Bills of The Day:

No Robot Bosses Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7621
Date Introduced: March 12, 2024
Sponsor: Bonamici (D-OR)
Co-Sponsor(s): Deluzio (D-PA)

Summary: This Act aims to regulate employers' use of automated decision systems to ensure fair labor practices and prevent discrimination. It defines terms related to automated systems and their usage in employment-related decisions, including hiring, retention, and other work conditions. Employers are prohibited from relying solely on these systems for employment decisions and must conduct pre-deployment testing to ensure non-discrimination and compliance with existing labor laws. It mandates regular independent testing for discriminatory impacts, the provision of comprehensive disclosures to affected individuals, and the establishment of a process for disputing automated decisions. Additionally, the Act establishes the Technology and Worker Protection Division within the Department of Labor to oversee compliance and enforce the regulations set forth. It includes whistleblower protections for employees and sets forth enforcement mechanisms, including private rights of action and state-level enforcement, while also addressing arbitration and class action waivers.

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

Advancing Grid-Enhancing Technologies Act of 2024 or the Advancing GETs Act of 2024
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7624
Date Introduced: March 12, 2024
Sponsor: Castor (D-FL)
Co-Sponsor(s): Tonko (D-NY), Peters (D-CA)

Summary: The bill proposes establishing a shared savings incentive program by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reward developers of grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) with a portion of the cost savings achieved from their investments. The legislation defines GETs as hardware or software that improves the capacity, efficiency, reliability, resilience, or safety of transmission facilities and technologies, enhancing operational control, efficiency, or transfer capacity. Developers installing such technologies can receive 10 to 25 percent of the cost savings over three years, provided the expected savings are at least four times the investment cost. The act applies to new and existing transmission facilities or technologies but excludes technologies already installed as of the act's enactment date. It also mandates annual congestion management cost reporting by transmission operators, the establishment of a universal metric for such reporting, and the creation of a publicly available map highlighting congestion management costs across the transmission system. Additionally, the Secretary of Energy is tasked with developing a guide for utilities and developers on implementing GETs, providing technical assistance upon request, and establishing a clearinghouse of completed projects to aid in problem-solving for future deployments. The bill allocates funds for these initiatives, emphasizing the importance of enhancing the electrical grid's efficiency and reliability through technological advancements.

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

Making Agricultural Products Locally Essential (MAPLE) Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7667
Date Introduced: March 13, 2024
Sponsor: Langworthy (R-NY)
Co-Sponsor(s): Courtney (D-CT), Pappas (D-NH), Pocan (D-WI), Grothman (R-WI), Lawler (R-NY), Williams (R-NY), Tenney (R-NY), Malliotakis (R-NY), Tiffany (R-WI), Stefanik (R-NY)

Summary: This legislation seeks to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to include maple syrup in the list of products eligible for purchase under the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). By expanding the program's scope, the bill aims to support local agriculture and provide seniors with a broader selection of nutritious, locally sourced products. Maple syrup, recognized for its nutritional value and cultural significance in certain regions, would join fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs on the list of foods that seniors can buy with program vouchers at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs.

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

Right to Try IVF Act of 2024
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7669
Date Introduced: March 13, 2024
Sponsor: Luna (R-FL)
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: This legislation proposes to withhold Federal funding from the State Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant program to any state or its political subdivisions that enact laws prohibiting the performance of in vitro fertilization (IVF) by licensed physicians for individuals who are medically unable to conceive children. Specifically, the bill targets restrictions against individuals whom a licensed physician has diagnosed as experiencing medical difficulties in conceiving. By leveraging Federal funding, the bill aims to ensure that individuals facing such challenges have the right to seek IVF treatment as a means to conceive.

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

Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7623
Date Introduced: March 12, 2024
Sponsor: Carter (R-GA)
Co-Sponsor(s): Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Steube (R-FL), Sewell (D-AL), Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Dingell (D-MI), Van Drew (R-NJ), Morelle (D-NY)

Summary: The legislation proposes permanent enhancements to Medicare telehealth flexibilities temporarily expanded during the public health emergency. It aims to enable Medicare to cover telehealth services without geographical restrictions, allowing beneficiaries across the United States to access care via telehealth. The bill also expands the list of practitioners eligible to provide telehealth services, subject to certain conditions and the Secretary's discretion. Additionally, it seeks to establish payment rules for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) providing telehealth services post-2024. It supports using telehealth for hospice care face-to-face encounters and home dialysis assessments. Moreover, the bill allows for the coverage of telehealth services provided through audio-only communication systems, enhancing accessibility for patients without access to video technology. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is granted authority to implement these changes through interim final rules or other means as necessary.

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