Rep. Madison Cawthorn

Air America Act of 2021 This bill establishes the service of Air America employees as qualifying service for purposes of the Civil Service Retirement System. (Air America was a government-owned airline that provided air transport for certain covert operations in Southeast Asia, including Laos and Vietnam, between 1950 and 1976.) The bill applies to U.S. citizens who were employees of Air America or another affiliated company, as specified, between January 1, 1950 and December 31, 1976. Benefit applications must be filed within two years of the date of enactment of this bill.

Permanency for Audio-Only Telehealth Act This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. Specifically, the bill permanently removes geographic restrictions on originating sites (i.e., the location of the beneficiary). It also permanently expands coverage to include audio-only services for evaluation and management and behavioral health services; beneficiaries must have received in-person or video services during the preceding three-year period.

Gigabit Opportunity Act This bill authorizes the designation of qualified gigabit opportunity zones in low-income communities and provides tax incentives for investments in such zones. Governors may submit nominations for a limited number of qualified gigabit opportunity zones in low-income communities to the Department of the Treasury for certification and designation and must give particular consideration to areas that are facing obstacles to economic development due to a lack of geographic broadband coverage or speed; are the focus of mutually reinforcing state, local, or private economic development initiatives; are poised for economic growth that requires access to high speed broadband for commercial purposes; and represent the areas of a state where such service would result in the highest return on investment. For eligible taxpayers who sell certain broadband services, the bill allows (1) deferrals, reductions, or exemptions from taxes on capital gains invested in certain property used to provide broadband services in a zone; and (2) immediate expensing of the costs of the property. The bill also allows tax-exempt private activity bonds to be used for certain broadband projects in the zones. Within one year of enactment of this bill, the Federal Communications Commission must publish a Uniform Model Broadband Deployment Act containing laws for the state regulation of the deployment of broadband services. Qualified zones must either adopt  the Act or laws comparable to the Act.

This resolution states that the Nord Stream II, a natural gas pipeline expected to increase Russia's natural gas export capacity, is a drastic step backwards for European energy security and U.S. interests. It also urges the President to use all available means to support European energy security through reducing reliance on Russia.

See the Crisis Act This bill limits international travel by the Vice President until after certain activities are undertaken regarding the southwest border. Specifically, the bill prohibits the obligation or expenditure of federal funds for the Vice President's travel expenses to travel outside of the United States until the Vice President (1) personally travels to at least one of several specified counties along the border to review the activities of federal agencies responsible for enforcing and implementing immigration laws, and (2) submits a report relating to the situation at the border.

Surface Transportation Advanced through Reform, Technology, and Efficient Review Act 2.0 or the STARTER Act 2.0 This bill addresses provisions related to federal-aid highway, transit, highway safety, motor carrier, innovation, and resiliency programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT). It also sets forth requirements for the operation of railroad freight cars in the United States. For example, the bill extends FY2020 enacted levels through FY2026 for federal-aid highway, transit, and safety programs. DOT must provide competitive grants for projects to provide parking for commercial motor vehicles on the federal-aid highway system; establish a discretionary program to award competitive grants for eligible projects that encourage economic viability of the nation, a metropolitan area, or a region; create a public awareness campaign to reduce instances of driving while under the influence of prescription and over-the-counter medications; and promulgate regulations to implement an apprenticeship program for licensed commercial motor vehicle drivers under the age of 21. The bill also establishes new competitive grant programs to spur innovation of connected vehicle applications into operational deployments and to test the safe integration of automated driving system technologies into the on-road transportation system. Additionally, the bill addresses projects to improve the resiliency of federal-aid highways and bridges on and off the National Highway System. Further, the bill prohibits the operation of railroad freight cars in the United States that have been manufactured or assembled by certain foreign countries or that contain sensitive technology from such countries.

Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133d Signal Service Company, known as the Ghost Army , collectively, in recognition of its service during World War II.

Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2019 or the RPM Act of 2019 [ sic ] This bill authorizes the modification of a vehicle's air emission controls for vehicles that are not legal for operation on a street or highway and are used solely for competition.

This bill moves portions of four counties encompassing the Fort Bragg Military Reservation and Camp Mackall from the Middle District to the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Requiring Every Alien Receive a COVID-19 Test Act or the REACT Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to administer a COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) test and receive a negative result before releasing an alien in certain instances. Specifically, DHS must receive a negative test result before an inadmissible alien may be released from custody or placed in an alternative to detention program, if that release or placement takes place within 30 days of that alien's entry into the United States.