II
Calendar No. 124
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7110
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 26 (legislative day, September 17), 2008
Received
November 17 (legislative day, September 17), 2008
Read the first time
November 18, 2008
Read the second time and placed on the calendar under authority of the order of the Senate of November 17 (legislative day, September 17), 2008
AN ACT
Making supplemental appropriations for job creation and preservation, infrastructure investment, and economic and energy assistance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.
That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes, namely:
Infrastructure Investments
Transportation
Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Grants-in-Aid for Airports
(Airport and Airway Trust Fund)
For an
additional amount for Grants-in-Aid for Airports
, to enable the
Secretary of Transportation to make discretionary grants as authorized by
subchapter I of chapter 471 and subchapter I of chapter 475 of title 49, United
States Code, $600,000,000, to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund
and to remain available until September 30, 2009: Provided,
That in selecting projects to be funded, priority shall be given to airport
projects that can award contracts based on bids within 120 days of enactment of
this Act.
Federal Highway Administration
Highway Infrastructure Investment
For projects and activities eligible under section 133 of title 23, United States Code (without regard to subsection (d)), section 144 of such title (without regard to subsection (g)), and sections 103, 119, 148, and 149 of such title, $12,800,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2009: Provided, That funds made available under this heading shall be distributed among the States, including Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, in the same ratio as the obligation limitation for fiscal year 2008 was distributed among the States in accordance with the formula specified in section 120(a)(6) of division K of Public Law 110–161, but, in the case of the Puerto Rico Highway Program and the Territorial Highway Program, under section 120(a)(5) of such division: Provided further, That in selecting projects to be funded, priority shall be given to ready-to-go projects that can award bids within 120 days of enactment of this Act: Provided further, That funds made available under this heading shall be administered as if apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code: Provided further, That the Federal share payable on account of any project or activity carried out with funds made available under this heading shall be 100 percent of the total cost thereof: Provided further, That amounts made available under this heading that are not obligated within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act shall be redistributed, in the manner described in section 120(c) of division K of Public Law 110–161, to those States able to obligate amounts in addition to those previously distributed: Provided further, That the amount made available under this heading shall not be subject to any limitation on obligations for Federal-aid highways or highway safety construction programs set forth in any Act.
Federal Railroad Administration
Capital and Debt Service Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation
For an additional
amount for Capital and Debt Service Grants to the National Railroad
Passenger Corporation
, $500,000,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2009: Provided, That the Secretary of
Transportation may retain up to one-quarter of 1 percent of the funds made
available under this heading to fund the oversight by the Federal Railroad
Administration of the design and implementation of capital projects funded by
grants made under this heading: Provided further, That none of
the funds made available under this heading may be used to subsidize operating
losses of Amtrak: Provided further, That none of the funds
made available under this heading shall be for debt service obligations:
Provided further, That in selecting projects to be funded,
priority shall be given to Amtrak capital projects that can award contracts
based on bids within 120 days of enactment of this
Act.
Federal Transit Administration
Transit Capital Assistance
For transit capital assistance grants, $3,600,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2009, of which $3,240,000,000 shall be for grants under section 5307 of title 49, United States Code and shall be apportioned in accordance with section 5336 of such title (other than subsections (i)(1) and (j)) but may not be combined or commingled with any other funds apportioned under such section 5336, and of which $360,000,000 shall be for grants under section 5311 of such title and shall be apportioned in accordance with such section 5311 but may not be combined or commingled with any other funds apportioned under that section: Provided, That in selecting projects to be funded, priority shall be given to projects that can award contracts based on bids within 120 days of enactment of this Act: Provided further, That the Federal share of the costs for which a grant is made under this heading shall be 100 percent.
