This resolution declares that the Members' Representational Allowance should be increased to protect Members of the House of Representatives, as well as members of the public who are present when Members are in public venues, from increasing threats.
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Paris Agreement is nullified in the United States until the agreement is (1) renegotiated to ensure the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and (2) ratified by the Senate.
This resolution supports the recognition of January 22 each year as the Day of Tears in the United States and encourages citizens to lower their flags to half-staff to memorialize the unborn.
This bill allows the first person nominated and appointed as Secretary of Defense after 12 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on January 20, 2021, to be a person who is, on the date of appointment, at least four years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of the Armed Forces. Under current law, an individual may not be appointed as Secretary of Defense within seven years after relief from such active duty.
Abortion Is Not Health Care Act of 2021 This bill prohibits a tax deduction for medical expenses paid for an abortion.
District of Columbia Legislative Autonomy Act This bill eliminates congressional review of newly-passed District of Columbia laws.
End the Congressional Revolving Door Act This bill prohibits a former Member of Congress or former senior congressional employee who is a registered lobbyist, and entitled to compensation as such, from being eligible for any benefits beginning after enactment of this bill under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), including the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP); the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), including the TSP; the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, including federal enhanced dental and vision benefits; or the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program. The bill does not prevent the payment of any CSRS or FERS lump-sum credit to which an individual is entitled or any nonforfeitable amount in an individual's TSP account.
Border Business COVID-19 Rescue Act This bill establishes and provides funding for a program whereby the Small Business Administration (SBA) must make loans to border businesses directly impacted by COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). A border business is any entity, otherwise eligible for an SBA disaster loan, that (1) has its principal office in the United States, (2) has annual revenue of up to $500,000, and (3) is located within 25 miles of the U.S. border. The SBA shall make loans of up to $500,000 to border businesses, and these loans must have a zero percent interest rate. Loan recipients must use the funds to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on their business, including by (1) providing paid sick leave to employees unable to work because of the pandemic, (2) making rent or mortgage payments, (3) purchasing personal protective equipment, or (4) paying for logistical expenses associated with border closures due to the pandemic. Recipients may also request an advance on the loan, which shall not be less than $10,000. Further, certain recipients may be forgiven up to 100% of the loan, less any amount received under other specified COVID-19 economic relief programs.
Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act of 2021 This bill modifies the funding rules and provides financial assistance for certain pension plans that are underfunded or insolvent. First, the bill expands the authority of, and provides funding for, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to provide special partition assistance to a multiemployer pension plan that is insolvent or at risk of insolvency. The bill expands eligibility for partition assistance, provides funding for a plan to reach a projected funded ratio of 80% over a 30-year period, and does not require a plan to repay such assistance. The bill further permits a multiemployer pension plan to elect to retain its funding zone status from the previous year for either (1) the first plan year beginning during the period from March 1, 2020, through February 28, 2021; or (2) the next succeeding plan year, as designated by the plan sponsor. A plan may also extend by five years the funding improvement or rehabilitation period if the plan is designated as in endangered or critical status for a plan year beginning in 2020 or 2021. A plan in critical and declining status may not suspend payment of plan benefits. Additionally, the bill adjusts the minimum funding standards for a multiemployer pension plan to account for investment losses and other losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic and modifies the PBGC guarantee formula to increase the maximum potential benefits under a multiemployer pension plan. Finally, the bill makes changes with respect to single employer pension plans, including revising the amortization rules and extending and modifying the pension funding stabilization percentages.
This bill prohibits federal payments of death gratuities to survivors of Members of Congress.
Inaugural Fund Integrity Act This bill limits donations to inaugural committees and requires these committees to disclose donations and disbursements. Specifically, inaugural committees may not solicit, accept, or receive donations from corporations or foreign nationals. An individual may not make a donation in the name of another individual or authorize his or her name to be used to make such a donation. In addition, foreign nationals may not make donations or make promises to make donations to inaugural committees. Further, the bill caps the amount an individual may donate to an inaugural committee. Donations to inaugural committees may not be converted to personal use. Finally, inaugural committees must report certain information on donations and disbursements to the Federal Election Commission.
Access Technology Affordability Act of 2021 This bill allows a refundable tax credit equal to the amounts paid for qualified access technology for use by a blind individual who is the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or a dependent of the taxpayer. Qualified access technology is hardware, software, or other information technology with the primary function of converting or adapting information that is visually represented into forms or formats useable by blind individuals. The credit is limited to (1) costs that are not compensated by insurance or otherwise, and (2) an aggregate amount of $2,000 per blind individual in any period of three consecutive taxable years. The credit must be adjusted for inflation after 2021 and terminates after 2026.
