United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1992
Small Community Environmental Infrastructure Grants Act of 1992 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants to States for the establishment of small community environmental infrastructure funds. Makes such funds available to small communities for the construction of wastewater treatment works, public water systems, and solid waste management facilities and for assuring that underground storage tanks are in compliance with the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Sets forth provisions concerning grant payment schedules and allotment and reallotment requirements. Requires States to establish funds to receive such grants. Sets forth specific requirements for the use of such funds and for the grants to be provided to small communities. Permits States to provide assistance only to community wastewater treatment and solid waste management facilities and public water systems that are in compliance with plans under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as appropriate. Requires States to submit plans to the Administrator that identify the intended use of the funds. Directs States to reserve the greater of one percent of fund sums or $100,000 to carry out planning. Provides for the withholding of grant payments if a State is not in compliance with this Act's requirements. Requires the Administrator to establish an Office of Small Community Environmental Infrastructure Assistance to: (1) oversee and manage the grants and funds made under this Act; and (2) provide specified environmental and financial information to small communities. Authorizes the Office to provide grants to States, Indian tribes, and not-for-profit organizations to assist small communities in assessing issues related to the financing of environmental facilities, compliance with environmental laws, and the construction, operation, and rehabilitation of environmental infrastructure facilities. Requires such grants to be matched by non-Federal funds. Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish a program and plan to provide financial assistance to Indian tribes for carrying out the same environmental infrastructure projects on Federal Indian reservations; and (2) administer an environmental infrastructure fund for providing such assistance. Sets forth a matching requirement for such assistance. Authorizes and allocates appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1992
Cash Management Improvement Act Amendments of 1992 - Amends the Cash Management Improvement Act of 1990 (the Act) to remove the two-year deadline for the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations for the timely disbursement of Federal funds. Extends the deadline for the Secretary to enter into agreements with States for intergovernmental financing and to prescribe regulations for such financing from October 24, 1992, until July 1, 1993, or by the first day of a fiscal year of the State which begins in 1993, whichever is later. Makes the Act effective on such date. Extends for one year the report to the Congress by the Comptroller General on the implementation of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1992
Directs the Architect of the Capitol to design, construct, and maintain a public debt clock in the basement rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building to be adjusted on a continuous basis to reflect the amount of the public debt of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1992
Declares that the Congress acknowledges and appreciates the commitment, devotion, and sacrifices of present and former military families. Designates November 23, 1992, as National Military Families Recognition Day.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1992
Action Now Health Care Reform Act of 1992 - Title I: Improved Access to Affordable Health Care Coverage - Subtitle A: Increased Affordability and Availability for Employees - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to request the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the NAIC) to develop model regulations requiring each carrier that makes available in a State any small employer health benefit plan to make available to each small employer in the State a MedAccess basic plan and a MedAccess standard. Directs the Secretary to develop such regulations, if the NAIC does not. Defines MedAccess plan as a health benefits plan that: (1) provides benefits typical of the benefits offered in the small employer health coverage market or provides only benefits for essential preventive and medical services and has an average actuarial value not exceeding 60 percent of the average actuarial value of the typical benefits offered in the small employer health coverage market; (2) accepts every small employer in the State applying for coverage and accepts for enrollment every eligible individual (defined as an individual who is a full-time employee and, if family coverage is offered, covers the employee's spouse and dependents under age 19 or under age 25 for students); and (3) meets consumer protection standards established by this Act relating to limitation of pre-existing condition clauses, continuity of coverage, renewability, and premium limitations. Prohibits the imposition, by a carrier, of a limitation of benefits based on the fact a condition pre-existed the effectiveness of the policy if: (1) the condition relates to a condition not diagnosed within three months before coverage under the plan; (2) the limitation extends beyond six months after coverage under the plan; (3) the limitation applies to an individual who, as of date of birth, was covered under the plan; and (4) the limitation relates to pregnancy. Requires continuous coverage. Prohibits cancellation of a plan or denial of coverage unless there is: (1) nonpayment of premiums; (2) fraud; (3) noncompliance with plan provisions; (4) failure to maintain the required number of enrollees; (5) misuse of a provider network provision; or (6) a cessation by the carrier of the provision of any plan in a State. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax which shall be paid by the carrier on the failure of a carrier or an employer health benefit plan to comply with the provisions of the Act. Directs the Secretary to request the NAIC to develop models for reinsurance or allocation of risk mechanisms for individuals and small employers who are enrolled under a small employer health benefit plan that meets the consumer protection standards and for whom a carrier is at risk of incurring high costs under the plan. Requires each State to establish and fund one or more reinsurance or allocation or allocation of risk mechanisms that are consistent with a model. Directs the Secretary to develop models, if the NAIC does not. Permits a State, in order to insure the financial solvency of the mechanism, to impose charges on any entity providing employee-related health benefits, so long as such charges do not discriminate with respect to entities that would not be subject to such charges. Directs the Secretary to establish a reinsurance or allocation of risk mechanism, if a State does not. Imposes an excise tax which shall be paid by the carrier on the providing of any health benefit plan which covers any employee in a Federal reinsurance State. Permits either a State or the Secretary (in a Federal reinsurance State) to require each employer health benefit plan to: (1) be registered; and (2) provide such information as is necessary for the reinsurance or allocation of risk mechanisms. