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United States · Official source
1,352 records where Rep. Knollenberg, Joe [R-MI-9] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1995
Semiconductor Investment Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the depreciable life of semiconductor manufacturing equipment three years for purposes of application of the accelerated cost recovery system.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: National Advisory Board on Adoption Title II: Adoption Data Collection System Title III: Adoption Education Programs Title IV: Adoption Benefits for Federal Employees and Military Personnel Title V: Adoption Tax Credit Title VI: Maternal Health Certificates Program Title VII: Rehabilitation Grants for Maternity Housing and Services Facilities Title VIII: Sense of Congress Regarding Changes in State Adoption Laws Omnibus Adoption Act of 1995 - Title I: National Advisory Board on Adoption - Establishes the National Advisory Board on Adoption to monitor program implementation under this Act and make recommendations to the Congress. Title II: Adoption Data Collection System - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to submit a status report to the Congress on implementation of a certain data collection system required under the Social Security Act. Title III: Adoption Education Programs - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award social work graduate school fellowships for work in innovative programs on the effects of adoption on the parties involved. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of Education to award grants to the States for implementation of adoption education programs. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Adoption Benefits for Federal Employees and Military Personnel - Amends Federal law to set forth adoption benefits for Federal employees and military personnel. Directs the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Transportation to coordinate their efforts in implementing this Act and to consult with the National Advisory Board on Adoption. Title V: Adoption Tax Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow adoption expenses as a credit against the individual income tax. Requires married couples to file jointly in order to receive such credit. Title VI: Maternal Health Certificates Program - Directs the Secretary to establish a maternal health certificates program to cover maternity and housing services facility expenses incurred by eligible pregnant women. Authorizes appropriations. Title VII: Rehabilitation Grants for Maternity Housing and Services Facilities - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to implement a grant program to assist eligible nonprofit entities to rehabilitate buildings for use as housing and services facilities for eligible pregnant women. Authorizes appropriations. Title VIII: Sense of Congress Regarding Changes in State Adoption Laws - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the States should adopt a specified statutory adoption scheme, including certain health plan benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1995
Amends the Goals 2000: Educate America Act to eliminate the National Education Standards and Improvement Council (the Council). Prohibits any Federal agency from expending Federal funds for the development or dissemination of model or national content standards, national student performance standards, or national opportunity-to-learn standards. Eliminates the requirement that the National Education Goals Panel review and approve such standards and criteria. Terminates funding for: (1) the Council; (2) opportunity-to-learn development grants; and (3) assessment development and evaluation grants. Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the General Education Provisions Act, and the Education Amendments of 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995
Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act of 1995 - Establishes in the U.S. Treasury the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund. Authorizes appropriations. Specifies that any individual who submits to the Attorney General written medical documentation that the individual has a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection shall receive $125,000 from amounts available in the Fund if the individual: (1) has a blood-clotting disorder and was treated with blood-clotting agents between January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1987; (2) is the lawful spouse of such individual or the former lawful spouse and was the lawful spouse of the individual at any time after a date within such period on which the individual was treated; or (3) acquired the HIV infection through perinatal transmission from a parent who is such an individual. Requires that a claim for payment be filed with the Attorney General by or on behalf of such individual and that the Attorney General determine that the claim meets the requirements of this Act. Specifies that a claim under this Act shall not be assignable or transferable. Sets limits regarding the number of claims per victim. Prohibits the Attorney General from paying claims filed under this Act unless filed within three years after this Act's enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the income tax deduction for the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals to increase the allowable deduction from 25 percent to 100 percent (50 percent beginning in 1997 or 1998 and 75 percent beginning in 1999 or 2000). Declares amounts paid into tax-exempt multiple employer health plans as amounts paid for medical care insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995
Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Act of 1995 - Imposes a trade embargo between the United States and Iran. Exempts transactions involving the furnishing, for humanitarian purposes, of food, clothing, medicine, or medical supplies. Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive director of specified international financial institutions to oppose any extension of credit or financial assistance to Iran. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations should oppose the provision of U.N. assistance to such country. Sets forth requirements for the waiver of such embargo or denial of assistance. Requires the President to report to appropriate congressional committees on Iran's nuclear and other military capabilities and on its support for acts of international terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995
Repeals provisions regarding the Joint Committee on Printing. Transfers responsibilities of the Committee to the Public Printer. Directs the Public Printer to: (1) remedy neglect, delay, duplication, and waste in public printing and binding and the production of Government publications; (2) prescribe quality standards; (3) utilize requests for proposals and similar authorized purchasing methods where total or partial migration to new technologies is appropriate or when requested by the user; (4) prescribe Government specifications for printing paper and writing paper; (5) assist with the acquisition and transfer of equipment requisitioned by facilities previously authorized and with the disposal of such equipment; and (6) establish policy for the acquisition of printing and Government publications, formulated to maximize competitive procurement from the private sector (but which may provide for use of Government in-house printing and duplicating operations if they provide printing and duplicating at the lowest cost to the Government). Requires the Public Printer to promulgate rules and regulations for the procurement of printing and Government publications by the Government Printing Office (GPO) not inconsistent with this Act. Mandates that the annual report to the Congress include a report on: (1) the printing costs of each branch of Government; and (2) a cost comparison of printing and publications as procured through GPO, produced by each Federal agency, produced by commercial sources that are not Federal entities under contract with a Federal agency (other than GPO), and produced by commercial sources that are not Federal entities under contract with GPO. Directs the Public Printer to establish and maintain the following separate GPO accounts: (1) Superintendent of Documents; (2) Executive and Judicial Print Procurement; and (3) Congressional Services. Requires that all printing and Government publications for the Congress, the executive office, the judiciary (other than the Supreme Court), and every executive department, agency, independent office and establishment or Government entity be procured from private sector commercial entities by GPO, with exceptions. Revises provisions regarding: (1) competitive procurement; (2) limits on Government printing production; (3) the use of illustrations; (4) the form and style of work for departments. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) departmental distribution of publications; (2) availability, inventory, dissemination, and re-publication of Government publications; (3) projections and reporting on costs for printing by Federal agencies; (4) scoring of sales of assets; (5) "Buy American" requirements; and (6) cost ceilings for certain congressional documents.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995
Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to revise and rename it the Integrated Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Act of 1995. (Sec. 1) Instructs the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to accept spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste by not later than January 31, 1998. Entitles contract holders to specified remedies for the Secretary's failure to meet service contract obligations, or to accept spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste as mandated under this Act. States that the Nuclear Waste Fund shall fund the execution of service contract and implementation of the Secretary's responsibilities, including the acceptance of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at contract holder sites and transporting such fuel or waste to a private storage facility. Establishes an integrated spent nuclear fuel management system for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, including its storage, transportation, and disposal. Prescribes procedural guidelines for the use of: (1) railroads; (2) transportation planning and requirements; (3) multi-purpose canister systems; (4) interim storage facilities; (5) permanent disposal; (6) land withdrawal; and (7) private storage facilities. Prescribes consultation and assistance guidelines between the Secretary and the State of Nevada. Prescribes budget priorities for purposes of annual requests for appropriations from the Waste Fund. Prescribes a fee schedule for electricity and nuclear fuel used to generate electricity in a civilian nuclear power reactor. Sets forth advance contract prerequisites for utilization or production facility license renewals. Reestablishes the Nuclear Waste Fund and the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish by rule the appropriate portion of the costs of managing high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel allocable to the interim storage or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel from atomic energy defense activities; and (2) advise the Congress annually of the amount of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel from atomic energy defense activities requiring management in the integrated spent nuclear fuel management system. Subjects the Secretary to all Federal, State, and local environmental or land use laws and regulations, with specified exceptions. Grants the U.S. courts of appeals original and exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions under this Act. Provides that upon a contract holder's request, the Secretary shall take title to or possession of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste without removing it from the contract holder's designated storage site if the Secretary cannot accept such items within the contract's acceptance schedule. Requires the NRC to promulgate regulatory guidelines for: (1) financial assurances for low-level radioactive waste site closures; and (2) training and qualification of civilian nuclear powerplant personnel. Reestablishes the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to take action as necessary to improve the management of the civilian radioactive waste management program to ensure that it is operated to the maximum extent like a private business. States that the program is not subject to civil service regulations. Abolishes the Interim Storage Fund, the Monitored Retrievable Storage Commission, the Office of Subseabed Disposal Research, and the Office of Nuclear Waste Negotiator. Repeals all references to the Yucca Mountain site. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress whether particular milestones have been reached with respect to: (1) multi-purpose canister systems; (2) land withdrawals; (3) interim storage facilities; and (4) acceptance of spent nuclear fuel from contract holders. Directs the Secretary to: (1) create a value engineering function within the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management; and (2) employ on an on-going basis, integrated performance modeling regarding site characterization. (Sec. 2) Sets forth transition provisions for the continuation of: (1) contracts; (2) Nuclear Waste Fund; (3) Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management; and (4) Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. (Sec. 3) Mandates that amounts in the Nuclear Waste Fund be appropriated exclusively for certain authorized purposes cited in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. Precludes such appropriations from being taken into account for any budget enforcement procedures under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Amends such Act to provide that appropriations to the Nuclear Waste Fund are not subject to its discretionary spending limits or to a certain allocation of the Energy and Waster Development Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. Reduces specified discretionary spending limits under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1995
ERISA Targeted Health Insurance Reform Act of 1995 - Title I: Improved Access to Affordable Health Plan Coverage - Subtitle A: Increased Availability and Continuity of Group Health Plan Coverage for Employees and Their Families - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for access to, and continuity of, group health plan coverage. (Sec. 1001) Provides for: (1) nondiscrimination and limitations on preexisting condition exclusions; (2) portability; (3) requirements for renewability of coverage; and (4) group health plan participation standards. Encourages private standards-setting organizations for provider networks and utilization review under group health plans. Establishes standards applicable to insurers offering health insurance coverage to group health plans. Provides for enforcement with respect to insurers offering health insurance coverage to group health plans. Preempts State laws that differ from such uniform national standards under ERISA. Subtitle B: Requirements for Insurers Offering Health Insurance Coverage to Group Health Plans of Small Employers - Establishes ERISA requirements for insurers offering health insurance coverage to group health plans of small employers. (Sec. 1101) Requires insurers to offer general, catastrophic, and optional medisave coverage to small employers. Requires use of fair rating, uniform marketing materials, and miscellaneous consumer protections. Authorizes States to implement and enforce such uniform national standards. Grants States that elect to implement such standards the exclusive authority to enforce them as they apply to insurers only, and not to the group health plans purchasing health insurance coverage. Allows a three-year phase-in period during which States can conform existing standards with such uniform standards. Preempts differing standards after such period. Subtitle C: Encouragement of Multiple Employer Health Plans and Preemption - Limits the scope of State regulation. Prohibits: (1) State benefit mandates for group health plans; and (2) State prohibition of employer groups purchasing health insurance. Preempts State anti-managed care laws. (Sec. 1202) Preempts State laws for multiple employer health plans meeting Federal standards. Relieves exempted multiple employer health plans of certain restrictions on preemption of State law. Treats such plans as employee welfare benefit plans. Sets forth an exemption procedure and eligibility requirements, as well as additional requirements applicable to exempted multiple employer health plans. Requires: (1) disclosure to participating employers by arrangements providing medical care; (2) maintenance of reserves; and (3) notice for voluntary termination. Sets forth provisions for: (1) corrective actions and mandatory termination; (2) expiration, suspension, or revocation of exemption; and (3) review of actions of the Secretary of Labor. (Sec. 1203) Revises provisions relating to: (1) the scope of preemption rules; (2) treatment of single employer arrangements; and (3) treatment of certain collectively bargained arrangements. (Sec. 1206) Sets forth requirements for employee leasing health care arrangements. (Sec. 1207) Sets forth enforcement provisions relating to multiple employer welfare arrangements and employee leasing health care arrangements. (Sec. 1208) Sets forth filing requirements for multiple employer welfare arrangements offering health benefits. (Sec. 1209) Provides for cooperation between Federal and State authorities. (Sec. 1210) Revises provisions for treatment of employer health coalitions and health maintenance organizations. (Sec. 1211) Requires a single annual filing for all participating employers. Subtitle D: Remedies and Enforcement with Respect to Group Health Plans - Sets forth a claims procedure for group health plans, as well as court remedies for claims disputes. Subtitle E: Funding and Plan Termination Requirements for Self-Insured Group Health Plans - Sets forth special rules for funding and plan termination for self-insured group health plans. Subtitle F: General Provisions - Declares that nothing in this Act may be construed to require the coverage of any specific procedure, treatment, or service as part of a group health plan or health insurance coverage under this Act or through regulation.