117 S2554 IS: Renters Tax Credit Act of 2021
U.S. Senate
2021-07-29
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II
117th CONGRESS1st Session
S. 2554
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 29, 2021
Mr. Brown (for himself and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a refundable tax credit to taxpayers who provide reductions in rent to their tenants under State rental reduction programs, and for other purposes.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Renters Tax Credit Act of 2021. 2.Renters credit (a)In generalSubpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after section 36B the following new section:

36C.Renters credit
(a)Determination of credit amount
(1)In generalThere shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle for any taxable year an amount equal to the sum of the amounts determined under paragraph (2) for all qualified buildings with a credit period which includes months occurring during the taxable year. (2)Qualified building amountThe amount determined under this paragraph with respect to any qualified building for any taxable year shall be an amount equal to the lesser of—
(A)the aggregate qualified rental reduction amounts for all eligible units within such building for months occurring during the taxable year which are within the credit period for such building, or (B)the rental reduction credit amount allocated to such building for such months.
(3)Qualified buildingFor purposes of this section— (A)In generalThe term qualified building means any building which is residential rental property (as defined in section 168(e)(2)(A)) of the taxpayer with respect to which—
(i)a rental reduction credit amount has been allocated by a rental reduction credit agency of a State, and (ii)a qualified rental reduction agreement is in effect.
(B)Building not disqualified by other assistanceA building shall not fail to be treated as a qualified building merely because— (i)a credit was allowed under section 42 with respect to such building or there was any other Federal assistance in the construction or rehabilitation of such building,
(ii)the rehabilitation credit determined under section 47 was allowed under section 38 with respect to such building, or (iii)Federal rental assistance was provided for such building during any period preceding the credit period.
(b)Qualified rental reduction amountFor purposes of this section— (1)In generalThe term qualified rental reduction amount means, with respect to any eligible unit for any month, an amount equal to the applicable percentage (as determined under subsection (e)(1)) of the excess of—
(A)the applicable rent for such unit, over (B)the family rental payment required for such unit.
(2)Applicable rent
(A)In generalThe term applicable rent means, with respect to any eligible unit for any month, the lesser of— (i)the amount of rent which would be charged for a substantially similar unit with the same number of bedrooms in the same building which is not an eligible unit, or
(ii)an amount equal to the market rent standard for such unit. (B)Market rent standard (i)In generalThe market rent standard with respect to any eligible unit is—
(I)the small area fair market rent determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for units with the same number of bedrooms in the same zip code tabulation area, or (II)if there is no rent described in subclause (I) for such area, the fair market rent determined by such Secretary for units with the same number of bedrooms in the same county.
(ii)State optionA State may in its rental reduction allocation plan provide that the market rent standard for all (or any part) of a zip code tabulation area or county within the State shall be equal to a percentage (not less than 75 nor more than 125) of the amount determined under clause (i) (after application of clause (iii)) for such area or county. (iii)Minimum amountNotwithstanding clause (i), the market rent standard with respect to any eligible unit for any year in the credit period after the first year in the credit period for such unit shall not be less than the market rent standard determined for such first year.
(3)Family rental payment requirements
(A)In generalEach qualified rental reduction agreement with respect to any qualified building shall require that the family rental payment for an eligible unit within such building for any month shall be equal to the lesser of— (i)30 percent of the monthly family income of the residents of the unit (as determined under subsection (e)(5)), or
(ii)the applicable rent for such unit. (B)Utility costsAny utility allowance (determined by the Secretary in the same manner as under section 42(g)(2)(B)(ii)) paid by residents of an eligible unit shall be taken into account as rent in determining the family rental payment for such unit for purposes of this paragraph.
(c)Rental reduction credit amountFor purposes of this section— (1)Determination of amount (A)In generalThe term rental reduction credit amount means, with respect to any qualified building, the dollar amount which is allocated to such building (and to eligible units within such building) under this subsection. Such dollar amount shall be allocated to months in the credit period with respect to such building (and such units) on the basis of the estimates described in paragraph (2)(B).
(B)Allocation on project basisIn the case of a project which includes (or will include) more than 1 building, the rental reduction credit amount shall be the dollar amount which is allocated to such project for all buildings included in such project. Subject to the limitation under subsection (e)(3)(B), such amount shall be allocated among such buildings in the manner specified by the taxpayer unless the qualified rental reduction agreement with respect to such project provides for such allocation. (2)State allocation (A)In generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (C), each rental reduction credit agency of a State shall each calendar year allocate its portion of the State rental reduction credit ceiling to qualified buildings (and to eligible units within each such building) in accordance with the State rental reduction allocation plan.
(B)Allocations to each buildingThe rental reduction credit amount allocated to any qualified building shall not exceed the aggregate qualified rental reduction amounts which such agency estimates will occur over the credit period for eligible units within such building, based on reasonable estimates of rents, family incomes, and vacancies in accordance with procedures established by the State as part of its State rental reduction allocation plan. (C)Specific allocations (i)Nonprofit organizationsAt least 25 percent of the State rental reduction credit ceiling for any State for any calendar year shall be allocated to qualified buildings in which a qualified nonprofit organization (as defined in section 42(h)(5)(C)) owns (directly or through a partnership) an interest and materially participates (within the meaning of section 469(h)) in the operation of the building throughout the credit period. A State may waive or lower the requirement under this clause for any calendar year if it determines that meeting such requirement is not feasible.
(ii)Rural areas
(I)In generalThe State rental reduction credit ceiling for any State for any calendar year shall be allocated to buildings in rural areas (as defined in section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949) in an amount which, as determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, bears the same ratio to such ceiling as the number of extremely low-income households with severe rent burdens in such rural areas bears to the total number of such households in the State. (II)Alternative 5-year testing periodIn the case of the 5-calendar year period beginning in 2021, a State shall not be treated as failing to meet the requirements of subclause (I) for any calendar year in such period if, as determined by the Secretary, the average annual amount allocated to such rural areas during such period meets such requirements.
(3)Application of allocated credit amount
(A) Amount available to taxpayer for all months in credit periodAny rental reduction credit amount allocated to any qualified building out of the State rental reduction credit ceiling for any calendar year shall apply to such building for all months in the credit period ending during or after such calendar year.  (B)Ceiling for allocation year reduced by entire credit amountAny rental reduction credit amount allocated to any qualified building out of an allocating agency's State rental reduction credit ceiling for any calendar year shall reduce such ceiling for such calendar year by the entire amount so allocated for all months in the credit period (as determined on the basis of the estimates under paragraph (2)(B)) and no reduction shall be made in such agency's State rental reduction credit ceiling for any subsequent calendar year by reason of such allocation.
(4)State rental reduction credit ceiling
(A)In generalThe State rental reduction credit ceiling applicable to any State for any calendar year shall be an amount equal to the sum of— (i)the greater of—
(I)the per capita dollar amount multiplied by the State population, or (II)the minimum ceiling amount, plus
