Vermont Congressional Bills

in committee · Vermont · House Feb 9, 2023

HR 932: To repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq.

HR 932 repeals two key congressional authorizations for military force in Iraq: the 1991 resolution (Public Law 102-1) and the 2002 resolution (Public Law 107-243). This bill removes the legal foundation that has permitted U.S. military operations in Iraq for over two decades. It directly affects the executive branch’s authority to conduct military actions under these specific resolutions, requiring future operations to seek new congressional approval. The repeal is a procedural change that would end the statutory basis for ongoing military engagement in Iraq without altering other laws or policies.

Barbara Lee (D) · 92 co-sponsors

in committee · Vermont · House Feb 8, 2023

HRES 108: Condemning Azerbaijan's blockade of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and ongoing human rights violations.

This resolution condemns Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin Corridor to Nagorno-Karabakh (also known as Artsakh). The resolution calls on the U.S. government to work with international partners to deploy observers to explore opportunities for security and peaceful development. The resolution also calls on the President to (1) suspend military and security assistance from the United States to Azerbaijan, and (2) fully enforce a U.S. law prohibiting certain bilateral assistance to Azerbaijan until Azerbaijan takes demonstrable steps to cease all offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

in committee · Vermont · House Feb 8, 2023

HR 866: Equal COLA Act

HR 866, the Equal COLA Act, changes how cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated for federal retirees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). It requires that each year's COLA be based on the exact percent change in the price index from the previous year's base quarter, rounded to the nearest 0.1%, effective December 1. This applies to all FERS annuities starting before, on, or after the bill's enactment date, ensuring a standardized calculation method for retirees' annual adjustments.

in committee · Vermont · Senate Feb 7, 2023

S 292: Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act of 2023

S 292 reauthorizes the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) through 2032 with updated governance rules and new grant programs for the Northern Forest region (Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont). The bill creates a new $5 million annual State Capacity Building Grant Program to support economic development, infrastructure, broadband access, and workforce initiatives in eligible counties. It also establishes demonstration health projects with special emphasis on substance use disorder treatment, including opioid and methamphetamine programs, and allows NBRC to accept funds from other federal agencies. The NBRC’s annual funding is set at $50 million (2023-2027) and $60 million (2028-2032) for these programs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology ✓ Transportation

in committee · Vermont · Senate Feb 7, 2023

S 274: Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act

This bill expands paid family and medical leave for federal employees from 12 to 26 workweeks annually for qualifying events like childbirth, adoption, or serious health conditions. It specifically allows adoption leave to begin before placement for preparatory activities and modifies service requirements. The law applies to all federal employees under Title 5, plus employees of the U.S. Postal Service, Postal Regulatory Commission, Library of Congress, GAO, Congressional staff, and Veterans Affairs personnel. It also requires the District of Columbia courts and public defender service to establish paid leave programs mirroring federal standards for their employees. These changes standardize and extend paid leave benefits across most federal workplaces.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Vermont · Senate Feb 7, 2023

S 298: Keep Americans Safe Act

The Keep Americans Safe Act bans the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of large capacity ammunition magazines (defined as holding more than 10 rounds) for most civilians, while exempting law enforcement officers, retired officers, and certain security personnel. It requires new magazines to have serial numbers and manufacturing dates, and allows federal funding for buy-back programs to remove these magazines from circulation. The law grandfathered existing magazines owned before enactment and excludes specific uses like campus law enforcement or nuclear facility security. This directly affects civilians owning high-capacity magazines but not police, military, or authorized security personnel.

Robert Menendez (D) · 30 co-sponsors

in committee · Vermont · Senate Feb 7, 2023

S 282: Arctic Refuge Protection Act of 2023

S 282, the Arctic Refuge Protection Act of 2023, designates approximately 1,559,538 acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska as wilderness under federal law. This provision directly affects the Coastal Plain area of the refuge by restricting activities like oil drilling, mining, and development, as wilderness designation prohibits such uses. The bill amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act to formally add this specific area to the National Wilderness Preservation System, using a map dated October 20, 2015, for precise boundaries. The change would protect the land from most human alteration while maintaining its ecological integrity.

