This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior, during 2021, from using the COVID-19 pandemic or any issue related to the pandemic as a basis for restricting or limiting outdoor recreational use of land or water administered by the National Park Service.
Armed Forces Transgender Dependent Protection Act This bill expands the policy of the Office of Special Needs within the Department of Defense to address transgender dependents. Specifically, the bill codifies the definition of a medical or educational special need to include gender dysphoria. Under the bill, the policy of the office must prohibit the assignment of a military family with special needs to a permanent duty location where the law restricts medically necessary treatment for a medical or educational special need. A member who is serving at a location when such a law is established may elect to be reassigned.
Vaccine Access Improvement Act of 2021 This bill modifies the excise tax on certain vaccines to (1) automatically impose the tax on vaccines that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adds to the Vaccine Injury Table, and (2) require HHS to notify the Department of the Treasury and Congress when new vaccines are added to the table. (The excise tax funds the National Vaccine Injury Program, which compensates people who have been injured by vaccines listed on the table.)
Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act of 2021 This bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop requirements and incentives to limit the discharge of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into certain waters of the United States. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain the compounds, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing. Within two years, the EPA must publish water quality criteria for each measurable perfluoroalkyl substance, polyfluoroalkyl substance, and class of PFAS. The water quality criteria must determine how much of these substances can be present in water before it is likely to harm human health. Within four years, the EPA must publish a final rule that establishes, for each priority industry category specified in the bill, effluent limitations guidelines and standards for the discharge of each measurable perfluoroalkyl substance, polyfluoroalkyl substance, and class of PFAS. Under the Clean Water Act, effluent limitations restrict the quantities, rates, and concentrations of chemical, physical, biological, and other constituents which are discharged from point sources (e.g., a discernible source such as a pipe) into navigable waters, the ocean, or other specified waters. In addition, the EPA must award grants to owners and operators of publicly owned treatment works for implementing the effluent limitations guidelines and standards.
Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 202 1 This bill addresses provisions related to surface transportation research, development, and deployment programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Among other provisions, the bill reauthorizes through FY2026 DOT highway research and development programs, including highway safety, technology and innovation deployment, training and education, and intelligent transportation systems; sets forth a program to provide awards to institutions of higher education or nonprofit research organizations to establish regional road weather research and development centers; reauthorizes through FY2026 the University Transportation Centers Program, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the public transportation research and development program, the National Cooperative Rail Research Program, the hazardous materials research and development program, and the National Cooperative Freight Transportation Research Program; establishes Centers of Excellence to advance research and development that improves the resilience of regions of the United States to natural disasters, extreme weather, and the effects of climate change on modal and multimodal transportation and infrastructure; directs DOT to carry out and publish the results of a study for the purpose of informing land use and transportation planning for accessible health, food, education, and other essential services and activities; and requires DOT to establish a multimodal national cooperative freight transportation research program, a Heavy Freight Automated Trucking Research Initiative, and an Advanced Transportation Research and Innovation Program.
LymeX Authorization Act This bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out prize competitions to accelerate innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by ticks that can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.
Adopt the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation model Act or the Adopt GREET Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update the methodology used in life-cycle analyses of greenhouse gas emissions that result from the production and use of corn-based ethanol and biodiesel fuel. The EPA must update its methodology within 90 days and every five years thereafter. In the first update, the EPA must adopt the most recent Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation model (commonly referred to as the GREET model) developed by Argonne National Laboratory.
This resolution offers the condolences of the Senate regarding the death of Senator John William Warner and expresses deep appreciation for his outstanding and important service to his country.
This resolution calls on the people of the United States to observe Memorial Day to honor the men and women who died in the pursuit of freedom and peace.
This resolution expresses support for Israel's efforts of self-determination and collective security against external forces, recognizes Jerusalem as the legitimate capital city of Israel, and condemns actions by Hamas against the people of Israel.
This resolution condemns the rocket attacks by Hamas against Israel beginning the week of May 9, 2021. It also states that the United States must continue to invest in and support Israel's security and sovereignty.
Children Inflicted by Lyme Disabilities Act of 2021 or the CHILD Act of 2021 This bill expands the applicability of certain special education provisions to children with Lyme disease or other tick-borne diseases. (Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. The disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick and, if left untreated, can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.) Specifically, the bill defines child with a disability for purposes of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to include a child who needs special education and related services because the child has a health impairment resulting from Lyme disease or another tick-borne disease.
