Increase Reliable Services Now Act This bill imposes limits on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforcement activities and hiring. The bill prohibits the IRS from hiring any person for enforcement activities until the end of a period in which the IRS has maintained for 6 consecutive months a level of access for phone lines of not less than 90%, and an average speed of answering calls in 4 minutes or less. The bill also requires that not less than 90% of regular IRS employees perform work in person at their job sites. The bill prohibits the IRS from auditing taxpayers with taxable incomes below $400,000 at a greater rate than before the enactment of this bill. Further, the IRS may not hire additional personnel (other than for return processing activities and call center operations) until its tax return processing backlog is not in excess of 5 million cases and it issues tax refunds within 6 weeks or less after receipt of a tax return.
This bill prohibits insurers from denying coverage, canceling policies, or increasing premiums for life, disability, or long-term care insurance solely because someone is a living organ donor, without considering actual health risks. It also updates the Family and Medical Leave Act to include recovery from organ donation surgery as a qualifying condition for leave for private-sector employees and federal workers. Additionally, the bill requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to update public educational materials about living organ donation within six months, covering benefits, risks, and the new insurance protections. These changes directly affect living organ donors, insurers, and employers who must comply with the updated leave and insurance rules.
The PREPARE Act of 2023 creates a new pre-disaster mitigation loan program for small businesses under the Small Business Administration (SBA). It allows businesses to borrow up to $500,000 to fund physical improvements that reduce future disaster damage, such as reinforcing buildings or protecting equipment. The SBA must conduct outreach to small businesses - especially in economically depressed areas - and provide technical assistance to help them apply for these loans. The bill authorizes $25 million annually from 2024 through 2028 for the program and requires annual reports tracking loan usage, geographic distribution, and cost savings avoided through mitigation efforts.
S 1333, the Autism Family Caregivers Act of 2023, creates a federal pilot program to fund free or low-cost, evidence-based skills training for family caregivers of children (ages 0-9) with autism or developmental disabilities. The program awards grants to eligible organizations (like nonprofits, health centers, or community coalitions) to provide training focused on communication, social engagement, daily living skills, and behavior strategies. Key requirements include forming local community committees with caregivers, providers, and cultural representatives, and ensuring programs complement existing Medicaid or school services without replacing them. The bill authorizes $10 million annually (2024-2028) to support at least 25 grantees across 15 states, with annual evaluations to assess impacts on caregiver and child well-being.
The WIPPES Act (S 1350) requires manufacturers and retailers to label specific types of premoistened wipes with a standardized "Do Not Flush" notice and symbol. It directly affects producers of baby wipes, cleaning wipes (including bathroom and hard surface cleaners), and personal care wipes (like makeup remover or feminine hygiene wipes) that could be flushed. The law mandates clear, visible labeling on packaging according to strict placement rules (e.g., on cylindrical packaging, flexible film, or rigid containers) to ensure consumers see the warning each time a wipe is dispensed. The goal is to prevent sewer blockages and environmental harm caused by flushing these wipes, which often do not break down safely.
The PSLF Payment Completion Fairness Act (HR 2949) amends the Higher Education Act to clarify eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. It revises Section 455(m)(1)(B) by removing the phrase "is employed" and related text, replacing it with "has been" to focus solely on payment completion. This change ensures borrowers qualify for loan forgiveness once they've made 120 qualifying payments, regardless of current employment status. The bill directly affects federal student loan borrowers working in public service jobs who are seeking loan forgiveness under the PSLF program.
The College Transparency Act requires the National Center for Education Statistics to develop a secure, privacy-protected system that collects and organizes student-level data from colleges and universities. The system will track enrollment patterns, progression, completion rates, costs, financial aid, and post-graduation outcomes, with data disaggregated by characteristics like race, gender, program of study, and credential level. Colleges participating in federal financial aid programs must submit this data, while the system will provide the public with customizable summary information to help students and families make informed college decisions. The bill includes strict privacy protections, prohibiting collection of sensitive data like health information or exact addresses, and requires data minimization to only what's necessary for the system's purposes.
The Child Care for Working Families Act establishes a federal entitlement program providing subsidized child care for working families with children under age 6 who are not yet in kindergarten. It creates a sliding fee scale where families at or below 85% of State median income pay no copayment, while higher-income families pay up to 7% of their income based on income thresholds. The bill requires states to develop quality rating systems for child care providers and ensures providers receive sufficient funding to meet quality standards, including wages equivalent to elementary educators. It prioritizes access for underserved populations including children with disabilities, infants and toddlers, children experiencing homelessness, and families in low-income communities. The program is funded with $20 billion for fiscal year 2024 and subsequent years through 2029.
Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act of 2023 or the FAIR Act of 2023 This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights dispute.
HR 2974 establishes the United States Interagency Council on Housing Affordability and Preservation, a new federal body composed of heads from 21 agencies (including HUD, Treasury, and Justice) to coordinate efforts on affordable housing. The Council’s key duties include developing a national strategic plan for affordable housing within 12 months, reviewing federal housing programs, providing regional support to states and localities to access federal resources, and requiring annual agency reports on housing barriers. It mandates $4.8 million annually for operations (2024-2028) and encourages states to create their own housing councils to align with federal goals. The bill directly affects federal agencies, state/local governments, and low-income renters by improving coordination and access to housing programs, without directly changing housing subsidies or tenant protections.
This bill creates a federally chartered National Center for the Advancement of Aviation to develop the U.S. aviation and aerospace workforce. The Center will provide grants for education and training programs, including scholarships, internships, and curriculum development for middle schools, high schools, and colleges focused on aviation careers. It will specifically support underrepresented groups and veterans transitioning to aviation careers while coordinating with government agencies to avoid duplicating existing programs. The Center must operate as a non-profit entity, maintain tax-exempt status, and submit annual reports to Congress on its activities.
The Right to Read Act of 2023 establishes the "right to read" as a fundamental educational right, requiring states and school districts to ensure all students have access to evidence-based reading instruction, effective school libraries, culturally diverse materials, and family literacy support. The bill mandates that school libraries meet specific standards, including having State-certified librarians, adequate collections of digital and print materials, and collaboration with teachers to develop digital and information literacy skills. It authorizes $500 million annually for literacy programs through Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, requires biennial data collection on school library resources, and provides liability protections for educators following established "right to read" policies. This legislation directly affects students, school librarians, teachers, and school administrators across all public elementary and secondary schools.
