United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1996
Congressional Travel Accountability Resolution - Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to add rule LIII that requires: (1) each Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner in the House to submit to the Clerk biannually an itemized report detailing all covered Federal travel by the Member (as a Member) and the costs associated with such travel; and (2) the Clerk to submit the information for publication in the Congressional Record. Defines "covered Federal travel" as any travel paid from Federal funds, with the exception of travel by the Member: (1) between the Member's district and the Washington metropolitan area; (2) within the Member's district; or (3) within the Washington metropolitan area.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1996
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that the Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund should submit to the Congress without further delay its annual report due on April 1, 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1996
Snow Removal Policy Act of 1996 - Requires the President, through the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to promulgate standards and criteria for declaring a major disaster or emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in response to a snow-related event and for providing assistance under the Act for such an event, including reimbursement for snow and debris removal and emergency protective measures.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1996
Drive Away from Ethanol Welfare Act of 1996 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the credit for alcohol used to produce any ether. Limits other tax incentives to produce alcohol for use as fuel. Reduces the credit for any alcohol which is ethanol.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1996
Regulatory Fair Warning Act - Amends Federal Government operations law to limit the sanctions which may be imposed by courts and agencies for rule violations: (1) involving agency rules which failed to give the defendant fair warning of the conduct that the rule prohibits or requires; (2) where the defendant reasonably and in good faith determined prior to the violation that he or she was in compliance with, exempt from, or otherwise not subject to, the rule requirements based upon his or her understanding of the rule text and published guidances and policies related to the rule; or (3) committed in reasonable reliance upon a written statement by a Federal or State official authorized to implement or ensure compliance with the rule, made after disclosure by the defendant of all material facts, that the defendant was in compliance with, exempt from, or otherwise not subject to the rule requirements. Prohibits the court or agency in an action brought to impose a civil or criminal sanction for an alleged rule violation from giving deference to any interpretation of such rule relied upon by the promulgating agency that was not published in the Federal Register or was not available to the defendant before the alleged violation.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1996
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to extend from one year to two years the period of time within which adversely affected workers may file a petition for trade adjustment assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1996
Minimum Wage Increase Act of 1996 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the minimum wage rate under such Act from the current $4.25 per hour to: (1) $4.75 per hour for one year beginning 90 days after enactment of this Act; and (2) $5.25 per hour after that year.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1996
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Jackson, Mississippi, as the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
National Invasive Species Act of 1996 - Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to mandate: (1) regulations to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species into the Great Lakes through ballast water; and (2) voluntary guidelines to prevent such introduction and spread in U.S. waters by ballast water and other vessel operations. Authorizes mandatory regulations if guideline compliance is inadequate. Provides for enforcement through revocation of clearance and civil and criminal penalties. Encourages negotiations with foreign governments to develop and implement an international program for preventing such introduction and spread in North American waters. Mandates studies of Lake Champlain, the Chesapeake Bay, San Francisco Bay, Honolulu Harbor, Prince William Sound, and other waters. Requires an annual grant for six years for aquatic nuisance species prevention and control research in the Chesapeake Bay. Establishes a clearinghouse of national data on ballasting practices and compliance with guidelines under this Act. Mandates a ballast water management program for the Navy's seagoing fleet to limit the risk of invasion by nonindigenous species from ballast water. Requires: (1) a ballast water management program to demonstrate technologies and practices to prevent aquatic nonindigenous species from being introduced into and spread through ballast water in U.S. waters; and (2) that the installation and construction of those technologies and practices be performed in a U.S. shipyard or ship repair facility. Modifies: (1) the composition and research priorities of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force; and (2) zebra mussel demonstration program requirements. Requires the Task Force to encourage the development and use of regional coordination panels and similar entities in regions other than the Great Lakes. Provides for interstate (in addition to existing State) aquatic nuisance species management plans, allowing Indian tribes as well as States to participate. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Coordination of Federal Enforcement Title II: Revisions to Criminal Law Title III: Anti-Fraud Initiatives Under Medicare and Medicaid Health Care Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act of 1996 - Title I: Coordination of Federal Enforcement - Requires the Inspectors General of specified Federal agencies to conduct audits, investigations, inspections, and evaluations regarding the prevention, detection, and control of health care fraud and abuse. Requires the Inspector General and the Attorney General to establish a health care fraud and abuse program that takes into account the activities of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, Federal and State health care provider licensing and certification agencies, and certain State agencies. (Sec. 102) Mandates State designation of State agencies that conduct, supervise, and coordinate such audits, investigations, inspections, and evaluations. Allows State designation of a State agency to act as a Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Unit for purposes of this title. Sets forth Unit requirements. Requires annual payments to States. (Sec. 104) Establishes in the Treasury the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account containing: (1) fines, penalties, damages, and the proceeds of seizures and forfeitures relating to the provision of health care items and services; and (2) gifts, bequests, and devises. Makes amounts available to the Inspector General and the Attorney General for expenses under specified provisions of this Act and reimbursements to other Inspectors General and Federal, State, and local agencies. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the acceptance, use, and disposal of gifts, bequests, or devises. (Sec. 106) Requires reimbursement: (1) to Federal agencies for the expenses of carrying out provisions of this title; and (2) subject to availability of funds, to State or local law enforcement agencies that participated directly in any activity that led to Account deposits. (Sec. 107) Establishes the Account Payments Advisory Board to make recommendations regarding the equitable allocation of amounts from the Account. (Sec. 108) Mandates establishment of a data base for the reporting of final adverse actions taken by a Government agency against health care providers, suppliers, practitioners, or benefit programs. Requires each Government agency to report such actions. Makes the information in the data base available to the public, Federal and State agencies, and benefit programs. Allows disclosure fees. Title II: Revisions to Criminal Law - Amends the Federal criminal code to define "Federal health care offense" to include violation of, or conspiracy or attempt to violate, specified provisions of: (1) that code; (2) the Social Security Act (SSA); (3) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; or (4) the Anti-Kickback Act of 1986. (Sec. 202) Mandates fines or imprisonment for (in connection with a health care benefit program) defrauding or attempting to defraud, theft or embezzlement, knowing and willful false statements, bribery, certain remunerations (including kickbacks and rebates), and obstruction of a criminal investigation of a health care offense. Authorizes civil actions, civil penalties, and injunctive relief (including the freezing of assets) for health care offenses. (Sec. 210) Authorizes the Attorney General and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to issue summonses. (Sec. 211) Authorizes disclosure of grand jury information for use in a civil investigation or