S. 610: Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-03-04 · Health · Latest: Became Public Law No: 117-71.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-03-04 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 3 recorded votes in our records. Latest: Senate vote 490 (2021): On the Cloture Motion, S610 (2021-12-09), Cloture Motion Agreed to. See all
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 117-71. (final step reached)
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act

Plain summary

Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act This bill makes several budgetary, technical, and procedural changes, particularly in relation to Medicare and increasing the debt limit. Specifically, the bill continues to exempt Medicare from sequestration until March 31, 2022. (Sequestration is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.) The bill also establishes expedited Senate procedures for considering legislation to increase the debt limit. The procedures limit debate, waive points of order, and prohibit amendments. The procedures may only be used once and expire after January 16, 2022. Additionally, the bill (1) temporarily extends other provisions under Medicare, including a payment increase under the physician fee schedule; and (2) requires any debits recorded for FY2022 on the statutory pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) scorecards to be deducted from the scorecards for 2022 and added to the scorecards for 2023.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] · 29 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 610, Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (2021-08-13); CBO cost estimate: Estimated Budgetary Effects of the House Amendment to S.610, the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act (2021-12-07)

Cosponsors on this site

Todd Young (R-IN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Gary C. Peters (D-MI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), John Boozman (R-AR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Roger F. Wicker (R-MS)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] reported raising $903,436 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

House roll call 404 (2021): On Passage, S610 (2021-12-07): Passed
Senate vote 490 (2021): On the Cloture Motion, S610 (2021-12-09): Cloture Motion Agreed to
Senate vote 491 (2021): On the Motion, S610 (2021-12-09): Motion Agreed to

Words on this page, explained (3)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Exemption: A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.
Statute: A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117s610.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/s>

Record fed-us-cong117-s610 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117