Transit Energy Assistance Grants
For transit energy assistance grants, $1,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2009, of which $800,000,000 shall be for grants under section 5307 of title 49, United States Code and shall be apportioned in accordance with section 5336 of such title (other than subsections (i)(1) and (j)) but may not be combined or commingled with any other funds apportioned under such section 5336, and of which $200,000,000 shall be for grants under section 5311 of such title and shall be apportioned in accordance with such section 5311 but may not be combined or commingled with any other funds apportioned under that section: Provided, That the Federal share of the costs for which a grant is made under this heading shall be 100 percent: Provided further, That notwithstanding such sections 5307 and 5311, funds appropriated under this heading are available for only one or more of the following purposes:
If the recipient of the grant is reducing, or certifies to the Secretary of Transportation within the time the Secretary prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the recipient will reduce, one or more fares the recipient charges for public transportation, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, those operating costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide the public transportation, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, that the recipient is no longer able to pay from the revenues derived from such fare or fares as a result of such reduction.
If the recipient of the grant is expanding, or certifies to the Secretary within the time the Secretary prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the recipient will expand, public transportation service, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, those operating and capital costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide the public transportation service, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, that the recipient incurs as a result of the expansion of such service.
To avoid increases in fares for public transportation, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, or decreases in current public transportation service, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, that would otherwise result from an increase in costs to the public transportation or intercity bus agency for transportation-related fuel or meeting additional transportation-related equipment or facility maintenance needs, if the recipient of the grant certifies to the Secretary within the time the Secretary prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the recipient will not increase the fares that the recipient charges for public transportation, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, or, will not decrease the public transportation service, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, that the recipient provides.
If the recipient of the grant is acquiring, or certifies to the Secretary within the time the Secretary prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the recipient will acquire, clean fuel or alternative fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities for the purpose of improving fuel efficiency, the costs of acquiring the equipment or facilities.
If the recipient of the grant is establishing or expanding, or certifies to the Secretary within the time the Secretary prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the recipient will establish or expand, commuter matching services to provide commuters with information and assistance about alternatives to single occupancy vehicle use, those administrative costs in establishing or expanding such services.
Clean Water
Environmental Protection Agency
State and Tribal Assistance Grants
For an additional
amount for State and Tribal Assistance Grants
, $7,500,000,000,
to remain available until September 30, 2009, for capitalization grants for
State revolving funds, which shall be used as
follows:
$6,500,000,000 shall be for making capitalization grants for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds under title VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, except that the funds shall not be subject to the state matching requirements in paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 602(b) of such Act.
$1,000,000,000 shall be for capitalization grants for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds under section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, except that the funds shall not be subject to the state matching requirements of section 1452(e) of such Act:
Flood Control and Water Resources
Department of Defense—Civil
Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers—Civil
Construction
For an additional amount for
Construction
, $2,500,000,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2010: Provided, That funds appropriated under
this heading shall not be derived from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund:
Provided further, That the Corps of Engineers is directed to
prioritize funding for activities based on the ability to accelerate existing
contracts or fully fund project elements and contracts for such elements in a
time period of 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act and to give
preference to those activities that are labor
intensive.
Mississippi River and Tributaries
For an additional
amount for Mississippi River and Tributaries
, $500,000,000, to
remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That the
Corps of Engineers is directed to prioritize funding for activities based on
the ability to accelerate existing contracts or fully fund project elements and
contracts for such elements in a time period of 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act and to give preference to those activities that are labor
intensive.
Operation and Maintenance
For an
additional amount for Operation and Maintenance
, $2,000,000,000,
to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That
the Corps of Engineers is directed to prioritize funding for activities based
on the ability to accelerate existing contracts or fully fund project elements
and contracts for such elements in a time period of 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act and to give preference to those activities that are labor
intensive.
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
Water and Related Resources
For an
additional amount for Water and Related Resources
, $300,000,000,
to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That
such sums shall be used for capital improvement projects, including authorized
rural water projects: Provided further, That of the amount
appropriated under this heading, $126,000,000 shall be used for water
reclamation and reuse projects authorized under title XVI of Public Law
102–575.
21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities
Department of Education
School Modernization, Renovation, and Repair
For carrying out section 1401, $3,000,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2009.