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish an Office of Private Health Coverage to be headed by a Director appointed by the Secretary; and (2) provide for the appointment of an advisory committee to advise the Director. Permits the Director to research the impact of this subtitle and conduct related demonstration projects. Requires the Director to develop: (1) methods of measuring, in terms of the expected costs of providing benefits under small employer health benefit plans and, in particular, MedAccess plans, the relative health risks of eligible individuals; and (2) a model for equitably distributing health risks among carriers in the small employer health care coverage market. Authorizes appropriations for the purposes of this paragraph. Subtitle B: Improved Small Employer Purchasing Power of Affordable Health Insurance - Preempts from insurance mandates a qualified small employer purchasing group, if the group consists of employers with not more than 100 employees, the group consists of not fewer than 100 employers, and the health benefit plans with respect to the employer members are in compliance with applicable State laws relating to health benefit plans. Subtitle C: Health Deduction Fairness - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent and increase from 25 to 100 percent the health insurance tax deduction for the self-employed. Subtitle D: Improved Access to Community Health Services - Directs the Secretary to provide for a program of grants to migrant and community health centers receiving grants or contracts under provisions of the Public Health Service Act in order to promote the provision of primary health care services for underserved individuals. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Public Health Service Act to deem as an employee of the Public Health Service, for purposes of civil actions against commissioned officers or employees, any officer, employee, or contractor who is a physician or other licensed health care practitioner while performing functions for an entity receiving Federal funds under provisions of the Public Health Service Act. Requires an entity, in order to receive a grant under such provisions, to implement certain policies to assure against malpractice. Requires: (1) the Attorney General to estimate the amount of all claims expected, during each year, to arise against such an entity from acts of officers or employees; (2) the Secretary to withhold from grants to such entities the amount estimated; and (3) the withheld amount to be transferred to the Treasury to pay judgments against the United States arising from such claims. Directs the Secretary to make grants to public and nonprofit private entities to carry out demonstration projects for the purpose of increasing access to outpatient primary health services in geographic areas with a: (1) population of not more than 500,000 individuals; (2) shortage of personal health services; and (3) significant number of low-income or underinsured individuals. Sets forth requirements for receiving such grants. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle E: Improved Access to Rural Health Services - Retitles title XII of the Public Health Service Act "Emergency Medical Services" (formerly, "Trauma Care") and directs the Secretary to establish the Office of Emergency Medical Services which shall, with respect to emergency medical services (including trauma care): (1) conduct research; (2) sponsor workshops; (3) assist States; and (4) coordinate activities. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States for the purposes of improving the availability and quality of emergency medical services through the operation of State offices of emergency medical services. Sets forth matching fund requirements. Provides for demonstration projects to establish telecommunications between rural medical facilities and other medical facilities that have equipment that can be utilized through telecommunications. Authorizes appropriations for purposes of the programs of this paragraph. Directs the Secretary to make grants to States to assist in the creation or enhancement of air medical transport systems that provide victims of medical emergencies in rural areas access to treatments for the injuries or other conditions arising from such emergencies. Sets forth requirements for grant applications. Authorizes appropriations. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend for one year special treatment rules for Medicare-dependent small rural hospitals. Title II: Health Care Cost Containment and Quality Enhancement - Subtitle A: Medical Malpractice Liability Reform - Prohibits bringing a medical malpractice claim: (1) more than two years after the alleged injury should reasonably have been discovered and in no event more than four years after the alleged injury occurred; and (2) in any State court unless there has been an initial resolution through a certified alternative dispute resolution system (ADR). Requires the use of ADR in a Federal medical malpractice liability claim. Requires a pre-trial settlement conference in any medical malpractice liability action. Sets limits on: (1) noneconomic damages; (2) punitive damages; and (3) attorney's fees. Requires offsets for damages paid by a collateral source. Requires liability in a medical malpractice action to be several and not joint. Provides a complete defense to any allegation of negligence in a medical malpractice liability action to any defendant who followed the appropriate practice guideline. Prohibits finding a defendant guilty in a medical malpractice liability action relating to services provided during labor or delivery of a baby if the defendant did not previously treat the plaintiff during the pregnancy, unless the malpractice is proven by clear and convincing evidence. Directs the Secretary to determine whether a States' ADR meets ADR system requirements established by this Act. Establishes such requirements. Amends title XI (General Provisions and Professional Standards Review) of the Social Security Act to earmark funds for sanctioning practice guidelines for purposes of an affirmative defense in medical malpractice liability actions. Permits a State agency responsible for the conduct of disciplinary actions for a type of health care practitioner to enter into agreements with State or county professional societies for such type of health care practitioner to permit such societies to participate in the licensing of such health care practitioner and to review health care malpractice allegations. Requires each State to require each health care professional and provider to participate in a risk management program to prevent and provide early warning of practices which may result in injuries to patients or which otherwise endanger patient safety. Directs the Secretary to make grants for the conduct of basic research in the prevention of and compensation for injuries resulting from health care professional or health care provider malpractice, and research of the outcomes of health care procedures. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to study the factors discouraging physicians from volunteering to provide health care services in medically underserved areas. Subtitle B: Administrative Cost Savings - Directs the Secretary to adopt standards relating to each of the following: (1) data elements for use in claims processing under health benefits plans; (2) uniform claim forms; and (3) uniform electronic transmission of the data elements. Authorizes the Secretary to require providers to submit claims to health benefit plans in accordance with such standards. Provides for periodic review of the standards. States that the term "health benefit plan," in this subtitle, includes the Medicare and Medicaid programs (titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act). Requires the Secretary to promulgate standards for hospitals concerning electronic medical data. Permits the Secretary to promulgate standards concerning electronic medical data for providers that are not hospitals. Requires hospitals, in order to participate in Medicare, to: (1) maintain clinical data in a set of comprehensive data elements in electronic form on all patients; and (2) upon the Secretary's request, transmit electronically the data set and any data from such set. Provides for electronic transmission to Federal agencies. Prohibits a health benefit plan, if standards with respect to data elements are promulgated with respect to a class of provider, from requiring for the purpose of utilization review or as a condition of providing benefits under the plan that a provider in the class: (1) provide any data element not in the set of comprehensive data elements; or (2) transmit or present any such data element in a manner inconsistent with applicable standards. Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory commission of hospital executive and data base managers, physicians, health services researchers, and technical experts in the collection and use of data and operation of data systems. Authorizes appropriations for such commission. Requires the Secretary, in order to assure the availability of comparative value information to purchasers of health care in each State, to determine whether each State is developing and implementing a health care value information program that meets stated criteria. Permits grants to a State for the development of its health care value information program. Authorizes appropriations for such grants. Requires the head of each Federal agency with responsibility for the provision of health insurance or health care services to individuals to promptly develop health care value information relating to each program that such head administers. Directs the Secretary to develop model systems to facilitate: (1) the gathering of data on health care cost, quality, and outcome; and (2) analyzing such data to permit the valid comparison of such data. Authorizes appropriations for the development of such model systems. Directs the Secretary to adopt standards relating to the design and use of magnetized Medicare identification cards for the purpose of assisting health care providers in determining eligibility and billing. Authorizes appropriations. Nullifies any State law requiring that medical or health insurance records be maintained in written rather than electronic form. Requires each health benefit plan: (1) for each of its beneficiaries that has a social security number, to use that number as an identification number for claims processing; and (2) for each provider that has a unique identifier for Medicare purposes, to use that identifier for claims processing. Requires the Secretary to determine whether problems relating to the rules for determining liability when benefits are payable under two or more plans or the availability of information among such plans causes significant administrative problems, and if so, directs the Secretary to promulgate standards concerning liability and the transfer of information among plans. Directs the Secretary to provide grants to qualified entities to demonstrate the application of comprehensive information systems in continuously monitoring patient care and in improving patient care. Authorizes appropriations from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund. Subtitle C: Medical Savings Accounts (Medisave) - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of an employee any amount contributed by the employer to a medical savings account pursuant to a qualified medical savings account plan. Sets contribution limits. Defines a "medical savings account" as a trust created exclusively for purpose of paying an individual's medical expenses. Permits expenses from such account only to the extent such amounts are not compensated for by insurance. Subjects the employee to taxation as owner of the account. Subtitle D: Medicaid Program Flexibility - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to modify Medicaid contracting requirements for coordinated care services. Authorizes the Secretary to waive specified Medicaid requirements with respect to nursing facilities located in a State if the State provides assurances satisfactory to the Secretary that the waiver of such requirements will not adversely affect the quality of life of the residents in such facilities. Subtitle E: Limitations on Physician Self-Referrals - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend physician self-referral limitations to all payors as well as to certain additional services. Revises exceptions. Requires the Secretary to conduct a study in order to estimate the changes in aggregate costs for designated health services, under the Medicare program and other health plans, which will result from the implementation of the amendments made by this subtitle. Subtitle F: Removing Restrictions on Managed Care - Preempts managed care restrictions under State law. Requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study of the benefits and cost effectiveness of the use of managed care in the delivery of health services. Subtitle G: Medicare Payment Changes - Amends the Medicare program to make revisions in the methodology for determining updates to Medicare hospital payments. Provides for a reduction in Medicare payment for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. Subtitle H: Modification of the Operation of the Antitrust Laws to Hospitals - Permits two or more hospitals, without violating the antitrust laws, to share expensive medical services or high technology equipment. Directs the Secretary to grant waivers to exempt hospitals from the antitrust laws in order to carry out agreements permitting such sharing. Sets forth reporting requirements. Subtitle I: Encouraging Enforcement Activities of Medical Self-Regulatory Entities - Prohibits damages, interest on damages, costs, or attorney's fees from being recovered under the Clayton Act or any similar State law from any medical self-regulatory entity as a result of engaging in standard setting or enforcement activities designed to promote the quality of health care provided to patients.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1992
Rural Community Environmental Assistance Act of 1992 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds through FY 2000. Requires each State to establish a rural community environmental assistance account in such fund and to deposit at least 25 percent of the amount of the grant received for the establishment of the fund into such account. Permits monies in such accounts to be used only for the construction of wastewater treatment works and public water systems in economically distressed rural communities, subject to certain loan and grant conditions. Requires States to determine the amount of interest to be charged on loans and to establish grant eligibility criteria. Permits assistance to be provided only if: (1) the wastewater treatment works is consistent with planning requirements under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; and (2) the public water system is approved by the State agency with primary enforcement authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Requires States, in providing such assistance, to give priority to an economically distressed rural community in which: (1) there is a need for collector sewers and interceptors to improve access to wastewater treatment facilities; (2) residents rely on inadequate wastewater treatment facilities or drinking water systems that are