Vermont Congressional Bills

in committee · Vermont · House May 18, 2023

HR 3470: Keeping All Students Safe Act

The Keeping All Students Safe Act prohibits the use of "unlawful" seclusion and restraint in schools, including physical restraint that's life-threatening, contraindicated for a student's disability, or not properly trained for. It requires schools to use less restrictive interventions first, mandates training for school personnel in crisis intervention, and establishes reporting requirements for restraint incidents, including immediate parent notification and annual public reporting. The bill prohibits using physical restraint as a planned intervention in student education plans and requires states to submit compliance plans with data on restraint incidents disaggregated by race, disability status, and other factors. It applies to public schools and programs receiving federal funding, but does not affect private schools not receiving federal funds or home schools.

Topics ✓ Education

Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D) · 106 co-sponsors

in committee · Vermont · House May 18, 2023

HR 3510: CERTS Tax Exemption Act

The CERTS Tax Exemption Act (HR 3510) exempts certain grants received by transportation service providers from federal taxation under the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act. It directly affects eligible transportation providers who receive these specific grants by excluding the grant amounts from their gross income and preventing related tax deductions or basis adjustments from being denied. Key provisions ensure that for partnerships and S corporations, excluded grant amounts are treated as tax-exempt income, and partner basis increases align with grant-funded costs. This creates a clear tax treatment for these grants without altering the underlying grant program.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

Darin LaHood (R) · 27 co-sponsors

in committee · Vermont · House May 18, 2023

HR 3547: Doxing Threat Assessment Act

This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to create a threat assessment on how terrorists and foreign actors use cyber harassment - including doxing - to threaten individuals. The assessment must detail tactics, notable incidents, and risk indicators for law enforcement, while coordinating with privacy offices. It requires DHS to share the report with Congress within 180 days and publish it online, with state/local law enforcement receiving it via fusion centers. The bill does not create new laws or penalties but focuses on information gathering about existing threats. (Procedural bill; summary limited to key action and scope.)

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Vermont · House May 17, 2023

HCONRES 44: Urging the establishment of a United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation.

HCONRES 44 is a non-binding congressional resolution urging the creation of a U.S. Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation. It does not establish the commission itself but calls for its formation to acknowledge historical injustices against Black, Indigenous, and other people of color - including systemic discrimination in housing, Social Security, the GI Bill, and land policies - and to address ongoing racial inequities. The resolution emphasizes the need to dismantle the "belief in a hierarchy of human value" and promote racial healing as a national priority. It complements ongoing efforts like H.R. 40 (a bill to study reparations) but does not create new legal requirements or funding.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Barbara Lee (D) · 130 co-sponsors

in committee · Vermont · House May 17, 2023

HRES 413: Condemning the atrocity that occurred in Buffalo, New York, on May 14, 2022, in which 10 Americans were killed and 3 were injured, and in which 11 of the 13 victims were Black Americans, condemning the Great Replacement Theory as a White supremacist conspiracy theory, and reaffirming the House of Representatives commitment to combating White supremacy, hatred, and racial injustice.

This resolution condemns the great replacement theory, which it describes as a white supremacist conspiracy theory that has been used to falsely justify racially motivated, violent acts of terrorism domestically and internationally.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Jamaal Bowman (D) · 119 co-sponsors

in committee · Vermont · Senate May 17, 2023

S 1655: Medicare for All Act

The Medicare for All Act would establish a national health insurance program providing comprehensive coverage to all U.S. residents without patient cost-sharing for medically necessary services, including hospital care, prescription drugs, mental health services, dental, vision, and reproductive care. The program would replace private health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid by prohibiting duplicate coverage from private insurers and requiring automatic enrollment for all residents. It would include a transition period allowing current Medicare beneficiaries to maintain their coverage while the new system is phased in, with full benefits available for most people by 2026. The bill also establishes a national health budget, includes provisions to address health care disparities, and sets quality standards for care through the Office of Health Equity.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Vermont · Senate May 17, 2023

S 1661: Strength in Diversity Act of 2023

The Strength in Diversity Act of 2023 creates a federal grant program to help schools address racial and socioeconomic isolation. It directly affects public K-12 schools and early childhood programs in areas with concentrated poverty or segregation. The bill authorizes competitive grants for planning (up to 1 year) and implementation (up to 3 years), requiring grantees to develop strategies like improved school assignments, transportation plans, or teacher recruitment to increase diversity. Grantees must track academic progress and diversity metrics, engage communities, and avoid federal curriculum control, with annual reporting to the Department of Education.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Vermont · Senate May 17, 2023

S 1656: My Body, My Data Act of 2023

The My Body, My Data Act of 2023 requires companies (called "regulated entities") that collect personal reproductive or sexual health information - such as health apps, clinics, or service providers - to minimize data collection to only what's necessary for the services individuals request. It grants individuals the right to access, correct, or delete their data, with companies required to provide clear privacy policies, respond to requests within 15 days, and avoid retaliation (like higher prices or denied services) for exercising these rights. The bill also prohibits companies from sharing such data without consent and mandates enforcement through the Federal Trade Commission and private lawsuits, with penalties up to $1,000 per violation. It excludes entities already covered by HIPAA health privacy rules but applies broadly to digital services handling sensitive health data.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

in committee · Vermont · Senate May 17, 2023

S 1642: ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2023

The ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2023 provides $650 million annually (2024-2028) in federal grants and loans to expand high-speed broadband access in rural areas. It requires projects to serve locations where at least 75% of households lack 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream internet service, with priority given to areas where 90% of households lack such access. Eligible applicants include tribes, cooperatives, local governments, and nonprofits, all required to meet minimum speed standards (100 Mbps both ways) and commit to long-term service. The bill aims to reduce rural broadband gaps by funding infrastructure deployment, with funds expiring after 2028.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

in committee · Vermont · House May 17, 2023

HR 3409: Healthy Families Act

HR 3409, the Healthy Families Act, requires most employers to provide employees with paid sick leave. Employees earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 56 hours per year, which can be used for their own illness, caring for family members, or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking situations. Smaller employers with fewer than 15 employees can provide unpaid sick leave instead of paid leave. The bill includes protections against retaliation for using sick leave and requires employers to inform employees about their rights under this law.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Rosa L. DeLauro (D) · 134 co-sponsors

in committee · Vermont · House May 17, 2023

HR 3422: Judiciary Act of 2023

HR 3422, the Judiciary Act of 2023, would amend the structure of the U.S. Supreme Court by increasing the number of associate justices from eight to twelve. It would also raise the required quorum for court proceedings from six to eight justices. This bill directly affects the Supreme Court's operational structure and composition. The change is purely procedural, altering the Court's size and voting requirements without impacting other legal processes or specific groups of people.

in committee · Vermont · Senate May 16, 2023

S 1609: Support Our Election Workers Act

This bill establishes a federal grant program to help states increase pay for election workers, including unpaid poll workers and election officials. States must submit detailed plans showing how funds will retain and recruit workers, covering reasonable costs like wages or stipends. The program authorizes funding for fiscal years 2024 and beyond, with the Northern Mariana Islands treated as a state for eligibility. It directly affects state election systems and the workers who staff polling places during elections.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Vermont Congressional Bills

Bill results