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Definitions and Special Rules Title II: Access to and Fair Rating of Health Insurance Coverage for Individuals Subtitle A: Increased Availability and Continuity of Health Insurance Coverage for Individuals Subtitle B: Establishment of Standards; Enforcement; Effective Dates Targeted Individual Health Insurance Reform Act of 1995 - Title I: Definitions and Special Rules - Sets forth definitions for this Act, including defining "medisave coverage" as consisting of: (1) coverage of expenses exceeding a catastrophic deductible amount; and (2) a cash benefit that accumulates while not used, to be used for deductibles, cost-sharing, and other expenses. Title II: Access to and Fair Rating of Health Insurance Coverage for Individuals - Subtitle A: Increased Availability and Continuity of Health Insurance Coverage for Individuals - Regulates the periods during which insurers of individuals may deny, limit, or exclude coverage based on health status or related matters. (Sec. 2002) Reduces any exclusion period by any time in continuous coverage. Considers newborns and adopted children as not having any preexisting condition. (Sec. 2003) Prohibits cancellation (or denial of renewal) except for premium nonpayment, fraud, or plan noncompliance, or if the insurer is ceasing to provide any such coverage. (Sec. 2011) Requires insurers of individuals to meet the standards of these provisions. Provides for determination by the Secretary of Health and Human Services that a private entity has established standards for provider networks. (Sec. 2012) Prohibits coverage denial on the basis of a utilization review program unless the program meets the standards determined by the Secretary to have been established by a private entity. (Sec. 2021) Requires insurers of individuals to make available general, catastrophic, and medisave coverage. (Sec. 2022) Prohibits rates from varying except for specified factors. Subtitle B: Establishment of Standards; Enforcement; Effective Dates - Provides for development: (1) by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners of standards regarding subtitle A; and (2) by a private entity regarding utilization review standards. (Sec. 2102) Allows States to elect whether to enforce standards under this Act. Directs the Secretary to enforce them if a State does not. (Sec. 2103) Preempts related State or local standards and laws, including certain State anti-managed care laws.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1995
Repeals, effective January 1, 1994, provisions of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 requiring establishment of the Medicare and Medicaid Coverage Data Bank. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to the Congress on how to achieve the former objectives of such entity in the most cost-effective manner.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Seeking Sanctions Against the Castro Government Title II: Assistance to a Free and Independent Cuba Title III: Protection of American Property Rights Abroad Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1995 - Title I: Seeking Sanctions Against the Castro Government - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should instruct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to seek within the Security Council a mandatory international embargo against the Cuban Government; and (2) efforts by any state to make the nuclear facility at Cienfuegos operational will have a detrimental impact on U.S. assistance to and relations with such state. (Sec. 102) Reaffirms a provision of the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 that states that the President should encourage foreign countries to restrict trade and credit relations with Cuba. Urges the President to take steps to apply sanctions described by such Act against countries assisting Cuba. Declares that the President should instruct the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General to enforce the Cuban Assets Control Regulations. (Sec. 103) Prohibits any U.S. person from extending any loan or other financing to a foreign person that traffics in property confiscated by the Cuban Government the claim to which is owned by a U.S. person. Terminates such prohibition upon termination of the economic embargo of Cuba. (Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. executive directors of the international financial institutions to oppose the admission of Cuba as a member of such institutions until Cuba holds free and fair democratic elections. Requires the President to support Cuba's membership in such institutions during the period that a transition government is in power, subject to the membership taking effect after a democratically-elected government is in power. Reduces U.S. payments to institutions that approve assistance to Cuba over the opposition of the United States. (Sec. 105) Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees on progress towards the withdrawal of personnel of any independent state of the former Soviet Union from the Cienfuegos nuclear facility. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to make ineligible for assistance any independent state that is providing assistance for, or engaging in nonmarket based trade with, Cuba. Withholds from assistance allocated for an independent state an amount equal to the assistance and credits provided by such state in support of military and intelligence facilities in Cuba. (Sec. 106) Requires the Director of the U.S. Information Agency to implement a conversion of television broadcasting to Cuba under the Television Marti Service to ultra high frequency broadcasting. (Sec. 107) Directs the President to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on assistance and commerce received by Cuba from other foreign countries. (Sec. 108) Prohibits the importation into U.S. customs territory of any sugars, syrups, and molasses that are the product of a country that has imported Cuban sugar, syrups, or molasses. Makes such prohibition inapplicable if such country certifies to the President that it will not import Cuban sugar, syrups, or molasses until free and fair elections are held in Cuba. Authorizes the President to reallocate to other countries the quota of sugars, syrups, and molasses allocated to such a country during the period in which a prohibition is in effect. Title II: Assistance to a Free and Independent Cuba - Requires the President to develop a plan for providing economic assistance to Cuba at such time that a transition or a democratically-elected government is in power. Limits assistance for a transition government to humanitarian assistance, specified assistance comparable to that provided under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for the economic and democratic development of the independent states of the former Soviet Union, and military adjustment assistance. Expands assistance to include development and agricultural assistance and export financing (as well as other specified assistance) when a democratically-elected government is in power. (Sec. 202) Requires the President to take steps to: (1) obtain the agreement of other countries, international financial institutions, and multilateral organizations to provide comparable assistance to Cuba; and (2) encourage the Organization of American States (OAS) to create a special emergency fund for deploying human rights observers and election support and observation in Cuba. Withholds up to $5 million of U.S. arrearages to the OAS until the OAS agrees to make available an equivalent amount for the special fund. Directs the President to determine whether to designate Cuba as a beneficiary country pursuant to