General Provisions, This Chapter
Definitions
In this section:
The term Bureau-funded school has the meaning given to such term in section 1141 of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021).
The term charter school has the meaning given such term in section 5210 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
The term local educational agency—
has the meaning given to that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and shall also include the Recovery School District of Louisiana and the New Orleans Public Schools; and
includes any public charter school that constitutes a local educational agency under State law.
The term outlying area—
means the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and
includes the freely associated states of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
The term
public school facilities
includes charter schools.
The term State means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
The term
LEED Green Building Rating System
means the United States Green
Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building
rating standard referred to as the LEED Green Building Rating System.
The term
Energy Star
means the Energy Star program of the United States
Department of Energy and the United States Environmental Protection
Agency.
The term
CHPS Criteria
means the green building rating program developed
by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools.
The term
Green Globes
means the Green Building Initiative environmental
design and rating system referred to as Green Globes.
Purpose
Grants under this section shall be for the purpose of modernizing, renovating, or repairing public school facilities, based on their need for such improvements, to be safe, healthy, high-performing, and up-to-date technologically.
Allocation of funds
Reservation
From the amount appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary of Education shall reserve 1 percent of such amount, consistent with the purpose described in subsection (b)—
to provide assistance to the outlying areas; and
for payments to the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance to Bureau-funded schools.
Allocation to States
State-by-State allocation
Of the amount appropriated to carry out this section, and not reserved under paragraph (1), each State shall be allocated an amount in proportion to the amount received by all local educational agencies in the State under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 for fiscal year 2008 relative to the total amount received by all local educational agencies in every State under such part for such fiscal year.
State administration
A State may reserve up to 1 percent of its allocation under subparagraph (A) to carry out its responsibilities under this section, including—
providing technical assistance to local educational agencies;
developing, within 6 months of receiving its allocation under subparagraph (A), a plan to develop a database that includes an inventory of public school facilities in the State and the modernization, renovation, and repair needs of, energy use by, and the carbon footprint of such schools; and
developing a school energy efficiency quality plan.
Grants to local educational agencies
From the amount allocated to a State under subparagraph (A), each local educational agency in the State that meets the requirements of section 1112(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 shall receive an amount in proportion to the amount received by such local educational agency under part A of title I of that Act for fiscal year 2008 relative to the total amount received by all local educational agencies in the State under such part for such fiscal year, except that no local educational agency that received funds under part A of title I of that Act for such fiscal year shall receive a grant of less than $5,000.
Special rule
Section 1122(c)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 shall not apply to subparagraph (A) or (C).
Special rules
Distributions by Secretary
The Secretary of Education shall make and distribute the reservations and allocations described in paragraphs (1) and (2) not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Distributions by States
A State shall make and distribute the allocations described in paragraph (2)(C) within 30 days of receiving such funds from the Secretary.
Allowable uses of funds
A local educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant for modernization, renovation, or repair of public school facilities, including—
repairing, replacing, or installing roofs, including extensive, intensive or semi-intensive green roofs, electrical wiring, plumbing systems, sewage systems, lighting systems, or components of such systems, windows, or doors, including security doors;
repairing, replacing, or installing heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems, or components of such systems (including insulation), including indoor air quality assessments;
bringing public schools into compliance with fire, health, and safety codes, including professional installation of fire/life safety alarms, including modernizations, renovations, and repairs that ensure that schools are prepared for emergencies, such as improving building infrastructure to accommodate security measures;
modifications necessary to make public school facilities accessible to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), except that such modifications shall not be the primary use of the grant;
asbestos or polychlorinated biphenyls abatement or removal from public school facilities;
implementation of measures designed to reduce or eliminate human exposure to lead-based paint hazards through methods including interim controls, abatement, or a combination of each;
implementation of measures designed to reduce or eliminate human exposure to mold or mildew;
upgrading or installing educational technology infrastructure to ensure that students have access to up-to-date educational technology;
modernization, renovation, or repair of science and engineering laboratory facilities, libraries, and career and technical education facilities, including those related to energy efficiency and renewable energy, and improvements to building infrastructure to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian access;
renewable energy generation and heating systems, including solar, photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, or biomass, including wood pellet, systems or components of such systems;
other modernization, renovation, or repair of public school facilities to—
improve teachers’ ability to teach and students’ ability to learn;
ensure the health and safety of students and staff;
make them more energy efficient; or
reduce class size; and
required environmental remediation related to public school modernization, renovation, or repair described in paragraphs (1) through (11).