(ii)the amount of the State rental reduction credit ceiling returned in the calendar year. (B)Return of State ceiling amountsFor purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), except as provided in subsection (d)(2), the amount of the State rental reduction credit ceiling returned in a calendar year equals the amount of the rental reduction credit amount allocated to any building which, after the close of the calendar year for which the allocation is made—
(i)is canceled by mutual consent of the rental reduction credit agency and the taxpayer because the estimates made under paragraph (2)(B) were substantially incorrect, or (ii)is canceled by the rental reduction credit agency because the taxpayer violates the qualified rental reduction agreement and, under the terms of the agreement, the rental reduction credit agency is authorized to cancel all (or any portion) of the allocation by reason of the violation.
(C)Per capita dollar amount; minimum ceiling amountFor purposes of this paragraph— (i)Per capita dollar amountThe per capita dollar amount is—
(I)for calendar year 2021, $12.30, (II)for calendar year 2022, $24.50, and
(III)for calendar years 2023 and thereafter, $36.75. (ii)Minimum ceiling amountThe minimum ceiling amount is—
(I)for calendar year 2021, $14,000,000, (II)for calendar year 2022, $28,000,000, and
(III)for calendar years 2023 and thereafter, $42,000,000. (iii)Cost-of-living adjustmentIn the case of a calendar year beginning after 2023, the $36.75 and $42,000,000 amounts in clauses (i)(III) and (ii)(III) shall each be increased by an amount equal to—
(I)such dollar amount, multiplied by  (II)the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for such calendar year by substituting calendar year 2022 for calendar year 2016 in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.In the case of the $42,000,000 amount, any increase under this clause which is not a multiple of $5,000 shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $5,000 and in the case of the $36.75 amount, any increase under this clause which is not a multiple of 5 cents shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of 5 cents.
(D)PopulationFor purposes of this paragraph, population shall be determined in accordance with section 146(j). (E)Unused rental reduction credit allocated among certain States (i)In generalThe unused rental reduction credit of a State for any calendar year shall be assigned to the Secretary for allocation among qualified States for the succeeding calendar year.
(ii)Unused rental reduction creditFor purposes of this subparagraph, the unused rental reduction credit of a State for any calendar year is the excess (if any) of— (I)the State rental reduction credit ceiling for the year preceding such year, over
(II)the aggregate rental reduction credit amounts allocated for such year. (iii)Formula for allocation of unused credit among qualified StatesThe amount allocated under this subparagraph to a qualified State for any calendar year shall be the amount determined by the Secretary to bear the same ratio to the aggregate unused rental reduction credits of all States for the preceding calendar year as such State's population for the calendar year bears to the population of all qualified States for the calendar year. For purposes of the preceding sentence, population shall be determined in accordance with section 146(j).
(iv)Qualified StateFor purposes of this subparagraph, the term qualified State means, with respect to a calendar year, any State— (I)which allocated its entire State rental reduction credit ceiling for the preceding calendar year, and
(II)for which a request is made (at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe) to receive an allocation under clause (iii). (5)Other definitionsFor purposes of this section—
(A)Rental reduction credit agencyThe term rental reduction credit agency means any agency authorized by a State to carry out this section. Such authorization shall include the jurisdictions within the State where the agency may allocate rental reduction credit amounts. (B)Possessions treated as StatesThe term State includes a possession of the United States.
(C)FamilyThe term family has the same meaning as when used in the United States Housing Act of 1937. (d)Modifications To correct inaccurate amounts due to incorrect estimates (1)Establishment of reserves (A)In generalEach rental reduction credit agency of a State shall establish a reserve for the transfer and reallocation of amounts pursuant to this paragraph, and notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the rental reduction credit amount allocated to any building by such agency shall be zero unless such agency has in effect such a reserve at the time of the allocation of such credit amount.
(B)Transfers to reserve
(i)In generalIf, for any taxable year, a taxpayer would (but for this subparagraph) not be able to use the entire rental reduction credit amount allocated to a qualified building by a rental reduction credit agency of a State for the taxable year because of a rental reduction shortfall, then the taxpayer shall for the taxable year transfer to the reserve established by such agency under subparagraph (A) an amount equal to such rental reduction shortfall. (ii)Rental reduction shortfallFor purposes of this subparagraph, the rental reduction shortfall for any qualified building for any taxable year is the amount by which the aggregate amount of the excesses determined under subsection (b)(1) for all eligible units within such building are less than such aggregate amount estimated under subsection (c)(2)(B) for the taxable year.
(iii)Treatment of transferred amountFor purposes of subsection (a)(2)(A), the aggregate qualified rental reduction amounts for all eligible units within a qualified building with respect to which clause (i) applies for any taxable year shall be increased by an amount equal to the applicable percentage (determined under subsection (e)(1) for the building) of the amount of the transfer to the reserve under clause (i) with respect to such building for such taxable year. (C)Reallocation of amounts transferred (i)In generalIf, for any taxable year—
(I)the aggregate qualified rental reduction amounts for all eligible units within a qualified building for the taxable year exceed (II)the rental reduction credit amount allocated to such building by a rental reduction credit agency of a State for the taxable year (determined after any increase under paragraph (2)),the rental reduction credit agency shall, upon application of the taxpayer, pay to the taxpayer from the reserve established by such agency under subparagraph (A) the amount which, when multiplied by the applicable percentage (determined under subsection (e)(1) for the building), equals such excess. If the amount in the reserve is less than the amounts requested by all taxpayers for taxable years ending within the same calendar year, the agency shall ratably reduce the amount of each payment otherwise required to be made.
(ii)Excess reserve amountsIf a rental reduction credit agency of a State determines that the balance in its reserve is in excess of the amounts reasonably needed over the following 5 calendar years to make payments under clause (i), the agency may withdraw such excess but only to— (I)reduce the rental payments of eligible tenants in a qualified building in units other than eligible units, or of eligible tenants in units in a building other than a qualified building, to amounts no higher than the sum of rental payments required for eligible tenants in qualified buildings under subsection (b)(3) and any rental charges to such tenants in excess of the market rent standard; or
(II)address maintenance and repair needs in qualified buildings that cannot reasonably be met using other resources available to the owners of such buildings. (D)AdministrationEach rental reduction credit agency of a State shall establish procedures for the timing and manner of transfers and payments made under this paragraph.
(E)Special rule for projectsIn the case of a rental reduction credit allocated to a project consisting of more than 1 qualified building, a taxpayer may elect to have this paragraph apply as if all such buildings were 1 qualified building if the applicable percentage for each such building is the same. (F)Alternative methods of transfer and reallocationUpon request to, and approval by, the Secretary, a State may establish an alternative method for the transfer and reallocation of amounts otherwise required to be transferred to, and allocated from, a reserve under this paragraph. Any State adopting an alternative method under this subparagraph shall, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary prescribes, provide to the Secretary and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development detailed reports on the operation of such method, including providing such information as such Secretaries may require.
(2)Allocation of returned State ceiling amountsIn the case of any rental reduction credit amount allocated to a qualified building which is canceled as provided in subsection (c)(4)(B)(i), the rental reduction credit agency may, in lieu of treating such allocation as a returned credit amount under subsection (c)(4)(A)(ii), elect to allocate, upon the request of the taxpayer, such amount to any other qualified building for which the credit amount allocated in any preceding calendar year was too small because the estimates made under subsection (c)(2)(B) were substantially incorrect. (3)Renting to noneligible tenantsIf, after the application of paragraphs (1)(C) (or any similar reallocation under paragraph (1)(F)) and (2), a rental reduction credit agency of a State determines that, because of the incorrect estimates under subsection (c)(2)(B), the aggregate qualified rental reduction amounts for all eligible units within a qualified building will (on an ongoing basis) exceed the rental reduction credit amount allocated to such building, a taxpayer may elect, subject to subsection (g)(2) and only to the extent necessary to eliminate such excess, rent vacant eligible units without regard to the requirements that such units be rented only to eligible tenants and at the rental rate determined under subsection (b)(3).
