America the Beautiful: An American Political RP (Congress)

[Velahor]

United States Senate
Senator Eugene Obradovic
[Democratic - State of Illinois]
{President pro tempore of the United States Senate}

"With no objections, the Senate shall vote on the bill before them. The clerk will call the roll."

United States Senate
Senator William S. Rogers III [D-MT]

"Aye.'

United States Senate
Senator Benjamin Hertzog [D-MI]
{Senate Majority Leader}

Senator Rogers,

Please met me in my office after the vote on Endless Frontier is called.

- Benjamin

Rogers received the note and prepared to meet with Hertzog at his office after the day's close of Senate business.

[The Orion Islands]

United States Senate
Senator Eugene Obradovic
[Democratic - State of Illinois]
{President pro tempore of the United States Senate}

"With no objections, the Senate shall vote on the bill before them. The clerk will call the roll."

Senator Colbert: 'Mr. President, I vote aye."

[Velahor]

Congressman John A. Mattox III (D-MA 8): "Mr. Speaker, I second the motion."

United States House of Representatives

Representative Gene Goper
(Republican- 4th Congressional District of Alabama)
Speaker pro Tempore of the United States House of Representatives

"Seeing a second and no objection. The House will go forward on what is likely the last item for this legislative day. The Chair invites the gentlewoman from Maine once again The Federal Infrastructure Projects Adjudication Panel Act."

United States House of Representatives
Congresswoman Diane Paulson [R-ME-2]

Diane approached the podium once again and began to speak.

"I'm going to keep this very simple, because we're coming toward the end of our day."

"FIPAPA is a bill with broad bipartisan co-sponsorship that will establish a “Federal Infrastructure Projects Adjudication Panel” or FIPAP as a legislative court pursuant to Article I of the United States Constitution to review judicial challenges to federally-funded infrastructure projects, and make other necessary reforms to the process of approving infrastructure."

Paulson pronounced the name of the bill as "fee-papa" and the name of the panel as "fee-pap".

"The sponsors of this bill believe that by creating an Article I court with the sole power to review the facts of judicial challenges to federal infrastructure projects, decisions regarding the suitability and environmental impact of infrastructure projects will be issued in a more timely manner."

"Currently, the web of judicial red tape strangling federally-funded infrastructure projects can leave vital infrastructure improvements on hold for up to 10 years; on average, it takes at least 4 years. The goal of this bill is to get the time average time taken to review infrastructure projects to under 2 years in most situations."

"Section 2 of FIPAPA establishes the framework of the FIPAP magistrate board, and how the magistrates will be nominated. These three magistrates will be chosen by the President and by the Senate based on their expertise in environmental law and infrastructure development. It also outlines the process for the removal of a magistrate."

"Section 3 of FIPAPA mandates the Chair of the Council of Environmental Quality to streamline the permitting documentation to a single-document format. This helps federal, state, and local agencies through a smoother permitting process for infrastructure projects deemed to have a "significant environmental impact" by the CEQ."

"Section 4 of FIPAPA limits the scope of FIPAP judicial challenges to (a) suits for failure to consider or disclose material impacts of the project or practical alternatives, (b) suits for violations of substantive law, or (c) suits appealing the CEQ’s classification of an infrastructure project a project that raises “serious issues of public safety” as defined in Section 5(1)(ii). This keeps procedural appeals out of FIPAP, allowing their adjudication in federal court, keeping FIPAP from facing significant judicial backlog."

"Section 5 of FIPAPA mandates that the CEQ enact regulatory time limits to the infrastructure permitting process consistent with the issuance of a final permitting decision within two years, in cases where such a decision would be reasonable and not negligent."

"Section 6 of FIPAPA codifies and modifies a CEQ regulation regarding page limits in environmental impact statements and environmental assessments. While these regulations are currently in place, they are rarely enforced. Giving them statutory authority will ensure that the CEQ and FIPAP are not forced to waste massive resources on the review of needlessly circumlocutory and logorrheic environmental documentation, saving time and money for the government and getting vital infrastructure in place quicker."

"This bill has the support of Democrats including the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate President Pro Tempore, the former Democratic Speaker of the House, and the Chair of the House Progressive Caucus. It has the support of Republicans including President Richardson, the Senate Minority Leader, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This is a vital bipartisan reform that Presidents Wolf and Baharia both pursued, but came up short in achieving."

