American Financial Markets Integrity and Security Act This bill generally prohibits investments in certain Chinese military companies and entities reasonably believed to be involved in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. These entities may not sell securities to U.S. markets. Investment companies, insurance companies, and retirement plans are prohibited from investing in these entities. The bill also prohibits the use of federal funds to enter into or renew a contract with these entities. Furthermore, the Department of Commerce and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence—in addition to the Department of Defense as under current law—are allowed to add entities to the list of Chinese military companies.
Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act of 2021 This bill imposes requirements related to third-party petitions concerning an application for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to market a generic drug or biosimilar. (The current statute refers to these petitions as citizen petitions , which typically involve requests that the FDA take certain actions, such as requiring additional warnings on a drug.) Under the bill, the FDA may deny a citizen petition that (1) was submitted primarily to delay the approval of the relevant application, or (2) does not on its face raise valid scientific or regulatory issues. Currently, the FDA may deny a petition as an attempt at delay only if the petition meets both of these requirements. The bill also requires the FDA to establish procedures for referring such a delaying petition to the Federal Trade Commission. The bill also expressly requires a third party, before filing a lawsuit to force the FDA to set aside or prevent market approval of a generic drug or biosimilar, to first file a citizen petition with the information and arguments that form the basis of the lawsuit. A citizen petition must be filed within 60 days of when the filer knew or reasonably should have known the information that forms the basis of the petition.
No Social Media Accounts for Terrorists or State Sponsors of Terrorism Act of 2021 This bill bars access to certain social media platforms by individuals designated as terrorists or senior officials of a government that is a state sponsor of terrorism. Specifically, the bill requires the President to prohibit providers of social media platforms (i.e., platforms that allow users to generate and share content and that have over 100,000 active users) from making such platforms available to barred individuals or officials. The bill does, however, allow officials to use these platforms solely for legitimate emergency alert purposes. Violations of this prohibition are subject to civil and criminal penalties. In addition, the President may waive the prohibition in the interests of U.S. national security. The Department of the Treasury must report to Congress on (1) the status and impact of the prohibitions of this bill, and (2) efforts to facilitate the free flow of information and access to communications technologies by civil society and democratic activists in Iran, Syria, North Korea, Cuba, and other countries controlled by authoritarian regimes.
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution to require that the Supreme Court consist of nine Justices.
This resolution prohibits the Senate from considering any measure unless the text of the measure has been publicly available in electronic form for the mandatory minimum review period, and it requires each Senator to certify that they have read a measure prior to voting on it. The mandatory minimum review period, calculated from the time the measure is made publicly available, is the greater of (1) the number of minutes that are equal to two times the number of pages in the measure, or (2) 72 hours.
This resolution supports the designation of February 20-February 27, 2021, as National FFA Week. It also (1) recognizes the important role of the National FFA Organization (Future Farmers of America) in developing the next generation of leaders who will change the world, and (2) celebrates 50 years of National FFA alumni and supporters.
Stop Marketing And Revealing The Wearables And Trackers Consumer Health Data Act or the SMARTWATCH Data Act This bill restricts the commercial use of identifiable personal health information derived from a smartwatch or similar consumer device. The Department of Health and Human Services must enforce these restrictions. Specifically, an entity that collects personal health information from consumer devices may not transfer, sell, or otherwise allow domestic entities to access such information if the purpose is to increase profits or generate commercial value. However, the bill sets out certain exceptions to this prohibition, including where the consumer provided informed consent or where the information is necessary for specified business transactions. Furthermore, an entity that collects personal health information derived from consumer devices may not allow foreign entities to access such information unless there are certain privacy and security protections in place. In addition, any personal health information derived from a consumer device and received by health care providers, health plans, or their business associates is considered protected health information and thus subject to applicable federal privacy standards governing its use and disclosure.
This bill creates a point of order against considering legislation in the Senate that modifies the total number of Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. The bill allows the point of order to be waived by a vote of two-thirds of the Senate.
Securing Our Borders and Wilderness Act This bill allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct the following activities within a wilderness area for the purpose of securing the international land borders of the United States: access structures, installations, and roads; execute search and rescue operations; use motor vehicles, motorboats, and motorized equipment; conduct patrols on foot and on horseback; use aircraft; deploy tactical infrastructure and technology; or construct and maintain roads and physical barriers. Any such activity shall be carried out in a manner that protects the wilderness character of the area.
Protecting American Energy Production Act This bill prohibits the President from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing unless Congress authorizes the moratorium. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that states should maintain primacy for the regulation of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on state and private lands.
Thin Blue Line Act This bill expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.
Jurists United to Stop Trafficking Imitation Child Exploitation Act of 2021 or the JUSTICE Act of 2021 This bill broadens the prohibition on importation or transportation of obscene materials. Specifically, the bill makes it a crime to import, or knowingly use a common carrier or interactive computer service to transport, a child sex doll.