This resolution censures Representative Paul Gosar for certain statements he made regarding the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
This resolution censures Representative Andrew Clyde for certain statements he made regarding the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
This resolution states that the Nord Stream II, a natural gas pipeline expected to increase Russia's natural gas export capacity, is a drastic step backwards for European energy security and U.S. interests. It also urges the President to use all available means to support European energy security through reducing reliance on Russia.
This resolution recognizes that the national debt is a threat to national security and that deficits are unsustainable, irresponsible, and dangerous. It also commits to (1) restoring regular order to the appropriations process, and (2) addressing the fiscal crisis faced by the United States.
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish a Freight Rail Innovation Institute in partnership with an institution of higher education and a freight rail locomotive manufacturer. The institute must carry out a research and development program to develop technologies necessary for the design, development, manufacturing, and operation of zero-emission battery and hydrogen-powered freight locomotives; develop technologies that enhance freight rail safety, efficiency, and utilization; and accelerate the deployment of zero-emission locomotives (including passenger locomotives), supporting supply chains, advanced freight and logistics systems, and related workforce development and education innovations. The non-federal share of the costs of the institute's research and development program shall not be less than 50%.
Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2021 This bill limits the authority of states with respect to water quality certifications. Specifically, the bill limits the authority of states to review federally permitted activities that may result in discharges into navigable waters.
End the Threat of Default Act This bill repeals the public debt limit, which applies to most debt held by the federal government.
Prescription Drug Pricing Dashboard Act This bill provides statutory authority for, and establishes requirements regarding, the Medicare and Medicaid prescription drug pricing dashboards that are operated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The dashboards provide spending information for covered drugs, including the average spending per dosage unit and changes in spending over time. The bill requires the CMS to update the dashboards annually and to include specified information, such as information about out-of-pocket costs and the drugs that have the highest total spending under each program.
Surviving Widow(er) Income Fair Treatment Act of 2021 or the SWIFT Act This bill modifies eligibility requirements and increases Social Security survivor benefits for widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses of a deceased worker. Specifically, the bill makes widow and widower's benefits available to disabled individuals at any age, whereas currently the benefits are limited to such individuals between ages 50 to 60. In addition, provisions reducing benefits in various instances, such as when a beneficiary is entitled to multiple types of benefits, shall not apply to widow and widower's benefits for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the bill raises the upper age limit for determining whether a beneficiary has a child in his or her care from 16 to 18 years (or 19, if the child is a full-time elementary or secondary school student). An individual with a child in care may receive increased benefits in specified instances. The bill also increases various limits on widow and widower's benefits in certain instances and modifies the calculation for increased benefits for individuals who choose to delay receiving such benefits. For current beneficiaries, increases in Social Security benefits under this bill shall not affect the beneficiary's eligibility or benefit amount for any federal assistance program.
Don't Weaponize the IRS Act This bill codifies regulations promulgated by the Trump Administration exempting certain tax-exempt organizations from specified reporting requirements. Specifically the bill increases from $5,000 to $50,000 the gross receipts threshold used to determine the eligibility of tax-exempt organizations for the exemption from certain disclosure and reporting requirements; expands the definition of organization to include tax-exempt charitable organizations and organizations with no significant activities relating to lobbying, political activity, and the operation of a trade or business; exempts from disclosure the names and addresses of contributors to an organization in its annual informational return; and extends exemptions from reporting requirements to political action committees (i.e., 527 organizations).
COVID - 19 Hate Crimes Act This bill requires a designated officer or employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate the expedited review of hate crimes and reports of hate crimes. DOJ must issue guidance for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on establishing online hate crime reporting processes, collecting data disaggregated by protected characteristic (e.g., race or national origin), and expanding education campaigns. Additionally, DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must issue guidance aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. The bill establishes grants for states to create state-run hate crimes reporting hotlines. It also authorizes grants for states and local governments to implement the National Incident-Based Reporting System and to conduct law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs to prevent, address, or respond to hate crimes. Finally, in the case of an individual convicted of a hate crime offense and placed on supervised release, the bill allows a court to order that the individual participate in educational classes or community service as a condition of supervised release.
Saving Gig Economy Taxpayers Act This bill modifies requirements for third party settlement organizations to eliminate their reporting requirement with respect to the transactions of their participating payees unless they have earned more than $20,000 on more than 200 separate transactions in an applicable tax period. A third party settlement organization is the central organization that has the contractual obligation to make payments to participating payees (generally, a merchant or business) in a third party payment network. This reverses a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that lowered the reporting threshold to $600 with no minimum on the number of transactions.
