SRES 451 is a commemorative Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Max Cleland (D-GA), who died November 9, 2021. The resolution recognizes his service as a Vietnam War veteran (losing both legs and an arm in combat), his 50+ years of public service including roles as Georgia State Senator, Secretary of State, U.S. Senator, and Administrator of the Veterans Administration, and his advocacy for veterans. It formally expresses the Senate’s "profound sorrow" and "deep regret" over his death, commemorates his legacy of service to Georgia and veterans, and requests the Secretary of the Senate transmit the resolution to his family. This is a ceremonial resolution with no policy changes or legal effect.
This resolution recognizes the importance, effectiveness, and need for veteran-to-veteran sponsorship programs and encourages the use and practice of such programs within the federal government.
IDEA Full Funding Act This bill provides permanent, mandatory funding for the grant program that assists states and outlying areas in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.
IDEA Full Funding Act This bill provides permanent, mandatory funding for the grant program that assists states and outlying areas in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.
HRES 790 is a symbolic resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for designating November 2021 as "Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or allocate funding but aims to raise public awareness about pancreatic cancer, which has high mortality rates and disproportionately affects communities of color. The resolution highlights the need for increased research funding and early detection initiatives, referencing prior legislative actions that secured $15 million for pancreatic cancer research. It directly supports advocacy efforts to educate the public and encourage further research.
Inflation Transparency for Seniors Act This bill requires the Social Security Administration (SSA) to include information about specified consumer price indexes and their effects on Social Security benefits in account statements. Specifically, the SSA must (1) include the most recent 10-year projections of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, and (2) explain that cost-of-living increases for Social Security benefits are calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.
Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act This bill applies certain military consumer credit protections to all consumers. Specifically, the bill caps the interest rate on extensions of consumer credit at 36%.
This bill removes a temporary expiration date for telehealth coverage in health insurance plans. It amends two sections of the Internal Revenue Code to permanently allow health plans to cover telehealth services without the prior deadline of December 31, 2021. The key change makes existing telehealth coverage rules permanent for health insurance plans under federal tax law. This directly affects health insurance plans that provide telehealth benefits, ensuring they can continue covering these services without needing to renew temporary provisions. The bill does not change what telehealth services are covered, only makes the coverage rules permanent.
Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2021 or the POJA Act of 2021 This bill prohibits employers from limiting, segregating, or classifying job applicants based on an applicant's age. It also requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to study and report on claims received from job applicants involving age discrimination.
HJRES 63 is a joint resolution that would block a specific proposed commercial sale of U.S. weapons to Saudi Arabia. It targets 280 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, 596 missile launchers, and related support equipment, which were submitted to Congress for review under the Arms Export Control Act. The resolution would prohibit the U.S. government from issuing an export license for these items, preventing the sale from moving forward. This directly affects Saudi Arabia's planned acquisition of these weapons through a commercial transaction with U.S. defense companies.
Creating Hope and Opportunity for Individuals and Communities through Education Act or the CHOICE Act This bill expands school choice programs for elementary and secondary school students. Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to support the design and implementation of state programs that allow the parent of a child with a disability to choose the appropriate public or private school for their child. It also outlines the requirements for program eligibility. Further, if the state has established a program that allows parents to use public or private funds to assist with the cost of their child attending a private school, then the state may supplement those funds with federal special education funds. Additionally, the Department of Defense must carry out a five-year pilot program to award scholarships to enable military dependent students who live on military installations to attend the public or private elementary or secondary schools their parents choose. The bill also requires ED to return to the Treasury specified amounts made available for salaries and expenses.
Secure Equipment Act of 2021 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish rules stating that it will no longer review or approve any authorization application for equipment that is on the list of covered communications equipment or services. (Listed communications equipment or services are those that the FCC determines pose an unacceptable risk to national security or the security and safety of U.S. persons.)
