117 HR 2911 : To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a plan for obligating and expending Coronavirus pandemic funding made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-05-18
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.

IIB117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 2911IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMay 18, 2021 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsAN ACTTo direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a plan for obligating and expending Coronavirus pandemic funding made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the VA Transparency & Trust Act of 2021.2.Congressional oversight of Coronavirus pandemic funding made available to Department of Veterans Affairs(a)Plan and reports by Secretary(1)PlanNot later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a detailed plan for obligating and expending covered funds, including a detailed justification for each type of obligation of such funds.(2)Biweekly reportsEvery 14 days during the period beginning on the date on which the plan under paragraph (1) is submitted and ending seven days after the date on which the Secretary has expended all covered funds, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report detailing the obligation and expenditure of, and the planned uses for, such funds during the period covered by the report, including a written justification for any deviation in such obligations, expenditures, or planned uses from such plan.(b)Inspector General auditsNot later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and semiannually thereafter for three years or until the Secretary has expended all covered funds, whichever occurs first, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report examining the obligations and expenditures made using covered funds during the period covered by the report. Each such report shall include—(1)a comparison of how the funds are being obligated and expended to how the funds were planned to be obligated and expended in the plan under subsection (a)(1);(2)areas of waste, fraud, and abuse, if any; and(3)any other matter the Inspector General determines relevant.(c)Comptroller General reviews(1)Interim reportNot later than September 30, 2022, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate an interim report containing a review of obligations and expenditures made using covered funds. The report shall include—(A)a review of the process of the Department of Veterans Affairs for preparing the request for funds;(B)an explanation of how the expenditure of such funds met the goals of the Department during the public health emergency for which the funds were made available;(C)any recommendations to improve the process of identifying needs and expending funds during similar situations in the future; and(D)a review of the plans of the Department to continue programs or investments that were begun with such funds but will continue after such funds are expended.(2)Final reportNot later than September 30, 2024, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a final report on the matters specified under paragraph (1).(d)Covered funds definedIn this section, the term covered funds means funds that are made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to—(1)the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116–127);(2)the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116–136); or(3)the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2).Passed the House of Representatives May 17, 2021.Cheryl L. Johnson,Clerk


116 HR 4370 IH: TBI and PTSD Treatment Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-09-18
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 CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 4370IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSeptember 18, 2019Mr. Biggs (for himself, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Armstrong, and Mr. Hunter) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish
			 hyperbaric oxygen therapy to veterans with traumatic brain injury or
			 post-traumatic stress disorder.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the TBI and PTSD Treatment Act. 2.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder (a)In generalChapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1710E the following new section:

					1710F.Traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder: hyperbaric oxygen therapy
 (a)AuthorityThe Secretary shall furnish hyperbaric oxygen therapy to a veteran who has a condition specified in subsection (b) through a health care provider described in section 1703(c)(5) of this title.
 (b)Covered conditionsThe conditions specified in this subsection are the following: (1)Traumatic brain injury.
 (2)Post-traumatic stress disorder. . (b)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1710E the following new item:

						1710F. Traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder: hyperbaric oxygen therapy..


115 HRES 925 IH: Recognizing people of African descent and Black Europeans.
U.S. House of Representatives
2018-06-06
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.

IV115th CONGRESS2d SessionH. RES. 925IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJune 6, 2018Mr. Hastings (for himself, Ms. Moore, and Mr. Meeks) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign AffairsRESOLUTIONRecognizing people of African descent and Black Europeans.