determined by public health officials to be a hazard; or (3) residents rely on public water systems which do not meet requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Authorizes States to provide such assistance for eligible innovative projects only after conducting a cost-benefit analysis. Requires States to submit plans for the intended uses of amounts in rural community environmental assistance accounts to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Requires the Administrator to approve or disapprove such plans. Reserves one percent of funds in such accounts per fiscal year for planning activities. Permits the submission of a plan only if it has been approved by a State Rural Environmental Infrastructure Advisory Panel. Requires such panels to assist in plan preparation, review, and approval. Sets forth accounting and auditing requirements. Withholds payments from States that fail to comply with requirements for rural community environmental assistance accounts. Directs the Administrator to: (1) make grants to regional, State, and local agencies and not-for-profit organizations to assist economically distressed rural communities by providing technical assistance for the financing, operation, and maintenance of wastewater treatment works and public water systems; and (2) set aside a specified percentage of appropriations for such grants.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1992
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to exclude construction and fire equipment from the definition of "excess defense articles" for purposes of restricting the transfer of such equipment to foreign countries.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1992
Environmental Infrastructure Assistance Act - Directs the Secretary of the Army to establish an Office of Community Environmental Infrastructure Assistance within the Directorate of Civil Works of the Office of the Chief of Engineers. Requires the Office to: (1) manage projects pursuant to this Act; and (2) provide information and guidance to communities in economically distressed areas with respect to eligible projects, economic and organizational issues, and construction, operation, and rehabilitation of environmental infrastructure facilities. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish an environmental infrastructure assistance program to be administered through the Office; and (2) use funds under this Act for the construction of wastewater treatment works, public water systems, and solid waste management facilities. Provides that funds shall be available only for publicly-owned environmental infrastructure projects serving fewer than 25,000 persons that are located in economically distressed areas. Authorizes State Governors to submit State priority project plans to the Secretary. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to submit priority project plans for eligible projects on Indian reservations. Directs the Secretary to: (1) submit annual economically distressed areas environmental infrastructure assistance plans to the Congress; (2) enter into local cooperation agreements to provide for the planning, design, and construction of environmental infrastructure projects; and (3) assure that such agreements are executed for a project from each State submitting a priority project plan. Requires the Administrator to publish guidelines for the design of wastewater treatment, public water supply, and solid waste disposal facilities pursuant to this Act. Provides for the review and revision of such guidelines at least every five years. Authorizes appropriations. Reserves at least 15 and five percent of such funds, respectively, for colonias and Indian reservations.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1992
Used Oil Recycling Act of 1992 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to prohibit the listing or identification of used oil destined for recycling, used oil to be burned for energy recovery, recycled oil, or affiliated material as hazardous wastes. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) promulgate regulations for the management of used oil and to encourage recycling of such oil; and (2) take into account the effect of such regulatons on small businesses. Exempts from such regulations used oil generated, collected, or stored by an individual who removes oil from the engine of a motor vehicle, aircraft, household appliance, or item of domestic equipment if owned by such individual and used only for personal purposes. Sets forth regulation requirements for used oil generators, including to: (1) prohibit the storage of used oil in an underground tank unless it meets specified requirements of the Solid Waste Disposal Act; (2) prohibit the storage of used oil for more than 12 months; (3) make used oil in above ground tanks subject to the Spill Prevention and Countermeasure Control Plan requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; and (4) require owners or operators of such tanks or other used oil containers to notify the Administrator of releases of used oil in excess of 25 gallons and to clean up such releases and comply with closure or disposal requirements. Authorizes the transfer of used oil by generators only to: (1) a permitted used oil recycling facility or a burner of used oil for energy recovery that complies with specifed regulations; (2) a permitted hazardous waste management facility; or (3) a used oil transporter obligated by contract to deliver used oil to another such transporter or to one of the aforementioned facilities. Sets forth recordkeeping requirements for generators, transporters, and recyclers and requires records to be maintained for at least three years. Applies used oil storage and transfer requirements for generators to transporters, except permits transporters to store such oil for only 60 days before transferring it to another transporter or authorized facility. Requires transporters to: (1) comply with all requirements of the Secretary of Transportation for the shipping of used oil; (2) comply with financial responsibility requirements of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act; and (3) have identification numbers provided by the Administrator. Sets forth regulation requirements for recyclers of used oil. Exempts from regulations used oil generated by: (1) petroleum refining or exploration, production or transportation facilities, or bulk terminals which is to be refined or processed along with normal process streams at a refining facility; and (2) a manufacturer or processor or by an electric or gas utility that is processed, reclaimed, or refined by such generator or its parent, subsidiary, or corporate affiliate, provided that the oil is reused by such entities and such activities meet certain storage, shipping, financial responsibility, contingency, and release detection requirements under this Act. Applies storage requirements similar to those for generators and transporters to recyclers, as well as requiring: (1) aboveground storage tanks and containers of used oil recyclers to comply with hazardous waste storage standards; (2) recyclers to maintain contingency plans to minimize unanticipated damage from used oil; (3) recyclers to comply with requirements for maintenance and operation of used oil recycling facilities and training of personnel; (4) detection of releases of used oil at recycling facilities and cleanup; (5) testing by recyclers, prior to processing, of all used oil received for levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, halogens, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other materials, as appropriate, and for the testing of fuel for such materials before it leaves the facility; (6) the separate storage of used oil contaminated with any hazardous waste for a specified time period; (7) financial responsibility equivalent to that required for hazardous waste facilities; and (8) class permits for recycling facilities. Requires the Administrator to conduct annual inspections of used oil recycling facilities to determine compliance with permit requirements. Makes a facility ineligible to apply for a permit if: (1) the facility has utilized any pit, pond, lagoon, or other surface impoundment for containing used oil; and (2) there has been a release from such impoundments which requires corrective action or is otherwise subject to post closure care requirements. Permits States to be authorized by the Administrator to carry out permit programs. Prohibits: (1) the placement of used oil in such impoundments or in any uncovered tank; (2) the mixing of used oil with a hazardous waste unless the mixture is managed as a hazardous waste; and (3) the use of used oil as a dust suppressant. Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations for the closure of such impoundments and tanks containing used oil, to include requirements for: (1) corrective action or postclosure care; (2) allowable fuel specification levels for lead and halogens for the burning of used oil for energy recovery; and (3) lead levels for the burning of industrial specification used oil. Requires oil fuels failing to meet lead limitations to be burned in specified facilities. Directs the Administrator to implement education activities to inform the public about the hazards associated with the improper handling and disposal of used oil and the benefits derived from legitimate used oil recycling. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Administrator to publish guidelines to assist State and local governments and other public service organizations in the development of used oil collection programs. Makes used oil generators who comply with this Act eligible for an exclusion from cost recovery authorities of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. Directs the Administrator to propose regulations establishing guidelines for the procurement of used oil by Federal agencies and other governmental entities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1992
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to add rule LIV, providing that whenever the right of choice devolves upon the House, any vote of a Member from a State in determining the vote of that State to choose a President shall be recorded by the Clerk of the House in open session.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1992
Rural Electrification Administration Improvement Act of 1992 - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to provide that if a borrower of a loan made or guaranteed by the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) applies for an electric or telephone service loan from a private lender, REA shall grant the private lender a lien accommodation on the total assets securing the unpaid balance on an equal and pro rata basis with the Government lien, except if such private loan will adversely affect the borrower's ability to repay the Government. Subordinates the REA lien to a lien made by a private lender on a non-electric or non-telephone rural development loan if the borrower's revenues will be sufficient to meet all loan obligations. Revises discounted loan prepayment provisions to permit prepayment or sale of a loan that was advanced before a certain date or has been fully advanced for not less than two years. Limits future loan eligibility for prepaying borrowers. Repeals provisions regarding: (1) borrower net worth; and (2) the prepayment privatization demonstration program.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1992
National Youth Apprenticeship Act of 1992 - Sets forth Federal, State, and local responsibilities in establishing the means for employers, local education agencies, labor organizations, and other appropriate entities to develop and implement youth apprenticeship programs under the national youth apprenticeship criteria (the criteria) established by this Act. Establishes an interagency committee, composed of the Secretaries of Labor, of Education, and of Commerce, to: (1) establish procedures for submission and review of plans by States; and (2) determine if such plans meet the criteria. Directs the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) to perform specified functions under this Act in consultation with the committee, including providing for criteria and safeguards compliance determination procedures, monitoring data collection, evaluation, review of fund use, policy guidance, resources and technical assistance, recognition and dissemination of outstanding programs, and research and demonstration activities. Directs the Governor of a participating State to submit to the Secretary a biennial State plan for youth apprenticeship programs which meets specified requirements. Directs the Governor also to designate the appropriate State authority to: (1) develop certain program guidelines for designating local entities and for including long-term employment possibilities; (2) certify that local programs meet the criteria, safeguards, and other appropriate standards; (3) provide technical assistance and other support to local entities and employers; and (4) provide for data collection, monitoring, and program evaluation. Requires local entities to ensure programs meet the criteria, safeguards, and other applicable standards. Requires participating schools to provide for career exploration and academic development to meet program entry and participation requirements. Requires local employers (in collaboration with labor organizations where appropriate) to: (1) employ youth apprentices; (2) assist participating schools in ensuring that curriculum content is relevant to the workplace; (3) take primary responsibility for ensuring success of worksite learning and work experience; and (4) inform local schools of each youth apprentice's performance. Requires local private industry councils to review and approve local youth apprenticeship programs to ensure that such programs: (1) meet local labor market demands; and (2) provide apprentices with broad-based competencies and transferable skills that facilitate career progression within the industries or trades in which the student is trained and employed. Sets forth the national youth apprenticeship criteria for programs, including criteria with respect to: (1) academic instruction; (2) work-based learning; (3) worksite learning and experience; (4) agreement commitment by youth apprentices, parents or guardians, employers (in collaboration with labor organizations where appropriate), and local educational agencies; (5) agreement provisions for educational outcomes and for wages and hours; and (6) information and guidance. Allows local entities to design programs using alternative program components, including specified models for tech-prep education and vocational education, and providing for formal coordination with other tech-prep programs and postsecondary education and training. Requires specified safeguards to apply to youth apprenticeship programs under this Act, including safeguards against: (1) displacement of currently employed workers (or those undergoing temporary layoffs, or those terminated by the employer with the intention of filling the vacancies with the youth apprentices; (2) impairment of existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements; (3) an unsafe or unhealthful workplace; (4) discrimination; and (5) conflict of interests by private industry council members. Sets forth the relationship of youth apprenticeship programs under this Act to other laws, including: (1) special lower minimum wages and student-learner requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938; and (2) specified programs under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act, the Job Training Partnership Act, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Directs the Secretary to conduct studies to: (1) evaluate activities under this Act and other appropriate issues; and (2) examine State and local use, in support of this Act, of funds under specified Federal laws and of any other Federal, State, local, or private resources. Directs the Secretary to submit an initial report to the President on the results of such studies within two years after enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1992
