,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fiec ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #ai1 #bjbj,ms4 ,shalala 7for herself and ,ms4 ,houlahan7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,ways and ,means1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,pandemic ,responder ,service ,award program to express our gratitude to front-line health care workers4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,pandemic ,responder ,service ,award ,act4 #b4 ,establishment of ,pandemic ,responder ,service ,award ,program 7a7 ,entitlement ,subject to subsection 7c71 each qualified health care worker shall be entitled to a pandemic responder service award1 as determined under subsection 7b74 7b7 ,determination of award 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided under subsection 7c77#c77;,b77ii71 in the case of a qualified health care worker1 the amount of the pandemic responder service award shall be equal to-- 7,a7 the applicable percentage of the amount determined under paragraph 7#b7 for the calendar year in which the application described in subsection 7c77#b7 has been submitted by such worker and approved by the ,secretary2 and 7,b7 the applicable percentage of the amount determined under paragraph 7#b7 for each of the #c calendar years subsequent to the year described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#b7 ,annual amount 7,a7 ,in general ,the amount determined under this paragraph shall be equal to-- 7i7 for calendar year #bjba1 #aj1jjj2 and 7ii7 in the case of any calendar year beginning after #bjba1 the dollar amount in clause 7i71 as increased by an amount equal to-- 7,i7 such dollar amount2 multiplied by 7,,ii7 the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section #a7;f77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf for such calendar year1 determined by substituting #bjbj for #bjaf in subparagraph 7,a77ii7 thereof4 7,b7 ,rounding ,if any increase under subparagraph 7,a7 is not a multiple of #ajj1 such increase shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of #ajj4 7#c7 ,applicable percentage 7,a7 ,in general ,for purposes of paragraph 7#a71 with respect to any qualified health care worker1 the applicable percentage shall be determined in accordance with the following table3 ,if the number of days during the applicable period in which the individual,the applicable provided eligible services was3percentage is3,equal to or greater than #ahj days#ajj percent,greater than #aej days and less than #ahj days#hg4e percent,greater than #abj days and less than #aea days#ge percent,greater than #ij days and less than #aba days#fb4e percent,greater than #fj days and less than #ia days#ej percent,greater than #cj days and less than #fa days#cg4e percent,greater than #f days and less than #ca days#be percent,less than #g days#ab4e percent4 7,b7 ,death or hospitalization of qualified health care worker ,in the case of any qualified health care worker who was hospitalized or died as a result of contracting ,,covid-#ai1 the applicable percentage shall be #ajj percent4 7,c7 ,determining work performed during illness ,in the case of any qualified health care worker who was unable to provide eligible services for any period of days during the applicable period as a result of contracting ,,covid-#ai1 such period of days shall be included for purposes of determining the applicable percentage with respect to such worker under this paragraph4 7c7 ,pandemic ,responder ,service ,award ,program 7#a7 ,establishment 7,a7 ,pandemic responder savings accounts ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 not later than #ab months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish the ,pandemic ,responder ,service ,award ,program to carry out the purposes of this section4 7,b7 ,pandemic responder child savings accounts ,not later than ,december #ca1 #bjba1 the ,secretary shall establish the ,pandemic ,responder ,child ,savings ,account ,program to carry out the purposes of paragraph 7#e74 7#b7 ,applications 7,a7 ,in general ,an individual claiming or applying for a pandemic responder service award under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7,b7 ,information made available to public ,not later than #ab months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall make publicly available all instructions and forms necessary for an individual to apply for a pandemic responder service award under this section1 including-- 7i7 guidelines regarding the processes for determining entitlement to1 and the amount of1 such award2 7ii7 processes for the employer of any individual to certify-- 7,i7 that such individual provided eligible services2 and 7,,ii7 the number of days during the applicable period in which such individual provided such services4 7,c7 ,limitation ,the ,secretary shall not accept or approve any application submitted by an individual after the date which is #e years after the date described in subsection 7d77#a77;,b74 7,d7 ,death of qualified health care worker ,in the case of an individual described in subsection 7d77#e77;,a7 who has died due to ,,covid-#ai prior to filing an application described in subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall establish a procedure to permit the spouse of such worker or any dependent of such worker to file an application under such subparagraph to provide for-- 7i7 establishment of a pandemic responder savings account 7as described in paragraph 7#c77 on behalf of such spouse or a pandemic responder child savings account 7as described in paragraph 7#e77 on behalf of a dependent described in subparagraph 7,a7 of such paragraph2 and 7ii7 transfer of any pandemic responder service award to which the deceased individual would otherwise be entitled under this section to such account4 7#c7 ,pandemic ,responder ,savings ,account 7,a7 ,in general ,with respect to each qualified health care worker1 the ,secretary shall establish and maintain