Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand

National Commission on the COVID-19 Pandemic Act This bill temporarily establishes the National Commission on the COVID-19 Pandemic in the legislative branch to investigate the facts and circumstances regarding the emergence of, spread of, and response to COVID-19. The commission terminates 90 days after it submits a final report of its findings and recommendations.

Foreign and Domestic Emoluments Enforcement Ac t This bill establishes statutory prohibitions, investigatory mechanisms, and enforcement provisions regarding the receipt from a foreign or domestic government of profits, gains, advantages, or payments (i.e., emoluments) by U.S. officeholders. Specifically, the bill prohibits any U.S. officeholder from accepting, directly or indirectly, emoluments from a foreign government without consent of Congress. The prohibition is enforceable through a civil action filed by the House of Representatives or Senate. Additionally, the bill prohibits the President from accepting emoluments from a domestic government other than compensation for his or her services as President. Both foreign and domestic emolument prohibitions are enforceable through administrative fines and civil actions by the Office of Government Ethics. The Office of Special Counsel must investigate violations of the bill.

Onward to Opportunity Act This bill requires the Department of Defense to implement a pilot program to provide grants for eligible entities to supplement the Transition Assistance Program by providing job opportunities for industry-recognized certifications, job placement assistance, and related employment services. Eligible entities are those that (1) follow a job training and placement model; (2) have a well-developed and rigorous practice of program measurement and evaluation; (3) have established partnerships with entities to provide the necessary services; and (4) have online training capability to reach rural veterans, reduce costs, and comply with new conditions forced by COVID-19. The program must be implemented at five military installations in the United States with successful economic opportunity program models.

John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices may take effect. Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights. The bill also includes provisions related to federally protected activities at polling places and voting access on tribal lands. A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 25 years; or 10 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years, at least 1 of which was committed by the state itself. A political subdivision as a separate unit shall also be subject to preclearance for a 10-year period if three or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years. States and political subdivisions that meet certain thresholds regarding minority groups must preclear covered practices before implementation, such as changes to methods of election and redistricting. Further, states and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices. Next, the bill authorizes DOJ to require states or political subdivisions to provide certain documents or answers to questions for enforcing voting rights. The bill also outlines factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision. In addition, the bill (1) includes certain protections for election workers, polling places, and election infrastructure; and (2) expands voting access on tribal lands.

Arm Taiwan Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish the Taiwan Security Assistance Initiative to accelerate Taiwan's deployment of asymmetric defense capabilities to the level required to deter or defeat an invasion by China. From FY2023 through FY2027, the bill requires DOD to use appropriations provided for the initiative to provide assistance to accelerate Taiwan's asymmetric defense capabilities so that Taiwan, with limited initial U.S. Armed Forces support, is able to (1) delay, degrade, and deny attempts by China's army to enter or transit the Taiwan Strait (and adjoining seas) or seize control of key territory in Taiwan; and (2) prevent China from neutralizing or rendering ineffective Taiwan's government. The bill imposes certain requirements related to such assistance, such as periodic certifications by DOD to Congress that Taiwan's government has committed to (and has made progress toward) spending at least 3% of Taiwan's national gross domestic product on defense on an annual basis by the end of FY2027.

Stop Foreign Interference in Ballot Measures Act This bill prohibits contributions or donations by foreign nationals in connection with state or local ballot initiatives or referenda.

No Time Limit for Justice Act This bill directs the Department of Justice to increase a state's allocation of funds under the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program if, under the laws of the state, child sexual abuse criminal offenses and civil actions authorizing damages for victims of child sexual abuse are not subject to a statute of limitations.

Choose Respect Act This bill designates October 1 as Choose Respect Day and establishes a Choose Respect national media campaign to promote awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence. The bill also requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reimplement their national 2006 Choose Respect initiative. (This initiative was designed to prevent dating violence and encouraged youth ages 11–14 to have healthy relationships.) Finally, the U.S. Postal Service must issue a semipostal stamp (a stamp sold at a premium to raise funds for causes of national public interest) related to the Choose Respect campaign.

Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2021 This bill provides legal protections for a noncitizen (i.e., an individual referred to as an alien in federal law) who is detained or subject to immigration-related proceedings. The Department of Justice (DOJ), or the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a case involving an unaccompanied child, may appoint or provide counsel at the government's expense to noncitizens in removal proceedings and related appeals. An unaccompanied child must be represented by counsel paid for and appointed by the government at every stage of such proceedings unless the child has obtained counsel at their own expense. If HHS fails to provide counsel to an unaccompanied child, the deadline for filing a motion to reopen a proceeding shall not apply, and the filing of such a motion shall stay the child's removal from the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must provide a complete copy of a noncitizen's immigration file to the noncitizen (or the noncitizen's counsel) within seven days of a notice to appear for an immigration proceeding, and failure to provide the file shall result in a delay in the proceeding. DHS must provide access to counsel for all detained noncitizens. The bill authorizes HHS to enter into contacts or award grants for providing immigration-related legal services to children. The Office of Refugee Resettlement must develop model guidelines for representing noncitizen children in immigration proceedings.

Ban Conflicted Trading at the Fed Act This bill imposes investment restrictions on certain Federal Reserve employees. Specifically, members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and presidents or vice presidents of a Federal Reserve bank are prohibited from (1) purchasing or selling a specified investment, including an investment in a security, a commodity, virtual currency, or a future; or (2) entering into a transaction that creates a net short position in a security. (A short position is an investment strategy employed when an investor anticipates a short term decrease in the investment's price.) Investments held prior to taking office may not be bought or sold, except for approved placement in a blind trust or divestiture during a specified time period. Further, Federal Reserve bank presidents, vice presidents, and directors must make annual and periodic financial and transaction disclosures. Finally, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System must issue rules within 90 days of enactment requiring Federal Reserve board members, presidents, vice presidents, and senior staff (1) to provide 45 days advance notice of investment transactions, and (2) to hold investments for at least 1 year from the date of transaction.