Voters' Access to Water Act This bill prohibits states from restricting the donation of food or nonalcoholic beverages to individuals who are outside of the entrance of a polling place for a federal election if such items are distributed without regard to electoral participation or political preference. However, states may prohibit individuals who are distributing these items from engaging in political or electioneering activity.
Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act This bill expands the activities and functions of child welfare programs that support kinship caregiving (i.e., grandparents or other extended family members that provide child caregiving). The bill also expands grants programs for preventing child abuse to prioritize and support the needs of such kinship families.
Public Health Service Ready Reserve Improvement Act of 2021 This bill entitles members of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service to certain rights and benefits concerning leave and pay that are provided to members of the Army Reserve and the National Guard who are employed by the federal government or the government of the District of Columbia. The Ready Reserve Corps provides trained personnel to respond to health emergencies and improve access to health services.
Search and Rescue Dog Protection Act This bill requires search and rescue dogs to be treated in the same manner as service animals in the event of a federally declared major disaster or emergency.
Military Moms Matter Act of 2021 This bill addresses Department of Defense (DOD) policies regarding parental leave and postpartum care for service members. The bill authorizes primary caregivers to take 12 weeks of parental leave, and up to 6 weeks of medical convalescent leave (which may not be considered in calculating the 12 weeks of parental leave), in connection with the birth of a child. Additionally, primary caregivers are authorized to take up to 12 weeks of parental leave in connection with the adoption of a child. Under the bill, secondary caregivers are authorized to take up to 12 weeks of parental leave in connection with the birth or adoption of a child. The bill also removes the requirement that secondary caregivers must take such leave in one increment. Among other requirements, DOD must also provide at least four postpartum mental health assessments and other medical care in the year after a service member (or their dependent) gives birth, ensure that a service member (or their dependent) who gives birth at a military medical treatment facility has the option to schedule a postpartum follow-up appointment concurrent with the date of the follow-up appointment for postnatal care for the newborn infant, develop a standardized policy prohibiting each military branch from requiring a service member to take a physical fitness test until one year after giving birth, and issue guidance on the development and implementation of standard protocols for the treatment of obstetric hemorrhages.
Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2021 This bill makes the tax credit for adoption expenses refundable.
Zero-Percent Student Loan Refinancing Act This bill establishes a temporary program through which the Department of Education (ED) must make interest-free refinancing loans to borrowers of federal student loans from August 1, 2021, through December 31, 2024. The bill requires ED to automatically refinance Federal Direct Loans and notify each borrower of the refinancing. Borrowers who have other types of eligible loans (i.e., Federal Family Education Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, and certain health profession and nursing loans) must apply for refinancing. ED and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau must carry out a campaign to notify borrowers of these types of loans that they are eligible to apply for refinancing under the program.
Transforming Hiring in Rural Industries and Vital Economies Act of 202 1 This bill establishes the White House Rural Council within the Executive Office of the President to make recommendations and coordinate the efforts of the executive branch regarding economic development in rural areas.
Helping Ensure Life- and Limb-Saving Access to Podiatric Physicians Act or the HELLPP Act This bill adds podiatrists as covered physicians under the Medicaid program. Additionally, the bill revises certain documentation requirements related to Medicare coverage of therapeutic shoes for individuals with diabetes. Finally, the bill subjects payments made to a Medicaid provider or supplier to a continuing levy for federal taxes owed by the provider or supplier.
This resolution expresses support for the designation of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Affordable Housing for Homeless Veterans Act of 2021 This bill reauthorizes and modifies a program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that provides housing assistance to homeless veterans. Specifically, the bill authorizes the VA to enter into agreements with specified entities (e.g., nonprofit organizations or tribal entities) through September 30, 2025, to assist homeless veterans and their families in acquiring shelter or permanent housing. Under the bill, the VA may enter into agreements where an entity that is buying, leasing, or receiving property agrees to sell or rent the property directly to homeless veterans or veterans at risk of homelessness.
Protecting the Employment Rights of Servicemembers Act This bill updates employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services by making arbitration requirements unenforceable unless the parties consent to such arbitration in relation to employment or reemployment claims. The bill provides that consent is not voluntary when a person is required to agree to arbitrate an action, complaint, or claim alleging a violation of employment and reemployment rights as a condition of future or continued employment, advancement in employment, or receipt of any right or benefit of employment.
