This bill requires the President's annual budget submission to Congress to include estimates of the cost per individual taxpayer for (1) the public debt, and (2) any projected budget deficit for the fiscal year.
Federal Firefighter Flexibility and Fairness Act This bill provides that any hours worked by a firefighter under a qualified trade-of-time arrangement shall be disregarded for purposes of determining eligibility for, or the amount of, any overtime pay. The bill defines qualified trade-of-time arrangement as an arrangement under which two firefighters who are employed by the same agency agree, solely at their option and with the approval of their employing agency, to substitute for one another during scheduled work hours in the performance of work in the same capacity.
Diversity Data Accountability Act This bill requires regulated entities to report to the Offices of Women and Minority Inclusion within specified financial agencies. Specifically, entities regulated by such agencies must provide information to the appropriate Office of Women and Minority Inclusion to allow that office to carry out duties relating to diversity policies and practices.
Consider Teachers Act of 2021 This bill revises the service obligation verification process for the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant program. For example, the bill provides a process for the Department of Education to reconsider and reverse the conversion of a TEACH grant to a loan. The bill also establishes certain program flexibilities with respect to the service obligations of teachers affected by the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
Protecting American Jobs Act This bill limits the authority of the National Labor Relations Board. Specifically, it repeals the authority of the General Counsel ofthe board to issue, and prosecute before the board, complaints of unfair labor practices. The bill also limits the board's rulemaking authority to rules concerning the internal functions of the board and prohibits the board from promulgating regulations affecting the substantive or procedural rights of any person, employer, employee, or labor organization, including rules concerning unfair labor practices and representation elections. Not later than six months after this bill is enacted, the board must review existing regulations and revise or rescind such regulations as necessary to implement these modifications to the board's rulemaking authority. In addition, the bill repeals the board's authority to issue orders preventing unfair labor practices, replacing it with a more limited authority to investigate allegations of such practices. Finally, it repeals the board's authority to petition courts for enforcement of its orders, seek injunctions, or hold hearings on jurisdictional strikes.
Income-Driven Student Loan Forgiveness Act This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to forgive the outstanding balance of principal, interest, and fees due on federal student loans for eligible borrowers who meet certain income requirements. Eligible borrower refers to an individual who (1) has an eligible federal student loan in repayment, (2) filed a federal income tax return for the most recent tax year, (3) is employed or was employed during the three-year period immediately preceding March 1, 2020, and (4) meets income requirements (e.g., an adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less for a borrower who is not married). Further, the borrower must submit an application to ED for loan forgiveness. The bill prohibits borrowers from receiving refunds for any previously made payments. Further, the bill specifies the notification requirements related to the availability of loan forgiveness. The bill also excludes discharged student loan debt from an individual's gross income for tax purposes.
Fostering Postsecondary Success for Foster and Homeless Youth Act of 2021 This bill establishes a program through which the Department of Education (ED) must annually recognize institutions of higher education (IHEs) that offer outstanding services and programs to foster care and homeless youth. Further, ED must establish a Center for Fostering Postsecondary Success for Foster and Homeless Youth to assist IHEs with creating and maintaining their programs for these youth.
Saving Us from Pandemic Era Resistance by Building a Unified Global Strategy Act of 2021 or the SUPER BUGS Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to seek to enter into agreements with foreign countries to develop and commercialize new drugs to address pandemics. HHS shall report to Congress a strategy for achieving this goal.
Huntington's Disease Disability Insurance Access Act of 2021 This bill expedites payment of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and eligibility for Medicare coverage for those with Huntington's disease. This is an inherited disorder that causes brain cells to die, including in areas of the brain that help to control voluntary movement. Specifically, the bill eliminates the 5-month waiting period for SSDI benefits and the subsequent 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage for individuals with Huntington's disease. Under current law, individuals generally must wait five months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits and an additional 24 months to become eligible for Medicare.
Reading Early and Addressing Dyslexia Act or the READ Act This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish an early literacy and dyslexia intervention pilot program to award grants to five state educational agencies to address early reading deficiencies and dyslexia. Under the program, ED must identify (1) evidence-based methods of screening students in grades K-3 for early reading deficiencies and dyslexia; (2) intensive interventions for these students, including phonological awareness and phonemic awareness, sound symbol recognition, and decoding skills; and (3) best practices to instruct educators on the science of reading and how to execute screenings and intensive interventions for these students. Each participating state educational agency must select at least two local educational agencies (LEAs) to participate in the program. Participating LEAs must provide intensive interventions identified by ED that develop basic reading skills and incorporate systematic phonics instruction to every student in grades K-3, screen each student in grades K-3 three times during each school year using the screening methods identified by ED, notify parents or guardians of screenings, and conduct diagnostic assessments and provide intensive interventions for each student suspected of having an early reading deficiency or dyslexia. The bill also directs ED to establish an online platform to provide educational agencies with resources, such as methods of targeting instruction for early reading deficiencies and dyslexia.
Clarifying Law Around Insurance of Marijuana Act or the CLAIM Act This bill generally provides a safe harbor from penalties or other adverse agency action for insurance companies that provide services to cannabis-related legitimate businesses in jurisdictions where such activity is legal. The Government Accountability Office must report on barriers to marketplace entry for minority-owned and women-owned cannabis-related businesses.
Protecting Investors' Personally Identifiable Information Act This bill prohibits the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from requiring a national securities exchange, association, or a member of either to provide a market participant's personally identifiable information to satisfy the reporting requirements of the Consolidated Audit Trail (which tracks market activity). However, this information must be provided to the SEC upon request. The SEC must destroy the information not later than one day after the conclusion of the matter for which this information was required.
