[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4970 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4970

     To provide for the extension of certain unemployment benefits.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 25, 2014

 Mr. LoBiondo (for himself, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Runyan, Mr. 
Horsford, Mr. King of New York, Ms. Titus, and Mr. Smith of New Jersey) 
 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 Education and the Workforce, 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 provide for the extension of certain unemployment benefits.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency 
Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2014''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Extension of emergency unemployment compensation program.
Sec. 3. Temporary extension of extended benefit provisions.
Sec. 4. Extension of funding for reemployment services and reemployment 
                            and eligibility assessment activities.
Sec. 5. Additional extended unemployment benefits under the Railroad 
                            Unemployment Insurance Act.
Sec. 6. Flexibility for unemployment program agreements.
Sec. 7. Ending unemployment payments to jobless millionaires and 
                            billionaires.
Sec. 8. GAO study on the use of work suitability requirements in 
                            unemployment insurance programs.
Sec. 9. Funding stabilization.
Sec. 10. Extension of customs user fees.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension.--Section 4007(a)(2) of the Supplemental 
Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is 
amended by striking ``January 1, 2014'' and inserting ``the date that 
is 5 months after the date of the enactment of the Emergency 
Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2014''.
    (b) Funding.--Section 4004(e)(1) of the Supplemental Appropriations 
Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (J), by inserting ``and'' at the end; 
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following:
                    ``(K) the amendment made by section 2(a) of the 
                Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 
                2014;''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to weeks of unemployment beginning on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF EXTENDED BENEFIT PROVISIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 2005 of the Assistance for Unemployed 
Workers and Struggling Families Act, as contained in Public Law 111-5 
(26 U.S.C. 3304 note), is amended--
            (1) by striking ``December 31, 2013'' each place it appears 
        and inserting ``the date that is 5 months after the date of the 
        enactment of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension 
        Act of 2014''; and
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``June 30, 2014'' and 
        inserting ``the date that is 11 months after the date of the 
        enactment of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension 
        Act of 2014''.
    (b) Extension of Matching for States With No Waiting Week.--Section 
5 of the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 (Public Law 
110-449; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by striking ``June 30, 2014'' 
and inserting ``the date that is 11 months after the date of the 
enactment of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 
2014''.
    (c) Extension of Modification of Indicators Under the Extended 
Benefit Program.--Section 203 of the Federal-State Extended 
Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (d), by striking ``December 31, 2013'' 
        and inserting ``the date that is 5 months after the date of the 
        enactment of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension 
        Act of 2014''; and
            (2) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ``December 31, 2013'' 
        and inserting ``the date that is 5 months after the date of the 
        enactment of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension 
        Act of 2014''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to weeks of unemployment beginning on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF FUNDING FOR REEMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND REEMPLOYMENT 
              AND ELIGIBILITY ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Extension.--
            (1) In general.--Section 4004(c)(2)(A) of the Supplemental 
        Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 
        note) is amended by striking ``through fiscal year 2014'' and 
        inserting ``through fiscal year 2015''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection 
        shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the 
        American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-240).
    (b) Timing for Services and Activities.--
            (1) In general.--Section 4001(i)(1)(A) of the Supplemental 
        Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 
        note) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        sentence:
                ``At a minimum, such reemployment services and 
                reemployment and eligibility assessment activities 
                shall be provided to an individual within a time period 
                (determined appropriate by the Secretary) after the 
                date the individual begins to receive amounts under 
                section 4002(b) (first tier benefits) and, if 
                applicable, again within a time period (determined 
                appropriate by the Secretary) after the date the 
                individual begins to receive amounts under section 
                4002(d) (third tier benefits).''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection 
        shall apply on and after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Purposes of Services and Activities.--The purposes of the 
reemployment services and reemployment and eligibility assessment 
activities under section 4001(i) of the Supplemental Appropriations 
Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note) are--
            (1) to better link the unemployed with the overall 
        workforce system by bringing individuals receiving unemployment 
        insurance benefits in for personalized assessments and 
        referrals to reemployment services; and
            (2) to provide individuals receiving unemployment insurance 
        benefits with early access to specific strategies that can help 
        get them back into the workforce faster, including through--
                    (A) the development of a reemployment plan;
                    (B) the provision of access to relevant labor 
                market information;
                    (C) the provision of access to information about 
                industry-recognized credentials that are regionally 
                relevant or nationally portable;
                    (D) the provision of referrals to reemployment 
                services and training; and
                    (E) an assessment of the individual's on-going 
                eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits.

SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS UNDER THE RAILROAD 
              UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT.