"Congress can pass all of the big-spending infrastructure bills that it wants...but unless those projects can be approved in a timely manner, that spending doesn't achieve its intended purpose."

"As Chair of the House Oversight & Reform committee, I've lead a number of formal and informal discussions on the topic and done deep research on the exact kind of reforms that we need to get infrastructure projects approved more quickly, while still maintaining valuable safeguards on property rights and the environment. This bill is the product of that work."

"Every once in awhile, a reform to the workings of our federal government is such a no-brainer that pretty much everyone can agree on it. I believe that FIPAPA is one of those vital reforms."

"Mr. Speaker, I move to open the questioning period on FIPAPA."

[Yaruqo]

United States House of Representatives
Representative Oliver Miller [D-KS-3]

“Mr. Speaker, I second the motion.”

[Meretica]

[Deleted]

[Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi]

United States House of Representatives
Representative Oliver Miller [D-KS-3]

“Mr. Speaker, I second the motion.”

Goper: “Seeing a second and no objection, questioning period has now ended.”

Volker: “I move to adopt this bill by acclamation”

[Meretica]

United States House of Representatives
Representative Oliver Miller [D-KS-3]

“Mr. Speaker, I second the motion.”

Goper: “Seeing a second and no objection, questioning period has now ended.”

Volker: “I move to adopt this bill by acclamation”

John A. Mattox III (D-MA8): "Mr. Speaker, I second the motion."

[Yaruqo]

United States House of Representatives
Representative Oliver Miller [D-KS-3]

“Mr. Speaker, I object. The honorable gentlewoman from Maine moved to open questioning period, not to end it.”

[Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi]

United States House of Representatives
Representative Oliver Miller [D-KS-3]

“Mr. Speaker, I object. The honorable gentlewoman from Maine moved to open questioning period, not to end it.”

Goper: "My apologies I mispoke. The questioning period is now open."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

United States House of Representatives
Representative Caroline Simone
[Democratic - 12th District of the State of New York]

"Could the gentlewoman from Maine give some indication to my colleagues and I as to a rough estimation of the damage that has been dealt to the economy by the slow progress of infrastructure developments?"

[Gordano and Lysandus]

United States Senate
Senator Eugene Obradovic
[Democratic - State of Illinois]
{President pro tempore of the United States Senate}

"With no objections, the Senate shall consider the American Recovery Act. The Clerk shall read the bill and its amendments from the House."

---

Name of Bill: The American Relief Act of 2021
Nickname (Optional): ARA
Senate Sponsors: Senator Arnold Wolf Jr (R-ID), Senator Jack Vichter (D-IA), Senator William Rogers III (D-MT)
House Sponsors: Representative Thomas Volker (R-MO-8), Representative Earl Tenson (R-MT-AL), Representative Gretchen Skarlatos (R-TN-7), Representative Diane Paulson (R-ME-2), Representative Frank Loloma (D-AZ-1)

Summary: The goal of this bill is to provide economic relief during the ongoing recession.


Section 1: Direct Stimulus Checks

A) Direct Checks worth $1,400 per individual, including child and non-child dependents up to age 17, for individuals up to the $75,000 income threshold level for individuals and $150,000 for households. Single Parents with at least one dependent and earn under $112,500 receive the full amount.

B) Income will be determined by the IRS based on the most recent adjusted gross income report in its system.

C) $403,000,000,000 is allocated for the purposes of this section


Section 2: Unemployment

A) Federal Unemployment enhancement of $300 a week is extended through September 6th, 2021. The first $10,200 of federal taxes on unemployment benefits received in 2020 are hereby waived.

B) $196,000,000,000 is allocated for the purposes of this section.


Section 3: Tax Credit Expansion

A) The Child Care Tax Credit is increased from $2,000 to $3,000 per child ages 6-17 and increased to $3,600 for children under the age of 6 for fiscal year 2021. The Child Tax Credit is fully refundable for fiscal year 2021 to all households making under $150,000.

B) The Earned Income Tax Credit for Childless Workers is increased from $540 to $1,500 and the income cap is increased from $16,000 to $21,000. The age limit for workers without children is lowered to 19, and people over the age of 65 are now eligible.

C) The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit is now fully refundable for fiscal year 2021. The expenses on taxpayer’s with one qualifying individual is increased from $3,000 to $8,000. Taxpayer’s with two or more qualifying individuals are increased from $6,000 to $16,000.

