United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2006
Health Care Access and Rural Equity (H-CARE) Act of 2006 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to: (1) the Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) adjustment for rural hospitals; (2); payment for clinical laboratory tests furnished by critical access hospitals; (3) rebasing for sole community hospitals; (4) establishment of a rural community hospital program; (5) extension of the Medicare rural hospital hold harmless provision under the prospective payment system (PPS) for hospital outpatient department services; (6) coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance); (7) permanent treatment of certain physician pathology services under Medicare; (8) extension of the Medicare incentive payment program for a physician scarcity area; (9) proportional representation of interests of rural areas on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; and (10) additional payments for providers furnishing ambulance services in rural areas and prompt payment of clean claims by Medicare prescription drug plans and MedicareAdvantage-Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plans under the Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program). Amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend: (1) certain Medicare hospital wage index reclassifications and disregarding hospital reclassifications for purposes of group reclassifications; (2) Medicare reasonable costs payments for certain clinical diagnostic laboratory tests furnished to hospital patients in certain rural areas; and (3) the temporary Medicare payment increase for home health services furnished in a rural area. Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants to eligible entities in rural areas for purchase and enhanced utilization of qualified health information technology systems; (2) establish a capital infrastructure revolving loan program and a Rural Health Quality Advisory Commission; and (3) provide for delta rural disparities and health systems development.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2006
Unredeemed U.S. Savings Bond Return Act of 2006 - Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations authorizing states to enter into owner location and claims agreements with the Secretary in order to: (1) locate owners of specified unredeemed savings bonds; (2) identify such owners; and (3) process and verify claims for the redemption of such savings bonds.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2006
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Pension Protection Act of 2006 - Title I: Reform of Funding Rules for Single-Employer Defined Benefit Pension Plans: Subtitle A: Amendments to Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - (Sec. 101) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to repeal existing funding rules for defined benefit pension plans for plan years beginning after 2007. Establishes new minimum funding standards for single-employer defined benefit pension plans, single-employer money purchase plans, and multiemployer plans. Requires employers to pay certain minimum required contributions. Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) waive minimum funding standards in the event of a temporary substantial business hardship for single-employer plans or a substantial business hardship in the case of a multiemployer plan if application of the standard would be adverse to the interests of plan participants in the aggregate; (2) require a single-employer maintaining such a plan to provide security to such plan as a condition for granting or modifying a waiver. Limits the number of waivers that may be granted. Prohibits any amendment which increases the liability of a plan from being adopted if a waiver is in effect. (Sec. 102) Amends ERISA to set forth funding rules for single-employer defined benefit pension plans. Makes the minimum required contribution for single-employer plans the sum of the target normal cost of the plan for the plan year, the shortfall amortization charge, and the waiver amortization charge. Allows funding shortfalls to be amortized over seven years. Allows waiver charges to be amortized over five years. Sets forth rules governing the valuation of plan assets and liabilities. Allows a plan to determine the value of plan assets using fair market value if certain requirements are met. Requires a determination of present value to be based on actuarial assumptions and methods which: (1) are reasonable, taking into account the experience of the plan and reasonable expectations; and (2) offer the actuary's best estimate of anticipated experience under the plan. Establishes a segmented interest rate for determining the present value of plan benefits. Bases the interest rate on the corporate bond yield curve for bonds which mature at three different times: in less than 5 years; between 5 and 20 years; and after 20 years. Defines "corporate bond yield curve" as a yield curve prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury which reflects the two-year average of monthly yields on investment grade corporate bonds with varying maturities and that are in the top three quality levels available. Sets forth transition rules for plans to implement the segmented interest rates. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe mortality tables to be used for determining any present value based on the actual experience of pension plans and projected trends in such experience. Requires such tables to be revised at least every 10 years to reflect the actual experience of pension plans and projected trends in such experience. Sets forth special rules for at-risk plans based on whether they are underfunded. Requires such plans to make different actuarial assumptions, which include assuming that participants will retire at the earliest possible date. (Sec. 103) Sets forth limitations on distributions and benefit accruals under single-employer plans. Prohibits the payment of benefits due to plant shutdowns and other unpredictable contingent events if the adjusted funding target attainment percentage for a plan year: (1) is less than 60%; or (2) would be less than 60% taking into account such occurrence. Prohibits underfunded plans, with funding targets less than 80% as of their valuation dates, from: (1) adopting amendments that increase plan liabilities; and (2) providing lump sum distributions or other accelerated forms of benefits. Prohibits underfunded plans, with funding targets less than 60% as of their valuation dates, from all future benefit accruals. Sets forth exceptions to such prohibitions, as well as special timing rules, provisions for restoration of benefits, and notice requirements. (Sec. 104) Delays the effective date of the funding rules under this Act for eligible cooperative plans until: (1) the first plan year for which the plan ceases to be an eligible cooperative plan; or (2) January 1, 2017. Revises the interest rate used to determine the current liability and required contribution of an eligible cooperative plan sponsored by multiple employers to use the third segment rate, which is the rate of interest based on the corporate bond yield curve for such month taking into account only bonds maturing after 20 years. Makes such rate effective after 2007 and before new funding rules apply. (Sec. 105) Delays application of the funding rules for a PBGC settlement plan until January 1, 2014. Applies the third segment rate after 2007 and before 2014 to determine such a plan's current liability and required contribution. (Sec. 106) Delays application of the funding rules for an eligible government contractor cooperative plan until, at the latest, January 1, 2011. Applies the third segment rate after 2007 and before the funding rules become effective. (Sec. 107) Makes technical and conforming amendments. Subtitle B: Amendments to Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - (Sec. 111) Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to establish minimum funding standards for single-employer defined benefit pension plans. (Sec. 112) Sets forth funding rules for single-employer defined benefit pension plans. (Sec. 113) Sets forth limitations on distributions and benefit accruals under single-employer plans. (Sec. 114) Makes technical and conforming amendments. (Sec. 115) Sets forth a special funding rule for any underfunded plan sponsored by an employer engaged primarily in the interurban or interstate passenger bus service. (Sec. 116) Sets forth the treatment, including tax treatment, of deferred compensation to certain executives or highly compensated employees under nonqualified deferred compensation plans during any period when an employer's defined benefit plan is in, or within six months of, at-risk status or bankruptcy. Title II: Funding Rules for Multiemployer Defined Benefit Plans and Related Provisions - Subtitle A: Amendments to Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - (Sec. 201) Amends ERISA to establish new funding rules for multiemployer defined benefit plans. Requires amounts attributable to unfunded past service liability, plan amendments, investment gains and losses, actuarial changes, and waived funding deficiency to be amortized over 15 years. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to extend the amortization period for up to 5 years upon a determination that: (1) without the extension, the plan would have an accumulated funding deficiency in any of the next 10 plan years; (2) the plan sponsor has adopted a plan to improve the plan's funded status; and (3) the plan is projected to have sufficient assets to pay expected benefit liabilities and other anticipated expenses in a timely manner. Authorizes the Secretary to grant an additional 5-year extension if not permitting it would result in substantial risk to voluntary continuation of the plan, or substantial curtailment of pension benefit levels or employee compensation, and be adverse to plan participants' aggregate interests. (Sec. 202) Establishes additional funding rules for multiemployer plans in endangered or critical status, including certification and notice requirements. Deems a plan to be in endangered status if it is not in critical status for the plan year and either: (1) its funded percentage for the plan year is less than 80%; or (2) it has an accumulated funding deficiency for the plan year or is projected to have such a deficiency for any of the six succeeding plan years, taking into account any extension of certain amortization periods. Deems plans to be in critical status if their funded percentage is less than 65% and certain other conditions are present, and in specified alternative circumstances. Requires for endangered plans (in various degrees of endangered status): (1) funding improvement plans; (2) sponsor actions, maintenance of contributions, and benefit restrictions pending such funding improvement plans' approval; (3) certain restrictions upon such approval; (4) default (critical status) if an improvement plan is not adopted; (5) standard funding improvement periods; (6) special rules for seriously underfunded plans; and (7) sponsor recommendation of alternative proposals to bargaining parties, and making relevant information available. Requires for plans in critical status: (1) rehabilitation plans; (2) 10-year rehabilitation periods; (3) plan development proposals that include at least one for the reduction of future benefit accruals (at a limited rate) and one for an increase in contributions; (4) default schedules, with allocation rules for those containing reductions in future benefit accruals; (5) automatic employer surcharges; and (6) benefit adjustments. Allows plan sponsors discretion to treat a failure of a contributing employer to make required contributions under the rehabilitation plan as a withdrawal from the plan. (Sec. 203) Amends ERISA to require a sponsor of a plan in reorganization who determines that the plan will be insolvent in the next five years (by comparing the value of plan assets with the total amount of benefit payments made under the plan) to make such comparison at least annually until the sponsor determines that the plan will not be insolvent in any of the next five plan years. (Sec. 204) Revises the table used to determine an employer's withdrawal liability upon the employer's sale of assets. (Sec. 205) Prohibits a sponsor of a multiemployer plan or any other person from discriminating against any contributing employer for: (1) exercising rights under this Act; or (2) testifying before Congress in any proceeding relating to this Act. (Sec. 206) Exempts a multiemployer plan that is a party to an agreement approved by PBGC that increases benefits and provides for special