Policy Update: Build Back Better, Vaccine Mandate, and More
Nonprofit Connect works to keep Members updated on policy changes that affect nonprofits through Policy Updates. These messages provide brief information on what is going on in federal government and policy that may be of interest to the nonprofit community.
Negotiations (Maybe) Nearing an End for Build Back Better and Infrastructure Bill
Last week, Congressional Democrats and President Biden engaged in intense negotiations to reach a Build Back Better framework that could pass. Progressive House Democrats have refused to vote on the Senate-passed infrastructure bill until the Build Back Better framework could also be considered. However, moderate Senators Manchin and Sinema have held up progress with opposition to the original cost. President Biden publicly announced the new, $1.75 trillion framework on Friday, but negotiations are ongoing.
Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376) spending (in the current draft of the legislation) would:
- Provide universal pre-kindergarten for three- and four-year-old
- Cover the costs of child care above 7% of income for working families
- Extend the expanded child tax credit and the earned income tax credit for another year
- Add Medicare coverage of hearing services for seniors
- Extend home care services for older individuals and people with disabilities
- Dedicate $150 billion in housing aid toward public housing, rental assistance, down payment support, and building new affordable rental and single-family homes
- Secure $555 billion for climate programs, including $320 billion in expanded tax credits for clean energy
- Potentially (there is some debate as to whether budget reconciliation can be used for this) add $100 billion for immigration programs
- 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave
- Free tuition at community colleges
- Increases in the individual and corporate tax rates
- Adjustments to the current $10,000 cap on the deductibility of state and local taxes
More Vaccine Mandate Information Coming Soon
President Biden announced in September that for-profit and nonprofit organizations with 100+ employees must ensure all workers are vaccinated against COVID-19, or frequently tested. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is responsible for finalizing the rules for this mandate via the emergency temporary standard process. Some are speculating that the parameters will be published this week in the Federal Register. Employers may also be interested in reviewing the Safer Federal Workforce Taskforce’s FAQs.
Learn more.
SPARK Responsible for Allocating Kansas American Rescue Plan Funds
The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) executive committee has appointed Chairs and Vice-Chairs for four advisory panels that will make recommendations for how to spend funds. The four panels include: Economic Revitalization, Health and Education, Connectivity, and Efficiency and Modernization. Additionally, the SPARK executive committee is holding four regional meetings across the state to hear from Kansans and Kansas-serving organizations about where funds should go. The committee will visit Kansas City Kansas Community College on November 15th.
Learn more.
The Strengthening State and Local Economies in Partnership with Nonprofits Report was Updated Last Month
The report is for nonprofits to use when reaching out to local and state elected officials regarding use of American Rescue Plan funds. This new version has 80+ examples of successful government investments in the work of nonprofit organizations.
Learn more.
Stay tuned for more updates as the fall progresses.
This post was written by Kristen Wood, Nonprofit Connect's Advocacy Contributor.
Kristen is an avid participant in Kansas City’s nonprofit community and a self-proclaimed ‘lifetime learner’. In addition to working for Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas, she enjoys following nonprofit policy issues.
If you have any questions on Policy Updates, please reach out to Nonprofit Connect’s Marketing Manager, Colin Bennett, at cbennett@npconnect.org.
To receive policy updates like this in your inbox, sign up for our Advocacy mailing list.
