Rep. Norma J. Torres

Myles Edward Scott Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with relevant federal agencies, to study and report on state regulations that govern the manufacture and sale of nitrous oxide (commonly referred to as laughing gas). The report must include recommendations for related federal requirements to protect human health and safety. Nitrous oxide is a federally regulated substance that is sometimes used as a recreational drug.

John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act This bill prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or religion in the provision of child welfare programs and services by entities receiving federal funding. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must provide technical assistance to help states follow this requirement, including (1) guidance for bringing state laws into compliance, (2) developing training to increase cultural competency related to social identity, and (3) training for judges and attorneys involved in child welfare cases, among other supports. Additionally, HHS must establish the National Resource Center on Safety, Well-Being, Placement Stability, and Permanency for LGBTQ Children and Youth Involved with Child Welfare Services to provide training, technical assistance, and guidance to applicable state and local agencies and service providers. Further, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act may not be the basis for challenging the application or enforcement of this bill. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on states' compliance with the requirements of the bill no later than three years after enactment.

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.

Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness Act or the MOMMA's Act This bill establishes various programs and requirements to reduce maternal mortality. It also increases federal tobacco taxes and equalizes the tax treatment of different tobacco products. Specifically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must provide technical assistance and best practices for collecting data, standardizing reporting, and preventing maternal mortality. The CDC must consult with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) on this assistance. The bill also provides statutory authority for CDC grants for state-based collaboratives to improve care immediately before and after birth and to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, and a HRSA program to improve the quality and safety of maternity care. Furthermore, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish regional centers through health professional schools and training programs to educate health care providers about implicit bias and culturally competent care. In addition, the bill expands eligibility for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other benefits for pregnant and postpartum individuals. Specifically, it extends postpartum eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP for one year; provides coverage for oral health services for pregnant and postpartum individuals under Medicaid and CHIP; and extends postpartum eligibility for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children for two years. HHS must also take steps to publicize the benefits available to pregnant and postpartum individuals under Medicaid and CHIP, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must provide guidance on Medicaid coverage for doula services.

Smart Cities and Communities Act of 2021 This bill establishes programs for the implementation and use of smart technologies and systems in communities of various sizes. A smart city or community is one in which innovative, advanced, and trustworthy information, communication, and energy technologies are applied to (1) improve the health and quality of life of residents; (2) increase efficiency of operations and services; (3) promote economic growth; and (4) create a community that is safer and more secure, equitable, sustainable, resilient, livable, and workable. The Department of Commerce shall establish a regional demonstration grant program focused on facilitating adoption, and allowing measurement and validation of performance, of advanced smart city or community technologies and systems in a variety of communities, including small- and medium-sized cities and rural and tribal communities. Commerce shall also convene a Cybersecurity Working Group to develop tools for evaluating the cybersecurity of smart city or community technologies. The Department of Labor shall establish the TechHire Workforce Training and Development Pilot Program to furnish competitive grants for technology-based job training and education programs that provide an industry-recognized certificate or certification. The Department of Energy (DOE) shall implement a pilot program to improve the access of cities and communities to the expertise and infrastructure of the national laboratories to promote smart city technologies. DOE shall also expand its Technologist in Residence pilot program to include partnerships between national laboratories and cities or communities respecting research and development related to smart cities or communities. The bill requires strong federal encouragement and support for private sector-led standards-related activities. The bill requires the establishment of a strategic international smart cities and communities trade program.

This resolution censures Representative Jody Hice for certain statements he made regarding the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

This resolution censures Representative Paul Gosar for certain statements he made regarding the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

This resolution censures Representative Andrew Clyde for certain statements he made regarding the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act This bill revises the requirements for the verification of prescriptions related to the purchase of contact lenses. Specifically, online sellers of prescription contact lenses must provide consumers with a method to transmit a digital copy of their prescriptions to such sellers. Online sellers also must encrypt protected health information they send by email. Additionally, the bill prohibits any seller of prescription contact lenses from using telephone calls with an artificial or prerecorded voice (i.e., robocalls) to verify a consumer's prescription.

Build Up the Suburbs Act or the BUS Act This bill modifies programs that support public transportation projects, with a particular focus on fixed-guideway transportation systems (e.g., light rail and bus rapid transit). Specifically, the bill expands eligibility for certain grants that support the construction and expansion of such systems. In particular, it increases the cap on federal assistance for Small Starts projects (funded through Capital Investment Grants) from $100 million to $360 million and the total estimated net capital cost from $300 million to $600 million. It also includes express lane transit systems within the scope of fixed guideways. Further, the Department of Transportation must give priority in selecting Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects to those that include public transportation components.