    (a) Extension.--
            (1) In general.--Section 2(c)(2)(D)(iii) of the Railroad 
        Unemployment Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 352(c)(2)(D)(iii)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``June 30, 2013'' and inserting 
                ``June 30, 2014''; and
                    (B) by striking ``December 31, 2013'' and inserting 
                ``December 31, 2014''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        shall apply to weeks of unemployment beginning on or after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Clarification on Authority To Use Funds.--Funds appropriated 
under either the first or second sentence of clause (iv) 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.
    (c) Funding for Administration.--Out of any funds in the Treasury 
not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Railroad 
Retirement Board $250,000 for administrative expenses associated with 
the payment of additional extended unemployment benefits provided under 
section 2(c)(2)(D) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act by reason 
of the amendments made by subsection (a), to remain available until 
expended.

SEC. 6. FLEXIBILITY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAM AGREEMENTS.

    (a) Flexibility.--
            (1) In general.--Subsection (g) of section 4001 of the 
        Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 
        U.S.C. 3304 note) shall not apply with respect to a State that 
        has enacted a law before June 30, 2014, that, upon taking 
        effect, would violate such subsection.
            (2) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) is effective with 
        respect to weeks of unemployment beginning on or after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Permitting a Subsequent Agreement.--Nothing in title IV of the 
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 
3304 note) shall preclude a State whose agreement under such title was 
terminated from entering into a subsequent agreement under such title 
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act if the State, taking 
into account the application of subsection (a), would otherwise meet 
the requirements for an agreement under such title.

SEC. 7. ENDING UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS TO JOBLESS MILLIONAIRES AND 
              BILLIONAIRES.

    (a) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
Federal funds may be used for payments of unemployment compensation 
under the emergency unemployment compensation program under title IV of 
the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 
U.S.C. 3304 note) to an individual whose adjusted gross income in the 
preceding year was equal to or greater than $1,000,000.
    (b) Compliance.--Unemployment insurance applications shall include 
a form or procedure for an individual applicant to certify the 
individual's adjusted gross income was not equal to or greater than 
$1,000,000 in the preceding year.
    (c) Audits.--The certifications required by subsection (b) shall be 
auditable by the U.S. Department of Labor or the U.S. Government 
Accountability Office.
    (d) Status of Applicants.--It is the duty of the States to verify 
the residency, employment, legal, and income status of applicants for 
unemployment insurance and no Federal funds may be expended for 
purposes of determining whether or not the prohibition under subsection 
(a) applies with respect to an individual.
    (e) Effective Date.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall 
apply to weeks of unemployment beginning on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 8. GAO STUDY ON THE USE OF WORK SUITABILITY REQUIREMENTS IN 
              UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study on the use of work suitability requirements to 
strengthen requirements to ensure that unemployment insurance benefits 
are being provided to individuals who are actively looking for work and 
who truly want to return to the labor force. Such study shall include 
an analysis of--
            (1) how work suitability requirements work under both State 
        and Federal unemployment insurance programs; and
            (2) how to incorporate and improve such requirements under 
        Federal unemployment insurance programs; and
            (3) other items determined appropriate by the Comptroller 
        General.
    (b) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall brief Congress on the ongoing study required under subsection 
(a). Such briefing shall include preliminary recommendations for such 
legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General 
determines appropriate.

SEC. 9. FUNDING STABILIZATION.

    (a) Funding Stabilization Under the Internal Revenue Code.--The 
table in subclause (II) of section 430(h)(2)(C)(iv) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            The applicable minimum
      ``If the calendar year is:                percentage is:           The applicable maximum percentage is:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, or  90%..........................  110%
 2018.
2019..................................  85%..........................  115%
2020..................................  80%..........................  120%
2021..................................  75%..........................  125%
After 2021............................  70%..........................  130%''.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Funding Stabilization Under ERISA.--
            (1) In general.--The table in subclause (II) of section 
        303(h)(2)(C)(iv) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act 
        of 1974 is amended to read as follows:


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            The applicable minimum
      ``If the calendar year is:                percentage is:           The applicable maximum percentage is:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, or  90%..........................  110%
 2018.
2019..................................  85%..........................  115%
2020..................................  80%..........................  120%
2021..................................  75%..........................  125%
After 2021............................  70%..........................  130%''.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

