Bills of The Day:

Family Leave for Parental Involvement in Education Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7978
Date Introduced: April 12, 2024
Sponsor: Ms. Wilson of Florida
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: This bill proposes amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and Title 5 of the United States Code to provide additional parental involvement leave for employees to attend or participate in their children's or grandchildren's educational and extracurricular activities. It grants eligible employees up to 8 hours of leave in 30 days and up to 48 hours in 12 months for such activities. The leave can be used for attending school conferences, school-sponsored activities, or community organization programs. It can be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule, with the option to substitute paid vacation, personal, or family leave. Employers may require certification to support a request for leave and must be given at least seven days' notice before the leave is taken. The bill also outlines that leave should be included in addition to other types of leave provided by the FMLA. Additionally, definitions for "school," "community organization," and "grandchild" are included, with "school" encompassing elementary and secondary schools, Head Start programs, and licensed childcare facilities.

Next Action: The bill was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the Committees on Oversight and Accountability, and House Administration.

Preserving JROTC Programs Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7977
Date Introduced: April 12, 2024
Sponsor: Mr. Waltz
Co-Sponsor(s): Ms. Houlahan, Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Mr. Moylan, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Ryan, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Palmer, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Banks, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Gimenez, Mr. Wittman, and Mr. Khanna

Summary: This bill proposes an amendment to Title 10 of the United States Code to reduce the minimum number of participating students required to establish or maintain a unit of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). The change lowers the current requirement from 100 to 50 students. By reducing this minimum, the bill aims to facilitate the establishment and sustainability of JROTC units, thereby encouraging wider participation and allowing smaller schools or communities to offer these programs. This change could enhance leadership training opportunities for high school students and support the development of a broader base of potential future military and civilian leaders.

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

Food Product Insect Labeling Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7974
Date Introduced: April 12, 2024
Sponsor: Mrs. Miller of Illinois
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require food products containing insects, insect parts, or products derived from insects to be labeled as such. The amendment to Section 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act mandates that food labels must prominently state if they contain any insect-related ingredients. The bill is intended to ensure consumers are aware of the content of food products, allowing them to make informed decisions, especially those with specific dietary preferences or allergies related to insect-based ingredients. The effective date for this labeling requirement is 180 days from the date of enactment, providing time for compliance and implementation of the labeling change.

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

Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act of 2024
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7972
Date Introduced: April 12, 2024
Sponsor: Ms. Clarke of New York
Co-Sponsor(s): Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Norton, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Bowman, Ms. Pressley, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Manning, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Goldman of New York, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Adams, Mr. Carson, Mr. Grijalva, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Veasey, and Mr. Phillips

Summary: This bill aims to increase the supply of affordable housing, lower rents, and reassess the methods used to calculate area median income (AMI) for Federal low-income housing assistance. It authorizes substantial appropriations for three key programs—the Home Investment Partnerships Program, Community Development Block Grants, and the Housing Trust Fund—allocating $5 billion annually from 2025 to 2034 to each program, with the condition that the funds be used only for high-cost housing jurisdictions. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assess and report on alternative methods for calculating AMI to ensure housing affordability for low-income families in urban areas. The report will evaluate the impact of current AMI calculations on rent and income limits and suggest alternative metrics to make housing more affordable. The assessment will also consider methods like ZIP code-level AMI calculations, allowing State housing authorities to designate specific AMI jurisdictions and recommend reforms for making housing more accessible to low- and middle-income families. The bill includes a detailed review process for assessing the impact of high housing cost adjustments and explores their effects on rent prices in jurisdictions with high housing costs. Furthermore, it aims to address concerns regarding the influence of certain counties on New York City's AMI and related metrics.

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

Plain Prescription Prices Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7970
Date Introduced: April 11, 2024
Sponsor: Ms. Williams of Georgia
Co-Sponsor(s): Ms. Porter

Summary: This bill requires direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs and biological products to include accurate pricing information. It mandates that such advertisements on television (including broadcast, cable, streaming, and satellite television) must display a textual statement indicating the list price for a typical 30-day regimen or a typical course of treatment, as determined on the first day of the quarter during which the advertisement is broadcasted. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, is tasked with promulgating regulations to enforce this requirement within one year from the enactment date. The regulations will determine if additional forms of advertising should be included, the format for textual statements, and appropriate enforcement mechanisms. The goal is to ensure that pricing information in drug advertisements is truthful and not misleading.

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