United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1993
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts (except those derived from borrowing) for that fiscal year unless the Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to the Congress. Requires the approval of a majority of each House by roll call vote before any bill to increase revenue may become law. Waives these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect. Waives these provisions when the United States is engaged in a military conflict which poses a threat to national security as declared by a joint resolution adopted by a majority of each House.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Modification of Passive Loss Rules Title II: Provisions Relating to Real Estate Investments By Pension Funds Title III: Discharge of Indebtedness Real Estate Stability and Recovery Amendments Act of 1993 - Title I: Modification of Passive Loss Rules - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude certain rental real estate development activities from treatment as a passive activity for purposes of determining passive activity losses and credits. Title II: Provisions Relating to Real Estate Investments by Pension Funds - Modifies exceptions to the exclusion of real property acquired by a qualified organization from the meaning of acquisition indebtedness. Makes certain exceptions inapplicable to sales out of foreclosure by a financial institution. Applies the meaning of acquisition indebtedness to investments in certain large partnerships where the principal purpose of partnership allocation is not tax avoidance. Repeals the special rule for publicly traded partnerships with respect to the treatment of unrelated business taxable income. Permits a tax-exempt title-holding company to receive unrelated business taxable income of up to ten percent of its gross income, if the income is incidentally derived from the holding of real property. Excludes from unrelated business taxable income: (1) gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of real property acquired from financial institutions that are in conservatorship or receivership; (2) amounts received or accrued as consideration for entering into agreements to make loans; and (3) all gains on the lapse or termination of options, written by an organization in connection with its investment activities, to buy or sell real property. Provides for the tax treatment of pension fund investments in real estate investment trusts. Title III: Discharge of Indebtedness - Excludes from gross income, the income from the discharge of qualified real property business indebtedness. Applies the excluded amount to reduce the basis of the depreciable real property. Limits such amount to the amount of outstanding indebtedness over the fair market value of the property, reduced by any other qualified real estate business indebtedness. Excludes qualified farm indebtedness from the definition of "qualified real property business indebtedness."
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1993
Drug Free Truck Stop Act of 1993 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to impose mandatory minimum criminal penalties for the unlawful distribution or possession of controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a truck stop or safety rest area. Prohibits the suspension of a sentence, granting of probation, or eligibility for parole until the individual has served the minimum required sentence under the Federal criminal code for any person who violates this Act after a prior conviction under this Act has become final. Requires the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate specified sentencing guidelines for violations of this Act. Bars multiple enhancements.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1993
Family and Medical Leave Account Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income an employer contribution or employee salary reduction for payment to an account established pursuant to an employer-provided family and medical leave plan. Prohibits such contribution or salary reduction from exceeding one-half of an employee's income of up to $50,000. Prohibits compensation in excess of $50,000 from being taken into account. Specifies leave plan requirements (including a one-year employment requirement) and employees excluded from such plan (including certain part-time employees). Includes any eventual distribution from a family and medical leave account as gross income of the individual for whose benefit the account was established. Exempts the account itself from taxation unless it has ceased to qualify as such an account (i.e., if it is pledged as security for a loan or debt). Provides for treatment of the account on separation from service or death. Defines a "qualified family and medical leave plan" as any plan which is maintained by an employer for providing employees with family or medical leave and which meets the purposes of this Act (i.e., to cover employee physical incapacitation, care for a newborn or adopted child under six years of age, or care for an employee's child with a serious health condition). Requires certification that such incapacitation or serious health condition). Requires certification that such incapacitation or serious health condition actually exists, including provision of a medical second opinion and conflict resolution of conflicting opinions. Requires under such a plan that, upon return to employment, the employee shall be restored to the same or an equivalent position and that all employee benefits, including health benefits, will be maintained. Requires reimbursement of an employer for providing continued health coverage during an employee's absence. States that this Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or any family and medical leave plan shall not prohibit an employer and covered employee from agreeing to alternative employment throughout the period during which the employee whould be entitled to leave under the plan.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1993
