United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1995
Travel and Tourism Partnership Act of 1995 - Establishes the National Tourism Board to develop a national travel and tourism strategy for increasing U.S. travel and tourism. Establishes the National Tourism Organization as a non-Federal non-profit organization to implement the national travel and tourism strategy. Directs the Secretary of State and the Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) to: (1) place priority on implementing recommendations by the National Tourism Board; and (2) cooperate with the National Tourism Organization. Authorizes the President to transfer up to 25 staff members of the United States Travel and Tourism Administration to the Foreign Service or the Commercial Service for two years to assist the Organization in its start-up activities. Amends the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 to require the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee's (TPCC) Federal trade promotion plan to reflect, among other things, recommendations by the National Tourism Board. Makes the President of the National Tourism Organization a member of the TPCC.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1995
Redefines "institution of higher education" for purposes of provisions regarding second class postal rates to include a nonprofit organization that coordinates a network of college-level courses that is sponsored primarily by nonprofit educational institutions for an older adult constituency.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1995
Requires the Secretary of Energy to transfer, without compensation, the Tatum Dome Test Site to the State of Mississippi after certification from the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the State that any contamination of such property has been remedied in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws and regulations. Subjects such transfer to retention by the United States of the following: (1) the subsurface estate below the depth of 2700 feet below sea level unless a lesser depth is agreed upon by the Secretary; (2) rights of access for monitoring wells for sampling; and (3) the right to install wells additional to those identified in the remediation plan to the extent deemed necessary by the Secretary to monitor potential pathways of contaminant migration.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1995
Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike a bronze medal to commemorate organ donors and their families. Makes eligible for the medal any organ donor or donor's family. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to direct the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) to arrange for medal presentation to eligible individuals. Declares the medals to be national medals. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into agreements with the OPTN to collect funds to offset expenditures relating to medal issuance. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit all solicited donations into the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1995
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the current alternative minimum tax on profitable individuals and corporations with substantial economic income should be retained.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1995
Charitable Gift Annuity Antitrust Relief Act of 1995 - Declares that it shall not be unlawful under any Federal antitrust law, or a similar State law, for two or more persons that are exempt (as a corporation or community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, educational, or other specified purposes) from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code to use, or agree to use, the same annuity rate for the purpose of issuing one or more charitable gift annuities, except where expressly provided otherwise by a State law enacted within three years after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1995
Small Business Remediation Act of 1995 - Requires the maximum level of remediation of dry cleaning solvents in soil, surface water, groundwater, and other environmental media (soil) that a Federal, State, local agency, or court may require of a person engaged in dry cleaning, or of the owner of land or a facility in which such a person is conducting dry cleaning, to be one-tenth the equivalent exposure of the workplace standard for such solvents established by the Secretary of Labor under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Requires: (1) the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to publish in the Federal Register its computation, based on realistic scientific assumptions, of equivalent exposure by ingestion, inhalation, and absorption indices for the general public, for soil in nonoccupational circumstances; and (2) the equivalent exposure to be calculated from the workplace standard for dry cleaning solvents which assures that no employee will suffer material impairment of health or functional capacity even if such employee has regular exposure for the employee's entire working lifetime. Specifies that nothing in this Act shall: (1) preempt or otherwise prevent a Federal, State, or local government or private party from remediating soil to a lower level than the maximum level of remediation at its own cost and expense; or (2) alter or affect the Federal drinking water standards under the Public Health Service Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1995