D) Payments will be made in four installments in fiscal year 2021 by the IRS and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service to individuals eligible for these tax credits and will not have to wait to file in 2022. Tax Credits in this section are extended to Puerto Rico and all US Territories.


Section 4: Childcare & Eldercare

A) An Additional $15,000,000,000 is allocated to the Childcare & Development Block Grant program using the existing program.

B) $250,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to Title II Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention

C) $100,000,000 is in additional funding is allocated to Title I Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment States Grants

D) $1,400,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to Older Americans Act Programs.

E) $250,000,000 in additional funding is allocated for the Elder Justice Act Program.

D) $600,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to the Childcare Entitlements to States.


Section 5: Food & Nutrition

A) The SNAP Benefit increase of 15% is extended through September 30th, 2021. $3,500,000,000 is allocated for the purposes of this section.

B) $1,000,000,000 is allocated to awarding grants to state agencies administering SNAP. 75% of the funds allocated must be based on the share of each state of households that participate in SNAP and % based on the increase in the number of households that participate in SNAP.

C) $900,000,000 in emergency funding is allocated to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance for Women, Infants, Children program.

D) $1,000,000,000 is allocated for Nutrition Assistance programs to US Territories.

E) $40,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.


Section 6: Health Services

A) $1,000,000,000 is allocated for each fiscal year 2021-2025 to provide a block grant for community based mental health services for adults and children.

B) $500,000,000 is allocated to establish a pilot program for rural development of healthcare agencies in cooperation with the US Department of Agriculture.

C) $400,000,000 is allocated for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion Grant Program Expansion Grants program.

D) $20,000,000 is allocated to fund state and tribal youth suicide intervention and prevention programs.

E) $1,500,000 is allocated to provide block grants to county level initiatives focused on substance abuse prevention and treatment.

F) $30,000,000 is allocated to provide funding for grants to states, local, and tribal governments which support community based overdose prevention programs.

G) $50,000,000 is allocated for grants to state local and tribal governments to assist community behavioral health programs.

H) $7,000,000,000 is allocated to create and fund a grants program to federally qualified health centers.

I) $800,000,000 is allocated to the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program and the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program and state loan repayment program with respect to the health workforce.

J) $200,000,000 is allocated for each fiscal year 2021-2025 to fund the federal loan repayment and scholarship programs for nurses.

K) $200,000,000 is allocated for each fiscal year 2021-2025 as block grants to qualified teaching health centers which operate graduate medical education programs.

L) $100,000,000 is allocated for each fiscal year 2021-2025 for states to expand pediatric healthcare and pediatric health access.

M) $20,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to Veterans Affairs.

N) $15,000,000,000 is allocated for each fiscal year 2021-2025 to establish a grant program for the construction of new hospitals and medical treatment facilities in states which do not possess Certificate of need laws by the beginning of fiscal year 2022.



Section 7: Economic Assistance

A) $7,500,000,000 is allocated in additional funding to the Paycheck Protection Program.

B) $10,000,000,000 annually every year for the next 5 years is allocated in additional funding for the State Small Business Credit Initiative.

C) The Loan Guaranty Program of the Small Business Administration is modified by waiving borrower and lender fees, increasing the maximum loan value to $10,000,000, and waiving any repayment for new loans for one year.

D) $15,000,000,000 is allocated in additional funding for the SBA’s economic injury disaster loans.

E) $10,000,000,000 for each fiscal year 2021 through 2025 is allocated to the Small Business Administration to establish the Innovation Voucher Grant Program to aid small businesses in carrying out research, development, or commercialization of new or innovative products and services. Grants must be made in amounts not less than $15,000 and not more than $75,000.

F) The full and immediate expensing provision of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is made permanent for any business classified as a small business and buying equipment made in the United States of America.

G) $5,000,000,000 is allocated for each fiscal year 2021-2025 in creating a grant program for the establishment of manufacturing facilities in the United States by Small Businesses.

H) $5,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to the Economic Development Assistance Program.

I) $1,000,000,000 is additional funding allocated to SBA cyber training block grant programs.

J) $1,000,000,000 is allocated for each fiscal year 2021-2025 in creating a grant program for the establishment of Small Businesses in the field of Aerospace in the United States.

K) $1,000,000,000 is allocated for each fiscal year 2021-2025 in creating a grant program for the establishment of Small Businesses in the field of Agriculture in the United States.

