116 HR 8042 IH: Helping America’s Farmers Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-08-14
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.

I116th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 8042IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESAugust 14, 2020Mrs. Hayes (for herself and Mr. Delgado) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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 concernedA BILLTo provide for agricultural economic injury disaster loans, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Helping America’s Farmers Act. 2.Agricultural economic injury disaster loan(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Eligible entityThe term eligible entity means—(A)a producer—(i)of horticulture, nursery crops, floriculture, non-specialty crops, wool, livestock, dairy, aquaculture, or specialty crops; or(ii)engaged in the production of food and fiber; or(B)a farmer or rancher.(2)Large eligible entityThe term large eligible entity means an eligible entity with an adjusted gross income of greater than $500,000.(3)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency. (4)Small eligible entityThe term small eligible entity means an eligible entity with an adjusted gross income of less than or equal to $500,000.(b)Agricultural economic injury disaster loan program(1)In generalThe Secretary shall carry out a program to make loans under this subsection to small eligible entities for the purposes described in paragraph (3). (2)Terms of loans(A)Amount of loanIn carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall make loans to small eligible entities in an amount less than or equal to $2,000,000.(B)Interest rateA loan under subparagraph (A) shall have an interest rate equal to zero percent.(C)RepaymentThe Secretary shall establish the repayment terms with respect to each loan to a small eligible entity under this subsection, except that such repayment may not—(i)begin before the date that is 1 year after the date on which such loan is made to such small eligible entity; and(ii)be for a period of less than 10 years or a period of greater than 15 years; and(D)Waiver of certain requirementsWith respect to a loan made under this subsection in response to an economic disaster, the Secretary shall waive—(i)any rules related the personal guarantee on advances and loans of not more than $200,000 for all applicants;(ii)any requirement that the small eligible entity exhaust other loan options before applying for a loan under this subsection; and(iii)any requirement that an applicant needs to be in business for the 1-year period before the disaster, except that no waiver may be made for a business that was not in operation on January 31, 2020.(E)PriorityIn making loans under this subsection the Secretary shall give priority to—(i)small eligible entities located in States most impacted by an economic disaster, as determined by the Secretary;(ii)minority, veteran, and women farmers and ranchers; and(iii)such other small eligible entities as the Secretary determines appropriate.(3)Use of fundsA small eligible entity that receives a loan under this subsection shall use the loan funds to—(A)provide paid sick leave to employees unable to work due to the direct effect of an economic disaster; (B)maintain payroll to retain employees during business disruptions or substantial slowdowns;(C)meet increased costs to obtain materials unavailable from the applicant's original source due to interrupted supply chains; (D)make rent or mortgage payments;(E)purchase personal protective equipment; and(F)repay obligations that cannot be met due to revenue losses. (4)ForgivenessA small eligible entity shall be eligible for forgiveness of indebtedness on a loan under this subsection in an amount determined by the Secretary based on the losses of the small eligible entity—(A)due to commodity price decreases during an economic disaster; or(B)revenue loss due to an economic disaster, including from—(i)canceled purchasing contracts or agreements with schools, institutions, food hubs, and restaurants; (ii)loss of recurring deliveries of farm products to schools, institutions, food hubs, and restaurants; or(iii)any other unexpected source during such economic disaster.(c)Loan guaranteesThe Secretary may guarantee a loan made by lenders approved by the Farm Service Agency to large eligible entities if—(1)such loan—(A)is for the purposes described in subsection (b)(3);(B)is in an amount greater than $2,000,000;(C)has an interest rate equal to or less than 1 percent; and(D)has a repayment term that—(i)begins after the date that is 1 year after the date on which such loan is made an eligible entity; and(ii)is for a period of not less than 15 years and not greater than 20 years; and(2)the lender making such loan offers forgiveness of indebtedness on such loan under such terms as the Secretary determines are commensurate with the loan forgiveness under subsection (b)(4). (d)Approval and Ability To Repay for Small Dollar LoansWith respect to a loan made under subsection (b) in response to an economic disaster, the Secretary may—(1)approve an applicant based solely on the credit score of the applicant and shall not require an applicant to submit a tax return or a tax return transcript for such approval; or (2)use alternative appropriate methods to determine an applicant's ability to repay. (e)Emergency grant(1)In generalAn eligible entity that applies for a loan under subsection (b) or a loan guarantee under subsection (c) in response to an economic disaster may request that the Secretary provide an advance that is, subject to paragraph (3), in the amount requested by such applicant to such applicant within 3 days after the Secretary receives an application from such applicant.