Animal Drug Availability Act of 1995 - Amends Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act provisions relating to new animal drugs to redefine "substantial evidence" to mean evidence from one or more scientifically sound studies including, as appropriate, in vitro studies, studies in laboratory animals, bioequivalence studies, and any studies voluntarily undertaken by or for the applicant that provide some assurance that the drug will have the intended effect. Excludes a claim for the use of a drug in a minor species or a minor use of a drug from disapproval, if there is an application filed for the drug which is approved prior to the submission of the claim. Allows consideration, when a new animal drug contains more than one active ingredient or its labeling suggests use of the drug in combination with another animal drug, only of whether any of the active ingredients or any of the drugs in the combination, at the longest withdrawal time of any of the active ingredients or drugs in the combination, exceeds its established tolerance or interferes with the methods of analysis for another of the active ingredients or drugs in the combination. Requires the Secretary to issue proposed regulations implementing the provisions of this section which: (1) further define "substantial evidence;" (2) take into account the proposals contained in the citizen petition submitted by the American Veterinary Association and the Animal Health Institute; and (3) provide for the opportunity for a conference to make a decision establishing a submission or an investigational requirement. (Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to approve or disapprove the application within 90 (currently 180) days of receipt of the application. (Sec. 5) Requires: (1) the Secretary to refer disputed issues received in writing from an applicant to an advisory committee or to a special Government employee; and (2) the committee or employee to submit a report containing recommendations regarding the matter. (Sec. 6) Requires the Secretary to refuse approval of an application if information submitted with respect to the drug indicates that any use suggested in labeling proposed for that drug will result in a unsafe amount of residue. (Sec. 7) Permits the export of an unsafe (as defined in the Act) new animal drug, if it is not in conflict with the laws of the country to which it is exported. (Currently, such export is prohibited.)
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1995
Amends Federal employment provisions to provide veterans' hiring preference status to members of the armed forces who served on active duty in connection with Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm, whether or not such service took place in the Persian Gulf theater of operations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1995
Constitutional Amendment - Grants authority to the Congress and the States to set reasonable expenditure limits for elections to Federal or State offices, respectively.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 1995
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of certain additional oral anticancer drugs prescribed for use in an anticancer nonsteroidal antiestrogen and aromastase inhibitor regimen.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1995
Radiation Experimentation Compensation Act of 1995 - Apologizes on behalf of the Nation to the individuals who were the subjects of radiation experiments conducted by the Federal Government, as well as to their families for the hardships they have endured as a result. Establishes in the Treasury the Radiation Experimentation Compensation Trust Fund for compensating the subjects of experiments conducted between January 1, 1940, and December 31, 1974, during which the subjects were intentionally injected with plutonium or zirconium, or exposed to total body radiation, without their informed consent. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Attorney General to establish procedures for the submission of claims and for payment from amounts in the Fund of each claim meeting the requirements of this Act. Provides for payments in cases of deceased experimental subjects. States that payments under this Act which are accepted by a subject or the subject's survivors shall be in full satisfaction of all claims of or on behalf of the subject against the United States arising out of the subject's participation in the experiment. Provides that a payment under this Act shall not affect any claim against an insurance carrier with respect to insurance or against any person with respect to workers' compensation. Provides for judicial review of denied claims. Establishes a time limit for the filing of claims of 20 years after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1995
Directs the Secretary of Defense to report to the Congress on an implementation plan for, and to conduct, a demonstration project in at least one region of the TRICARE program (a Department of Defense managed health care program) to provide certain covered beneficiaries the option to receive military health care through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program in addition to other health care options available.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1995
Self-Employed Health Fairness Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the deduction allowed for health insurance costs for self-employed individuals from 30 to 100 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1995