Prison Inmate Training and Rehabilitation Act of 1993 - Directs Federal Prison Industries (FPI) to conduct pilot programs to test the feasibility of providing increased employment for Federal prisoners by producing items for the private market that would otherwise be produced by foreign labor. Permits FPI to enter into agreements with private industry to carry out this Act. Exempts: (1) items produced in such programs from legal restrictions on the sale of items produced by prison labor; (2) decisions in such programs from restrictions under the Federal criminal code on FPI decisions to produce new products or significantly expand the production of existing products; and (3) the business operations of such programs from application of competitive procedures. Directs the board of directors of FPI to include in its annual report to the Congress its findings on the results of such programs and recommendations as to whether to expand this concept within the Federal prison system.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1993
Small Business Credit Availability Act of 1993 - Establishes the Venture Enhancement and Loan Development Administration for Smaller Undercapitalized Enterprises (Velda Sue) as a Federal instrumentality to: (1) develop uniform underwriting, security appraisal, and repayment standards for qualified loans; (2) determine the eligibility of certified poolers to contract with Velda Sue for specific mortgage pool guarantees; and (3) provide timely repayment guarantees of the principal and interest on certain qualified obligations. Provides for a Board of Directors to manage Velda Sue. Authorizes Velda Sue to: (1) set conditions under which it will guarantee qualified obligations and securities; and (2) issue securities based on certain pooled interests in qualified obligations. Directs Velda Sue to issue certification and eligibility standards for secondary marketing for loan poolers. Directs Velda Sue to establish fees based upon the risk incurred in providing financial assistance or guarantees for: (1) qualified loans; and (2) securities issued by a qualified loan pooler. Declares that for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933, neither securities nor guarantees issued by Velda Sue shall be deemed to be a security issued by an agent of the Federal Government or a "government security." Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Treasury without fiscal year limitation. Provides Federal funding to the Corporation through purchases by the Secretary of Corporation obligations of up to $300 million. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for such purchases.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1993
Permits the performance of honor guard functions by members of the National Guard at funerals for veterans to be treated as Federal functions for which appropriated funds may be used.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1993
Investment Tax Incentive Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the depreciation deduction to be computed based on a neutral recovery basis for property placed in service after December 31, 1992. Repeals the special depreciation rules applicable under the adjusted current earnings provisions of the minimum tax.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1993
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) negotiate a new base rights agreement with the Government of Panama to allow the permanent stationing of U.S. military forces in Panama beyond 1999 and to ensure that the United States will be able to act independently to maintain the security and operation of the Panama Canal; and (2) consult with the Congress throughout such negotiations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1993
Entitles any individual who performs Operation Restore Hope services (relief efforts in Somalia) to certain tax benefits provided under the Internal Revenue Code in the same manner as if such services were performed in an area designated by the President as a combat zone.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permanently extend the period during which qualified mortgage bonds and mortgage credit certificates may be issued.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1993
Provides veterans' preference eligibility for purposes of Federal employment for individuals who served on active duty in the armed forces during the Persian Gulf War. Subjects benefits afforded to preference eligibles under civil service laws to the minimum active-duty service requirements under veterans' benefits laws.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1993
Congressional Pay Reduction Act of 1993 - Reduces the annual salary of Members of the House of Representatives to $118,000, the majority and minority leaders of the House to $133,000, and the Speaker of the House to $154,000. States that nothing in this Act shall constitute a repeal of any specified provisions of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 with respect to honoraria and other related matters. Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 and the Federal Salary Act of 1967.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Control of House of Representatives Campaign Spending Title II: Provisions Relating to Soft Money of Political Parties Title III: Independent Expenditures Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions Title V: Effective Date Campaign Finance System Reform Act - Title I: Control of House of Representatives Campaign Spending - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to prohibit House of Representatives candidates from accepting contributions from: (1) multicandidate political committees (PACs) and other sources except individuals; or (2) persons other than individual residents of the candidate's congressional district. Establishes expenditure and contribution limitations for House of Representatives candidates. Sets forth special rules (and exceptions) governing: (1) expenditures in runoff, special, and closely contested primary elections and expenditures for fundraising activities; and (2) contributions in runoff elections, transfers of contributions to later election cycles, and contributions from the personal funds of the candidate. Title II: Provisions Relating to Soft Money of Political Parties - Amends FECA to limit the amount of annual contributions individuals and PACs may make to political committees established and maintained by a State committee of a political party (political party committees). Increases the overall limit on individual contributions. Limits State party committee expenditures in connection with the general election campaign of a candidate for President affiliated with such party. Subjects to FECA reporting requirements any amount received or expended by party committees (including "soft money") with respect to a Federal election. Prohibits (with exceptions) national party committees from accepting or soliciting contributions not subject to FECA requirements. Limits the amount of annual expenditures national, State, and local party committees may make each year for specified election related activities. Limits fundraising activities of Federal candidates and officeholders and certain political committees. Revises national and State party committee reporting requirements. Title III: Independent Expenditures - Amends FECA to revise the definitions of independent expenditure and contribution. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends FECA to prohibit the use of Government-owned or -operated aircraft in connection with Federal elections, except with respect to travel provided to the President and Vice President. Expresses the sense of the Congress that House candidates should comply with the contribution and expenditure limitations added by this Act. Title V: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1993