the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act. Permits such designation only after a democratically-elected government is in power. Amends such Act to make Cuba eligible for such designation. Requires the President, upon transmittal to the Congress of a determination that a democratically-elected government is in power, to: (1) enter into a preliminary agreement with Cuba providing for extension of the North American Free Trade Agreement or to seek the creation of an economic community with Cuba; and (2) designate a United States-Cuba Council to ensure coordination between the U.S. Government and private sector in responding to change and promoting market-based development in Cuba and to establish periodic meetings between the U.S. and Cuban private sectors for facilitating bilateral trade. (Sec. 204) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 205) Terminates the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba upon the President's transmittal to the Congress of a determination that a democratically-elected government is in power in Cuba. (Sec. 206) Sets forth conditions under which a government in Cuba will be considered transitional or democratic. Title III: Protection of American Property Rights Abroad - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exclude from the United States aliens involved in the confiscation of property owned by U.S. persons. (Sec. 302) Sets forth provisions regarding liability for damages owed to U.S. persons by persons or governments trafficking in confiscated property. Grants U.S. district courts exclusive jurisdiction over such actions. (Sec. 303) Amends the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 to authorize a U.S. national to bring a claim resulting from expropriation actions of the Cuban Government to the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission for certification of the amount and validity whether or not the U.S. national qualified as a U.S. national at the time of the action. Requires claimants to be U.S. nationals at the time of confiscation in the case of property confiscated after the date of enactment of this section.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 1995
Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act - Prohibits funds for foreign assistance from being made available for any country whose government prohibits or restricts the transport or delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance. Waives such prohibition if the President notifies the Congress that providing such assistance is in the national security interest. Provides for a resumption of assistance when the President certifies to the Speaker of the House and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that such country is no longer prohibiting or restricting such transports or deliveries.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 1995
Volunteer Protection Act of 1995 - Prescribes circumstances under which volunteers working for nonprofit organizations or government entities shall be immune from personal financial liability for acts on behalf of the organization or entity. Sets forth exceptions and conditions that a State may impose on the granting of such immunity. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to increase by one percent the fiscal year allotment which would otherwise be made to a State to carry out the Social Services Block Grant Program under title XX of the Social Security Act if such State has, within two years, certified to the Secretary that it has enacted a State law which provides such immunity. Provides for the continuation of such increase based on an annual recertification.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 1995
Expresses the sense of the Congress that any U.S. national conducting a commercial cooperation project in Vietnam should adhere to specified principles regarding: (1) nondiscrimination in employment; (2) worker and environmental safety; (3) partnerships with businesses not controlled by the Vietnamese Government; (4) prohibitions on a military presence and political indoctrination programs on project premises; (5) freedoms of association and expression; and (6) the promotion of a full accounting of all Americans missing in action from the Vietnam conflict. Directs the Secretary of State to encourage member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to promote similar principles. Requires U.S. nationals conducting commercial cooperation projects in Vietnam to: (1) register with the Secretary and indicate whether they agree to implement such principles; and (2) report annually to the Department of State on adherence to such principles. Permits Federal agencies to intercede with a foreign government or national on behalf of such a U.S. national regarding export marketing activities in Vietnam only if such individual adheres to the principles.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1995
Directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide for the retroactive award of the Navy Combat Ribbon with respect to participation in ground or surface combat during any period after July 4, 1943, and before March 1, 1961.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1995
Helium Privatization Act of 1995 - Amends the Helium Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) enter into agreements with private parties for the recovery and disposal of helium on Federal lands; (2) grant leasehold rights to such helium; (3) store and transport crude helium; and (4) maintain and operate existing crude helium storage at the Bureau of Mines Cliffside Field. Directs the Secretary to: (1) cease producing, refining, and marketing refined helium; and (2) dispose of all facilities, equipment, and Federal property interests relating to refined helium activities. Requires the Secretary to impose fees for helium storage, withdrawal, or transportation services. Prescribes guidelines for: (1) the purchase of helium by Federal agencies from certain private persons; and (2) the sale of crude helium by the Secretary. Prohibits the Secretary from making crude helium sales in amounts that will disrupt the crude helium market price. Mandates that proceeds from helium sales be paid to the Treasury. Instructs the Secretary to eliminate helium stockpiles by a prescribed deadline. Repeals the Secretary's authority to borrow under the Helium Act. Directs the Inspector General of the Department of the Interior to prepare certain annual financial statements for the Helium Operations of the Bureau of Mines.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1995
Child Care Availability Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit (as part of the general business credit) for employers who provide qualified day care centers for the use of their employees.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1995
Office of Surgeon General Termination Act - Transfers all authorities and personnel of the Office of the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service to the Assistant Secretary for Health of the Department of Health and Human Services. Rescinds all unobligated portions of budget authority allocated for the Office. Terminates the Office and the position of such Surgeon General.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1995
Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1995 - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1986 to repeal a provision which would have terminated an exemption for hiring and retirement plans applicable to State and local fire fighters and law enforcement officers. (This Act thereby preserves such exemption beyond 1993.) Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to set 55 years as the maximum hiring or minimum retirement age which States and localities may require for fire fighters and law enforcement officers unless there is an age of hiring and retirement in effect under applicable State or local law on March 3, 1983. Directs the Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to conduct a study in order to develop and issue, within four years after this Act's enactment, advisory guidelines for administering and using physical and mental fitness tests to measure the ability and competency of law enforcement officers and fire fighters to perform the requirements of their jobs. Requires opportunity for public comment. Requires the Chairman to propose, within two years after this Act's enactment, advisory standards for wellness programs for law enforcement officers and fire fighters. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1995