Commends California, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Florida for their efforts with respect to prison time served by criminal offenders. Encourages all remaining States to adopt legislation to increase the time served by violent felons. Reemphasizes that individuals who commit violent crime should serve at least 85 percent of their sentence.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Medicare Security Commission Title II: Medicare Savings Subtitle A: Savings in Medicare Part A Subtitle B: Savings in Medicare Part B Subtitle C: Savings in Parts A and B Subtitle D: Transfers to Part A Trust Fund Medicare Security Act of 1995 - Title I: Medicare Security Commission - Establishes the Medicare Security Commission to make specific recommendations to the Congress regarding revisions to the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (SSA) and health care financing and coverage generally to assure the continuing viability of the program during 2010 and thereafter when demographic changes are expected to expand Medicare's enrollment significantly. Title II: Medicare Savings - Subtitle A: Savings in Medicare Part A - Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to make various specified technical payment-related changes with regard to Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) matters involving: (1) update reductions for inpatient hospital services subject to the prospective payment system; (2) payments for ancillary costs of skilled nursing facilities under the physician fee schedule; (3) savings resulting from a temporary freeze on payment increases for skilled nursing facility services; and (4) continued reductions in payments for capital-related costs of inpatient hospital services. Subtitle B: Savings in Medicare Part B - Eliminates under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) formula-driven overpayments for certain outpatient hospital services, radiology services, and diagnostic procedures. Adds another 25 percent for FY 1997 to the reduction in practice expense relative value units for certain services. (Sec. 214) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a competitive acquisition process for durable medical equipment and clinical diagnostic laboratory tests, with a specified mandatory reduction in payment amounts if such competitive acquisition fails to achieve a ten percent minimum reduction in payment amounts. Subtitle C: Savings in Parts A and B - Amends SSA title XVIII to extend through FY 2002 certain Medicare as secondary payer data match requirements. (Sec. 222) Prohibits the Secretary, in establishing reasonable cost limits for payments for home health services, from taking into account any changes in the costs of such services with respect to cost reporting periods which began on or after July 1, 1994, and before July 1, 1996 (thus continuing the temporary freeze on payment increases for such services). (Sec. 223) Reduces from 95 percent to 89 percent the Federal share of the adjusted average per capita cost (AAPCC) payment to Medicare health maintenance organizations. Subtitle D: Transfers to Part A Trust Fund - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, each fiscal year, amounts equivalent to the estimate of what would have been expended during the fiscal year, but for this title, from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1995
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to generally require that, in order for States to receive payment under Medicaid, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and other managed care plans providing medical assistance to Medicaid beneficiaries must, in addition to current law requirements under the program, provide in their contracts with the State for payment of specifically authorized services by certain school-based health centers. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a clearinghouse through which interested parties may receive information and technical assistance on the establishment and operation of such centers. Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for grants to public and nonprofit private entities for school-based health centers. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1995
Forest Biodiversity Act of 1995 - Amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (Act), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, the National Indian Forest Resources Management Act, and Federal law relating to military lands to: (1) provide for the protection of forest native biodiversity; (2) restrict certain logging activities; and (3) provide a private right of action in U.S. district court for violations of such provisions. Amends the Act to provide for the termination of the committee of scientists ten years from the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1995
Congressional Award Act Amendments of 1995 - Amends the Congressional Award Act to extend through 1997 the requirement that the Comptroller General determine that the Director of the Congressional Award Program has ensured that appropriate procedures for fiscal control and fund accounting are established for the financial operations of the Program and that such operations are administered by personnel with expertise in accounting and financial management. Extends the Congressional Award Board until October 1, 1998.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1995
Urges the Government of Iran to extend to the Baha'i community the rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international covenants on human rights. Calls upon the President to continue to: (1) assert the U.S. Government's concern regarding Iran's violations of the rights of its citizens, including members of the Baha'i community, along with expressions of concern regarding the Iranian Government's support for international terrorism and its efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction; (2) emphasize that the United States regards the human rights practices of the Iranian Government, particularly its treatment of the Baha'i community and other religious minorities, as a significant factor in the development of U.S.-Iranian relations; (3) urge the Iranian Government to emancipate the Baha'i community by granting those rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international covenants on human rights; and (4) encourage other governments to continue to appeal to the Government of Iran, and to cooperate with other governments and international organizations, in efforts to protect the religious rights of the Baha'is and other minorities in Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1995
