This resolution sets forth the rule for consideration of S. 475 to amend title 5, U.S. Code, to designate Juneteenth National Independence Day as a legal public holiday.
VA FOIA Reform Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish and implement a plan for reducing its backlog of requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The VA must request that the Office of Government Information Services of the National Archives and Records Administration conduct an assessment of the VA's compliance with FOIA. Finally, the VA must submit an annual report on its FOIA compliance efforts and make such reports available on its website.
VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish policies and procedures related to the accountability and staffing of its police force. Specifically, the bill requires the VA to publish specified summaries, statistics, and contact information related to the activities of VA police officers from the previous five-year period. The VA must ensure that each of its police forces is able to provide VA employees and members of the public who contact the force with contact information to directly contact the police force regarding the arrest, ticketing, detainment, use of force, or other police matters pertaining to the individual. The bill requires VA police officers to wear body cameras that record and store audio and video. Additionally, the VA's guidance on the use of body cameras must be made publicly available. Under the bill, the VA is required to track and analyze the following information regarding its police force: arrests made and tickets issued; prosecutions, ticketing, and other actions relating to such arrests; the use of force and weapon discharges; and complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions. The VA must ensure each incident of the use of force is promptly reported to the Assistant Secretary with responsibility for operations, preparedness, security, and law enforcement functions. The Assistant Secretary must review and investigate each incident (including allegations) of the use of force by a VA police officer, including such situations where any person receives medical attention. The VA must develop a plan that establishes minimum standards for police staffing at its facilities.
Debt Bondage Repair Act This bill prohibits a consumer reporting agency from reporting adverse credit information about a consumer that is the result of severe human trafficking or sex trafficking. A court of competent jurisdiction or a federal or state government entity must determine that the consumer is a victim of trafficking.
Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act This bill extends the deadline by which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must (1) conduct a study and develop a plan under which the collection of information from disaster assistance applicants and grantees will be made less burdensome, duplicative, and time consuming for applicants and grantees; and (2) develop a plan for the regular collection and reporting of information on federal disaster assistance awarded. Not later than two years after enactment of this bill, FEMA shall convene a working group on a regular basis to identify (1) potential areas of duplication or fragmentation in preliminary damage assessments after disaster declarations; and (2) potential emerging technologies, such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (i.e., drones), to expedite the administration of preliminary damage assessments. FEMA must submit a comprehensive report on the plans for streamlining and consolidating information collection and preliminary damage assessments and the findings and recommendations of the working group to Congress with a briefing. The report must be made available to the public and posted on FEMA's website.
Local Water Protection Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 grants to states for (1) programs that manage and control nonpoint source pollution (e.g., runoff from a variety of sources) added to navigable waters, and (2) groundwater quality protection activities to advance state implementation of such programs.
This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 and revises the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program. Under the existing program, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must develop and fund projects to restore the ecological health of the basin, which is located in Louisiana and Mississippi. The bill requires the EPA to review and revise the basin's comprehensive conservation and management plan at least once every five years. In addition, the bill eliminates a statement of the basin's size.
National Children's Museum Act This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to cover the rent of the National Children's Museum for the duration of the museum's current building lease, including renewals. The GSA must use specified funds for such expenses.
Homeless Veterans Credit Repair, Enhancement, and Debt Improvement for Tomorrow Act or the Homeless Veterans CREDIT Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a comprehensive study on access to, and use and effects of, financial and credit counseling for homeless veterans and veterans experiencing housing instability.
Notice to Airmen Improvement Act of 20 21 This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish the FAA Task Force on NOTAM (notice to airmen required by international or domestic law) Improvement. Specifically, the task force must (1) review existing methods for presenting NOTAMs and flight operations information to pilots; (2) review regulations and policies relating to NOTAMs, including their content and presentation to pilots; (3) evaluate and determine best practices to organize, prioritize, and present flight operations information in a manner that optimizes pilot review and retention of relevant information; (4) provide recommendations to improve the presentation of NOTAM information; and (5) report to Congress on its reviews and evaluations. The task force must terminate on the later of the date it submits its report or 18 months after its establishment.
Promoting United Government Efforts to Save Our Sound Act or the PUGET SOS Act This bill provides support for the restoration and protection of the Puget Sound, an estuary in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Washington. Specifically, the bill establishes a Puget Sound Recovery National Program Office within the Environmental Protection Agency. It also establishes the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force, which replaces the existing Puget Sound Federal Task Force. Finally, the bill establishes a State Advisory Committee.
Ocean Pollution Reduction Act II This bill revises requirements under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program for the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Diego, California. Currently, the plant must meet standards established under the NPDES permit program for the primary and secondary treatment of wastewater discharged by the plant into marine waters. The city of San Diego may apply for permit modifications, which offer alternatives to certain secondary treatment standards. This bill eliminates the need for the city to obtain a separate permit for such modifications. Instead, the city may apply to obtain the permit modifications under the main NPDES permit if the plant meets certain conditions, such as the implementation of a pretreatment program.
