[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5285 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5285
To amend the CARES Act to extend certain unemployment compensation
provisions, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 17, 2021
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez (for herself, Ms. Bush, Mr. Bowman, Ms. Pressley, Mr.
Garcia of Illinois, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Jacobs
of California, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Norton, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Omar, Mr.
Jones, Mr. Espaillat, Ms. Bass, Mr. San Nicolas, Mr. Carson, Mr.
Nadler, Ms. Meng, Ms. Escobar, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Payne, Mrs.
Watson Coleman, Mr. Rush, and Ms. Schakowsky) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in
addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and
the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the CARES Act to extend certain unemployment compensation
provisions, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Extend Unemployment Assistance Act
of 2021''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--Section 2102(c) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C.
9021(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), by striking ``September 6,
2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''; and
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs
(4) and (5), respectively.
(b) Increase in Number of Weeks.--Section 2102(c)(2) of such Act
(15 U.S.C. 9021(c)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``79 weeks'' and inserting ``100 weeks'';
and
(2) by striking ``79-week period'' and inserting ``100-week
period''.
(c) Hold Harmless for Proper Administration.--In the case of an
individual who is eligible to receive pandemic unemployment assistance
under section 2102 of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9021) as of the most
recent week ending on or before September 6 and on the date of
enactment of this Act becomes eligible for pandemic emergency
unemployment compensation under section 2107 of the CARES Act (15
U.S.C. 9025) by reason of the amendments made by this Act, any payment
of pandemic unemployment assistance under such section 2102 made after
the date of enactment of this Act to such individual during an
appropriate period of time, as determined by the Secretary of Labor,
that should have been made under such section 2107 shall not be
considered to be an overpayment of assistance under such section 2102,
except that an individual may not receive payment for assistance under
section 2102 and a payment for assistance under section 2107 for the
same week of unemployment.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF FOR GOVERNMENTAL
ENTITIES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 903(i)(1)(D) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1103(i)(1)(D)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 2021''
and inserting ``February 1, 2022''.
(b) Increase in Reimbursement Rate.--Section 903(i)(1)(B) of such
Act (42 U.S.C. 1103(i)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``September 6,
2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''.
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF FEDERAL PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.
(a) In General.--Section 2104(e)(2) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C.
9023(e)(2)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting
``February 1, 2022''.
(b) Amount.--Section 2104(b)(3)(A)(ii) of such Act (15 U.S.C.
9023(b)(3)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and
inserting ``February 1, 2022''.
SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF FULL FEDERAL FUNDING OF THE FIRST WEEK OF
COMPENSABLE REGULAR UNEMPLOYMENT FOR STATES WITH NO
WAITING WEEK.
Section 2105(e)(2) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9024(e)(2)) is
amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting ``February 1,
2022''.
SEC. 6. EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY STATE STAFFING FLEXIBILITY.
Section 9015 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is amended by
striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''.
SEC. 7. EXTENSION OF PANDEMIC EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.
(a) In General.--Section 2107(g)(2) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C.
9025(g)(2)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting
``February 1, 2022''.
(b) Increase in Number of Weeks.--Section 2107(b)(2) of such Act
(15 U.S.C. 9025(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``53'' and inserting
``74''.
(c) Coordination of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation
With Extended Compensation.--Section 2107(a)(5)(B) of such Act (15
U.S.C. 9025(a)(5)(B)) is amended by inserting ``or for the week that
includes the date of enactment of the Extend Unemployment Assistance
Act of 2021 (without regard to the amendments made by subsections (a)
and (b) of section 7 of such Act)'' after ``such Act)''.
(d) Special Rule for Extended Compensation.--Section 2107(a)(8) of
such Act (15 U.S.C. 9025(a)(8)) is amended by striking ``September 6,
2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''.
SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY FINANCING OF SHORT-TIME COMPENSATION
PAYMENTS IN STATES WITH PROGRAMS IN LAW.
Section 2108(b)(2) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9026(b)(2)) is
amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting ``February 1,
2022''.
