This bill (S 2949) creates a rebuttable presumption that specific geothermal exploration and development activities on federal lands qualify for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), streamlining environmental reviews. It directly affects geothermal developers and federal land managers by exempting qualifying activities - such as converting oil/gas wells to geothermal wells, drilling at existing sites, or placing pipelines in approved corridors - from full NEPA reviews, provided they meet strict conditions (e.g., limited surface disturbance, prior environmental analysis). The bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to define these activities explicitly. This change applies only when developers comply with the specified thresholds and documentation requirements.
Better Enforcement of Grievous Offenses by unNaturalized Emigrants or the BE GONE Act This bill expands, for immigration purposes, the definition of aggravated felony to include sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence. (Under current law, a conviction for an aggravated felony is grounds for deportation and may bar an individual from other immigration-related benefits.)
Great Basin National Heritage Area and Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area Extension Act This bill extends the authority of the Department of the Interior to provide any assistance to the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area in Utah and the Great Basin National Heritage Area (as renamed by this bill) in Utah and Nevada for another 15-year period. The bill renames the Great Basin Heritage Route Partnership as the Great Basin Heritage Area Partnership.
Save Our Forests Act of 2021 This bill directs the Forest Service to fill vacancies in National Forests and Grasslands for Forest Service recreation management and planning staff, including recreation technicians, recreation officers, and natural resource managers. In seeking to fill vacancies, the Forest Service shall prioritize filling vacancies in National Forests and Grasslands that (1) are at high or very high risk of wildfires, and (2) are located in or near the wildland-urban interface. The Forest Service may provide the opportunity for any individual who fills a vacancy to receive training and certification as a Forest Protection Officer.
This resolution requests the President and directs the Department of State to transmit to the House of Representatives, not later than 14 days after the adoption of this resolution, copies of both classified and unclassified documents that refer or relate to certain information on the withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan, including reactions, concerns, or objections expressed by certain allies and partners; any agreement reached with the Taliban related to the evacuation of specified individuals; and numbers of specified individuals in contact with the State Department to request evacuation assistance from Afghanistan, from July 30, 2021, to the present.
Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority Act of 2021 This bill requires congressional approval for a presidential import adjustment due to a national security threat from an import related to military equipment, energy resources, or critical infrastructure essential to national security. Specifically, the bill requires the President to submit a proposal to Congress, which Congress may approve by a joint resolution. Under current law, the President determines whether any adjustment of an import is necessary and must submit to Congress the reasons for any action taken or not taken. The Department of Defense (currently, the Department of Commerce) must investigate the effect of these imports on national security. The bill retroactively applies to any proposed action made four years before enactment of this bill. In general, any rate of duty modification occurring in the time period beginning four years before and ending the day before enactment of this bill must revert to the previous rate unless it receives congressional approval.
Fix Nondisclosure of Influence in Health Research Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to annually report on research misconduct related to foreign influence. The report must address cases of research misconduct identified by the National Institutes of Health, the investigation and enforcement of each case, and other efforts to prevent such misconduct.
Reinforcing American-Made Products Act This bill specifies that the Federal Trade Commission's regulation of the labeling of products as Made in the U.S.A. or Made in America supersedes any conflicting state laws.
This resolution (1) censures Representative Maxine Waters for making certain allegations of misconduct against Border Patrol officials at the Southern border, and (2) calls for her immediate apology and resignation from the House of Representatives.
Terry Technical Correction Act This bill broadens the scope of crack cocaine offenders who are eligible for a retroactive sentencing reduction under the First Step Act of 2018. The First Step Act made the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 retroactive and authorized sentencing reductions for certain crack cocaine offenders convicted and sentenced before the Fair Sentencing Act became effective. Under current law, crack cocaine offenders whose conduct triggered a mandatory minimum sentence are eligible for a retroactive sentencing reduction under the First Step Act. However, in 2021, the Supreme Court held in Terry v. United States that low-level crack cocaine offenders whose conduct did not trigger a mandatory minimum sentence are not eligible for a retroactive sentencing reduction under the First Step Act. This bill extends eligibility for a retroactive sentencing reduction under the First Step Act to all crack cocaine offenders convicted and sentenced before the Fair Sentencing Act became effective, including low-level offenders whose conduct did not trigger a mandatory minimum sentence.
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act This bill prohibits employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for qualified employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. A qualified employee is an employee or applicant who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the position, with specified exceptions. Specifically, the bill declares that it is an unlawful employment practice to fail to make reasonable accommodations to known limitations of such employees unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on an entity's business operation; require a qualified employee affected by such condition to accept an accommodation other than any reasonable accommodation arrived at through an interactive process; deny employment opportunities based on the need of the entity to make such reasonable accommodations to a qualified employee; require such employees to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided; or take adverse action in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against a qualified employee requesting or using such reasonable accommodations. The bill sets forth enforcement procedures and remedies that cover different types of employees in relation to such unlawful employment practices. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must provide examples of reasonable accommodations that shall be provided to affected employees unless the employer can demonstrate that doing so would impose an undue hardship. The bill prohibits state immunity under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution from an action for a violation of this bill.
Protecting Financial Privacy Act of 2021 This bill prohibits a federal agency from creating, implementing, or administering a program that requires financial institutions or individuals to report on the balances of, transactions involving, or transfers into and out of financial accounts. This prohibition does not apply to laws or regulations in effect on September 1, 2021, or to the Bank Secrecy Act (laws that require financial institutions and other entities to report on certain financial transactions to prevent money laundering, the financing of terrorism, and other criminal activity). This prohibition does apply, however, to regulations issued under the Bank Secrecy Act after September 1, 2021.