Impermissible uses of funds
No funds received under this section may be used for—
payment of maintenance costs; or
stadiums or other facilities primarily used for athletic contests or exhibitions or other events for which admission is charged to the general public.
Supplement, not supplant
A local educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall use such Federal funds only to supplement and not supplant the amount of funds that would, in the absence of such Federal funds, be available for modernization, renovation, or repair of public school facilities.
Prohibition regarding State aid
A State shall not take into consideration payments under this section in determining the eligibility of any local educational agency in that State for State aid, or the amount of State aid, with respect to free public education of children.
Special rule on contracting
Each local educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall ensure that, if the agency carries out modernization, renovation, or repair through a contract, the process for any such contract ensures the maximum number of qualified bidders, including local, small, minority, and women- and veteran-owned businesses, through full and open competition.
Special rule on use of iron and steel produced in the United States
In general
A local educational agency shall not obligate or expend funds received under this section for a project for the modernization, renovation, or repair of a public school facility unless all of the iron and steel used in such project is produced in the United States.
Exceptions
The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not apply in any case in which the local educational agency finds that—
their application would be inconsistent with the public interest;
iron and steel are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality; or
inclusion of iron and steel produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project contract by more than 25 percent.
Application of GEPA
The grant program under this section is an applicable program (as that term is defined in section 400 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1221)) subject to section 439 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1232b).
Green schools
In general
A local educational agency shall use not less than 25 percent of the funds received under this section for public school modernization, renovation, or repairs that are certified, verified, or consistent with any applicable provisions of—
the LEED Green Building Rating System;
Energy Star;
the CHPS Criteria;
Green Globes; or
an equivalent program adopted by the State or another jurisdiction with authority over the local educational agency.
Technical assistance
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall provide outreach and technical assistance to States and school districts concerning the best practices in school modernization, renovation, and repair, including those related to student academic achievement and student and staff health, energy efficiency, and environmental protection.
Reporting
Reports by local educational agencies
Local educational agencies receiving a grant under this section shall compile, and submit to the State educational agency (which shall compile and submit such reports to the Secretary), a report describing the projects for which such funds were used, including—
the number of public schools in the agency, including the number of charter schools;
the total amount of funds received by the local educational agency under this section and the amount of such funds expended, including the amount expended for modernization, renovation, and repair of charter schools;
the number of public schools in the agency with a metro-centric locale code of 41, 42, or 43 as determined by the National Center for Education Statistics and the percentage of funds received by the agency under this section that were used for projects at such schools;
the number of public schools in the agency that are eligible for schoolwide programs under section 1114 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the percentage of funds received by the agency under this section that were used for projects at such schools;
the cost of each project, which, if any, of the standards described in subsection (k)(1) the project met, and any demonstrable or expected academic, energy, or environmental benefits as a result of the project;
if flooring was installed, whether—
it was low- or no-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) flooring;
it was made from sustainable materials; and
use of flooring described in clause (i) or (ii) was cost effective; and
the total number and amount of contracts awarded, and the number and amount of contracts awarded to local, small, minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses.