Requests the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to publish, within one year, proposed amended regulations that specify the components of an adequate operator training program and that provide that only trained employees be authorized to operate powered industrial trucks.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1993
Supports the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General and the Security Council to create an international tribunal to investigate allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed within the territory of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Urges the President to work to convene an international tribunal to try any individual responsible for such crimes.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Securities Private Enforcement Reform Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to declare that a defendant may be liable jointly and severally for damages in an implied private action only if the trier of fact specifically determines that the defendant knowingly engaged in securities fraud. Sets forth a liability allocation scheme to determine the percentage of responsibility among the defendants if the trier of fact finds that the defendant did not engage in knowing securities fraud. Prescribes guidelines for the award of reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the prevailing party in any implied private action. Declares that in any implied right of action that is certified as a plaintiff class action: (1) the share that is awarded to the representative plaintiff shall be calculated in the same manner as the share awarded to all other members of the plaintiff class; (2) a party may not be represented by any attorney who owns or has a beneficial interest in the securities that are the subject of the litigation, or who is obligated to pay remuneration to a third party for assistance in obtaining the representation of any party to the action; and (3) funds disgorged as a result of Securities and Exchange Commission action shall not be distributed as payment for attorneys' fees or expenses incurred by private parties seeking distribution of the disgorged funds. Sets a statute of limitations on private rights of action under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Open Space Preservation Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross estate the value of land subject to a qualified conservation easement for estate tax purposes. Includes in the gross estate the value of each development right retained by the donor in the conveyance of such easement. Excludes from the gift tax the transfer by gift of land subject to a qualified conservation easement. Defers the reduction in estate tax rates from 1993 until 1998. Excludes from gross income any gain from the sale or exchange of eligible farmland that is subject to an irrevocable covenant binding all future owners to use the land as farmland.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Provides that no State or local government shall be obligated to take any action required by Federal law enacted after the enactment of this Act unless the expenses of such government in taking such action are fully funded by the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Congressional Accountability Act - Makes applicable to the Congress the following Federal laws to the extent they relate to the terms and conditions of employment, the health and safety of employees, and the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees: (1) Social Security Act; (2) National Labor Relations Act; (3) Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938; (4) Civil Rights Act of 1964; (5) Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; (6) Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970; (7) title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; (8) Rehabilitation Act of 1973; (9) Privacy Act of 1974; (10) Age Discrimination Act of 1975; (11) Ethics in Government Act of 1978; and (12) Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Makes applicable to the Congress the Freedom of Information Act and specified provisions of Federal law relating to the independent counsel.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Older Americans' Freedom to Work Act of 1993 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to remove the limitation on the amount of outside income which beneficiaries who have attained retirement age may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Amendments to Pension Plan Funding Requirements Title II: Required Security for Certain Plan Amendments Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions Pension Funding Improvement Act of 1993 - Title I: Amendments to Pension Plan Funding Requirements - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to revise minimum funding standards for pension plans. Revises the additional funding requirements for pension plans that are not multiemployer plans to provide for an underfunding reduction requirement and solvency maintenance requirement. Title II: Required Security for Certain Plan Amendments - Amends IRC and ERISA to increase required funding percentages and required security under provisions for pension plan termination insurance. Applies such required funding and security provisions to multiemployer plans, as well as to other pension plans. Applies specified criminal penalties to violations of such requirements. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to submit separate reports to the Congress setting forth alternative increases in premiums that would be required for the assets of the single-employer program (established under ERISA provisions for pension plan termination insurance) to equal or exceed such program's current and expected liabilities by 2002. Amends ERISA to require inclusion in annual PBGC reports of actuarial evaluations of pension benefit guaranty funds for the next five, ten, twenty, and thirty years. (Currently, inclusion of such evaluations for the next five years only is required.) Requires such evaluations to set forth alternative premium schedules to assure that PBGC assets equal or exceed its liabilities during such periods. Authorizes the CBO to transmit a separate report analyzing and commenting upon the actuarial evaluation (and premium schedules) prepared by the PBGC, for any fiscal year the CBO deems appropriate. Authorizes the PBGC to require certain plan sponsors or members of a sponsor's controlled group to provide it with records or other information necessary to determine liabilities and assets of plans covered by ERISA plan termination insurance provisions, or the financial condition of sponsors or members of sponsors' controlled groups maintaining such plans. Applies such information requirements to a plan if: (1) its underfunding exceeds $10,000,000; (2) it has more than 2,000 participants; or (3) it has been granted minimum funding waivers in excess of $1,000,000. Treats all plans maintained by the same sponsor (or any member of such sponsor's controlled group) as one plan for purposes of such information requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the targeted jobs credit permanent. Increases the maximum age requirement for employment of economically disadvantaged youth from 23 years to 25 years. Establishes economically disadvantaged veterans as members of targeted groups for purposes of the credit.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions governing the income tax deduction for the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals to: (1) make the deduction permanent; and (2) phase in an increase in the allowable deduction, reaching 100 percent for taxable years beginning in 1996 and thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Second National Blue Ribbon Commission to Eliminate Waste in Government Act - Establishes the Second National Blue Ribbon Commission to Eliminate Waste in Government to: (1) conduct a private sector survey on management and cost control in the Federal Government; (2) review executive agency operations and existing General Accounting Office, Congressional Budget Office, Inspector General Reports, and other existing governmental and nongovernmental recommendations for reducing waste; and (3) submit to the President and the Congress recommendations for the most significant estimated savings, and for improving the budget process, management, and reducing waste and costs in the Government. Specifies opportunities, programs, services, and reforms the Commission must identify and address. Requires reports to the President and the Congress. Requires the Commission to be funded, staffed, and equipped, to the extent practicable and permitted by law, by the private sector without cost to the Government.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Budget Enforcement and Deficit Reduction Act of 1993 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to increase the maximum deficit amounts for FY 1994 and 1995 and to establish such amounts for FY 1996 through 1998. Repeals discretionary spending limits for FY 1994 and 1995. Establishes such limits for FY 1994 through 1998 for the defense, international, and domestic categories. Requires adjustments to the international and domestic categories to be made in strict conformance with enforcement provisions of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Judicial Taxation Prohibition Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to deny to inferior Federal courts jurisdiction to issue any remedy, order, writ, or other judicial decree requiring the Federal Government or any State or local government to impose any new tax or to increase any existing tax or tax rate.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS Title I: Elementary and Secondary Education Program Authorized Title II: Amendments to Other Educational Programs Elementary and Secondary Education Amendments of 1993 - Title I: Elementary and Secondary Education Program Authorized - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to extend for six years the authorizations of appropriations for ESEA programs, including: (1) basic grants under the title I Chapter 1 program of assistance for educationally disadvantaged children (including participation of children enrolled in private schools); (2) Even Start Family Literacy programs; (3) secondary school programs for basic skills improvement and dropout prevention and reentry; (4) funds for implementation of school improvement programs; (5) rural educational opportunities; (6) Federal, State, and local partnership for educational improvement (Chapter 2 programs); (7) Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Education assistance; (8) foreign language assistance; (9) magnet schools assistance; (10) women's educational equity; (11) gifted and talented children; (12) Ellender fellowships; (13) immigrant education; (14) the Secretary's fund for innovation in education, including instruction in history and principles of U.S. democracy; (15) Ready to Learn program; (16) basic skills improvement assistance; and (17) bilingual education programs. Title II: Amendments to Other Educational Programs - Extends the authorization of appropriations for the following programs under the following Acts: (1) Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, education for homeless adults, children, and youth; (2) the Follow Through Act, Follow Through programs; (3) impact aid to local educational agencies, under specified Federal laws; (3) the Indian Education Act, assistance to local educational agencies, improvement of education for Indian children, training for their teachers, fellowships for Indian students, gifted and talented, and improvement of education for adult Indians; (4) the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, refugee and immigrant education; (5) education for Native Hawaiians, under specified Federal law; (6) the Education for Economic Security Act, partnerships in education for mathematics, science, and engineering, and the Star Schools program; (7) the General Education Provisions Act, the National Center for Education Statistics; (8) the Fund for the Improvement and Reform of Schools and Teaching Act, the fund under such Act; and (9) the Education Council Act of 1991, the National Writing Project.