After an intense last-minute discussion on immigration, the Senate approved the budget bill of 1.7 trillion dollars to finance the federal government until September and, against the clock, it will go to the House of Representatives and then to the desk of the president, Joe Biden , for your signiture.
The initiative, which included proposals from both parties, finally materialized with a consensus on some measures that they considered most important.
This is a count of those that survived the legislators' discussion and that are contained in the document of more than 4,000 pages:
🤰Equality law for pregnant workers
This initiative prohibits women from being discriminated against in the workplace and obliges employers to make changes or adaptations for those who are pregnant, have given birth or live with any related condition, unless the modifications impair the operation of the company. or business.
At least two initiatives benefit pregnant women or mothers. Ute Grabowsky / Photothek via Getty Images
“For too long, many workers excited to have a baby have had to worry about losing their jobs, all because their bosses deny them basic conditions or refuse to make changes like giving them a bathroom break or a stool to sit on.” assured one of its promoters, the Democratic senator for Washington, Patty Murray, who described the measure as "an important step forward."
This initiative was initially introduced in 2021.
🤱Urgent Maternal Protection Law (PUMP) for nursing mothers
Another bill that will benefit women was approved as part of the amendment package, reported NBC News, sister network of Noticias Telemundo.
The Maternity Urgent Protection Act (PUMP) for nursing mothers was introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon, and Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, and contemplates the protection of women who need to express breast milk during the workday, especially requires that their employers recognize the time it takes them as hours worked and must also offer them safe spaces to do so.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends prolonging breastfeeding for up to 2 years.
July 4, 202201:40
In a statement, Murkowski assured that it is essential that women be able to continue breastfeeding without suffering discrimination, a reduction in salary or dismissals, since some are forced to stop breastfeeding, "with consequences for their health and that of their children." he explained.
🏦 Secure Act 2.0
As we explain in this article, the Secure Act 2.0 will force companies to automatically enroll their workers in a 401(k) plan starting in 2025, deducting
between 3% and 15% of your income before taxes to put into a retirement account.
[This law can introduce big changes in the way you save for retirement]
Although many companies offer it, enrollment is not automatic.
A survey by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) revealed in 2022 that almost half of the country's workers do not have access to a retirement plan, that is, some 57 million private sector employees with ages between 18 and 64 years.
There are some exceptions to the measure and people will have the option, if they choose, not to participate in the program.
📱
TikTok will be banned from federal government devices
According to The New York Times, another of the proposals reached in the bill is the one that stipulates that the TikTok social network will be prohibited on federal government devices, this after some legislators questioned the security and privacy of the application. owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.
They propose a law to prohibit the use of TikTok in the US and worry merchants
Dec 16, 202203:13
It was revealed Thursday that journalists from Forbes magazine and other US users were illegally spied on by ByteDance employees after working on investigations that revealed the social network's links to China.
🗳️ Protect elections
The bipartisan proposal led by the Republican senator from Maine, Susan Collins, and the Democrat from West Virginia, Joe Manchin, will
redefine the role of the vice president
after, in the context of the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, former President Donald Trump tried to persuade then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject the electoral vote count that gave Biden victory.
The norm also establishes other precautions to avoid a repeat of the scenario after the 2020 presidential elections.
The committee for the assault on the Capitol recommends that Trump be tried for inciting the insurrection
Dec 19, 202202:37
“Our bipartisan caucus worked tirelessly to draft this legislation that corrects the flaws in the archaic and ambiguous Electoral Recount Act of 1887 and sets clear guidelines for our system of certifying and recounting electoral votes for president and vice president,” Collins and Manchin stated in a statement.
👩‍⚕️ Medicaid coverage
Millions of people who signed up for Medicaid during the COVID-19 pandemic
could lose their coverage on April 1
after the bill ends a requirement that prohibited states from kicking people out of the program.
Millions are expected to be locked out of Medicaid, which provides health coverage to nearly 80 million low-income people across the country, The Associated Press news agency reported.
[Millions of people will lose Medicaid coverage under congressional plan]
Activists recommended checking that your information is up to date in the system and checking your email frequently to find out if you are among those affected, otherwise you may be left without coverage and not realize it.
We explain it in detail here.
🏚️ Disaster Relief
The bill, confirmed by CNN and The New York Times, includes $40 billion in disaster aid, taking into account hurricanes, forest fires and other emergencies that have hit the country.
Planet Earth: Ian brought much more rain because of climate change
Oct 9, 202201:30
The money will go to different agencies including the Department of Agriculture to help farmers overcome crop losses;
the National Park Service for expenses for wildfires, hurricanes and other catastrophes;
and the Department of Transportation for effects on public transportation after disasters.
