United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Termination or Suspension of Unfunded Federal Mandates; Consolidation and Simplification of Planning and Reporting Requirements Title II: Commission on Unfunded Federal Mandates Title III: Integrated Federal Assistance Title IV: Estimation of Legislative Impact on State and Local Governments Title V: Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Mandate and Community Assistance Reform Act - Title I: Termination or Suspension of Unfunded Federal Mandates; Consolidation and Simplification of Planning and Reporting Requirements - Requires termination or suspension of an unfunded Federal mandate, or the consolidation or simplification of an associated planning or reporting requirement, upon a recommendation to the Congress to that effect by the Commission on Unfunded Federal Mandates (established by this Act). Provides that all such recommendations shall take effect automatically unless the Congress enacts a joint resolution disapproving such recommendations within 60 days of their submittal. Sets forth guidelines for congressional consideration of the Commission's recommendations. Title II: Commission on Unfunded Federal Mandates - Establishes the Commission on Unfunded Federal Mandates to: (1) investigate and review the role of unfunded Federal mandates in relations among local, State, and Federal governments; and (2) study and make recommendations to the Congress regarding the termination or suspension of unfunded Federal mandates. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Integrated Federal Assistance - Community Assistance Improvement Act of 1992 - Provide for payments to local governments of amounts available under a covered Federal assistance program for use in accordance with an integrated assistance plan approved by the Interagency Review Council (establish by this Act). Provides that eligibility for benefits under a covered Federal assistance program included in an approved integrated assistance plan shall be only in accordance with the plan. Details the process for applying for approval of an integrated assistance plan. Specifies application and plan contents. Requires a local government applying for approval of an integrated assistance plan to establish a Community Advisory Committee. Requires the Committee to advise a local government in the development and implementation of its integrated assistance plan. Establishes the Interagency Review Council for the purposes described above. Title IV: Estimation of Legislative Impact on State and Local Governments - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to: (1) strike language stating that cost estimates are required only if submitted in a timely manner; (2) require that a cost estimate accompany the conference report of legislation; and (3) require budget reconciliation instructions to direct committees to include in any reconciliation legislation carrying them out a Congressional Budget Office estimate of the total cost of their provision. Title V: Regulatory Flexibility Analysis - Amends the Regulatory Flexibility Act to modify provisions respecting judicial review of agency rules.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1993
Social Security Domestic Employment Tax Simplification Act of 1993 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to raise the threshold amount of cash remuneration payable to a domestic employee in any year which is subject to social security employment taxes. Amends IRC to: (1) provide for the coordination of the collection of domestic service employment taxes with the collection of income taxes; (2) subject domestic service employment taxes to estimated tax provisions; (3) exempt certain employers from the payment of such taxes; and (4) authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into agreements to collect State unemployment taxes imposed on such remuneration. Requires the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and the Treasury to study and report to the Congress on the effects of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1993
Volunteer Protection Act of 1993 - 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 · 16 February 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Joint Budget Resolution Title II: Zero Based Budgeting and Decennial Sunsetting Title III: Spending Caps on the Growth of Entitlements for Fiscal Years 1994 through 2000 Title IV: Balanced Budget by Fiscal Year 2000 Balanced Budget Implementation Act - Title I: Joint Budget Resolution - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to reform the budget process by requiring a joint resolution on the budget instead of the concurrent resolution on the budget. Title II: Zero Based Budgeting and Decennial Sunsetting - Terminates spending authority for unearned entitlements and high-cost discretionary spending programs for FY 1994, and discretionary spending programs (not including high-cost programs) for FY 1995, unless such spending is reauthorized after the date of enactment of this Act. Establishes a point of order against legislation that appropriates funds, which may be waived by a three-fifths vote of each House of Congress. Requires the reauthorization of discretionary spending authority and unearned entitlements every ten years beginning in the first decennial census year after 2000. Title III: Spending Caps on the Growth of Entitlements for Fiscal Years 1994 through 2000 - Declares that for FY 1994 through 2000 the total level of entitlement and mandatory spending, excluding social security, shall not exceed the total level for the previous fiscal year increased by the consumer price index and growth in elgible population. Requires sequestration as necessary to reduce spending. Provides for making uniform reductions with limitations. Lists programs and activities exempt from sequestration and provides exceptions, limitations, and special rules. Establishes a point of order against entitlement programs which may be waived by a three-fifths vote of each House. Title IV: Balanced Budget by Fiscal Year 2000 - Requires reduction of the maximum deficit amount to zero by FY 2000. Allows a waiver or suspension on the prohibition on exceeding such amount by a three-fifths vote of both Houses. Allows a waiver or suspension on exceeding the public debt limit by a three-fifths vote of both Houses. Excludes social security from the budget process. Establishes a point of order against any joint resolution on the budget that would decrease the excess of social security revenues over social security outlays, which may be waived by a three-fifths vote of each House. Authorizes the Congress to adopt budget procedures to eliminate the non-social deficit. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to require look-back sequestration in the last quarter of each fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1993
Amends rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to make it out of order to consider any measure appropriating amounts for salaries and expenses of the House unless such measure prohibits availability of any such amount for obligation after the end of the fiscal year for which such amount is appropriated. Adds rule LII to require amounts made available to a Member of the House under the Clerk Hire, Official Expenses, and Official Mail Allowances to be used only with respect to the calendar year or session of Congress for which the amounts are made available. Requires any amount remaining after all payments are made under such allowances for the year or session to be submitted to the Treasury to be used for deficit reduction.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1993
Regulatory Flexibility Amendments Act of 1993 - Amends Federal law to eliminate provisions respecting judicial review of Federal agency compliance with regulatory flexibility analysis requirements. Requires an agency to consider the direct and indirect effects of a rule in determining whether or not it is likely to have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. Sets forth guidelines governing agency transmittal of proposed rules to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. Authorizes such official to transmit to the agency a statement of opposition to the proposed rule. Requires publication of such statement and the agency's response in the Federal Register. Expresses the sense of the Congress that such official should be permitted to appear as amicus curiae in any action or case brought in a U.S. court for the purpose of reviewing a rule.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1993
Cave Creek Canyon Protection Act of 1993 - Withdraws lands within the Cave Creek Canyon Drainage in Arizona from location under U.S. mining, mineral and geothermal leasing, and mineral material disposal laws.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the corporate income tax exclusion of contributions to the capital of the taxpayer. Includes as a qualifying contribution any amount of money or property received by a regulated public utility which provides water or sewage disposal services that: (1) is a contribution in aid of construction; (2) meets certain expenditure requirements; and (3) is not included in the taxpayer's rate base. Excludes amounts paid as service charges for starting or stopping services. Determines the depreciation deduction for such property by using the straight line method and provides for a 25-year recovery period.
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
Jefferson Commemorative Coin Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue one-dollar silver coins emblematic of Thomas Jefferson and his home, Monticello. Mandates that all surcharges received from the sale of such coins be paid to the Jefferson Endowment Fund, and to the Corporation for Jefferson's Poplar Forest. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the coin program shall be self-sustaining and that its administration should result in no net cost to the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund.
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
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a first-time homebuyer who purchases a principal residence a tax credit of ten percent of the purchase price of such residence. Limits the credit to $2,500. Requires married individuals filing jointly to both be first-time buyers. Allows the use of 50 percent of the credit in the first taxable year in which the residence is purchased and the remaining 50 percent in the succeeding taxable year. Makes this credit applicable to residences acquired during 1993 and before July 1, 1994.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1993
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for energy conservation expenditures by an electric or gas utility during a taxable year in connection with its trade or business, as long as the rates for the sale of such electricity or natural gas have been approved by the appropriate governing body.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the individual and corporate capital gains rate from 28 percent and 34 percent to 15 percent. Reduces the minimum tax rate accordingly. Reduces such tax to 7.5 percent for low- and middle-income taxpayers. Requires indexing, based on the gross national product deflator, of the adjusted basis of certain assets (corporate stock and tangible property that is a capital asset of property used in a trade or business) that have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or other transfer, solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1993
Extends: (1) Federal recognition to the Pasqua Yaqui Indians of Arizona (the Tribe); and (2) the enrollment deadline for all U.S. citizens of Yaqui blood who apply for enrollment in the Tribe within three years after enactment of this Act.
