September 26, 2020

Weekly Wrap Up

Week 39 (September 20)

This week, the House passed legislation to prevent a government shutdown, invest in clean energy, and protect Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities in China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region against forced labor.  

Since 2017, Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, most notably the Uyghurs, have been subjected to ruthless persecution by the Chinese government, including mass internment and imprisonment. In response, House Democrats passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, to combat human rights violations and ensure that human life is prioritized over commercial gain. 

The House also passed the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act to alleviate both the economic and climate crisis facing our country. The bipartisan bill focuses on growing our economy and making our energy infrastructure more sustainable by allocating $4 billion for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application into renewable energy technologies. 

Lastly, The House voted to pass a Continuing Resolution to keep the government open through December 11, extend key nutrition assistance measures, reauthorize surface transportation programs, and protect Medicare beneficiaries. 

This Week’s Votes

This week, the House passed: 

H.R. 4447 — Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act

  • Makes key updates in U.S. energy policy and authorizes major investments to support the transition to a low-carbon future.

  • Authorizes over $36 billion for electrification to the transportation sector, including investments in the Clean School Bus Program, Clean Cities Coalition Program, and Diesel Emissions Reduction Act. 

  • Prioritizes low-income communities and communities of color by targeting projects to frontline communities, setting labor protections, and integrating environmental justice into the missions of federal agencies.

  • Restores the right of private action against recipients of federal funding. 

  • Phases out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a potent greenhouse gas, by 85 percent over 15 years. 

  • Invests significantly in the research and development of advanced energy and emission reduction technologies. 

  • Sets new efficiency building standards and authorizes funding to deploy energy-efficiency technologies in buildings and homes. 

  • Promotes the creation of a modern, clean energy workforce by establishing a scientific workforce development program and creating an offshore wind energy training program.

H.R. 8319 — Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act

  • Funds the federal government at FY2020 levels through December 11, preventing a government shutdown.

  • Prevents evictions, foreclosures, and unsafe housing conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

  • Prevents a premium hike for Medicare Pare B, saving seniors up to $50 per month.

  • Authorizes a one-year extension for surface transportation programs at fiscal year 2020 levels and shores up the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.

  • Adds nearly $8 billion in nutrition assistance for children and families by securing assistance for schoolchildren to receive meals, expanding Pandemic EBT access for young children in childcare, and extending flexibility for states to lower administrative requirements on SNAP for families. 

  • Protects farmers through increased accountability in the Commodity Credit Corporation.

H.R. 6210 — Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

  • Creates a “rebuttable presumption” of forced labor in Xinjiang so that goods produced there are presumed to be produced with forced labor unless companies are able to provide clear and convincing evidence that demonstrates otherwise.

  • Authorizes the President to apply targeted sanctions on anyone responsible for the labor trafficking of Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities.

  • Directs the Secretary of State to determine if forced labor in Xinjiang constitutes atrocities and develop a plan for multilateral strategy, along with public and private sector campaigns, to address ongoing human rights abuses there.

  • Amends Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require financial disclosures from U.S. traded companies about their engagement with Chinese entities that are committing gross human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

H.R. 451 – Don't Break Up The T-Band Act Of 2020, As Amended (Rep. Engel)

  • This bill repeals the requirement on the FCC to reallocate and auction the T-Band spectrum, which is a frequency range currently utilized by public-safety entities like law enforcement, fire officials, and EMS in 11 metropolitan areas to perform day-to-day life-saving services. It requires the FCC to adopt rules limiting the use of 9-1-1 fees by states or other jurisdictions to support and implement 9-1-1 services and maintain the operation of public safety answering points. 

 

 S. 785 – Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act Of 2019 (Sen. Tester)

  • The bill seeks to improve VA care by bolstering the VA’s mental health workforce and increasing access to care for rural or hard to reach veterans. It ensures veterans have access to alternative treatment options like animal therapy, outdoor sports and activities, yoga, and acupuncture. It gives the VA direct hiring authority for more mental health professions, offering scholarships to mental health professionals to work at Vet Centers, and places at least one Suicide Prevention Coordinator in every VA hospital. It also improves access to telehealth services and automatically gives each service member one full year of VA health care when they leave the military. This legislation also holds the VA accountable for its mental health care and suicide prevention efforts. 

H.R. 5245 – SHIELD For Veterans Act, As Amended (Rep. Pappas)

  • This bill prohibits the creation of overpayment debts due to VA processing delays and prohibits the VA from charging interest or fees on debts relating to disability compensation, pensions, or educational assistance.  The bill allows veterans to be more aware of their finances and holds the VA accountable for keeping veterans informed.  

H.R. 7105 – DELIVER Act, As Amended (Rep. Levin (CA))

  • This bill provides flexibility for the VA Secretary in caring for homeless vets during public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.  It allows for HUD-VASH expansion, and other programs. Allows VA to use existing homelessness funds to provide transportation, food, shelter, telecommunications equipment and services, clothing, blankets, hygiene items, and other items for homeless veterans during the COVID-19 emergency.

H.R. 8247 – Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access To Care, And Treatment Act Of 2020, As Amended (Rep. Takano)

  • This bill expands access and eligibility for veterans to receive emergency mental health care regardless of cost and improves VA mental health programs including Transition Of Servicemembers To The Department Of Veterans Affairs, Suicide Prevention For Veterans, Education For Veteran Family Members, And Care And Services For Women Veterans.

 

H.R. 3798 – Equal Access To Contraception For Veterans Act (Rep. Brownley)

  • This bill prohibits the VA from requiring payments from a veteran for contraceptives or services that are required to be covered by health insurance plans without a cost-sharing requirement.

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What We’re Reading

Looking Ahead

This weekend Congressman Correa will be traveling to the ICE Irwin Detention facility to investigate claims of forced medical procedure on migrants in ICE custody. Stay tuned for more details.