            (2) Conforming amendment.--
                    (A) In general.--Clause (ii) of section 
                101(f)(2)(D) of such Act is amended by striking 
                ``2015'' and inserting ``2021''.
                    (B) Statements.--The Secretary of Labor shall 
                modify the statements required under subclauses (I) and 
                (II) of section 101(f)(2)(D)(i) of such Act to conform 
                to the amendments made by this section.
    (c) Stabilization Not To Apply for Purposes of Certain Accelerated 
Benefit Distribution Rules.--
            (1) Internal revenue code of 1986.--The second sentence of 
        paragraph (2) of section 436(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
        1986 is amended by striking ``of such plan'' and inserting ``of 
        such plan (determined by not taking into account any adjustment 
        of segment rates under section 430(h)(2)(C)(iv))''.
            (2) Employee retirement income security act of 1974.--The 
        second sentence of subparagraph (B) of section 206(g)(3) of the 
        Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 
        1056(g)(3)(B)) is amended by striking ``of such plan'' and 
        inserting ``of such plan (determined by not taking into account 
        any adjustment of segment rates under section 
        303(h)(2)(C)(iv))''.
            (3) Effective date.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), the amendments made by this subsection shall apply 
                to plan years beginning after December 31, 2014.
                    (B) Collectively bargained plans.--In the case of a 
                plan maintained pursuant to 1 or more collective 
                bargaining agreements, the amendments made by this 
                subsection shall apply to plan years beginning after 
                December 31, 2015.
            (4) Provisions relating to plan amendments.--
                    (A) In general.--If this paragraph applies to any 
                amendment to any plan or annuity contract, such plan or 
                contract shall be treated as being operated in 
                accordance with the terms of the plan during the period 
                described in subparagraph (B)(ii).
                    (B) Amendments to which paragraph applies.--
                            (i) In general.--This paragraph shall apply 
                        to any amendment to any plan or annuity 
                        contract which is made--
                                    (I) pursuant to the amendments made 
                                by this subsection, or pursuant to any 
                                regulation issued by the Secretary of 
                                the Treasury or the Secretary of Labor 
                                under any provision as so amended, and
                                    (II) on or before the last day of 
                                the first plan year beginning on or 
                                after January 1, 2016, or such later 
                                date as the Secretary of the Treasury 
                                may prescribe.
                            (ii) Conditions.--This subsection shall not 
                        apply to any amendment unless, during the 
                        period--
                                    (I) beginning on the date that the 
                                amendments made by this subsection or 
                                the regulation described in clause 
                                (i)(I) takes effect (or in the case of 
                                a plan or contract amendment not 
                                required by such amendments or such 
                                regulation, the effective date 
                                specified by the plan), and
                                    (II) ending on the date described 
                                in clause (i)(II) (or, if earlier, the 
                                date the plan or contract amendment is 
                                adopted),
                        the plan or contract is operated as if such 
                        plan or contract amendment were in effect, and 
                        such plan or contract amendment applies 
                        retroactively for such period.
                    (C) Anti-cutback relief.--A plan shall not be 
                treated as failing to meet the requirements of section 
                204(g) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act 
                of 1974 and section 411(d)(6) of the Internal Revenue 
                Code of 1986 solely by reason of a plan amendment to 
                which this paragraph applies.
    (d) Modification of Funding Target Determination Periods.--
            (1) Internal revenue code of 1986.--Clause (i) of section 
        430(h)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 
        striking ``the first day of the plan year'' and inserting ``the 
        valuation date for the plan year''.
            (2) Employee retirement income security act of 1974.--
        Clause (i) of section 303(h)(2)(B) of the Employee Retirement 
        Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1083(h)(2)(B)(i)) is 
        amended by striking ``the first day of the plan year'' and 
        inserting ``the valuation date for the plan year''.
    (e) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by subsections (a), 
        (b), and (d) shall apply with respect to plan years beginning 
        after December 31, 2012.
            (2) Elections.--A plan sponsor may elect not to have the 
        amendments made by subsections (a), (b), and (d) apply to any 
        plan year beginning before January 1, 2014, either (as 
        specified in the election)--
                    (A) for all purposes for which such amendments 
                apply, or
                    (B) solely for purposes of determining the adjusted 
                funding target attainment percentage under sections 436 
                of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and 206(g) of the 
                Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 for 
                such plan year.
        A plan shall not be treated as failing to meet the requirements 
        of section 204(g) of such Act and section 411(d)(6) of such 
        Code solely by reason of an election under this paragraph.

SEC. 10. EXTENSION OF CUSTOMS USER FEES.

    Section 13031(j)(3) of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c(j)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``September 30, 2023'' 
        and inserting ``September 30, 2024''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``September 30, 
        2023'' and inserting ``September 30, 2024''.
                                 <all>