(2)VerificationBefore disbursing amounts under this subsection, the Secretary shall verify that the applicant is an eligible entity by accepting a self-certification from the applicant under penalty of perjury pursuant to section 1746 of title 28 United States Code. (3)AmountThe amount of an advance provided under this subsection shall be not less than $20,000.(4)Use of fundsAn advance provided under this subsection may be used to address any allowable purpose for a loan made under subsection (b) or a loan guarantee made under subsection (c).(5)RepaymentAn applicant shall not be required to repay any amounts of an advance provided under this subsection, even if subsequently denied a loan under subsection (b) or a loan guarantee under subsection (c).(f)Other benefitsReceipt of a grant, loan, or loan guarantee under this section shall not be construed as to prohibit receipt of any Federal grant, loan, or other aid.(g)TaxabilityFor purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986—(1)any amount which would be includible in gross income of the eligible entity by reason of forgiveness described in this paragraph shall be excluded from gross income; and(2)any amount received under this section shall be excluded from gross income. (h)FundingThere is hereby appropriated, out of any amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated—(1)$6,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021, to make loans to small eligible entities under this section;(2)$6,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021, to make loan guarantees to large eligible entities under this section;(3)$4,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021, to make grants under subsection (e) to small eligible entities; and(4)$4,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021, to make grants under subsection (e) to large eligible entities. 3.Training for loan servicersThere is hereby appropriated, out of any amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $300,000,000, to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a training program to provide Farm Service Agency staff with appropriate training relating to economic injury loan processing and servicing under section 2.


117 S1566 IS: Safe Interactions Act of 2021
U.S. Senate
2021-05-11
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.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1566IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMay 11, 2021Mr. Casey (for himself, Mr. Moran, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsA BILLTo provide grants to enable nonprofit disability organizations to develop training programs that support safe interactions between law enforcement officers and individuals with disabilities and older individuals.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Safe Interactions Act of 2021.2.FindingsCongress finds the following:(1)Individuals with disabilities are 2.5 times more likely to be victims of violent crime.(2)Individuals with disabilities are 3 times more likely to be victims of a serious crime.(3)Individuals with disabilities make up between one-third and one-half of all individuals killed by law enforcement officers.3.Purpose The purposes of this Act are to—(1)authorize the Secretary to award competitive grants to nonprofit disability organizations to administer enhanced training programs to law enforcement officers who may encounter or provide services to covered individuals, including—(A)individuals with mental health disabilities, including schizophrenia;(B)individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, or blind, are autistic, or have other intellectual or developmental disabilities;(C)older individuals with dementia or other cognitive impairments; or(D)individuals with any other disabilities or chronic health condition; (2)support, not replace, other specialized law enforcement officer training; and (3)(A)increase the awareness, knowledge, and understanding of law enforcement officers about covered individuals and their unique needs and applicable Federal civil rights laws;(B)reduce incidences of violence between law enforcement officers and covered individuals; (C)expand the knowledge of law enforcement officers, in areas such as the signs of disabilities, identifying people with disabilities, communicating with people with disabilities, and effective ways to approach covered individuals to minimize situations of risk to—(i)those individuals; and(ii)the law enforcement officers who intervene or provide services to those individuals; and(D)increase the knowledge of law enforcement officers of community resources available for covered individuals to ultimately limit interactions with law enforcement officers.4.DefinitionsIn this Act:(1)Covered grantThe term covered grant means a grant awarded under section 5(a).(2)Covered individualThe term covered individual means—(A)an older individual; or(B)an individual with a disability.(3)Eligible entityThe term eligible entity means a nonprofit disability organization that has formed a partnership with a law enforcement agency or a consortium of law enforcement agencies to administer enhanced training programs to law enforcement officers of the agency or agencies on how to interact with covered individuals.(4)Indian TribeThe term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term Indian tribe in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).(5)Individual with a disabilityThe term individual with a disability means any individual who has a disability, as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).(6)Initial training programThe term initial training program means a mandatory training program offered to new law enforcement officers during their orientation under section 5(d)(1)(A).