Better Utilizing Infrastructure for Lasting Development of Veterans Businesses Act of 2021 or the BUILD Veterans Businesses Act of 2021 This bill requires a specified percentage of certain Federal-aid highway and public transportation funds to be expended through veteran-owned small businesses.
Medical Nutrition Equity Act of 2021 This bill expands coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, other specified federal health care programs, and private health insurance to include foods, vitamins, and individual amino acids that are medically necessary for the management of certain digestive and metabolic disorders and conditions.
State-Based Universal Health Care Act of 20 21 This bill establishes the option for states, or groups of states, to apply to waive certain federal health insurance requirements and provide residents with health insurance benefits plans through a state-administered program. Such programs must cover 95% of the residents in the state within five years and plan benefits must be at least as comprehensive and affordable as the coverage under the equivalent federal program. State programs are supported with funds from the federal programs the state programs replace, which may include Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, the Federal Employee Health Benefits program, certain federal tax credits, and premium-assistance funds, among others. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to appoint an Independent Assessment Panel for Comprehensive Care to review and recommend whether to approve state applications. Each approved state program must be independently reviewed every five years to evaluate changes in health benefits access, quality, and coverage, including whether the state has met the 95% coverage requirement. The federal government must pay all health insurance costs for American Indians and Alaska Natives who enroll in a plan through a state insurance program.
This joint resolution recognizes and affirms the sovereign and unilateral authority of states to defend themselves against invasion.
This resolution expresses support for the rights, freedoms, and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals. The resolution r ecognizes that LGBTQ rights are human rights and protected by the laws of the United States and international treaties. Additionally, the resolution encourages the celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month in June.
Farm Subsidy Transparency Act of 2021 This bill requires the collection and disclosure of demographic and other information about recipients of agricultural benefits. Specifically, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must collect and make publicly available (1) the race and gender of individuals who directly or indirectly received or applied for certain benefits, such as grants or other funding under USDA's commodity, conservation, research, extension, and education programs; and (2) the farm or ranch acreage of the recipients of such benefits. USDA must also collect and track the race and gender of individuals who register for the USDA service center information management system (a repository of participants in programs offered by USDA's Farm Service Agency, Natural Resource and Conservation Service, and rural development agencies). Additionally, the Commodity Credit Corporation must collect and disclose (1) the race and gender of individuals who receive or apply for benefits from the corporation, and (2) the farm or ranch acreage of the recipients of such benefits. The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation must collect and disclose (1) the name, race, gender, and farm or ranch acreage of individuals who receive federally subsidized insurance for crops, livestock, or forage; and (2) the premium subsidy amount for each recipient. The bill also requires financial institutions to gather demographic information in response to loan applications for farms and ranches that are minority-owned or women-owned. (Currently, institutions must gather that information in response to loan applications from women-owned and minority-owned small businesses.)
Clean Water For Military Families Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct investigations into releases of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at or surrounding DOD installations located in the United States, formerly used defense sites, and state-owned facilities of the National Guard. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. DOD must also conduct response actions relating to PFAS contamination at the mentioned locations if any detection of PFAS exceeds specified standards for contamination or DOD finds remediation to be appropriate to protect human health or the environment.
Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 This bill prohibits governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, abortion services. Specifically, governments may not limit a provider's ability to prescribe certain drugs, offer abortion services via telemedicine, or immediately provide abortion services when the provider determines a delay risks the patient's health. Furthermore, governments may not require a provider to perform unnecessary medical procedures, provide medically inaccurate information, comply with credentialing or other conditions that do not apply to providers whose services are medically comparable to abortions, or carry out all services connected to an abortion. In addition, governments may not (1) require patients to make medically unnecessary in-person visits before receiving abortion services or disclose their reasons for obtaining such services, or (2) prohibit abortion services before fetal viability or after fetal viability when a provider determines the pregnancy risks the patient's life or health. The bill also prohibits other governmental measures that are similar to the bill's specified restrictions or that otherwise single out and impede access to abortion services, unless a government demonstrates that the measure significantly advances the safety of abortion services or health of patients and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. The Department of Justice, individuals, or providers may bring a lawsuit to enforce this bill, and states are not immune from suits for violations. The bill applies to restrictions imposed both prior and subsequent to the bill's enactment.