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Improved Access to Affordable Health Care Coverage Subtitle A: Increased Affordability and Availability for Employees Subtitle B: Improved Small Employer Purchasing Power of Affordable Health Insurance Subtitle C: Health Deduction Fairness Subtitle D: Improved Access to Community Health Services Subtitle E: Improved Access to Rural Health Services Title II: Health Care Cost Containment and Quality Enhancement Subtitle A: Medical Malpractice Liability Reform Subtitle B: Administrative Cost Savings Subtitle C: Medical Savings Accounts (Medisave) Subtitle D: Medicaid Program Flexibility Subtitle E: Limitations on Physician Self-Referrals Subtitle F: Removing Restrictions on Managed Care Subtitle G: Medicare Payment Changes Subtitle H: Limitation of Antitrust Recovery for Certain Hospital Joint Ventures Subtitle I: Encouraging Enforcement Activities of Medical Self-Regulatory Entities Action Now Health Care Reform Act of 1993 - Title I: Improved Access to Affordable Health Care Coverage - (Sec. 102) Preempts inconsistent State laws. (Sec. 103) Requires small employer health insurance carriers to offer a MedAccess basic plan (providing only benefits for essential preventive and medical services and having an actuarial value not over 60 percent of a MedAccess standard plan) and a MedAccess standard plan (providing benefits typical of the small employer market). Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to tax the failure of a carrier or plan to comply with related standards. Mandates: (1) acceptance of every small employer and full-time employee; or (2) in States that so provide, allocation of risk. (Sec. 104) Regulates pre-existing condition requirements, premiums, rating practices disclosure, minimum participation requirements, and renewability. (Sec. 108) Mandates development of models for reinsurance or allocation of risk mechanisms. Requires State (or Federal) establishment of at least one mechanism in each State. Amends the IRC to impose a tax in any such Federal reinsurance State. (Sec. 110) Establishes the Office of Private Health Care Coverage and a related advisory committee. (Sec. 111) Authorizes research and demonstration projects on the impact of these provisions on the availability of affordable small employer coverage. Requires: (1) methods for measuring the relative health risks of eligible individuals; and (2) a model for equitably distributing health risks among small employer carriers. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 121) Preempts State laws: (1) requiring the offering of health plans providing certain services; and (2) prohibiting employer groups from purchasing health insurance. (Sec. 131) Amends the IRC to increase and make permanent deductions for the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals. (Sec. 141) Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to provide for grants to: (1) migrant and community health centers and to entities providing health services for the homeless to promote primary health services for underserved individuals; and (2) increase access to outpatient primary services in certain geographic areas. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 171) Changes the heading of title XII (Trauma Care) of the PHSA to "Emergency Medical Services" and makes similar changes to references within the title. (Sec. 172) Authorizes grants to States for State offices of emergency medical services. (Sec. 173) Requires projects under existing provisions to include demonstrations on telecommunications between rural medical facilities and other medical facilities with useful expertise or equipment. (Sec. 174) Authorizes appropriations to carry out specified provisions of title XII. (Sec. 181) Mandates grants to States for rural air medical transport systems. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 191) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend special payments for the inpatient services of small, rural Medicare-dependent hospitals. Title II: Health Care Cost Containment and Quality Enhancement - (Sec. 211) Reforms medical malpractice regarding: (1) a statute of limitations; (2) use of alternative dispute resolution systems (ADRs), including for claims against the United States; (3) settlement offers and conferences; (4) noneconomic and punitive damages; (5) periodic payment for future damages; (6) mandatory offsets for collateral source payments; (7) contingent attorney's fees; (8) several and joint liability; (9) findings of negligence; (10) practice guidelines sanctioned as affirmative defenses; (11) the standard of proof regarding certain labor and delivery circumstances; (12) supersedure of certain State laws; and (13) establishment and certification of State ADRs. (Sec. 241) Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to authorize appropriations for sanctioning guidelines as affirmative defenses. Mandates: (1) research and demonstrations on the use of data on malpractice actions; and (2) development of a standard reporting form for State ADRs in transmitting information on disputes resolved. (Sec. 242) Authorizes State professional disciplinary agencies to make agreements with professional societies to allow the societies to: (1) participate in licensing; and (2) review malpractice allegations or other information on the practice patterns of a practitioner. (Sec. 243) Requires each health professional and provider to participate in a risk management program. (Sec. 244) Mandates grants: (1) for basic research on malpractice prevention and compensation and outcomes research; (2) to States to improve licensing and discipline; and (3) for public education on appropriate health care use and realistic expectations, public education on the resources and role of licensing and disciplinary boards, and development of faculty training and curricula regarding quality assurance, risk management, and medical injury protection. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 245) Mandates a study on factors preventing or discouraging physicians from volunteering in medically underserved areas. (Sec. 251) Regulates: (1) data elements, uniform claims forms, and uniform electronic transmission of data elements; (2) provider claims submission; and (3) hospital and non-hospital electronic medical data. (Sec. 262) Requires hospitals, in order to participate in Medicare, to maintain and electronically transmit clinical data on patients in a set of electronic comprehensive data elements. (Sec. 263) Provides for electronic transmission of data elements to Federal agencies. (Sec. 264) Prohibits plans from requiring that a provider provide any data element not in the set or transmit any data element in a manner inconsistent with standards. (Sec. 265) Establishes an advisory commission. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 271) Provides for a comparative health care value program in each State. Authorizes grants and appropriations. (Sec. 273) Requires each Federal agency concerned with health insurance or care to develop comparative value information. (Sec. 274) Mandates model systems for the gathering and analysis of data on health care cost, quality, and outcome. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 281) Provides for standards regarding Medicare and Medicaid identification cards. Establishes a Medicare and Medicaid system to provide information on primary payors. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 282) Nullifies any State law requiring that medical or health insurance records be maintained in written rather than electronic form. (Sec. 283) Provides for standards regarding: (1) beneficiary and provider identification numbers; and (2) coordination of benefits. (Sec. 285) Mandates grants to demonstrate the application of comprehensive information systems in continuously monitoring patient care and improving patient care. Authorizes appropriations from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund. Authorizes grants for: (1) communication links between plan and provider information systems; (2) regional or community-based clinical information systems; and (3) developing and testing, for physicians and non-hospital entities, the definition of a comprehensive data set and the specification and presentation of individual data elements. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 291) Amends the IRC to exclude from an employee's gross income any amount contributed by the employer to a trust created exclusively to pay an individual's medical expenses (medical savings account). Sets contribution limits. Subjects the employee to taxation as owner of the account. (Sec. 301) Amends Medicaid provisions to modify contracting requirements for coordinated care services. (Sec. 311) Amends Medicare provisions to extend physician self-referral limitations to all payors and certain additional services. Revises exceptions. (Sec. 314) Mandates a study to estimate the changes in aggregate costs that will result from the amendments made by these provisions. (Sec. 321) Preempts managed care restrictions under State law. Mandates a study of managed care benefits and cost effectiveness. (Sec. 331) Amends Medicare provisions to revise the method for determining prospective payment updates to hospitals. (Sec. 332) Lowers the limitation amount and suspends certain annual adjustments regarding clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. (Sec. 343) Limits antitrust recovery to actual damages if certain requirements are met, including the filing and publication of information regarding hospital joint ventures. (Sec. 345) Establishes the Interagency Committee on Competition, Antitrust Policy, and Health Care. (Sec. 351) Prohibits, subject to exception, damages and other recovery under the Clayton Act or similar State laws from a medical self-regulatory entity engaging in standard setting or enforcement activities designed to promote the quality of health care and not conducted for financial gain.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) and the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to extend certain authorities. Extends the authorization of appropriations under CNA for: (1) start-up costs for school breakfast programs; (2) State administrative expenses; (3) the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children (WIC); and (4) nutrition education and training. Extends the authorization of appropriations under NSLA for: (1) the summer food service program for children; (2) a distribution program; (3) statewide demonstration projects under the child and adult care food program; (4) pilot projects; and (5) training, technical assistance, and the Food Service Management Institute.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Language of Government Act of 1993 - Declares English to be the official language of the U.S. Government. States that the Government has an affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language. Requires the Government to conduct its official business in English. Prohibits anyone from being denied Government services because they communicate in English.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Life Imprisonment for Egregious Recidivists Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal criminal code to require the court, in the case of a conviction for a Federal violent felony, to sentence the defendant to life imprisonment if the defendant has previously been convicted of two other violent felonies. Specifies that this provision shall not be construed to prevent the imposition of the death penalty.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Federal Employees Political Activities Act of 1993 - Prohibits an employee from using or attempting to use official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the result of any election. Prohibits the use of official authority to intimidate, threaten, coerce, or influence: (1) any individual for the purpose of interfering with the right to vote or not to vote for any candidate or measure in any election; (2) any person to give or withhold any political contribution; or (3) any person to engage, or not to engage, in any form of political activity. Prohibits an employee from: (1) giving or offering to give a political contribution to any individual either to vote or to refrain from voting; (2) soliciting, accepting, or receiving a political contribution to vote or refrain from voting; or (3) giving or handing over a political contribution to a superior. Prohibits an employee from soliciting, accepting, or receiving a political contribution: (1) from another employee (or a member of another employee's immediate family) with respect to whom the employee is a superior; or (2) in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by a Federal employee, official, or contractor. Prohibits an employee from getting involved with political contributions