Reports by Secretary
Not later than December 31, 2010, the Secretary of Education shall submit to the Committees on Education and Labor and Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and Appropriations of the Senate a report on grants made under this section, including the information described in paragraph (1), the types of modernization, renovation, and repair funded, and the number of students impacted, including the number of students counted under section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
Housing
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Public and Indian Housing
Public Housing Capital Fund
For an
additional amount for the Public Housing Capital Fund
to carry
out capital and management activities for public housing agencies, as
authorized under section 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437g), $1,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2009:
Provided, That this additional amount shall be allocated to
public housing agencies according to the same funding formula used for other
amounts already made available in fiscal year 2008, and not later than 120 days
after enactment of this Act: Provided further, That in
selecting projects to be funded, public housing agencies shall give priority to
capital projects for which contract awards based on competitive bids can be
executed within 120 days of enactment of this
Act.
Energy Development
Department of Energy
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
For an additional
amount for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
, $500,000,000,
to remain available until September 30, 2009: Provided, That
funds shall be available for expenses necessary for energy efficiency and
renewable energy research and development and demonstration activities to
accelerate the development of technologies that will diversify the nation’s
energy portfolio and contribute to a reliable, domestic energy
supply.
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
For an additional
amount for Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
,
$100,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2009:
Provided, That funds shall be available for expenses necessary
for electricity delivery and energy reliability activities to modernize the
electric grid, enhance security and reliability of the energy infrastructure,
and facilitate recovery from disruptions to the energy
supply.
Advanced Battery Loan Guarantee Program Account
For the cost of guaranteed loans as authorized by section 135 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–140; 42 U.S.C. 17012), $1,000,000,000 to remain available until expended: Provided, That of such amount, $5,000,000 shall be used for administrative expenses in carrying out the guaranteed loan program: Provided further, That commitments for guaranteed loans using such amount shall not exceed $3,333,000,000 in total loan principal: Provided further, That the cost of such loans, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Unemployment Compensation and Job Training
Extension of Unemployment Compensation
Additional first-tier benefits
Section 4002(b)(1) of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended—
in
subparagraph (A), by striking 50
and inserting
80
; and
in subparagraph
(B), by striking 13
and inserting 20
.
Second-tier benefits
Section 4002 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Special rule
In general
If, at the time that the amount established in an individual’s account under subsection (b)(1) is exhausted or at any time thereafter, such individual’s State is in an extended benefit period (as determined under paragraph (2)), such account shall be augmented by an amount equal to the lesser of—
50 percent of the total amount of regular compensation (including dependents’ allowances) payable to the individual during the individual’s benefit year under the State law, or
13 times the individual’s average weekly benefit amount (as determined under subsection (b)(2)) for the benefit year.
Extended benefit period
For purposes of paragraph (1), a State shall be considered to be in an extended benefit period, as of any given time, if—
such a period is then in effect for such State under the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970;
such a period would then be in effect for such State under such Act if section 203(d) of such Act—
were applied by
substituting 4
for 5
each place it appears;
and
did not include the requirement under paragraph (1)(A) thereof; or
such a period would then be in effect for such State under such Act if—
section 203(f) of such Act were applied to such State (regardless of whether the State by law had provided for such application); and
such section 203(f)—
were applied by
substituting 6.0
for 6.5
in paragraph (1)(A)(i)
thereof; and
did not include the requirement under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) thereof.
Limitation
The account of an individual may be augmented not more than once under this subsection.
.
Phaseout provisions
Section 4007(b) of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended—
in paragraph (1),
by striking paragraph (2),
and inserting paragraphs (2)
and (3),
; and
by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
No augmentation after March 31, 2009
If the amount established in an individual’s account under subsection (b)(1) is exhausted after March 31, 2009, then section 4002(c) shall not apply and such account shall not be augmented under such section, regardless of whether such individual’s State is in an extended benefit period (as determined under paragraph (2) of such section).
Termination
No compensation under this title shall be payable for any week beginning after August 27, 2009.
.
Effective date
In general
The amendments made by this chapter shall apply as if included in the enactment of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008, subject to subsection (b).
