SB 106-05: New Great Society Act (Passed)

[Continential]

AN ACT
To make investments in our country and expand essential social programs

Be it enacted by the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled

Section I. Title

This act may be cited as the New Great Society Act.

Section II. Infrastructure investments

1. Highway programs - $75,000,000,000 is appropriated for each of fiscal years of 2022 through 2026 for the purpose of to improving  roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure in the Republic of Atlasia.

2. Rail Service - There is appropriated $15,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to make quarterly grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for the operation of intercity passenger rail.

3. Airports - There is appropriated $2,500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to implement airport improvement and noise compatibility projects at public-use airports.

4. Broadband Initiatives Program - Out of funds of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated $2,500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 for the broadband initiatives program established under title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb et seq.) to expand the access and quality of broadband service across rural Atlasia.

Section III. CUBI benefit enhancements

The Children's Universal Basic Income Act is amended as follows:

Section 1. Title

This legislation may be cited as the Children's Universal Basic Income Act.

Section 2. Monthly Universal Basic Income for Families with Children

1. Beginning in January of 2022, parents or legal guardians of persons under the age of 18 and have a disposable income of less than $100,000 shall be entitled to $2,000 monthly checks.

2. The income received shall not be taxed or counted toward existing benefits.

3. This program shall run until 2028, but may be extended by Congress.

Section IV. Pell Grant Expansion

Section 401 (20 U.S.C. 1070a), as amended by section 703 of the FAFSA Simplification Act (title VII of division FF of Public Law 116–260) (referred to in this Act as the “FAFSA Simplification Act”), is further amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(2)(F), by striking “10 percent” and inserting “5 percent”;

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1)(B)(i), by striking “paragraph (5)(A)” and inserting “paragraph (5)”;

(B) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:

“(5) MAXIMUM FEDERAL PELL GRANT.—

“(A) AWARD YEAR 2023–2024.—For award year 2023–2024, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $9,000.

“(B) AWARD YEAR 2024–2025.—For award year 2024–2025, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $10,000.

“(C) AWARD YEAR 2025–2026.—For award year 2025–2026, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $11,000.

“(D) AWARD YEAR 2026–2027.—For award year 2026–2027, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $12,000.

“(E) AWARD YEAR 2027–2028.—For award year 2027–2028, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $13,000.

“(F) AWARD YEAR 2028–2029 AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS.—For award year 2028–2029, and each subsequent award year, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $13,000—

“(i) increased by the adjustment percentage for the award year for which the amount under this subparagraph is being determined; and

“(ii) rounded to the nearest $50.

 B.) Clarification of Eligible Institutions

Section 401(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, for purposes of this section, the terms ‘eligible institution’, ‘institution of higher education’, ‘eligible program’, and ‘institution’ include a program of education that—

“(A) consists of vocational or technical training, flight training, or apprenticeship or other on-job training;

“(B) an individual may pursue using educational assistance pursuant to section 3313(g) of title 38, Atlasian Code;

“(C) is less than 600 clock hours of instruction, 16 semester hours, or 24 quarter hours, offered during a period of less than 15 weeks;

“(D) is not required to be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary pursuant to part H;

“(E) is not required to lead to a recognized educational credential;

Section V. Social Security Benefits Enhancement and Payroll Tax Increase

(A) In General.—Section 215(a)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(a)(1)(B)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (iv); and

(2) by inserting after clause (ii) the following new clause:

“(iii) For individuals who initially become eligible for old-age or disability insurance benefits, or who die (before becoming eligible for such benefits) in any calendar year after 2024, each of the amounts determined under clause (ii) of this subparagraph for purposes of subparagraph (A)(i) shall be increased by—

“(I) for calendar year 2025, 1 percent;

“(II) for each of calendar years 2026 through 2038, the percent determined under this clause for the preceding year increased by 1 percentage point; and

“(III) for calendar year 2039 and each year thereafter, 15 percent.”.

(B). Payroll Tax Increase:

1.) Subchapter A, Section 3101 of the Federal Insurance Contributions Act is amended by striking “6.2 percent” and inserting “7.2 percent”.

2.) Subchapter B, Section 3111, subparagraph (a) of the Federal Insurance Contributions Act is amended by striking “6.2 percent” and inserting “7.2 percent”.

Section VI. Universal School Breakfast and Lunch

A. In General.—Section 4(a) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773(a)) is amended, in the first sentence—

(1) by striking “is hereby” and inserting “are”; and

(2) by inserting “to provide free breakfast to all children enrolled at those schools” before “in accordance”.


B. Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

“(b) Eligibility.—All children enrolled in a school that participates in the school lunch program under this Act shall be eligible to receive free lunch under this Act.”.


Section VII. Tuition Cap

For students enrolled in a Community College, HBCU, Institution of Higher Education, Public 4-year Institution of Higher education, Tribal College or University, 2-year Tribal College or University, 4-year Tribal College or University, the tuition amount owed by any individual student shall not exceed $8,000 per year.

Sponsor: Western Democrat

The gentleman from Oregon is recognized.

[WD]

This is one of the most consequential pieces of legislation that the Senate will ever consider. This bill will put into practice and fully realize President Scott’s vision for the New Great Society. It invests billions in our infrastructure over the next few years, putting Atlasians to work in good paying jobs. It supports our seniors by strengthening Social Security, through a benefit increase and a payroll tax increase to ensure the program will be there for years to come.

At it’s heart, this is a bill to support and uplift families and our children. This bill doubles the CUBI benefit, provides for universal school breakfast and lunch, reduces tuition costs, and expands pell grants. Atlasians will see material improvements in their standard of living due to this bill, and I am happy to have it here on floor.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I'd like to thank the gentleman from Oregon for introducing this bill. He deserves full credit for initiating this proposal, and I'm proud to throw the full support of my administration behind this bill.

I had the opportunity to proofread the bill prior to its introduction, and while it would already go very far in equalizing opportunities for students, families, and working Atlasians, I wanted to use the education portions as an opportunity to have an open discussion about addressing the root causes of student debt.

In most countries abroad where college is "free", and I heavily emphasize the quotation marks, there exists a fundamentally different understanding of what college is for. Most European colleges do not provide the special, 'fun' amenities that Atlasian students take for granted as part of the college experience. Moreover, these colleges do not provide room and board. Students must be sponsored by family or find work in order to pay for housing.

The tuition cap, I believe, is one of the most effective ways to draw a long-term solution to the student debt crisis in conjunction with the Pell Grant expansion. I had also proposed a cap or freeze specifically on executive pay, but the tuition cap should help us lower the burden on students by incentivizing less college spending that does not directly pertain to improving or renovating classes and school technology.

The bill, as we can see, funds these new expenditures with modest increases in the payroll tax.

I am very proud of the work Senator WD has done with me and my administration, and I urge the Senate to pass this crucial infrastructure for shared prosperity and a great, moral society.

[WD]

Senators, any thoughts?

[Dr. MB]

I don't see any problems with this bill. I plan to vote for it.

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

This bill represents a strong realization of this administration's domestic plans to invest in and improve Atlasia and build a, well, new great society. I also urge the Senate to pass (and potentially even improve) it, though I certainly lack the advocacy ability of President Scott and Senator WD.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

The Vice President and I have been discussing expanding UBI to single adults and couples without children. If there is support in this chamber to expand UBI beyond parents, I would support that, but we're definitely going to need to reduce the UBI benefit extension by at least half ($1500, but I won't rule out keeping the amount at $1000 if that is necessary for this bill's package).

Wealthies do not need this money though, so this is still technically not a Yang-style UBI program.

[AGA]

There is a welfare cliff in Section III.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

There is a welfare cliff in Section III.

UBI is not traditional welfare. That's why I support a generous income cap but we're also not giving free money to Donald Trump's or Jeff Bezos's families.

[WD]

There is a welfare cliff in Section III.

UBI is not traditional welfare. That's why I support a generous income cap but we're also not giving free money to Donald Trump's or Jeff Bezos's families.

Indeed. The change in the income threshold was for good reason. Families making 130K, 140K, 150K, and so on....do not need $2000 checks.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

There is a welfare cliff in Section III.

UBI is not traditional welfare. That's why I support a generous income cap but we're also not giving free money to Donald Trump's or Jeff Bezos's families.

Indeed. The change in the income threshold was for good reason. Families making 130K, 140K, 150K, and so on....do not need $2000 checks.

True, plus it would actually be $4000 for two-parent households.

We have to draw the line somewhere, obviously. That's why I'm willing to negotiate smaller checks ($1500 or the current $1000) for expanded eligibility to all adults.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

slightly worried about the cost of the CUBI expansion but I'll defer to the President's likely better judgement on that. Otherwise this bill looks amazing.

[AGA]

There is a welfare cliff in Section III.

UBI is not traditional welfare. That's why I support a generous income cap but we're also not giving free money to Donald Trump's or Jeff Bezos's families.