Amends Federal transportation law to limit to not more than six months' pay the amount of any wage continuation or severance benefit that may be received by any Amtrak employee terminated as a result of a discontinuance of intercity rail passenger service. Authorizes Amtrak to require an employee whose position is eliminated by such a discontinuance to transfer to any vacant position for which the employee can be made qualified on any part of Amtrak's system. Allows the employee, if such transfer requires a change in residence or seniority district, to choose: (1) a transfer to the position and coverage by the collective bargaining agreement of the seniority district to which the employee is transferred; or (2) a voluntary furlough at the employee's home location and receipt of protective benefits as limited by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1995
Amtrak Route Closure and Realignment Act of 1995 - Establishes as an independent commission the Total Realignment of Amtrak Commission. (Sec. 3) Directs the Commission to: (1) identify Amtrak passenger rail routes which are candidates for closure or realignment based on system-wide economic performance rankings and other specified principles and factors; (2) examine ridership forecasts and other assumptions supporting continued service on the Northeast Corridor, particularly with respect to the continuation of the electrification of the Northeast Corridor between New Haven, Connecticut, and Boston, Massachusetts; and (3) examine optional uses for abandoned rail lines. Requires the Commission to transmit to the Congress and the President a report on its activities, including recommendations for the closure and realignment of routes in Amtrak's passenger rail system. (Sec. 4) Sets forth procedures for congressional consideration of Commission recommendations. (Sec. 5) Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1995
Amends the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act to remove from the definition of "semiautomatic assault weapon" the manufacture, transfer, or possession of which, with exceptions, is prohibited: (1) certain semiautomatic rifles and pistols that have an ability to accept a detachable magazine; and (2) certain semiautomatic shotguns.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual income tax deduction for contributions to a savings account established to pay the educational expenses (tuition, supplies, meals, and lodging) of the taxpayer's child or certain other relatives at an institution of higher education or a vocational school. Limits the deduction to $1,500 annually (adjusted for inflation) for each account. Disallows the deduction for contributions to an account maintained for any individual aged 19 or older. Requires any account balance to be distributed after the beneficiary attains age 30. Permits an exclusion from the gross income of the contributor or the beneficiary of account distributions used to pay educational expenses of the latter. Exempts an account from taxation (except for the tax on unrelated business income of a charitable organization), unless a contributor or the beneficiary engages in specified prohibited transactions. Imposes a ten percent surtax on distributions not used for educational purposes. Requires the account trustee to report to the Secretary of the Treasury and to the account's beneficiary concerning the account. Imposes a penalty for failure to report. Allows taxpayers who do not otherwise itemize deductions to deduct for contributions to an education savings account. Imposes penalty taxes in connection with excess contributions or prohibited transactions associated with an account. Exempts from annual contribution limitations distributions from education savings accounts into individual retirement accounts. Excludes from gross income distributions from individual retirement accounts into education savings accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1995
National Park Service Concession Policy Reform Act of 1995 - Repeals the Concessions Policy Act of 1965. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of the Interior 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 (NPS). (Sec. 6) 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. 7) 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. 8) Sets forth criteria for determining franchise fees, including fees for multiple franchise contracts within a park. (Sec. 9) Requires all fees to be: (1) covered into a special Treasury account established for reallocation to NPS 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. 10) 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. 11) 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. 12) 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. 13) Places limitations on a concessioner's rates and charges to the public. (Sec. 14) 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. 15) Provides that the Comptroller General of the United States 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. 16) 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. 18) 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. 19) Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1995
Tax Fairness for Agriculture Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit agricultural or horticultural organization member dues (limited to a specified amount) from being treated as unrelated business taxable income for purposes of the tax on unrelated business income.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1995
Fairness in Musical Licensing Act of 1995 - Revises Federal copyright law to provide that communication by electronic device of a transmission embodying a performance or display of a work by the reception of a broadcast, cable, satellite, or other transmission shall not be a copyright infringement unless an admission fee is charged to see or hear the transmission or the transmission is not properly licensed. Provides that a performance or display in a commercial establishment shall not be considered infringement if incidental to the main purpose of the establishment. Specifies that, if a general music user and a performing rights society are unable to agree on the appropriate fee to be paid for the user's past or future performance of musical works in the society's repertoire, the user shall be entitled to binding arbitration of such disagreement pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association in lieu of any other dispute-resolution mechanism established by any judgment or decree governing the operation of such society. Requires the arbitrator to determine a fair and reasonable fee for the user's past and future performance of works in such society's repertoire and to impose a penalty for infringement if the user's past performance infringed the copyright of such works. Makes an arbitrator's determination binding on both parties. Sets forth provisions regarding civil actions for infringement that may be submitted to arbitration if the license fee for a performance is contested. Requires a performing rights society, at the request of any radio broadcaster, to offer the broadcaster a per programming license to perform nondramatic musical works in its repertoire. Directs that such license be offered on terms and conditions that provide an economically and administratively viable alternative to blanket licenses. Sets forth provisions regarding prices of such licenses. Requires, beginning January 1, 1998, the performance of nondramatic musical works by broadcasters under any per programming period license to be determined on the basis of statistically reliable sampling or monitoring by the society and prohibits the society from requiring the broadcaster to report such performance to the society. Authorizes such broadcasters to bring actions to require compliance with such requirements. Directs each performing rights society to make available free online computer access to copyright and licensing information for each work in its repertoire as well as a semiannual printed directory of each title in its repertoire. Requires such society, upon request, to provide to any person who may perform musical works in its repertoire, copies of documentation establishing the society's right to license the public performance of such works. Bars a society from instituting or being a party to any action alleging infringement in, or charging a fee under any per programming period license for, any work in the repertoire that is not identified or documented as described above, with exceptions. Requires the Attorney General to report annually to the Congress on the activities of the Department of Justice relating to the continuing supervision and enforcement of specified consent decrees of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers and Broadcast Music, Inc. Sets forth conditions under which landlords, organizers of conventions, or others making space available to another party are exempt from liability under any theory of vicarious or contributory infringement with respect to an infringing public performance of a copyrighted work by a tenant, lessee, or other user of such space. Provides that the transmission of religious services or the recording of copies or phonorecords of a transmission program embodying such services shall not be a copyright infringement.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1995