Additional benefits
In applying the amendments made by sections 2101 and 2102, any additional emergency unemployment compensation made payable by such amendments (which would not otherwise have been payable if such amendments had not been enacted) shall be payable only with respect to any week of unemployment beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Job Training
Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
Training and Employment Services
For an
additional amount for Training and Employment Services
for
activities under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, $400,000,000, to remain
available through June 30, 2009, of which $200,000,000 is for grants to the
States for dislocated worker employment and training activities and
$200,000,000 is for grants to the States for youth activities:
Provided, That no portion of such funds shall be reserved to
carry out section 127(b)(1)(A) or section 128(a) of such Act: Provided
further, That the work readiness performance indicator described in
section 136(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I) of such Act shall be the only measure of
performance used to assess the effectiveness of youth activities provided with
such funds: Provided further, That, with respect to the youth
activities provided with such funds, section 101(13)(A) of such Act shall be
applied by substituting age 24
for age
21
.
State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations
For an additional amount for State
Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations
for grants to
the States for reemployment services in accordance with section 6 of the
Wagner-Peyser Act, $100,000,000, which may be expended from the Employment
Security Administration Account in the Unemployment Trust Fund, and which shall
remain available through September 30, 2009: Provided, That,
with respect to such funds, section 6(b)(1) of such Act shall be applied by
substituting one-third
for two-thirds
in
subparagraph (A), with the remaining one-third of the sums to be allotted in
accordance with section 132(b)(2)(B)(ii)(III) of the Workforce Investment Act
of 1998.
Temporary Increase in Medicaid Matching Rate
Temporary increase of Medicaid FMAP for 14 months
Permitting maintenance of fiscal year 2008 or 2009 FMAP
Subject to subsections (d), (e), and (f), if the FMAP determined without regard to this section for a State for—
fiscal year 2009 is less than the FMAP as so determined for fiscal year 2008, the FMAP for the State for fiscal year 2008 shall be substituted for the State’s FMAP for fiscal year 2009, before the application of this section; or
fiscal year 2010 is less than the FMAP as so determined for fiscal year 2009, the FMAP for the State for fiscal year 2009 shall be substituted for the State’s FMAP for fiscal year 2010, before the application of this section, but only for the portion of the first calendar quarter in fiscal year 2010 before December 1, 2009.
General 1 percentage point increase
In general
Subject to subsections (d), (e), and (f), for each State for fiscal year 2009 and the portion of the first calendar quarter in fiscal year 2010 before December 1, 2009, the FMAP (taking into account the application of subsection (a) and before the application of subsection (c)) shall be increased by 1 percentage point.
Increase in cap on Medicaid payments to territories
Subject to subsections (e) and (f), with respect to fiscal year 2009 and with respect to fiscal year 2010 in proportion to the portion of the fiscal year that occurs during the first calendar quarter before December 1, 2009, the amounts otherwise determined for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa under subsections (f) and (g) of section 1108 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) shall each be increased by 4 percent.
Additional percentage points increase for qualifying States
In general
Subject to subsections (d), (e), and (f), in the case of a State that is 1 of the 50 States or the District of Columbia, if the State is awarded a total of—
3 or more points under paragraph (2) for a calendar quarter in fiscal year 2009 or for the first calendar quarter in fiscal year 2010, then for that calendar quarter or, in the case the State is awarded such points for the calendar quarter in fiscal year 2010, for the portion of such quarter before December 1, 2009, (and each succeeding calendar quarter, if any, in fiscal year 2009 and the portion of the first calendar quarter in fiscal year 2010 before December 1, 2009) the FMAP (taking into account the application of subsections (a) and (b)(1)) shall be further increased by 3 percentage points; or
2 points under paragraph (2) for a calendar quarter in fiscal year 2009 or in the first calendar quarter in fiscal year 2010 and has not been awarded 3 or more points under such paragraph for a previous calendar quarter in fiscal year 2009, then for that calendar quarter or, in the case the State is awarded such points for the calendar quarter in fiscal year 2010, for the portion of such quarter before December 1, 2009, (and each succeeding calendar quarter, if any, in fiscal year 2009 and the portion of the first calendar quarter in fiscal year 2010 before December 1, 2009) the FMAP (taking into account the application of subsections (a) and (b)(1)) shall be further increased by 1 percentage point.