Whatever you call it, it is still a benefit cliff. It is possible to get rid of it by gradually phasing out the check amount.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

How does this look?

Section III. CUBI benefit enhancements

The Children's Universal Basic Income Act is amended as follows:

Section 1. Title

This legislation may be cited as the Children'sUniversal Basic Income Act of 2021.

Section 2. Monthly Universal Basic Income for Families with Children

1. Beginning in January of 2022, parents or legal guardians of persons under the age of 18 individual adults who have a disposable income of less than $100,000 shall be entitled to $1,500 monthly checks.

2. The income received shall not be taxed or counted toward existing benefits.

3. This program shall run until 2028, with the monthly amount decreasing by $100 per each of the fifteen remaining months of the program's effectiveness, but may be extended by Congress.

In summary, it expands the program from parents to adults and lowers the monthly benefit increase to $1500. The size of the checks decreases by $100 each month in the final fifteen months of the program.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The payroll tax provisions might conflict with how the healthcare payroll tax was implemented. I need to look at the details when I get home.

I have concerns about the overall package as well, and expound tonight.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

e. The subsidy will be paid for using the existing revenues for the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and Medicare. The Medicare Payroll Tax will be renamed the Health Care Payroll Tax and increased from 1.45% to 2.50% on employees and employers, for a total of 5%.

I am not sure if this OG Medicare Payroll tax was rolled into that one above in the referenced RL law. But if it is that would need to be accounted for.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I'd like to thank the gentleman from Oregon for introducing this bill. He deserves full credit for initiating this proposal, and I'm proud to throw the full support of my administration behind this bill.

I had the opportunity to proofread the bill prior to its introduction, and while it would already go very far in equalizing opportunities for students, families, and working Atlasians, I wanted to use the education portions as an opportunity to have an open discussion about addressing the root causes of student debt.

In most countries abroad where college is "free", and I heavily emphasize the quotation marks, there exists a fundamentally different understanding of what college is for. Most European colleges do not provide the special, 'fun' amenities that Atlasian students take for granted as part of the college experience. Moreover, these colleges do not provide room and board. Students must be sponsored by family or find work in order to pay for housing.

The tuition cap, I believe, is one of the most effective ways to draw a long-term solution to the student debt crisis in conjunction with the Pell Grant expansion. I had also proposed a cap or freeze specifically on executive pay, but the tuition cap should help us lower the burden on students by incentivizing less college spending that does not directly pertain to improving or renovating classes and school technology.

The bill, as we can see, funds these new expenditures with modest increases in the payroll tax.

I am very proud of the work Senator WD has done with me and my administration, and I urge the Senate to pass this crucial infrastructure for shared prosperity and a great, moral society.

A couple of questions about the tuition cap. Should it be indexed to general inflation? Also do we have authority to mandate the cap in this fashion? When I suggested such some months ago, it was in the context of conditioning financial aid, seeking to leverage the vast cadre of students and real dollars that come with them to keep prices down (which should deter a school from just rejecting all financial aid entirely since that was a concern of that approach).

How will fees be treated, especially if institutions jack up fees to ridiculous levels to circumvent the tuition cap?

[WD]

e. The subsidy will be paid for using the existing revenues for the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and Medicare. The Medicare Payroll Tax will be renamed the Health Care Payroll Tax and increased from 1.45% to 2.50% on employees and employers, for a total of 5%.

I am not sure if this OG Medicare Payroll tax was rolled into that one above in the referenced RL law. But if it is that would need to be accounted for.

My understanding is that the Medicare Payroll tax and the Social Security Payroll tax are both separate, no?

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I'd like to thank the gentleman from Oregon for introducing this bill. He deserves full credit for initiating this proposal, and I'm proud to throw the full support of my administration behind this bill.

I had the opportunity to proofread the bill prior to its introduction, and while it would already go very far in equalizing opportunities for students, families, and working Atlasians, I wanted to use the education portions as an opportunity to have an open discussion about addressing the root causes of student debt.

In most countries abroad where college is "free", and I heavily emphasize the quotation marks, there exists a fundamentally different understanding of what college is for. Most European colleges do not provide the special, 'fun' amenities that Atlasian students take for granted as part of the college experience. Moreover, these colleges do not provide room and board. Students must be sponsored by family or find work in order to pay for housing.

The tuition cap, I believe, is one of the most effective ways to draw a long-term solution to the student debt crisis in conjunction with the Pell Grant expansion. I had also proposed a cap or freeze specifically on executive pay, but the tuition cap should help us lower the burden on students by incentivizing less college spending that does not directly pertain to improving or renovating classes and school technology.

