Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021 This bill makes changes to the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program. The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty or permanently disabled as a result of catastrophic injuries sustained in the line of duty. Among the changes, the bill expands the public safety officers eligible for coverage under the PSOB program to include firefighters whose primary duty during an emergency response is to secure the scene or manage traffic and cadets or trainees in candidate-officer training; extends coverage under the PSOB program to certain public safety officers responding outside their jurisdiction; increases the interim benefit amount payable on a claim for death benefits and requires the interim amount to be adjusted annually for inflation; increases the benefit amount payable on a death or disability claim that has been pending for more than 365 days on the date of the final determination; allows the Department of Justice (DOJ) to use investigative tools, including subpoenas, to expedite the processing of claims and obtain information or documentation from third parties (e.g., public agencies); specifies that an injury resulting from a neurocognitive disorder qualifies as a catastrophic injury for the purposes of disability benefits; requires (currently, authorizes) DOJ to provide retroactive education benefits to qualifying children and spouses; specifies that hearing officers appointed to review claims are special government employees (i.e., employees who perform temporary duties for a limited period of time) and are authorized to conduct examinations; allows responders to the World Trade Center or their surviving family members to file claims for death or disability benefits in certain circumstances; and extends the period during which public safety officers who die or become injured as a result of COVID-19 are eligible for benefits.
Confidentiality Opportunities for Peer Support Counseling Act or the COPS Counseling Act This bill sets forth requirements related to peer support counseling programs. A peer support counseling program is a program provided by a law enforcement agency that provides counseling services from a peer support specialist to a law enforcement officer of the agency. Among other things, the bill does the following: generally prohibits the disclosure of the contents of a peer support communication, and requires the Department of Justice to develop best practices and professional standards for peer support counseling programs.
Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act This bill explicitly grants extraterritorial jurisdiction over the following criminal offenses: killing (or attempting to kill) a federal officer or employee; assaulting, kidnapping, or murdering (or threatening to do so, or attempting to kidnap or murder) a family member of certain federal officials to retaliate against or to impede, intimidate, or interfere with the federal official; threatening to assault, kidnap, or murder certain federal officials to retaliate against or to impede, intimidate, or interfere with the federal official; and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees. The United States may prosecute such conduct that occurs outside the United States.
This bill designates the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be located in Aurora, Colorado, as the Lieutenant Colonel John W. Mosley Clinic.
This bill designates the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Columbus, Georgia, as the Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic.
Secure Equipment Act of 2021 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish rules stating that it will no longer review or approve any authorization application for equipment that is on the list of covered communications equipment or services. (Listed communications equipment or services are those that the FCC determines pose an unacceptable risk to national security or the security and safety of U.S. persons.)
Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform Act of 2021 or the RENACER Act This bill establishes measures to monitor, report on, and address corruption and human rights abuses in Nicaragua. Specifically, the bill directs U.S. leadership at international financial institutions to advocate for increased oversight with respect to any loan or financial or technical assistance for projects in Nicaragua. The Department of State and the Department of the Treasury must establish a coordinated strategy to align diplomatic engagement with the implementation of targeted sanctions to facilitate free, fair, and transparent elections in Nicaragua. Pursuant to this strategy, the President must prioritize implementing targeted sanctions on persons obstructing the establishment of conditions necessary for such elections. The State Department must also engage in diplomatic efforts with partner countries to impose targeted sanctions on such individuals. The bill adds Nicaragua to a list of countries whose citizens are subject to visa-blocking sanctions for knowingly engaging in (1) actions undermining democratic processes or institutions, or (2) significant corruption or obstruction of investigations into such corruption. Further, the bill requires the State Department to report on the involvement of President Daniel Ortega, members of his family, and senior government officials in significant acts of public corruption; Russian activities in Nicaragua, including cooperation between Russian and Nicaraguan military personnel and intelligence services; all purchases and agreements entered into by Nicaragua with respect to its military or intelligence sector; and gross human rights violations by the Ortega government against campesinos (i.e., natives of Latin American rural areas, especially Latin American Indian farmers or farm laborers) and indigenous communities. In addition, the State Department must report on obstacles faced by Nicaraguans to obtaining accurate, objective, and comprehensive news and information about domestic and international affairs and submit a strategy for strengthening independent broadcasting, information distribution, and media platforms in Nicaragua.
Ensuring Compliance Against Drug Diversion Act of 2021 This bill provides statutory authority for certain regulations governing the modification, transfer, and termination of a registration to manufacture, distribute, or dispense controlled substances. It terminates the registration of individuals and entities when they die, cease legal existence, discontinue business, or surrender such registration. It sets forth notification requirements, as well as conditions for transferring or assigning a registration.
Further Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2021 This bill extends and revises provisions related to federal-aid highway, transit, highway safety, rail, and other surface transportation programs of the Department of Transportation. Specifically, the bill extends FY2021 enacted levels of funding through December 3, 2021, for federal-aid highway, transit, and safety programs; and extends expenditure authority through December 4, 2021, for the Highway Trust Fund, Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.
This bill extends the deadline, from 270 days to 390 days, for the Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking to submit the final report on its activities and recommendations to combat the flow of synthetic opioids into the United States.
Extending Temporary Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act This bill extends until October 22, 2021, the temporary scheduling order issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration to place fentanyl-related substances in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The temporary order expires on May 6, 2021.
The Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act (S. 1301) requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish physical activity recommendations for Americans. This bill directly affects the Department of Health and Human Services, which would be responsible for developing and issuing these guidelines. The key provision mandates the publication of these recommendations, providing official guidance on appropriate physical activity levels for the public. The bill does not create new funding or impose requirements on individuals or organizations, but establishes a process for the HHS to provide this information. This is a procedural bill focused on publishing guidelines rather than implementing new programs.