L) $1,000,000,000 is allocated for each fiscal year 2021-2025 in creating a grant program for the establishment of Small Businesses in the field of Electronics in the United States.

M) $1,000,000,000 is allocated for each fiscal year 2021-2025 in creating a grant program for the establishment of Small Businesses in the field of Telecommunications in the United States.

N) The number of Federal Qualified Opportunity Zones created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is to be increased from 8,700 to 10,000.

O) $1,000,000,000 every fiscal year 2021-2025 in additional funding is allocated to the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund

P) The IRA Contribution limit for individuals is increased to $12,000 per year for individuals without a retirement plan at work and the yearly IRA Contribution Limit for individuals at least 50 years of age and who don’t have a retirement plan is raised to $15,000.


Section 8: Government Services

A) $200,000,000,000 is allocated to State governments for the purposes of making up budget shortfalls distributed based on population and the severity of the shortfall versus estimated revenue for fiscal years 2020 and 2021.

B) $2,000,000,000 is allocated to Tribal Governments and Public Land Counties for the purposes of making up budget shortfalls distributed based on population and the severity of the shortfall versus estimated revenue for fiscal years 2020 and 2021.

C) $120,000,000,000 is allocated to county governments and city governments distributed based on population and the severity of the shortfall versus estimated revenue for fiscal years 2020 and 2021

D) $500,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to state, local, and tribal Emergency Management Performance Grants

E) $1,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to the Department of Justice to combat fraud to government programs in this act

F) $2,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to the Department of Justice to establish a grant program for state governments to combat fraud to government programs in this act


Section 9: Housing

A) $5,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated for housing choice vouchers.

B) $5,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated for Rental Assistance, Affordable Housing Development and the acquisition of non-congregate shelter units.

C) $10,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to the Homeowner Assistance Fund

D) $25,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program

E) $200,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to the Rural Housing Assistance Program

F) $500,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to the Low Income Household Drinking Water and Wastewater Assistance program,

G) $5,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

H) $400,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, and an additional $110,000,000 to the supplemental humanitarian program.


Section 10: Education

A) $1,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to state Head Start agencies according to their share of total enrolled children.

B) $1,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated for each fiscal year 2021-2025 Vocational and Technical School Grant programs.

C) $10,000,000,000 for each fiscal year 2021 through 2025 is allocated to the Department of Education for School Construction and Maintenance Grants.

D) $10,000,000,000 for each fiscal year 2021 through 2025 is allocated to the Department of Education for the creation of a 529 Plan Grant Matching program. The program will match up to $500 in annual contributions.

E) The annual spending limit for 529 accounts is increased from $10,000 a year for elementary and secondary-age schooling to $20,000.


Section 11: Infrastructure

A) $10,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

B) $30,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated to the Department of Transportation to address the current infrastructure backlog.

C) $5,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated for to the Airport Improvement Program

D) $5,000,000,000 in additional funding for each fiscal year 2021 through 2025 is allocated to the US International Development Finance Corporation to provide capital investments as a part of the Blue Dot Network.

E) $8,750,000,000 in additional funding for each fiscal year 2021 through 2024 is allocated to the development of Rural Infrastructure.

F) $5,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated for grants to universities doing R&D on Alternative Energy.

G) $5,000,000,000 in additional funding is allocated towards grants constructing Alternative Energy Facilities.


Section 12: Summary

A) The total spending allocated for this legislation is $1,466,050,000,000 between fiscal years 2021 and 2025.

Amendment 1 to the American Recovery Act

Section 8 is amended thus:

1. Subsection E. is amended by striking "the Department of Justice to combat fraud to government programs in this act" and inserting "the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to combat fraud of government programs in this act, and ensure spending complies with the provisions of this act".
2. Subsection F. is amended by striking "to combat fraud to government programs in this act" and inserting "to combat fraud of government programs in this act, and ensure spending complies with the provisions of this act".
3. Adding to the end of this section -
   
   G) No funds disbursed by this act to state, local, and tribal governments may be used for the personal enrichment of that government's elected officials.
   H) The Inspector General of the Department of Justice, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee shall be empowered to oversee all measures and spending in this bill, and may require the reimbursement of any funds to the Treasury which are expended in violation of subsection G).

---

"The floor is now open for motions and debate."

[New Cobastheia]

United States Senate
Senator Benjamin Hertzog [D-MI]
{Senate Majority Leader}

"Motion to consider the following amendment, Mr. President."

