Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart

This resolution condemns the 1994 attack on the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and expresses sympathy for the victims' relatives. It also expresses concern for the continuing 28-year-long delay in the proper resolution of the case and calls for accountability for the attack, including for the Iranian and Hezbollah operatives involved.

Preserving Options for Everglades Restoration and National Defense in the Straits of Florida Act This bill prohibits the Department of the Air Force from entering into an agreement that would provide for or permit the joint use of Homestead Air Reserve Base in Homestead, Florida, by the Air Force and civil aircraft.

Nation's Oldest Port National Heritage Area Act This bill establishes the Nation's Oldest Port National Heritage Area in Florida. Such heritage area shall consist of natural watersheds in Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, and Flagler Counties. The Nation's Oldest Port Heritage Area Alliance, Inc., shall serve as the local coordinating entity for the heritage area and shall develop a management plan for it.

This resolution expresses condolences with respect to the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside, Florida, and supports the investigation into the causes of the collapse and efforts to prevent future high-rise building collapses.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2800 South Adams Street in Tallahassee, Florida, as the D. Edwina Stephens Post Office.

Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act This bill requires finished pasteurized orange juice to contain at least 10% by weight of orange juice soluble solids (currently 10.5%), exclusive of the solids of any added optional sweetening ingredients.

Military Spouse Hiring Act This bill expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include the hiring of a qualified military spouse. (The WOTC permits employers who hire individuals who are members of a targeted group such as qualified veterans, ex-felons, or long-term unemployment recipients to claim a tax credit equal to a portion of the wages paid to those individuals.) A qualified military spouse is any individual who is certified by the designated local agency as being (as of the hiring date) a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces.

Achieving Equity in the Treatment of Dual Eligible Beneficiaries Act This bill temporarily establishes geographic adjustments for certain Medicare Advantage payment formulations, and specifies that a certain percentage of corresponding payment increases must be directed toward payments for basic benefits. It also requires U.S. territories to establish Medicare Savings Programs (currently optional in the territories).

Securing Our Students Act This bill authorizes local educational agencies and nonpublic schools to use certain COVID-19 emergency relief funds, services, or assistance for school safety uses, that is improving school conditions for student learning by planning and designing school buildings and facilities, installing infrastructure, providing safety education, and implementing technology or other measures that strengthen security on school premises.

This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) to disclose information regarding gifts from and contracts with China-affiliated organizations. China-affiliated organization refers to any entity that receives support directly or indirectly from the Chinese government, including certain educational institutes or programs, think tanks, and business entities. Under current law, an IHE must disclose to the Department of Education (ED) a gift or contract from a foreign source that is valued at $250,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts from or contracts with that foreign source in a calendar year. This bill establishes a special disclosure rule relating to China-affiliated organizations. Specifically, the bill requires an IHE to disclose a gift from or contract with a China-affiliated organization that is valued at $5,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts from or contracts with that organization in a calendar year. Additionally, the bill requires an IHE that receives federal grants to annually file a report with ED that identifies any activities conducted pursuant to a contract or other agreement between the IHE and a China-affiliated organization, including any joint research or academic exchanges. Such a contract or other agreement must be made available on a publicly accessible website of the IHE.