withdrawal liability rules from the funding rules and withdrawal liability rules under this Act. Subtitle B: Amendments to Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - (Sec. 211) Amends the IRC to establish funding rules for multiemployer defined benefit plans. (Sec. 212) Establishes additional funding rules for multiemployer plans in endangered or critical status. (Sec. 213) Amends the IRC to require a sponsor of a plan in reorganization who determines that the plan will be insolvent in the next five years to evaluate the plan at least annually until the sponsor determines that the plan will not be insolvent in any of the next five plan years. (Sec. 214) Prohibits a tax from being imposed for any accumulated funding deficiency of a multiemployer pension plan meeting certain requirements, including having contributing employers that participate in a federal fishery capacity reduction program and the Northeast Fisheries Assistance Program. Subtitle C: Sunset of Additional Funding Rules - (Sec. 221) Directs the Secretaries of Labor and the Treasury and the PBGC Executive Director to report to Congress on the effect of this Act on the operation and status of multiemployer plans. Provides for the sunset of multiemployer funding rules under this subtitle. Provides that such rules shall cease to apply to plan years beginning after December 31, 2014, and that ERISA and IRC rules in effect before the amendments made by this Act shall be applicable again, except with respect to any plan operating under a funding improvement or rehabilitation plan for its last year beginning before January 1, 2015. Title III: Interest Rate Assumptions - (Sec. 301) Extends through 2007 interest rate rules that require the use of a rate based on long-term investment grade corporate bonds rather than 30-year Treasury securities to calculate a defined benefit plan's liability and required contributions, current liability, and the premium to be paid to PBGC. (Sec. 302) Sets forth the interest rate calculation and mortality tables for determining the present value of a qualified joint and survivor annuity or a qualified preretirement survivor annuity that will be immediately distributed. Phases in use of a yield curve method involving interest rates on corporate bonds to determine the amount of such payments. (Sec. 303) Revises the interest rate assumptions for adjusting a benefit for lump sum distributions. Title IV: PBGC Guarantee and Related Provisions - (Sec. 401) Replaces the interest rate based on 30-year Treasury securities used for the valuation of vested benefits with segmented interest rates based on investment grade corporate bonds with varying maturities. Makes permanent provisions establishing additional premiums to be paid to PBGC upon termination of a single-employer plan. (Sec. 402) Allows commercial passenger airline plan sponsors to elect to: (1) apply an alternative funding schedule and special rules, including amortization of unfunded liability over 17 years; or (2) use applicable funding rules, but amortize the shortfall amortization base over a period of 10 years (rather than 7). (Sec. 403) Makes PBGC responsible, in the event of an unpredictable contingent event, for benefits as of the date of the event. (Sec. 404) Sets the terminating date of a pension plan for PBGC purposes as the date the plan sponsor files for bankruptcy. (Sec. 405) Sets forth maximum premiums to be paid to PBGC by small employers. (Sec. 406) Authorizes PBGC to pay interest on the amount of any premium overpayment refunded to a designated payor. (Sec. 407) Revises rules for substantial owner benefits in terminated plans with respect to: (1)the phase-in of guarantee; and (2) the allocation of assets. (Sec. 408) Provides for accelerated computation of benefits payable to participants and beneficiaries by the PBGC from recoveries of employer liability. Revises provisions relating to: (1) the average recovery percentage of the outstanding amount of such benefits; and (2) the valuation of recovery liability in determining such benefit amounts. (Sec. 409) Establishes a special rule for treatment of certain plans where a member that maintained a single-employer defined benefit plan that is fully funded ceases to be a member of a controlled group. (Sec. 410) Directs PBGC to issue missing participant rules for multiemployer plans. Allows the transfer of missing participants' benefits to PBGC upon plan termination for certain plans not subject to the PBGC termination insurance program. (Sec. 411) Replaces the chairman of the board of directors with a Director to head PBGC, to be approved by the Senate. (Sec. 412) Requires certain information to be included in the PBGC annual report, including: (1) a summary of the Pension Insurance Modeling System microsimulation model; (2) a comparison of the average return on investments earned by PBGC compared to an average return on other specified investments; and (3) a statement regarding the deficit or surplus for such year that PBGC would have had if the corporation earned the same return as the specified investments. Title V: Disclosure - (Sec. 501) Revises requirements for defined benefit plan funding notices and the types of information which multiemployer plans must provide. Requires single-employer plans to provide such notices. (Sec. 502) Requires an administrator of a multiemployer pension plan to furnish actuarial reports, financial reports, and any application for an amortization extension upon the request of any plan participant or beneficiary, employee representative, or any employer with an obligation to contribute to the plan. Requires plan sponsors or administrators to furnish a notice of potential withdrawal liability upon the request of any employer. Requires notice of any amendment providing for a significant reduction in the rate of future benefit accruals to be provided to each such employer. (Sec. 503) Sets forth additional requirements for annual reports to the Secretary of Labor by defined benefit plans, including the funded percentage of each plan and explanations of actuarial assumptions and methods used. (Sec. 504) Requires identification, basic plan information, and actuarial information included in the annual report to be: (1) filed in an electronic format; and (2) displayed on a website maintained by the Secretary of Labor and on an intranet website maintained by the plan sponsor or administrator. (Sec. 505) Requires a contributing sponsor to file a financial report with PBGC if the funding target attainment percentage of the plan is less than 80%. (Currently, the criteria for sponsor reporting is based on the aggregate unfunded vested benefits of the plan.) (Sec. 506) Sets forth requirements for a single-employer plan to disclose termination information to affected parties. (Sec. 507) Requires plan administrators to notify plan participants or beneficiaries of their right to divest employer securities at least 30 days before eligibility. (Sec. 508) Requires an administrator of an individual account plan or a defined benefit plan to provide participants or beneficiaries with a pension benefit statement on a specified schedule. (Sec. 509) Revises the definition of "one-participant retirement plan." Makes such change effective as if it were included in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Title VI: Investment Advice, Prohibited Transactions, and Fiduciary Rules - Subtitle A: Investment Advice - (Sec. 601) Exempts from prohibited transaction rules the provision of investment advice (and certain transactions pursuant to such advice, as well as certain fees for such advice) to a plan and its participants and beneficiaries regarding plan assets subject to such participants' and beneficiaries' direction, if such advice is given by fiduciary advisors meeting specified requirements. Subtitle B: Prohibited Transactions - (Sec. 611) Establishes exemptions from prohibited transaction rules for specified types of transactions involving: (1) block trading; (2) bonding relief; (3) providing services between a plan and a party in interest, but only if adequate consideration is involved; (4) electronic communication and similar networks subject to governmental regulation, where the identity of the parties is not taken into account; (5) foreign exchange; and (6) cross trading. (Sec. 612) Establishes a prohibited transaction exemption for a transaction that would have been prohibited but is corrected within 14 days after the fiduciary or party in interest or other person discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, that the transaction would constitute a prohibited transaction. Subtitle C: Fiduciary and Other Rules - (Sec. 621) Makes certain provisions for relief from fiduciary liability inapplicable during suspensions of the ability of participants or beneficiaries to direct investments. (Sec. 622) Increases the maximum bond amount required for fiduciaries of an employee benefit plan who hold employer securities. (Sec. 623) Increases penalties for coercive interference with the exercise of ERISA rights. (Sec. 624) Treats a participant in an individual account plan as exercising control over assets where a plan designates default investments meeting certain requirements. (Sec. 625) Directs the Secretary of Labor to issue regulations clarifying that the selection of an annuity contract as an optional form of distribution from an individual account plan to a participant or beneficiary is not subject to the safest available annuity standard. Title VII: Benefit Accrual Standards - (Sec. 701) Revises ERISA rules relating to reductions in accrued benefits. Sets forth the requirements with which defined benefit pension plans, including hybrid plans such as cash balance plans, must comply to be deemed nondiscriminatory as to age in cases of a reduction in accrued benefits because of attainment of any age. (Sec. 702) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations to apply such requirements to cases where conversions to applicable defined benefit plans are made with respect to groups who become employees due to mergers, acquisitions, or similar transactions. Title VIII: Pension Related Revenue Provisions - Subtitle A: Deduction Limitations - (Sec. 801) Set forth rules establishing the deduction limit for single-employer defined benefit plans. (Sec. 802) Sets the maximum deductible amount for multiemployer defined benefit plans as not less than the excess of 140% of the current liability of the plan over the value of the plan's assets. (Sec. 803) Applies deduction limits for plan sponsors maintaining both defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans, in the case of employer contributions to one or more defined contribution plans, only to the extent that those contributions exceed 6% of the compensation otherwise paid or accrued to beneficiaries during the plan year. Subtitle B: Certain Pension Provisions Made Permanent - (Sec. 811) Repeals the sunset of provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 related to individual retirement accounts and pensions. (Sec. 812) Repeals the sunset of the tax credit for qualified retirement savings contributions. Subtitle C: Improvements in Portability, Distribution, and Contribution Rules - (Sec. 821) Revises the definition of "permissive service credit" to include: (1) service credit for periods for which there is no performance of service; and (2) service credited in order to provide an increased benefit for service credit which a participant is recovering under the plan. (Sec. 822) Allows rollover of after-tax amounts to an annuity contract. (Sec. 823) Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue regulations under which a governmental plan shall be treated as having complied with trust distribution requirements if the plan complies with a reasonable good faith interpretation of those requirements. (Sec. 824) Allows direct rollovers from eligible retirement plans to Roth IRAs. (Sec. 825) Provides that an individual is not precluded from participating in an eligible deferred compensation plan by reason of having received a distribution from a governmental plan or a tax-exempt employer. (Sec. 826) Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to modify rules for determining whether a participant has had a hardship or unforeseen financial emergency. (Sec. 827) Exempts a distribution made to a reservist who is called to active duty for at least 179 days from the imposition of a tax for early distribution from qualified retirement plans. Makes provision retroactive to September 11, 2001. (Sec. 828) Exempts a distribution made to a qualified public safety employee after separation of service after attainment of age 50 (currently, 55) from the imposition of a tax for early distribution from qualified retirement