Amendment 2 to the American Recovery Act

Section 3 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "$3,000 per child ages 6-17 and increased to $3,600 for children under the age of 6" and inserting "$3,600 per child" in its place.

Section 5 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "15% is extended through September 30th, 2021. $3,500,000,000" and inserting "20% is extended through September 30th, 2021. $5,500,000,000" in its place.
2. Subsection (F) is inserted into this bill and reads, "The 80-hour work requirement as part of the Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents Requirement of SNAP shall be temporarily lowed to 40-hours from the enactment of this bill to 4 months after the enactment of this bill."

Section 6 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (O) is inserted into this bill and reads, "$6,000,000,000 in additional funding for each fiscal year 2021 through 2025 is allocated to Medicaid."
2. Subspection (P) is inserted into this bill and reads, "$10,000,000,000 is additional funding is allocated specifically for improving Veterans Affairs medical facilities."

Section 7 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "$7,500,000,000 and inserting "$17,500,000,000" in its place.
2. Subsection (E) is amended by striking "$10,000,000,000" and inserting "$11,000,000,000" in its place.
3. Subsection (G) is amended by sticking "$5,000,000,000" and inserting "$6,000,000,000" in its place.
4. Subsection (H) is amended by striking "$5,000,000,000" and inserting "$15,000,000,000" in its place.

Section 11 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "$10,000,000,000" and inserting "$20,000,000,000" in its place.
2. Subsection (H) is inserted into this bill and reads, "$5,000,000,000 in additional funding for each fiscal year 2021 through 2025 for the expansion of Broadband Access to areas of the United States which currently lack broadband access."

Section 12 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "$1,466,050,000,000" and inserting "$1,573,050,000,000" in its place.

[Velahor]

United States House of Representatives
Representative Caroline Simone
[Democratic - 12th District of the State of New York]

"Could the gentlewoman from Maine give some indication to my colleagues and I as to a rough estimation of the damage that has been dealt to the economy by the slow progress of infrastructure developments?"

United States House of Representatives
Congresswoman Diane Paulson [R-ME-2]

Diane had done her research well, and had all the numbers prepared on a cheat sheet.

"According to the nonpartisan organization Common Good in their report based on data from the American Society of Civil Engineers, in 2020, the total economic cost of delayed infrastructure projects was $3.9 trillion."

"In 2015, they projected that the cost would increase by $40 billion per year until 2020. Their projection was accurate, as the total economic cost of delayed infrastructure projects had increased by $200 billion."

"If those projections continue to hold true, we are currently in 2021 somewhere around a $4 trillion economic loss due to delayed infrastructure projects."

[Velahor]

United States Senate
Senator Benjamin Hertzog [D-MI]
{Senate Majority Leader}

"Motion to consider the following amendment, Mr. President."

(Image)
Amendment 2 to the American Recovery Act

Section 3 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "$3,000 per child ages 6-17 and increased to $3,600 for children under the age of 6" and inserting "$3,600 per child" in its place.

Section 5 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "15% is extended through September 30th, 2021. $3,500,000,000" and inserting "20% is extended through September 30th, 2021. $5,500,000,000" in its place.
2. Subsection (F) is inserted into this bill and reads, "The 80-hour work requirement as part of the Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents Requirement of SNAP shall be temporarily lowed to 40-hours from the enactment of this bill to 4 months after the enactment of this bill."

Section 6 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (O) is inserted into this bill and reads, "$6,000,000,000 in additional funding for each fiscal year 2021 through 2025 is allocated to Medicaid."
2. Subspection (P) is inserted into this bill and reads, "$10,000,000,000 is additional funding is allocated specifically for improving Veterans Affairs medical facilities."

Section 7 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "$7,500,000,000 and inserting "$17,500,000,000" in its place.
2. Subsection (E) is amended by striking "$10,000,000,000" and inserting "$11,000,000,000" in its place.
3. Subsection (G) is amended by sticking "$5,000,000,000" and inserting "$6,000,000,000" in its place.
4. Subsection (H) is amended by striking "$5,000,000,000" and inserting "$15,000,000,000" in its place.

Section 11 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "$10,000,000,000" and inserting "$20,000,000,000" in its place.
2. Subsection (H) is inserted into this bill and reads, "$5,000,000,000 in additional funding for each fiscal year 2021 through 2025 for the expansion of Broadband Access to areas of the United States which currently lack broadband access."

