Sen. John Kennedy

Vessel Response Plan Improvement Act This bill directs the U.S. Coast Guard to require the vessel response plans of Coast Guard-approved commercial vessels to include certain notification requirements with regard to search and rescue missions. Such requirements include developing a procedure for the immediate notification of next of kin in the event that search and rescue teams save or recover crew members during the missions.

Sponsor Promote and Compensation Act This bill establishes additional disclosure requirements for a blank check company (e.g., a special purpose acquisition company) during an initial public offering or prior to a merger. A blank check company is a development stage company that issues a penny stock and (1) has no specific business plan or purpose, or (2) has indicated that its business plan is to merge with a company or companies. Specifically, the bill requires such a company to disclose the amount of cash per share expected to be held by the blank check company immediately prior to the merger under various redemption scenarios; side payments or agreements to pay sponsors, blank check company investors, or private investors in public equity for their participation in the merger; and fees or other payments to the sponsor, underwriter, and any other party.

Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act of 2021 This bill modifies the process and policy related to the disposition of charges and convening of courts-martial for certain sexual assault cases and other specified offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Among other elements, the bill provides that the determinations on the preferral, disposition, and referral of charges for specified offenses under the UCMJ must be made by a commissioned officer of the Armed Forces who is designated as a court-martial convening authority (in grade O-6 or higher) and who is available for detail as trial counsel, has significant trial experience, and is outside the chain of command of the member subject to the charges.

USTR Inspector General Act of 2021 This bill requires the President to appoint an Inspector General of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Among other responsibilities, the Inspector General shall (1) conduct and supervise audits and investigations relating to the programs and operations of the USTR, (2) recommend policies for preventing and detecting fraud and abuse in those programs, and (3) provide a means for keeping the USTR and Congress informed about problems and deficiencies in those programs and operations.

Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2021 This bill allows a qualified individual to carry a concealed handgun into or possess a concealed handgun in another state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. A qualified individual must (1) be eligible to possess, transport, or receive a firearm under federal law; (2) carry a valid photo identification document; and (3) carry a valid state-issued concealed carry permit, or be eligible to carry a concealed firearm in his or her state of residence.

This bill provides for the award of Congressional Gold Medals posthumously to Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith (four Americans who were killed in the September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya) in recognition of their contributions to the nation.

Youth Mental Health Services Act of 2021 This bill authorizes state and local educational agencies to use Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants to improve mental health services available to students. Specifically, it allows funds to be used for identifying and disseminating best practices for mental health first aid, emergency planning, coordination of services, and telehealth services.

Suicide Training and Awareness Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention Act of 20 21 or the STANDUP Act of 2021 This bill requires state, tribal, and local educational agencies that receive grant funding for priority mental-health needs, including through the Project AWARE State Education Agency Grant Program, to establish and implement evidence-based suicide awareness and prevention training policies. In addition, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in coordination with the Department of Education, must provide educational agencies with best practices for these trainings.

Abortion Providers Loan Elimination Act This bill makes abortion providers ineligible to receive a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program, which was established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19. This prohibition shall not apply to hospitals or entities that exclusively provide abortions (1) where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or (2) where the pregnancy endangers the life of the mother. The Inspector General of the Small Business Administration must report on the number of paycheck protection loans made to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and to other abortion providers.

Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2021 This bill expands tax incentives and federal assistance for employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) that are sponsored by S corporations. The bill extends to all domestic corporations, including S corporations, provisions allowing deferral of tax on gain from the sale of employer securities to an ESOP. The Department of the Treasury must establish the S Corporation Employee Ownership Assistance Office to foster increased employee ownership of S corporations. The bill defines an ESOP business concern and allows such a concern to continue to qualify as a small business for the purposes of programs under the Small Business Act. An ESOP business concern is a business concern that was a small business concern eligible for a loan, preference, or other program under the Small Business Act before more than 49% of the business concern was acquired by an ESOP.