Extend Unemployment Assistance Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.5285 | Sponsor: Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria (D-NY)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Extend Unemployment Assistance Act of 2021
This bill extends pandemic unemployment compensation provisions set to expire on September 6, 2021, until February 1, 2022.
Extended provisions include
The bill also increases the maximum duration of compensation from 79 weeks to 100 weeks.

To amend the CARES Act to extend certain unemployment compensation 
                  provisions, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Extend Unemployment Assistance Act 
of 2021''.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 2102(c) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 
9021(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), by striking ``September 6, 
        2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''; and
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs 
        (4) and (5), respectively.
    (b) Increase in Number of Weeks.--Section 2102(c)(2) of such Act 
(15 U.S.C. 9021(c)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``79 weeks'' and inserting ``100 weeks''; 
        and
            (2) by striking ``79-week period'' and inserting ``100-week 
        period''.
    (c) Hold Harmless for Proper Administration.--In the case of an 
individual who is eligible to receive pandemic unemployment assistance 
under section 2102 of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9021) as of the most 
recent week ending on or before September 6 and on the date of 
enactment of this Act becomes eligible for pandemic emergency 
unemployment compensation under section 2107 of the CARES Act (15 
U.S.C. 9025) by reason of the amendments made by this Act, any payment 
of pandemic unemployment assistance under such section 2102 made after 
the date of enactment of this Act to such individual during an 
appropriate period of time, as determined by the Secretary of Labor, 
that should have been made under such section 2107 shall not be 
considered to be an overpayment of assistance under such section 2102, 
except that an individual may not receive payment for assistance under 
section 2102 and a payment for assistance under section 2107 for the 
same week of unemployment.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF FOR GOVERNMENTAL 
              ENTITIES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 903(i)(1)(D) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1103(i)(1)(D)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' 
and inserting ``February 1, 2022''.
    (b) Increase in Reimbursement Rate.--Section 903(i)(1)(B) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1103(i)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 
2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''.

SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF FEDERAL PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 2104(e)(2) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 
9023(e)(2)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting 
``February 1, 2022''.
    (b) Amount.--Section 2104(b)(3)(A)(ii) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
9023(b)(3)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and 
inserting ``February 1, 2022''.

SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF FULL FEDERAL FUNDING OF THE FIRST WEEK OF 
              COMPENSABLE REGULAR UNEMPLOYMENT FOR STATES WITH NO 
              WAITING WEEK.

    Section 2105(e)(2) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9024(e)(2)) is 
amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 
2022''.

SEC. 6. EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY STATE STAFFING FLEXIBILITY.

    Section 9015 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is amended by 
striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''.

SEC. 7. EXTENSION OF PANDEMIC EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 2107(g)(2) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 
9025(g)(2)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting 
``February 1, 2022''.
    (b) Increase in Number of Weeks.--Section 2107(b)(2) of such Act 
(15 U.S.C. 9025(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``53'' and inserting 
``74''.
    (c) Coordination of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation 
With Extended Compensation.--Section 2107(a)(5)(B) of such Act (15 
U.S.C. 9025(a)(5)(B)) is amended by inserting ``or for the week that 
includes the date of enactment of the Extend Unemployment Assistance 
Act of 2021 (without regard to the amendments made by subsections (a) 
and (b) of section 7 of such Act)'' after ``such Act)''.
    (d) Special Rule for Extended Compensation.--Section 2107(a)(8) of 
such Act (15 U.S.C. 9025(a)(8)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 
2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''.

SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY FINANCING OF SHORT-TIME COMPENSATION 
              PAYMENTS IN STATES WITH PROGRAMS IN LAW.

    Section 2108(b)(2) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9026(b)(2)) is 
amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 
2022''.

SEC. 9. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY FINANCING OF SHORT-TIME COMPENSATION 
              AGREEMENTS FOR STATES WITHOUT PROGRAMS IN LAW.

    Section 2109(d)(2) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9027(d)(2)) is 
amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 
2022''.

