 2022.
Employee Retention Tax Credit Reinstatement Act This bill provides for a reinstatement of the employee retention tax credit through 2021. The credit was established to compensate employers whose businesses were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for wages paid to their employees.
Reaching Every Homeless Veteran Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Labor, in administering homeless veterans reintegration programs, to (1) consider grant applications from entities in all states (to the extent practicable), and (2) conduct an outreach and education program in states where no entity has been awarded a grant to ensure communities are aware of homeless veterans reintegration programs.
This resolution authorizes a Senator, Senate officer, or Senate employee to (1) collect donations of clothing, toys, food, and housewares for certain charitable purposes during the holiday season from another Senator, Senate officer, or Senate employee within a Senate building or office; and (2) work with a nonprofit organization to deliver such donations.
This bill extends temporary increases in Medicare payments for physicians' services through 2022, instead of ending at the end of 2021. It directly affects Medicare providers (like doctors and clinics) who receive these payments under the Medicare program. The key change modifies the Social Security Act to extend the payment adjustment period from ending January 1, 2022, to January 1, 2023, ensuring continued funding for physician services during 2022. The bill does not alter payment rates or create new programs, only extends the existing temporary increase.
Taylor Force Martyr Payment Prevention Act of 2021 This bill expands the institutional factors the Department of the Treasury must consider when making a finding that a foreign financial institution is of primary money laundering concern and is therefore subject to special measures, including the prohibition of opening or maintaining correspondent accounts in U.S financial institutions. Specifically, Treasury must consider (1) the extent to which an institution knowingly provides financial services to Hamas, or to an agent of Hamas; and (2) the extent to which an institution, transaction, or type of account is used to facilitate or promote payments for certain acts of terrorism against U.S. and Israeli citizens.
FTC Integrity Act This bill prohibits votes on motions cast by commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission from having any effect after they leave the Commission if the voting has not closed before end of the commissioners' last day of service. The bill applies retroactively to any vote taken on or after January 1, 2021.
Protect American Taxpayer Dollars from Illegal Immigration Act This bill prohibits expending federal funds for legal settlements to individuals who violated certain laws relating to the proper time and place to enter the United States, if the settlement pertains to claims based on the lawful detention of such an individual as part of a family unit after the individual's entry into the United States at the southern border after January 20, 2017.