Small Business Cost Estimate Act of 1992 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to prepare for each public measure reported by a congressional committee (except the Committee on Appropriations of each House) and to submit to that committee for inclusion in the committee report: (1) an estimate of the costs in each of the first five fiscal years of carrying out such measure and of small business compliance with such measure, if significant; and (2) a comparison of those estimates with estimates made by such committee or by a Federal agency.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1992
Civil War Battlefield Commemorative Coin Act of 1992 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue a specified number of five-dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Civil War battlefield preservation. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Requires that all sales include a surcharge of $35 per coin for the five-dollar coins, $7 per coin for the one-dollar coins, and $1 per coin for the half-dollar coins. Requires that all surcharges be paid to the Civil War Battlefield Foundation for the preservation of historically significant Civil War battlefields.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1992
Amends the Federal criminal code to require forfeiture of any property used in or derived from a Federal health care offense (defined as an offense under provisions relating to money laundering, racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations, or mail fraud involving: (1) fraudulent or false billing for a medical product, service, or test; (2) inflated cost; (3) unnecessary patient admission; or (4) kickbacks). Amends Federal law relating to the Attorney General to establish in the Treasury the Health Care Fraud Forfeiture Fund. Makes the Fund available in the same manner as the Department of Justice Forfeiture Fund, to be used solely for the benefit of activities relating to Federal health care offenses. Deposits in the Fund all property forfeited by reason of a Federal health care offense.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1992
Designates October 24 through November 1, 1992, as National Red Ribbon Week for a Drug Free America. Recognize the hard work and dedication of those involved in combatting substance abuse.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1992
Minor Crop Protection Assistance Act of 1992 - Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to define "minor use" as the use of a pesticide on a commercial agricultural crop or site where: (1) the total U.S. acreage for the crop is less than 300,000 acres; (2) the acreage expected to be treated as a result of that use is less than 300,000 acres annually or the agricultural crop represents production from less than 300,000 acres annually; (3) the use does not provide sufficient economic incentive to support initial or continuing registration; and (4) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not determined that the use presents an unreasonable adverse environmental effect. Permits the Administrator, in handling the registration of a pesticide for a minor use, to waive applicable data requirements if it is determined that the absence of data will not prevent the Administrator from determining the incremental risk presented by the minor use and that such risk would have an unreasonable adverse environmental effect. Prohibits data that relates solely to a minor use, without the permission of the original data submitter, from being considered by the Administrator to support a minor use application by another person for ten years following the submission of the data. Terminates the exclusive use of such data if the registration is voluntarily cancelled, or if the data are used to support a nonminor use. Provides for expedited review (within six months of submission) of applications to support minor use pesticide registrations. Grants registrants who make good faith requests for minor use waivers regarding required data, and whose requests are denied, a full time period for providing such data. Requires the Administrator, upon the request of a registrant, to extend the deadline for the production of data required solely to support a minor use pesticide up to four years if the registrant provides data to support other uses of the pesticide and a schedule to assure that the data production will be completed before the expiration of the extension. Applies the same extension conditions to data for reregistrations. Requires the Administrator to conditionally amend a registration to permit additional minor uses even if data is insufficient if the applicant has submitted satisfactory data pertaining to the proposed minor use and amending such registration would not increase environmental risks. Prohibits amendments if the pesticide meets or exceeds risk criteria associated with human dietary exposure and other specified conditions. Provides for extensions of minor use registration and data submission deadlines in cases where a registrant is not providing data to support a minor use but is providing data in a timely fashion to support other uses. Requires the Administrator, when a minor use registration application is filed no later than two years after another registrant voluntarily cancels registration for a similar use, to evaluate such application as if the voluntary cancellation had not yet taken place for purposes of data use, subject to environmental risk considerations. Directs EPA to assure coordination of minor use issues through the establishment of a minor use program within the Office of Pesticide Programs. Establishes and authorizes funding for a Department of Agriculture matching fund minor use program. Requires the program to be utilized to ensure the continued availability of minor use crop protection chemicals, including the data to support minor use pesticide registrations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1992
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend through March 31, 1994 (currently, 1993) special payments under part A of Medicare for the operating costs of inpatient services of small, rural Medicare-dependent hospitals.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1992
