Ensuring Access to Counseling and Training for All Small Businesses Act of 2021 This bill prohibits a small business development center, women's business center, or Veteran Business Outreach Center from declining to provide services to an otherwise eligible small business solely because it is a cannabis-related legitimate business or service provider.
Green New Deal for Public Housing Act This bill addresses energy efficiency and workforce development in the context of public housing. Specifically, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must award grants to public housing agencies (PHAs) and other eligible entities under a variety of new programs, including programs for facilitating workforce development and high-income employment transition; conducting physical needs assessments and subsequent energy efficiency retrofits; and making upgrades, replacements, and improvements for energy efficiency, building electrification, and water quality upgrades. Recipients of these grants must provide relocation assistance for residents who are displaced during construction and must ensure that they can return to their homes once retrofitting is completed. A certain percentage of the employment positions generated by these grant programs and other specified federal grant programs must be filled by low-income individuals, and a specified percentage of certain contracts associated with these programs must be awarded to businesses owned by residents of public housing. The bill also repeals a provision that prohibits a PHA from using HUD funds to construct or operate new public housing units if doing so would result in the PHA owning or operating more units than it did on October 1, 1999.
Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act This bill requires the Department of Labor to address workplace violence in health care, social service, and other sectors. Specifically, Labor must issue an interim occupational safety and health standard that requires certain employers to take actions to protect workers and other personnel from workplace violence. The standard applies to employers in the health care sector, in the social service sector, and in sectors that conduct activities similar to those in the health care and social service sectors. In addition, Labor must promulgate a final standard within a specified time line.
FDA Modernization Act of 2021 This bill allows an applicant for market approval for a new drug to use methods other than animal testing to establish the drug's safety and effectiveness. Under this bill, these alternative methods may include cell-based assays, organ chips and microphysiological systems, sophisticated computer modeling, and other human biology-based test methods.
This resolution designates April 17, 2021, through April 25, 2021, as National Park Week. The resolution also encourages the people of the United States and the world to responsibly visit, experience, and support the treasured national parks of the United States while protecting public health during the coronavirus pandemic.
Direct Support Worker Training Reimbursement Act This bill establishes a 75% federal matching rate for direct support worker training programs under Medicaid.
Career Advancement for Direct Support Aid Workers Act or the CADSAW Act This bill provides funding through FY2024 to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for demonstration projects to train individuals for careers as home health aides, nursing assistants, or similar direct support aid workers. HHS must award grants, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to states, tribal nations, institutions of higher education, and other organizations to carry out these projects. In addition, the bill increases Medicare payments for services furnished by an individual who has completed training through such a project.
Mollie Baldwin Upskilling of Personal and Home Care Aides Act This bill provides funding through FY2032 to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for grants to train individuals for careers as home health aides, nursing assistants, or similar direct support professionals. HHS must award these grants, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to states, community-based organizations, and other eligible entities.
Seasonal Business PPP Parity Act This bill increases the maximum loan amount for second draw loans under the Paycheck Protection Program, which was established to support small businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, program participants may receive second draw loans of up to $2 million. Under the program, certain small businesses (e.g., seasonal businesses) were eligible to receive increased amounts for first draw loans based on a revised calculation applicable to those businesses. However, a number of such businesses applied for and received loan forgiveness prior to the application of this revised calculation, which resulted in their receiving a lower amount than that to which they were entitled. The bill allows businesses that received forgiveness for their first draw loan prior to the implementation of the revised calculation to take advantage of the new calculation in order to receive a larger amount for their second draw loan in addition to the standard loan amount of up to $2 million.
United States-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish a grant program that contributes to the homeland security capabilities of both the United States and Israel by supporting cybersecurity research and development as well as the demonstration and commercialization of cybersecurity technology. Grant applicants must address a requirement in the area of cybersecurity research or cybersecurity technology and be comprised of a joint venture between a U.S. entity and an Israeli entity (or the governments of each country).
Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2021 or the BTU Act of 2021 This bill expands the 30% energy tax credit to include open-loop biomass heating property and extends the residential energy efficient property tax credit for five years. The bill defines open-loop biomass heating property as any property that uses open-loop biomass to produce thermal energy in the form of heat, hot water, hot air, or steam and is used for space heating, air conditioning, domestic hot water, or industrial process heat, but does not include any boiler or furnace unless they operate at thermal output efficiencies of at least 75% and are installed indoors.
Summer Meals Act of 2021 This bill revises provisions related to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), which provides meals to children and teens in low-income areas during the summer months when school is not in session. The bill redefines areas in which poor economic conditions exist , where the SFSP may operate, as areas in which at least 40% (currently, 50%) of the children have been determined to be eligible for free or reduced price school meals under the school lunch and breakfast programs. The bill reimburses service institutions (other than school food authorities) for up to one meal and one snack per child each day during after-school hours, weekends, and school holidays during the regular school calendar. Currently, such institutions are reimbursed for meals and snacks served to children over the summer months or to children who are on vacation under a continuous school calendar. USDA must award competitive grants to service institutions to increase participation in the summer food service program for children who lack the ability to access a congregate feeding site through (1) innovative approaches to limited transportation, (2) mobile meal trucks, and (3) any other method or approach that does not require children to access a congregate feeding site. Service institutions that are participating in the summer food service program for children may serve up to three meals, or two meals and one snack, during each day of operation. Currently, this option is reserved for camps and service institutions that serve meals primarily to migrant children.