(e)Terms relating to rental reduction credit and requirementsFor purposes of this section— (1)Applicable percentage (A)In generalThe term applicable percentage means, with respect to any qualified building, the percentage (not greater than 110 percent) set by the rental reduction credit agency at the time it allocates the rental reduction dollar amount to such building.
(B)Higher percentage for high-opportunity areasThe rental reduction credit agency may set a percentage under subparagraph (A) up to 120 percent for any qualified building which—  (i)targets its eligible units for rental to families with children, and
(ii)is located in a neighborhood which has a poverty rate of no more than 10 percent.  (2)Credit period (A)In generalThe term credit period means, with respect to any qualified building, the 15-year period beginning with the first month for which the qualified rental reduction agreement is in effect with respect to such building.
(B)State option to reduce periodA rental reduction credit agency may provide a credit period for any qualified building which is less than 15 years.  (3)Eligible unit (A)In generalThe term eligible unit means, with respect to any qualified building, a unit—
(i)which is occupied by an eligible tenant, (ii)the rent of which for any month equals 30 percent of the monthly family income of the residents of such unit (as determined under paragraph (5)),
(iii)with respect to which the tenant is not concurrently receiving rental assistance under any other Federal program, and (iv)which is certified to the rental reduction credit agency as an eligible unit for purposes of this section and the qualified rental reduction agreement.Notwithstanding clause (iii), a State may provide in its State rental reduction allocation plan that an eligible unit shall also not include a unit with respect to which any resident is receiving rental assistance under a State or local program.
(B)Limitation on number of units
(i)In generalThe number of units which may be certified as eligible units with respect to any qualified building under subparagraph (A)(iv) at any time shall not exceed the greater of— (I)40 percent of the total units in such building, or
(II)25 units.In the case of an allocation to a project under subsection (c)(1)(B), the limitation under the preceding sentence shall be applied on a project basis and the certification of such eligible units shall be allocated to each building in the project, except that if buildings in such project are on non-contiguous tracts of land, buildings on each such tract shall be treated as a separate project for purposes of applying this sentence. (ii)Buildings receiving previous Federal rental assistanceIf, at any time prior to the entering into of a qualified rental reduction agreement with respect to a qualified building, tenants in units within such building had been receiving project-based rental assistance under any other Federal program, then, notwithstanding clause (i), the maximum number of units which may be certified as eligible units with respect to the building under subparagraph (A)(iv) shall not be less than the sum of—
(I)the maximum number of units in the building previously receiving such assistance at any time before the agreement takes effect, plus (II)the amount determined under clause (i) without taking into account the units described in subclause (I).
(4)Eligible tenant
(A)In generalThe term eligible tenant means any individual if the individual's family income does not exceed the greater of— (i)30 percent of the area median gross income (as determined under section 42(g)(1)), or
(ii)the applicable poverty line for a family of the size involved. (B)Treatment of individuals whose incomes rise above limit (i)In generalNotwithstanding an increase in the family income of residents of a unit above the income limitation applicable under subparagraph (A), such residents shall continue to be treated as eligible tenants if the family income of such residents initially met such income limitation and such unit continues to be certified as an eligible unit under this section.
(ii)No rental reduction for at least 2 yearsA qualified rental reduction agreement with respect to a qualified building shall provide that if, by reason of an increase in family income described in clause (i), there is no qualified rental reduction amount with respect to the dwelling unit for 2 consecutive years, the taxpayer shall rent the next available unit to an eligible tenant (without regard to whether such unit is an eligible unit under this section). (C)Applicable poverty lineThe term applicable poverty line means the most recently published poverty line (within the meaning of section 2110(c)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397jj(c)(5))) as of the time of the determination as to whether an individual is an eligible tenant.
(5)Family income
(A)In generalFamily income shall be determined in the same manner as under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937. (B)Time for determining income (i)In generalExcept as provided in this subparagraph, family income shall be determined at least annually on the basis of income for the preceding calendar year.
(ii)Families on fixed incomeIf at least 90 percent of the family income of the residents of a unit at the time of any determination under clause (i) is derived from payments under title II or XVI of the Social Security Act (or any similar fixed income amounts specified by the Secretary), the taxpayer may elect to treat such payments (or amounts) as the family income of such residents for the year of the determination and the 2 succeeding years, except that the taxpayer shall, in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe, adjust such amount for increases in the cost of living. (iii)Initial incomeThe Secretary may allow a State to provide that the family income of residents at the time such residents first rent a unit in a qualified building may be determined on the basis of current or anticipated income.
(iv)Special rules where family income is reduced If residents of a unit establish (in such manner as the rental reduction credit agency provides) that their family income has been reduced by at least 10 percent below such income for the determination year— (I)such residents may elect, at such time and in such manner as such agency may prescribe, to have their family income redetermined, and
(II)clause (ii) shall not apply to any of the 2 succeeding years described in such clause which are specified in the election. (f)State rental reduction allocation plan (1)Adoption of plan required (A)In generalFor purposes of this section—
(i)each State shall, before the allocation of its State rental reduction credit ceiling, establish and have in effect a State rental reduction allocation plan, and (ii)notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the rental reduction credit amount allocated to any building shall be zero unless such amount was allocated pursuant to a State rental reduction allocation plan.Such plan shall only be adopted after such plan is made public and at least 60 days has been allowed for public comment.
(B)State rental reduction allocation planFor purposes of this section, the term State rental reduction allocation plan means, with respect to any State, any plan of the State meeting the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3). (2)General plan requirementsA plan shall meet the requirements of this paragraph only if—
(A)the plan sets forth the criteria and priorities which a rental reduction credit agency of the State shall use in allocating the State rental reduction credit ceiling to eligible units within a building, (B)the plan provides that no credit allocation shall be made which is not in accordance with the criteria and priorities set forth under subparagraph (A) unless such agency provides a written explanation to the general public for any credit allocation which is not so made and the reasons why such allocation is necessary, and
(C)the plan provides that such agency is required to prioritize the renewal of existing credit allocations at the time of the expiration of the qualified rental reduction agreement with respect to the allocation, including, where appropriate, a commitment within a qualified rental reduction agreement that the credit allocation will be renewed if the terms of the agreement have been met and sufficient new credit authority is available. (3)Specific requirementsA plan shall meet the requirements of this paragraph only if—
(A)the plan provides methods for determining— (i)the amount of rent which would be charged for a substantially similar unit in the same building which is not an eligible unit for purposes of subsection (b)(2)(A)(i), including whether such determination may be made by self-certification or by undertaking rent reasonableness assessments similar to assessments required under section 8(o)(10) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(10)),