 Whereas the 109th Congress passed H. Con. Res. 60 and S. Con. Res. 90, recognizing African descendants in Latin America and the Caribbean, raising awareness of the racism and discrimination faced by those communities, and leading to numerous public and private sector initiatives between the United States and Latin American and Caribbean countries to improve the situation of African descendants;
 Whereas the persistence of racism and discrimination in Europe similarly necessitates congressional action to raise awareness and promote public and private sector initiatives to stem this trend;
 Whereas the May 19, 2018, royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, raised awareness of the long history and situation of African descent populations in Europe;
 Whereas the terms Afro-European, African European, or Black European refer to people of African ancestry or descent born in, citizens of, or living in Europe; Whereas an estimated 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 Black Europeans live in and have long had a presence in Europe, forming an influential part of the African diaspora;
 Whereas the story of Black Europeans remains widely untold, rendering many of their past and present contributions to the political and social life of Europe invisible or forgotten;
 Whereas unlike more contemporary figures, largely unknown Blacks have made significant contributions to European history and culture, including Spanish poet Juan Latino, Italian Duke Alessandro Medici, French novelist Alexandre Dumas, German scholar Anthony William Amo, French Composer Le Chevalier de St. George, British abolitionist Oladuah Equiano, and Russian General and Governor Abram Hannibal, great-grandfather of Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin;
 Whereas the largest estimated populations of Black Europeans can be found in France (approximately 2,500,000), the United Kingdom (approximately 1,500,000), and the Netherlands (approximately 500,000), in addition to sizeable populations in Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Russia, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, and Austria;
 Whereas the presence of Blacks in Europe can be traced to voluntary and forced migration resulting from the geographical proximity of Europe to Africa and the Middle East, including the transatlantic slave trade, the colonization of Africa and the Caribbean, African and African-American military deployments, the movement of refugees and asylum seekers, and educational and other professional exchanges;
 Whereas although Black Europeans have made significant achievements in and contributions to European society, large numbers have and continue to be more likely than the general population to experience discrimination and be underrepresented in leadership roles in the public and private sector as a result of the color of their skin and ancestry;
 Whereas racism has long been, and continues to be, a problem in Europe; Whereas, on April 29, 2008, before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, at a hearing entitled The State of (In)visible Black Europe: Race, Rights, and Politics, Dr. Philomena Essed stated, Probably the only common European experience among many, if not all, Afro-descendants is their exposure to […] racism and systemic discrimination, regardless of country, socio-economic conditions, gender, age, or level of education;
 Whereas, as early as 1997, the European Commission opinion poll entitled Racism and Xenophobia in Europe reported a worrying level of racism and xenophobia in [European Union] Member States, with nearly 33% of those interviewed openly describing themselves as quite racist or very racist.;
 Whereas annual reports of the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (EUFRA) and both the 2009 and 2018 European Union Minorities and Discrimination Survey (EU–MIDIS I and II), the first European Union-wide surveys of ethnic minority and immigrant groups' experiences of discrimination and victimization in everyday life in the 27 member states of the European Union, have found that persons of African descent experience high incidents of discriminatory treatment, racist crime, and victimization, and lacked an awareness of their rights, often underreporting cases of hate crimes and other forms of discrimination to law enforcement and human rights agencies, and that the situation has not improved over the last 10 years;
 Whereas the 2013 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) Annual Hate Crimes report included findings that there were more than 16 deaths and violent assaults against people of African origin, and that persons of African descent are often targets of racist and antimigrant violence, especially in eastern Europe, yet in many countries legal assistance and financial support for victims while recovering from violent attacks does not exist;
 Whereas the OSCE’s most recent 2016 hate crimes report found more than 1,400 racist and xenophobic incidents, including a number targeting Black Europeans;
 Whereas prejudice and discrimination towards Black Europeans has also been linked to changes in immigration and asylum laws as a result of antiterrorism initiatives and the growth and mainstreaming of nationalist and anti-immigrant political parties and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinheads;
 Whereas the Open Society Justice Initiative in an initial 2009 report, entitled Ethnic Profiling in the European Union, and subsequent reports has found that police officers in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands routinely use racial profiling, including targeting African descendants, when deciding whom to target for stops, searches, raids, and surveillance, leading to some of the first European-wide grassroots and legal efforts to end racial profiling in France, Germany, and elsewhere in Europe, and over a decade of pan-European anti-racism and empowerment initiatives supported by Open Society Foundations;
 Whereas there have been numerous efforts by the public and private sector to address racial discrimination and inequality in Europe, including the introduction of antidiscrimination and equality laws that include the legal support for special measures or positive (affirmative) action, creation of equality bodies, media campaigns, and efforts to increase minority political participation, and campaigns to end the use of stereotypes and derogatory terms to refer to Blacks in everyday language, the media, and textbooks;
 Whereas these efforts include the United Nations designation of 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent and 2015–2024 the International Decade for People of African Descent in an effort to strengthen national actions to ensure that people of African descent enjoy economic, cultural, social, civil, and political rights, as well as promote a greater knowledge of and respect for their diverse heritage and culture;
 Whereas these efforts also include the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s (PA) adoption of a Resolution on Strengthening Efforts to Combat Racism and Xenophobia and Foster Inclusion at the 2011 Annual Session recognizing the International Year for People of African Descent and calling for the OSCE to implement several strategic initiatives to address racial and ethnic discrimination in the OSCE region;
 Whereas, in 2011, OSCE/ODIHR held its first Roundtable on the contemporary forms of racism and xenophobia affecting Peoples of African Descent in the OSCE region, and in 2012 a hate crimes training for the people of African descent, and in 2013 an exchange with European and United States civil rights leaders of African descent and other public and private sector entities combating discrimination and inequality;
 Whereas these efforts also include transatlantic meetings of Black and other diverse legislators held annually at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, and at Congress in Washington, D.C., including the April 17–19, 2009, Black European Summit: Transatlantic Dialogue on Political Participation and adoption of the Brussels Declaration on political participation; and Transatlantic Minority Political Leadership Conferences;
 Whereas, as part of the March 24, 2011, Transatlantic Minority Political Leadership Conference (TMPLC) legislators and minority leaders from North America and Europe held a Parliamentary Forum at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss a Joint Action Plan on Racial and Ethnic Equality and Inclusion between the European Union and United States;
 Whereas, in 2012, Members of the Transatlantic Minority Political Leadership Conference worked in partnership with the German Marshall Fund, Department of State, and other stakeholders to found the Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network to increase diverse representation in policymaking;
 Whereas, in October 2013, European Parliamentarians in partnership with the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) held (In)visible Diversity a series of debates in the European Parliament, including, a debate entitled, People of African descent and Black Europeans: Realities of Afrophobia and in 2014 released, the first pan-European policy guide reviewing the current situation entitled, ENAR Anti-Racism in Focus 2 - InvisibleVisible Minority: Confronting Afrophobia and Advancing Equality for People of African Descent and Black Europeans in Europe;
 Whereas, in January 2017, the European Network Against Racism published, Towards an EU Framework for National Strategies to Combat Afrophobia and Promote Inclusion of People of African Descent and Black Europeans to urge EU Member States to adopt strong and specific policies to address Afrophobia, including its structural dimensions and impact on economic and social outcomes for people of African descent and Black Europeans, including in employment, housing, education, health, political participation, criminal justice and other sectors;
 Whereas, on July 25, 2017, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights stated, The position of Black people in Europe needs to be strengthened, irrespective of whether it concerns recent migrants from Africa or already established Black communities […] European states must first come to terms with their own past [including] publicly acknowledge that slavery, the slave trade and colonialism are among the major sources of current discrimination against Black people, and recommended European states implement strategies across health, education, justice, employment, and other sectors;
 Whereas, in October 2017, the UK Prime Minister released the Race Disparity Audit “examin[ing] how people of different backgrounds are treated across areas including health, education, employment and the criminal justice system” which found inequalities in education, housing, income and employment, justice, and health between Black persons of African and Caribbean background, and has since published the findings online, appointed a Special Advisor and Race Disparity Advisory Group to implement strategies to address the disparities, and announced 90 million British pounds to address inequalities in youth unemployment highlighted by the Disparity Audit;
 Whereas, on May 13 through 17, 2018, the European Parliament and European Economic and Social Committee, under the leadership of European Parliamentarian Cecile Kyenge of Italy, hosted the inaugural People of African Descent Week (PAD Week) in Brussels, Belgium in partnership with the European Parliament Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI), Transatlantic Minority Political Leadership Conference (TMPLC), Each One Teach One (EOTO), and the European Network Against Racism (ENAR);
 Whereas PAD Week featured over a hundred experts, activists, and policymakers to increase awareness of people of African descent living in Europe and to discuss solutions to address the racial discrimination and violence they face;
 Whereas MEP Cecile Kyenge stated, In addition to honouring the history and contribution of Europe’s Black population, the People of African Descent Week reaffirms European values by developing strategic and coherent responses to make our society more inclusive in the face of rising racial prejudice and violence across Europe;
 Whereas PAD Week final recommendations call on European Union institutions and national governments to specifically adopt the following set of initiatives for Black Europeans: recognize past injustices and contributions; adopt a European Black History Month and Remembrance Day for Victims of Colonialism and Enslavement; fund Black European led initiatives to address continuing disparities and discrimination, and support empowerment initiatives through the creation of caucuses, civil society funds, and fellowships; adopt a Parliamentary Resolution and EU Framework for National Strategies for Inclusion of People of African Descent in Europe; and support transatlantic exchanges to support common solutions to common issues of racial prejudice and discrimination; and
 Whereas in addition to EU institutions affiliated with PAD Week, international entities, such as the OSCE Personal Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination and OSCE/ODIHR Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Unit, EUFRA, the COE Human Rights Commissioner and ECRI, and the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Independent Expert on Minority Issues, and Experts Working Group on People of African Descent, have documented ongoing racism and xenophobia, and racial and ethnic discrimination, and called for an increase in initiatives to combat racism and inequality and foster inclusion: Now, therefore, be it

 That the House of Representatives— (1)encourages the recognition and celebration of the collective history and achievements made by people of African descent;
 (2)reaffirms the importance of inclusion and the full and equal participation of people of African descent around the world in all aspects of political, economic, social, and cultural life;
 (3)recognizes that, as a result of their skin color and ancestry, many Black Europeans have wrongfully experienced injustices in the public and private sector;
 (4)welcomes parliamentary activities, including those of the European Parliament (EP), Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, and US Congress, to engage in efforts to promote racial equality and combat racial discrimination through efforts such as introducing legislation, speaking out against racism, increasing the political participation of diverse populations through initiatives such as the Transatlantic Minority Political Leadership Conference and Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network, and working with Black European and other diverse communities to develop relevant policies;
 (5)urges European governments and members of civil society and the private sector, in consultation with Black European communities, to develop and implement initiatives to combat racial discrimination and promote racial equality and inclusion in Europe, by—
 (A)drafting and implementing an EU Framework for National Strategies to Promote Inclusion of and Combat Discrimination towards People of African Descent and Black Europeans;
 (B)drafting and implementing antidiscrimination, special measures, hate crimes, migration and integration, inclusion, and other laws and policies to address discrimination and disparities and promote equality, noting the recommendations of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Experts Working Group on People of African Descent (WGPAD), the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (EUFRA), the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism and Independent Expert on Minority Issues, Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner and European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), and the OSCE Personal Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination and OSCE/ODIHR Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Unit;
 (C)promoting and funding research, including the collection of national census data on Black Europeans and its inclusion in the annual reports of the EUFRA and other official reporting at the EU and national levels;
 (D)providing technical support, training, and funding to Black European civil society and private sector groups and experts working to combat racism, discrimination, and inequality, uphold basic human rights in Europe, and to increase economic opportunity and empowerment;
 (E)introducing national measures to counter stereotypical images of persons of African descent, by revising textbooks, increasing efforts to include Black Europeans in history and heritage institutions, and remembering victims of colonialism, enslavement, and other atrocities;
 (F)developing or increasing financial support for funds to assist victims of hate crimes with legal assistance and compensation when incapacitated due to physical or emotional injuries;
 (G)developing specific initiatives that address the special concerns of Black European men, women and youth, including increasing initiatives related to migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers;
 (H)actively promoting racial and ethnic representation and participation at all levels of national, regional, and local government through the education of civil and political rights, including the legislative process and advocacy of legislative issues relevant to racial and ethnic communities, development of targeted professional advancement and hiring strategies, increased youth and community outreach, and self-organization and other empowerment initiatives; and
 (I)recruiting, training, hiring, and retaining Black Europeans for professional positions in support of these initiatives;
 (6)urges the Secretary of State to— (A)provide technical assistance and other support for European governments and members of the civil society and private sector to fulfill the initiatives outlined above;
 (B)increase support for the WGPAD and International Decade for People of African Descent; and (C)implement recommendations included in the Global African Descent Affairs Act, H.R. 1570, by establishing a Global Office of African Descent Affairs within the Department of State headed by senior officials to develop and implement global foreign policy and assistance strategies to improve the situation of people of African descent around the world, create a Department of State Fund to support antidiscrimination and empowerment efforts by African descent led civil society organizations around the world, include a section on discrimination faced by people of African descent in Annual State Department Human Rights Country Reports; and
 (7)supports the adoption of a Joint Action Plan on Racial and Ethnic Equality and Inclusion between the European Union and United States modeled after similar United States agreements with Colombia and Brazil, and supports implementation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Resolution on Strengthening Efforts to Combat Racism and Xenophobia and Foster Inclusion to assist in fulfilling the initiatives above.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 5935
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			July 29, 2010
			Mr. Michaud
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on
			 Appropriations