(7)Law enforcement officerThe term law enforcement officer means any officer, agent, or employee of a State, political subdivision of a State, or Indian Tribe—(A)authorized by law or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, or investigation of any violation of criminal law; or(B)authorized by law to supervise sentenced criminal offenders.(8)Nonprofit disability organizationThe term nonprofit disability organization means a nonprofit organization—(A)that serves covered individuals; and(B)(i)that is operated by a board of which the majority of members are covered individuals;(ii)that has an advisory panel of which the majority of members are covered individuals; or(iii)the majority of the employees of which are covered individuals.(9)Older individualThe term older individual has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).(10)Partner academyThe term partner academy, with respect to an eligible entity that receives a covered grant, means a law enforcement training academy with which the eligible entity partners to administer an initial training program, as described in section 5(b)(1).(11)Partner agencyThe term partner agency, with respect to an eligible entity that receives a covered grant, means the law enforcement agency with which the eligible entity partners, or that is a member of a consortium with which the eligible entity partners, to administer enhanced training programs to law enforcement officers of the agency on how to interact with covered individuals.(12)Refresher training programThe term refresher training program means a training program offered to existing law enforcement officers under section 5(d)(1)(B).(13)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 5.Grant program(a)In generalThe Secretary shall award competitive grants to nonprofit disability organizations to administer enhanced training programs to law enforcement officers who may encounter or provide services to covered individuals.(b)ApplicationAn eligible entity seeking a covered grant shall submit to the Secretary an application that—(1)(A)identifies a law enforcement training academy with which the eligible entity will partner to administer an initial training program; and(B)includes a memorandum of understanding entered into between the eligible entity and the law enforcement training academy;(2)describes the training program curriculum, which shall include training on how to interact with, identify, approach, and communicate with covered individuals that is provided, as of the date of submission of the application—(A)by the partner academy to new law enforcement officers; or(B)by any partner agency to existing law enforcement officers;(3)describes the learning objectives of the training programs that the eligible entity will administer using the grant;(4)describes the activities that will be carried out under the grant;(5)includes a timeline of the activities described in paragraph (4); and(6)demonstrates expertise in training related to covered individuals.(c)PreferencesIn awarding covered grants, the Secretary shall ensure—(1)geographic diversity of grant recipients, including grant recipients that serve rural localities; and(2)that the training funded by the grant is provided to multiple levels of law enforcement agencies, including local, county, State, and Tribal agencies.(d)Use of funds(1)Mandatory usesAn eligible entity that receives a covered grant shall use the grant funds to—(A)modify the training provided by the partner academy to new law enforcement officers of each partner agency so that the academy provides not fewer than 8 hours of training on topics such as how to interact with, identify, approach, and communicate with covered individuals and applicable Federal civil rights laws, including not fewer than 4 hours of interactive learning taught by covered individuals; and(B)develop and implement an enhanced training program for existing law enforcement officers of each partner agency on safe, effective, and respectful interactions with covered individuals—(i)that includes—(I)awareness of and education about covered individuals, including—(aa)individuals with mental health disabilities, including schizophrenia;(bb)individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, or blind, are autistic, or have other intellectual or developmental disabilities;(cc)older individuals with dementia or other cognitive impairments; and(dd)individuals with any other disabilities or chronic health condition; (II)escalation avoidance and de-escalation techniques to be used when interacting with covered individuals, including procedures a law enforcement officer should follow to ensure the health and safety of a covered individual; and(III)communication strategies to be used when interacting with covered individuals, including individuals who do not use speech to communicate;(ii)that utilizes—(I)instructors who are covered individuals; or(II)guest instructors or speakers who are covered individuals; and(iii)in which each law enforcement officer participates not less frequently than 4 hours every year.(2)Optional usesAn eligible entity that receives a covered grant may use the grant funds to—(A)expand an existing training program regarding topics such as interacting with, identifying, approaching, and communicating with covered individuals that was provided to law enforcement officers by a nonprofit disability organization in conjunction with the partner academy or a partner agency before the eligible entity received the grant;(B)reimburse staff members of the eligible entity for mileage and travel time expended to attend an initial training program or refresher training program occurring in person or online;(C)develop a model of training that utilizes volunteer instructors, except that the eligible entity shall pay any instructor, including a guest instructor, who is a covered individual; (D)acquire a computer system or software needed for the training programs; or(E)support the paid participation of individuals with disabilities and their family members as advisors. (e)Supplement, not supplantAn eligible entity that receives a covered grant shall use the grant funds to supplement, and not supplant, any funds that would, in the absence of the grant funds, be made available from a State, political subdivision of a State, or Indian Tribe for the activities described in subsection (d).