with any person who: (1) has, or is seeking to obtain, contractual or other business relations with the employing agency; (2) conducts operations regulated by that agency; or (3) has interests which may be substantially affected by the performance of the employee's official duties. Prohibits an employee from engaging in political activity: (1) while on duty; (2) in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by a Federal employee or official; (3) while wearing a uniform or official insignia identifying the office or position of the employee; or (4) while using any vehicle owned or leased by the Government. Exempts certain high level political appointees from such prohibitions if the costs associated with the political activity are not paid for by money derived from the Treasury. Authorizes leave without pay or accrued annual leave to an employee who is a candidate, upon request, to allow such employee to engage in activities relating to that candidacy. Applies this Act to postal employees and employees of the Postal Rate Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Universal Access to Health Coverage Title II: Medical and Health Insurance Information Reform Title III: MEWA Enforcement Improvements Universal Health Benefits Empowerment and Partnership Act of 1993 - Title I: Universal Access to Health Coverage - (Sec. 101) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for universal coverage under group health plans and statewide accessible (or State-based) health benefits systems. Requires employers to offer coverage for eligible individuals under basic group health plans or group health payroll deduction plans. Sets forth requirements for statewide accessible health benefit systems, including reporting, participation, benefits, contribution, reciprocity, and coverage. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prescribe regulations for such systems. Provides for coverage by such systems of uninsurable risks and preexisting conditions. (Sec. 102) Allows States to establish certain State-based systems in the absence of statewide access to coverage. Provides for recognition of certain substitute basic health benefits systems. Directs the Secretary of HHS to establish a program of grants to statewide accessible health benefits systems. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 103) Declares that such statewide accessible or substitute systems satisfy certain continuation coverage requirements under ERISA and related laws. (Sec. 104) Preempts State laws which mandate certain health benefits or restrict managed medical care under employee welfare benefit plans. (Sec. 105) Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to remove certain restrictions on the tax-exempt status of multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) providing basic health benefits. (Sec. 106) Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) with respect to the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and the Office of the Forum for Quality and Effectiveness in Health Care. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 107) Establishes a Federal Advisory Council on Health Care Coverage and Costs. Requires the Council to study and report to the Secretary of HHS on how practice guidelines may be used in reducing medical malpractice costs. (Sec. 108) Amends the IRC to increase the deduction for health insurance costs of self-employed individuals from 25 percent through 1995 to 50 percent in 1996 and 1997 and to 100 percent in 1998 and thereafter. Title II: Medical and Health Insurance Information Reform - Medical and Health Insurance Information Reform Act of 1993 - (Sec. 202) Amends the Social Security Act to require the Secretary to determine whether each State is developing and implementing a health care value information program that meets specified criteria and, if it has not developed or implemented such a program, take necessary action to implement a comparable program in such State. Requires Federal agency heads responsible for providing health insurance or health care services to individuals to develop health care value information about their programs comparing them with State program data. Requires the Secretary to promulgate requirements for the periodic submission by insurers of health care data relevant to health care Services research. Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to make all Medicare claim records available under the Freedom of Information Act, without regard to the consent of the physician or other item or service furnisher. Requires the Secretary to develop model systems to facilitate the gathering and analysis of health care cost, quality, and outcomes data. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to each State for the development and implementation of its health care value information program. Authorizes appropriations. Preempts State laws which require medical or health insurance records to be maintained in written, rather than electronic form. Requires the Secretary to promulgate: (1) requirements concerning health insurance information privacy and confidentiality protection for individuals; (2) standards and requirements concerning the electronic receipt and transmission of certain health insurance information if there are problems receiving and transmitting it which cause significant administrative costs; and (3) requirements for the format and content of basic health insurance claim forms. Requires the Secretary to publish recommendations for the types and format of information used by insurers if requests for it by insurers cause administrative costs disproportionate to the benefits derived. Requires the Secretary to: (1) promulgate rules for determining the liability of insurers when benefits are payable under two or more health insurance plans; and (2) promulgate requirements for the furnishing of health insurance information among insurers if there are problems relating to its availability which cause significant mistaken benefit payments or administrative costs. Requires the Secretary to determine if each State has in effect standards, requirements, and rules substantially the same as those under this Act for insurers relating to health insurance information privacy and confidentiality protection, identification numbers, the receipt and transmission of health insurance information, health insurance claim forms, liability, and the furnishing of health insurance information among insurers. Applies such standards, requirements, and rules to activities of