(ii)the qualified rental reduction amounts under subsection (c)(2)(B), and (iii)the applicable percentage under subsection (e)(1),
(B)the plan provides a procedure that the rental reduction credit agency (or an agent or other private contractor of such agency) will follow in monitoring for— (i)noncompliance with the provisions of this section and the qualified rental reduction agreement and in notifying the Internal Revenue Service of any such noncompliance of which such agency becomes aware, and
(ii)noncompliance with habitability standards through regular site visits, (C)the plan requires a person receiving a credit allocation to report to the rental reduction credit agency such information as is necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this section and the qualified rental reduction agreement, and
(D)the plan provides methods by which any excess reserve amounts which become available under subsection (d)(1)(C)(ii) will be used to reduce rental payments of eligible tenants or to address maintenance and repair needs in qualified buildings, including how such assistance will be allocated among eligible tenants and qualified buildings. (g)Qualified rental reduction agreementFor purposes of this section—
(1)In generalThe term qualified rental reduction agreement means, with respect to any building which is residential rental property (as defined in section 168(e)(2)(A)), a written, binding agreement between a rental reduction credit agency and the taxpayer which specifies— (A)the number of eligible units within such building for which a rental reduction credit amount is being allocated,
(B)the credit period for such building, (C)the rental reduction credit amount allocated to such building (and dwelling units within such building) and the portion of such amount allocated to each month within the credit period under subsection (c)(2)(B),
(D)the applicable percentage to be used in computing the qualified rental reduction amounts with respect to the building, (E)the method for determining the amount of rent which may be charged for eligible units within the building, and
(F) whether— (i)the agency commits to entering into a new agreement with the taxpayer if the terms of the agreement have been met and sufficient new credit authority is available for such new agreement, and
(ii)the taxpayer is required to accept such new agreement.  (2)Tenant protectionsA qualified rental reduction agreement shall provide the following:
(A)Non-displacement of non-eligible tenantsA taxpayer receiving a rental reduction credit amount may not refuse to renew the lease of or evict (other than for good cause) a tenant of a unit who is not an eligible tenant at any time during the credit period and such unit shall not be treated as an eligible unit while such tenant resides there. (B)Only good cause evictions of eligible tenantsA taxpayer receiving a rental reduction credit amount may not refuse to renew the lease of or evict (other than for good cause) an eligible tenant of an eligible unit.
(C)MobilityA taxpayer receiving a rental reduction credit amount shall— (i)give priority to rent any available unit of suitable size to tenants who are eligible tenants who are moving from another qualified building where such tenants had lived at least 1 year and were in good standing, and
(ii)inform eligible tenants within the building of their right to move after 1 year and provide a list maintained by the State of qualified buildings where such tenants might move. (iii)Fair housing and civil rightsIf a taxpayer receives a rental reduction credit amount—
(I)such taxpayer shall comply with the Fair Housing Act with respect to the building, and (II)the receipt of such amount shall be treated as the receipt of Federal financial assistance for purposes of applying any Federal civil rights laws.
(iv)Admissions preferencesA taxpayer receiving a rental reduction credit amount shall comply with any admissions preferences established by the State for tenants within particular demographic groups eligible for health or social services. (3)Compliance requirementsA qualified rental reduction agreement shall provide that a taxpayer receiving a rental reduction credit amount shall comply with all reporting and other procedures established by the State to ensure compliance with this section and such agreement.
(4)ProjectsIn the case of a rental reduction credit allocated to a project consisting of more than 1 building, the rental reduction credit agency may provide for a single qualified rental reduction agreement which applies to all buildings which are part of such project. (h)Certifications and other reports to Secretary (1)Certification with respect to 1st year of credit periodFollowing the close of the 1st taxable year in the credit period with respect to any qualified building, the taxpayer shall certify to the Secretary (at such time and in such form and in such manner as the Secretary prescribes)—
(A)the information described in subsection (g)(1) required to be contained in the qualified rental reduction agreement with respect to the building, and (B)such other information as the Secretary may require.In the case of a failure to make the certification required by the preceding sentence on the date prescribed therefor, unless it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, no credit shall be allowable by reason of subsection (a) with respect to such building for any taxable year ending before such certification is made.
(2)Annual reports to the SecretaryThe Secretary may require taxpayers to submit an information return (at such time and in such form and manner as the Secretary prescribes) for each taxable year setting forth— (A)the information described in paragraph (1)(A) for the taxable year, and
(B)such other information as the Secretary may require.The penalty under section 6652(j) shall apply to any failure to submit the return required by the Secretary under the preceding sentence on the date prescribed therefor. (3)Annual reports from rental reduction credit agency (A)ReportsEach rental reduction credit agency which allocates any rental reduction credit amount to 1 or more buildings for any calendar year shall submit to the Secretary (at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe) an annual report specifying—
(i)the amount of rental reduction credit amounts allocated to each such building for such year, (ii)sufficient information to identify each such building and the taxpayer with respect thereto,
(iii)information as to the demographic and income characteristics of eligible tenants of all such buildings to which such amounts were allocated, and (iv)such other information as the Secretary may require.
(B)PenaltyThe penalty under section 6652(j) shall apply to any failure to submit the report required by subparagraph (A) on the date prescribed therefor. (C)Information made publicThe Secretary shall, in consultation with Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, make information reported under this paragraph for each qualified building available to the public annually to the greatest degree possible without disclosing personal information about individual tenants.
(i)Special rule for payments to partnerships and S corporationsFor purposes of this subtitle, in the case of any qualified building directly held by any partnership or S corporation, the payment under section 6433 shall be made in lieu of the credit determined under this section with respect to such building.  (j)Regulations and guidanceThe Secretary shall prescribe such regulations or guidance as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, including—
(1)providing necessary forms and instructions, and (2)providing for proper treatment of projects for which a credit is allowed both under this section and section 42..
(b)Payment to partnerships and S corporations in lieu of credit
(1)In general Subchapter B of chapter 65 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:   6433.Payments in lieu of renters credit for partnerships and S corporations (a)In generalIn the case of any qualified building (as defined in section 36C(a)(3)) directly held by any partnership or S corporation, the Secretary shall pay to such partnership or S corporation for any taxable year an amount equal to the amount of the credit which, but for section 36C(i), would be allowed under section 36C with respect to such building.
(b)Regulatory authorityThe Secretary shall prescribe such regulations, rules, and guidance as may be necessary to carry out section 36C(i), section 92, and this section, including regulations, rules, and guidance providing for— (1)the application of the rules under section 36C with respect to payments under this section in the same manner as such rules apply for purposes of the credit under section 36C,
(2) the time and manner of payments under subsection (a), and (3)the determination of a partner's distributive share, or an S corporation shareholder's pro rata share, of any payment under subsection (a). .
(2)Conforming amendmentThe table of sections for subchapter B of chapter 65 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new item:   Sec. 6433. Payments in lieu of renters credit for partnerships and S corporations.. (c)Credit includible in gross income (1)In generalPart II of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