proceeding related to a health care offense. (Sec. 212) Includes Federal health care offenses in: (1) the definition of "specified unlawful activity" for provisions relating to money laundering; and (2) provisions allowing additional penalties for telemarketing that victimizes or targets persons over the age of 55. Authorizes the interception of wire or oral communications in cases where the interception may provide evidence of health care bribery, illegal remunerations, or fraud. Adds references to health care bribery, theft, embezzlement, and fraud to the definition of "racketeering activity" for provisions relating to racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO). Mandates forfeiture of any property constituting or derived from a Federal health care offense. Allows a reward for information on a Federal health care offense. Title III: Anti-Fraud Initiatives Under Medicare and Medicaid - Amends the SSA to allow exclusion from participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs (titles XVIII and XIX of the SSA) of an individual who has an ownership or control interest in, or who is an officer, director, agent, or managing employee of, an entity: (1) convicted of any offense under specified SSA mandatory or permissive exclusion provisions; (2) against which a civil penalty has been assessed under specified SSA provisions; or (3) that has been excluded from Medicare or Medicaid. Imposes civil fines on a person for presenting a claim for an item or service provided by the person's excluded employee or agent. Requires funds received as civil fines and assessments under certain SSA provisions and remaining after other dispositions (required by current law) to be deposited in the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account established under this Act (currently, to be deposited as miscellaneous receipts in the Treasury). (Sec. 302) Provides for the modification of existing and the establishment of new safe harbors. Makes an exception to anti-kickback prohibitions for certain discounting and managed care arrangements. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expedite implementation of certain payment adjustments based upon inherent reasonableness. (Sec. 303) Requires implementation of an initiative of December 1994 to expedite Medicare payment inherent reasonableness adjustments. (Sec. 304) Requires inclusion of information on waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare information distributed under specified provisions. (Sec. 305) Mandates a system providing for a unique identifier for each individual or entity (currently, for each physician) who furnishes items or services for which Medicare payment may be made. Prohibits the Secretary from providing a unique identifier under such system unless the individual or entity submits such documentation relating to financial solvency and fiscal integrity as the Secretary may require to ensure that such issuance will not expose the program to waste, fraud, and abuse, except that the Secretary may waive the application of this section in the case of a provider of services or an individual eligible to receive payment for items or services furnished on the basis of licensure or authorization under State law. (Sec. 306) Requires reimbursement from agencies or organizations that facilitate payment to Medicare providers, and from carriers used for the administration of Medicare benefits, for any amounts paid for a service while the provider is excluded from Medicare participation. Replaces provisions allowing payment to individuals eligible for benefits for services provided by excluded individuals or entities in certain circumstances with provisions prohibiting providers from billing or collecting for items or services provided while the provider is excluded. Makes the recipient not liable for payment of any bill submitted in violation and allows certain sanctions. (Sec. 307) Requires fiscal intermediaries and carriers to use automated data processing equipment comparable to equipment used in private insurance. (Sec. 308) Provides for nondischargeability under the Bankruptcy Code of amounts owed for Medicare overpayments.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
Congressional Campaign Finance Reform Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to equalize the limitation on multicandidate political committee candidate contributions with the limitation applicable to other persons. (Sec. 4) Limits the number of total contributions a House of Representatives candidate may accept from sources other than in-State sources. (Sec. 5) Limits the total amount of personal loans a House candidate may make to his campaign. (Sec. 6) Permits States to impose voluntary campaign spending limits with respect to Federal elections. (Sec. 7) Revises definitions relating to independent expenditures. (Sec. 8) Sets forth reporting requirements: (1) for certain independent expenditures; and (2) concerning reservation of broadcast time. (Sec. 9) Revises provisions concerning the Official Mass Mailing Allowance for Members. (Sec. 10) Reduces the maximum amount that may be allocated to the Official Mail Allowance of a Member. Allows transfers from the Official Mass Mailing Allowance of a Member to the Official Mailing Allowance of a Member. (Sec. 11) Revises the definition "contribution or expenditure" to include political committee contributions made by national banks, corporations, and labor organizations with respect to contributions or expenditures. Makes applicable certain requirements to labor organizations. (Sec. 12) Sets forth requirements for print, broadcast, and cablecast campaign advertising.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1996
Provides that during the two-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act: (1) the Office of Federal Investigations (Office) within the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) shall continue to perform all of its current functions on the day before enactment; and (2) the number of full-time equivalent positions within the Office may not be reduced in connections with any efforts to terminate such office or to privatize its functions. Requires the General Accounting Office and OPM to report to the Congress on the feasibility and desirability of terminating the Office and privatizing its current Office functions.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1996
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases should collaborate on research on the human papillomavirus and its relation to cervical cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1996
Congratulates the people of Taiwan on holding the first democratic presidential election in Chinese history. Declares that the United States is committed to: (1) moving nations toward freedom and democracy; and (2) encouraging and protecting its democratic friends on Taiwan, within the framework of the Taiwan Relations Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1996
Amends Federal law to exempt from hazardous material transportation regulation certain vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, unless the Secretary of Transportation determines that the hazardous material involved poses a significant risk to health and safety or property.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1996
Voluntary Adoption Protection Act - Amends the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 to exempt voluntary child custody proceedings from coverage under that Act. States that upon written consent by a parent or legal guardian of an Indian child to voluntarily terminate parental rights such Act is inapplicable with respect to any child custody proceeding involving such child.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996
Uniformed Services Medicare Subvention Demonstration Project Act - Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Health and Human Services (HHS) to jointly establish a demonstration project (project) to provide the Department of Defense (DOD) with reimbursement, under provisions of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, for health services provided through DOD to certain Medicare-eligible covered military beneficiaries. Requires the project to be conducted in one or more regions in which the TRICARE program (a DOD managed health care program) has been implemented. Allows such project to be conducted for up to two years. Requires such Secretaries to jointly submit to the Congress a first annual report and a final report containing specified information concerning project participants and such project's effects on military medical care access, readiness, and training. Directs the HHS Secretary to make monthly payments to DOD from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund (HHS trust funds) representing appropriate reimbursement amounts. Provides for the determination of such amounts. Directs such Secretaries to jointly: (1) establish a base level of TRICARE coverage required in a geographic region for eligibility under the project; (2) determine baseline costs of such care and coverage; and (3) establish upper reimbursement limits. Directs the Secretary of Defense to waive the enrollment fee for individuals enrolled in a TRICARE program participating in the project. Establishes in the Treasury the Medicare Subvention Fund (Fund) for providing payments to the HHS Secretary for reimbursement of the HHS trust funds and for the payment of all expenses related to the participation of Medicare-eligible covered military beneficiaries in excess of the base level established under this Act, as well as administrative expenses. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 and 1998 for deposit into the Fund to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996
