Debt Bondage Repair Act This bill prohibits a consumer reporting agency from reporting adverse credit information about a consumer that is the result of severe human trafficking or sex trafficking. A court of competent jurisdiction or a federal or state government entity must determine that the consumer is a victim of trafficking.
Disability Access to Transportation Act This bill expands transportation access for individuals with disabilities. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Transportation to establish a one-stop paratransit pilot program to develop or expand paratransit programs carried out pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) to prevent long wait times between multiple trips that unduly limit an individual's ability to complete essential tasks; issue regulations enforcing guidelines that set forth minimum standards for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way, including shared use paths; implement procedures that allow an individual to submit an ADA complaint by phone, by mail-in form, and online; require each public transit provider and contractor providing paratransit services to post certain information for how an individual can file a disability-related complaint; file yearly reports of accessibility complaints; and create an accessibility data pilot program to assist states and metropolitan or rural planning organizations to improve their transportation planning.
Collaborative Academic Research Efforts for Tourette Syndrome Act of 2021 or the CARE for Tourette Syndrome Act of 2021 This bill requires the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to carry out data collection and expand other research activities on Tourette syndrome. This is a neurological disorder characterized by sudden, repetitive, rapid, and unwanted movements or vocal sounds. Specifically, the NIH must develop a system to collect epidemiological data and information on the availability of medical and social services for individuals with Tourette syndrome and their families. In addition, the NIH must award various grants for research on Tourette syndrome, including to support Collaborative Research Centers for Tourette Syndrome. The NIH must also designate a portion of its funding for Tourette syndrome programs and activities.
Refund Equality Act of 2021 This bill permits legally married same sex couples to amend their tax returns to file as married filing jointly for returns outside of the statute of limitations.
Central American Women and Children Protection Act of 2021 This bill temporarily authorizes the Department of State to enter into bilateral compacts with the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to strengthen criminal justice systems, social supports, and other means to protect women and children from domestic and gender-based violence. At least 15 days before entering a compact, the State Department must submit to Congress a copy of the proposed agreement and related materials. Authority to enter a compact terminates on September 30, 2023, and a compact may last no more than six years. To support the objectives outlined in a compact, the State Department may provide assistance to international organizations, civil society, or other private entities for programs and activities to prevent and respond to domestic and gender-based violence in a compact country. The bill bars the provision of assistance to the government of a compact country as direct budgetary support. The State Department may suspend or terminate the assistance if a compact country or entity receiving the assistance engaged in conduct contrary to U.S. national security interests or inconsistent with the objectives of the compact. The State Department must notify Congress at least 15 days before suspending or terminating assistance. The bill also requires the State Department to annually report on progress made under each compact, including its effect on reported violence against women and children and other domestic and gender-based violence indicators.
Ending the Diagnostic Odyssey Act of 2021 This bill allows state Medicaid programs to cover whole genome sequencing services for certain individuals. Specifically, states may cover such services for individuals under the age of 21 (or a lower age, if the state chooses) and for former foster youth under the age of 26 who (1) have been referred or admitted to an intensive care unit or seen by a medical specialist for a suspected genetic or undiagnosed disease, or (2) are suspected by a medical specialist to have a neonatal- or pediatric-onset genetic disease. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may award grants to assist states in developing plans to cover such services.
Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2021 This bill modifies a program providing special immigrant visas to eligible citizens or nationals of Afghanistan who assisted U.S. efforts there and addresses related issues. The bill extends the program through 2023 and increases the number of visas available. An individual may become eligible for a visa after assisting U.S. efforts in Afghanistan for one year, whereas currently some individuals must have served for two years. Furthermore, for an applicant qualifying for a visa by performing duties with a NATO mission in Afghanistan, the bill eliminates a requirement that the duties performed qualify as sensitive and trusted duties. The bill removes a requirement that the individual has experienced or is facing an ongoing serious threat due to their assistance to the United States or NATO. The Department of State or the Department of Homeland Security may postpone the program's medical examination requirement. An individual who received a postponement must undergo a medical exam within 90 days of admission into the United States. The bill also expands surviving family member benefits for the Afghanistan program (and a similar program for Iraq) to a surviving spouse or child of an individual who submitted an application to the Chief of Mission that would have been approved but for the individual's death. Currently, such survivor benefits only apply if the deceased individual's petition was approved.
This resolution expresses support for the rights, freedoms, and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals. The resolution r ecognizes that LGBTQ rights are human rights and protected by the laws of the United States and international treaties. Additionally, the resolution encourages the celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month in June.
Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 This bill prohibits governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, abortion services. Specifically, governments may not limit a provider's ability to prescribe certain drugs, offer abortion services via telemedicine, or immediately provide abortion services when the provider determines a delay risks the patient's health. Furthermore, governments may not require a provider to perform unnecessary medical procedures, provide medically inaccurate information, comply with credentialing or other conditions that do not apply to providers whose services are medically comparable to abortions, or carry out all services connected to an abortion. In addition, governments may not (1) require patients to make medically unnecessary in-person visits before receiving abortion services or disclose their reasons for obtaining such services, or (2) prohibit abortion services before fetal viability or after fetal viability when a provider determines the pregnancy risks the patient's life or health. The bill also prohibits other governmental measures that are similar to the bill's specified restrictions or that otherwise single out and impede access to abortion services, unless a government demonstrates that the measure significantly advances the safety of abortion services or health of patients and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. The Department of Justice, individuals, or providers may bring a lawsuit to enforce this bill, and states are not immune from suits for violations. The bill applies to restrictions imposed both prior and subsequent to the bill's enactment.
This resolution expresses the Senate's condolences to the people of Afghanistan and the Hazara, an ethnic minority community in Afghanistan. The resolution also condemns all forms of violence against women and girls in Afghanistan and supports U.S. and international efforts to ensure that girls in Afghanistan can safely attend school. (On May 8, 2021, a bomb attack at the Sayed Ul-Shuhada High School in Kabul killed more than 85 people.)