92.Inclusion in income of renters credit and paymentsGross income includes the amount of the credit allowed to the taxpayer under section 36C for the taxable year and the amount of any payment in lieu of such credit under section 6433.. (2)Income disregarded for alternative minimum taxable incomeSection 56(a) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following:

(8)Section 92 not applicableSection 92 (relating to inclusion in income of renters credit) shall not apply.. (3)Conforming amendmentThe table of sections for part II of subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

Sec. 92. Inclusion in income of renters credit and payments..
(d)Administrative fees No provision of, or amendment made by, this Act shall be construed to prevent a rental reduction credit agency of a State from imposing fees to cover its costs or from levying any such fee on a taxpayer applying for or receiving a rental reduction credit amount. (e)Other conforming amendments (1)Section 6211(b)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting 36C (including any related payment under section 6433), after 36B,.
(2)Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting 36C (including any related payment under section 6433), after 36B,.  (3)The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 36B the following new item:

Sec. 36C. Renters credit..
(f)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 1873
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 12, 2011
			Mr. Johnson of
			 Georgia (for himself, Mr. Jackson of
			 Illinois, Mr. Grijalva,
			 Ms. Lee of California,
			 Mr. Filner,
			 Mr. McNerney,
			 Mr. Serrano,
			 Mr. Nadler,
			 Ms. Waters,
			 Mr. Price of North Carolina,
			 Ms. Tsongas,
			 Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania,
			 Mr. Scott of Virginia,
			 Ms. Schakowsky,
			 Mr. Gonzalez,
			 Mr. Lynch,
			 Ms. Wasserman Schultz,
			 Mr. Braley of Iowa,
			 Mr. Van Hollen,
			 Ms. Norton,
			 Mr. Al Green of Texas,
			 Mr. Doyle,
			 Ms. Hirono,
			 Mr. Loebsack,
			 Ms. Wilson of Florida,
			 Mr. Boswell,
			 Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California,
			 Mr. McDermott,
			 Mr. Conyers,
			 Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas,
			 Mr. Hastings of Florida,
			 Ms. Chu, Ms. Baldwin, Mrs.
			 Napolitano, Mrs. Maloney,
			 Mr. Ellison,
			 Mr. Honda,
			 Mr. Stark,
			 Mr. Heinrich,
			 Mr. Kucinich,
			 Ms. Sutton,
			 Mr. Carnahan,
			 Mr. Visclosky,
			 Mr. Pierluisi,
			 Ms. Richardson,
			 Mr. Gutierrez,
			 Mr. Towns,
			 Mr. Kildee,
			 Mr. Cummings,
			 Mr. Davis of Illinois,
			 Mr. Thompson of Mississippi,
			 Ms. Woolsey,
			 Ms. Clarke of New York,
			 Ms. Bass of California,
			 Ms. Pingree of Maine,
			 Mr. Deutch,
			 Mr. Blumenauer,
			 Mr. Doggett,
			 Mr. Langevin,
			 Mr. Watt, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts,
			 Mr. Sarbanes, and
			 Mr. Ryan of Ohio) introduced the
			 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