Defend America Act of 1996 - Expresses U.S. policy to deploy by the end of 2003 a National Missile Defense (NMD) system that: (1) is capable of providing a highly effective defense of U.S. territory against limited, unauthorized, or accidental ballistic missile attack; (2) will be augmented over time to provide a layered defense against larger and more sophisticated ballistic missile threats; and (3) does not feature an offensive-only form of deterrence. Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop for deployment an affordable and operationally effective NMD system which shall achieve an initial operational capability by the end of 2003. Outlines system elements, including the use of missile interceptors on the ground, at sea, and in space. Directs the Secretary to take specified actions to implement the NMD system development upon enactment of this Act, including the conduct of an integrated systems test by the end of 1998. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress the Secretary's plans for the development and deployment of the NMD system. Urges the President to pursue high-level discussions with the Russian Federation to achieve an agreement to amend the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty to allow deployment of the NMD system. Requires the President to present any such agreement to the Senate for its advice and consent. Requires the President and the Congress, if such an agreement is not achieved within one year after enactment of this Act, to consider exercising the option of withdrawing the United States from the ABM Treaty.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide hospital care and medical services to, among others, any veteran: (1) with a compensable service-connected disability (currently, for any service-connected disability, regardless of compensation); or (2) who is unable to defray the expenses of necessary medical care and services. Authorizes the Secretary, with respect to veterans not otherwise eligible for such care and services, to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care which the Secretary determines is needed. (Sec. 3) Repeals the requirement that veterans be eligible to receive hospital care through the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to receive surgical, dental, optometric, and podiatric services, but requires such eligibility before receiving certain prosthetic appliances as well as special clothing necessitated by the wearing of such appliances. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary, in managing the provision of hospital care and medical services, to establish and operate a system of annual patient enrollment, with specified priorities relating to the degree of disability of a veteran and related factors. Requires the Secretary to design, establish, and manage Department health care programs so as to promote cost-effective delivery of health care services in the most clinically appropriate setting. Authorizes the Secretary to contract out when Department medical facilities are not capable of economically furnishing such care and services. Requires the Department to maintain its capacity to provide for the specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans, with at least the same capacity to provide such services as in existence on the date of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 5) Repeals a provision of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 which terminates on October 1, 1996, the authority of the Secretary to enter into agreements with the Secretary of Defense for the sharing of medical facilities and resources. Empowers the United States to collect from primary health providers of covered beneficiaries the charges for care or services covered under the primary health-plan contract which are provided through the Department. (Sec. 6) Repeals a statement of congressional purpose with respect to entering into health care resources sharing agreements with medical schools, health-care facilities, and medical research centers. Makes eligible as additional parties to such agreements health-care plans and providers, insurers, and other entities or individuals. Repeals a requirement of reciprocal reimbursement under such agreements. Allows the provision of services under such agreements to non-veterans only if the Secretary determines that such an arrangement will not result in the denial of or delay in the provision of care to any veteran in that facility and either: (1) is necessary to maintain an acceptable level and quality of service to veterans at that facility; or (2) will result in the improvement of services to eligible veterans there. (Sec. 7) Exempts from inclusion under full-time equivalent position limitations in the Department the number of positions held by persons providing health-care resources under resource sharing agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
Revises Federal veterans' benefits provisions to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care, and to allow the Secretary to furnish nursing home care, to a veteran who is catastrophically disabled (a veteran whose expenditures for such care exceeded 7.5 percent of his or her gross adjusted income for the preceding year). (Sec. 2) Makes eligible for medical services on an ambulatory or outpatient basis, notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such disability may be associated with the described exposure, any disabled veteran who the Secretary finds: (1) may have been exposed to dioxin or was exposed to a toxic substance found in a herbicide or defoliant used for military purposes during the Vietnam era while serving on active duty in Vietnam; (2) was exposed while serving on active duty to ionizing radiation from the detonation of a nuclear device in connection with such veteran's participation in the test of such a device or with the American occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, from September 11, 1945, through July 1, 1946; or (3) may have been exposed to a toxic substance or environmental hazard while serving on active duty in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War. Prohibits the provision of such medical services: (1) for any disability that is found to have resulted from a cause other than the exposure described; or (2) after December 31, 1996. Repeals a provision regarding the order of priority for furnishing ambulatory or outpatient medical services for veterans. (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary to furnish nursing home, domiciliary, or long-term care to qualifying disabled veterans where necessary for medical purposes or to obviate the need for hospital care. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary to furnish hospital and nursing home care to any adult dependent of a veteran which the Secretary determines is needed for a disability if such dependent agrees to pay a specified amount representing a portion of the costs of care. Makes such amounts collected or received by the United States for hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care available to the Secretary for payment of the costs of such care, without fiscal year limitation. (Sec. 5) Revises the definition of covered "medical services" for purposes of veterans' benefits provisions to include: (1) primary health care services which include initial diagnostic services, treatment services, referral to specialized care or services, and long-term followup care or services for certain chronic conditions, and routine services regarding disabilities that are provided by physicians who specialize in such disabilities; and (2) medical equipment and prosthetic appliances that are prescribed by a physician based on specific medical needs. (Sec. 7) Repeals a requirement that the Secretary include in the budget documents submitted to the Congress for any fiscal year a detailed report on contract care and services furnished. Authorizes the Secretary to furnish primary health care or preventive health services to veterans who reside in locations that are more than 50 miles or one hour traveling time from a Department of Veterans Affairs facility by or through contract with non-Department facilities under specified circumstances. (Sec. 8) Modifies provisions regarding prosthetic appliances and seeing eye dogs. Directs the Secretary to furnish medical equipment or a prosthetic appliance (equipment) as well as necessary fitting and training to any veteran who is entitled to such equipment. Authorizes the Secretary to repair or replace any reasonably necessary equipment belonging to the veteran which is damaged or destroyed by an accident caused by a service-connected disability for which the veteran is in receipt of, or would, but for the receipt of retirement pay, be entitled to, disability compensation. Authorizes the Secretary to provide eligible veterans: (1) training in a Department facility or by contract, including certain travel and incidental expenses; (2) special clothing made necessary by the wearing of equipment; (3) seeing-eye or guide dogs trained to aid the blind and devices for aiding individuals in overcoming blindness, plus training, including travel expenses; and (4) devices for assisting in overcoming deafness, including telecaptioning decoding devices for television receivers. (Sec. 