Natural Gas Competitiveness Act of 1995 - Permits independent natural gas producers to act together in associations to collectively produce, gather, transport, process, store, handle, and market natural gas in both domestic and foreign commerce. Requires the Attorney General to file an antitrust complaint against any such association which monopolizes or restrains trade to such an extent that the price of natural gas or natural gas liquid is unduly enhanced. Sets forth procedural guidelines for the filing of such a complaint. Provides for antitrust and market and price-discrimination actions against an association under the Sherman and the Clayton Acts, respectively.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1995
Individual Training Account Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual a deduction for amounts paid yearly into an individual training account for the benefit of such individual. Describes such account as one to pay the expenses of job training and job-related relocation.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1995
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 1995 - 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; (3) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA); (4) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA); or (5) 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 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 Social Security Act (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. (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. (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.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1995
Requires that any markup in the committees or subcommittees of the House of Representatives of any legislation changing existing law concerning Medicare or Medicaid pursuant to the reconciliation instructions of the concurrent resolution on the budget for FY 1996 be preceded by a minimum of four weeks for public disclosure of and public hearings on the legislative text of such changes. Prohibits such legislation from being considered in the House until such requirements have been met. Expresses the sense of the House that the Senate should adopt a similar schedule for public disclosure and hearings on the legislative text of any such changes.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1995
Federal Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 1995 - Amends Federal civil service law with respect to the Civil Service and Federal Employees' Retirement Systems and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Program. Provides for: (1) an additional Small Capitalization Stock Index Investment Fund and International Stock Index Investment Fund in the TSP; and (2) repeal of the limitations on individual TSP contributions, including those from judges and other specified personnel of the Federal judicial branch.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1995
Declares that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the realization of women's rights is vital to people of all nations; and (2) the Senate should give its advice and consent to the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 1995
Theodore Roosevelt Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue five-dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half-dollar coins whose obverse side shall bear the likeness of Theodore Roosevelt, and whose reverse side shall be emblematic of the Nation's natural resources. Mandates that surcharges received from coin sales be made available to the Secretary of the Interior in connection with the administration of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President and the Congress should adopt a Peace Through Strength Strategy for the post-Cold War era, based on the following general principles and goals: (1) the United States must accept and maintain global leadership through a clear and consistent articulation of vital U.S. national interests and goals; (2) the United States must maintain highly trained, well-equipped, combat-ready military forces and the national will to prevail in any conflict; (3) U.S. interests are promoted through participation in global and regional political, military, and economic organizations, treaties, and alliances, but the United States must retain its sovereignty and reserve the right to act unilaterally; (4) national wealth and economic strength are the foundation of all forms of power; (5) the economic vitality of the United States rests not only on free market competitiveness but also on responsible financial management; (6) the United States must expand effective human and technical intelligence capabilities to anticipate, detect, and respond to emerging threats; (7) the United States will act to lessen, prevent, and eliminate security threats, including those posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and of high technology conventional arms, terrorism, drug trafficking, and disruption of access to vital resources; (8) national security policy must be explained to the public in the clear context of national interests and a realistic strategy for protecting those interests; (9) the United States must maintain a strong technological and industrial base with a skilled workforce to support superior U.S. global economic competitiveness and military preparedness; and (10) the United States must systematically and sharply reduce its dependence on imported oil.