		A BILL
		To amend title 9 of the United States Code with respect
		  to arbitration.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Arbitration Fairness Act of
			 2011.
		2.FindingsThe Congress finds the following:
			(1)The Federal
			 Arbitration Act (now enacted as chapter 1 of title 9 of the United States Code)
			 was intended to apply to disputes between commercial entities of generally
			 similar sophistication and bargaining power.
			(2)A
			 series of decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States have changed the
			 meaning of the Act so that it now extends to consumer disputes and employment
			 disputes.
			(3)Most consumers and
			 employees have little or no meaningful choice whether to submit their claims to
			 arbitration. Often, consumers and employees are not even aware that they have
			 given up their rights.
			(4)Mandatory
			 arbitration undermines the development of public law because there is
			 inadequate transparency and inadequate judicial review of arbitrators'
			 decisions.
			(5)Arbitration can be
			 an acceptable alternative when consent to the arbitration is truly voluntary,
			 and occurs after the dispute arises.
			3.Arbitration of
			 employment, consumer, and civil rights disputes
			(a)In
			 generalTitle 9 of the United States Code is amended by adding at
			 the end the following:

					4Arbitration of
				employment, consumer, and civil rights disputes

							Sec.
							401. Definitions.
							402. Validity and enforceability.

						401.DefinitionsIn this chapter—
							(1)the term
				civil rights dispute means a dispute—
								(A)arising
				under—
									(i)the Constitution
				of the United States or the constitution of a State; or
									(ii)a
				Federal or State statute that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race,
				sex, disability, religion, national origin, or any invidious basis in
				education, employment, credit, housing, public accommodations and facilities,
				voting, or program funded or conducted by the Federal Government or State
				government, including any statute enforced by the Civil Rights Division of the
				Department of Justice and any statute enumerated in section 62(e) of the
				Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to unlawful discrimination); and
									(B)in which at least
				1 party alleging a violation of the Constitution of the United States, a State
				constitution, or a statute prohibiting discrimination is an individual;
								(2)the term consumer dispute
				means a dispute between an individual who seeks or acquires real or personal
				property, services (including services relating to securities and other
				investments), money, or credit for personal, family, or household purposes and
				the seller or provider of such property, services, money, or credit;
							(3)the term employment dispute
				means a dispute between an employer and employee arising out of the
				relationship of employer and employee as defined in section 3 of the Fair Labor
				Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203); and
							(4)the term predispute arbitration
				agreement means any agreement to arbitrate a dispute that had not yet
				arisen at the time of the making of the agreement.
							402.Validity and
				enforceability
							(a)In
				generalNotwithstanding any other provision of this title, no
				predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires
				arbitration of an employment dispute, consumer dispute, or civil rights
				dispute.
							(b)Applicability
								(1)In
				generalAn issue as to whether this chapter applies to an
				arbitration agreement shall be determined under Federal law. The applicability
				of this chapter to an agreement to arbitrate and the validity and
				enforceability of an agreement to which this chapter applies shall be
				determined by a court, rather than an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the
				party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically
				or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such
				agreement.
								(2)Collective
				bargaining agreementsNothing
				in this chapter shall apply to any arbitration provision in a contract between
				an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations, except
				that no such arbitration provision shall have the effect of waiving the right
				of an employee to seek judicial enforcement of a right arising under a
				provision of the Constitution of the United States, a State constitution, or a
				Federal or State statute, or public policy arising
				therefrom.
								.
			(b)Technical and
			 conforming amendments
				(1)In
			 generalTitle 9 of the United
			 States Code is amended—
					(A)in section 1, by striking of
			 seamen, and all that follows through interstate
			 commerce;
					(B)in section 2, by
			 inserting or as otherwise provided in chapter 4 before the
			 period at the end;
					(C)in section
			 208—
						(i)in
			 the section heading, by striking Chapter 1; residual application and
			 inserting Application; and
						(ii)by adding at the
			 end the following: This chapter applies to the extent that this chapter
			 is not in conflict with chapter 4.; and
						(D)in section
			 307—
						(i)in
			 the section heading, by striking Chapter 1; residual application and
			 inserting Application; and
						(ii)by adding at the
			 end the following: This chapter applies to the extent that this chapter
			 is not in conflict with chapter 4..
						(2)Table of
			 sections
					(A)Chapter
			 2The table of sections for chapter 2 of title 9, United States
			 Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 208 and inserting the
			 following:

								208.
				Application.

							.
					(B)Chapter 3The table of sections for chapter 3 of
			 title 9, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to
			 section 307 and inserting the following:

								307.
				Application.

							.
					(3)Table of
			 chaptersThe table of chapters for title 9, United States Code,
			 is amended by adding at the end the following:

							4.
				  Arbitration of employment, consumer,
				  and civil rights
				  disputes401

						.
				4.Effective
			 dateThis Act, and the
			 amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on the date of enactment of this
			 Act and shall apply with respect to any dispute or claim that arises on or
			 after such date.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2645
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			July 26, 2011
			Mr. Stark (for
			 himself, Mr. Waxman, and
			 Mr. Pallone) introduced the following
			 bill; which was referred to the Committee
			 on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on
			 Energy and Commerce, for
			 a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
			 consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
			 committee concerned

		A BILL
		To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to
		  increase the minimum loss ratio required of Medigap policies.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Medigap Medical Loss Ratio Improvement
			 Act.
		2.Increase in
			 required Medigap loss ratio
			(a)In
			 generalSection 1882(r)(1)(A)
			 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ss(r)(1)(A)) is amended—
				(1)by striking
			 75 percent and inserting 85 percent; and
				(2)by striking
			 65 percent and inserting 80 percent.
				(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to
			 policies for policy years beginning on or after January 1, 2014.


