Rep. Scott H. Peters

Raise the Wage Act of 2021 This bill increases the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 5-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. The bill sets forth a schedule of annual increases in the federal minimum wage for individuals with disabilities. The Department of Labor shall no longer issue special certificates for the payment of subminimum wages to such individuals after the final wage increase under this bill for such individuals takes effect. Labor shall provide, upon request, technical assistance and information to employers to (1) help them transition their practices to comply with wage increases and other requirements under this bill for individuals with disabilities, and (2) ensure continuing employment opportunities for such individuals. The bill eliminates the separate minimum wage requirements for tipped, newly hired, and disabled employees. After a specified period, these employees shall be paid the same minimum wage as regular employees. Labor must publish any increase in the minimum wage in the Federal Register and on its website 60 days before it takes effect.

Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2021 This bill modifies the extension of dependent coverage under TRICARE by allowing a dependent under the age of 26 to be covered without an additional premium. Additionally, the bill authorizes such coverage of dependents without a premium regardless of whether they are eligible to enroll in an employer sponsored plan.

COVID-19 Student Loan Relief Extension Act This bill extends certain temporary relief related to federal student loans and expands eligibility for such relief to additional types of loans. Specifically, the bill extends the current suspension of payments due on federal student loans to 30 days after the end of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. It also extends the suspension of interest due on these loans until the economy shows specified initial signs of recovery. Further, the bill expands eligibility for temporary relief on federal student loans to include Federal Family Education Loans (FFELs) and Federal Perkins Loans that are not held by the Department of Education (ED) and certain health profession and nursing loans. (Currently, these temporary relief provisions are only applicable to certain Federal Direct Loans and FFELs that are held by ED.) Additionally, the bill makes this eligibility retroactive to March 13, 2020. Finally, ED and the Department of Health and Human Services must carry out a program, beginning on August 1, 2021, to provide at least six notices to borrowers that normal payment obligations will resume.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the U.S. Postal Service should issue a commemorative stamp series honoring women veterans.

This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of Korean American Day and honors the 118th anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should ensure that the U.S. Postal Service is not privatized and remains an independent establishment of the federal government.

Officer Eugene Goodman Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman for his actions to protect the Senate chamber during the security breach at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

This resolution calls upon Vice President Michael R. Pence (1) to immediately use his powers under section 4 of the Twenty-fifth Amendment to convene and mobilize the principal officers of the executive departments to declare that the President is unable to successfully discharge the duties and powers of his office, and (2) to transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House notice that he will be immediately assuming the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Public Service Appreciation Through Loan Forgiveness Act This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to implement a partial student loan forgiveness reduction schedule and conduct awareness activities relating to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Specifically, ED must implement a public service loan forgiveness reduction schedule to cancel principal and interest due on Federal Direct Loans based on the number of payments made by the borrower, develop informational materials relating to the eligibility requirements of the PSLF program, make the informational materials available on its website and conduct outreach to not-for-profit institutions and government organizations about the availability of these materials, and establish an online portal for borrowers to submit employment certification forms.