9) Revises provisions regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical-Care Cost Recovery Fund to make specified amounts available to the Secretary for payment of the costs of furnishing hospital care and medical services, including the costs of Department personnel salaries. (Sec. 10) Grants authority for reimbursement by Medicare of certain health care services provided by Department facilities. (Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary to ensure that the Department maintains its capacity to provide for the specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans, including veterans with spinal cord dysfunction, blindness, and mental illness, in a manner that: (1) affords reasonable access to care and services for those specialized needs; and (2) ensures that overall Department capacity to provide such services is not reduced below its capacity to provide such services as of the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Long-Term Care Title II: Social Security Benefits Title III: Independent Commission on Medicare Title IV: Health Care Fraud Prevention Subtitle A: All-Payer Fraud and Abuse Control Program Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse Subtitle C: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties Subtitle E: Amendments to Criminal Law Subtitle F: Payments for State Health Care Fraud Control Units Senior Citizens Bill of Rights Act of 1996 - Title I: Long-Term Care - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide for the treatment of qualified long-term care insurance as accident and health insurance for purposes of insurance company taxation; (2) exclude such insurance from cafeteria plans or flexible spending arrangements; (3) include amounts paid for qualified long-term care services as medical expenses for individual itemized deductions; (4) provide for the nonrecognition of gain or loss on the exchange of any life insurance contract or an endowment or annuity contract for a long-term care insurance contract; (5) exclude from gross income distributions from certain retirement plans for long-term care insurance; and (6) allow a $1,000 per qualified person tax credit for taxpayers who maintain a household which includes one or more qualified persons. Title II: Social Security Benefits - Amends title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to increase the monthly exempt amount, under the earnings test, for individuals who have attained retirement age. Sets forth a schedule of monthly adjustments increasing from $1,466 for taxable year 1997 to $4,166 for taxable year 2003. (Sec. 202) Allows members of the clergy to revoke their exemption from social security coverage. Title III: Independent Commission on Medicare - Establishes the Independent Commission on Medicare to: (1) report to the Congress and the President during December of each year on certain aspects of the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act involving projected outlays and benefits; and (2) report to the Congress during July of each year specific recommendations on certain changes to ensure that total program outlays for the fiscal year involved do not exceed specified limits. Precludes such recommendations from including changes relating to the payment of payroll taxes for financing the program. (Sec. 303) Provides procedures for expedited congressional consideration of recommendations. (Sec. 305) Requires the Congress, not later than April 15 of each year, to establish, in the concurrent resolution on the budget for the fiscal year beginning on the following October 1, a limit on total outlays to be made under the Medicare program for the fiscal year. (Sec. 306) Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to provide for the enforcement of such limits through sequestration. Title IV: Health Care Fraud Prevention - Subtitle A: All-Payer Fraud and Abuse Control Program - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish: (1) an all-payer fraud and abuse control program; and (2) standards, including information standards and disclosure standards, to carry out such program. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes, for such program, the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Account (the Account), which shall consist of gifts, bequests, deposits, and transfers under certain health care offenses provisions of specified Acts. (Sec. 402) Provides for the application to any health plan of specified health anti-fraud and abuse provisions of part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 403) Directs the Secretary to solicit proposals annually for modification of, and to modify, existing safe harbor rules. Permits any individual, at any time, to request a notice from the Inspector General (IG) informing the public of practices which the IG considers to be suspect or of particular concern. (Sec. 404) Directs the Secretary to establish a program through which individuals entitled to Medicare benefits may confidentially report instances of suspected fraud. Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse - Amends titles XI (General Provisions and Peer Review) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide for mandatory exclusion of individuals with a felony fraud conviction from participation in Medicare and State health care programs; (2) establish a minimum period of exclusion for certain individuals and entities subject to permissive exclusion from Medicare and State health care programs; (3) provide for the permissive exclusion of individuals with ownership or control interest in sanctioned activities; (4) provide for a minimum period of exclusion for practitioners and individuals failing to meet statutory obligations; and (5) intermediate sanctions for Medicare health maintenance organizations. Subtitle C: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary to provide for the establishment of a national health care fraud and abuse data collection program for the reporting of final adverse actions against health care providers, suppliers, or practitioners. Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties - Provides, under part A of title XI of the Social Security Act, for: (1) the payment of the portion of amounts recovered under this Act into the Account; and (2) an increase in the civil monetary penalty. Subjects to such penalty an excluded individual retaining an ownership or controlling interest of five percent or more in a Medicare or State health care program. Permits the Secretary to impose a $10,000 penalty, plus a special assessment, on any individual (including any organization, but excluding a beneficiary) who knowingly violates the prohibition against illegal remunerations. Subtitle E: Amendments to Criminal Law - Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) impose a fine or imprisonment for up to ten years or both in the case of health care mail fraud; (2) provide for the forfeiture of property for certain Federal health care offenses; (3) provide for specified injunctive relief; (4) provide for fines or imprisonment or both in connection with Federal health care offenses; (5) establish a voluntary disclosure program in connection with Federal health care offenses; and (6) establish penalties for obstruction of criminal investigations of Federal health care offenses, theft or embezzlement in connection with health care, and the laundering of monetary instruments in connection with a Federal health care offense. Subtitle F: Payments for State Health Care Fraud Control Units - Directs the Governor of each State to establish and maintain a State agency to act as a State Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Unit. Provides for specified Federal payments to the States for such agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the dollar limitation on the cost of property which may be expensed by businesses as depreciable assets. Increases the amount of such property that may be placed in service at which phaseout begins. Increases the limitation on the depreciation deduction for certain automobiles.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct that in any proceeding where the taxpayer is not precluded from using the cash receipts and disbursements accounting method, the burden of proof shall be placed upon the Secretary of the Treasury to prove that such method does not clearly reflect income.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1996
