Senate Bill 5085 Introduced by Senator Mitch McConnell

S.5085 - A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the additional 2020 recovery rebates, to repeal section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY] (Introduced 12/29/2020) Latest Action: Senate - 12/30/2020 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 644 Introduced in Senate (12/29/2020) This bill increases the amounts of the 2020 recovery rebate, repeals the immunity from liability of a provider or user of an interactive computer service for screening and blocking offensive content, and addresses the administration of federal elections. The bill increases the amount of the 2020 recovery rebate for individual taxpayers to $2,000 ($4,000 for joint returns). The amount of such rebate is phased out for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 ($150,000 for joint returns). A recovery rebate is a stimulus payment for taxpayers and their dependents who are adversely affected by COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). This bill also removes the immunity from liability of a provider or user of an interactive computer service (e.g., a social media company) for screening and blocking offensive content on its platform. Regarding the conduct of federal elections, the bill establishes a bipartisan advisory committee within the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to study the integrity and administration of the November 2020 general election. Under the bill, each chief state election official must disclose to the EAC the identity of any foreign national known by that official to have (1) physically handled either ballots used in an election for federal office or voting machines, (2) had unmonitored access to a storage facility or centralized voting-tabulation location used to support an election, or (3) had unmonitored access to election-related information or communications technology. It also requires the official to make the disclosure within 30 days of becoming aware of such activity. Related Bills: S.2656 A bill to disclose access to election infrastructure by foreign nationals. Related bill CRS 10/22/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. This bill, introduced by Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] requires each chief state election official to disclose to the Election Assistance Commission the identity of any foreign national known by that official to have (1) physically handled either ballots used in an election for federal office or voting machines, (2) had unmonitored access to a storage facility or centralized voting-tabulation location used to support an election, or (3) had unmonitored access to election-related information or communications technology. It also requires the official to make the disclosure within 30 days of becoming aware of such activity. S.4895 SAFE Votes Act Related bill CRS 11/12/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. Introduced in Senate (11/12/2020) Securing America's Future Elections and Votes Act or the SAFE Votes Act This bill, introduced by Senator David Perdue, [R-GA] establishes a bipartisan advisory committee within the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to study the integrity and administration of the November 2020 general election. The committee must also make recommendations to the EAC and Congress on best practices for administering federal elections, including best practices to prevent improper voting and increase the security of vote-by-mail ballots.