Bills of The Day:

Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2024
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 3871
Date Introduced: March 5, 2024
Sponsor: Fetterman (D-PA)
Co-Sponsor(s): Lummis (R-WY)

Summary: The bill aims to establish a pilot program that provides grants to implementing organizations to administer whole-home repairs for eligible homeowners and landlords. This program focuses on modifications, repairs, or updates to ensure habitability, safety, accessibility for individuals with disabilities and older adults, energy and water efficiency, and resilience. Eligible homeowners are those with incomes not exceeding 80% of the area median income or 200% of the Federal poverty guidelines. Eligible landlords must own fewer than 10 residential rental properties and agree to specific provisions regarding lease extensions, rent increases, and maintaining affordable units. Implementing organizations, which can be units of local government, State agencies, or qualified nonprofits, will administer the grants and loans, ensuring coordination with Federal, State, and local home repair programs to maximize efficiency and impact. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is responsible for establishing the program, with requirements for annual reporting by implementing organizations and periodic assessments by the Office of the Inspector General. The program is authorized to use up to $25 million from appropriations for programs administered by the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Housing. If passed, it is set to terminate on October 1, 2029.

Next Action: The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs for further consideration.

Protecting America's Seniors' Access to Care Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7513
Date Introduced: March 1, 2024
Sponsor: Fischbach (R-MN)
Co-Sponsor(s): Pence (R-IN)

Summary: This bill seeks to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from implementing, enforcing, or giving effect to the proposed rule titled "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting," which was published on September 6, 2023. This bill also prevents the promulgation of any substantially similar rule, aiming to protect access to care for America's seniors by addressing concerns related to staffing standards in nursing facilities.

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

Strengthening Tariffs on Chinese Autos Act of 2024
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 3868
Date Introduced: March 5, 2024
Sponsor: Rubio (R-FL)
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: The bill proposes a $20,000 duty on each motor vehicle imported into the United States that is produced in or by the People's Republic of China. The bill also outlines provisions for annual adjustments to this duty based on inflation, as measured by changes in the Consumer Price Index. The vehicles targeted by this duty are those classified under Chapter 8703 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, including those produced, manufactured, or that underwent final assembly in China or by a Chinese entity. The definition of "person of the People's Republic of China" includes the government, agencies, entities headquartered or organized under Chinese law, and entities involved in or controlled by China's industrial policies or military-civil fusion strategy.

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

American Subsidies for American Autos Act of 2024
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 3869
Date Introduced: March 5, 2024
Sponsor: Rubio (R-FL)
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: Mandates that vehicles must comply with the rules of origin stipulated by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to qualify for certain Federal programs. This includes programs offering tax credits for clean vehicles, public school energy improvement, state energy programs, bus and bus facilities grants, low or no-emission public transportation funding, the clean school bus program, and the clean heavy-duty vehicles program. The bill aims to ensure that Federal subsidies and incentives specifically benefit vehicles that adhere to the USMCA rules of origin, reinforcing the commitment to North American manufacturing and supply chain integrity.

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

Secure Payments Act of 2024
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7531
Date Introduced: March 5, 2024
Sponsor: Luetkemeyer (R-MO)
Co-Sponsor(s): Donalds (R-FL), Williams (R-TX), Fitzgerald (R-WI), Sessions (R-TX), Flood (R-NE), Nunn (R-IA), Meuser (R-PA), Posey (R-FL)

Summary: The bill requires the Federal Reserve to analyze the effects of proposed regulations on debit card transaction fees, focusing on consumer impact, merchant costs, and financial institutions. This legislation evaluates the rule's impacts on consumers, merchant costs, financial institutions' fraud mitigation efforts, and its broader effects alongside other recent federal regulatory proposals on deposit accounts. The Act requires the Federal Reserve to report its findings to Congress and explicitly forbids finalizing the Reg II proposed rule until these findings are considered, especially regarding its impact on the banking sector's financial health and its benefits to underserved customers.

Next Action: The bill was referred to the Committee on Financial Services for further review and consideration.