Iran Oil Sanctions Act of 1996 - Directs the President to impose certain economic sanctions against persons who with actual knowledge or reason to know: (1) export certain petroleum and natural gas-related goods or technology that would significantly and materially enhance Iran's ability to develop its petroleum resources; or (2) make an investment of $40 million or more in any 12-month period that directly contributes to Iran's development of such resources. Specifies exceptions to trade sanctions, among other things for certain defense-related articles or services essential to U.S. national security. Prohibits with respect to any sanctioned person: (1) extension of Export-Import Bank assistance; (2) licenses or permits for the exportation of goods or technology; (3) importation into the United States of products produced by such person; and (4) loans from U.S. financial institutions. Specifies sanctions against financial institutions. Authorizes the Secretary of State upon request to issue an advisory opinion to any person as to whether a proposed activity would be subject to sanctions. Waives the requirements of this Act if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that Iran has: (1) ceased its efforts to develop or acquire a nuclear explosive device, chemical or biological weapons, or ballistic missiles and missile launch technology; and (2) been removed from the list of countries determined, under the Export Administration Act of 1979, to have repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism. Sets forth additional criteria for such waiver. Directs the President to establish a List of Petroleum and Natural Gas-Related Goods and Technology which shall be subject to the export control restrictions of this Act. Requires the President to report periodically to the appropriate congressional committees on efforts to persuade other countries to: (1) pressure Iran to cease its weapons of mass destruction programs and support of international terrorism; and (2) ask Iran to reduce the presence of Iranian diplomats and other personnel and withdraw any of them who participated in the takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979. Requires the President to ensure continued reports to the Congress on Iran's: (1) nuclear and other military capabilities; and (2) support for acts of international terrorism. Applies the sanctions required under this Act to persons making investments for the development of petroleum resources in Libya. Declares that determinations to impose sanctions under this Act are not reviewable in any court.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Improved Availability and Portability of Health Insurance Coverage Subtitle A: Coverage Under Group Health Plans Subtitle B: Definitions; General Provisions Title II: Preventing Health Care Fraud and Abuse; Administrative Simplification Subtitle A: Fraud and Abuse Control Program Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse Subtitle C: Data Collection Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties Subtitle E: Revisions to Criminal Law Subtitle F: Administrative Simplification Title III: Tax-Related Health Provisions Subtitle A: Medical Savings Accounts Subtitle B: Increase in Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals Subtitle C: Long-Term Care Services and Contracts Subtitle D: Treatment of Accelerated Death Benefits Subtitle E: High-Risk Pools Title IV: Revenue Offsets Subtitle A: Repeal of Bad Debt Reserve Method for Thrift Savings Associations Subtitle B: Reform of the Earned Income Credit Health Coverage Availability and Affordability Act of 1996 - Title I: Improved Availability and Portability of Health Insurance Coverage - Subtitle A: Coverage Under Group Health Plans - Requires a group health plan and an insurer or health maintenance organization (HMO) offering health insurance in connection with a group health plan to: (1) reduce any preexisting condition period by the aggregate period of prior coverage; and (2) limit any preexisting condition period to not more than 12 months. Prohibits: (1) preexisting condition periods for newborns and regarding certain adoptions; and (2) treating pregnancy as a preexisting condition. Allows an HMO that does not use preexisting condition limitations to impose an eligibility period. (Sec. 103) Prohibits coverage exclusion on the basis of health status. Requires a plan to allow an otherwise-eligible employee to enroll if the employee previously declined enrollment because of other coverage and subsequently lost the other coverage. Prohibits, if a plan offers family coverage, a waiting period for a newborn, certain adopted children, or a spouse. (Sec. 104) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on any failure of a group health plan to meet certain requirements of this Act. Deems sections 101 through 103 of this Act to be provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Provides for civil money penalties for failure to meet a requirement of this subtitle. Subtitle B: Definitions; General Provisions - Sets forth definitions and general provisions, including: (1) excluding church plans from the requirements of this title; and (2) requiring treatment of State Medicaid (unless a State elects otherwise) and Medicare plans as a group health plan for individual coverage certification purposes. Title II: Preventing Health Care Fraud and Abuse; Administrative Simplification - Subtitle A: Fraud and Abuse Control Program - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Department of HHS Office of Inspector General (IG), and the Attorney General to establish a program to: (1) coordinate Federal, State, and local law enforcement programs to control health care fraud and abuse; (2) conduct investigations, audits, and inspections relating to the delivery of and payment for health care; (3) facilitate enforcement of certain provisions of title XI and other Acts applicable to health care fraud and abuse; (4) provide for the modification and establishment of safe harbors and to issue advisory opinions and special fraud alerts; and (5) provide for the reporting and disclosure of certain final adverse actions against health care providers, suppliers, or practitioners pursuant to the data collection system established below. (Sec. 201) Establishes the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account (Account) in Medicare's Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund (Trust Fund) to hold the criminal fines and civil monetary penalties and assessments obtained from Federal health care cases, as well as property forfeiture proceeds resulting from such cases, and other specified amounts for financing the program above and the Medicare Integrity Program established by this title. Makes certain appropriations to the Trust Fund and Account, earmarking certain amounts for activities of the Department of HHS Office of the IG with respect to the Medicare and Medicaid programs under SSA titles XVIII and XIX. (Sec. 202) Establishes the Medicare Integrity Program under which the HHS Secretary shall promote the integrity of the Medicare program by entering into contracts with certain eligible private entities to: (1) review the activities of Medicare service providers and audit cost reports to determine whether payment should not have been made; (2) educate service providers, beneficiaries, and other persons with respect to payment and benefit issues; and (3) develop and periodically update a list of items of durable medical equipment subject to prior authorization. Prohibits fiscal intermediaries under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and carriers under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) from carrying out certain activities under Medicare to the extent the activity is carried out pursuant to a contract under the Medicare Integrity Program. (Sec. 203) Directs the HHS Secretary to provide an explanation of Medicare benefits with respect to each furnished item or service for which payment may be made to an individual without regard to whether or not a deductible or coinsurance may be imposed. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish a program for encouraging individuals to: (1) report information on fraud and abuse under Medicare or other Federal or State health care programs; and (2) submit suggestions on methods to improve the efficiency of the Medicare program. Provides for the payment to such individuals of a portion of: (1) any amounts collected due to any such reports; or (2) any savings resulting from any such suggestions which are adopted. (Sec. 204) Amends SSA title XI to require application of criminal penalties for acts involving the Medicare program to similar violations of any plan or program that provides health benefits, whether directly, through insurance, or otherwise, which is funded directly, in whole or in part, by the Federal Government, except the Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program (Federal care health programs). (Sec. 205) Directs the HHS Secretary to periodically publish a notice in the Federal Register soliciting proposals for: (1) modifications to existing safe harbors issued under the Medicare and Medicaid Patient and Program Protection Act of 1987; (2) additional safe harbors specifying payment practices that shall not be treated as a criminal offense or serve as the basis for an exclusion; (3) advisory opinions by the HHS IG with regard to prohibited remuneration constituting grounds for the imposition of a sanction; and (4) special fraud alerts by the HHS IG, upon request, with regard to suspect practices under the Medicare program or a State health care program. Requires the Secretary to issue appropriate implementing regulations. Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse - Excludes from participation in Medicare and State health care programs any individual or entity convicted after the enactment of this Act of a felony related to: (1) fraud in connection with the delivery of a health care item or service; or (2) a controlled substance. (Sec. 212) Revises specified current sanctions involving exclusion for fraud and abuse under Medicare and State health care programs, among other changes establishing minimum periods of exclusion for: (1) certain individuals and entities subject to permissive exclusion from Medicare and State health care programs; and (2) practitioners and persons failing to meet certain statutory obligations with regard to services or items. Repeals the prerequisite that a health care practitioner or person be determined "unwilling or unable" to comply substantially with a corrective action plan before sanctions may be imposed (thus permitting the Secretary to exclude such practitioner or person from eligibility to provide services for failure to comply with a corrective action plan, regardless of circumstances). (Sec. 215) Permits the imposition of intermediate sanctions on Medicare health maintenance organizations in addition to the current option of termination. Provides additional intermediate sanctions for miscellaneous program violations. (Sec. 216) Provides an additional specified exception to anti- kickback penalties for discounting and managed care arrangements. (Sec. 217) Creates a criminal penalty under SSA title XI for fraudulent disposition of assets in order to obtain Medicaid benefits. Subtitle C: Data Collection - Directs the HHS Secretary to establish a national health care fraud and abuse data collection program for reporting final adverse actions against health care providers, suppliers, or practitioners. Requires each Government agency and health plan to report to the Secretary any final adverse action taken against such provider, supplier, or practitioner. (Sec. 221) Allows the HHS Secretary, under the system for unique identifiers for Medicare physicians, to impose appropriate fees on such physicians to cover the costs of investigation and recertification activities with respect to the issuance of the identifiers. Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties - Revises civil monetary penalties, providing among other changes for: (1) the exclusion from participation in Federal and State health care programs of persons subject to penalties and assessments for applicable program violations; (2) modifications in the amounts of various specified penalties and assessments, including the sanctions against health care practitioners who violate their statutory obligations with regard to the services or items ordered or provided by them to a covered beneficiary or recipient; (3) a prohibition against offering inducements to individuals enrolled under Medicare or a State health care program; (4) subjecting to civil money penalties certain excluded individuals retaining an ownership or control interest in a participating entity if they knew or should have known of the action constituting the basis for the exclusion of such entity at the time of violation; (5) a specific definition, for such penalty purposes, for remuneration which includes the waiver of coinsurance and deductible amounts and transfers of items or services for free or for other than fair market value; and (6) a penalty for false certification for home health services. Subtitle E: Revisions to Criminal Law - Amends the Federal criminal code to define a Federal health care offense and cover within its general purview, and provide sanctions for, the commission of health care fraud, theft or embezzlement in connection with health care, obstruction of criminal investigations of Federal health care offenses, and other specified matters related to health care, such as the laundering of monetary instruments in connection with a Federal health care offense. (Sec. 247) Provides for injunctive relief relating to covered Federal health care offenses, as well as for property forfeitures. Subtitle F: Administrative Simplification - Amends SSA title XI to add a new part C (Administrative Simplification) for development of an electronic system for: (1) processing health care information consistent with the goal of improving the operation of the health care system; and (2) reducing related administrative costs through the HHS Secretary's adoption of certain standards for information transactions (including enrollment, disenrollment, claims attachments, and coordination of benefits) and data elements as well as standards relating to security and privacy, and performance of tasks pursuant to specified requirements, assisted by the newly established Health Information Advisory Committee. (Sec. 251) Provides penalties for violations of provisions of this subtitle, including for the wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. (Sec. 261) Directs the HHS Secretary to adopt uniform coverage, administration, and payment policies for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) in accordance with a specified process. Provides that, effective for claims submitted after the expiration of a specified 90-day period, an independent laboratory may select a single carrier for the processing of all of its claims for payment under Medicare part B without regard to the location where the laboratory or the patient or provider involved resides or conducts business. Requires such election of a single carrier to be made by the clinical laboratory, and an agreement between the carrier and laboratory to be forwarded to the HHS Secretary. Title III: Tax-Related Health Provisions - Subtitle A: Medical Savings Accounts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for limited amounts paid to a medical savings account (MSA). Defines "medical savings account" as a trust for paying the account holder's medical expenses. Exempts an MSA from taxation unless it has ceased being an MSA. Provides for the treatment of distributions. Allows the MSA deduction to be taken whether or not the individual itemizes deductions. Excludes limited employer MSA contributions from employee gross income. Excludes employer MSA contributions from provisions relating to social security, railroad retirement, unemployment, and withholding taxes. Makes MSA contributions unavailable under cafeteria plans. Excludes MSAs from the value of taxable estates. Imposes a tax on excess MSA contributions. Exempts an MSA holder from prohibited transactions taxes if the MSA ceases to be an MSA. Imposes a penalty on MSA reporting failure. Exempts MSAs from the definition of "specified insurance contract" for provisions relating to capitalization of certain policy acquisition expenses. Subtitle B: Increase in Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals - Allows self-employed individuals to deduct a portion of their expenditures for medical insurance for the individual, spouse, and dependents. Subtitle C: Long-Term Care Services and Contracts - Requires treating: (1) a long-term care insurance as accident and health insurance and associated amounts received as received for personal injuries and sickness and as reimbursement for medical care expenses actually incurred; (2) an employer's plan providing long-term care as an accident and health plan; (3) limited amounts paid for such insurance as payments for medical care; and (4) such insurance as guaranteed renewable under specified provisions. Provides for the treatment of: (1) excess aggregate long-term care payments; and (2) long-term care coverage provided in conjunction with life insurance. Excludes long-term care from cafeteria plans. Includes in an employee's gross income employer-provided long-term care overage provided through a flexible spending arrangement. Declares that a group health plan does not fail to meet continuation requirements solely because it fails to provide long-term coverage. (Sec. 323) Imposes reporting requirements on long-term care benefit payors. (Sec. 325) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the model regulation and model Act promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; and (2) certain disclosure and nonforfeitability requirements. (Sec. 326) Imposes a tax the failure to meet requirements regarding: (1) the model regulation and model Act; (2) policy or certificate delivery; and (3) claims denials information. Subtitle D: Treatment of Accelerated Death Benefits - Treats life insurance amounts paid as an amount paid because of death if the insured is terminally or chronically ill and the amount is received under a provision that is treated as long-term care insurance. Treats the amount paid by a viatical settlement provider for a life insurance contract as an amount paid by reason of the death of the insured. (Sec. 332) Treats, for life insurance company provisions, references to life insurance contracts as including references to accelerated death benefit riders (unless a rider is treated as a long- term care contract). Subtitle E: High-Risk Pools - Exempts from taxation a State- established membership organization providing nonprofit medical care coverage to high risk individuals. Title IV: Revenue Offsets - Subtitle A: Repeal of Bad Debt Reserve Method for Thrift Savings Associations - Declares that bad debt reserve banking provisions shall not apply after a specified date. Provides for the resulting accounting method change. Subtitle B: Reform of the Earned Income Credit - Requires, in order to be eligible for the earned income credit (EIC), that a taxpayer include on the return the taxpayer's (and, if married, the spouse's) social security number (SSN). Adds to the definition of "mathematical or clerical error" references to omission of a SSN required by EIC provisions. (Sec. 412) Increases preparer penalties for certain failures or actions.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1996
Fast and Efficient Tax Filing Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit the use of any private designated delivery service under the timely-mailing-as-timely-filing rule.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1996
