Bills of The Day:

Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7700
Date Introduced: March 15, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Langworthy
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: This bill sets restrictions on the Secretary of Energy regarding the prescription and enforcement of energy conservation standards for dishwashers. It mandates that any new or amended standards must be technologically feasible, economically justified, and not result in additional net costs to consumers, including those associated with purchase, installation, maintenance, disposal, and replacement. The bill emphasizes that the Secretary cannot prescribe or enforce standards that do not lead to significant energy savings. Furthermore, it introduces criteria to ensure that enforcement or compliance with such standards does not impose technological or economic feasibility issues or additional consumer costs.

Next Action: The bill was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Protecting Religious Freedom for Foster Families Act
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 3935
Date Introduced: March 14, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Marshall
Co-Sponsor(s): Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Hyde-Smith

Summary: This legislation aims to prevent the Secretary of Health and Human Services from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the proposed rule titled “Safe and Appropriate Foster Care Placement Requirements for Titles IV-E and IV-B,” which was published on September 28, 2023, in the Federal Register. It seeks to ensure that no action is taken on this rule or any rule substantially similar to it. The bill’s intention is to protect the operational freedoms of foster care and adoption agencies, particularly those with religious affiliations, from regulations that might conflict with their principles or operational frameworks. This action reflects broader concerns about the balance between regulatory oversight of foster care and adoption services and the protection of religious freedoms.

Next Action: The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Deploy Fentanyl Scanners Act of 2024
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 3965
Date Introduced: March 14, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Ossoff
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: This bill allocates $201,000,000 from the Treasury for the fiscal year 2024 to U.S. Customs and Border Protection specifically for the deployment of nonintrusive inspection technology along the southern land border of the United States. The funding is aimed at enhancing the capability of border protection to detect and intercept illegal substances, including fentanyl, without impeding the flow of legal trade and travel. By improving detection methods through advanced scanning technology, the act seeks to address the increasing challenges related to drug trafficking and its implications for national security and public health, effectively strengthening border security measures while maintaining efficient border processing operations.

Next Action: The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Fast Track To and Through College Act
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 3952
Date Introduced: March 14, 2024
Sponsor: Ms. Hassan
Co-Sponsor(s): Mr. Young

Summary: This legislation aims to enhance college completion rates and reduce education costs by streamlining the path from high school to postsecondary education. It proposes the amendment of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support initiatives that accelerate degree completion, such as dual enrollment, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate programs. The bill seeks to establish more cohesive links between secondary and postsecondary education and enhance the transferability of credits between institutions. It introduces competitive grants to states to develop and implement strategies that enable students to earn postsecondary credits in high school, ensuring higher education institutions recognize these credits. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the need for statewide articulation agreements to facilitate credit transfer and reduce the time and cost associated with attaining a degree.

Next Action: The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Cutting Copays Act
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 3951
Date Introduced: March 14, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Casey
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: The Cutting Copays Act proposes to modify the Social Security Act to adjust Medicare Part D cost-sharing amounts for low-income beneficiaries. It intends to reduce the financial burden on these individuals by revising the copayment structure for covered drugs. From 2026 onward, the bill aims to eliminate copayments for generic drugs entirely, while setting indexed increases for preferred multiple source drugs and other medications, based on the consumer price index. The legislation ensures these adjustments reflect inflation while keeping healthcare more affordable for low-income Medicare Part D enrollees. It also includes provisions to round copayment amounts to the nearest multiple of 5 or 10 cents for ease of transaction. This act seeks to make prescription drugs more accessible by lowering out-of-pocket costs for the most economically vulnerable populations.

Next Action: The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.