Vermont Congressional Bills

in committee · Vermont · Senate Nov 20, 2024

SRES 901: A resolution supporting the goals and principles of Transgender Day of Remembrance by recognizing the epidemic of violence toward transgender people and memorializing the lives lost this year.

SRES 901 is a non-binding Senate resolution supporting Transgender Day of Remembrance by recognizing the epidemic of violence against transgender people in the U.S. It memorializes 38 transgender individuals, including transgender women of color, who were killed between October 2023 and September 2024. The resolution affirms the need for solutions to this violence while upholding the dignity of all transgender people. As a symbolic measure, it does not enact new policies or laws.

in committee · Vermont · House Nov 20, 2024

HRES 1588: Supporting the goals and principles of Transgender Day of Remembrance by recognizing the epidemic of violence toward transgender people and memorializing the lives lost this year.

HRES 1588 is a House resolution supporting Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) by recognizing the epidemic of violence against transgender people and memorializing those killed between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. It specifically honors 38 transgender or gender-nonconforming individuals whose lives were lost to violence during that period, highlighting that transgender women of color face disproportionate risks. The resolution acknowledges systemic issues like underreporting, barriers to healthcare, and higher rates of homelessness and suicide within the community. It calls for the U.S. government to prioritize solutions to this violence while affirming transgender people's right to dignity and safety. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes these issues for congressional record.

Pramila Jayapal (D) · 93 co-sponsors

in committee · Vermont · Senate Nov 20, 2024

S 5350: Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2024

This bill expands disaster assistance eligibility under FEMA for individuals without documented property ownership but who have occupied land or housing in declared disaster areas (e.g., Hurricane Maria victims). It allows FEMA to use funds for title acquisition costs (like surveys and taxes) and creates a self-certification form using common documents (utility bills, pay stubs, school records) to prove occupancy - without requiring notarization. The bill amends the Stafford Act to replace "uninhabitable" with "damaged" in eligibility criteria and prioritizes habitable housing recovery over temporary solutions. It also mandates multilingual forms, 30-day implementation timelines for FEMA, and retroactive access for cases since 2017.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Vermont · Senate Nov 20, 2024

S 5352: American Renewable Energy Act of 2024

The American Renewable Energy Act of 2024 establishes a federal standard requiring electricity suppliers to provide increasing amounts of renewable electricity, from 20% in 2025 to 70% in 2034. The bill mandates that a portion of these renewable energy credits must come from distributed generation (small-scale installations near where electricity is used) and from electricity generated in communities disproportionately affected by pollution. Suppliers can meet requirements through renewable energy credits or by making payments that fund renewable energy projects in impacted communities. The law requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to create regulations implementing these requirements by 2026. The bill aims to accelerate renewable energy deployment while prioritizing benefits for communities historically burdened by pollution.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Vermont · Senate Nov 20, 2024

S 5354: Clarifying Civil Rights Remedies Act of 2024

This bill clarifies that individuals can seek compensatory damages for emotional harm in lawsuits alleging discrimination under key civil rights laws, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title IX, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. It directly affects people facing discrimination based on disability, race, color, national origin, age, or sex in areas covered by these laws, such as education, healthcare, and federally funded programs. The key provision amends existing law to explicitly include emotional harm damages as a remedy in civil rights cases against both private and public entities, including state governments. The change applies to cases where a final court decision has not yet been made as of the bill's enactment date. This does not create new rights but ensures existing remedies for emotional harm are available.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Vermont · Senate Nov 20, 2024

S 5362: Fair Ball Act

The Fair Ball Act (S 5362) would amend federal labor law to extend minimum wage and overtime protections to minor league baseball players covered by an active union contract. Currently, these players are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), but the bill removes that exemption specifically for unionized players. This means minor league players with a current collective bargaining agreement would now be entitled to the same minimum wage and overtime pay as other workers under federal law. Players without union representation would remain exempt under existing rules.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Vermont · Senate Nov 20, 2024