Hard Time for Gun Crimes Act of 1996 - Revises the Federal criminal code to provide for mandatory prison terms for possessing, brandishing, or discharging (currently, limited to using or carrying) a firearm or destructive device during a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime, with exceptions. Directs the court to sentence specified convicted persons, such as a fugitive or an unlawful user of or addict to a controlled substance, to not less than ten years in prison if the person has a prior conviction for a serious violent felony and to not less than 30 years in prison if the person has two such prior convictions.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1996
Declares that the House of Representatives: (1) endorses efforts by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to upgrade the currency for security reasons; and (2) strongly encourages the Secretary of the Treasury and the Bureau to incorporate cost-effective, tactile features into the design changes, thereby including the blind and visually impaired in independent currency usage.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1996
Federal Agency Anti-Lobbying Act - Prohibits the use of any appropriated funds by Federal agencies for any activity that includes the preparation, publication, or distribution of any written, oral, or visual material promoting public support or opposition to any legislative proposal, including the confirmation of the nomination of a public official or ratification of a treaty on which congressional action is not complete, with the exception of: (1) the President; (2) Vice-President; (3) specified congressional communications; and (4) public communications by any Federal agency official on the views of the President for or against any pending legislative proposal.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1996
Children's Right to Know Act of 1996 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to direct that the report accompanying the concurrent resolution on the budget include an analysis, prepared after consultation with the Congressional Budget Office Director, of the generational accounting consequences of the concurrent resolution. Amends Federal law to require the President's annual budget to include an analysis of the generational accounting consequences of the budget.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1996
Deplores the recent actions of the Government of Serbia that restrict freedom of the press and freedom of expression, that hamper civic organizations and democratic opposition groups, and that revoked the legal registration of the Soros Foundation. Calls upon such Government to remove those restrictions and to restore the right of the Foundation to operate fully in Serbia. Commends the Foundation for its past activities in support of freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and the development of democratic institutions. Declares that U.S. economic and other assistance for Serbia and U.S. support for full participation of Serbia in international financial institutions should be conditioned on the full functioning of independent news media, civic organizations, and democratic opposition groups. Requests the President and the Secretary of State to convey these views to appropriate officials of Serbia.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1996
Recognizes the importance of African-American music to global culture. Calls on the people of the United States to study, reflect on, and celebrate African-American music.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1996
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the People's Republic of China should: (1) reaffirm its commitment to conduct relations with Taiwan by peaceful means; (2) engage in diplomatic negotiations to discuss any disagreement with Taiwan without any threat of military or economic coercion against Taiwan; and (3) immediately live up to its commitment to work for a peaceful resolution of any disagreements with Taiwan and desist from military actions designed to intimidate Taiwan. Calls on Taiwan to adhere to its commitment to negotiate its future relations with the mainland by mutual, not unilateral, decision. Calls for the United States: (1) to maintain its commitment to resist any resort to force or use other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan, consistent with its undertakings in the Taiwan Relations Act; (2) to maintain a naval presence sufficient to keep open the sea lanes in and near the Taiwan Straits; (3) in the face of the several overt military threats by the People's Republic of China against Taiwan, and consistent with the commitment of the United States under the Taiwan Relations Act, to supply Taiwan with defensive weapons systems; and (4) to assist in defending the people of Taiwan against invasion, missile attack, or blockade by the People's Republic of China.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1996
Condemns the terror attacks in Jerusalem, Ashkelon, and Tel Aviv. Extends condolences to the victims' families and to the Government and people of Israel. Reaffirms full support for Israel in its efforts to combat terrorism as it attempts to pursue peace with its neighbors in the region. Calls upon the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian Council, and Chairman Arafat to: (1) apprehend and punish the perpetrators of terror attacks, prevent such acts in the future, confiscate all unauthorized weapons, and avoid and condemn all statements and gestures which signal tolerance for such acts and their perpetrators; (2) eliminate the terrorist structure and terrorist activities of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and all other terror groups; and (3) adopt legislative and executive measures to ban the existence and operations of all terrorist organizations resident in the Palestinian autonomous areas. Insists that Chairman Arafat ensure the timely inauguration of the Council so that the Palestinian National Covenant will be amended of vile references to Israel within 60 days thereafter. Reaffirms that the Covenant must be amended in order for the peace process to succeed. Calls upon the Palestinian people to support the deletion of anti-Israel language from the Covenant, to express their revulsion for terrorism against Israel, and to condemn and isolate those elements of Palestinian society that employ and support such terrorist acts. Urges: (1) all parties to the peace process to bring to justice the perpetrators of acts of terrorism and to cease harboring, financing, and arming terror groups; and (2) the Clinton Administration to act against those who continue to harbor, arm, or finance terror groups seeking to undermine the peace process. Calls upon: (1) those Arab states that have failed to condemn these acts of terrorism to do so immediately and to support all efforts in the region to combat terrorism; and (2) the international community to cooperate with the United States in isolating states which engage in international terrorism. Insists that Iran and Syria cease all support for all terrorist groups operating in areas under their control and refrain from all activities in opposition to the Middle East peace process. Expresses the intent to reconsider U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority in light of the steps that must be taken by the Authority against terrorist infrastructures and operations. Praises efforts to provide Israel with all appropriate antiterrorism resources to eliminate the tide of terrorist incidents against Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1996
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to decrease the targeted jobs credit from 40 to 35 percent of the amount of qualified first-year wages. Revises targeted group membership provisions. Excludes from the definition of wages any wages paid after: (1) December 31, 1994, and before the 60th day after enactment; or (2) December 31, 1997. Redesignates such credit the "work opportunity credit." Extends to December 31, 1997, the: (1) exclusion from gross income of employer-provided educational assistance; (2) credit for increasing research activities; (3) orphan drug tax credit; (4) special rule concerning deductions for contributions of stock for which market quotations are readily available; and (5) exclusion from gross income of employer contributions to qualified group legal services plans. Extends the binding contract date for biomass and coal facilities to July 1, 1997. Extends permanently the Federal Unemployment Tax Act exemption for alien agricultural workers.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1996
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit (as part of the general business credit) for employers who provide qualified day care centers for the use of their employees.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1996
Antitrust Health Care Advancement Act of 1996 - Provides that the following activities shall not be deemed illegal per se in any action under the Federal antitrust laws or similar State law, but shall be judged based on reasonableness: (1) the exchange of information relating to costs, sales, profitability, marketing, prices, or fees of any health care service health care providers solely for, and reasonably required for, establishing a health care provider network (HCPN); (2) the conduct of an HCPN in negotiating, making, or performing a contract for providing health care services to individuals under the terms of a health benefit plan; and (3) the conduct of any HCPN member for the purpose of providing such services under such contract. Directs the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission to jointly issue guidelines specifying the enforcement policies and analytical principles that will be applied by the Department of Justice and the Commission with respect to the operation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1996
