This resolution urges the people of the United States to acknowledge an Italian and Italian-American Heritage Month in recognition of the contributions Italians and Italian Americans have made to this country and the world.
This resolution supports the observance of the second Monday in October as Columbus Day and honors the contributions of the Italian-American community thanks to the influence of Christopher Columbus.
Northern Nevada Economic Development, Conservation, and Military Modernization Act of 2021 This bill provides for the designation, withdrawal, conveyance, exchange, sale, or disposal of certain federal and nonfederal lands in Nevada, including land associated with the Fallon Range Training Complex, a naval training installation. The bill designates the Fox Peak, Grimes Point, and Pistone-Black Mountain National Conservation Areas. The bill also designates specified parcels of federal land as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The bill establishes a federal complex for specified Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bureau of Indian Affairs offices or headquarters in Nevada. The bill requires the issuance of corrective patents for private lands adjacent to public land in White Pine County when (1) a cloud on the title demonstrates that the private land had been patented before 1976, and (2) the correction is for five acres or less. The bill includes additional provisions, including ones resolving certain tribal claims.
Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of State to take certain actions promoting the normalization of relations between Israel, Arab states, and other relevant countries and regions. Specifically, the State Department must develop a strategy on expanding and strengthening the Abraham Accords (the term used to refer collectively to agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and between Israel and Bahrain marking the public normalization of relations between the two Arab countries and Israel). The strategy must include a description of how the U.S. government will encourage further normalization of relations with Israel. In addition, the State Department must report on options for U.S. international efforts to promote the strengthening of ties between Israel, Arab states, and other relevant countries and regions. The State Department must also report on the status of the normalization of relations with Israel, including information on (1) laws that punish individuals for people-to-people relations with Israelis (i.e., anti-normalization laws), and (2) evidence of steps taken by Arab governments toward permitting or encouraging normalized relations between their citizens or residents and Israeli citizens.
This resolution supports the designation of National Clean Energy Week.
Commonsense Reporting Act of 2021 This bill addresses the eligibility verification process for the premium assistance tax credit and cost-sharing subsidy under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). It requires the Department of the Treasury to develop and implement a reporting system that allows employers to voluntarily report information about their health plans for the current plan year prior to the beginning of open enrollment. The bill also allows electronic transmission of employee and enrollee statements and permits Treasury to accept full names and dates of birth in lieu of dependents' and spouses' Social Security numbers. The bill also allows certain large employers who do not offer their employees minimum health care coverage 90 days to appeal an assessment for not providing such coverage. The Government Accountability Office must evaluate (1) for the period beginning on January 1, 2015, and ending on December 31, 2020, the notification of employers by PPACA exchanges of the eligibility of employees for advance payments of the premium assistance tax credit or cost-sharing subsidies; and (2) for calendar year 2022, the functionality of the prospective reporting system established by this bill, including the accuracy of information collected.
2020 WHIP+ Reauthorization Act This bill expands disaster indemnity programs through which the Department of Agriculture provides payments to agricultural producers for crop and milk losses resulting from hurricanes, wildfires, and other qualifying natural disasters. In particular, the bill extends the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+), the On-Farm Storage Loss Program, and the Milk Loss Program to make losses that occurred in the 2021 and 2022 calendar years eligible for payments. Under current law, these programs provide disaster payments to agricultural producers with crop and milk losses resulting from qualifying natural disasters that occurred in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years.
Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue 50,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of the service that working dogs provide to society. The designs of the coins minted under this bill shall be emblematic of the contributions of working dogs to society, including in detection, military service, therapy and assistance. Treasury may issue coins only during the one-year period beginning on January 1, 2023. All sales of coins shall include a surcharge, which shall be paid to America's VetDogs for general expenses associated with the fulfillment of its mission.
Veterans' Access to Care Concerning Inoculations Needed in Emergency Situations Act or the VACCINES Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish specified care during a public health emergency declared by a federal authority. Specifically, during such emergency, the VA must furnish to veterans (1) diagnostic products to detect the disease relating to the emergency, and (2) vaccinations for such disease. The VA may not require any copayment or other cost sharing for any diagnostic product or vaccine furnished under this bill. Additionally, the VA must conduct outreach to ensure that veterans are aware of the diagnostic products and vaccines available during the public health emergency.
Taxpayer Penalty Protection Act of 2021 This bill exempts taxpayers from penalties for failure to pay estimated income tax in taxable years beginning in 2020 if such taxpayers (1) paid at least 70% of the tax due for the current year, and (2) paid 70% (90% if adjusted gross income exceeds $150,000) of tax shown on returns for the prior year.