		A BILL
		Making supplemental appropriations for investments in
		  transportation infrastructure, and for other purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Building and Upgrading Infrastructure for Long-term
			 Development Act of 2010 or the BUILD
			 Act of 2010.
		2.Supplemental
			 appropriationsThe following
			 sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise
			 appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other
			 purposes, namely:
			Environmental Protection
		  Agency
			State and Tribal Assistance
		  Grants
			(Including
		  Transfers of Funds)For an
		  additional amount for State and Tribal Assistance Grants,
		  $2,000,000,000, of which $1,000,000,000 shall be for capitalization grants for
		  the Clean Water State Revolving Funds under title VI of the Federal Water
		  Pollution Control Act and $1,000,000,000 shall be for capitalization grants
		  under section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act: Provided,
		  That the Administrator may retain up to 1 percent of the funds appropriated
		  herein for management and oversight purposes: Provided
		  further, That funds appropriated herein shall not be subject to the
		  matching or cost share requirements of sections 602(b)(2), 602(b)(3) or 202 of
		  the Federal Water Pollution Control Act nor the matching requirements of
		  section 1452(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act: Provided
		  further, That the Administrator shall reallocate funds appropriated
		  herein for the Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (Revolving Funds)
		  where projects are not under contract or construction within 8 months of the
		  date of enactment of this Act: Provided further, That
		  notwithstanding the priority rankings they would otherwise receive under each
		  program, priority for funds appropriated herein shall be given to projects on a
		  State priority list that are ready to proceed to construction within 12 months
		  of the date of enactment of this Act: Provided further, That
		  notwithstanding the requirements of section 603(d) of the Federal Water
		  Pollution Control Act or section 1452(f) of the Safe Drinking Water Act, for
		  the funds appropriated herein, each State shall use not less than 50 percent of
		  the amount of its capitalization grants to provide additional subsidization to
		  eligible recipients in the form of forgiveness of principal, negative interest
		  loans or grants or any combination of these: Provided further,
		  That, to the extent there are sufficient eligible project applications, not
		  less than 20 percent of the funds appropriated herein for the Revolving Funds
		  shall be for projects to address green infrastructure, water or energy
		  efficiency improvements or other environmentally innovative activities:
		  Provided further, That notwithstanding the limitation on
		  amounts specified in section 518(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act,
		  up to 2.0 percent of the funds appropriated herein for the Clean Water State
		  Revolving Funds may be reserved by the Administrator for tribal grants under
		  section 518(c) of such Act: Provided further, That up to 4
		  percent of the funds appropriated herein for tribal set-asides under the
		  Revolving Funds may be transferred to the Indian Health Service to support
		  management and oversight of tribal projects: Provided further,
		  That none of the funds appropriated herein shall be available for the purchase
		  of land or easements as authorized by section 603(c) of the Federal Water
		  Pollution Control Act or for activities authorized by section 1452(k) of the
		  Safe Drinking Water Act: Provided further, That
		  notwithstanding section 603(d)(2) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
		  and section 1452(f)(2) of the Safe Drinking Water Act, funds may be used to
		  buy, refinance, or restructure the debt obligations of eligible recipients only
		  where such debt was incurred on or after October 1, 2009: Provided
		  further, That section 1606 of title XVI of Public Law 111–5 shall
		  apply to the use of the funds provided under this
		  heading.
			Department
		  of Transportation
			Federal Highway
		  Administration
			Highway
		  Infrastructure InvestmentFor
		  an additional amount for Highway Infrastructure Investment for
		  restoration, repair, construction and other activities eligible under paragraph
		  (b) of section 133 of title 23, United States Code, and for passenger and
		  freight rail transportation and port infrastructure projects eligible for
		  assistance under subsection 601(a)(8) of such title, $47,300,000,000, to remain
		  available for the 21-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this
		  Act: Provided, That, after making the set-asides required
		  under this heading, 50 percent of the funds made available under this heading
		  shall be apportioned to States using the formula set forth in section 104(b)(3)
		  of title 23, United States Code, and the remaining funds shall be apportioned
		  to States in the same ratio as the obligation limitation for fiscal year 2010
		  was distributed among the States in accordance with the formula specified in
		  section 120(a)(6) of title I of division A of Public Law 111–117:
		  Provided further, That funds made available under this heading
		  shall be apportioned not later than 21 days after the date of enactment of this
		  Act: Provided further, That in selecting projects to be
		  carried out with funds apportioned under this heading, priority shall be given
		  to projects that are projected for completion within a 3-year time frame, and
		  are located in economically distressed areas as defined by section 301 of the
		  Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3161):
		  Provided further, That in selecting projects to be carried out
		  with funds apportioned under this heading, States shall ensure an equitable
		  geographic distribution of funds and an appropriate balance in addressing the
		  needs of urban and rural communities in the State: Provided
		  further, That 120 days following the date of such apportionment, the
		  Secretary of Transportation shall withdraw from each State an amount equal to
		  50 percent of the funds awarded to that State less the amount of funding
		  obligated, as determined by the Secretary, and the Secretary shall redistribute
		  such amounts to other States that have had no funds withdrawn under this
		  proviso in the manner described in section 120(c) of division K of Public Law
		  110–161: Provided further, That 1 year following the date of
		  such apportionment, the Secretary shall withdraw from each recipient of funds
		  apportioned under this heading any funds that are not under contract, as
		  determined by the Secretary, and the Secretary shall redistribute such amounts
		  to States that have had no funds withdrawn under this proviso in the manner
		  described in section 120(c) of title I of division A of Public Law 111–117:
		  Provided further, That at the request of a State, the
		  Secretary of Transportation may provide an extension of such 1-year period only
		  to the extent that he feels satisfied that the State has encountered extreme
		  conditions that create an unworkable bidding environment or other extenuating
		  circumstances: Provided further, That before granting such an
		  extension, the Secretary shall send a letter to the House and Senate Committees
		  on Appropriations that provides a thorough justification for the extension:
		  Provided further, That 3 percent of the funds apportioned to a
		  State under this heading shall be set aside for the purposes described in
		  subsection 133(d)(2) of title 23, United States Code (without regard to the
		  comparison to fiscal year 2005): Provided further, That 30
		  percent of the funds apportioned to a State under this heading shall be
		  suballocated within the State in the manner and for the purposes described in
		  the first sentence of subsection 133(d)(3)(A), in subsection 133(d)(3)(B), and
		  in subsection 133(d)(3)(D): Provided further, That such
		  suballocation shall be conducted in every State: Provided
		  further, That of the funds provided under this heading, $105,000,000
		  shall be for the Puerto Rico highway program authorized under section 165 of
		  title 23, United States Code, and $45,000,000 shall be for the territorial
		  highway program authorized under section 215 of title 23, United States Code:
		  Provided further, That of the funds provided under this
		  heading, $60,000,000 shall be for capital expenditures eligible under section
		  147 of title 23, United States Code (without regard to subsection (d)):
		  Provided further, That of the funds provided under this
		  heading, $550,000,000 shall be for investments in transportation at Indian
		  reservations and Federal lands: Provided further, That of the
		  funds identified in the preceding proviso, $310,000,000 shall be for the Indian
		  Reservation Roads program, $170,000,000 shall be for the Park Roads and
		  Parkways program, $60,000,000 shall be for the Forest Highway Program, and
		  $10,000,000 shall be for the Refuge Roads program: Provided
		  further, That for investments at Indian reservations and Federal
		  lands, priority shall be given to capital investments, and to projects and
		  activities that can be completed within 2 years of enactment of this Act:
		  Provided further, That 1 year following the enactment of this
		  Act, to ensure the prompt use of the $550,000,000 provided for investments at
		  Indian reservations and Federal lands, the Secretary shall have the authority
		  to redistribute unobligated funds within the respective program for which the
		  funds were appropriated: Provided further, That up to 4
		  percent of the funding provided for Indian Reservation Roads may be used by the
		  Secretary of the Interior for program management and oversight and
		  project-related administrative expenses: Provided further,
		  That section 134(f)(3)(C)(ii)(II) of title 23, United States Code, shall not
		  apply to funds provided under this heading: Provided further,
		  That of the funds made available under this heading, $20,000,000 shall be for
		  highway surface transportation and technology training under section 140(b) of
		  title 23, United States Code, and $20,000,000, to remain available until
		  expended, shall be for disadvantaged business enterprises bonding assistance
		  under section 332(e) of title 49, United States Code: Provided
		  further, That funds made available under this heading shall be
		  administered as if apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code,
		  except for funds made available for investments in transportation at Indian
		  reservations and Federal lands, and for the territorial highway program, which
		  shall be administered in accordance with chapter 2 of title 23, United States
		  Code, and except for funds made available for disadvantaged business
		  enterprises bonding assistance, which shall be administered in accordance with
		  chapter 3 of title 49, United States Code: Provided further,
		  That the Federal share payable on account of any project or activity carried
		  out with funds made available under this heading shall be, at the option of the
		  recipient, up to 100 percent of the total cost thereof: Provided
		  further, That funds made available by this paragraph shall not be
		  obligated for the purposes authorized under section 115(b) of title 23, United
		  States Code: Provided further, That funding provided under
		  this heading shall be in addition to any and all funds provided for fiscal
		  years 2010, 2011, and 2012 in any other Act for ‘‘Federal-aid Highways’’ and
		  shall not affect the distribution of funds provided for ‘‘Federal-aid
		  Highways’’ in any other Act: Provided further, That the amount
		  made available under this heading shall not be subject to any limitation on
		  obligations for Federal-aid highways or highway safety construction programs
		  set forth in any Act: Provided further, That section 1101(b)
		  of Public Law 109–59 shall apply to funds apportioned under this heading:
		  Provided further, That the Administrator of the Federal