a separate trust account 7referred to in this section as a pandemic responder savings account7 on behalf of such worker1 which shall consist of any pandemic responder service award to which such worker is entitled under this section4 7,b7 ,transfer to account 7i7 ,in general ,except as provided under clause 7ii71 with respect to each qualified health care worker1 for each calendar year described in paragraph 7#a7 of subsection 7b71 the ,secretary shall transfer from the general fund of the ,treasury of the ,united ,states to the pandemic responder savings account of such worker an amount equal to the applicable percentage of the amount determined under paragraph 7#b7 of such subsection with respect to such year4 7ii7 ,exception for loan repayment ,in the case of a qualified health care worker who1 pursuant to their application under paragraph 7#b71 elects to apply the entirety of the pandemic responder service award to which they are entitled for a qualified purpose described in subsection 7d77#f77;,a71 the ,secretary shall1 during the calendar year in which such application is approved1 transfer from the general fund of the ,treasury of the ,united ,states to the pandemic responder savings account of such worker an amount equal to #djj percent of the applicable percentage of the amount determined under paragraph 7#b7 of subsection 7b7 with respect to such year4 7#d7 ,distribution of award amounts ,the ,secretary shall establish such guidelines as may be necessary to ensure that-- 7,a7 funds held in a pandemic responder savings account are withdrawn or transferred-- 7i7 only for qualified purposes or transfer to a pandemic responder child savings account2 7ii7 at the direction of the qualified health care worker2 and 7iii7 in such proportion or amount as is directed by such worker2 7,b7 not greater than #d withdrawals are made from such account during any calendar year2 and 7,c7 beneficiary designations for such account are made in the case of the death of such worker4 7#e7 ,pandemic responder child savings account 7,a7 ,in general ,at the election of any qualified health care worker1 the ,secretary shall establish and maintain a separate trust account 7referred to in this section as a pandemic responder child savings account7 on behalf of any dependent 7as designated by such worker7 who1 at the time of such election1 has not attained #ah years of age and which shall consist of such amounts as are elected by such worker to be transferred to such account4 7,b7 ,investment without fees ,any amount transferred to a pandemic responder child savings account shall be invested solely in ,united ,states ,treasury bonds4 ,no fees shall be assessed on participants in the ,pandemic ,responder ,child ,savings ,account ,program4 7,c7 ,accounts may not be assigned ,an account established on behalf of an individual under the ,pandemic ,responder ,child ,savings ,account ,program may not be pledged or assigned to any other person1 and any transfer to such account by a qualified health care worker may not subsequently be transferred or returned to the pandemic responder savings account of such worker4 7,d7 ,distribution of amounts in pandemic responder child savings account ,the ,secretary shall establish such guidelines as may be necessary to ensure that-- 7i7 funds held in a pandemic responder child savings account are withdrawn or transferred-- 7,i7 only for purposes described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,g7 of subsection 7d77#f7 with respect to the individual on whose behalf such account has been established2 and 7,,ii7 except for purposes described in subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 of subsection 7d77#f71 only after such individual has attained #ah years of age and at the direction of such individual and in such proportion or amount as is directed by such individual2 7ii7 not greater than #d withdrawals are made from such account during any calendar year2 and 7iii7 beneficiary designations for such account are made in the case of the death of the individual on whose behalf an account was established4 7d7 ,definitions ,for purposes of this section-- 7#a7 ,applicable period ,the term applicable period means the period-- 7,a7 beginning on ,january #bg1 #bjbj2 and 7,b7 ending on the date on which the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services determines that the public health emergency declared by such ,secretary under section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d7 on ,january #ca1 #bjbj1 with respect to ,,covid-#ai1 has ended4 7#b7 ,,covid-#ai ,the term ,,covid-#ai means the virus ,,sars-,co,v-#b or coronavirus disease #bjai 7,,covid-#ai74 7#c7 ,dependent ,the term dependent has the same meaning given such term under section #aeb of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf4 7#d7 ,eligible services 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,c71 the term eligible services means1 with respect to any individual1 services described in subparagraph 7,b7 which were provided by such individual in person during the applicable period in a work environment in which-- 7i7 there was an elevated risk of such individual contracting ,,covid-#ai 7as determined by the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention and the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,administration72 or 7ii7 such services were provided to individuals who had been diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai or who were at a high risk of having contracted ,,covid-#ai4 7,b7 ,description of services ,the services described in this subparagraph are the following3 7i7 ,emergency medical services 7as defined in section #ccj;,j7e77#a7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bed;c-#ae7;e77#a7774 7ii7 ,health care or patient care services within a hospital 7including any temporary hospital established for the purpose of treating large numbers of individuals diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai71 including sanitation1 security1 transportation1 and food services4 7iii7 ,health care services related to ,,covid-#ai within a medical practice1 health care center1 or clinic1 including any temporary facility 7such as a ,,covid-#ai testing site7 which was established in response to ,,covid-#ai4 7iv7 ,home-based and community-based work1 including-- 7,i7 home health care1 residential care1 and assistance with activities of daily living2 and 7,,ii7 any services or care provided by direct care workers 7as defined in paragraph 7#af7 of section #gii;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep771 personal care aides1 and home health aides4 7v7 ,behavioral health services1 including mental health services and substance abuse counseling4 7vi7 ,nursing care1 residential care1 or support staff services within a nursing home or other residential facility1 including community group homes4 7vii7 ,mortuary services4 7,c7 ,additional services ,the term eligible services shall include1 with respect to any individual1 any services which-- 7i7 were provided by such individual in person during the applicable period in a work environment described in clause 7i7 or 7ii7 of subparagraph 7,a72 7ii7 are not described in subparagraph 7,b72 and 7iii7 have been identified by the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention and the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,administration1 as-- 7,i7 7aa7 involving the provision of care or treatment to individuals who had been diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai2 or 7bb7 involving the operation of a facility which provides care or treatment to individuals who had been diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai2 and 7,,ii7 having a risk of exposure to ,,covid-#ai which is comparable to a health care provider in a hospital who is treating individuals who have been diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai4 7#e7 ,qualified health care worker ,the term qualified health care worker means an individual who-- 7,a7 provided eligible services2 and 7,b7 subject to paragraph 7#b77;,d7 of subsection 7c71 has filed an application to receive a pandemic responder service award pursuant to such subsection which is approved by the ,secretary4 7#f7 ,qualified purposes ,the term qualified purposes means any of the following with respect to the qualified health care worker1 their spouse1 or any of their dependents3 7,a7 ,payment to the holder of-- 7i7 a loan made1 insured1 or guaranteed under title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj et seq472 or 7ii7 a private education loan 7as defined in section #adj7;a7 of the ,truth in ,lending ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #afej7;a7774 7,b7 7i7 ,payment-- 7,i7 to an eligible institution for qualified higher education expenses 7as defined in section #ebi7;e7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf72 7,,ii7 for the costs of a registered apprenticeship2 or 7,,iii7 for the costs of training provided by a joint labor-management partnership4 7ii7 ,in this subparagraph-- 7,i7 the term eligible institution means-- 7aa7 an institution of higher education1 as defined under section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja71 that has in effect a program participation agreement under section #dhg of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7 and is eligible to participate in any of the programs under title ,,iv of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj et seq472 and 7bb7 a postsecondary vocational institution1 as defined under section #ajb7;c7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;c771 that has in effect a program participation agreement under section #dhg of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7 and is eligible to participate in any of the programs under title ,,iv of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj et seq472 and 7,,ii7 the term registered apprenticeship means an apprenticeship registered under the ,act of ,august #af1 #aicg 7commonly known as the #8,national ,apprenticeship ,act'2 #ej ,stat4 #ffd1 chapter #ffc2 #bi ,u4,s4,c4 #ej et seq471 that meets any requirement1 standard1 or rule promulgated under such ,act as in effect on ,december #cj1 #bjai4 7,c7 ,transfer to an eligible retirement plan1 as defined in section #djb7;c77#h77;,b7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf4 7,d7 ,transfer to an ,,able account established under section #ebi;,a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf4 7,e7 ,transfer to the personal bank account of the individual for emergency expenses1 provided that the total amount transferred during any calendar year does not exceed #a1jjj4 7,f7 ,payment related to purchase of a principal residence by a first-time homebuyer 7as such terms are defined in subsection 7c7 of section #cf of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf74 7,g7 ,payment related to start-up expenditures 7as defined in subsection 7c77#a7 of section #aie of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf74 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,treasury or the ,secretary's delegate4 7e7 ,exclusion from income and ,federal programs 7#a7 ,gross income ,for purposes of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf1 any payment or transfer made with respect to or on behalf of any individual under this section shall not be included in the gross income of any such individual4 7#b7 ,federal programs ,the amount of any payment or transfer made with respect to or on behalf of any individual under this section shall not be taken into account as income or resources for purposes of determining the eligibility of such individual or any other individual for benefits or assistance1 or the amount or extent of such benefits or assistance1 under any ,federal program or under any ,state or local program financed in whole or in part with ,federal funds4