Topics ✗ Energy ✓ Environment

Edward J. Markey (D) · 25 co-sponsors

in committee · Vermont · House Feb 6, 2023

HR 837: Restoring Communities Left Behind Act

Restoring Communities Left Behind Act This bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish a competitive grant program for local partnerships to carry out neighborhood revitalization support activities in economically distressed areas. Eligible activities include weatherization and energy efficiency improvements; housing accessibility improvements for seniors and persons with disabilities; purchasing delinquent mortgages; pre-purchase counseling and down payment assistance for prospective homebuyers; purchasing and developing vacant or distressed properties to create affordable rental housing and for other purposes; and improving parks, sidewalks, and street lighting.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Housing

Marcy Kaptur (D) · 19 co-sponsors

in committee · Vermont · House Feb 3, 2023

HR 547: Better Care Better Jobs Act

The Better Care Better Jobs Act (HR 547) aims to improve access to home and community-based services (HCBS) for Medicaid beneficiaries by providing states with planning grants and enhanced federal funding. States that develop approved HCBS infrastructure improvement plans will receive a 10 percentage point increase in federal Medicaid funding for HCBS services, with additional incentives for self-directed care programs. The bill requires states to address barriers to access, expand workforce development, improve payment rates for direct care workers, and track demographic data on service utilization. It also establishes quality measurement requirements and mandates regular reporting on progress toward improving HCBS access and quality.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Debbie Dingell (D) · 100 co-sponsors

in committee · Vermont · Senate Feb 2, 2023

SRES 32: A resolution condemning the violent insurrection in Brazil on January 8, 2023, and expressing United States solidarity with the people of Brazil, as well as support for safeguarding Brazil's democratic institutions.

S. RES. 32 is a non-binding Senate resolution condemning the January 8, 2023, violent insurrection in Brazil, where supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings including the presidential palace, Congress, and Supreme Court. It expresses U.S. solidarity with Brazil's people and support for safeguarding Brazil's democratic institutions following the attack. The resolution urges social media companies to address disinformation that fueled the violence and encourages U.S. officials to assist Brazilian authorities in their investigations. As a diplomatic statement - not a law - it does not impose legal requirements but formally aligns U.S. policy with Brazil's democratic defense.

in committee · Vermont · Senate Feb 2, 2023

S 262: Stop Spying Bosses Act

The Stop Spying Bosses Act requires employers to disclose workplace surveillance practices to employees and job applicants, including what data is collected, how it's collected, where it's stored, and how it affects employment decisions. It prohibits employers from using surveillance to monitor labor organizing activities, off-duty behavior, political views, religious activities, or health information unrelated to job duties, and bans selling employee data. The bill establishes a new Privacy and Technology Division within the Department of Labor to oversee implementation and enforcement. It also provides employees with the right to review and correct their data and includes whistleblower protections for those reporting violations.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

in committee · Vermont · Senate Feb 2, 2023

S 270: Protecting America’s Meatpacking Workers Act of 2023

The Protecting America's Meatpacking Workers Act of 2023 aims to improve safety and working conditions for meat and poultry processing workers, who face high injury rates, including double the amputation rate of other workers and widespread musculoskeletal disorders. The bill prohibits "no fault attendance policies" that penalize workers for taking legally protected leave, requires employers to provide adequate toilet facilities without punishment, and establishes new OSHA standards for ergonomic programs and protection from airborne illnesses like COVID-19. It also increases OSHA inspector funding by $60 million annually, expands workplace inspections focusing on line speeds and safety hazards, and strengthens protections for workers who report safety concerns without fear of retaliation. The bill directly affects meatpacking facilities and their workers nationwide, particularly those who experienced heightened risks during the pandemic.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Vermont Congressional Bills

Bill results