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: General Debt Collection Initiatives Title II: Justice Debt Management Title III: IRS Levy Authority Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1995 - Title I: General Debt Collection Initiatives - Amends Federal claims and civil service law, revising general administrative, salary, and tax refund offset authorities, and making changes as well under the Debt Collection Act of 1982, Social Security Domestic Employment Reform Act of 1994, and other specified Acts. Includes among such revisions and changes: (1) making the House of Representatives a legislative agency for purposes relating to claims of or against the Federal Government; (2) providing agencies with the authority to require the taxpayer identification numbers of the persons doing business with them; (3) expanding various specified collection and offset authorities and Governmentwide cross- servicing; (4) barring delinquent Federal debtors from obtaining Federal loans or loan guarantees; (5) adjusting Federal civil monetary penalties for inflation; and (6) establishing in the Treasury the Debt Collection Improvement Account to reimburse agencies for expenditures for the improvement of tax administration and agency debt collection and debt recovery activities. (Sec. 203) Amends the Privacy Act of 1974 to exempt from computer matching requirements matches for administrative offset or claims collection or any other payment intercept or offset program authorized by statute. (Sec. 1001) Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) establish guidelines to assist agencies in the performance and monitoring of debt collection activities; and (2) consolidate all reports concerning debt collection into one annual report. Requires the Secretary to: (1) report to the Congress on debt collection services; and (2) prescribe regulations requiring certain agency reports on loans and accounts receivable managed by the head of the agency. Title II: Justice Debt Management - Repeals specified provisions of Federal law to provide for expanded use of private attorneys in Federal debt collection efforts. (Sec. 1201) Amends the Federal judicial code to provide for nonjudicial foreclosure of mortgages. Title III: IRS Levy Authority - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a continuing levy on non-means tested Federal payments, modify the levy exemption under such Code, and provide for the disclosure of return information to the Financial Management Service in levies with respect to any applicable government payment.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Leave Equity for Adoptive Families Act of 1995 - Entitles any employee who needs it, because of the placement of a child with that employee for adoption or foster care, to any leave benefit provided by the employer for care of an employee's newborn biological child or for recovery from the employee's own illness, injury, or disability. Requires that such leave commence no later than 12 months after such placement. Authorizes civil actions to enforce this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
National Foundation on Physical Fitness and Sports Establishment Act - Establishes the National Foundation on Physical Fitness and Sports as a charitable, nonprofit corporation to promote participation by private organizations in the activities of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (Council). Subjects to a civil action by the Foundation for the remedies provided in the Trademark Act of 1946 any person who, without the consent of the Foundation in conjunction with the Council, uses for the purpose of trade, to induce the sale of any goods or services, or to promote any theatrical exhibition, athletic performance, or competition: (1) the Council's or Foundation's official seal; or (2) any trademark, trade name, sign, symbol, or insignia falsely representing association with, or authorization by, the Council or Foundation. Allows the Foundation, in conjunction with the Council, to authorize contributors and suppliers of goods or services to use such trade name, trademark, seal, symbol, insignia, or emblem in advertising under specified conditions. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Rail Infrastructure Preservation Act of 1995 - Amends Federal transportation law to authorize appropriations for local rail freight assistance. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to declare that a disaster has occurred and that Federal funding is necessary to repair and rebuild rail lines damaged by it. Prohibits such assistance unless emergency disaster relief funds are appropriated for such purpose. Amends the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 to declare that it is the purpose of the Congress to promote the revitalization of the railway system through, among other things, preservation of light density lines. Revises interest rate, repayment, and prepayment penalty requirements with respect to guaranteed railroad improvement loans.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 1995 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services of registered dieticians and nutrition professionals.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Continues existing average fuel economy standards for passenger and non-passenger automobiles until such standards are specifically amended or changed by law.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Military Survivors Equity Act of 1995 - Repeals the social security offset applicable to certain annuities paid to surviving spouses under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) for retired members of the armed forces, to the extent that such offset is due to integration with social security benefits when the surviving spouse reaches 62 years of age. Directs the Secretary of Defense to recompute the existing annuities of certain individuals under the SBP to reflect the changes made by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to mortgage revenue bonds to modify the requirements to be a qualified veteran. Establishes State subcap and State overall cap restrictions.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) a free press is vital to the development and consolidation of democracy in Russia; (2) freedom of the press and freedom of expression must be safeguarded; (3) to protect such freedoms, the right and opportunity of independent entrepreneurs to establish, operate, and maintain independent media outlets must be protected; (4) Russian Government leaders should fully support such freedoms in Russia; and (5) the President and the Secretary of State are requested to convey to appropriate Russian officials this expression of the views of the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1995