(f)Advisory council(1)In generalAn eligible entity that receives a covered grant shall establish an advisory council composed of 15 members to advise the eligible entity on activities carried out using the grant.(2)MembershipAn advisory council established under paragraph (1) shall—(A)be composed of—(i)1 representative of the eligible entity who is a covered individual and shall serve as chair of the advisory council;(ii)1 representative of the State law enforcement training academy or law enforcement agency for the State that the eligible entity serves, who shall serve as vice chair of the advisory council;(iii)3 representatives of community-based organizations that support individuals with disabilities, not fewer than 2 of whom have a disability;(iv)2 representatives of community-based organizations that support older adults;(v)2 State officials or their designees;(vi)1 representative of an organization providing victim services;(vii)1 representative of a State public safety agency; (viii)3 members of the public with knowledge of individuals with disabilities and older adults with cognitive impairment, including not fewer than 2 self-advocates or family members of a covered individual; and(ix)1 active local or State law enforcement officer representing a labor or representative organization; and(B)include a majority of representation from racial and ethnic minority communities.(3)DutiesAn advisory council established under paragraph (1) shall—(A)advise the eligible entity and provide general oversight of grant activities carried out by the eligible entity, including development of the training curriculum and implementation of the training programs; and(B)provide the advisory council with recommendations for the sustainability and expansion of the training programs, such as the development of a train-the-trainer model.(g)Annual report(1)Report to Secretary by eligible entitiesNot later than 1 year after receiving a covered grant, and each year thereafter for the duration of the grant period, an eligible entity that receives a covered grant shall submit the following information to the Secretary with respect to the preceding year:(A)The number of individuals who benefitted from the training programs provided by the eligible entity using grant funds, including—(i)the number of individuals who were trained through the training programs, including the total number of new law enforcement officers who participated in the initial training program and existing law enforcement officers who participated in the refresher training program; and(ii)the estimated number of individuals who were impacted by the training programs.(B)Demographic data, including age, sex, and race, for the law enforcement officers who received the training.(C)The number of partner agencies that participated in the training programs.(D)Each partner law enforcement agency, including the city and State in which the headquarters and each local office of the agency are located, and the result of that partnership.(E)Any recommendations for improving the grant program carried out under this Act. (2)Report to Congress and the Attorney General by the SecretaryNot later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report on the grant program carried out under this Act, with respect to the preceding year, to—(A)the Attorney General;(B)the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;(C)the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;(D)the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate;(E)the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and(F)the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.(h)Evaluation(1)In generalThe Secretary shall use not more than 2 percent of the amounts made available under section 6 for administrative purposes and for an evaluation of the grant program carried out under this Act.(2)Independent evaluatorThe Secretary shall enter into a contract with a third-party entity that is unrelated to any recipient of a covered grant to carry out the evaluation under paragraph (1).(3)ContentsIn carrying out the evaluation under paragraph (1), the third-party entity contracted under paragraph (2) shall report to the Secretary and the Attorney General on—(A)the demographic characteristics of the population served by the training conducted by eligible entities using covered grants; and(B)any change in the occurrence of violence in the communities served by training described in subparagraph (A).6.Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025 to carry out this Act.


110 HR 1256 IH: To amend title 5, United States Code, to increase the level of Government contributions under the Federal employees health benefits program.
U.S. House of Representatives
2007-03-01
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.

I
110th CONGRESS 1st Session
H. R. 1256
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 1, 2007
Mr. Hoyer (for himself and Mr. Wolf) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

A BILL
To amend title 5, United States Code, to increase the level of Government contributions under the Federal employees health benefits program.

1.Increase in level of Government contributions
(a)In generalSection 8906(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—
(1)in paragraph (1), by striking 72 and inserting 80; and
(2)in paragraph (2), by striking 75 and inserting 83.
(b)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to each contract year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.