Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Tax Credit Amendments Act of 2021 This bill extends the carbon oxide sequestration tax credit through 2030. It also permits taxpayers to elect to receive a payment in lieu of the tax credits for carbon oxide sequestration and qualifying advanced coal projects. The bill also makes other modifications to certain carbon sequestration credits, including (1) an allowance of carbon sequestration credits against the base erosion minimum tax, (2) modifications to sequestration requirements for certain qualifying advanced coal project credit equipment, and (3) increasing the sequestration credit value for direct air capture projects.
Pandemic Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Act of 2021 This bill establishes in the legislative branch the Pandemic Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Commission to make recommendations and propose legislation for modification, consolidation, harmonization, or repeal of regulations to reduce compliance costs, encourage growth and innovation, improve competitiveness, and protect public safety. The commission must give priority to regulations (1) the repeal or modification of which may assist recovery or response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic and future pandemics, (2) that impose disproportionately high costs on a small entity, (3) that create substantial recurring paperwork burdens or transaction costs, or (4) that could be made more effective while reducing regulatory costs. The bill sets forth reporting requirements for the commission and procedures for congressional consideration of commission reports, recommendations, and proposed legislation.
This bill increases the penalties for an alien who fails to appear at a removal proceeding and modifies related procedures. Currently, an alien who misses a required removal proceeding shall be ordered removed from the United States if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement proves that the alien had received written notice to appear at the removal proceeding. If an alien in Department of Justice or Department of Homeland Security custody is required to attend a removal proceeding, this bill requires DOJ or DHS to issue such a written notice to the alien before removing or paroling that alien from its custody. Furthermore, under this bill, an alien who fails to attend a required removal proceeding after receiving written notice shall lose any immigration status or benefit the alien may have, absent exceptional circumstances.
This bill directs the Department of State to include additional information in its annual reports concerning Taiwan's participation at the World Health Organization's World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer. The report shall describe changes and improvements to the State Department's plan to support Taiwan's observer status at the WHA, following any meetings at which Taiwan did not participate under such status. (China has opposed Taiwan's participation in the WHA.)
This resolution expresses the sense that the current influx of migrants at the southern land border constitutes a crisis.
Secure and Protect Act of 2021 This bill makes changes to the handling of unaccompanied alien children and asylum applications. The Flores settlement (a court settlement imposing conditions on the treatment of detained alien minors) shall not restrict any activities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall have sole discretion as to detention standards of alien minors. Statutory provisions governing the handling of unaccompanied alien children from U.S.-bordering countries shall now govern all unaccompanied alien children. The bill provides for requirements relating to the handling of such alien children. Certain immigration officer determinations relating to unaccompanied alien children shall be unreviewable. DHS may detain accompanied alien children pending the completion of removal proceedings (some courts have ruled that Flores limits the detention of certain alien children to 20 days). States may not impose licensing requirements for family detention facilities. An unaccompanied alien child shall not be released from custody while immigration or removal proceedings are pending, with some exceptions. The bill limits asylum eligibility to aliens entering the United States at a designated port of entry and provides for additional grounds for asylum ineligibility. A credible fear of persecution is redefined to mean that it is more likely than not that the alien would be able to establish eligibility for asylum. The Department of State shall establish refugee application and processing centers in Mexico and Central America. The bill requires the hiring of additional immigration judges, support staff, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorneys.
No Budget, No Pay Act This bill prohibits Members of Congress from being paid in a fiscal year until both chambers approve the budget resolution and pass all regular appropriations bills for that fiscal year. Retroactive pay is prohibited for such a period.
Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2021 This bill extends through FY2026 authority for debt-for-nature swaps and debt buyback programs that reduce or convert debt obligations from eligible countries to the United States into funding for nature conservation and protection efforts in that country.
This resolution designates March 2021 as National Women's History Month. The resolution also recognizes the celebration of such month as a time to reflect on the contributions that women have made to the United States.
Rural Health Clinic Protection Act This bill applies certain modified payment limits to rural health clinics that temporarily enrolled in Medicare during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 or that applied to enroll by December 31, 2020.
Protecting Seniors Access to Health Care Act This bill modifies funding and eligibility for various benefits and programs, including several established under COVID-19 relief laws. With respect to funding, the bill provides supplemental funding for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to reimburse certain health care providers for expenses or lost revenue attributed to COVID-19; and rescinds certain unobligated funds that were provided to the Department of the Treasury for payments to state, tribal, and territorial governments to mitigate fiscal impacts of COVID-19. The bill also applies certain modified payment limits to certain rural health clinics that enrolled in, or applied to enroll in, Medicare in calendar year 2020. Furthermore, the bill prohibits individuals who were unlawfully present in the United States on March, 11, 2021, from receiving premium subsidies in the event they lose employer-sponsored health insurance due to involuntary termination or a reduction in hours, or direct payments provided to certain taxpayers to mitigate financial hardship during the COVID-19 emergency. The bill also prohibits individuals who were incarcerated on that date from receiving the direct payments.
Safe Step Act This bill requires a group health plan to establish an exception to medication step-therapy protocol in specified cases. A medication step-therapy protocol establishes a specific sequence in which prescription drugs are covered by a group health plan or a health insurance issuer. A request for such an exception to the protocol must be granted if (1) an otherwise required treatment has been ineffective, (2) such treatment is expected to be ineffective and delaying effective treatment would lead to irreversible consequences, (3) such treatment will cause or is likely to cause an adverse reaction to the individual, (4) such treatment is expected to prevent the individual from performing daily activities or occupational responsibilities, (5) the individual is stable based on the prescription drugs already selected, or (6) there are other circumstances as determined by the Employee Benefits Security Administration. The bill requires a group health plan to implement and make readily available a clear process for an individual to request an exception to the protocol, including required information and criteria for granting an exception. The bill further specifies timelines under which plans must respond to such requests.