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to reimburse former employees of the White House Travel Office whose employment in that Office was terminated on May 19, 1993, for any legal expenses and related fees they incurred with respect to that termination.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1996
Declares that: (1) Congress intends to pass an increase in the public debt limit before March 1, 1996; and (2) social security beneficiaries should be assured, in the interim, that social security benefits will be paid on a timely basis in March 1996. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to issue U.S. obligations before March 1, 1996, in an amount equal to the monthly insurance benefits payable under title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act in March 1996. Exempts such obligations from the public debt limit until the earlier of March 15, 1996, or the date of enactment of the first increase in such limit after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1996
Social Security Preservation Act of 1996 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to require the Managing Trustee of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (trust funds) to ensure that the annual surplus of the trust funds is invested in: (1) marketable interest-bearing obligations of the United States or obligations guaranteed by the United States; or (2) certificates of deposit in insured depository institutions. Outlines provisions for determining the annual surplus of the trust funds. Prohibits disinvestment of trust fund amounts from public debt obligations, any refraining from making such investments, or any delay in making normal deposits in such trust funds for public debt limit-related purposes. Authorizes the sale of trust fund public debt obligations for the payment of cash benefits and administrative expenses, with conditions, including notification to each House of Congress and the Comptroller General at least three days in advance of such sale.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1996
Constitutional Amendment - Requires a two-thirds vote of each House of the Congress in order to pass any bill levying a new tax or increasing the rate or base of any tax. Allows the Congress to waive that requirement during war or certain military conflict. Requires all votes under this Amendment to be by yeas and nays and the names of persons voting for and against to be entered in the Journal of each House.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1996
Revises Federal law to provide that amounts recovered or collected with respect to the cost of furnishing care or services at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center shall be credited to amounts currently available for the furnishing of care and services at that center.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1996
Small Business Investment and Growth Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a maximum small business tax rate on taxable small business income for S corporations. Describes such income as taxable income of the taxpayer from the active conduct of an eligible trade or small business. Requires each S corporation to establish a qualified retained earnings account. Allows qualified distributions from such a qualified retained earnings account to the owners to enable the S corporation shareholder to pay income taxes. Requires regulations to establish a presumption that distributions are to pay income taxes if such distributions do not exceed 34 percent of small business income. Provides for an additional tax on nonqualified distributions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1996
Expresses the disapproval of the House of Representatives of the standards proposed by the National Center for History in the Schools for the teaching of U.S. and world history.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1996
Condemns the court-martial of Specialist Michael New of the United States Army in response to his refusal to accept United Nations (UN) commanders and wear the UN insignia on his military uniform. Calls on the President, as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, to override New's conviction and restore his status with a place of honor in the Army.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1996
Taxpayers' Cancer Research Funding Act of 1996 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain individuals to designate that five dollars (ten dollars in the case of joint returns) be paid over to the Breast and Prostate Cancer Research Fund. Establishes a trust fund to be known as the Breast and Prostate Cancer Research Fund into which such designated amounts shall be deposited.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1996
Nonprofit Organizations Tax-Exempt Bond Reform Act of 1996 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the tax treatment of bonds of certain nonprofit tax-exempt organizations in a manner similar to governmental bonds.
United States · United States Congress · 22 December 1995
Campaign Finance Reform, Fairness, and Citizens Involvement Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to prohibit: (1) a candidate for Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, for a reporting period for an election, from accepting contributions from persons other than in-State individual residents in excess of 50 percent of the total of contributions accepted; and (2) any person from acting as an intermediary or conduit for any contribution from another in the form of a check or other negotiable instrument that is made payable to a candidate for Federal office or a campaign committee of such candidate. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual to take a tax credit for up to $100 ($200 for a joint return) of Federal campaign contributions, subject to verification procedures. Limits the exemption from taxation on labor, agricultural, or horticultural organizations to such organizations which do not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office. Sets forth or revises provisions regarding: (1) denial of a tax exemption by reason of expenditures to influence legislation; (2) a prohibition on treatment as a civic league or organization not organized for profit because of substantial lobbying or political activities; (3) taxation of excess expenditures to influence legislation; (4) taxation of political expenditures generally; (5) termination assessments for flagrant political expenditures; (6) actions to enjoin flagrant political expenditures; and (7) declaratory judgments relating to status as exempt labor, agricultural, or horticultural organizations. Amends FECA to prohibit an eligible House of Representatives candidate, with respect to an election, from: (1) making expenditures totaling more than $500,000; and (2) using more than $25,000 from such candidate's personal funds. Provides that if any opponent of an eligible House candidate uses more than $50,000 from personal funds with respect to an election, specified limits shall be inapplicable to contributions to the eligible House candidate by individuals who are residents of the State in which the congressional district involved is located. Specifies that any payment by the national or State committee of a political party or by a corporation or labor organization for a mixed political activity: (1) shall be subject to limitation and reporting under FECA as if such payment were an expenditure; and (2) may be paid only from an account that is subject to the FECA requirements. Repeals the building fund exception to the definition of the term "contribution." Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to revise provisions regarding broadcast media rates to provide that charges made for the use of any broadcasting station by a legally qualified candidate for public office in connection with such person's nomination campaign shall not exceed, during the 30 days preceding the date of a primary or primary runoff election and the 60 days preceding the date of a general or special election in which such person is a candidate, the lowest charge of the station for the same amount of time for the same period on the same date. Specifies that, in the case of an eligible House candidate, the charges for the use of a broadcasting station during such 30- and 60-day periods shall not exceed 50 percent of such lowest charge. Prohibits a licensee from preempting the use, during any such period, of a broadcasting station by an eligible House candidate who has purchased and paid for such use, with an exception for circumstances beyond the station's control. Allows the Federal Communications Commission to revoke any station license or construction permit for willful or repeated failure to allow reasonable access to, or to permit purchase of reasonable amounts of time for the use of, a broadcasting station by a legally qualified candidate for Federal elective office on behalf of his or her candidacy under the same terms, conditions, and business practices as apply to its most favored advertiser. Amends Federal law to include the principal campaign committee of an eligible House candidate within the term "qualified political committee" (thus making such committee eligible for reduced postage rates).
![Official portrait of Rep. English, Phil [R-PA-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/e000187_200.jpg)