plans. Applies such exemption to police, firefighters, and emergency medical service personnel. (Sec. 829) Permits a distribution from an eligible retirement plan of a deceased employee to an individual retirement plan of a designated beneficiary that is not the surviving spouse of the employee. (Sec. 830) Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to make available a form for individuals to direct that a portion of any tax refund be paid directly to an individual retirement plan. (Sec. 831) Allows, and gives credit for, additional individual retirement account payments in certain bankruptcy cases. (Sec. 832) Amends the calculation of the average compensation for the high three years when calculating the annual benefit limit under a defined benefit plan. (Sec. 833) Adjusts for inflation the maximum income limits for the tax credit for qualified retirement savings contributions. Subtitle D: Health and Medical Benefits - (Sec. 841) Permits an employer maintaining a defined benefit plan to transfer excess pension assets to cover current retirees future health liabilities. (Sec. 842) Removes the exclusion that prevents multiemployer pension plans from transferring excess pension assets to health benefits accounts for retirees. (Sec. 843) Allows qualified asset accounts to include a reserve for medical benefits provided through bona fide association health plans. (Sec. 844) Excludes from gross income any charge against the cash value of an annuity contract or the cash surrender value of a life insurance contract made as payment for coverage under a qualified long-term care insurance contract which is part of or a rider on such annuity or life insurance contract if the investment in the contract is reduced (but not below zero). Requires an individual excluding such charges from gross income to file a return with the Secretary of the Treasury. (Sec. 845) Excludes from gross income direct distributions from governmental retirement plans to pay for health and long-term care insurance premiums for retired public safety officers. Subtitle E: United States Tax Court Modernization - (Sec. 851) Provides for cost-of-living increases to annuities for surviving spouses and dependents of Tax Court judges based on increases paid under the Civil Service Retirement System. (Sec. 852) Authorizes the Tax Court to pay increases in the cost of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance for judges age 65 and over. (Sec. 853) Allows Tax Court judges to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan. (Sec. 854) Provides for the payment of annuities to surviving spouses and dependents of magistrate judges. (Sec. 855) Grants exclusive jurisdiction to the Tax Court for collection due process case appeals. (Sec. 856) Authorizes the Chief Judge of the Tax Court to recall retired magistrate judges for service. Limits the term of such service to 90 days in any calendar year. (Sec. 857) Authorizes the assignment of employment tax cases involving $50,000 or less to special trial judges. (Sec. 858) Permits the Tax Court to apply the doctrine of equitable recoupment (a defendant's right to claim an offset against a debt in a creditor action) to the same extent that it is available in civil tax cases before the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. (Sec. 859) Authorizes the Tax Court to impose a fee of up to $60 for the filing of any petition. (Sec. 860) Requires a portion of Tax Court practitioner fees to be used to provide services to pro se taxpayers (taxpayers representing themselves before the Tax Court). Subtitle F: Other Provisions - (Sec. 861) Extends to all governmental plans the exemption from application of minimum participation and nondiscrimination rules in favor of highly compensated employees applicable to state and local plans. (Sec. 862) Eliminates the limit that prohibited payments from the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund to pay accident or health benefits for retired miners and their spouses and dependents from exceeding an amount based on aggregate limits from all taxable years. Requires that such limits be based only on the prior taxable year. (Sec. 863) Includes in gross income benefits paid to other employees, directors, and highly compensated employees under employer-owned life insurance contracts upon the death of an insured employee that exceed the sum of the premiums and other amounts paid for the contract. (Sec. 864) Amends the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1978 to deem to not be an employee any individual providing services as a test proctor or room supervisor by assisting in the administration of college entrance or placement examinations. (Sec. 865) Provides that annuity payments from qualified church plans that otherwise meet specified distribution requirements for money purchase pension plans under the IRC shall not fail to satisfy qualified trust distribution requirements merely because the payments are not made under an annuity contract purchased from an insurance company. (Sec. 866) Defines a "qualified organization" to include a church-maintained retirement income account for purposes of determining the tax on unrelated debt-financed income from real property interests. (Sec. 867) Exempts participants in church plans who are not highly compensated employees from certain defined benefit plan limitations. (Sec. 868) Requires that the amount of a qualified gratuitous transfer to an employee stock ownership plan allocated each year be determined on the basis of the fair market value of securities when allocated to participants. Title IX: Increase in Pension Plan Diversification and Participation and Other Pension Provisions - (Sec. 901) Requires defined contribution plans holding publicly traded securities to provide employees with: (1) the opportunity to divest employer securities; and (2) at least three investment options other than employer securities. (Sec. 902) Allows qualified automatic contribution arrangements where eligible employees are treated as having elected to have the employer make elective contributions in an amount equal to a qualified percentage of compensation until the employees otherwise make an affirmative election. (Sec. 903) Sets forth benefit, contribution, and notice requirements for treatment of eligible combined defined benefit plans and qualified cash or deferred arrangements. (Sec. 904) Provides for faster vesting of employer contributions in defined contribution plans. (Sec. 905) Revises the definition of "employee pension benefit plan" to allow distributions prior to termination of covered employment that is made to an employee who has attained age 62 and who is not separated from employment at the time of the distribution. (Sec. 906) Revises the definition of governmental plan to treat Indian tribal pension plans as tax-qualified governmental plans. Title X: Provisions Relating to Spousal Pension Protection - (Sec. 1001) Directs the Secretary of Labor to issue regulations relating to the time and order of issuance of qualified domestic relations orders under ERISA and IRC provisions. (Sec. 1002) Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to eliminate the requirement that an individual be entitled to and receiving an annuity in order for a divorced spouse to receive an annuity. (Sec. 1003) Extends the payment of any portion of Tier II railroad retirement benefits to surviving former spouses pursuant to court decrees upon the death of the individual who performed the service, unless the termination of benefits is required by such court decree. (Sec. 1004) Requires pension plans to offer participants the option of a qualified joint and 3/4 survivor annuity (as an alternative to the current qualified joint and survivor annuity). Title XI: Administrative Provisions - (Sec. 1101) Grants the Secretary of the Treasury full authority to establish, implement, update, and improve the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System and any other employee plans correction policies, including the authority to waive income, excise, or other taxes to ensure that any tax, penalty, or sanction is not excessive and bears a reasonable relationship to the nature, extent, and severity of the failure. (Sec. 1102) Increases the period during which: (1) a participant may elect to waive the qualified joint and survivor annuity form of benefit; and (2) a plan must provide notice to a participant. Requires the notification to describe not only a participant's right (if any) to defer receipt of a distribution but also the consequences of failing to defer such receipt. (Sec. 1103) Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to modify the requirements for filing annual returns to ensure that one-participant plans with assets of $250,000 or less are not required to file an annual return. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Labor to provide for the filing of a simplified annual return for any retirement plan which covers fewer than 25 participants. (Sec. 1104) Amends the IRC and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to treat certain voluntary early retirement incentive and employment retention plans of local educational agencies and of educational associations as bona fide severance pay plans to the extent that payments as early retirement benefits could otherwise be made, subject to specified conditions. Amends ERISA to treat such plans as welfare plans (not pension plans) for purposes of such payments. (Sec. 1105) Prohibits states from reducing unemployment compensation as a result of any pension, retirement or retired pay, annuity, or similar payment which is not included in the gross income of the individual for the taxable year because it was part of a rollover distribution. (Sec. 1106) Allows a plan to revoke its election to not be treated as a multiemployer plan under certain circumstances. (Sec. 1107) Sets forth provisions relating to plan amendments. Title XII: Provisions Relating to Exempt Organizations - Subtitle A: Charitable Giving Incentives - (Sec. 1201) Amends the IRC to exclude from the gross income of certain individual retirement account holders up to $100,000 of their distributions from such accounts made for charitable purposes. Terminates this tax exclusion after 2007. Increases penalties for the failure of split-interest trusts and trusts claiming certain tax deductions for charitable contributions to file required informational returns. (Sec. 1202) Extends through 2007 provisions allowing non-corporate taxpayers to make tax deductible contributions of food inventory. (Sec. 1203) Provides that the amount of an S corporation shareholder's basis reduction in the stock of such corporation due to a charitable contribution made by the corporation will be the shareholder's pro rata share of the adjusted basis of the contributed property. (Sec. 1204) Extends through 2007 the increased tax deduction for corporate contributions of book inventories to public schools. (Sec. 1205) Sets forth a special rule for the tax treatment of payments of interest, rents, annuities, or royalty payments made to a tax-exempt organization which has a controlling interest in the entity making such payments. Terminates such rule after 2007. Requires the Secretary to report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee on the effectiveness of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in administering this tax provision. (Sec. 1206) Allows individual taxpayers an increased tax deduction (50% of taxpayer contribution base) for qualified conservation contributions (real property donated to a charitable organization exclusively for conservation purposes). Increases such tax deduction to 100% for contributions by certain farmers or ranchers. Allows a 15-year carryforward of unused deduction amounts. Allows an increased tax deduction (and 15-year carryover of such tax deduction) for qualified conservation contributions made by corporate farmers and ranchers. Terminates such provisions after 2007. (Sec. 1207) Exempts tax-exempt blood collector organizations from: (1) the excise tax on diesel and special motor fuels; (2) the manufacturer's excise tax; (3) the communication excise tax; and (4) the excise tax on heavy vehicles. Subtitle B: Reforming Exempt Organizations - Part I: General Reforms - (Sec. 1211) Requires tax-exempt organizations which acquire a direct or indirect interest in certain life insurance, annuity, or endowment contracts to file informational returns during a specified two-year period. Imposes penalties on such organizations for failure to file required information. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to study the use of such contracts by tax-exempt organizations and to report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. (Sec. 1212) Increases penalties on charitable organizations, including private foundations, for: (1) self-dealing and excess benefit transactions; (2) failure to distribute income; (3) excess business holdings; (4) investments which jeopardize charitable purpose; and (5) taxable expenditures (e.g., political activities). Increases penalties on managers of such organizations for prohibited activities. (Sec. 1213) Modifies requirements for the tax deduction for charitable contributions of easements on buildings in registered historic districts to require such easements to preserve the entire exterior of the building and to prohibit any change that is inconsistent with the historical character of such exterior. (Sec. 1214) Disallows enhanced tax deductions for charitable contributions of taxidermy property (a work of art which is the reproduction or preservation of a dead animal). (Sec. 1215) Sets forth rules for the recapture of tax benefits for charitable contributions of tax-exempt use property which is not used for charitable purposes. Modifies reporting requirements relating to the disposition of charitable deduction property by a donee. Imposes a $10,000 penalty for the fraudulent identification of tax-exempt use property. (Sec. 1216) Disallows a tax deduction for clothing or household items that are not in good used condition or better. Defines "household items" to include furniture, electronics, appliances, linens, and other similar items, but excludes food, paintings, antiques and other objects of art, jewelry and gems, and collectibles. (Sec. 1217) Modifies recordkeeping requirements for charitable contributions of monetary gifts to require bank records for such contributions or confirmation letters from the donee organizations. (Sec. 1218) Requires a tax-exempt organization which receives a donation of a fractional interest in an item of tangible property to take actual possession of such item for the portion of the year corresponding to the organization's percentage interest in such item. (Sec. 1219) Increases penalties for substantial and gross overstatements of valuations of charitable deduction property. Imposes a penalty for intentional misstatements of appraisal values. Sets forth definitions relating to appraisers and appraisals. (Sec. 1220) Establishes standards and requirements for tax-exempt credit counseling organizations. (Sec. 1221) Revises the definitions of private foundation gross investment income and capital gain net income for purposes of the excise tax on such income. (Sec. 1222) Defines "convention or association of churches" to include individuals (with or without voting rights) as well as churches. (Sec. 1223) Imposes certain reporting requirements on exempt organizations not currently required to file information returns (e.g., organizations with gross receipts of less than $25,000). (Sec. 1224) Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to notify state officials of adverse actions taken by the IRS against certain charitable organizations. (Sec. 1225) Permits public disclosure of unrelated business income tax returns filed by tax-exempt charitable organizations. (Sec. 1226) Directs the Secretary to study the organization and operation of donor advised funds and report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee on such study. Part 2: Improved Accountability of Donor Advised Funds - (Sec. 1231) Imposes a 20% excise tax on supporting organizations (5% tax on fund management) for making taxable distributions from a donor advised fund. Limits the amount of such tax to $10,000 for any one taxable distribution. Defines "sponsoring organization" as a tax-exempt organization which is not a private foundation and which maintains one or more donor advised funds. Defines " donor advised fund" as a separately identified fund which is owned and controlled by a sponsoring organization and which permits a donor to have advisory privileges as to the distribution or investment of fund assets. Authorizes the Secretary to exempt a fund from treatment as a donor advised fund under certain conditions. Imposes penalty taxes on prohibited benefits resulting from certain distributions made from donor advised funds. (Sec. 1232) Extends penalties applicable to tax-exempt organizations for excess benefit transactions involving donor advised funds. (Sec. 1233) Extends penalties applicable to private foundations for excess benefit holdings of donor advised funds. (Sec. 1234) Limits the tax deductibility of charitable contributions made to donor advised funds by individuals, estates, and donors of gifts. (Sec. 1235) Requires a supporting organization to report for its taxable year: (1) its total number of its donor advised funds; (2) the aggregate value of assets held in such funds; and (3) the aggregate contributions to, and grants made from, such funds. Part 3: Improved Accountability of Supporting Organizations - (Sec. 1241) Sets forth requirements for supporting organizations relating to distributions and responsiveness to supported organizations. (Sec. 1242) Extends penalties applicable to tax-exempt organizations for excess benefit transactions involving supporting organizations. (Sec. 1243) Extends penalties applicable to private foundations for excess benefit holdings of supporting organizations. (Sec. 1244) Limits distributions and taxable expenditures made by nonoperating private foundations to supporting organizations. (Sec. 1245) Sets forth reporting requirements for supporting organizations. Title XIII: Other Provisions - (Sec. 1301) Amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended by the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, to make technical changes. (Sec. 1302) Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to change the amount authorized for the Going-to-the-Sun Road at Glacier National Park, Montana, and to make such funds available as if they were apportioned consistent with other federal highway aid. Increases the unobligated funds apportioned to the states before September 30, 2009, for certain transportation activities that are subject to rescission. (Sec. 1303) Excludes electricity provided to the city of Hoonah, Alaska, from the determination as to whether any private activity bond issued before May 31, 2006, and used to finance the Snettisham or Lake Dorothy hydroelectric facilities is a qualified bond for purposes of excluding bond interest from gross income. (Sec. 1304) Amends the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to permanently extend provisions related to a qualified tuition program. Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations to carry out or prevent abuse of such provisions. Title XIV: Tariff Provisions - Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2006 - Subtitle A: Temporary Duty Suspensions and Reductions - Chapter 1: New Suspensions and Reductions - (Sec. 1411) Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) to provide for temporary duty suspensions, increases, or reductions through December 31, 2009 for: (1) certain non-knit auto mechanic's gloves; (2) certain microphones for automotive interiors; (3) various specified acrylic or modacrylic synthetic staple fibers and filament tows; (4) nitrocellulose; (5) potassium sorbate; (6) sorbic acid; (7) certain capers; (8) certain preparations of pepperoncini; (9) certain chemicals, chemical mixtures, and dyes; (10) hydraulic control units; (11) shield asy-steering gear; (12) certain master cylinder assembles; (13) certain transaxles; (14) converter asy; (15) module and bracket asy-power steering; (16) unit asy-battery hi volt; (17) certain articles of natural cork; (18) DEMBB distilled-iso tank; (19) certain acrylic fiber tow; (20) M-alcohol; (21) certain machines for the assembly of motorcycle wheels; (22) palm fatty acid distillate; (23) certain cosmetic bags; (24) formulations of prosulfuron; (25) ion-exchange resins; (26) ion-exchange resin powder; (27) certain cases for toys; (28) aspirin; (29) various specified kinds of camel and vicuna hair; (30) low expansion laboratory glass; (31) stoppers, lids, and other closures; (32) various specified kinds of basketballs; (33) certain volleyballs; (34) certain decorative plates, sculptures, and plaques, and architectural miniatures; (35) certain music boxes; (36) certain footwear; (37) certain refracting and reflecting telescopes; (38) certain liquid crystal device (LCD) panel assemblies; and (39) certain watertube boilers and reactor vessel heads. Chapter 2: Existing Duty Suspensions and Reductions - (Sec. 1611) Extends the existing suspension or reduction of duty through December 31, 2009, for: (1) certain chemicals and dyes; (2) certain yarn of viscose rayon; (3) certain ion-exchange resins; (4) certain bags for toys; (5) cases for certain children's products; (6) certain children's products; (7) certain light absorbing photo dyes; (8) certain R-core transformers; (9) certain filament yarns; (10) certain semi-manufactured forms of gold; (11) sodium petroleum sulfonate; and (12) ceiling fans. Extends the suspension of duty on certain chemicals through December 31, 2009. Imposes a duty on certain chemicals through December 31, 2009 (thus, rescinding their duty-free treatment). Decreases the duty on certain chemicals through December 31, 2009. Subtitle B: Other Tariff Provisions - Chapter 1: Liquidation or Reliquidation of Certain Entries - (Sec. 1621) Directs the Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (Commissioner) to admit free of duty into the United States three tramway cars and their associated spare parts manufactured in Ostrava, Czech Republic, for the use by the city of Portland, Oregon, and imported pursuant to a contract with the city. Requires the Commissioner to reliquidate (refund the duties) paid on such entries before enactment of this section. (Sec. 1622) Requires the Commissioner to liquidate or reliquidate, and refund any amounts owed or interest previously paid on, certain entries of: (1) candles without assessment of antidumping duties and interest; (2) roller chain without assessment of interest; and (3) soundspa clock radios. Chapter 2 - Miscellaneous Provisions - (Sec. 1631) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 and the HTS to exempt from duty the cost of equipment, repair parts, and materials involved in the repair of certain vessels by U.S. crews done in foreign waters or in a foreign port that does not involve foreign shipyard repairs by foreign labor. (Sec. 1632) Suspends from April 2, 2006 through June 30, 2009, the requirement that the administering authority direct the Customs Service to allow, at the option of the importer of such merchandise, the posting, until completion of the review, of a bond or security in lieu of a cash deposit for each entry of the subject merchandise (bonding privileges). Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report to specified congressional committees: (1) recommendations on whether such suspension should be extended; and (2) assessments of the effectiveness of any administrative measures that have been implemented to address the difficulties giving rise to the suspension. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report to specified congressional committees, with recommendations for additional action, on the major problems experienced in the collection of duties, including fraudulent activities intended to avoid their payment. (Sec. 1633) Amends the HTS to extend the duty suspensions and duty-free treatment for certain wool products through December 31, 2009. Amends the Wool Suit and Textile Trade Extension Act of 2004 to require the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to make annual (currently, two additional) payments from the Wool Apparel Manufacturers Trust Fund to importing and nonimporting manufacturers of certain wool products during calendar year 2005. Requires each subsequent annual payment to be made after January 1 of each subsequent year, but on or before April 15 of such year through calendar year 2010. Extends the authorization of the Secretary of Commerce through calendar year 2009 to provide grants to manufacturers of certain worsted wool fabrics during calendar years 1999, 2000, and 2001. Makes only manufacturers who weave worsted wool fabric in the United States eligible for such grants. Amends the Trade and Development Act of 2000, as amended by the Wool Suit and Textile Trade Extension Act of 2004, to extend the Wool Research, Development, and Promotion Trust Fund through December 31, 2010. (Sec. 1634) Authorizes the President to proclaim modifications to the HTS to carry out amendments to the Agreement proposed by the United States and the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), the terms of which are contained in letters of understanding specified in this Act. Terminates such authority on December 31, 2007. Authorizes the President to proclaim such modifications to carry out amendments proposed by the United States, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, the terms of which are contained in the letters of understanding exchanged between the countries relating to the rules of origin for articles containing pocket bag fabric used in an apparel article classifiable under the HTS that contains a pocket or pockets. Subjects such modification to consultaton and layover requirements of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (DR-CAFTA IA). Makes such modification ineffective if a joint resolution of Congress is enacted into law disapproving it. Terminates such authority on December 31, 2007. Authorizes the Commissioner of Customs to require an importer to submit at the time the importer files a claim for preferential tariff treatment under the Agreement a certificate of eligibility, properly completed and signed, or transmitted pursuant to an authorized electronic data interchange system, by an authorized official of the government of Nicaragua to implement the tariff preference level for Nicaragua provided in the Agreement. Authorizes the President to proclaim a reduction in the overall limit in such tariff preference level if Nicaragua fails to comply with a commitment under an agreement between the United States and Nicaragua with regard to the administration of such tariff preference. Makes a technical correction to the DR-CAFTA IA relating to retroactive application for certain liquidations and reliquidations of textile or apparel goods. Requires, within 30 days after enactment of this Act, and at least quarterly thereafter, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the status of negotiations and amendments proposed by the United States, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic to the Agreement regarding any change to the rule of origin or alteration of the tariff treatment of certain socks classified or described in this Act. Requires the USTR to provide to the appropriate congressional committees copies of any amendments: (1) to be proposed by the United States before the amendments are offered; and (2) received by the United States relating to such negotiations. Terminates such reporting requirements on the date on which any change is made to the rule of origin pursuant to the Agreement for such socks or December 31, 2007, whichever occurs later. (Sec. 1635) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930, the Trade Act of 1974, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, and the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002 to make technical corrections. Subtitle C: Effective Date - (Sec. 1641) Sets forth the effective date for amendments made by this title.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2006
Recognizes and supports: (1) the success of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 and of the efforts it has spurred; and (2) the goals and ideals of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month. Encourages adoption throughout the year.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2006
Veterans Identity and Credit Security Act of 2006 - Requires: (1) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish policies and standards for federal agencies to follow in the event of a breach of data security involving the disclosure of sensitive personal information; and (2) each federal agency to establish procedures for notifying individuals whose sensitive personal information is compromised. Establishes in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) an Under Secretary for Information Services. Outlines responsibilities of the VA's Chief Information Officer with respect to personal information security management. Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to the congressional veterans' committees on any data breach with respect to sensitive personal information possessed or maintained by the VA. Requires within the VA, with respect to each data breach, an independent risk analysis to determine the level of risk for the potential misuse of such information. Provides for, after a data breach: (1) fraud alerts; (2) credit security freezes; and (3) credit protection services. Outlines requirements for contractors who contract to perform any VA function that requires access to sensitive personal information. Directs the Secretary, in order to ensure appropriate information security skills for VA employees, to carry out programs to provide financial support for the education of such personnel in information security at institutions of higher education. Authorizes: (1) a scholarship program under which the Secretary may provide financial assistance to an individual for up to five years with a limit of $50,000 per year; and (2) a debt reduction program under which the Secretary makes payments on loans taken by VA employees to obtain appropriate information security education, with a payment limit of $82,500 over a five-year period. Provides a first and second priority, in the provision of assistance under this section, to: (1) veterans with service-connected disabilities; and (2) other veterans. Requires any veteran receiving assistance to have been discharged from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2006
Government Efficiency Act of 2006 - Authorizes the establishment of Federal Review Commissions with respect to specific aspects of federal programs and agencies. Requires a Commission to review and make recommendations on how to improve the operations, effectiveness, and efficiency of such federal programs and agencies in order to determine whether a reorganization, consolidation, abolishment, expansion, or transfer of existing federal programs and agencies is necessary to carry out any U.S. policy for promoting more effective management of the executive branch. Permits establishment of a Commission only through the issuance of an executive order or the enactment of a joint resolution that: (1) describes the federal programs and agencies to be reviewed; and (2) grants the Commission powers and authorities specified by, and subjects it to the requirements of, this Act. Describes what a Federal Review Commission shall consider in reviewing federal programs and agencies. Requires a Commission to submit to the President: (1) an assessment of the operations, effectiveness, and efficiency of the federal programs and agencies reviewed; and (2) a legislative proposal, if appropriate, to reorganize, consolidate, abolish, expand, or transfer such federal programs and agencies. Provides for expedited congressional consideration of Federal Review Commission recommendations. Directs the President to submit to Congress a schedule for establishment of Federal Review Commissions.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2006
Expresses the sense of Congress concerning the importance of success in moving families from welfare to work, as well as in promoting healthy marriage and other means of improving child well-being.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2006
Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006 - Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act with respect to the safe and stable families program to: (1) limit reimbursement for administrative costs; (2) reauthorize the program; (3) increase the set-asides for Indian tribes, and (4) set forth special rules for funds reserved to support monthly caseworker visits. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for child welfare services. Modifies state plan as well as state allotment and reimbursement requirements under the child welfare services program. Reauthorizes the court improvement program and the program for mentoring children of prisoners. Makes additional appropriations to the Secretary for the safe and stable families program.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2006
Permanent Estate Tax Relief Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the estate and gift tax exclusion amount to $5 million beginning in 2010; (2) lower to 15% the estate tax rate for estates up to $25 million and 30% for estates of $25 million or more; (3) repeal after 2009 the estate tax deduction for estate, inheritance, legacy, or succession taxes paid to states; (4) allow a surviving spouse to claim any unused portion of a deceased spouse's estate or gift tax exclusion amount; and (5) allow a taxpayer election to deduct from gross income the lesser of 60% of qualified timber gain or net capital gain. Provides that the general termination date of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001(EGTRRA) (i.e., December 31, 2010) shall not apply to the estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax provisions of EGTRRA not amended by this Act. Repeals provisions of EGTRRA relating to carryover basis of estate property to allow heirs of such property after 2009 to use date-of-death fair market values.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2006
National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Reauthorization Act of 2006 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive, for two-year periods, requirements for awarding breast and cervical cancer grants to states if certain conditions are met, including that granting such a waiver will not reduce the number of women in the state receiving examinations and screening for breast or cervical cancer or the quality of such services. Requires the Secretary to review performance under the waiver and allows the Secretary to extend such waivers. Authorizes appropriations for breast and cervical cancer grants through FY2012.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2006
Safe and Timely Interstate Placement of Foster Children Act of 2006 - Amends the Social Security Act to require each state plan for foster care and adoption assistance to provide that the state shall: (1) have in effect procedures for orderly and timely interstate placement of children; (2) complete home studies requested by another state within a specified period; (3) accept such studies received from another state; and (4) not impose any restrictions on contracting with a private agency to conduct such a study. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants for timely interstate home study incentive payments to states that have approved plans and that have completed, and provided the Secretary a report on, such studies. Expresses the sense of Congress that state agencies should cooperate with courts which have authority with respect to the placement of a child in foster care or for adoption for the purpose of locating a parent of the child. Amends the definition of "case review system" to: (1) increase the required frequency of state caseworker visits to a child who is placed in foster care outside the state in which the child's parents reside; (2) require a child's health and education record to be supplied to the child at no cost when he/she leaves foster care by reason of having attained the age of majority under state law; and (3) provide for a foster parent's right (currently, opportunity) to be heard in any proceeding (currently, review or hearing) respecting their foster child. Requires state courts to ensure that foster parents, pre-adoptive parents, and relative caregivers of a child in foster care are notified of any such proceedings. Includes among the purposes of grants to the highest state courts the assessment of the court's role in carrying out state laws requiring proceedings that determine the best strategy to use to expedite the interstate placement of children. Provides for consideration of out-of-state placements in permanency hearings, case plans, and case reviews. Requires each plan for child welfare services to include the assurance that the state will eliminate legal barriers to facilitate timely adoptive or permanent placements for children.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2006