		  Highway Administration may retain up to $45,000,000 of the funds provided under
		  this heading to fund the oversight by the Administrator of projects and
		  activities carried out with funds made available to the Federal Highway
		  Administration in this Act, of which $5,000,000 shall be for the Office of
		  Expedited Project Delivery in the Office of the Administrator of the Federal
		  Highway Administration, and such funds shall be available for the 45-month
		  period beginning on the date of enactment of this
		  Act.
			Federal Transit
		  Administration
			Transit
		  Capital AssistanceFor an
		  additional amount for Transit Capital Assistance for transit
		  capital assistance grants authorized under section 5302(a)(1) of title 49,
		  United States Code, $12,000,000,000: Provided, That the
		  Secretary of Transportation shall provide 80 percent of the funds appropriated
		  under this heading for grants under section 5307 of title 49, United States
		  Code, and apportion such funds in accordance with section 5336 of such title:
		  Provided further, That the Secretary shall apportion 10
		  percent of the funds appropriated under this heading in accordance with section
		  5340 of such title: Provided further, That the Secretary shall
		  provide 10 percent of the funds appropriated under this heading for grants
		  under section 5311 of title 49, United States Code, and apportion such funds in
		  accordance with such section: Provided further, That funds
		  apportioned under this heading shall be apportioned not later than 21 days
		  after the date of enactment of this Act: Provided further,
		  That 120 days following the date of such apportionment, the Secretary shall
		  withdraw from each urbanized area or State an amount equal to 50 percent of the
		  funds apportioned to such urbanized areas or States less the amount of funding
		  obligated, as determined by the Secretary, and the Secretary shall redistribute
		  such amounts to other urbanized areas or States that have had no funds
		  withdrawn under this proviso utilizing whatever method he deems appropriate to
		  ensure that all funds redistributed under this proviso shall be utilized
		  promptly: Provided further, That 1 year following the date of
		  such apportionment, the Secretary shall withdraw from each urbanized area or
		  State any funds that are not under contract, as determined by the Secretary,
		  and the Secretary shall redistribute such amounts to other urbanized areas or
		  States that have had no funds withdrawn under this proviso utilizing whatever
		  method he deems appropriate to ensure that all funds redistributed under this
		  proviso shall be utilized promptly: Provided further, That at
		  the request of an urbanized area or State, the Secretary of Transportation may
		  provide an extension of such 1-year period if he feels satisfied that the
		  urbanized area or State has encountered an unworkable bidding environment or
		  other extenuating circumstances: Provided further, That before
		  granting such an extension, the Secretary shall send a letter to the House and
		  Senate Committees on Appropriations that provides a thorough justification for
		  the extension: Provided further, That of the funds provided
		  for section 5311 of title 49, United States Code, 2.5 percent shall be made
		  available for section 5311(c)(1): Provided further, That of
		  the funding provided under this heading, $100,000,000 shall be distributed as
		  discretionary grants to public transit agencies for capital investments that
		  will assist in reducing the energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions of
		  their public transportation systems: Provided further, That
		  for such grants on energy-related investments, priority shall be given to
		  projects based on the total energy savings that are projected to result from
		  the investment, and projected energy savings as a percentage of the total
		  energy usage of the public transit agency: Provided further,
		  That applicable chapter 53 requirements shall apply to funding provided under
		  this heading, except that the Federal share of the costs for which any grant is
		  made under this heading shall be, at the option of the recipient, up to 100
		  percent: Provided further, That the amount made available
		  under this heading shall not be subject to any limitation on obligations for
		  transit programs set forth in any Act: Provided further, That
		  section 1101(b) of Public Law 109–59 shall apply to funds appropriated under
		  this heading: Provided further, That the funds appropriated
		  under this heading shall not be commingled with any prior year funds:
		  Provided further, That a recipient and subrecipient of funds
		  made available under this heading may use up to 10 percent of the amount
		  apportioned to a State or urbanized area for the operating costs of equipment
		  and facilities for use in public transportation or for eligible activities
		  under section 5311(f): Provided further, That in selecting
		  projects to be carried out with funds apportioned under this heading, priority
		  shall be given to projects that are located in economically distressed areas as
		  defined by section 301 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of
		  1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3161): Provided further, That in
		  selecting projects to be carried out with funds apportioned under this heading,
		  States shall ensure an equitable geographic distribution of funds and an
		  appropriate balance in addressing the needs of urban and rural communities in
		  the State: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other
		  provision of law, three-quarters of 1 percent of the funds provided for grants
		  under section 5307 and section 5340, and one-half of 1 percent of the funds
		  provided for grants under section 5311, shall be available for administrative
		  expenses and program management oversight, and such funds shall be available
		  for the 45-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this
		  Act.
			Office of the
		  Secretary
			Supplemental Discretionary
		  Grants for a National Surface Transportation SystemFor an additional amount for capital
		  investments in surface transportation infrastructure, $3,500,000,000, to remain
		  available for the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act:
		  Provided, That the Secretary of Transportation shall
		  distribute funds provided under this heading as discretionary grants to be
		  awarded to State and local governments or transit agencies on a competitive
		  basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, a
		  metropolitan area, or a region: Provided further, That
		  projects eligible for funding provided under this heading shall include, but
		  not be limited to, highway or bridge projects eligible under title 23, United
		  States Code, including interstate rehabilitation, improvements to the rural
		  collector road system, the reconstruction of overpasses and interchanges,
		  bridge replacements, seismic retrofit projects for bridges, and road
		  realignments; public transportation projects eligible under chapter 53 of title
		  49, United States Code, including investments in projects participating in the
		  New Starts or Small Starts programs that will expedite the completion of those
		  projects and their entry into revenue service; passenger and freight rail
		  transportation projects; and port infrastructure investments, including
		  projects that connect ports to other modes of transportation and improve the
		  efficiency of freight movement: Provided further, That of the
		  amount made available under this paragraph, the Secretary may use an amount not
		  to exceed $450,000,000 for the purpose of paying the subsidy and administrative
		  costs of projects eligible for federal credit assistance under chapter 6 of
		  title 23, United States Code, if the Secretary finds that such use of the funds
		  would advance the purposes of this paragraph: Provided
		  further, That in distributing funds provided under this heading, the
		  Secretary shall take such measures so as to ensure an equitable geographic
		  distribution of funds and an appropriate balance in addressing the needs of
		  urban and rural communities: Provided further, That a grant
		  funded under this heading shall be not less than $20,000,000 and not greater
		  than $300,000,000: Provided further, That the Secretary may
		  waive the minimum grant size cited in the preceding proviso for the purpose of
		  funding significant projects in smaller cities, regions, or States:
		  Provided further, That not more than 20 percent of the funds
		  made available under this paragraph may be awarded to projects in a single
		  State: Provided further, That the Federal share of the costs
		  for which an expenditure is made under this heading may be up to 100 percent:
		  Provided further, That the Secretary shall give priority to
		  projects that require a contribution of Federal funds in order to complete an
		  overall financing package, and to projects that are expected to be completed
		  within 3 years of enactment of this Act: Provided further,
		  That the Secretary shall publish criteria on which to base the competition for
		  any grants awarded under this heading not later than 90 days after enactment of
		  this Act: Provided further, That the Secretary shall require
		  applications for funding provided under this heading to be submitted not later
		  than 180 days after the publication of such criteria, and announce all projects
		  selected to be funded from such funds not later than 1 year after enactment of
		  this Act: Provided further, That projects conducted using
		  funds provided under this heading must comply with the requirements of
		  subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code: Provided
		  further, That the Secretary may retain up to $1,500,000 of the funds
		  provided under this heading, and may transfer portions of those funds to the
		  Administrators of the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit
		  Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Maritime
		  Administration, to fund the award and oversight of grants made under this
		  heading.
			3.Buy
			 AmericaAll funds provided
			 under this Act shall be subject to the requirements of section 1605 of division
			 A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law
			 111–5).
		4.Recovery Act
			 reporting requirementsTo the
			 extent practicable, all funds provided under this Act shall be subject to the
			 reporting, transparency, and oversight requirements established by section 1201
			 and title XV of division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
			 2009 (Public Law 111–5), on the same basis as funds made available in division
			 A of that Act.
		5.Funding
			(a)In
			 generalEffective August 1,
			 2010, of the unobligated balance of the discretionary appropriations made
			 available by division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
			 (Public Law 111–5), there is rescinded the amount determined by the Director of
			 the Office of Management and Budget to be required to offset the appropriations
			 under this Act.
			(b)ApplicationThe rescission made by subsection (a) shall
			 be applied proportionately—
				(1)to each
			 discretionary account; and
				(2)within each such
			 account, to each program, project, and activity (with programs, projects, and
			 activities as delineated in the appropriation Act or accompanying reports for
			 the relevant fiscal year covering such account, or for accounts not included in
			 an appropriation Act, as delineated in the most recently submitted President's
			 budget).
				(c)OMB
			 reportNot later than
			 September 16, 2010, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall
			 submit to the House of Representatives and the Senate a report specifying the
			 reductions made to each account, program, project, and activity pursuant to
			 this section.
			6.Period of
			 availabilityNo part of any
			 appropriation contained in this Act shall remain available for obligation
			 beyond September 30, 2010, unless expressly so provided herein.