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
United States Mint Bicentennial Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the United States Mint. Prescribes the designs for the ensuing five-dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half-dollar silver coins. Restricts issuance of such coins to 1993. Mandates that all surcharges received from the sale of such coins be paid to the Smithsonian Institution for the National Numismatic Collection. Requires the Executive Director of the National Numismatic Collection to establish specified funds with the surcharge proceeds. Prescribes financial assurances.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1993
Amends Federal law to prohibit any State from imposing an income tax on the pension income of any individual who is not a resident or domiciliary of that State.
United States · United States Congress · 27 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 1997 and thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1993
Amends rule XV of the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide for an automatic roll call vote when the Speaker puts the question upon final passage of any bill, joint resolution, or conference report making appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1993
National Commemorative Events Advisory Act - Establishes the President's Advisory Commission on National Commemorative Events to: (1) establish criteria for recommending to the President that a proposed commemorative event be approved or disapproved; (2) review proposals for national commemorative events submitted in accordance with procedures published by the Commission; and (3) issue recommendations to the President concerning each proposal reviewed.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1993
Amends rule XV of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the House from passing or adopting any bill or joint resolution, or conference report thereon, making appropriations or providing revenue except by a roll call vote, and deems that and the yeas and nays shall be considered as ordered.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1993
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that in light of the current economic conditions the Federal taxes on gasoline, diesel fuel, and home heating fuel shall not be increased.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1993
Private Property Protection Act of 1993 - Prohibits any regulation issued by an executive agency after enactment of this Act from becoming effective until the issuing agency is certified by the Attorney General to be in compliance with Executive Order 12360 or similar procedures to assess the potential for the taking of private property in the course of Federal regulatory activity, with the goal of minimizing such takings where possible. Provides for limited judicial review of an action taken pursuant to this Act. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to study and report to the Congress on the effect this Act will have on the farm economy and agricultural production.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Biennial Budget Cycle Title II: Binding Budget Resolution Title III: Enhanced Rescissions Title IV: Supermajority Points of Order Title I: Biennial Budget Cycle - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the Rules of the House of Representatives and other Federal law to revise the Federal budget process by establishing a two-year timetable. Title II: Binding Budget Resolution - Replaces the concurrent resolution on the budget with a joint resolution on the budget. Title III: Enhanced Rescissions - Modifies the rescission process and provides for expedited consideration in the House and Senate of certain proposed rescissions. Title IV: Supermajority Points of Order - Allows any point of order which concerns the congressional budget process, fiscal procedures, and budget agreement enforcement provisions to be waived or suspended in the House of Representatives by a three-fifths vote in the House.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1993
Prisoner-of-War Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue a specified number of one-dollar coins emblematic of the experience of American prisoners of war. Requires that all sales of such coins include a surcharge of $5 per coin. Requires specified proceeds from such surcharges to be paid to the: (1) Secretary of the Interior for construction of the Andersonville Prisoner-of-War Museum in Andersonville, Georgia; (2) endowment fund established by this Act for the maintenance of such Museum; and (3) Secretary of Veterans Affairs to maintain national cemeteries.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1993
Limits the period for which expenses of a former Speaker of the House of Representatives may be paid to three years after the expiration of the term of office as Representative. (Provides that in the case of a former Speaker who is receiving such expenses on the date of the enactment of this Act, the period shall end three years after such date.)
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1993
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits in any fiscal year total Federal outlays from exceeding total receipts and Federal outlays from exceeding 19 percent of the Nation's gross national product. Allows such prohibitions to be suspended by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House of Congress. Grants the President the authority to separately approve, reduce, or disapprove any spending provision of a bill.
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 · 5 January 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the personal exemption for a dependent child who has not attained age 18 from $2,000 to $3,500. Provides for rounding inflation adjustments to tax tables to the nearest multiple of $10 (currently rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50).