Reform of National Security Reviews of Foreign Direct Investments Act - Amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to direct the President, upon receiving written notification by any party involved of a possible merger, acquisition, or takeover which could result in foreign control of any person engaged in interstate commerce in the United States (covered transaction), or upon a motion of a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), to review the covered transaction to determine whether it threatens to impair U.S. national security and whether such threat can be mitigated. Requires CFIUS, if it determines that the covered transaction is a foreign government-controlled transaction, to conduct its own investigation. Requires the President, in his investigation, to take necessary action to protect national security with respect to the covered transaction. Makes any review final and complete only after its findings and report are approved and signed by both the Secretaries of the Treasury and Homeland Security. Requires the Director of National Intelligence to carry out an analysis of the threat to national security of any covered transaction. Makes CFIUS a statutory committee under the Defense Production Act of 1950, with a revised membership. Requires the consideration, as additional factors in determining whether it should be investigated, of whether a covered transaction: (1) has a security-related impact on critical infrastructure; and (2) is a foreign government-controlled transaction. Authorizes CFIUS to: (1) negotiate, impose, and enforce any agreement or condition with any party to a covered transaction in order to mitigate any threat to national security; (2) track withdrawn notifications; and (3) monitor the enforcement of any agreements. Requires reports to Congress by the President and CFIUS concerning investigations of covered transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2006
Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2006 - Amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to revise requirements for health care programs and services for Indians, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations. Provides for: (1) enrollment of qualified Indians in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) under title XXI of the Social Security Act (SSA), as well as Medicare under SSA title XVIII and Medicaid under SSA title XIX (as under current law); and (2) related payments to Indian Health Programs and Urban Indian Organizations operating in the state. Replaces the Urban Health Programs Branch with a Division of Urban Indian Health. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Indian Health Service and Indian tribes and tribal organizations, to consolidate certain existing programs into a new program of comprehensive behavioral health, prevention, treatment, and aftercare for Indian tribes. Establishes the National Bi-Partisan Indian Health Care Commission to: (1) establish a Study Committee to study the extent of Indian health services needs; (2) review and analyze the Study Committee's report; and (3) make recommendations to Congress regarding the delivery of federal health care services to Indians. Reauthorizes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act through FY2015. Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (SCHIP) to conform with this Act. Amends the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to direct the Secretary to establish the Native American Health and Wellness Foundation.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2006
Condemns the actions of the Catholic Patriotic Association of China in their coerced ordination of priests Joseph Ma Yinglin and Joseph Liu Xinhong. Extends deepest sympathy to the Catholic population of China and the Catholic Church for this insult. Reaffirms the right of all religious organizations to choose their leaders free of intimidation or terror in accordance with the Uniform Declaration of Human Rights. Urges the government of China to end its repression of religious organizations, recognize the ecclesiastical authority of religious leaders to provide spiritual leadership to their followers, and end the practice of only allowing religious worship through state-sanctioned patriotic religious associations. Insists that China refrain from additional ordinations of Catholic bishops until and unless their elevation is approved by the proper ecclesiastical authorities.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2006
Medicare Secondary Payer and Workers' Compensation Settlement Agreements Act of 2006 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) create an exception to Medicare secondary payer requirements for certain workers' compensation settlement agreements; and (2) provide for the satisfaction of such requirements through use of qualified Medicare set-asides under workers' compensation settlement agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2006
Dextromethorphan Distribution Act of 2006 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to prohibit the distribution of an unfinished active ingredient to any person other than a registered producer of drugs and devices in order to protect the public health. Requires the Secretary to establish such restrictions on the distribution of dextromethorphan.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2006
Condemns the terrorist attacks on Dahab and Northern Sinai, Egypt and other terrorist attacks directed against Egypt. Expresses condolences to the families and friends of those killed in the attacks and expresses sympathies to those who were injured. Joins with President George W. Bush in expressing the solidarity of the people and government of the United States with the people and government of Egypt. Expresses readiness to support the Egyptian authorities' efforts to bring to justice those persons responsible for such attacks and to pursue and dismantle the responsible networks.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2006
Recognizes and honors the 30th Anniversary of the California victory at the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting and recognizes the historical significance of this event to the U.S. wine industry.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2006
Tax Free Health Savings Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow individual taxpayers a tax deduction for high deductible health plan premiums, a tax credit for employment taxes related to the payment of such premiums, and a refundable tax credit for the coverage costs under a high deductible health plan: (2) direct the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a program for advance payments of tax credit amounts to providers of high deductible health plans; (3) increase the tax deduction for contributions to health savings accounts; (4) allow health savings accounts to incorporate flexible spending arrangements or health reimbursement arrangements, or both; (5) allow payment of high deductible health plan premiums from health savings accounts; and (6) exempt employers from health savings account contribution requirements for certain employees with high levels of medical expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2006
Small Business Paperwork Amnesty Act of 2006 - Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act to direct agency heads not to impose civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small business concerns unless there is potential for serious harm to the public interest, the detection of criminal activity would be impaired, the violation is not corrected within six months, the violation is a violation of internal revenue law or a law concerning the assessment or collection of any tax, debt, revenue, or receipt, or the violation presents a danger to the public health or safety. Permits an agency to determine that a fine should not be imposed for a violation that presents a danger to public health or safety if the violation is corrected within 24 hours after receipt by the small business owner of notification of the violation in writing. Makes this Act inapplicable to any violation by a small business of a requirement regarding the collection of information by an agency if the small business previously violated any requirement concerning the collection of information by that agency.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2006
Medicare Teaching Anesthesiology Funding Restoration Act of 2006 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) to set forth a special payment rule of 100% of the fee schedule amount for teaching anesthesiologists involved in the training of physician residents, if certain presence and availability requirements are met.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2006
Securing America's Energy Independence Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2015: (1) the investment tax credit for solar energy property and qualified fuel cell property; and (2) the tax credit for residential photovoltaic, solar water heating, and fuel cell property expenditures. Modifies the maximum amounts for such residential credits based upon kilowatt of capacity. Allows such credits to be taken against the alternative minimum tax.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2006
Expresses the sense of Congress that, as a matter of economic and national security, the U.S. Government should provide America's currency with the protection and support necessary to defend its integrity throughout the world, effectively deter counterfeiting, and preserve the status of the dollar as the world's reserve currency.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2006
Communities Building Access Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to public or nonprofit private entities to carry out demonstration projects for the purpose of making health care coverage available, on a cost-sharing basis, to: (1) employees through employers that have not contributed to health care benefits for employees during the prior 12 months; and (2) self-employed individuals who have been without such coverage during the prior 12 months. Requires the Secretary to make matching grants to public or nonprofit private entities to carry out demonstration projects for the purpose of forming and maintaining networks composed of health care specialists who volunteer health services to eligible individuals. Directs the Secretary to make an award of a grant or contract for the establishment and operation of a clearinghouse for information on demonstration projects under this Act and similar projects that are community initiated. Allows the Secretary to carry out a program to encourage public and private entities that plan or operate such projects to submit information to the clearinghouse.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2006
Independent Pharmacy Protection Act of 2006 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require each prescription drug plan contract entered into with a plan sponsor to provide for: (1) the availability of direct deposit payments; (2) an increased dispensing fee for generic drugs; and (3) payments within 10 days for certain pharmacies. Requires the dispensing fee paid to a participating pharmacy for a generic covered part D drug therapeutically equivalent and bioequivalent to a brand name covered part D drug dispensed through the pharmacy to be at least 50% greater than the dispensing fee for the brand name drug. Limits to $10 the dispensing fee paid to a participating pharmacy for a generic covered part D drug. Prohibits a prescription drug plan, subject to exception by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, from decreasing the dispensing fee paid to a participating pharmacy for a brand name drug to an amount less than the dispensing fee paid for it on the date of enactment of this Act. Applies this Act to contracts with a Medicare Advantage organization in the same manner as they apply to those with a prescription drug plan sponsor.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2006
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make arrangements for the posthumous presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal to the next of kin or personal representative of each passenger or crew member on board United Airlines Flight 93 who is identified by the Attorney General as having aided in the effort to resist the hijackers on board the plane, in recognition of heroic service to the Nation. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions. Authorizes the Secretary to strike and sell bronze duplicates of such gold medal. Declares such medals to be national medals. Requires that proceeds from the sale of duplicate bronze medals be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2006
Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act - National Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2006 - Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to: (1) require certain vessels operating in U.S. waters to have invasive species management plans; (2) direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish vessel performance requirements, measurable numeric ballast water discharge standards, and civil and criminal penalties for violations; (3) require federal agencies to restrict the importation of live aquatic organisms of species not in trade that have a high or moderate probability of undesirable impacts; and (4) declare importation of such species to be unlawful and prescribe civil and criminal penalties for violations. Directs the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to: (1) upgrade and make permanent the Chicago sanitary and ship canal dispersal barrier in Chicago, Illinois; and (2) construct dispersal barriers as necessary. Renames the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 as the Nonindigenous Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention and Control Act of 1990. National Invasive Species Council Act - Prohibits federal agencies from authorizing, funding, or carrying out any action that would promote the introduction or spread of invasive species unless the benefits of the action outweigh the harm. Establishes the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) as an independent entity in the executive branch to lead and coordinate efforts to minimize the negative effects caused by invasive species and to reduce the threat of further invasions. Requires NISC to develop a National Invasive Species Management Plan and to establish an Invasive Species Advisory Committee. Reauthorizes and modifies the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990. Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to: (1) authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide funding for wastewater assistance to certain municipalities and small publicly-owned treatment works; (2) authorize states to provide additional subsidization to benefit certain municipalities or state agencies that already receive assistance from the water pollution control revolving fund or to implement certain alternative techniques; (3) replace each reference to "navigable waters of the United States" with a reference to "waters of the United States"; (4) require the Great Lakes National Program Office to provide grants to reduce the quantity of mercury in the Great Lakes; and (5) require the President include a joint Great Lakes research plan in the annual budget submitted to Congress. Requires: (1) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide grants for Great Lakes research and monitoring activities; (2) the President to establish a system that detects and predicts changes in the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes environment that impact certain U.S. systems; and (3) the National Ocean Research Leadership Council to establish an interagency program office to be known as OceanUS to be responsible for program planning and coordination of such observing system. Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require the Program Office to develop specified science-based indicators of water quality and related environmental factors in the Great Lakes. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) provide financial assistance for certain restoration or remediation projects; and (2) restore and remediate waterfronts and related areas. Establishes: (1) the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force, as established by Executive Order 13340, as a task force within EPA; (2) a Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Executive Committee to hold meetings and make recommendations and reports on Great Lakes restoration goals and progress; and (3) the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration to develop a restoration and protection strategy for use in Great Lakes program implementation and funding decisions, to serve as a forum for addressing regional issues relating to ecosystem restoration and protection of the Great Lakes, and to establish an oversight forum to coordinate and enhance implementation of Great Lakes programs. Provides funding for a variety of Great Lakes programs.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2006
Military Spouses Employment Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include spouses of members of the Armed Forces on extended active duty (more than 90 days or for an indefinite period) as members of a targeted group for purposes of the work opportunity tax credit (thus giving employers a tax incentive for hiring military spouses).
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2006
Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006 - Amends the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 to require the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to implement fish and wildlife restoration proposals and regional projects if funding is available. Defines "regional projects" as authorized activities of FWS related to fish and wildlife resource protection, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement that benefit the Great Lakes basin. Requires the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Proposal Review Committee to operate under the guidance of FWS (currently, under the guidance of the Council of Lake Committees of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission) and revises Committee membership requirements. Revises the goals of FWS programs related to the Great Lakes fish and wildlife resources to include restoring and maintaining self-sustaining fish and wildlife resources. Requires the Great Lakes Coordination Office to: (1) ensure that information acquired under such Act is made available to the public; and (2) report to the FWS Director of Region Three, Great Lakes Big Rivers. Includes within the responsibilities of the Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office and the Upper Great Lakes Fishery Resources Offices FWS operational activities related to fishery resource protection, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement in the offices' respective regions. Requires the Director to: (1) submit annual reports to the eight Great Lakes States and Indian Tribes; and (2) conduct a comprehensive study of the status, assessment, management, and restoration needs of the fish and wildlife resources of the Great Lakes Basin. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2006
Congressional Tribute to Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Act of 2006 - Authorizes The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design, to Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, in recognition of his enduring contributions to the United States and the world.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2006
Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to propose the rescission of any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority or the rescission, in whole or in part, of any item of direct spending. Sets forth requirements for the President's transmittal to Congress of a special message regarding a proposed rescission. Requires any rescinded budget authority or items of direct spending to be dedicated only to deficit reduction, and not to be used as an offset for other spending increases. Provides for adjustment of: (1) committee allocations resulting from such rescission; and (2) applicable limits, as appropriate, under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Sets forth procedures for expedited congressional consideration of a proposed rescission.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2006
United States Security Improvement Act of 2006 - Amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to state that the purpose of a mandatory investigation of a proposed corporate merger, acquisition, or takeover (transaction) undertaken under such Act is to determine whether the acquisition could affect U.S. national security. Directs the President, within five days after initiating a mandatory investigation, to notify each House of Congress of the transaction being investigated. Requires such notice to be promptly transmitted to specified congressional committees. Prohibits the President from taking any action regarding a transaction under investigation until 14 days after congressional notification. Requires the President to consider and take into account any comments on the transaction provided by any congressional committee.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2006
Foreign Investment Security Improvement Act of 2006 - Directs the President (or the President's designee) to investigate, under the Defense Production Act of 1950, the acquisition by Dubai Ports World (DP World), an entity owned or controlled by the Emirate of Dubai, of the Peninsular and Oriental (P&O) Steam Navigation Company, a national of the United Kingdom. Requires such investigation to be completed within 45 days after enactment of this Act. Directs the President to suspend any decision, under provisions of the Defense Production Act of 1950 permitting the President to stop the acquisition because it will impair national security, with respect to such acquisition made before the completion of the investigation, including any decision made before enactment of this Act. Specifies requirements for the investigation. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide information for the investigation, including: (1) relevant information on DP World from the Automated Targeting System maintained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and (2) port assessments at foreign seaports where DP World operates. Requires the President to: (1) report to Congress within 15 days after completion of the investigation; and (2) provide certain Members of Congress a detailed briefing on the contents of the report. Requires the President to take action necessary to prohibit the acquisition if the President does not stop the acquisition under the provisions of the Defense Production Act of 1950 permitting the President to stop the acquisition because it will impair national security if a joint resolution of disapproval is enacted into law within 30 days after Congress receives a report from the President that an acquisition will not be stopped. Requires, if such acquisition has been already been completed, the President to direct the Attorney General to seek divestment or other appropriate relief in US district courts.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2006
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that all Americans should participate in a moment of silence (on March 26, 2006, National Support the Troops Day) to reflect upon the service and sacrifice of members of the U.S. Armed Forces both at home and abroad.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2006
Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator to promulgate regulations requiring that all gasoline motor vehicle fuel sold or dispensed to consumers in the United States after 2012 contain not less than 10% renewable fuel on an annual average basis.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2006
Internet Gambling Prohibition Act - Amends the federal criminal code to revise the prohibitions against interstate gambling. Modifies the definition of "wire communication facility" to include all communications, including transmissions by satellite or microwave using fixed or mobile connections (e.g., the Internet or other wireless communications). Expands the definition of "bets and wagers" to include all forms of gambling activity. Modifies existing prohibitions against interstate gambling to prohibit anyone engaged in a gambling business from using a communication facility to transmit: (1) bets or wagers; (2) a communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers; or (3) information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers. Imposes a five-year prison term for violations. Prohibits anyone engaged in a gambling business from accepting in connection with the transmission of bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers: (1) credit, or the proceeds of credit; (2) electronic funds transfers; (3) checks, drafts, or similar instruments; or (4) the proceeds of any other form of financial transaction as prescribed by Treasury regulations. Exempts certain instrastate gambling activities. Requires any common carrier who is notified in writing that a user of one of its communication facilities is violating prohibitions against interstate gambling to discontinue service to such user. Authorizes federal, state, tribal, or local law enforcement agencies to obtain injunctive or declaratory relief to restrain persons from violating prohibitions against interstate gambling.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2006