113 HR 3338 IH: Fairness In Failed Federal Exchange Act of 2013
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-10-24
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.

I113th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3338IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESOctober 24, 2013Mrs. Ellmers (for herself, Mrs. Blackburn, and Mr. Kinzinger of Illinois) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and MeansA BILLTo amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide, because of problems relating to the operation of Exchanges, for a hardship exemption from the individual mandate for months of noncoverage, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Fairness In Failed Federal Exchange Act of 2013.2.Waiver of individual mandate through application of hardship exemptionSection 1311(d) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18031(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:(8)Application of hardship exemption in cases of noncoverageAn applicable individual (as defined in subsection (d) of section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) who is not covered by minimum essential coverage and who is eligible to enroll through an Exchange for coverage under a qualified health plan for a month—(A)in 2014 is deemed (for purposes of this Act and the amendments made by this Act) to have had a certification by the Secretary under paragraph (4)(H) with respect to the hardship exemption described in subsection (e)(5)(H) of such section for such month; and(B)in a subsequent year is deemed (for such purposes) to have had a certification by the Secretary under such paragraph with respect to such hardship exemption if the individual executes an attestation that the individual has been unable to enroll in such a plan through such Exchange for a month in such year..


116 S1870 IS: Miracle Mountain Designation Act
U.S. Senate
2019-06-13
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.

II116th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1870IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJune 13, 2019Mr. Lee (for himself and Mr. Romney) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesA BILLTo designate a mountain in the State of Utah as Miracle Mountain.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Miracle Mountain Designation Act. 2.FindingsCongress finds that—
 (1)on September 13, 2018, the Bald Mountain Fire burned nearly 20,000 acres of land in the State of Utah;
 (2)Elk Ridge City, which is located in Utah County, Utah, was nearly the victim of the Bald Mountain Fire, until the fire suddenly halted progression and, instead of burning into Elk Ridge City, stayed behind the mountain and spared the city;
 (3)in acknowledgment of this event, the mountain holds special significance to the residents of Elk Ridge City, Utah, and surrounding communities; and
 (4)the presently unnamed peak has been referred to as Miracle Mountain by many residents since the fire that nearly spread to Elk Ridge City, Utah. 3.Miracle Mountain (a)DesignationThe mountain in the State of Utah, located at 39° 59′ 02N, 111° 40′ 12W, shall be known and designated as Miracle Mountain.
 (b)ReferencesAny reference in a law, map, regulation, document, record, or other paper of the United States to the mountain described in subsection (a) shall be considered to be a reference to Miracle Mountain.


