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United States · Official source
3,894 records where Rep. Leach, James A. [R-IA-2] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the deduction for the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a one-time exclusion of gain from the sale of farmland by a taxpayer who has attained the age of 55 to a beginning farmer.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1995
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) obstetrician-gynecologists should be designated as primary care providers for women in Federal laws relating to the provision of health care; and (2) legislative proposals that define primary care should include services performed by obstetrician-gynecologists in such definition.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends provisions of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act that revise Federal patent law to provide that a patent term shall be the later of 17 years from the date the patent is granted or 20 years from the date the application was filed in the United States. Provides that if the application contains a reference to an earlier application, the term shall be 20 years from the date the earliest application was filed. Removes provisions that provide for extensions of patent terms under certain conditions. Provides for public disclosure and inspection of original and continuing patent applications in cases where a continuing patent application is filed that claims the benefit of the filing date of a prior application that was filed more than 60 months earlier. Requires the term of a patent that is in force or results from an application filed within six months after the Uruguay Round Agreements Act enactment date to be the term provided in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends Federal law to prohibit any State from imposing an income tax on the retirement income of any individual who is not a resident or domiciliary of that State.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the burden of proof with respect to all issues, in the case of any court proceeding, is on the Secretary of the Treasury. Requires the Secretary to identify in writing the specific kind or type of tax, and its specific implementing regulations, within 14 days upon the written request from any person made liable for such tax. Increases the limitation on the amount of recovery for civil damages for unauthorized collection actions by the Internal Revenue Service. Excludes such damages from gross income.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out projects to reduce the incidence of traumatic brain injury through grants or contracts to public or nonprofit entities. Authorizes the following activities: (1) the conduct of research into identifying effective strategies for the prevention of traumatic brain injury; and (2) the implementation of public information and education programs for the prevention of such injury and for broadening the awareness of the public concerning the public health consequences of such injury. (Sec. 2) Requires the National Institutes of Health research program on trauma to include the authority to award grants or contracts to public or nonprofit entities for the conduct of basic and applied research regarding traumatic brain injury. (Sec. 3) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States for the purpose of carrying out demonstration projects to improve access to health and other services regarding traumatic brain injury. Permits the Secretary to make a grant only if the State agrees to establish an advisory board within the appropriate health department or another department of the State. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to conduct: (1) a study concerning traumatic brain injuries; and (2) a national consensus conference on managing traumatic brain injury and related rehabilitation concerns. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Provides that the effective date for discontinuance of veterans' disability compensation and veterans' pension paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall be the date on which the recipient dies (currently the last day of the month preceding death) in the case of a veteran with a surviving spouse. Requires payments of such compensation to be made to the surviving spouse. Provides that the effective date for the award of dependency and indemnity compensation for which application is received within one year from the date of the veteran's death shall be the day following the date of death in the case of a surviving spouse.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
American Dream Restoration Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals a tax credit of $500 multiplied by the number of qualifying children who have not attained age 18. Places limitations on such credit based on: (1) taxpayer adjusted gross incomes over $200,000; and (2) social security tax payments. Provides an inflation adjustment for such credit and the taxpayer adjusted gross income amount. Allows a tax credit for qualified married couples equal to a dollar amount determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to reduce revenues by $2 billion. Describes such couples as those who would be required to pay more in income taxes because they are married than they would be required to pay if they were not married. Establishes individual retirement plans which can be designated as American Dream Savings Accounts. Disallows a tax deduction for amounts contributed to such accounts. Limits contributions to such accounts to the lesser of $2,000, or compensation includible in an individual's gross income for a taxable year ($4,000 in the case of certain married individuals). Provides an inflation adjustment on such amounts. Permits contributions to be made after age 70.5. Excludes distributions from such accounts from gross income and makes the penalty on early distributions inapplicable. Designates qualified distributions as those: (1) made after the individual attains age 59.5; (2) made to a beneficiary on or after the death of the individual; (3) attributable to the individual being disabled; and (4) qualified as special purpose distributions. Prohibits qualified distributions from being made within the five-year period since the account began. Describes special purpose distributions as those for: (1) qualified first-time homebuyers; (2) qualified higher education expenses; and (3) qualified medical expenses, including long-term care insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Financial Services Competitiveness Act of 1995 - Title I: Bank Securities Activities and Affiliations - Subtitle A: Securities Activities - Amends the Banking Act of 1933 (Glass-Steagall Act) to repeal the proscription against affiliation of any member bank of the Federal Reserve System with an entity engaged principally in securities activities (securities affiliate). Permits an officer, director, or employee of a securities affiliate to serve simultaneously as an officer, director or employee of a member bank affiliated with such securities affiliate. (Sec. 102) Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to authorize bank holding companies to own shares of a securities affiliate. (Sec. 103) Delineates the activities permissible for securities affiliates. Cites circumstances under which the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Board) may permit a bank holding company to: (1) acquire more than five percent of, or all or substantially all of, the voting shares or assets of a securities affiliate; (2) make additional investments that are considered capital for purposes of statutory capital requirements in a securities affiliate under its control; and (3) permit