Medicare Bone Mass Measurement Standardization Act of 1995 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of bone mass measurements.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1995
Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a program to provide assistance for the environmental remediation of brownfield sites, with specified exceptions. Defines a "brownfield site" as a parcel of land that contains or contained abandoned or under-used commercial or industrial facilities, the expansion or redevelopment of which is complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances. Authorizes the Administrator, upon approval of an application and with funds authorized to be appropriated from the Hazardous Substance Superfund, to make: (1) grants for site characterization and assessment; and (2) interest-free loans for environmental remediation (for purposes of making the site or sites available for manufacturing, business, or other commercial or residential purposes). Directs the Administrator to establish a system for the ranking of applications for assistance. Deems a final EPA rule regarding lender liability issued on April 29, 1992, to have been validly issued pursuant to the authority of CERCLA and to have been effective according to the final rule's terms. Precludes jurisdiction of a court to review the rule. Amends CERCLA to absolve from liability for response actions bona fide prospective purchasers to the extent liability at a facility for a release or threat thereof is based solely on ownership or operation of a facility. Directs the Administrator to issue guidelines explaining the criteria by which a person may qualify as a bona fide purchaser. Gives a lien upon a facility to the United States for unrecovered response costs in any case in which there are such unrecovered costs for which the owner is not liable by reason of status as a bona fide prospective purchaser and the response action increases the facility's fair market value above that which existed within six months before the action was taken. Limits a fiduciary's personal obligations and liabilities for response actions with respect to ownership or operation of a vessel or facility to the extent to which the assets held in a fiduciary capacity are sufficient to indemnify such person, subject to certain conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: National Park System Plan Title II: New Area Establishment Title III: Concessions Reform Title IV: Recreation Fees Common Sense National Park System Reform Act - Title I: National Park System Plan - Requires the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to prepare and submit to the House Committee on Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources a National Park System Plan to guide the direction of the System into the next century. Provides that the Plan shall be deemed approved unless the Congress enacts a joint resolution disapproving it within 90 days. Allows the Secretary to resubmit the Plan by the date specified in the resolution if it is rejected by the Congress. Directs the Secretary to submit a report to the Congress, within one year after the Plan has been deemed approved, identifying which National Park System units do not conform with the Plan. (Sec. 102) Requires the Secretary to report on the procedures that have been instituted to report to the U.S. Attorney or other appropriate law enforcement officials any intimidation, threats, or acts of violence against Service employees related to their duties. Title II: New Area Establishment - Removes certain reporting requirements concerning additional areas for the National Park System. Directs the Secretary to submit to the Committee an annual list of areas recommended for study for potential inclusion in the System. Bars the initiation of any study of the potential of an area for inclusion in the System after this Act's enactment, except by specific authorization by an Act of the Congress. Requires studies to be completed within three complete fiscal years of the enactment date of legislation providing for a study. Specifies factors to be considered in such studies, including whether direct National Park Service management or alternative protection by other agencies or the private sector is appropriate. Requires such studies to be completed in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a single office to prepare all new area studies and to implement other functions of this Act; and (2) submit with the annual budget submission a list of areas which have been studied previously which contain cultural or historical resources and areas which contain primarily natural resources in numerical order of priority for addition to the System. Requires the Secretary to only include areas on the lists for which the supporting data is current and accurate. Title III: Concessions Reform - National Park Service Concession Policy Reform Act of 1995 - Repeals the Concessions Policy Act of 1965. (Sec. 305) Directs the Secretary to authorize, under specified conditions, private persons, corporations, or other entities to provide and operate such facilities and services as the Secretary deems necessary and appropriate in the National Park System. (Sec. 306) Authorizes the Secretary, upon request and under specified criteria, to allow such entities to provide services to park visitors other than by award of a concession contract or permit. Requires the provision of such services to have minimal impact on park resources and values and to be consistent with park purposes. Provides a two-year term limit for the provision of such services. (Sec. 307) Requires a concession contract to be awarded to the person submitting the best proposal through a