Bills of The Day:

Guaranteed Paid Vacation Act
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 4003
Date Introduced: March 20, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Sanders
Co-Sponsor(s): Mr. Padilla

Summary: This bill mandates employers to offer paid annual leave, accruing at least one hour for every 25 hours an employee works, with a cap of 80 hours per 12-month period. Employees are entitled to begin accruing paid annual leave from the start of employment, with the ability to use it after 60 days, although employers may offer it sooner. The legislation covers various employees and employers, including those in commerce, public agencies, and various federal employees. Still, it excludes sick leave and leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act from its definition of paid annual leave. Employers can loan paid annual leave in advance of accrual, with provisions for reimbursement upon termination if not earned. Unused paid annual leave must be reimbursed upon employment termination, with up to 40 hours allowed to carry over into the next year. Employers must inform employees of their paid leave policy and cannot use leave as a negative factor in employment decisions.

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

Remain in Canada Act of 2024
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7739
Date Introduced: March 20, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Babin
Co-Sponsor(s): Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. Biggs, Mr. Ogles, Mr. Posey, Mr. Self, Mr. Baird, Mr. Cline, Mr. Tiffany, Mr. Grothman

Summary: This legislation mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to initiate the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) at the U.S.-Canada border, effectively extending a policy originally applied to the southern border. The protocols require individuals arriving at the northern border seeking asylum in the U.S. to remain in Canada while their immigration cases are processed in the United States. The bill directs the implementation of the MPP as outlined in the 2019 policy guidance by the then-Secretary of Homeland Security, Nielsen, adapting it specifically for the northern border context. This aims to manage asylum claims through a structured process to enhance border security and immigration enforcement in the northern regions of the country.

Next Action: The bill was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Stateless Protection Act of 2024
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7755
Date Introduced: March 20, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Raskin
Co-Sponsor(s): Mr. Connolly, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Norton, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Trone

Summary: This bill establishes legal status and protection for stateless persons within the United States, acknowledging the challenges and human rights violations they face due to lack of nationality. It sets forth mechanisms for such individuals to obtain stateless protected status and, potentially, lawful permanent residence, emphasizing humanitarian, family unity, and public interest considerations. The legislation outlines eligibility criteria, procedural guidelines, and waivers for inadmissibility, aiming to facilitate employment authorization, travel documents, and relief from detention for stateless individuals. The bill also includes provisions for preventing and reducing statelessness globally through assessments of U.S. citizenship laws, studies on statelessness, and support for inclusive nationality laws in other countries. Additionally, it proposes updating citizenship relinquishment provisions to prevent further cases of statelessness.

Next Action: The bill was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7762
Date Introduced: March 20, 2024
Sponsor: Mrs. Sykes
Co-Sponsor(s): Ms. McClellan

Summary: This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish tax credits and a grant program aimed at stimulating investment in and providing healthy nutrition options within food deserts. It introduces a special access food provider credit for grocery stores placed in service within food deserts, offering a 15% credit based on new grocery stores and 10% on renovation expenditures. Additionally, it sets up a grant program for food banks and temporary access merchants, providing grants worth 15% of construction expenses for food banks and 10% of operational costs for temporary access merchants. The initiative seeks to encourage the establishment of grocery stores, food banks, and mobile markets in underserved areas by reducing financial barriers. Certification as a special access food provider requires meeting specific criteria, including location within a food desert and adherence to the Healthy Food Financing Initiative's eligibility criteria. The bill also mandates updates to the Food Access Research Atlas to reflect new food retailers servicing these areas.

Next Action: The bill was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Agriculture for consideration.

Protecting American Consumers from Robocalls Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7756
Date Introduced: March 20, 2024
Sponsor: Ms. Schakowsky
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: This legislation amends Section 227(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 to broaden the scope of the Do Not Call rules to cover all telephone subscribers, not just those with residential lines. It aims to protect consumers from unsolicited calls by removing the term "residential" from the Act, thus applying these protections to residential and business telephone numbers. Additionally, the bill modifies the provision related to the private right of action, allowing individuals to take legal action against any entity that calls them in violation of the Do Not Call rules without the limitation of having received more than one call from the same entity within 12 months. It also authorizes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to revise its regulations to align with these changes within 270 days of the bill's enactment.

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