August 4th
1000 MORE's weekly nonpartisan roundup of the most important happenings in federal government, written in a way that doesn't require a law degree to understand, with tools to take action
August 4, 2023
This week on the Hill:
Combating Extreme Heat
Compensation for Flight Cancellations
Canceling Ticket Junk Fees
Turning the Tide on Ocean Warming
New Student Loan Repayment Plan
Combating Extreme Heat
This summer is on track to be the hottest summer we have seen in our lifetime, and scientists predict future summers will be hotter. Two bills in Congress aim to address this crisis.
The Extreme Heat Emergency Act, introduced by Rep. Ruben Gallego, (D-AZ) would ensure extreme heat events get the same treatment by the federal government as other environmental events, like hurricanes and earthquakes, in order to unlock funding.
The Environment Justice for All Act, introduced by Rep. Raúl Grivalja, (D-AZ) is a bill to address the disproportionately adverse effects of federal laws or programs on communities of color, low-income communities, or tribal and indigenous communities. It would specifically address the impact of urban heat islands that make cities hotter than surrounding areas through a variety of funding, such as a grant program that would enhance access to park and recreational opportunities in urban areas.
You can use the links above to read about the bills and take action.
Compensation for Flight Cancellations
There has been widespread stress on the air travel system leading to unpredictable flight delays and cancellations, with little to no support or compensation to customers from airlines. To fix things, Congress passed the NOTAM Improvement Act earlier in the year, and President Biden signed it into law in June. The passage of this bill means the government is looking into what caused the Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) system’s failure in January, and the resulting nationwide flight cancellations, so that they can make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Now Congress is working on two must-pass bills to keep Americans flying: the annual Homeland Security budget bill that funds the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Congress is still working out the details of the annual Homeland Security budget bill that would fund the TSA. The Senate bill provides $61.3B for the entire department, including $10B for the TSA and $20B for FEMA.
There are two competing FAA reauthorization bills in the two chambers of Congress. The House passed their version of the bill, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, and the Senate passed their version, the FAA Reauthorization Act, which includes passenger compensation measures for canceled flights not found in the House bill.
You can use the links above to read about the bills and take action.
Canceling Ticket Junk Fees
Since last year, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé fans have been making headlines for their criticism of Ticketmaster’s fees and customer experience. Some are even traveling abroad to see concerts. In Europe, governments often crackdown on unfair pricing and fee structures, so tickets are cheaper. Some fans are saving thousands by going to concerts in other countries instead of the U.S. In light of this, Congress has been hosting hearings on Ticketmaster, using the opportunity to openly discuss the company’s lack of competition, which, in essence, means they have a monopoly on ticket sales in the U.S. Media outlets have reported that the Department of Justice is likely to file an antitrust lawsuit on this matter by the end of year.
President Biden called for an end to unfair fees for American consumers, like those hidden during the purchase process of airline and concert tickets. During his State of the Union address, he said, “junk fees may not matter to the very wealthy, but they matter to most folks in homes like the one I grew up in. They add up to hundreds of dollars a month.”
Biden also wants to end the practice known as speculative ticketing, where companies and individuals can sell event tickets that are not in their possession. The administration wrote the Junk Fee Prevention Act to address these issues. Congress has not yet scheduled the bill for a vote.
Turning the Tide on Ocean Warming
Miami has made headlines this summer with ocean temperatures over 101 degrees F, making the water feel like a hot tub and leading to coral bleaching, which means reefs are dying rapidly, and scientists are racing to save them. The ocean is the biggest absorber of carbon dioxide (CO2), and due to pollution, it is absorbing more CO2 and becoming more acidic, while warming.
There is a bipartisan bill in Congress to address this, and it already passed the House. The Coastal Communities Acidification Act would implement a collaborative, all-levels-of-government approach for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Ocean Acidification Advisory Board research on ocean and coastal acidification.
New Student Loan Repayment Plan
The Biden Administration announced that they are testing a new income-driven repayment plan for student loans to make it more affordable. The new plan, Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), will show borrowers their exact monthly payment amount and allow them to choose the most economical plan. The administration said the process takes about 10 minutes to complete, and many sections can be automatically populated from other online data, like tax returns.
The federal government will automatically roll over borrowers already on the federal government’s Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) plan to the new Income-Driven Repayment plan. While the system is in a beta test, you can still apply for the program now, here.
What Congress Passed This Week
Nothing. Congress is on recess.
What POTUS Signed Into Law This Week
Nothing.