117 S1179 IS: Canal Conveyance Capacity Restoration Act
U.S. Senate
2021-04-15
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. 1179IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESApril 15, 2021Mrs. Feinstein introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesA BILLTo provide financial assistance for projects to address certain subsidence impacts in the State of California, and for other purposes. 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Canal Conveyance Capacity Restoration Act.2.PurposesThe purposes of this Act are—(1)to address severe subsidence impacts that have substantially reduced the carrying capacity of the water delivery system of the State; and(2)to provide additional water supply in the State at a relatively low cost per acre-foot to increase—(A)resiliency to increasingly severe droughts in the State; (B)groundwater recharge needed to assist in meeting groundwater sustainability goals established under State law; and(C)the reliability of surface or groundwater supplies, portions of which serve disadvantaged communities.3.DefinitionsIn this Act:(1)Federal poolThe term Federal pool means each of pools 13 through 21 of the San Luis Canal/California Aqueduct, which are owned by the United States and operated by the California Department of Water Resources under the agreement entitled Agreement Between the United States of America and the Department of Water Resources of the State of California for the Construction and Operation of the Joint-Use Facilities of the San Luis Unit and dated December 30, 1961.(2)Net present value of the local contribution to reimbursable Federal fundingThe term net present value of the local contribution to reimbursable Federal funding means, with respect to a project, the amount equal to the difference between—(A)the total amount of reimbursable Federal funds made available for a project; and (B)the amount of the present value, as of the date of the calculation, of any interest subsidy provided through the repayment terms to the Treasury over similarly structured municipal bond financing available to the non-Federal entity on the disbursement of the reimbursable Federal funds for the project. (3)Non-Federal poolThe term non-Federal pool means each of pools 22 through 40 of the California Aqueduct, which are owned by the State and operated by the California Department of Water Resources.(4)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation.(5)StateThe term State means the State of California. 4.Friant-kern canal and delta-mendota canal subsidence mitigation projects(a)In generalThe Secretary may provide financial assistance for the design, planning, and construction of—(1)Federal facility improvements to the Friant Division, Central Valley Project, California, under section 10201(a)(1) of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 1365); and (2)a project to restore conveyance capacity at, and to mitigate subsidence-related impacts on, the Delta-Mendota Canal, through a partnership with—(A)a public water agency that contracts for the delivery of Central Valley Project water; or(B)a local joint powers authority formed under State law by public water agencies that contract for the delivery of Central Valley Project water.(b)Cost-Sharing requirement(1)Federal shareThe Federal share of the cost of carrying out a project under subsection (a) shall be not more than 33 percent of the total cost of the project, including amounts contributed after October 1, 2018.(2)Form of non-Federal shareThe non-Federal share of the cost of carrying out a project under subsection (a) may be provided in the form of cash or in-kind contributions, including the net present value of the local contribution to the reimbursable Federal funding for the project after October 1, 2018.(c)Required determination by SecretaryFederal funds shall not be made available under this Act for a project under subsection (a) unless the Secretary determines that—(1)there is an adequate non-Federal cost share to match the total amount of federally appropriated financial assistance made available for the project as of the date of the determination of the Secretary; and(2)the project is designed in a manner—(A)to satisfy the purposes described in section 2, after taking into account anticipated future subsidence; and(B)to comply with all applicable requirements of Federal and State law, including part 2.74 of division 6 of the California Water Code (commonly known as the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act).5.California aqueduct subsidence mitigation project(a)In generalThe Secretary may provide financial assistance for the design, planning, and construction of projects to restore conveyance capacity at, and to mitigate subsidence-related impacts on, the Federal pool and non-Federal pool.(b)Non-Federal partnersTo carry out this section, the Secretary may enter into partnerships with—(1)the State; or(2)a local joint powers authority formed under State law by public water agencies that contract for delivery of water from the Central Valley Project or the State Water Project.(c)Cost-Sharing requirement(1)Federal shareThe Federal share of the cost of carrying out a project under subsection (a) shall be not more than 33 percent of the total cost of the project, including any amounts expended by the State for subsidence repairs in the Federal pool and non-Federal pool for the project after October 1, 2018.(2)Form of non-Federal shareThe non-Federal share of the cost of a project provided financial assistance under subsection (a) may be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions.(d)Required determination by SecretaryFederal funds shall not be made available under this Act for a project under subsection (a) unless the Secretary determines, with the concurrence of the Governor of the State, that—(1)there is an adequate non-Federal cost share to match the total amount of federally appropriated financial assistance made available for the project as of the date of the determination of the Secretary; and(2)the project is designed in a manner—(A)to satisfy the purposes described in section 2, after taking into account anticipated future subsidence; and(B)to comply with all applicable requirements of Federal and State law, including part 2.74 of division 6 of the California Water Code (commonly known as the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act).6.Environmental complianceIn carrying out a project under this Act, the Secretary shall comply with applicable environmental laws, including—(1)the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); (2)the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and(3)applicable State law.7.Authorization of appropriations(a)In generalThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, as adjusted annually to reflect changes since March 2021 in the Bureau of Reclamation Construction Cost Trends Index applicable to the types of construction involved—(1)$180,000,000 to carry out section 4(a)(1), consistent with, and in addition to funding authorized under, section 10203(c) of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 1367);(2)$183,900,000 to carry out section 4(a)(2);(3)$194,000,000 to pay the Federal share for the Federal pool under section 5;(4)$95,500,000 to pay the Federal share for the non-Federal pool under section 5; and(5)$180,000,000 to implement the Restoration Goal of the settlement described in section 10004 of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 1350), in addition to the funding authorized under section 10009 of that Act.(b)LimitationsAmounts made available under subsection (a) may not be used—(1)to build new surface storage;(2)to raise existing reservoirs; or(3)to enlarge the carrying capacity of a canal constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation, except for a temporary increase in carrying capacity that is intended—(A)to mitigate anticipated future subsidence; and(B)to avoid an increase in carrying capacity that would otherwise be required on the occurrence of anticipated future subsidence.(c)Additional amountsAmounts made available under subsection (a) shall be—(1)in addition to any other amounts made available for the purposes described in that subsection; and (2)nonreimbursable.


115 HR 6559 IH: Social Security Administration Modernization Act of 2018
U.S. House of Representatives
2018-07-26
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.

I115th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 6559IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 26, 2018Mr. Sam Johnson of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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 improve the Social Security Administration’s service to the public, to strengthen the Disability
			 Insurance program, and to protect the trust funds.

		1.Short title; table of contents
 (a)Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Social Security Administration Modernization Act of 2018. (b)Table of contentsThe table of contents for this Act is as follows:

					Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
					Title I—Improving SSA Operations and Service
					Sec. 101. Vacancies in the Social Security Administration.
					Sec. 102. Loss of credit for Federal pension after certain violations.
					Sec. 103. Single point of contact for identity theft victims.
					Sec. 104. Report on position of Chief Actuary.
					Sec. 105. Providing information on employment support services.
					Sec. 106. Online benefit assessment tools.
					Sec. 107. Annual reporting requirements.
					Title II—Strengthening the Disability Insurance Program
					Sec. 201. Updating of medical-vocational guidelines.
					Sec. 202. Quality reviews of hearing dispositions.
					Sec. 203. Reimbursement of representative travel expenses.
					Sec. 204. Immediate suspension of claimant representatives upon certain convictions or disbarment.
					Sec. 205. Reconsiderations of disability cessation determinations.
					Title III—Protecting Social Security’s Trust Funds
					Sec. 301. Terms of Public Trustees of the Trust Funds.
					Sec. 302. Revisions to provisions limiting payment of benefits to fugitive felons under title II of
			 the Social Security Act.
					Sec. 303. Real property acquired by the Trust Funds.
					Sec. 304. Require child beneficiaries to attend school.
					Sec. 305. Minimum monthly withholding to recover old-age, survivors, and disability insurance
			 overpayments.
					Sec. 306. Clarification of the treatment of overpayments.

			IImproving SSA Operations and Service
			101.Vacancies in the Social Security Administration
 (a)In generalSection 702 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 902) is amended by adding at the end the following:

 (f)Vacancies(1)In any case in which the President designates an officer of the Government (other than the Deputy Commissioner) to serve as Acting Commissioner in the event of a vacancy in the office of the Commissioner, such officer may serve in such office—
 (A)for no longer than 210 days beginning on the date the vacancy occurs; or (B)subject to paragraph (2)(A), once a first or second nomination for the office is submitted to the Senate, from the date of such nomination for the period that the nomination is pending in the Senate.
								(2)
								(A)
 (i)If the first nomination for the office is rejected by the Senate, withdrawn, or returned to the President by the Senate, such officer of the Government may continue to serve in an acting role for no more than 210 days after the date of such rejection, withdrawal, or return.
 (ii)Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if a second nomination for the office is submitted to the Senate after the rejection, withdrawal, or return of the first nomination, the officer of the Government serving in an acting role may continue to serve—
 (I)until the second nomination is confirmed; or (II)for no more than 210 days after the second nomination is rejected, withdrawn, or returned.
 (B)If the office of the Commissioner becomes vacant during an adjournment of the Congress sine die, the 210-day period under paragraph (1) shall begin on the date that the Senate first reconvenes.
								(C)
 (i)With respect to any vacancy of the office of the Commissioner that exists during the 60-day period beginning on a transitional inauguration day, the 210-day period under paragraph (1) shall be deemed to begin on the later of the date occurring—
 (I)90 days after such transitional inauguration day; or (II)90 days after the date on which such vacancy occurs.
 (ii)In this subparagraph, the term transitional inauguration day means the date on which any person swears or affirms the oath of office as President, if such person is not the President on the date preceding the date of swearing or affirming such oath of office.
 (3)Upon the expiration of the period of service described in paragraph (1), if the Senate has not confirmed a nomination to the office of Commissioner as of such date, such office shall remain vacant until such time as the Senate has confirmed a nomination to such office..
 (b)Timing of appointmentsSection 702(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 902(a)(3)) is amended by striking remainder of such term and inserting remainder of such term, except that the President may appoint a Commissioner to a term of office that has not yet commenced if such term of office will commence before the end of the Presidential term in which the appointment is made.
 (c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 20, 2019. 102.Loss of credit for Federal pension after certain violationsSection 208 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 408) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					(f)
 (1)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual convicted of an offense under subsection (a) may not receive credit under section 8332 or section 8411 (as the case may be) of title 5, United States Code, for any service that occurs on or after the date on which the offense for which the individual was convicted occurs, if, with respect to such conviction, every act or omission of the individual that is needed to satisfy the elements of the offense—
 (A)is committed while the individual is an employee of the Social Security Administration; and (B)directly relates to the performance of the individual's official duties.
 (2)An individual convicted of an offense described in paragraph (1)— (A)shall not, after the date of the conviction, be further eligible to participate in the retirement system under chapter 83 or 84 of title 5, United States Code; and
 (B)shall be entitled to be paid any amounts contributed by the individual towards an annuity that were contributed on or after the date on which the offense for which the individual was convicted under this section occurs pursuant to, or in a similar manner as, the terms of section 8316 of such title.
 (3)The Director of the Office of Personnel Management, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security, shall prescribe any regulations necessary to carry out this section.
 (4)This subsection shall apply with respect to any offense that occurs on or after the date of enactment of this subsection..
 103.Single point of contact for identity theft victimsTitle VII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					714.Single point of contact for identity theft victims
 (a)In generalThe Commissioner of Social Security shall establish and implement procedures to ensure that any individual who requests a new social security account number due to theft or breach or whose social security account number is used to fraudulently obtain benefits under title II, VIII, or XVI of this Act has a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration throughout the processing of the individual’s case. The single point of contact shall track the individual’s case to completion and coordinate with other units to resolve issues as quickly as possible.
						(b)Single point of contact
 (1)In generalFor purposes of subsection (a), the single point of contact shall consist of a team or subset of specially trained employees who—
 (A)have the ability to coordinate with other units to resolve the issues involved in the individual's case, and
 (B)shall be accountable for the case until its resolution. (2)Team or subsetThe employees included within the team or subset described in paragraph (1) may change as required to meet the needs of the Social Security Administration, provided that procedures have been established to—
 (A)ensure continuity of records and case history, and (B)notify the individual when appropriate..
 104.Report on position of Chief ActuaryNot later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Social Security Advisory Board shall submit a report to Congress on the structure of and services provided by the office of the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration, including a discussion of the Chief Actuary’s position within the organizational structure of the Social Security Administration.
			105.Providing information on employment support services
 (a)In generalTitle II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 218 the following:

 219.Information on employment support servicesThe Commissioner of Social Security shall provide individuals who are denied benefits under this title based on an adverse determination of disability information on appropriate public or private entities that provide employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services..
 (b)Effective dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to applications for monthly benefits filed on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
				106.Online benefit assessment tools
 (a)In generalNot later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall make available on the website of the Social Security Administration a tool or tools to allow an individual entitled to benefits under section 223 of the Social Security Act to obtain an estimate of the potential impact of earnings on the individual’s eligibility for and amount of such benefits.
 (b)No recovery of certain overpaymentsIn any case in which a beneficiary to whom an overpayment is made under section 223 of the Social Security Act shows to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that such overpayment arose as a result of the beneficiary’s reliance on inaccurate information provided by the tool or tools described in subsection (a), the beneficiary shall be considered to meet the criteria in section 204(b)(1) of such Act and there shall be no adjustment of payments to, or recovery by the United States from, the beneficiary with respect to such overpayment.
				107.Annual reporting requirements
 (a)Pre-Effectuation reportSection 221(c)(3)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 421(c)(3)(C)) is amended by striking April 1, 1992, and annually thereafter and inserting December 31 of each year. (b)Reports on social security account numbers and earnings of aliens not authorized To workSection 290(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1360(c)) is amended—
 (1)by striking fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 1996) and inserting calendar year; and (2)by striking such fiscal year and inserting such calendar year.
					IIStrengthening the Disability Insurance Program
 201.Updating of medical-vocational guidelinesAs soon as possible after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall prescribe rules and regulations that update the medical-vocational guidelines, as set forth in appendix 2 to subpart P of part 404 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations, used in disability determinations, including full consideration of new employment opportunities made possible by advances in treatment, rehabilitation, and technology and full consideration of the effect of prevalent languages on education.
			202.Quality reviews of hearing dispositions
 Section 205(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					(4)
 (A)The Commissioner of Social Security shall conduct pre-effectuation and post-effectuation quality reviews of hearing dispositions with respect to decisions in connection with applications for benefits under this title, in a sufficient number to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and other guidance issued by the Commissioner of Social Security.
 (B)The Commissioner of Social Security shall annually submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report that includes—
 (i)the total number of cases selected for a quality review as described in subparagraph (A); (ii)the number of such cases in which a decision is remanded; and
 (iii)the number of such cases in which a decision is modified or reversed.. 203.Reimbursement of representative travel expenses (a)Reduction of trust fund expensesSection 201(j) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401(j)) is amended—
 (1)by striking , their representatives,; and (2)by striking the last sentence.
 (b)Authorization for certain representative travel expenses To be collected from claimantsSection 206(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 406(a)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following: Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Commissioner may authorize a representative to collect from a claimant travel expenses incurred by the representative attending reconsideration interviews and proceedings on behalf of the claimant. Such amount authorized to be collected shall not exceed the amount that would be available under section 201(j) for such travel originating within the geographic area of the office having jurisdiction over such proceeding. If a representative receives a fee under an agreement pursuant to paragraph (2)(A) of this subsection, the total amount the representative receives shall be equal to the amount specified under such paragraph plus the amount of any travel expenses authorized under this paragraph..
 (c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to applications for monthly insurance benefits filed on or after the date of the enactment of this section.
 204.Immediate suspension of claimant representatives upon certain convictions or disbarmentSection 206(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 406(a)(1)) is amended— (1)in the third sentence, by striking disbarred or each place it appears; and
 (2)by inserting after the third sentence the following: Upon conviction of an individual for a felony or a crime of moral turpitude in a Federal or State Court or, in the case of an attorney, upon disbarment from any court or bar to which he or she was previously admitted to practice, the Commissioner may, after due notice, immediately disqualify or suspend the individual from appearing as a claimant representative before the Social Security Administration, pending an expedited hearing..
				205.Reconsiderations of disability cessation determinations
 (a)In generalSection 205(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(b)(2)) is amended, in the matter following subparagraph (C)—
 (1)in the second sentence, by striking where the finding was originally made by the State agency, and shall be made by the Commissioner of Social Security where the finding was originally made by the Commissioner of Social Security and inserting regardless of whether the finding was originally made by the State agency or the Commissioner of Social Security;
 (2)in the third sentence, by striking which was originally made by such State agency; and (3)in the fourth sentence, by striking which was originally made by the Commissioner of Social Security.
 (b)Effective dateThe amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to determinations of disability made on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
				IIIProtecting Social Security’s Trust Funds
			301.Terms of Public Trustees of the Trust Funds
 (a)In generalSection 201(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401(c)) is amended— (1)by striking With respect to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and inserting (1) With respect to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund;
 (2)by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively; (3)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as redesignated by paragraph (2))—
 (A)by striking of two members of the public (both of whom may not be from the same political party), who shall be nominated by the President for a term of four years and subject to confirmation by the Senate. and inserting of four members of the public (hereinafter in this title referred to as public trustees), to be appointed in accordance with paragraph (2). A public trustee may not serve more than two consecutive full terms. In any case in which a public trustee leaves office on any date prior to the end of a term, the offices of both public trustees shall be deemed vacant as of such date.;
 (B)by striking member of the Board of Trustees serving as a member of the public and and inserting public trustee; and (C)by striking An individual nominated and confirmed as a member of the public may serve in such position after the expiration of such member's term until the earlier of the time at which the member’s successor takes office or the time at which a report of the Board is first issued under paragraph (2) after the expiration of the member’s term and inserting A public trustee may serve in such position after the expiration of the public trustee’s term until the time at which a successor takes office;
 (4)by striking It shall be the duty of the Board of Trustees to— and inserting the following:  (3)It shall be the duty of the Board of Trustees to—;
 (5)by inserting after not less frequently than once each calendar year. the following:  (2) (A)Public trustees shall be appointed as follows:

										(i)
 Two members (each member from a different political party) shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate with the advice of the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Finance. At least one such member shall have demonstrated expertise relating to the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program and at least one shall have demonstrated expertise relating to the Medicare program.