Private Property Owners Bill of Rights - Requires Federal agency heads to: (1) comply with applicable State and tribal government laws in implementing and enforcing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) and the permitting program for dredged or filled material under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA); (2) administer and implement the Acts in a manner that least affects the private property owners' constitutional and other legal rights; (3) develop and implement rules and regulations for ensuring that such rights are protected when making any final decision that restricts the use of private property; (4) obtain the consent of the property owner and provide appropriate notice before entering privately-owned property in order to collect information on it; and (5) give the property owner an opportunity to review and dispute the data collected before using it to implement or enforce any of the Acts. Amends ESA and FWPCA to provide for administrative appeals of certain actions, including those related to the denial of permits and the imposition of administrative penalties. Entitles a private property owner deprived of 50 percent or more of the fair market value or the economically viable use of a portion of property as a consequence of a final qualified agency action to receive compensation upon request in accordance with specified guidelines. Amends ESA to require the Secretary of the Interior to notify all private property owners or lessees of property subject to a management agreement and provide an appropriate opportunity for their participation in such an agreement when the Secretary enters into it with any non-Federal person establishing restrictions on property use.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1995
Amends the International Air Transportation Competition Act of 1979 to repeal the prohibition against air carrier service between Love Field, Texas, and destinations outside the State of Texas or its four surrounding States.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1995
Citizens' Tax Protection Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit the House of Representatives or the Senate from considering any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report carrying any retroactive tax increase. Requires a three-fifths affirmative vote of Members of the House of Representatives to allow such consideration. Requires a supermajority point of order in the Senate to allow such consideration.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1995
Family Heritage Preservation Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the estate tax, gift tax, and tax on generation-skipping transfers.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Capping the Aggregate Growth of Welfare Spending Title II: Empowering Taxpayers to Participate in Poverty Relief Efforts Title III: Promoting Strong Families and Parental Responsibility Common Sense Welfare Reform Act of 1995 - Title I: Capping the Aggregate Growth of Welfare Spending - Establishes a cap on the growth of total Federal spending on certain welfare programs. (Sec. 101) Subjects to such spending limit the following programs: (1) the welfare block grant program established under this Act; (2) Head Start programs under the Head Start Act; (3) cash, medical, and social services assistance programs for refugees and entrants under Immigration and Nationality Act and the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980; (4) the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966; (5) programs providing general assistance to Indians under the Snyder Act; (6) programs providing Indian health services under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act; (7) programs providing Indian housing improvement grants; and (8) programs providing Indian and Native American employment training. Provides for reconciliation of such spending growth limits through specified procedures for allocations and reductions based on spending caps, and through consultation with specified congressional committees. (Sec. 102) Entitles each State to an annual welfare block grant payment based on a specified formula under a five-year program. Establishes the Welfare Revolving Fund. (Sec. 103) Eliminates certain welfare programs, under the following categories: (1) cash aid (Social Security Act (SSA) programs for Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Supplemental Security Income, foster care and adoption assistance, and grants to territories for aid to the aged, blind, or disabled); (2) medical aid (SSA program for maternal and child health services block grants, and Public Health Service Act programs for community health centers and migrant health centers); (3) food aid (the entire Food Stamp Act of 1977 and its food stamp program, the school lunch program under the National School Lunch Act (NSLA), the entire Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 and its emergency food assistance program, nutrition programs for the elderly under the Older Americans Act of 1965, the school breakfast program under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA), and other specified child and adult food programs); (4) housing aid (certain rental assistance and public housing programs under the United States Housing Act of 1937, certain interest reduction assistance under the National Housing Act, rent supplement assistance under the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, and Housing Act of 1949 programs for specified rural housing and rental assistance); (5) energy aid (the entire Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 and its low-income home energy assistance programs, and the weatherization assistance program under the Energy Conservation and Production Act); (6) education aid (Higher Education Act of 1965 programs for Pell grants, Federal supplemental educational opportunity grants, Federal TRIO programs, grants to States for State student incentives, and grants to institutions and consortia to encourage women and minority participation in graduate education, and Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 programs for improving local education agency basic programs for disadvantaged and for migratory children); (7) jobs and training aid (Job Training Partnership Act programs for adult training, summer youth employment and training, the Job Corps, and Native Americans and migrant and seasonal farmworkers, the older American community service employment program under the Older Americans Act of 1965, and the JOBS program under SSA); (8) social services (SSA block grants to States for social services, the entire Community Services Block Grant Act (except specified provisions) and its community services block grant program, the entire Legal Services Corporation Act of 1974 and its legal services program, the FEMA emergency food and shelter program under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, PHSA programs of research regarding family planning and population issues and of voluntary family planning projects, and the entire Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973); and (9) community aid (community development block grants and urban development action grants under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, and the entire Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 with its Appalachian regional development program (terminating the Appalachian Regional Development Commission)). Revises the Older Americans Act of 1965 with respect to supportive services for older individuals to include a Senior Opportunities and Services program. (Sec. 104) Requires the use for deficit reduction of all savings to the Federal Government resulting from the spending cap imposed under this Act. Prohibits the use of such savings to fund increased spending under any programs that are not subject to the spending cap. Provides that budgetary effects resulting from enactment of this title shall not be counted under the Balanced Budgetary and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1965 with respect to deficit amounts in excess of the statutory maximum (paygo scorecard) which trigger an offsetting sequestration. Title II: Empowering Taxpayers to Participate in Poverty Relief Efforts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to allow an individual tax credit for charitable contributions to certain private charities providing assistance to the poor. Title III: Promoting Strong Families and Parental Responsibility - Amends the IRC to allow an additional earned income credit for married individuals. (Sec. 302) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a system for the reporting of information relating to child support obligations of employees. Amends SSA title VI part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to require a State role in such system. (Sec. 303) Amends SSA title VI part D to require: (1) State registries of child support orders; and (2) certain procedures for accessibility of State information relating to child support. (Sec. 304) Expands the Parent Locator Service. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an Interstate Local Network linking the Parent Locator Service and all State databases relating to child support enforcement. Requires prescription of regulations governing information sharing among States, within States, and between States and the Parent Locator Service. (Sec. 305) Requires certain State procedures for collection and distribution of child support through income withholding. Provides for development of a uniform withholding order. Requires States to have laws requiring employers to withhold child support pursuant to uniform withholding orders. (Sec. 306) Requires development of a uniform abstract of a child support order for use by all State courts to record specified information with respect to each child support order in the registry.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1995
Commercial Aviation Fuel Tax Repeal Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the increase in tax on fuel used in commercial aviation scheduled to take effect after September 30, 1995.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1995
Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to allow employers to establish, assist, maintain, or participate in an organization or entity in which employees participate to address matters of mutual interest (including issues of quality, productivity, and efficiency) if such organizations or entities cannot negotiate, enter into, or amend collective bargaining agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1995
Declaration of Official Language Act of 1995 - Declares English to be the official language of the U.S. Government. States that English is the preferred language of communication among U.S. citizens. Requires the U.S. Government to promote and support the use of English for communications among U.S. citizens. Requires communications by officers and employees of the U.S. Government with U.S. citizens to be in English. Directs the Immigration and Naturalization Service to : (1) enforce the established English language proficiency standard for all applicants for U.S. citizenship; and (2) conduct all naturalization ceremonies entirely in English. Allows anyone injured by a violation of such provisions to obtain appropriate relief in a civil action. Authorizes the court in any such action to allow a prevailing party, other than the U.S. Government, a reasonable attorney's fee as part of costs. Repeals the Bilingual Education Act (title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965). Amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to repeal bilingual election ballot requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the special rules for gifts of qualified appreciated stock to certain tax-exempt private foundations for purposes of the itemized deduction of charitable contributions. Includes grants to certain foreign organizations as qualified distributions by private foundations for purposes of the tax on failure to distribute income. Changes the due date for first quarter estimated tax payments by private foundations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit tax-exempt private foundations and community foundations to establish tax-exempt cooperative service organizations to operate exclusively for charitable purposes. Applies the excise taxes on private foundations, except the taxes on investment income and on failure to distribute income, to such organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1995
Crime Victims Restitution Act of 1995 - Amends the Federal criminal code to require (current law authorizes) the court to order restitution of the victim when a convicted defendant is being sentenced for specified offenses. Authorizes a court to order restitution of any person who, as shown by a preponderance of the evidence, was harmed physically, emotionally, or pecuniarily by unlawful conduct of the defendant during the offense or during the course of a scheme, conspiracy, or pattern of unlawful activity related to the offense. Directs the court to: (1) order restitution in the full amount of the victim's losses without consideration of the economic circumstances of the offender or the fact that a victim is entitled to receive compensation from insurance or any other source; and (2) upon determination of the amount owed to each victim, specify in the restitution order the manner of, and schedule for, restitution in consideration of the financial resources and other assets, projected earnings and other income, and financial obligations of the offender. Specifies that: (1) a restoration order may direct the offender to make a single, lump-sum payment, partial payments at specified intervals, or such in-kind payments as may be agreeable to the victim and the offender; and (2) such in-kind payments may be in the form of the return or replacement of property, or services rendered to the victim or another person or organization. Provides that when the court finds that more than one: (1) offender has contributed to the loss of a victim, the court may make each offender liable for payment of the full amount or may apportion liability among the offenders to reflect the level of contribution and economic circumstances of each offender; and (2) victim has sustained a loss requiring restitution by an offender, the court shall order full restitution of each victim but provide for different payment schedules to reflect the economic circumstances of each victim. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) compensation with respect to losses from insurance or other sources; (2) set-offs against amounts later recovered as compensatory damages by the victim in Federal and State civil proceedings; and (3) payment by the offender to an entity designated by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts for accounting and payment in accordance with this Act. Specifies that a restitution order shall constitute a lien against all property of the offender. Makes compliance with a restitution order a condition of any probation, parole, or other form of release of an offender. Specifies actions the court may take, including revocation of probation or supervised release, if a defendant fails to comply. Provides for enforcement of restitution orders. Authorizes: (1) a victim or the offender to petition the court to modify a restitution order in view of a change in the economic circumstances of the offender; and (2) the court to refer any issue arising in connection with a proposed restitution order to a magistrate or special master for proposed findings of fact and recommendations as to disposition, subject to a de novo determination of the issue by the court.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restore the 25-percent deduction for health insurance costs of self-employed individuals for the taxable year 1994.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the 50 percent limitation on the amount of business meal and entertainment expenses which are tax deductible.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1995
Names the CVN-76, a nuclear powered aircraft carrier of the Navy, the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1995
States Rights Empowerment Act of 1995 - Repeals provisions requiring the withholding of certain Federal aid highway funds for noncompliance by States with: (1) a program requiring the use of safety belts and motorcycle helmets; (2) national maximum speed limit provisions; and (3) a minimum drinking age of 21 requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1995
Fairness in Medicaid Funding Act of 1995 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to revise the State percentage factor and related factors in the Federal medical assistance percentage used under the Medicaid program. Bases payments to the States for administration costs on the Federal medical assistance percentage.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995
