STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

On 2026-09-30, Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) delivered a floor speech titled "STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS" in the Senate.

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 155 (Wednesday, September 30, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 155 (Wednesday, September 30, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S5264-S5265] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand): S. 5619. A bill to restore the allowance of the premium tax credit for lawfully present individuals, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance. Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S. 5619 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act''. SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF ALLOWANCE OF PREMIUM TAX CREDIT FOR LAWFULLY PRESENT INDIVIDUALS. (a) In General.--Section 71301 of Public Law 119-21 is repealed, and each provision of law amended by such section is amended to read as such provision would read if such section had never been enacted. (b) Effective Date.--Each amendment made by this section shall take effect as if included in the provision of Public Law 119-21 to which such amendment relates. SEC. 3. RESTORATION OF ALLOWANCE OF PREMIUM TAX CREDIT DURING PERIODS OF MEDICAID INELIGIBILITY DUE TO ALIEN STATUS. (a) In General.--Section 36B(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 71302 of Public Law 119- 21, is amended by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph: ``(B) Special rule for certain individuals lawfully present in the united states.--If-- ``(i) a taxpayer has a household income which is not greater than 100 percent of an amount equal to the poverty line for a family of the size involved, and ``(ii) the taxpayer is an alien lawfully present in the United States, but is not eligible for the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act by reason of such alien status, the taxpayer shall, for purposes of the credit under this section, be treated as an applicable taxpayer with a household income which is equal to 100 percent of the poverty line for a family of the size involved.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. SEC. 4. STATE OPTION TO INCREASE MAXIMUM HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR BASIC HEALTH PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY. (a) In General.--Section 1331(e)(1)(B) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18051(e)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``200 percent'' and inserting ``a percentage to be determined by the State that is not less than 200 percent and not more than 250 percent''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. ______ By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Schiff): S. 5632. A bill to amend title 44, United States Code, to prohibit the closure of Federal records centers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S. 5632 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``National Archives Protection Act''. SEC. 2. PROHIBITING THE CLOSURE OF FEDERAL RECORDS CENTERS. Section 2907 of title 44, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by striking ``The'' and inserting the following: ``(a) In General.--The''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(b) Prohibition.--The Archivist may not-- ``(1) close or impose unreasonable restrictions on public access to any record center or archive facility established before the date of enactment of this subsection; or ``(2) reconstruct, convert, or rehabilitate any such center or facility if doing so would require the relocation of records for more than 180 days.''. ______ By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Kim): [[Page S5265]] S. 5634. A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide additional amounts of loan forgiveness to teachers of English learners and teachers of bilingual and dual language immersion students, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Supporting Providers of English Language Learning, SPELL, Act, which I introduced today. English learners are one of the fastest growing student populations in the country. Across the United States, about 10 percent of all publc school students are English learners. In California alone, nearly 19 percent of all public school students identify as English learners. Yet we are facing a devastating shortage of teachers with the skills needed to support these students. If we do not address this shortage, the achievement gap for this vulnerable group of students will continue to grow. Educating students learning English requires specialized instruction and unique teacher strategies. If we are going to meet the needs of these students, we need to facilitate the training and retention of high-quality teachers for our English learners. The SPELL Act, would amend the Higher Education Act to provide up to $17,500 in Federal student loan forgiveness for teachers of English learners, bilingual students, or dual immersion students in high-need schools. This would match the level of loan forgiveness offered to teachers of other in-demand subjects such as math, science, and special education. By lessening the financial burden on prospective English learner teachers, we can help incentivize a greater number of passionate and highly qualified teachers to enter and stay in the classroom. As a Senator representing one of the most diverse States in the country with the most English learners and as an English learner myself, I am proud to work with my colleagues to push forward legislation to support our teachers. I want to thank Representative Espaillat for introducing this bill in the House, and I hope our colleagues will join us in supporting our English learner teachers and students. ____________________

Referenced legislation: S5619, S5619, S5632, S5634