114 SRES 462 ATS: Urging the United States Soccer Federation to immediately eliminate gender pay inequity and treat all athletes with the same respect and dignity.
U.S. Senate
2016-05-12
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		III
		114th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. RES. 462
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			May 12, 2016
			Mrs. Murray (for herself, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Casey, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Leahy, Mrs. Boxer, Ms. Warren, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Brown, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Markey, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Reid, Mr. Carper, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Schatz) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

		May 26, 2016Committee discharged; considered and agreed toRESOLUTION
		Urging the United States Soccer Federation to immediately eliminate gender pay inequity and treat
			 all athletes with the same respect and dignity.

 Whereas title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) (referred to in this preamble as title IX) requires schools and institutions of higher education to provide the same opportunities for girls that the schools and institutions of higher education provide for boys;
 Whereas 6 years after the date of enactment of title IX, the approximate percentage of girls playing team sports increased from 4 percent to 25 percent, a sixfold increase;
 Whereas the participation of girls in club soccer in the United States increased by approximately 37 percent between 1995 and 2015;
 Whereas the participation of girls in high school soccer programs increased by approximately 45 percent between 1999 and 2014;
 Whereas the participation of girls in team sports results in lifelong improvements to the educational, work, and health prospects of the girls;
 Whereas the United States Soccer Federation is the governing body of soccer in all forms in the United States and endeavors to make soccer a preeminent sport in the United States;
 Whereas the United States Women’s National Team has won 3 Federation Internationale de Football Association (commonly referred to as FIFA) Women’s World Cups, 4 Olympic Gold Medals, and 7 Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (commonly referred to as CONCACAF) Gold Cups;
 Whereas the United States Women’s National Team is ranked first in the world as of the date of adoption of this resolution;
 Whereas the 2015 final Women’s World Cup match generated an audience of approximately 750,000,000 viewers worldwide and more than 25,000,000 viewers in the United States, the largest audience of any soccer game shown in the United States on English language television;
 Whereas the members of the United States Women’s National Team are some of the most visible athletes in the world and serve as an inspiration and as role models to young athletes across the United States and worldwide;
 Whereas the members of the United States Women’s National Team, despite the international success of the members, are consistently paid less than similarly situated members of the United States Men’s National Team for doing the same job, regardless of the performance of the teams;
 Whereas a woman in 1963 was paid on average only 59 cents for each dollar paid to a male counterpart;
 Whereas, in 1963, Congress passed and President Kennedy signed the landmark Equal Pay Act of 1963 (29 U.S.C. 201 note; Public Law 88–38) (referred to in this preamble as the Equal Pay Act), unequivocally affirming that women deserve equal pay for equal work;
 Whereas the enactment of the Equal Pay Act laid the groundwork for title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) and title IX, which together vastly expanded opportunities for girls and women at school and work;
 Whereas the pay disparities suffered by the members of the United States Women’s National Team are reflective of the reality of many women in the United States who, more than 50 years after the enactment of the Equal Pay Act, still make on average only 79 cents for each dollar made by a male counterpart;
 Whereas those pay disparities exist in both the private and the public sectors and, in many instances, the pay disparities can only be due to continued intentional discrimination or the lingering effects of past discrimination;
 Whereas unequal pay on the basis of gender tells women and girls that, whether on the soccer field or in the office, the hard work of the women or girls is not valued equally to that of male counterparts;
 Whereas unequal pay on the basis of gender violates generally held beliefs regarding equality and fundamental fairness;
 Whereas the wage gap equals approximately $10,762 less per year in median earnings for women and their families compared to men;
 Whereas, compared to the earnings of White, non-Hispanic men, women on average face a lifetime wage gap of $430,480, African-American women on average face a lifetime wage gap of $877,480, and Latinas on average face a lifetime wage gap of $1,007,080; and
 Whereas unequal pay on the basis of gender threatens the economic security of women and their families while the women are in the workforce and the retirement security of women after the women have left the workforce: Now, therefore, be it

 That the Senate— (1)urges the United States Soccer Federation to immediately end gender pay inequity and to treat all athletes with the respect and dignity those athletes deserve;
 (2)supports an end to pay discrimination based on gender and the strengthening of equal pay protections; and
 (3)instructs the Secretary of the Senate to submit a copy of this resolution to the United States Soccer Federation.


		One Hundred Twelfth Congress of the United States
		  of America
		2d SessionBegun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the third
		day of January, two thousand and twelve
		S. CON. RES. 59
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
		  STATES

			August 7, 2012
			Agreed
			 to

		CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
		Providing for a conditional adjournment or
		  recess of the Senate and an adjournment of the House of Representatives.

		That when the Senate recesses or adjourns
			 on any day from Thursday, August 2, 2012, through Tuesday, August 7, 2012, on a
			 motion offered pursuant to this concurrent resolution by its Majority Leader or
			 his designee, it stand recessed or adjourned until 12:00 noon on Monday,
			 September 10, 2012, or such other time on that day as may be specified by its
			 Majority Leader or his designee in the motion to recess or adjourn, or until
			 the time of any reassembly pursuant to section 2 of this concurrent resolution,
			 whichever occurs first; and that when the House adjourns on any legislative day
			 through Thursday, August 2, 2012, through Tuesday August 7, 2012, on a motion
			 offered pursuant to this concurrent resolution by its Majority Leader or his
			 designee, it stand adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 10, 2012, or
			 until the time of any reassembly pursuant to section 2 of this concurrent
			 resolution, whichever occurs first.
		2.The Majority Leader of the Senate and the
			 Speaker of the House, or their respective designees, acting jointly after
			 consultation with the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of
			 the House, shall notify the Members of the Senate and House, respectively, to
			 reassemble at such place and time as they may designate if, in their opinion,
			 the public interest shall warrant it.