Section 12 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "$1,466,050,000,000" and inserting "$1,573,050,000,000" in its place.

United States Senate
Senator William S. Rogers III [D-MT]

"Seconded."

[Meretica]

The House of Representatives
Congressman John Amos Mattox III (D-MA8): "Could the gentlewoman from Maine elaborate on the informal discussions that have taken place?"

[Lavan Tiri]

United States Senate
Senator Benjamin Hertzog [D-MI]
{Senate Majority Leader}

"Aye." Hertzog called out before motioning over to his counterpart, "I'd sign on to that bill," and sending out the following two notes.

Senator Rogers,

Please met me in my office after the vote on Endless Frontier is called.

- Benjamin

Senator Colbert,

The Defense of the Pacific Act will be placed on the agenda, however, there is other business I'd like the Senate to address first after we vote on the ARA.

- Senator Hertzog

Senator Max O'Halloran
Senate Minority Leader
Republican|Wyoming

Max snorted and shook out a few non-toxic jellybeans to hand to Hertzog. "Absolute menace to America, absolute menace."

United States Senate
Senator Benjamin Hertzog [D-MI]
{Senate Majority Leader}

"Motion to consider the following amendment, Mr. President."

(Image)
Amendment 2 to the American Recovery Act

Section 3 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "$3,000 per child ages 6-17 and increased to $3,600 for children under the age of 6" and inserting "$3,600 per child" in its place.

Section 5 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "15% is extended through September 30th, 2021. $3,500,000,000" and inserting "20% is extended through September 30th, 2021. $5,500,000,000" in its place.
2. Subsection (F) is inserted into this bill and reads, "The 80-hour work requirement as part of the Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents Requirement of SNAP shall be temporarily lowed to 40-hours from the enactment of this bill to 4 months after the enactment of this bill."

Section 6 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (O) is inserted into this bill and reads, "$6,000,000,000 in additional funding for each fiscal year 2021 through 2025 is allocated to Medicaid."
2. Subspection (P) is inserted into this bill and reads, "$10,000,000,000 is additional funding is allocated specifically for improving Veterans Affairs medical facilities."

Section 7 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "$7,500,000,000 and inserting "$17,500,000,000" in its place.
2. Subsection (E) is amended by striking "$10,000,000,000" and inserting "$11,000,000,000" in its place.
3. Subsection (G) is amended by sticking "$5,000,000,000" and inserting "$6,000,000,000" in its place.
4. Subsection (H) is amended by striking "$5,000,000,000" and inserting "$15,000,000,000" in its place.

Section 11 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "$10,000,000,000" and inserting "$20,000,000,000" in its place.
2. Subsection (H) is inserted into this bill and reads, "$5,000,000,000 in additional funding for each fiscal year 2021 through 2025 for the expansion of Broadband Access to areas of the United States which currently lack broadband access."

Section 12 is amended thus:

1. Subsection (A) is amended by striking "$1,466,050,000,000" and inserting "$1,573,050,000,000" in its place.

"Objection."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

United States Senate
Senator Eugene Obradovic
[Democratic - State of Illinois]
{President pro tempore of the United States Senate}

The elderly President pro tempore flares his eyes slightly at the Minority Leader personally delivering the objection to the extra funding that had been bipartisanly agreed between Leader Hertzog and the President. This was going to square up into quite the showdown that he's not seen in the Senate for a good long while.

"With both a second and an objection, the gentleman from Michigan's motion to consider the amendment will go to a vote before the Senate. The clerk will call the roll!"

[New Cobastheia]

United States Senate
Senator Benjamin Hertzog [D-MI]
{Senate Majority Leader}

"Aye!" Hertzog called out after sending the whip out to his caucus...

The mandatory whip on this vote is AYE.

- Benjamin

...And taking the jelly beans from O'Halloran and whispering out, "At least we can all agree on something here. I take it you and the President don't agree on the amendment then."

[Lavan Tiri]

United States Senate
Senator Benjamin Hertzog [D-MI]
{Senate Majority Leader}

"Aye!" Hertzog called out after sending the whip out to his caucus...

The mandatory whip on this vote is AYE.

- Benjamin

...And taking the jelly beans from O'Halloran and whispering out, "At least we can all agree on something here. I take it you and the President don't agree on the amendment then."