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Taxpayer Debt Buy-Down Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow every individual with adjusted income tax liability to designate on their tax returns that a portion of such liability (not to exceed ten percent) be used to reduce the public debt. Establishes a Public Debt Reduction Trust Fund for the deposit of designated amounts. Makes amounts in such Trust Fund available only to pay at maturity, or to redeem or buy before maturity, any obligation of the Federal Government included in the public debt. Prohibits the reissuance of any obligation which is paid, redeemed, or bought with amounts from the Trust Fund. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to provide for the sequestration of amounts designated to the Trust Fund. Specifies accounts exempt from such sequestration. Includes aggregated amounts designated to the Trust Fund and amounts sequestered to reduce the public debt in sequestration preview and final reports.
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
Federal Facilities Clean Water Compliance Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to waive immunity of the United States with respect to Federal, State, interstate, and local requirements, administrative authorities, sanctions, and penalties concerning water pollution control. Absolves Federal employees of personal liability for civil penalties under water pollution control laws for acts or omissions within the scope of official duties. Makes Federal employees subject to criminal sanctions under Federal or State water pollution control laws, but prohibits applying criminal sanctions to Federal agencies. Repeals a provision which makes the United States liable only for civil penalties arising under Federal law or imposed by a State or local court to enforce an order. Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to commence administrative enforcement actions against Federal agencies under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Includes Federal agencies within the definition of "person" for purposes of such Act.
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
Common Sense Budget Act of 1993 - Amends Federal law to require both the President and the Congress to draft a budget based on estimates of current fiscal year spending, proposing increases or decreases based on this level (rather than on an estimated baseline). Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office to use such a current fiscal year baseline in its report to the congressional budget committees, projecting growth for entitlement and discretionary spending based on current fiscal year spending.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Amends Federal law to deny annuity benefits to a Member of Congress convicted of a State or Federal felony. Authorizes the restoration of such annuity: (1) if the individual is pardoned by the Governor in the case of a felony under State law; or (2) in the case of a reversal.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Federal Mandate Relief Act of 1993 - Provides that any requirement under a Federal statute or regulation that a State or local government conduct an activity (including a requirement that a government meet national standards in providing a service) shall apply to the government only if all funds necessary to pay the direct costs incurred by the government in conducting the activity are provided by the Federal Government.
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
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
Merchant Mariners Fairness Act of 1993 - Provides that certain qualified service of a member of the U.S. merchant marine, including a vessel crewmember of the U.S. Army Transport Service, during World War II constituted active military service for purposes of eligibility for various veterans' benefits under the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977. Requires the Secretary of Defense to issue an honorable discharge under such Act to each merchant marine member whose qualified service warrants such a discharge. Prohibits the payment of any retroactive benefits under this Act. Mandates a processing fee for any benefit application for such qualified service.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Freedom from Government Competition Act of 1992 (sic) - Requires Federal agencies to obtain all goods and services necessary for or beneficial to the accomplishment of their authorized functions by procurement from private sources unless: (1) the goods or services are required by law to be produced or performed, respectively, by the agency; or (2) the head of the agency determines and certifies to the Congress that Government production, manufacture, or provision of a good or service is necessary for national defense, that a good or service is so inherently governmental in nature that it is in the public interest to require production or performance by a Government employee, or that there is no private source capable of providing the good or service. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to study and report to the Congress on: (1) agency activities which are inconsistent with such requirements; and (2) a schedule for transferring such activities to the private sector.
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
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress, prior to each fiscal year, to adopt a statement in which total Federal outlays do not exceed total receipts, unless a three-fifths vote of both Houses authorizes a specific excess. Limits the rate of increase in receipts in the statement to that of the increase in national income in the previous calendar year, unless law is enacted solely to approve specific additional receipts. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget. Authorizes waiver of these provisions in time of war. Sets a permanent limit on the amount of Federal public debt, prohibiting any increase unless legislation enacted by a three-fifths majority of both Houses become law.
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
Constitutional Amendment - Limits Members of the Senate to two full consecutive terms and Members of the House of Representatives to three full consecutive terms.
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.
![Official portrait of Rep. Kolbe, Jim [R-AZ-8]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/k000306_200.jpg)