SONG Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (12 Feb 2015): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
What this bill does
S. 473, the Saving Our Next Generation Act (SONG Act), is a wide-ranging bill introduced in the 114th Congress that would establish a broad set of federal programs aimed at reducing child poverty. Among its provisions, it would create a President's Commission on Children to study and report on child well-being; raise the federal minimum wage in stages (to $10.10 an hour over roughly three years, with later annual adjustments tied to inflation) along with a phased increase in the tipped minimum wage; make permanent and modify the child tax credit and earned income tax credit; and exclude certain children's savings accounts and education savings from being counted as resources under programs such as TANF, SSI, SNAP, and home energy assistance. The bill also addresses family and medical leave (including leave to care for additional family members, bereavement leave, and leave related to domestic violence), health coverage for children and former foster youth, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) administration, child welfare grant programs, and a large set of education provisions covering pre-kindergarten, Head Start, school nutrition, career and technical education, and student loan policy.
The bill would affect low- and moderate-income families, children in poverty, foster youth, workers earning minimum wage or tipped wages, state and local governments and agencies administering benefit and education programs, schools, and student loan borrowers. It also affects federal agencies such as the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Education, which would be tasked with implementing new commissions, grant programs, and regulatory changes.
The bill was introduced on February 12, 2015, by Senator Tom Udall and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance. According to the Congressional Research Service, it did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 114th Congress. As an introduced bill that did not pass, it did not become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Saving Our Next Generation Act or the SONG Act
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the federal programs most critical to improving child well-being should be fully funded.
Establishes the President's Commission on Children.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to contract with the Institute of Medicine to study evidence-based best practices and innovations for fostering safe and stable families, including implementing mentoring programs. Requires the Secretary to award grants to eligible entities to implement best practices and innovations identified in the study.
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the federal minimum wage for employees to: (1) $8.20 an hour six months after enactment of this Act; (2) $9.15 an hour one year later; (3) $10.10 an hour two years later; and (4) amounts determined three years later and annually thereafter based on increases in the Consumer Price Index.
Increases the federal minimum wage for tipped employees to $3.00 an hour for one year six months after enactment of this Act, with a formula for subsequent annual adjustments to ensure that it remains equal to 70% of the wage in effect under FLSA for other employees.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the reduction in the income eligibility threshold (from $10,000 to $3,000) for determining the refundable portion of the child tax credit, (2) eliminate the inflation adjustment to such amount, but (3) require an annual inflation adjustment to the allowable amount of such credit (i.e., $1,000) after 2014.
Modifies the earned income tax credit to: (1) make permanent the increase in the rate of such credit for taxpayers with three or more children; (2) increase the earned income amount, phaseout amounts, and the credit for taxpayers with no qualifying children; (3) reduce from 25 to 21 the qualifying age for such credit for individuals without a qualifying child; (4) revise eligibility rules for married individuals living apart and qualifying children claimed by another family member; and (5) repeal the denial of such credit for taxpayers with excess investment income.
Timeline
12 Feb 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Common questions
- What does S. 473 do?
- S. 473, the Saving Our Next Generation Act (SONG Act), is a wide-ranging bill introduced in the 114th Congress that would establish a broad set of federal programs aimed at reducing child poverty. Among its provisions, it would create a President's Commission on Children to study and report on child well-being; raise the federal minimum wage in stages (to $10.10 an hour over roughly three years, with later annual adjustments tied to inflation) along with a phased increase in the tipped minimum wage; make permanent and modify the child tax credit and earned income tax credit; and exclude certain children's savings accounts and education savings from being counted as resources under programs such as TANF, SSI, SNAP, and home energy assistance. The bill also addresses family and medical leave (including leave to care for additional family members, bereavement leave, and leave related to domestic violence), health coverage for children and former foster youth, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) administration, child welfare grant programs, and a large set of education provisions covering pre-kindergarten, Head Start, school nutrition, career and technical education, and student loan policy. The bill would affect low- and moderate-income families, children in poverty, foster youth, workers earning minimum wage or tipped wages, state and local governments and agencies administering benefit and education programs, schools, and student loan borrowers. It also affects federal agencies such as the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Education, which would be tasked with implementing new commissions, grant programs, and regulatory changes. The bill was introduced on February 12, 2015, by Senator Tom Udall and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance. According to the Congressional Research Service, it did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 114th Congress. As an introduced bill that did not pass, it did not become law.
- Has S. 473 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 473. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 473?
- S. 473 was sponsored by Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM] (D-NM), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 473?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (12 Feb 2015).
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