Senator Max O'Halloran
Senate Minority Leader
Republican|Wyoming

"Well," Max whispered, "it's not about the President and I. It's about the needs of my members. Some of them come from states where spending of this level--anything like this--supported by a bipartisan deal with your side...well. I'm letting them get their FOX soundbites out before we move along."

He sent out a note to the GOP conference.

My friends,
Vote your conscience.
- Max.

[New Cobastheia]

United States Senate
Senator Benjamin Hertzog [D-MI]
{Senate Majority Leader}

"Aye!" Hertzog called out after sending the whip out to his caucus...

...And taking the jelly beans from O'Halloran and whispering out, "At least we can all agree on something here. I take it you and the President don't agree on the amendment then."

Senator Max O'Halloran
Senate Minority Leader
Republican|Wyoming

"Well," Max whispered, "it's not about the President and I. It's about the needs of my members. Some of them come from states where spending of this level--anything like this--supported by a bipartisan deal with your side...well. I'm letting them get their FOX soundbites out before we move along."

He sent out a note to the GOP conference.

United States Senate
Senator Benjamin Hertzog [D-MI]
{Senate Majority Leader}

"Hmm, let's hope they get it out now then, I doubt everyone wants to see the whole deal brought down."

[Sarenium]

Deborah Feyrer (R-AL)

Deb Feyrer voted a fervent, "NAY! ABSOLUTE NAY!"

---

Jackson Vichter (D-IA)

"Aye," Jack declared, quite chuffed.

[Jovuistan]

United States Senate
Senator Arnold Wolf Jr. (R-ID)

Junior pondered for a moment before voting.

"Aye."

[Velahor]

United States Senate
Senator William S. Rogers III [D-MT]

William whispered to an aide in the aisle, "this is the bipartisan deal amendment, right?"

The aide whispered back, "yes Senator."

William voted "aye."

[Velahor]

United States House of Representatives
Congresswoman Diane Paulson [R-ME-2]

Diane submitted the LEAP Act to the hopper.

The LEAP Act
A BILL
to eliminate the disparity between raw cocaine and cocaine base in drug offense sentencing.

Sponsor: Representative Diane Paulson (R-ME-2)
Senate Sponsors: Senator Max O’Halloran (R-WY), Senator Benjamin Hertzog (D-MI), Senator Arnold Wolf, Jr. (R-ID), Senator Eugene Obradovic (D-IL), Senator William S. Rogers III (D-MT)
House Sponsors: Representative Caroline Simone (D-NY-12), Representative Serah Kurian (R-WI-8), Representative Dan Ziegler (D-CO-1), Representative Philip Crawford (D-KY-3), Representative John Amos Mattox III (D-MA-5), Representative Hugo Fitzgerald (D-TX-29), Representative Everson Boyd (D-WI-3), Representative Oliver Miller (D-KS-3)

---

SECTION 1: SHORT TITLE
(A) This Act may be cited as the “Legislative Elimination of Assymetric Penalties Act” or the “LEAP Act”.

SECTION 2: ELIMINATION OF INCREASE PENALTIES FOR COCAINE OFFENSES WHERE THE COCAINE INVOLVED IS COCAINE BASE

(a) Controlled substances act-

The following provisions of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) are repealed:
(1) Clause (iii) of section 401(b)(1)(A) (21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(A)).
(2) Clause (iii) of section 401(b)(1)(B) (21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(B)).

(b) Controlled substances import and export act-

The following provisions of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.) are repealed:
(1) Subparagraph (C) of section 1010(b)(1) (21 U.S.C. 960(b)(1)).
(2) Subparagraph (C) of section 1010(b)(2) (21 U.S.C. 960(b)(2)).

(c) Applicability to pending and past cases

(1) Pending cases
This section, and the amendments made by this section, shall apply to any sentence imposed after the date of enactment of this Act, regardless of when the offense was committed.

(2) Past cases
In the case of a defendant who, before the date of enactment of this Act, was convicted or sentenced for a Federal offense involving cocaine base, the sentencing court may, on motion of the defendant, the Bureau of Prisons, the attorney for the Government, or on its own motion, impose a reduced sentence after considering the factors set forth in section 3553(a) of title 18, United States Code.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

United States Senate
Senator Eugene Obradovic
[Democratic - State of Illinois]
{President pro tempore of the United States Senate}

"Aye."

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"With all votes counted, the motion passes. The gentleman from Michigan is invited to lay out the amendment."