S 5363: Get Toxic Substances Out of Schools Act of 2024

This bill creates a new federal grant program to address toxic substances in schools and early childhood facilities. It would provide $5.2 billion annually to states and tribes to identify and remove environmental hazards like lead, asbestos, and PCBs from schools, child care centers, and facilities for incarcerated youth. The funds can be used for inspections, remediation work, and training school staff on environmental health practices. The bill requires at least 40% of funds to go to high-poverty schools, 10% to early childhood settings serving vulnerable populations, and 5% to tribal schools. It also includes requirements for workforce development, using American-made materials, and real-time monitoring of indoor air quality.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Vermont · Senate Nov 19, 2024

S 5346: DSH Act

This bill, the Delivering Support for Hospitals Act (DSH Act), guarantees minimum annual payments to states for Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) programs. It sets a floor of $20 million per state for fiscal years 2025 through 2029, and for 2030 onward, requires annual inflation-adjusted increases based on the prior year's amount. The provision ensures states cannot receive less than this minimum, overriding previous calculation methods or reductions. This directly affects hospitals serving large numbers of low-income patients, as DSH payments help offset their costs. The policy change provides stable, predictable funding for these critical healthcare providers.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Vermont · Senate Nov 18, 2024

S 5338: Debt Relief and Farm Credit Access Act

This bill amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to improve access to farm credit and debt relief. It lowers the experience requirement for direct farm loans (from 1 year to potentially waived for new farmers with mentorship or education), expands refinancing options for existing borrowers, and increases the lifetime debt forgiveness limit from $300,000 to $600,000. Beginning farmers benefit from new mentorship pathways, while all borrowers gain clearer refinancing rules and higher debt relief caps. The changes directly affect farmers seeking loans or debt relief through USDA programs, focusing on practical access rather than new programs.

in committee · Vermont · Senate Nov 18, 2024

S 5339: Medical Innovation Act of 2024

The Medical Innovation Act of 2024 would require pharmaceutical companies that sell "covered blockbuster drugs" (drugs generating at least $1 billion in annual sales and developed with federal research funding) to pay supplemental fees based on their net income and certain legal settlements. The fees would range from 0.75% to 1.5% of net income, depending on settlement amounts, and would fund medical research through the FDA and National Institutes of Health. Collected funds would support innovative research on diseases with inadequate treatments, basic scientific research, and early-career scientist programs. This new funding mechanism would supplement, not replace, existing federal medical research investments. The bill specifies annual assessments with detailed reporting requirements for transparency.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Vermont · Senate Nov 18, 2024

S 5333: Stop Wall Street Looting Act

The Stop Wall Street Looting Act imposes new restrictions on private equity firms and their acquisitions. It establishes joint and several liability for private equity funds and their managers for the debts and liabilities of acquired companies (target firms), limits post-acquisition dividends and distributions for four years, and imposes a surtax on certain payments received by investment firms from controlled target firms. The bill also increases priority for workers' wages and severance pay in bankruptcy proceedings, requires detailed disclosures about fund investments and fees, and includes provisions to protect workers during corporate bankruptcies. These changes directly affect private equity firms, their acquired companies, employees, and creditors, aiming to address perceived abuses in the private equity industry.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Vermont · Senate Nov 14, 2024

S 5320: Renewable Energy Certainty Act

S 5320, the Renewable Energy Certainty Act, allows U.S. federal agencies to enter 30-year contracts for purchasing renewable energy (like solar or wind) or energy from cogeneration facilities. This directly affects federal agencies that buy energy, streamlining their ability to secure long-term renewable power. The bill requires the federal government to create a standardized energy purchase agreement within 90 days of enactment, setting clear terms for these contracts. It also mandates that the federal energy management program provide technical assistance to help agencies implement these new procurement options. The law modifies existing energy conservation policy to facilitate longer-term renewable energy commitments by the federal government.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Vermont Congressional Bills

Bill results