SEC. 10. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR STATES WITH ADVANCES.

    Section 1202(b)(10)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1322(b)(10)(A)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and 
inserting ``February 1, 2022''.

SEC. 11. EXTENSION OF FULL FEDERAL FUNDING OF EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT 
              COMPENSATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 4105 of the Families First Coronavirus 
Response Act (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by striking ``September 
6, 2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply as if included in the enactment of the Families First Coronavirus 
Response Act (Public Law 116-127).

SEC. 12. ADDITIONAL ENHANCED BENEFITS UNDER THE RAILROAD UNEMPLOYMENT 
              INSURANCE ACT.

    (a) In General.--Section 2(a)(5)(A) of the Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 352(a)(5)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``September 6, 
        2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''; and
            (2) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``September 6, 
        2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''.
    (b) Clarification on Authority To Use Funds.--Funds appropriated 
under subparagraph (B) of section 2(a)(5) of the Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 352(a)(5)) shall be available to cover the 
cost of recovery benefits provided under such section 2(a)(5) by reason 
of the amendments made by subsection (a) as well as to cover the cost 
of such benefits provided under such section 2(a)(5) as in effect on 
the day before the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 13. EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS UNDER THE RAILROAD UNEMPLOYMENT 
              INSURANCE ACT.

    (a) In General.--Section 2(c)(2)(D) of the Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 352(c)(2)(D)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i)--
                    (A) in subclause (I), by striking ``330 days'' and 
                inserting ``435 days''; and
                    (B) in subclause (II)--
                            (i) by striking ``33 consecutive 14-day 
                        periods'' and inserting ``44 consecutive 14-day 
                        periods''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``20 consecutive 14-day 
                        periods'' and inserting ``31 consecutive 14-day 
                        periods'';
            (2) in clause (ii)--
                    (A) by striking ``265 days of unemployment'' and 
                inserting ``370 days of unemployment'';
                    (B) by striking ``27 consecutive 14-day periods'' 
                and inserting ``37 consecutive 14-day periods''; and
                    (C) by striking ``20 consecutive 14-day periods'' 
                and inserting ``31 consecutive 14-day periods''; and
            (3) in clause (iii), by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and 
        inserting ``February 1, 2022''.
    (b) Clarification on Authority To Use Funds.--Funds appropriated 
under the first, second, or third sentence of clause (v) of section 
2(c)(2)(D) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act shall be 
available to cover the cost of additional extended unemployment 
benefits provided under such section 2(c)(2)(D) by reason of the 
amendments made by subsection (a) as well as to cover the cost of such 
benefits provided under such section 2(c)(2)(D) as in effect on the day 
before the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 14. EXTENSION OF WAIVER OF THE 7-DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR BENEFITS 
              UNDER THE RAILROAD UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT.

    (a) In General.--Section 2112(a) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 
9030(a)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting 
``February 1, 2022''.
    (b) Clarification on Authority To Use Funds.--Funds appropriated 
under section 2112(c) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9030(c)) shall be 
available to cover the cost of additional benefits payable due to 
section 2112(a) of such Act by reason of the amendments made by 
subsection (a) as well as to cover the cost of such benefits payable 
due to such section 2112(a) as in effect on the day before the date of 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 15. RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD FUNDING.

    In addition to amounts otherwise made available, there are 
appropriated for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not 
otherwise appropriated, $2,000,000, to remain available until expended, 
for the Railroad Retirement Board, for additional hiring and overtime 
bonuses as needed to administer the Railroad Unemployment Insurance 
Act.

SEC. 16. BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

    Each Federal payment made to a State as a result of the amendments 
made by this Act, and any additional benefits paid as a result of such 
amendments, shall be exempt from any sequestration order issued under 
the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

SEC. 17. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except where otherwise provided, the amendments made by this Act 
shall apply as if included in the enactment of the CARES Act (Public 
Law 116-136), except that no amount shall be payable by virtue of such 
amendments with respect to any week of unemployment ending on or before 
September 6, 2021.
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