Awarding of points based on qualifying criteria
For purposes of paragraph (1), each State shall be awarded points for a calendar quarter equal to the total of the points awarded under each of the following subparagraphs:
Reduction in employment
In general
A State shall be awarded under this subparagraph—
2 points if the State’s employment for the quarter decreased or if such employment for the quarter increased but by not more than 0.25 percent; or
1 point if the State’s employment for the quarter increased by more than 0.25 percent but by less than 2.0 percent.
Measurement of employment
For purposes of clause (i), an increase or decrease in a State’s employment for a quarter shall be measured by comparing—
the average total nonfarm employment for the State in the 3 most recent months, as determined based on the most recent monthly publications of the Current Employer Statistics Survey of the Bureau of Labor Statistics available as of the first day of the quarter; to
the average total nonfarm employment for the State in the same months two years earlier, as so determined.
Increase in food stamps or supplemental nutrition assistance program participation
In general
A State shall be awarded under this subparagraph 1 point if the State’s food stamp or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation for the quarter increased by more than 4 percent.
Food stamp or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program participation
For purposes of clause (i), an increase in a State’s food stamp or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation for a quarter shall be measured by comparing—
the average monthly participation by persons in food stamps or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) for the State in the 3 most recent months, as determined based on the most recent monthly publications of Food and Nutrition Service Data of the Department of Agriculture available as of the first day of the quarter, adjusted for participation in disaster programs under section 5(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7. U.S.C. 2014(h)); to
the average monthly participation by persons in food stamps or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for the State in the same months two years earlier, as so determined.
Increase in foreclosures
In general
A State shall be awarded under this subparagraph —
2 points if the State’s foreclosure rate for the quarter increased by greater than 200 percent; or
1 point if the State’s foreclosure rate increased by greater than 60 percent, but not more than 200 percent.
Foreclosure rate
For purposes of clause (i), an increase in a State’s foreclosure rate for a quarter shall be measured by comparing—
the percentage of total mortgages in foreclosure for the State for the most recent quarter, as determined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System based on the most recent satisfactory data available to such Board available as of the first day of the quarter; to
such percentage for the State for the same quarter two years earlier, as so determined.
Scope of application
The increases in the FMAP for a State under this section shall apply only for purposes of title XIX of the Social Security Act and shall not apply with respect to—
disproportionate share hospital payments described in section 1923 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r–4);
payments under title IV or XXI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq. and 1397aa et seq.); or
any payments under title XIX of such Act that are based on the enhanced FMAP described in section 2105(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397ee(b)).
State ineligibility
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), a State is not eligible for an increase in its FMAP under subsection (b)(1) or (c), or an increase in a cap amount under subsection (b)(2), if eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures under its State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (including any waiver under such title or under section 1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315)) are more restrictive than the eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures, respectively, under such plan (or waiver) as in effect on July 1, 2008.
State reinstatement of eligibility permitted
A State that has restricted eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures under its State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (including any waiver under such title or under section 1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315)) after July 1, 2008, is no longer ineligible under paragraph (1) beginning with the first calendar quarter in which the State has reinstated eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures that are no more restrictive than the eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures, respectively, under such plan (or waiver) as in effect on July 1, 2008.
Rule of construction
Nothing in paragraph (1) or (2) shall be construed as affecting a State’s flexibility with respect to benefits offered under the State Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (including any waiver under such title or under section 1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315)).
Requirement for certain states
In the case of a State that requires political subdivisions within the State to contribute toward the non-Federal share of expenditures under the State Medicaid plan required under section 1902(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(2)), the State is not eligible for an increase in its FMAP under subsection (b)(1) or (c), or an increase in a cap amount under subsection (b)(2), if it requires that such political subdivisions pay a greater percentage of the non-Federal share of such expenditures for fiscal year 2009, than the percentage that would have been required by the State under such plan on September 30, 2008, prior to application of this section.