Federal Aviation Administration Fair Labor Management Dispute Resolution Act of 2006 - Amends federal transportation law to revise certain federal aviation administration personnel management system requirements to prohibit the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from implementing any proposed change to the FAA personnel management system in cases where the services of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service do not lead to an agreement between the Administrator and FAA employees unless a bill is enacted into law by Congress that authorizes the change during the 60-day period beginning from the time Congress received the proposed change. (Current law does not require congressional action.) Requires the Administrator and FAA employee bargaining representatives to submit the proposed change to binding arbitration if Congress does not enact a bill into law within the 60-day period.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2006
Tax Code Termination Act - Terminates the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 after December 31, 2009, except for self-employment taxes, Federal Insurance Contributions Act taxes, and Railroad Retirement taxes. Declares that any new federal tax system should be a simple and fair system that: (1) applies a low rate to all Americans; (2) provides tax relief for working Americans; (3) protects the rights of taxpayers and reduces tax collection abuses; (4) eliminates the bias against savings and investment; (5) promotes economic growth and job creation; and (6) does not penalize marriage or families. Requires that the new federal tax system be approved by Congress in its final form by July 4, 2009.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2006
Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 - States that it shall be U.S. policy to promote the emergence of a democratic Palestinian governing authority that denounces and combats terrorism, upholds human rights for all people, and has agreed to recognize Israel as an independent Jewish state. Amends the the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide assistance under such Act or any other provision of law to the Palestinian Authority (PA) only during a period for which a presidential certification has determined: (1) that no PA ministry, agency, or instrumentality is controlled by a foreign terrorist organization and no member of a foreign terrorist organization serves in a PA ministry, agency, or instrumentality; (2) that the PA has publicly acknowledged Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, and is adhering to all previous agreements and understandings with the government of the United States, the government of Israel, and the international community; and (3) that the PA has made demonstrable progress toward purging from its security services individuals with ties to terrorism, dismantling all terrorist infrastructure and cooperating with Israel's security services, halting anti-Israel incitement, and ensuring democracy and financial transparency. Directs the President to make and transmit such certifications to Congress every six months. Prohibits during a period in which a certification is is not in effect with respect to the PA.: (1) assistance to nongovernmental organizations for the West Bank and Gaza (exempts assistance for basic human health needs from such limitation.); (2) U.S. contributions to the United Nations intended for U.N. agencies providing assistance directly to the PA; (3) visa issuance to any PA official or affiliated person (with a case-by-case exemption for U.S. security needs); (4) travel outside of a 25-mile radius of the U.N. headquarters building for officials and representatives of the PA and of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) who are stationed at the United Nations in New York City; and (5) establishment of an office, headquarters, premises, or other facilities within U.S. jurisdiction at the direction of, or with funds provided by, the PA or the PLO. Requires the President to direct the executive director at each international financial institution to use U.S. influence to prohibit assistance to the PA during any such period. Directs the Secretary of State to audit and report respecting duplicative entities and functions of: (1) the United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights; (2) the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; (3) the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority; (4) the NGO Network on the Question of Palestine; (5) the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories; and (6) any other entity the Secretary determines results in duplicative efforts or funding or fails to ensure balance in the approach to Israeli-Palestinian issues. Withholds specified U.S. contributions to the United Nations for such entities until the report's recommendations are implemented. Expresses the sense of Congress that during any such period the territory controlled by the PA should be deemed to be in use as a terrorist sanctuary for purposes of the Export Administration Act of 1979, and of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989. Prohibits funds to be used by any U.S. officer or employee to negotiate, attend official meetings, or have official contacts with members or official representatives of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, or any other Palestinian terrorist organization, until such organization: (1) recognizes Israel's right to exist; (2) renounces terrorism; (3) dismantles the terrorist infrastructure; and (4) recognizes all previous agreements and understandings between Israel and the PA.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2005
Health Care Freedom of Choice Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the tax deduction for medical expenses without the gross income percentage limitation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2005
The Fourteenth Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal Act - Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro Tempore of the Senate to make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, in recognition of his many contributions to peace and religious understanding.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2005
Directs the Joint Committee on the Library to accept the donation of a bust depicting Sojourner Truth and display it in a suitable permanent location in the rotunda of the Capitol. Expresses the sense of Congress that the most suitable location for the placement of the bust is one adjacent to the statue known as the Portrait Monument.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2005
Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act of 2005 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to the counting of time spent in outpatient settings by full-time-equivalent residents in approved medical residency training programs, for purposes of direct graduate medical education payments and indirect medical education payments. Defines all, or substantially all, of the costs for the training program in that nonhospital setting as the residents' stipends and benefits and other amounts, if any, as determined by the hospital and the entity (wholly owned or operated by the hospital) operating the nonhospital setting. Declares that the hospital is not required to pay the entity any amounts other than those determined by the hospital and the entity in order for the hospital to be considered to have incurred all, or substantially all, of the costs for ther training program in that setting.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2005
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility in Iron Mountain, Michigan, as the Oscar G. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2005
Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 to exclude manure from the definition of "hazardous substance" or "pollutant or contaminant" under that Act. Amends the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 to exempt releases associated with manure from the emergency notification requirements under that Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2005
Outer Continental Shelf Natural Gas Relief Act - States that all provisions of federal law that prohibit the expenditure of appropriated funds to conduct natural gas leasing and preleasing activities for any area of the Outer Continental Shelf are without any force or effect. Revokes all withdrawals from leasing of federal submerged lands of the Outer Continental Shelf, including withdrawals by the President under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. States such withdrawals are no longer in effect with respect to the leasing of areas for natural gas exploration, development, and production. Prohibits granting a gas lease for any area of the Outer Continental Shelf located within 20 miles of a state's coastline unless the Governor grants state approval. Directs the Secretary of Energy, in each five-year oil and gas leasing program, to include lease sales that when viewed as a whole propose to offer for gas leasing at least 75% of the available unleased acreage within each Outer Continental Shelf planning area. Sets forth a scheme for bonus bids and royalties that affects: (1) new and existing gas leases; and (2) leased tracts lying partially within the seaward boundaries of a state. Permits leases that authorize development and production solely of natural gas and associated condensate, including leases for program years 2002-2007, and for program years 2007-2012.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2005
Amends the Wetland Loan Act to extend funding for conservation of migratory waterfowl and habitat. Amends the Duck Stamp Act (the Act) to increase the price of federal migratory-bird hunting and conservation stamps, and to revise procedures for disposing of unsold stamps. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to require a person to affix a stamp sold under such Act to any other license as a condition of engaging in hunting under the authority of the stamp. Expresses the sense of Congress that the funds provided pursuant to this Act should be used for preserving and increasing waterfowl populations in accordance with the goals and objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, and to that end, should be used to supplement and not replace current conservation funding, including funding for other federal and state habitat conservation programs. States the sense of Congress that this Act should be implemented in a manner that helps private landowners achieve their long-term land use objectives in ways that enhance the conservation of wetlands and wildlife habitat.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 2005
American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to allow U.S. manufacturers that use products subject to countervailing or antidumping duty proceedings or use domestic like products (industrial users) to participate in such proceedings. Requires the U.S. International Trade Commission, when deciding whether an antidumping or countervailing duty should be imposed or continued, to weigh harm to industrial users from such imposition or continuation, as well as (under current law) the potential benefits to the industry in the United States materially injured or threatened with material injury by a foreign countervailing subsidy.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2005
Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to develop research protocols for collecting and analyzing scientific information about the effectiveness and ecological impacts of catastrophic event recovery projects and emergency stabilization treatments undertaken as part of a burned area emergency response to increase the long-term benefits of management activities and to decrease short-term impacts. Requires such Secretaries to enter into cooperative agreements with land-grant colleges and universities to form forest health partnerships to utilize their education, research, and outreach capacity to address the recovery of forested land after a catastrophic event. Requires such Secretaries to conduct catastrophic event recovery evaluations of damaged federal lands. Directs such Secretaries to prepare a list of pre-approved management practices that may be immediately implemented as part of catastrophic event recovery projects or catastrophic event research projects. Requires determinations of whether or not to: (1) use any pre-approved management practices that can be immediately implemented; and (2) develop and carry out a recovery or research project or part of such a project using the alternative arrangements authorized by this Act. Directs such Secretaries to clarify agency-wide guidance regarding reforestation in response to catastrophic events. Provides for assistance to restore landscapes and communities affected by catastrophic events. Provides for the availability and use of pre-approved management practices and alternative arrangements on National Forest experimental forests.
![Official portrait of Rep. Camp, Dave [R-MI-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000071_200.jpg)