insurers in the State if the State does not have them. Requires the Secretary to: (1) determine if the State maintains an effective enforcement mechanism for State requirements; and (2) promulgate requirements for hospitals and other providers concerning electronic medical data. Sets forth requirements for hospitals which participate in Medicare. Allows Federal agency heads to require any provider required to transmit certain data elements to transmit them electronically and present them in the manner prescribed under this Act. (Sec. 204) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on: (1) insurers and administrators of self-insured employee plans who fail to comply with the standards, requirements, and rules established under this Act; and (2) insurers who fail to submit to the Secretary certain health care data for health care research purposes. Title III: MEWA Enforcement Improvements - Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements Enforcement Improvements Act of 1993 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) with respect to multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) and other employee welfare benefit plans. (Sec. 302) Revises the definition of employee welfare benefit plan to: (1) allow up to five percent of the aggregate number of covered individuals to be individuals who are not employees or former employees of the employer (or members or former members of the employee organization) which established or maintains the plan; and (2) include a plan, fund, or program established or maintained by a franchise network or by two or more trades or businesses that are within the same control group or were within it at any time during the preceding one-year period. (Sec.303) Amends the definition of MEWA to: (1) limit the exclusion of collective bargaining agreements, under specified conditions; (2) exclude franchise networks; (3) exclude insurers, or health maintenance organizations licensed to do business in a State; (4) exclude trades and businesses within the same control group at any time during the preceding one-year period (as well as those currently in the same group), by deeming them a single employer; and (5) provide that single plans shall not be deemed MEWAs solely because they cover individuals who are not employees or former employees, or their beneficiaries, if the number of such individuals never exceeds five percent of the aggregate covered during the plan year. (Sec. 304) Makes ERISA title I (Protection of Employee Benefit Rights) applicable to any MEWA engaged in commerce or in any industry or activity affecting commerce, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 305) Requires MEWAs which provide medical care benefits to file annual registration statements with the Secretary of Labor. (Sec. 306) Authorizes the Secretary, to assess a civil penalty for a trustee's or other responsible person's failure or refusal to file such registration statement. Authorizes district courts to order the MEWA to cease activities and to grant additional equitable or remedial relief. (Sec. 307) Sets forth MEWA exemption and exclusion procedures. (Sec. 308) Provides that States may require disclosure of information from any employee welfare benefit plan (in connection with certain investigations) as to whether such plan is a MEWA or is in compliance with the MEWA exemption or 18-month exclusion.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Employee Educational Assistance Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the income tax exclusion of amounts paid under employee educational assistance programs.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Repeals specified portions of the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992 (Public Law 102-318) which: (1) provide for optional trustee-to-trustee transfers of eligible rollover distributions; and (2) impose a withholding tax on distributions not so transferred. Requires the Internal Revenue Code to be applied and administered as if such provisions (and the amendments made by such provisions) had not been enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for interest on any indebtedness incurred to pay the educational expenses of the taxpayer, spouse, or dependent. Allows such deduction only for the first 48 months of loan repayment.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits a person who has been elected to: (1) the Senate two times from being eligible for election or appointment to the Senate; and (2) the House of Representatives six times from being eligible for election to the House.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Constitutional Amendment - Grants the President authority to disapprove or reduce any item of appropriation in an appropriation bill. Requires a three-fifths vote of each House to override such a disapproval or reduction.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Declares that the Congress opposes any attempt to lower the estate tax exemption or raise the effective rate of taxes on estates because such measures contradict the fundamental goal of the United States Government of encouraging long-term private saving through which productive investment that promotes economic growth can be realized.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1992
John Heinz Neighorhood Development Program Amendments Act - Amends the Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983 to redesignate the Neighborhood Development Demonstration as the John Heinz Neighborhood Development Program. Provides for increased Program coordination between community funding organizations and local development organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1992
Family Leave Tax Credit Act of 1992 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an employer an income tax credit for 20 percent of qualified employee compensation with respect to an employee who is on family leave. Defines family leave as leave in connection with the birth of a child, the placement of a child with the employee for adoption or foster care, the care of a child, spouse, or parent with a serious health condition, or the treatment of a serious health condition which makes the employee unable to perform the functions of his or her position. Limits such credit to employers with 500 or fewer employees, the amount of qualified compensation, and the maximum period for the use of such leave.
![Official portrait of Rep. Goodling, William F. [R-PA-19]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/g000291_200.jpg)