Definitions
In this section:
FMAP
The term FMAP means the Federal medical assistance percentage, as defined in section 1905(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(b)).
State
The term State has the meaning given such term for purposes of title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
Repeal
Effective as of October 1, 2010, this section is repealed.
Adjustment in computation of Medicaid FMAP to disregard an extraordinary employer pension contribution
In general
Only for purposes of computing the FMAP (as defined in subsection (e)) for a State for a fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2006) and applying the FMAP under title XIX of the Social Security Act, any significantly disproportionate employer pension or insurance fund contribution described in subsection (b) shall be disregarded in computing the per capita income of such State, but shall not be disregarded in computing the per capita income for the continental United States (and Alaska) and Hawaii.
Significantly Disproportionate Employer Pension and Insurance Fund Contribution
In general
For purposes of this section, a significantly disproportionate employer pension and insurance fund contribution described in this subsection with respect to a State is any identifiable employer contribution towards pension or other employee insurance funds that is estimated to accrue to residents of such State for a calendar year (beginning with calendar year 2003) if the increase in the amount so estimated exceeds 25 percent of the total increase in personal income in that State for the year involved.
Data to be used
For estimating and adjusting a FMAP already calculated as of the date of the enactment of this Act for a State with a significantly disproportionate employer pension and insurance fund contribution, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall use the personal income data set originally used in calculating such FMAP.
Special adjustment for negative growth
If in any calendar year the total personal income growth in a State is negative, an employer pension and insurance fund contribution for the purposes of calculating the State’s FMAP for a calendar year shall not exceed 125 percent of the amount of such contribution for the previous calendar year for the State.
Hold harmless
No State shall have its FMAP for a fiscal year reduced as a result of the application of this section.
Report
Not later than 3 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the problems presented by the current treatment of pension and insurance fund contributions in the use of Bureau of Economic Affairs calculations for the FMAP and for Medicaid and on possible alternative methodologies to mitigate such problems.
FMAP defined
For purposes of this section, the term
FMAP
means the Federal medical assistance percentage, as defined
in section 1905(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396(d)).
Temporary Increase in Food Assistance
Temporary Increase in Benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Maximum Benefit Increase
In general
Beginning the first month that begins not less than 25 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the value of benefits determined under section 8(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and consolidated block grants for Puerto Rico and American Samoa determined under section 19(a) of such Act shall be calculated using 105 percent of the June 2008 value of the thrifty food plan as specified under section 3(o) of such Act.
Termination
The authority provided by this subsection shall terminate after September 30, 2009.
Requirements for the secretary
In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall—
consider the
benefit increases described in subsection (a) to be a mass
change
;
require a simple process for States to notify households of the increase in benefits;
consider section 16(c)(3)(A) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(3)(A)) to apply to any errors in the implementation of this section, without regard to the 120-day limit described in that section; and
have the authority to take such measures as necessary to ensure the efficient administration of the benefits provided in this section.
State Administrative Expenses
In general
For the costs of State administrative expenses associated with carrying out this section, the Secretary shall make available $50,000,000.
Availability of funds
Funds described in paragraph (1) shall be made available as grants to State agencies based on each State’s share of households that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as reported to the Department of Agriculture for the 12-month period ending with June, 2008.
Funding
There is appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
General Provisions
Short Title
This Act may be cited
as the Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act of 2008
.
Prohibition
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, none of the funds made available in this Act may be used to employ workers in violation of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a).
Emergency Designation
Each amount in each title of this Act is designated as an emergency requirement and necessary to meet emergency needs pursuant to section 204(a) of S. Con. Res. 21 (110th Congress) and section 301(b)(2) of S. Con. Res. 70 (110th Congress), the concurrent resolutions on the budget for fiscal years 2008 and 2009.
Supplemental Appropriations
Unless otherwise expressly provided, each amount in this Act is made available in addition to amounts otherwise available for fiscal year 2009.
Passed the House of Representatives September 26, 2008.
Lorraine C. Miller,
Clerk.
November 18, 2008
Read the second time and placed on the calendar