SEC. 9. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY FINANCING OF SHORT-TIME COMPENSATION
AGREEMENTS FOR STATES WITHOUT PROGRAMS IN LAW.
Section 2109(d)(2) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9027(d)(2)) is
amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting ``February 1,
2022''.
SEC. 10. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR STATES WITH ADVANCES.
Section 1202(b)(10)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1322(b)(10)(A)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and
inserting ``February 1, 2022''.
SEC. 11. EXTENSION OF FULL FEDERAL FUNDING OF EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPENSATION.
(a) In General.--Section 4105 of the Families First Coronavirus
Response Act (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by striking ``September
6, 2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply as if included in the enactment of the Families First Coronavirus
Response Act (Public Law 116-127).
SEC. 12. ADDITIONAL ENHANCED BENEFITS UNDER THE RAILROAD UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE ACT.
(a) In General.--Section 2(a)(5)(A) of the Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 352(a)(5)(A)) is amended--
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ``September 6,
2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''; and
(2) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``September 6,
2021'' and inserting ``February 1, 2022''.
(b) Clarification on Authority To Use Funds.--Funds appropriated
under subparagraph (B) of section 2(a)(5) of the Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 352(a)(5)) shall be available to cover the
cost of recovery benefits provided under such section 2(a)(5) by reason
of the amendments made by subsection (a) as well as to cover the cost
of such benefits provided under such section 2(a)(5) as in effect on
the day before the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 13. EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS UNDER THE RAILROAD UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE ACT.
(a) In General.--Section 2(c)(2)(D) of the Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 352(c)(2)(D)) is amended--
(1) in clause (i)--
(A) in subclause (I), by striking ``330 days'' and
inserting ``435 days''; and
(B) in subclause (II)--
(i) by striking ``33 consecutive 14-day
periods'' and inserting ``44 consecutive 14-day
periods''; and
(ii) by striking ``20 consecutive 14-day
periods'' and inserting ``31 consecutive 14-day
periods'';
(2) in clause (ii)--
(A) by striking ``265 days of unemployment'' and
inserting ``370 days of unemployment'';
(B) by striking ``27 consecutive 14-day periods''
and inserting ``37 consecutive 14-day periods''; and
(C) by striking ``20 consecutive 14-day periods''
and inserting ``31 consecutive 14-day periods''; and
(3) in clause (iii), by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and
inserting ``February 1, 2022''.
(b) Clarification on Authority To Use Funds.--Funds appropriated
under the first, second, or third sentence of clause (v) of section
2(c)(2)(D) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act shall be
available to cover the cost of additional extended unemployment
benefits provided under such section 2(c)(2)(D) by reason of the
amendments made by subsection (a) as well as to cover the cost of such
benefits provided under such section 2(c)(2)(D) as in effect on the day
before the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 14. EXTENSION OF WAIVER OF THE 7-DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR BENEFITS
UNDER THE RAILROAD UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT.
(a) In General.--Section 2112(a) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C.
9030(a)) is amended by striking ``September 6, 2021'' and inserting
``February 1, 2022''.
(b) Clarification on Authority To Use Funds.--Funds appropriated
under section 2112(c) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9030(c)) shall be
available to cover the cost of additional benefits payable due to
section 2112(a) of such Act by reason of the amendments made by
subsection (a) as well as to cover the cost of such benefits payable
due to such section 2112(a) as in effect on the day before the date of
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 15. RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD FUNDING.
In addition to amounts otherwise made available, there are
appropriated for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, $2,000,000, to remain available until expended,
for the Railroad Retirement Board, for additional hiring and overtime
bonuses as needed to administer the Railroad Unemployment Insurance
Act.
SEC. 16. BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
Each Federal payment made to a State as a result of the amendments
made by this Act, and any additional benefits paid as a result of such
amendments, shall be exempt from any sequestration order issued under
the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
SEC. 17. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except where otherwise provided, the amendments made by this Act
shall apply as if included in the enactment of the CARES Act (Public
Law 116-136), except that no amount shall be payable by virtue of such
amendments with respect to any week of unemployment ending on or before
September 6, 2021.
<all>