competitive selection process to be established by the Secretary. Allows waiver of such procedures and award of a temporary contract to avoid interruption of services. Requires the Secretary to publish a notice of availability for a prospectus soliciting proposals for contracts for concessions at a Park specifying minimum contract requirements and contract terms and conditions. Requires congressional notification of any proposed contract with anticipated gross receipts exceeding $5 million or of a duration of ten or more years. Prohibits the Secretary from granting a preferential right to a concessioner to: (1) renew concession contracts under this Act, with exceptions; or (2) provide new or additional services at a park. Allows such preferential rights to be granted for certain outfitting and guide contracts and certain contracts with annual gross receipts of under $500,000. (Sec. 308) Sets forth criteria for determining franchise fees, including fees for multiple franchise contracts within a park. (Sec. 309) Requires all fees to be: (1) covered into a special Treasury account established for reallocation to System units for resource management and protection, maintenance activities, interpretation, and research; or (2) deposited into a Park Improvement Fund established by the concessioner (as directed by the Secretary) from which expenditures shall be made for park activities and projects. Requires: (1) an annual statement from the concessioner to the Secretary reflecting total activity in the Fund for the preceding fiscal year; and (2) an annual report from the Secretary to specified congressional committees concerning Fund expenditures. (Sec. 310) Establishes a maximum: (1) ten-year duration for a concessions contract, provided that the Secretary may award a contract for up to 20 years if determined necessary; and (2) two-year duration for a temporary contract. (Sec. 311) Requires the approval of the Secretary and congressional notification before a concession contract can be transferred, assigned, sold, or conveyed and sets forth conditions that preclude such conveyance. (Sec. 312) Grants possessory interest to: (1) concessioners who have commenced acquisition or construction of any structure on Federal land within a park before the enactment of this Act; and (2) concessioners who construct or acquire an improvement on U.S. land within a Park after enactment of this Act. (Sec. 313) Places limitations on a concessioner's rates and charges to the public. (Sec. 314) Directs the Secretary to: (1) periodically evaluate the performance of each concessioner under contract; (2) terminate a contract if a concessioner fails, within the prescribed time, to meet minimum requirements identified in a notice of unsatisfactory performance; and (3) notify specified congressional committees of each unsatisfactory rating and each contract terminated. (Sec. 315) Provides that the Comptroller General shall, until the expiration of five calendar years after the close of the business year for each concessioner, have access to and the right to examine any pertinent books, documents, papers, and records of the concessioner related to the contracts. (Sec. 316) Exempts contracts awarded by the Secretary under this Act from certain provisions of Federal law with respect to the leasing of U.S. buildings and properties. (Sec. 318) Requires the Inspector General of the Department of the Interior to submit biannual reports to specified congressional committees on the implementation of this Act and its effect on facilities operated pursuant to concession contracts and on visitor services. (Sec. 319) Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Recreation Fees - National Park Service Entrepreneurial Management Reform Act of 1995 - Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to increase fees for admission to units of the National Park System and other specified areas. Makes receipts from admission available, subject to appropriation, for authorized resource protection, rehabilitation, and conservation projects. Requires the Secretary to establish a pilot project at Yosemite National Park that utilizes incentives, including waiving or reducing admission fees, to encourage use of public transit which serves the purpose of reducing vehicular traffic within such park. Revises provisions regarding the issuance of lifetime admission permits, including a limitation that such a permit entitles only the permittee and the accompanying spouse to free admission. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress respecting areas where the Secretary determines that admission fees would be appropriate but where such fees are prohibited by law, and areas where such fees are authorized but not being collected. Increases the penalty for violations of rules and regulations regarding admission and special recreation use fees. Modifies provisions regarding the use of fees collected. Requires that specified receipts be covered into a special National Park Renewal Fund. Makes such funds available for resource protection, research, interpretation, and maintenance activities related to resource protection and visitor enjoyment in areas managed by the National Park Service. Repeals a requirement that qualified public or private entities selling annual admission permits reimburse the United States for the full amount to be received from the sale of such permits when or before the agency delivers the permits to such entity for sale. Directs the Secretary to establish reasonable fees for nonrecreational uses of System units that require special arrangements. Prohibits charging an admission or recreation use fee for entrance into, or use of, any federally owned area operated and maintained by a Federal agency which is used for outdoor recreation purposes, except as provided for by such Act. (Sec. 403) Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) negotiate and enter into agreements with State or local governments, individuals, or other entities for the purpose of sharing costs or services in carrying out authorized functions and responsibilities of the Secretary with respect to System units; and (2) provide, subject to appropriation, the Federal funding share from any funds available to the National Park Service in carrying out such agreements. (Sec. 404) Requires any funds payable to the United States as restitution for damages to national park resources or property to be paid to the Secretary and made available for improvement, protection, or rehabilitation of damaged resources or property.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1995