Filthy Fifty Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to complete testing for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at all military installations, formerly used defense sites, and state-owned facilities of the National Guard in the United States. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. Not later than 60 days following the detection of PFAS at a military installation, formerly used defense site, or state-owned facility of the National Guard, DOD must take removal actions to ensure that all individuals served by a drinking water source contaminated by PFAS have access to drinking water that meets the applicable standard, regardless of whether DOD is the drinking water purveyor. Additionally, DOD must complete all physical construction required for the remediation of PFAS at such sites not later than 10 years after the enactment of this bill. DOD must report to Congress identifying the status of remediation efforts at 50 specified sites, such as England Air Force Base, Louisiana. DOD must complete all physical construction required for the remediation of PFAS at the 50 specified sites not later than five years after the enactment of this bill.
Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish specified grant programs to support positive maternal health care outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women and their infants. Specifically, HHS must award grants to (1) develop best practices to reduce preventable maternal mortality, and (2) train health care professionals to reduce and prevent discrimination when providing maternal health services. In addition, HHS may award grants to establish evidence-informed, integrated health care services to pregnant and postpartum women and their infants. The bill also provides statutory authority for a grant program that supports perinatal quality collaboratives. These are networks of perinatal care providers and public health professionals that work to improve pregnancy outcomes through continuous quality improvement. HHS also must (1) contract with an independent research organization to study and make recommendations on trainings for health professional schools and education programs on reducing and preventing discrimination in the provision of maternal health services, and (2) address pregnant and postpartum women and their infants in public awareness initiatives related to vaccinations.
COVID-19 Safer Detention Act of 2021 This bill expands statutory authority for federal prisoners to be released before completing their sentences or to be placed in the community to serve the final portion of their sentences. First, the bill makes changes to the early release pilot program which authorizes the Bureau of Prisons to release early and place on home confinement elderly offenders and terminally ill offenders who meet eligibility criteria. This bill expands eligibility to offenders serving time for an offense under the laws of the District of Columbia, reduces the amount of time an offender must serve by the good time credits earned by the offender, and creates a judicial review process for prisoners. Second, the bill modifies the compassionate release process which authorizes federal courts to reduce a prisoner's sentence and impose a term of probation or supervised released in certain circumstances. This bill expands eligibility to prisoners sentenced before November 1, 1987; and specifies that vulnerability to COVID-19 is a basis for compassionate release. Regarding the judicial review of these release authorities, the bill also (1) authorizes federal courts to appoint counsel to assist defendants, (2) applies statutory rights for crime victims to these proceedings, and (3) shortens the waiting period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study postrelease, probation, and pretrial services, including recent changes. Finally, the bill directs the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to request resources to address staffing needs in each judicial district, including resources that may be necessary as a result of this bill.
Native Act to Transform Imagery in Various Environments This bill establishes grants and a committee within the Department of Education (ED) to assist schools with discontinuing the use of derogatory or discriminatory names or depictions as team names, mascots, or nicknames. Specifically, the bill authorizes ED to make (1) grants to elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools to assist them in discontinuing the use of names or depictions that are derogatory or discriminatory; and (2) subsequent grants to schools to discontinue objectionable names or depictions and to Indian schools for construction or renovation. Additionally, ED must establish a committee on Indian relations to (1) determine which names and depictions are derogatory or discriminatory, (2) identify schools that use derogatory or discriminatory names or descriptions and inform them of the availability of assistance in discontinuing their use, (3) assist ED in awarding grants, and (4) provide cultural proficiency training at grantee schools. The bill lists Indians , Redskins , Braves , and Chiefs as derogatory or discriminatory names or depictions.