										(ii)
 Two members (each member from a different political party) shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with the advice of the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means. At least one such member shall have demonstrated expertise relating to the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program and at least one shall have demonstrated expertise relating to the Medicare program.
									(B)
 (i)Except as provided in clause (ii), each public trustee shall serve for a term beginning on the day after the expiration of the term of such member’s predecessor and expiring on the fourth April 1 occurring during such term (or, if later, the date on which the fourth report of the Board is issued under paragraph (2) during such term).
 (ii)Clause (i) shall be applied with respect to initial appointments under this subsection— (I)by substituting first for fourth each place it appears in clause (i) with respect to one of the public trustees appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate (as designated by the President pro tempore of the Senate at the time of nomination);
 (II)by substituting second for fourth each place it appears in clause (i) with respect to one of the public trustees appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (as designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the time of nomination); and
 (III)by substituting third for fourth each place it appears in clause (i) with respect to one of the public trustees appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate (as designated by the President pro tempore of the Senate at the time of nomination).;
 (6)in subparagraph (B) (as redesignated by paragraph (2))— (A)by striking the preceding fiscal year and inserting the preceding calendar year (and during the preceding fiscal year);
 (B)by striking the next ensuing five fiscal years and inserting the next ensuing 75 calendar years (and during the next ensuing 75 fiscal years); and (C)by inserting before the semicolon the following: (or, in any case in which the Board of Trustees determines that such report will not be completed by the first day of April, provide written notification of the expected issue date to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate not later than the first day of March, and written notification of an updated expected issue date not later than 14 days prior to the issue date); and
 (7)in the matter following subparagraph (E) (as redesignated by paragraph (2))— (A)in the first sentence—
 (i)by striking the preceding fiscal year and inserting the preceding calendar year (and during the preceding fiscal year); and (ii)by striking the next ensuing five fiscal years and inserting the next ensuing 75 calendar years (and during the next ensuing 75 fiscal years);
 (B)by striking are reasonable and inserting the following: are reasonable, along with a justification by the public trustees for any response by the Board of Trustees to recommendations from the Social Security Advisory Board received during the previous year regarding such techniques, methodologies, actuarial assumptions, and cost estimates. Such report shall also include an assessment of the previous annual report made in the 1st calendar year of the 10-calendar-year period ending on the first day of the calendar year in which such report is made comparing the projected values in such previous annual report of each demographic and economic assumption made for each of the 10 calendar years in such period with the actual data available with respect to each such assumption for each such calendar year.; and
 (C)by inserting before A person serving the following: Such report shall also include the full names of the attendees of the Trustees Working Group during the report’s development..
 (b)Effective dateThe amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to public trustees appointed for terms beginning after April 1, 2019, and with respect to reports issued for fiscal years after 2018.
				302.Revisions to provisions limiting payment of benefits to fugitive felons under title II of the
			 Social Security Act
				(a)In general
 (1)Fugitive felon warrant requirementSection 202(x)(1)(A)(iv) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(x)(1)(A)(iv)) is amended— (A)by striking fleeing to avoid and inserting the subject of an arrest warrant for the purpose of;
 (B)by striking the place from which the person flees the first place it appears and inserting the jurisdiction issuing the warrant; and (C)by striking the place from which the person flees the second place it appears and inserting the jurisdiction.
 (2)Probation and parole violator warrant requirementSection 202(x)(1)(A)(v) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(x)(1)(A)(v)) is amended to read as follows:

 (v)is the subject of an arrest warrant for violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under Federal or State law..
 (b)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall be effective with respect to benefits payable under the Social Security Act for months that begin after the date that is 1 year following the date of the enactment of this section.
				303.Real property acquired by the Trust Funds
 (a)In generalSection 201(g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

						(5)
 (A)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any real property acquired using funds derived from the Trust Funds—
 (i)the Managing Trustee shall record such property as an asset of the Trust Fund from which such funds were derived;
 (ii)any net proceeds from the disposition of such property sold at any time shall be deposited in such Trust Fund, to be invested by the Managing Trustee in the same manner and to the same extent as the other assets of such Trust Fund; and
 (iii)the use of such real property shall be restricted to purposes of carrying out the duties of the Commissioner as authorized by this Act and any other Federal law..
 (b)Prohibition on use of Trust Funds for certain administrative costsSection 201(g)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401(g)(5)), as added by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

						(B)
 (i)Funds made available for expenditure pursuant to the authorization in this subsection may not be used for the operation and maintenance of real property in amounts that exceed the actual costs of such operation and maintenance, including any amounts for overhead, space and services, repair, replacement, or depreciation.
 (ii)For purposes of this subparagraph, funds made available for the replacement of the National Computer Center shall be deemed to be funds made available as described in clause (i)..
 (c)Annual reportSection 201(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401(c)) is amended by inserting after the second sentence in the matter following paragraph (5) the following: Such statement of assets shall include an estimate of the fair market value of all real property recorded as an asset of the Trust Funds at the end of the preceding fiscal year..
 (d)Effective dateThe amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to real property acquired using funds solely derived from the Trust Funds and disposed of on, before, or after the date of enactment of this Act.
				304.Require child beneficiaries to attend school
				(a)Child’s benefits under title II
 (1)In generalSection 202(d)(1)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(d)(1)(B)(i)) is amended by striking age of 18 and inserting applicable full-time attendance age.
 (2)Applicable full-time attendance ageSection 202(d)(7) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(d)(7)) is amended by adding at the end the following:  (E)The applicable full-time attendance age is—
 (i)the age of 18 (in the case of an individual who becomes entitled to child’s insurance benefits before 2019), and
 (ii)the age of 15 (in the case of an individual who becomes entitled to child’s insurance benefits in or after 2019)..
					(3)Conforming amendments
 (A)TerminationSection 202(d)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(d)(1)) is amended in each of subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) by striking age of 18 each place it appears and inserting applicable full-time attendance age.
 (B)ReentitlementSection 202(d)(6) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(d)(6)) is amended by striking age of 18 and inserting applicable full-time attendance age. 305.Minimum monthly withholding to recover old-age, survivors, and disability insurance overpayments (a)Minimum monthly withholding (1)In generalSection 204(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 404(a)(1)) is amended—
 (A)by redesignating subparagraph (A) as clause (i) of subparagraph (A); (B)in subparagraph (A)(i) (as so redesignated), by striking With and inserting Subject to clause (ii), with; and
 (C)by adding at the end the following:  (ii)If the Commissioner determines that withholding the full amount of a monthly benefit payment to which an individual is otherwise entitled under this title to recover an overpayment pursuant to this section would defeat the purpose of this title, the Commissioner may withhold from such payment an amount that is less than such full amount but not less than 10 percent of such full amount..
 (2)RegulationsThe Commissioner of Social Security shall prescribe such regulations and make any conforming changes to regulations as the Commissioner determines appropriate to carry out the amendments made by this subsection.
 (3)Effective dateThe amendments made by this subsection shall apply with respect to overpayments established on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section.
					(b)Annual report
 (1)In generalSection 845(c) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (42 U.S.C. 404 note) is amended— (A)in paragraph (1), by striking and at the end;
 (B)by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (C)by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

 (2)the average length of repayment plans for the recovery of such overpayments; and. (2)Effective dateThe amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to the annual report due on January 1, 2019.
 306.Clarification of the treatment of overpaymentsSection 207 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 407) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					(d)
 (1)The amount of any overpayment of benefits to an individual under this title, and any obligation of the individual to repay such overpayment, shall be determined solely under this title.
 (2)No other provision of law, including title 11 of the United States Code, may be construed to limit, supersede, or otherwise modify the provisions of this subsection except to the extent that it does so by express reference to this subsection..


116 HR 8839 IH: Jobs Now Youth Employment Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-12-02
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. 8839IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESDecember 2, 2020Mr. Rush introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and LaborA BILLTo direct the Secretary of Labor to fund youth workforce investment activities for certain local areas, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Jobs Now Youth Employment Act.2.Youth workforce investment activities(a)In generalFrom the amount made available under subsection (e) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall make allotments to local areas pursuant to subsection (b) for youth workforce investment activities under section 129 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164).(b)FormulaThe allotment to a local area under subsection (a) shall be made on the basis of the relative number of long-term unemployed individuals in each local area, compared to the total number of long-term unemployed individuals in all local areas.(c)Data collectionIn carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall—(1)beginning not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall collect long-term unemployment rates for local areas; and(2)identify local areas that have long-term unemployment rates above the national average for the year for which such data is collected.(d)DefinitionIn this section:(1)Local areaThe term local area has the meaning given such term under section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).(2)Long-term unemploymentThe term long-term unemployment, used with respect to a local area, means the number of individuals in such local area who have been unemployed for 15 weeks or more.(3)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.(e)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities described in subsection (a) $10,000,000,000 for each year in the 10-year period beginning on the date that is the first fiscal year that commences following the existence of data collected under subsection (c).