			Secretary of the Senate

			Clerk of the House of Representatives


117 HR 963 IH: Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-02-11
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 963IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 11, 2021Mr. Johnson of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Aguilar, Mr. Auchincloss, Ms. Barragán, Ms. Bass, Mr. Beyer, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Brown, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Cárdenas, Mr. Carson, Mr. Casten, Mr. Castro of Texas, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Crist, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Dean, Mr. DeFazio, Ms. DeGette, Ms. DeLauro, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Delgado, Mrs. Demings, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mr. Deutch, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Escobar, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Evans, Mrs. Fletcher, Mr. Foster, Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. García of Illinois, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Gomez, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Hastings, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Higgins of New York, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Jeffries, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Jones, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Keating, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Kim of New Jersey, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Kuster, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mrs. Lawrence, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Levin of Michigan, Mr. Levin of California, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Lowenthal, Mrs. Luria, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Malinowski, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Ms. Matsui, Mrs. McBath, Ms. McCollum, Mr. McEachin, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Meng, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Neguse, Ms. Newman, Ms. Norton, Mr. O'Halleran, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Pappas, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Payne, Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Peters, Mr. Phillips, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Porter, Ms. Pressley, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Raskin, Miss Rice of New York, Ms. Ross, Mr. Rush, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Sánchez, Mr. Sarbanes, Ms. Scanlon, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Schrader, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Sires, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Soto, Ms. Spanberger, Ms. Speier, Mr. Stanton, Ms. Stevens, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Swalwell, Mr. Takano, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Thompson of California, Ms. Titus, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Torres of New York, Mrs. Torres of California, Mrs. Trahan, Mr. Trone, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Vela, Ms. Velázquez, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Welch, Ms. Wild, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr. Yarmuth, and Ms. Bush) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryA BILLTo amend title 9 of the United States Code with respect to arbitration.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act or the FAIR Act.2.PurposesThe purposes of this Act are to—(1)prohibit predispute arbitration agreements that force arbitration of future employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights disputes; and(2)prohibit agreements and practices that interfere with the right of individuals, workers, and small businesses to participate in a joint, class, or collective action related to an employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights dispute.3.Arbitration of employment, consumer, antitrust, and civil rights disputes(a)In generalTitle 9 of the United States Code is amended by adding at the end the following:4Arbitration of Employment, Consumer, Antitrust, and Civil Rights DisputesSec. 401. Definitions. 402. No validity or enforceability.401.DefinitionsIn this chapter—(1)the term antitrust dispute means a dispute—(A)arising from an alleged violation of the antitrust laws (as defined in subsection (a) of the first section of the Clayton Act) or State antitrust laws; and(B)in which the plaintiffs seek certification as a class under rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or a comparable rule or provision of State law;(2)the term civil rights dispute means a dispute—(A)arising from an alleged violation of—(i)the Constitution of the United States or the constitution of a State;(ii)any Federal, State, or local law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, or any legally protected status in education, employment, credit, housing, public accommodations and facilities, voting, veterans or servicemembers, health care, or a program funded or conducted by the Federal Government or State government, including any law referred to or described in section 62(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including parts of such law not explicitly referenced in such section but that relate to protecting individuals on any such basis; and(B)in which at least one party alleging a violation described in subparagraph (A) is one or more individuals (or their authorized representative), including one or more individuals seeking certification as a class under rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or a comparable rule or provision of State law;(3)the term consumer dispute means a dispute between—(A)one or more individuals who seek or acquire real or personal property, services (including services related to digital technology), securities or other investments, money, or credit for personal, family, or household purposes including an individual or individuals who seek certification as a class under rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or a comparable rule or provision of State law; and(B)(i)the seller or provider of such property, services, securities or other investments, money, or credit; or(ii)a third party involved in the selling, providing of, payment for, receipt or use of information about, or other relationship to any such property, services, securities or other investments, money, or credit;(4)the term employment dispute means a dispute between one or more individuals (or their authorized representative) and a person arising out of or related to the work relationship or prospective work relationship between them, including a dispute regarding the terms of or payment for, advertising of, recruiting for, referring of, arranging for, or discipline or discharge in connection with, such work, regardless of whether the individual is or would be classified as an employee or an independent contractor with respect to such work, and including a dispute arising under any law referred to or described in section 62(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including parts of such law not explicitly referenced in such section but that relate to protecting individuals on any such basis, and including a dispute in which an individual or individuals seek certification as a class under rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or as a collective action under section 16(b) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, or a comparable rule or provision of State law;(5)the term predispute arbitration agreement means an agreement to arbitrate a dispute that has not yet arisen at the time of the making of the agreement; and(6)the term predispute joint-action waiver means an agreement, whether or not part of a predispute arbitration agreement, that would prohibit, or waive the right of, one of the parties to the agreement to participate in a joint, class, or collective action in a judicial, arbitral, administrative, or other forum, concerning a dispute that has not yet arisen at the time of the making of the agreement.402.No validity or enforceability(a)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of this title, no predispute arbitration agreement or predispute joint-action waiver shall be valid or enforceable with respect to an employment dispute, consumer dispute, antitrust dispute, or civil rights dispute.(b)Applicability(1)In generalAn issue as to whether this chapter applies with respect to a dispute shall be determined under Federal law. The applicability of this chapter to an agreement to arbitrate and the validity and enforceability of an agreement to which this chapter applies shall be determined by a court, rather than an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement, and irrespective of whether the agreement purports to delegate such determinations to an arbitrator.(2)Collective bargaining agreementsNothing in this chapter shall apply to any arbitration provision in a contract between an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations, except that no such arbitration provision shall have the effect of waiving the right of a worker to seek judicial enforcement of a right arising under a provision of the Constitution of the United States, a State constitution, or a Federal or State statute, or public policy arising therefrom..(b)Technical and conforming amendments(1)In generalTitle 9 of the United States Code is amended—(A)in section 1 by striking of seamen, and all that follows through interstate commerce and inserting in its place of individuals, regardless of whether such individuals are designated as employees or independent contractors for other purposes;(B)in section 2 by inserting or as otherwise provided in chapter 4 before the period at the end;(C)in section 208—(i)in the section heading by striking Chapter 1; residual application and inserting Application; and(ii)by adding at the end the following: This chapter applies to the extent that this chapter is not in conflict with chapter 4.; and(D)in section 307—(i)in the section heading by striking Chapter 1; residual application and inserting Application; and(ii)by adding at the end the following: This chapter applies to the extent that this chapter is not in conflict with chapter 4..(2)Table of sections(A)Chapter 2The table of sections of chapter 2 of title 9, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 208 and inserting the following:208. Application..(B)Chapter 3The table of sections of chapter 3 of title 9, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 307 and inserting the following:307. Application..(3)Table of chaptersThe table of chapters of title 9, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:4.Arbitration of Employment, Consumer, Antitrust, and Civil Rights Disputes401.4.Effective dateThis Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to any dispute or claim that arises or accrues on or after such date.5.Rule of constructionNothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to prohibit the use of arbitration on a voluntary basis after the dispute arises.