Airport and Airway Safety, Capacity, and Intermodal Transportation Act of 1992 - Title I: Airport and Airway Improvement Act Amendments - Amends the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982 to declare that it is a goal of the United States to develop a national intermodal transportation system. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 and 1994 for: (1) airport development and planning projects; (2) air navigation facilities; (3) weather reporting services for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); and (4) FAA operations. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1994 to augment, if the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) determines it is necessary, the Airway Capital Investment Plan, including a determination with respect to the establishment of more than 23 area control facilities. Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to revise the minimum Federal appropriation levels which permit imposition of local airport passenger facility fees on airline passengers. Amends the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982 to increase the apportionment of airports which are served by aircraft providing only air cargo (including mail) transportation; and (2) primary airports. Requires not less than 2.25 percent of airport development and planning funds for FY 1993 and 1994 be set-aside for development of current and former military airports. Requires the Secretary to designate such airports for participation in such set-aside program. (Currently, the Secretary is required to designate not less than eight current or former military airports.) Authorizes a specified amount of discretionary airport development and planning funds for FY 1993 and 1994 for construction, improvement, or repair of airport surface parking lots, fuel farms, and utilities at such airports. Requires the Secretary to set-aside not less than an additional 2.5 percent of airport development and planning funds to primary airports for noise compatibility planning if the Secretary finds that one or more units of local government in the areas surrounding such airports have adopted noise control measures likely to ensure land use compatible with such airports. Authorizes the maximum obligation of the United States for airport development and planning projects for FY 1993 to be increased for an airport (other than a primary airport) by a specified amount. Requires airport owners or operators as a condition precedent to approval of a grant for airport development projects to take necessary action to ensure that at least ten percent of businesses at the airport which provide ground transportation, baggage carts, automobile rentals, or other consumer services are small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Authorizes the Secretary to allow an airport owner or operator to meet the ten percent goal by including businesses operated through management contracts or by including the purchase of goods or services used in a business conducted on the airport if it would not be practicable for the owner or operator to comply with such goal by direct ownership arrangements. Revises the definition of an eligible "disadvantaged business enterprise" to raise the maximum average annual gross receipts permissible from $14 million to $16.015 million. Authorizes the Secretary, in cases where a commercial service airport annually has .05 percent or less of the total enplanements in the United States, to approve, as allowable project costs of an airport development project at such airport, any terminal development in revenue-producing areas and construction, reconstruction, repair, and improvement of nonrevenue-producing parking lots if the Secretary finds that no project for needed airport development affecting safety, security, or capacity will be deferred by such approval. Includes as an "airport development" activity the: (1) relocation of an air traffic control tower if such relocation is necessary to carry out an approved project; and (2) construction, reconstruction, repair, or improvement of an airport (or any purchase of capital equipment for an airport) which is necessary for compliance with specified Federal laws, other than construction or purchase of capital equipment which would benefit a revenue producing area of the airport used by a nonaeronautical business. Authorizes the Administrator of the FAA to make grants to up to four vocational technical institutions for acquisition or construction of facilities for the advanced training of maintenance technicians for air carrier aircraft. Sets forth grant eligibility requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator of the FAA to develop and submit annually to specified congressional committees a report on: (1) the staffing standards used to determine the number of air traffic controllers needed to operate the air traffic control system of the United States; (2) a three-year projection of the number of air traffic controllers needed to operate such system to meet such standards; and (3) a detailed plan for employing such controllers, including projected budget requests. Requires the Administrator of the FAA to hire additional air traffic controllers so as to make the controller work force not less than 18,128 on September 30, 1993. Title II: Federal Aviation Act Amendments - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to authorize the Administrator of the FAA to enter into a contract, on a sole source basis, with a State or political subdivision to permit it to operate a level I visual flight rules airport traffic control tower if the Administrator determines that such State or political subdivision can comply with certain safety and subcontracting requirements. Authorizes, at the discretion of the Administrator of the FAA, the reimbursement of travel, transportation, and subsistence expenses for security training of non-Federal domestic and foreign personnel who contribute to civil aviation security. Requires all persons to give adequate public notice of the establishment or expansion, of any structure or sanitary landfill where such notice will promote safety in air commerce and preserve the navigable airspace and airport traffic capacity at public-use airports.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1992
Title I: Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act Amendments of 1992 - Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act Amendments of 1992 - Amends the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982 to include within the definition of "airport development" certain projects to improve passenger and freight airport access. Extends: (1) airport improvement grant authority; (2) specified funds for airport noise reduction activities; and (3) authorization of appropriations for air navigation facilities. Authorizes appropriations to be available if the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determines that its Capital Investment Plan is in need of substantial modification. Authorizes appropriations for research, engineering, and development demonstration projects. Requires that the total annual amounts appropriated from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (Trust Fund) for airport and airway improvement programs shall equal 85 percent of the FAA's annual budget, except for liquidating aircraft loan guarantees. Extends weather services reimbursement authority. Increases the noise set-aside. Obligates such increases on a priority basis to sponsors of primary airports and to contiguous political jurisdictions where compatible land use control measures have been adopted. Amends the military airport program to: (1) increase funding set-asides; (2) increase the number of program airports; (3) repeal the airport designation deadline; and (4) set aside funds for construction and improvement of parking lots, fuel farms, and utilities. Sets aside funds for integrated urban transportation planning. Increases the scope of activities within the disadvantaged small business set-aside requirement. Authorizes up to 50 percent funding increases for certain nonprimary airports' land acquisition costs. Authorizes a State block grant program for projects at general aviation airports. Permits States which have successfully administered such block grants for at least one year to administer block grants for reliever and small commercial service airports. Title II: Federal Aviation Act of 1958 Amendments - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to permit: (1) sole source contracts with States or political subdivisions for certain air traffic control tower operations; and (2) limited source procurement on the same basis as certain other Federal agencies. Authorizes travel and per diem reimbursement for non-Federal personnel providing aviation security training. Military Air Traffic Controller Transition Act of 1992 - Authorizes the hiring of retired military air traffic controllers under the age of 46 as FAA controllers in auxiliary flight service stations and at specified terminal facilities. Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to apply FAA safety certification requirements to airports that serve aircraft designed for ten or more (currently 30) passenger seats. Amends the civil penalty assessment program to: (1) repeal the monetary assessment ceiling; (2) give deference to FAA rules interpretations in hearings before the National Transportation Safety Board; and (3) make the program permanent. Requires the FAA to be notified of adjacent sanitary landfill establishment or expansion. Extends aviation insurance authority. Authorizes the FAA to use certain aviation related fees collected outside the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1992
Commonwealth Scientists Immigration and Exchange Act of 1992 - Authorizes the special admission into the United States of certain scientists of the Commonwealth of Independent States (Commonwealth) as employment-based immigrants under the Immigration and Nationality Act for a four-year period. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) Commonwealth scientists should be given priority consideration for U.S. international exchange programs; and (2) in making available Soviet threat reduction funds priority should be given to retraining and employing Commonwealth scientists in areas that would enhance the objectives of nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1992
Medicare Mental Health Care Coverage Expansion Act of 1992 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of qualified mental health professionals' services under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of Medicare.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1992
Authorizes the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to publicly disclose the name and pertinent account information of any Member or former Member who it finds, pursuant to H. Res. 236, has abused banking privileges between July 1, 1988, to October 3, 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1992
Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to repeal the provision taxing scholarships and fellowships, and to exclude them from gross income, beginning with the 1987 tax year. Waives the statute of limitations for related refund or credit claims filed within one year of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1992
Prohibits a State, political subdivision, or agency or organization of two or more States (entities) from enacting or enforcing any law, rule, regulation, or standard relating to interstate or intrastate rates, routes, or services: (1) of a corporate compensated carrier not operating under the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC); (2) involving transportation by a motor vehicle and driver leased by a shipper from a single source when certain conditions exist; and (3) of any transportation of property provided by motor vehicles leased, with or without drivers, from a motor private carrier, to the extent that such law, rule, regulation, or standard is in addition to, or more stringent than, the requirements for such operations established by the ICC. Prohibits such entities from enacting or enforcing any law, rule, regulation, or standard that: (1) prohibits or limits the ability of a person providing transportation to obtain a motor common carrier certificate or motor contract carrier permit to provide intrastate transportation of property, whether under the same corporate structure as the nontransportation primary business or as a separate transportation subsidiary, by virtue of the person's status as a nontransportation primary business, or that subjects such person to criteria that are not applied to a transportation business seeking the same authority to operate as a motor common or contract carrier; or (2) prohibits, limits, or places requirements on transportation services other than requirements for the safety of operations and minimum financial responsibility. Defines "dedicated contract driver" to mean a motor contract carrier that assigns vehicles management personnel drivers, and other related workers for the exclusive use of a contracting shipper.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1992
Creates the Congressional Office of Inspector General (Office), independent of the executive departments and under the control and direction of the Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives. Sets forth the functions of the Office. Makes an Inspector General (Inspector), to be appointed by the Speaker and minority leader, head of the Office for a seven-year term, unless removed by the Speaker and minority leader for cause. Makes the Inspector ineligible for reappointment. Requires the Inspector to appoint: (1) an Assistant Inspector General for Auditing to supervise the auditing of the office procedures and operations of each Member or committee of the House and any other House office whose employees are paid by the Clerk; and (2) an Assistant Inspector General for Investigations to supervise investigations of such office procedures and operations. Sets forth the duties and responsibilities of the Inspector. Requires each Inspector General to report annually to the Speaker and minority leader of the House. Authorizes the Inspector to receive and investigate complaints or information from a House employee concerning the possible existence of a violation of law or the Rules of the House, mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse or authority, or a substantial and specific danger to the public health and safety. Prohibits the Inspector, upon receiving the complaint or information, from disclosing the complainant's identity without the employee's consent, unless such disclosure is unavoidable during the course of the investigation. Prohibits any employee who has authority to take, directs others to take, or recommends or approves any personnel action, from taking action against an employee as reprisal for making a complaint or disclosing information to an Inspector, unless the complaint was false and the complainant knew this or willfully disregarded truth or falsity.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1992
Directs the Postmaster of the House of Representatives to take necessary measures (including the termination of any existing contract or agreement) to provide that postal services and operations relating to the House be carried out by employees of the U.S. Postal Service.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1992
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) consideration of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) should be a high priority; (2) LIHEAP funding for FY 1993 should be increased to a level greater than or equal to funding for FY 1992; and (3) the President should accept the LIHEAP funding level for FY 1993 as recommended by the Congress.
![Official portrait of Rep. Clinger, William F., Jr. [R-PA-5]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000523_200.jpg)