Family Business Protection Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross estate, for estate tax purposes, specified portions of the adjusted value of the qualified family-owned business interests of the decedent.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1995
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to modify the formula for determining the amount of reduced monthly OASDI benefits payable to a spouse, surviving spouse, or parent receiving monthly payments from a Federal or State pension plan.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1995
ERISA Child Abuse Accountability Act of 1995 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to allow the creation or assignment of rights to employee pension benefits, under a qualified child abuse order, if this is necessary to satisfy a judgment against an employee benefit plan participant or beneficiary for physically, sexually, or emotionally abusing a child.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1995
Commercial Revitalization Tax Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an investment tax credit equal to a percentage of expenditures for depreciable property in connection with the rehabilitation or reconstruction of a nonresidential building located in: (1) an empowerment zone or enterprise community; (2) an area established pursuant to a consolidated planning process for the use of Federal housing and community development funds; or (3) a low-income commercial revitalization district specially designated by a State or local government which is not primarily a nonresidential central business district. Requires, for qualification of such expenditures, that they exceed 25 percent of the fair market value of the building before rehabilitation. Imposes a State ceiling on the availability of the credit.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1995
Taking Back Our Neighborhoods Crime Fighting Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit to an individual who is an active participant of a neighborhood crime watch organization during the taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1995
Outer Continental Shelf Deep Water Royalty Relief Act - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to reduce or eliminate any royalty or net profit share set forth in existing leases, before commencement of production, for oil or gas resources in deep water on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. Declares that no royalty payments shall be due on new production from any lease or unit located in specified water depths in the Western and Central Planning Areas of the Gulf until certain volumes of oil equivalent are produced. Suspends royalties for a five-year period for new leases in specified water depths in the Gulf.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1995
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the provisions contained in United Nations Resolution 687 (regarding the inventory and destruction of Iraq's weapons and missiles) and related resolutions which restrict the import of commodities from, and the export of commodities to, the Government of Iraq should remain in full force and effect until such time as the Security Council has determined that such Government has complied with all relevant United Nations resolutions and completed all actions contemplated by the terms of those resolutions.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1995
Private Security Officer Quality Assurance Act of 1995 - Authorizes an association of employers of private security officers (officers) to submit fingerprints or other methods of positive identification to the Attorney General for background checks of such officers. Allows the Attorney General to exchange identification and criminal history records with State governmental agencies for licensing and employment purposes. (Sec. 4) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the States should enact statutes for issuing licenses to, and reviewing security services of, employers of officers. Provides that: (1) fees on licenses of officers should compensate the State for its direct costs of implementing and enforcing the program; and (2) procedures for issuing such licenses and reviewing such security services should require employers to assign an employee to duty as an unarmed officer prior to State approval of the employee's registration as an officer only after the employer has submitted an application for a criminal records background check, initiated verification of the employee's personal references and five year employment history, and verified that the employee has successfully completed specified training requirements. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) registration permit and training requirements; (2) waiver of preassignment screening and training requirements if the officer holds a valid registration certificate of that State or is a sworn law enforcement officer; (3) recognition of out-of-State licenses; (4) employee protection from unreasonable limitations imposed by an employer on the right to seek or obtain subsequent employment; and (5) State use of advisory boards.
![Official portrait of Rep. Frost, Martin [D-TX-24]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/f000392_200.jpg)