Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments, and Research Act of 2021 or the AFTER Act of 2021 This bill requires federal research facilities to facilitate the adoption or nonlaboratory placement of certain warm-blooded animals (e.g., dogs, cats, monkeys, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits) with animal rescue organizations, animal sanctuaries, animal shelters, or individuals. In order to be adopted or placed, the animals must (1) no longer be needed for research; (2) be suitable for release; (3) not be birds, rats, or mice.
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2021 This bill extends and revises provisions related to federal-aid highway, transit, highway safety, rail, and other surface transportation programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Among other provisions, the bill extends FY2021 enacted levels of funding through October 31, 2021, for federal-aid highway, transit, and safety programs; increases the cap from $600 million to $700 million on the amount of funding for nationally significant freight and highway projects and extends authority through FY2022 for DOT to provide funding for such projects; revises and extends authority through FY2022 for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to carry out collaborative research on in-vehicle technology to prevent alcohol-impaired driving; extends authority through October 31, 2021, for DOT to provide direct loans and loan guarantees for railroad rehabilitation and development near rail stations; reauthorizes and extends authority through FY2022 for the Appalachian Regional Commission; compensates any federal employee who is furloughed or required to work without pay during the authorization lapse in Highway Trust Fund expenditure authority at the earliest possible date after the lapse ends; and extends expenditure authority through November 1, 2021, for the Highway Trust Fund, Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.
Furthering Opioid Services, Training, and Education Resources Act or the FOSTER Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 and expands the scope of grants available for states and Indian tribes to address the opioid crisis. Specifically, the bill allows the use of grant funds for workforce recruitment and training, health care services, and foster and adoptive parent recruitment and training to support opioid abuse prevention and treatment services for children and caregivers, kinship care families, and kinship caregivers.
Bringing Regulatory Advances Into Neuroscience Act of 2021 or the BRAIN Act of 2021 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish the Neuroscience Center of Excellence. The center must develop and implement processes to coordinate FDA activities related to a major disease area or areas affecting the brain or central nervous system. The FDA must also establish and maintain the Neuroscience Translation Working Group to advise the center. If the FDA terminates the center, the working group shall advise the FDA.
Water Advanced Technologies for Efficient Resource Use Act of 2021 This bill provides statutory authority for the WaterSense program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and sets forth related requirements. Under the program, the EPA awards grants to provide incentives for consumers to purchase water-efficient products.
Blocking Joseph Robinette Biden's Overreaching Vaccine Mandates Act This bill restricts implementation and enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandates, including in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services may not require, as a condition of participation in the programs, that providers mandate COVID-19 vaccination for their employees, or otherwise penalize participating providers that do not mandate such vaccination. The bill also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement or enforce a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Minks in Narrowly Kept Spaces are Superspreaders Act or the MINKS are Superspreaders Act This bill makes it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase American mink ( Neovison vison ) raised in captivity for fur production, whether dead or alive.
HR 1041 would permanently remove the statutory debt ceiling by repealing sections 3101 and 3101A of title 31, U.S. Code. This would eliminate the legal limit on how much the federal government can borrow to pay its existing obligations. The bill directly affects the Treasury Department's borrowing authority, allowing it to issue debt without needing congressional approval for each increase. It represents a structural change to federal fiscal management, removing a recurring legislative hurdle. The bill does not alter current spending or revenue levels.
This resolution designates September 2021 as National Voting Rights Month, encourages people to uphold the right to vote, encourages Congress to pass certain voting rights legislation, recommends the development of a curriculum in public schools and universities regarding voting, encourages the U.S. Postal Service to issue a special John R. Lewis stamp during the month of September, and invites Congress to allocate funds for public service announcements regarding elections.
This resolution designates September 2021 as National Kinship Care Month and encourages community stakeholders to work together to improve well-being for vulnerable children and families.
This resolution designates September 2021 as National Democracy Month.
Indigenous Peoples' Day Act This bill designates Indigenous Peoples' Day as a legal public holiday in lieu of Columbus Day.