The bill, as we can see, funds these new expenditures with modest increases in the payroll tax.

I am very proud of the work Senator WD has done with me and my administration, and I urge the Senate to pass this crucial infrastructure for shared prosperity and a great, moral society.

A couple of questions about the tuition cap. Should it be indexed to general inflation? Also do we have authority to mandate the cap in this fashion? When I suggested such some months ago, it was in the context of conditioning financial aid, seeking to leverage the vast cadre of students and real dollars that come with them to keep prices down (which should deter a school from just rejecting all financial aid entirely since that was a concern of that approach).

How will fees be treated, especially if institutions jack up fees to ridiculous levels to circumvent the tuition cap?

I'm pretty sure that the ability to set tuition caps, a price control, is already protected by the Commerce Clause. I would support indexing the cap as well in addition to relevant fees to inflation, or anything that's most effective at shrinking these non-essential expenditures so that students can graduate with little if any debt.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Yea if you don't at least cap the fee inflation if not the top line fees themselves, then they will get ballooned to make up for the lost tuition inflation.

[Senator-elect Spark]

The Vice President and I have been discussing expanding UBI to single adults and couples without children. If there is support in this chamber to expand UBI beyond parents, I would support that, but we're definitely going to need to reduce the UBI benefit extension by at least half ($1500, but I won't rule out keeping the amount at $1000 if that is necessary for this bill's package).

Wealthies do not need this money though, so this is still technically not a Yang-style UBI program.

I don't support UBI, only in extreme circumstances. It's wasteful spending and we can't afford increasing the deficit whatsoever.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Another amendment proposal; remember that like the last one, I cannot officially submit amendments and so a senator must sponsor it.

Section VII. Tuition Cap

For students enrolled in a Community College, HBCU, Institution of Higher Education, Public 4-year Institution of Higher education, Tribal College or University, 2-year Tribal College or University, 4-year Tribal College or University, the tuition total amount, including tuition and fees, owed by any individual student shall not exceed $8,000 per year.

The Vice President and I have been discussing expanding UBI to single adults and couples without children. If there is support in this chamber to expand UBI beyond parents, I would support that, but we're definitely going to need to reduce the UBI benefit extension by at least half ($1500, but I won't rule out keeping the amount at $1000 if that is necessary for this bill's package).

Wealthies do not need this money though, so this is still technically not a Yang-style UBI program.

I don't support UBI, only in extreme circumstances. It's wasteful spending and we can't afford increasing the deficit whatsoever.

You propose new spending bills all the time that don't raise taxes or cut spending elsewhere.

[WD]

I’m willing to sponsor this amendment.

Section VII. Tuition Cap

For students enrolled in a Community College, HBCU, Institution of Higher Education, Public 4-year Institution of Higher education, Tribal College or University, 2-year Tribal College or University, 4-year Tribal College or University, the tuition total amount, including tuition and fees, owed by any individual student shall not exceed $8,000 per year.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I'm going to ask a senator to amend the bill to keep the UBI amount at $1,000 and instead make the program available to all adults including non-parents, with the similar $100 monthly gradual reduction during the final ten months of the program to avoid the "benefit cliff" that AGA warned about.

According to Vice President Battista, the proposed $2,000 expansion would nearly double the cost of the existing program, which the payroll tax increase probably wouldn't even pay for on its own. But making the CUBI universal would cost just slightly more than the existing program.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Another amendment proposal; remember that like the last one, I cannot officially submit amendments and so a senator must sponsor it.

Section VII. Tuition Cap

For students enrolled in a Community College, HBCU, Institution of Higher Education, Public 4-year Institution of Higher education, Tribal College or University, 2-year Tribal College or University, 4-year Tribal College or University, the tuition total amount, including tuition and fees, owed by any individual student shall not exceed $8,000 per year.

The Vice President and I have been discussing expanding UBI to single adults and couples without children. If there is support in this chamber to expand UBI beyond parents, I would support that, but we're definitely going to need to reduce the UBI benefit extension by at least half ($1500, but I won't rule out keeping the amount at $1000 if that is necessary for this bill's package).

Wealthies do not need this money though, so this is still technically not a Yang-style UBI program.

I don't support UBI, only in extreme circumstances. It's wasteful spending and we can't afford increasing the deficit whatsoever.

You propose new spending bills all the time that don't raise taxes or cut spending elsewhere.

If only there was some mechanism that could prevent such.