Amends provisions of the Clean Air Act relating to rural transport areas to treat rural or nonrural areas as satisfying requirements for ozone nonattainment areas if the State makes implementation plan submissions applicable to Marginal nonattainment areas and if sources of volatile organic compound (and, where relevant, nitrogen oxides) emissions within such areas do not contribute to more than 35 percent of the ozone concentrations in such areas or in other areas.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and other Federal law to make any managed health care plan established by the Secretary of Defense in the Military Health Services System eligible for payments by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on behalf of any plan enrollees entitled to Medicare benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995
Senior Citizens' Tax Relief Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the limitation on the one-time exclusion of gain from the sale of a principal residence by an individual who has attained age 55 and provide a cost-of-living adjustment for such amount. Increases the unified credit against the estate tax and the unified credit against the gift tax and provides a cost-of-living adjustment for such credits. Reduces the capital gains tax for a taxpayer other than a corporation by allowing the deduction of 50 percent of the net capital gain. Provides for computing such deduction for estates and trusts. Disallows such deduction against the minimum tax.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995
Independent Contractor Tax Fairness Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for determining the employment status of individuals as employees for purposes of employment taxes. Requires a written qualified agreement in order for an individual who performs services for another (the service-recipient) to not be treated as an employee and sets forth the following conditions, of which at least one must be met, for the individual to not be treated as an employee and the service-recipient to not be treated as an employer: (1) the individual can realize a profit or loss as a result of services performed for the service-recipient; (2) the individual maintains a separate principal place of business and has a significant investment in facilities or tools, which are not typically maintained by employees, used to perform services; (3) the services performed by the individual are available to the general public and the individual has performed such services other than as an employee for at least one other service-recipient during the year or the preceding calendar year; or (4) the individual is paid exclusively on a commission basis and maintains his or her principal place of business other than at the service recipient's place of business or pays fair market rental value for his or her principal place of business if such place is the service-recipient's place of business. Requires the qualified agreement to specify, among other things: (1) which services will be provided, the duration of such services, and the remuneration to be paid for such services; (2) that the service provider is aware of his or her Federal tax obligations; and (3) that the service-recipient will maintain a separate accounting of the income and expenses related to such agreement. Codifies section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978, with revisions. Increases the penalty on service-recipients for failure to furnish information returns on services performed by independent contractors. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to propose legislation to the Congress which specifies objectively measurable criteria for determining whether an individual is an employee. Declares the intent of the Congress that such criteria allow taxpayers maximum latitude in determining employment status. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on efforts being made to give taxpayers such latitude.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1995
Criminal Alien Transfer and Border Enforcement Act of 1995 - Declares that the President should begin to negotiate and renegotiate bilateral prisoner transfer treaties. Requires the focus of such negotiations to be to: (1) expedite the transfer of aliens unlawfully in the United States who are incarcerated in U.S. prisons; (2) ensure that a transferred prisoner serves the balance of the sentence imposed by the U.S. courts; and (3) eliminate any requirement of prisoner consent to such a transfer. Directs the President to certify whether each prisoner transfer treaty is effective in returning aliens unlawfully in the United States who are incarcerated in the United States to their country of citizenship. Requires the President, subject to such a certification, to direct the Border Patrol and Customs Service Academies to enroll foreign law enforcement personnel for training to enhance the following U.S. law enforcement goals: (1) drug interdiction and cross-border criminal activity; (2) the prevention of illegal immigration; and (3) the prevention of illegal entry of goods into the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 1995
Student Loan Evaluation and Stabilization Act of 1995 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to student loan programs. (Sec. 3) Revises the Federal Direct Student Loan program to limit the proportion of loans made under such program: (1) for academic year 1994-1995, to five percent of the new student loan volume for such year; and (2) for academic year 1995-1996 and any succeeding fiscal year, to loans to students and parents of students attending eligible institutions which have applied and been accepted for institutional participation in such program on or before December 31, 1994. Eliminates provisions for selecting additional institutions to participate in such pilot program. Reduces the maximum amount of funds for administrative expenses of such program allowed for certain periods. Revises the items which such funds must cover, including the costs of annually assessing such program and payment of an administrative cost allowance for the expenses of guaranty agencies in servicing outstanding loans in their portfolios and in guaranteeing new loans. Revises provisions for congressional oversight of program administration, by providing for funding triggers which allow administrative funds to be obligated only in such amounts and according to such schedule as specified in the appropriations Act for the Department of Education after submission by the Department of a detailed proposal for such expenditures. Requires a guaranty agency to: (1) submit a specified application before obtaining an administrative cost allowance from such funds; (2) expend such allowance only for specified purposes; and (3) elect a payment rate on the basis of one of two specified formulas. Provides for ratable reductions of such allowances when total payments exceed a specified level. Directs the Secretary of Education to provide a detailed quarterly report of all such expenditures to specified congressional committee chairs. Requires such report to specifically identify all contracts entered into by the Department for services supporting the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program and the Federal Perkins Loan Program, as well as the current and projected costs of such contracts. Eliminates the transition to the Federal Direct Loan Program. (Sec. 4) Sets forth conditions under which: (1) Federal Perkins Loan borrowers can obtain FFEL consolidation loans; and (2) FFEL borrowers can obtain Federal direct consolidation loans. (Sec. 5) Revises provisions relating to reserve fund programs. (Sec. 6) Sets institutional default rate limitations on direct lending. (Sec. 7) Provides for applications for FFEL loans using the free Federal application form, which is already in use for other types of student aid. Allows such form to be in an electronic or any other format, subject to certain conditions, in order to facilitate use by borrowers and institutions. Provides for authorized guaranty agencies to receive such form. (Sec. 8) Amends the Congressional Budget Act to prescribe a formula for determining the cost of a direct loan on the basis of the net present value, at the time the direct loan is disbursed, of specified types of cash flows for the estimated life of the loan.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 1995
United States One Dollar Coin Act of 1995 - Amends Federal currency law to prescribe the color and content of one-dollar coins. Prohibits a Federal reserve bank from placing into circulation any one-dollar Federal Reserve note after the date that the one-dollar coins are first placed in circulation. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to cease regular production of one-dollar Federal Reserve notes (except for such quantities as are required to meet collectors' needs).