its securities affiliate to underwrite or deal in any security for a maximum aggregate period of two years. Excludes a securities affiliate's assets and liabilities (except those related to nonsecurities activities) from the determination of whether a bank holding company is adequately capitalized. Delineates restrictions under which: (1) a well capitalized insured depository institution may extend credit to acquire or sell securities, or enhance the marketability of securities underwritten by a securities affiliate; (2) a bank holding company or its subsidiary may extend credit or make payments to finance the purchase of a security underwritten by one of its securities affiliates; (3) directors and senior executive officer interlocks may be permitted between a securities affiliate and certain small affiliated insured depository institutions; and (4) a securities affiliate may underwrite securities secured by, or representing an interest in, obligations originated or purchased by an affiliated insured depository or its subsidiary. Prescribes guidelines under which each appropriate Federal banking agency and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shall establish information sharing and compliance programs and coordinate their activities to enforce this Act. Prohibits a bank holding company that acquires control of a securities affiliate from permitting any depository institution of which it has control, or any subsidiary of that institution, from engaging in underwriting or dealing in certain securities. Requires the Board to deny any notice or application by a bank holding company to engage in, or acquire shares of a company engaged in, underwriting or dealing in securities in the United States, except as permissible for a national bank to underwrite or deal in. Sets forth conditions under which a bank holding company may own or control shares of any company engaged in underwriting or investment banking activities that are currently prohibited as an interest in a nonbanking organization. Amends the Federal Power Act to exempt from its prohibition against interlocking directorates certain persons currently serving or proposing to serve as directors or officers of a public utility and a banking firm permitted to underwrite or participate in the marketing of public utility securities, if that banking firm does not underwrite or participate in the marketing of securities of the same public utility. Amends the Bank Holding Company Act to set forth circumstances under which securities companies that become bank holding companies may retain ownership of financial and nonfinancial companies. Identifies conditions which permit joint marketing of products or services between a insured depository institution and an affiliate owned by a bank holding company. Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to permit certain banks to increase their assets beyond a specified annual rate. (Sec. 104) Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to set forth parameters within which certain insured depository institutions may be affiliates of a company acting as a securities underwriter or dealer. (Sec. 105) Amends the International Banking Act of 1978 to set a termination date for any (grandfathered) authority conferred upon a foreign bank or company regarding its affiliate engaged in securities activities after the Board determines that such activity is authorized for U.S. bank holding companies. (Sec. 106) Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to preclude the States from prohibiting or limiting the affiliation of a bank or bank holding company with a securities affiliate solely because the securities affiliate is engaged in specified activities. (Sec. 107) Amends the Revised Statutes to set criteria for certain well capitalized national banking associations to deal in, underwrite, and purchase municipal securities. (Sec. 108) Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to set forth permissible affiliations for investment bank holding companies, including certain insurance underwriting activities. (Sec. 109) Amends the Federal Reserve Act to prescribe procedural guidelines and requirements for membership as a wholesale financial institution in the Federal Reserve System. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to prescribe a procedure by which an insured State-chartered bank or a national bank may voluntarily terminate its status as an insured depository institution. Requires any such terminated bank to become a wholesale financial institution in order to accept any deposits. Subtitle B: Brokers and Dealers - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to modify the definitions of "broker" and "dealer" to reflect the provisions of this Act. (Sec. 123) Exempts loans made to a broker or dealer by a member bank from Board-prescribed margin requirements if the loan proceeds are to be used in the ordinary course of business (other than for the purpose of funding securities purchases for the account of such broker or dealer). Subtitle C: Bank Investment Company Activities - Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to permit a bank affiliate to serve as custodian of a registered investment company's assets. (Sec. 131) Prohibits a registered investment company from: (1) acquiring any security, during the existence of an underwriting or selling syndicate, whose proceeds will be used to retire an indebtedness owed to an affiliated person of such company; and (2) borrowing from an bank (or person affiliated with such bank) serving as an affiliated promoter, organizer, sponsor, or principal underwriter for such company, except if permitted by the SEC as in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors. (Sec. 133) Modifies the definition of "interested person" with respect to an investment company to specify the kinds of transactions and services taking place during the preceding six months which would make a person an affiliated person of a broker or dealer. Prohibits a registered investment company from having a majority of its board of directors consisting of personnel or senior officers of the subsidiaries of any one bank, or of any single bank holding company (and its affiliates and subsidiaries). (Sec. 134) Modifies the guidelines pertaining to unlawful misrepresentation of guarantees and the deceptive use of names. (Sec. 135) Modifies the definition of "broker" to state that it does not include any person solely by reason of the fact that such person is an underwriter for one or more investment companies. (Sec. 136) Modifies the definition of "dealer" to exclude an insurance or an investment company. (Sec. 137) Amends the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to modify the definitions of investment adviser to remove the exclusion from such definition of an investment adviser for banks that advise investment companies. Revises the definitions of broker and dealer. (Sec. 140) Mandates interagency consultation between the appropriate Federal banking agency and the SEC regarding examination results and other information pertaining to the investment advisory activities of any registered bank holding company and its departments or divisions. (Sec. 141) Amends the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to revise the exclusion from their purview of certain bank common trust funds to specify the exclusion of any interest or participation in any common trust fund or similar fund that is excluded from the definition of "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to revise such exclusion guidelines for certain bank common trust funds. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the public interest would be furthered by amending the Internal Revenue Code to provide that conversion, mergers, or reorganization of certain taxable common trust funds shall not result in a gain or loss to the fund participants. (Sec. 142) Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to prescribe guidelines concerning: (1) controlling interests held by an investment adviser to a registered investment company in a fiduciary capacity; and (2) the purchase of investment company securities by an investment adviser acting as fiduciary for the account of a beneficiary. (Sec. 143) Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to require the appropriate Federal banking agency to examine purchases made by an insured depository institution's trust department or division of the securities of an affiliated investment company, or an investment company that is an affiliated person of an affiliated person of the institution, in order to assure compliance with applicable Federal and State trust laws.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Fair Trade in Financial Services Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury (the President in the case of insurance organizations) to identify foreign countries that may be denying national treatment to U.S. banking and securities organizations and determine whether such possible denial may be having a significant adverse effect on them. Requires the Secretary and the President, when making such determinations, to: (1) consider specified factors; and (2) initiate negotiations (through the U.S. Trade Representative, in the President's case) with such foreign country to ensure that it accords national treatment to such U.S. organizations upon the determination of such possible denial. Authorizes the Secretary to recommend to the appropriate Federal regulatory agency that it suspend consideration of, or deny a request for, authorization filed by a person of a foreign country determined to have denied such national treatment. Authorizes the President to recommend similar action to the Secretary with respect to the registration of alien insurance organizations. Prohibits such sanctions with respect to any request for authorization filed by specified U.S. depository institutions, securities organizations, or alien insurance organizations which do business in the United States as of a specified date (reciprocal grandfather exemptions). Requires the Secretary (the President with respect to insurance organizations) to report annually to the Congress on foreign countries that deny national treatment to such U.S. organizations. Prohibits alien insurance organizations from engaging in insurance activities within the United States unless certain registration and related State requirements have been met.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Municipal Securities Reform and Simplified Disclosure Act of 1995 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to publish model disclosure forms and clauses for common transactions in order to facilitate compliance with the disclosure requirements intended to aid issuers and investors in municipal securities by utilizing readily understandable language to simplify the technical nature of the disclosures. Mandates that such model forms and clauses be published for any application, report, or document in connection with the issuance, sale, or distribution of such securities. Declares that this Act may not be construed to require municipal securities issuers to use any such model form or clause prescribed by the SEC.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Federal Reserve Governance Act - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to instruct the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to appoint a president and first vice president to serve five-year terms for each Federal reserve bank. Declares that all executive officers and all employees of the bank shall be directly responsible to the bank's president.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Capital Formation and Jobs Creation Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a 50 percent income tax deduction for the net capital gain of both corporate and noncorporate taxpayers. Requires indexing, based on the gross domestic product deflator, of the adjusted basis of certain assets (corporate stock and tangible property that is a capital asset or 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. Allows an itemized deduction for losses arising from the sale or exchange of a principal residence.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
COLA Equity Act - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 to: (1) provide that the initial month for which a cost of living increase in military retired pay that becomes effective on December 1 of 1993, 1994, or 1995 is payable shall be March (currently, September) of the following year for persons who first became a member of a uniformed service before August 1, 1986; and (2) provide that such special rule shall apply only through FY 1996 (currently, FY 1998).
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Military Retirement Equity Act of 1995 - Permits retired members of the armed forces to be paid retirement pay concurrently with compensation for any service-connected disability if the person's entitlement to such retirement pay is based solely on age, length of service, or both. Reduces the retirement pay of individuals receiving both types of pay by a specified percentage of the disability compensation which decreases as the disability rating increases. Prohibits any reduction in the retirement pay of a disabled person when the disability rating is total. Declares that, once the Federal budget deficit has been reduced, the Congress should reexamine and eliminate any offset of retired pay by a veteran's disability compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Social Security Decedent's Family Relief Act of 1995 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to continue an individual's entitlement to benefits through the month of his or her death, without affecting any other person's entitlement to benefits for that month. Provides that such individual's benefit shall be payable for such month only in proportion to the number of days in such month preceding the date of such individual's death. Provides for disregard of such benefits for the individual for the month of death under provisions for determining maximum family benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Employee Educational Assistance Act of 1995 - 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 · 4 January 1995
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 · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the deduction for home office expenses if a portion of a dwelling unit is used as the sole fixed location of business for a taxpayer who has no other fixed location of business, regardless of: (1) the amount of time or type of work performed in such location; or (2) the proportion of the total income from the business attributable to such location.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
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. Prohibits a bill to increase receipts from becoming law unless approved by a three-fifths majority in each House. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget. 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. Requires roll call votes in the House and Senate under this amendment.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that no person who has been elected to the Senate two times shall be eligible for election or appointment to the Senate. Provides that no person who has been elected to the House of Representatives six times shall be eligible for election to the House.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Federal Bank Agency Title II: Interim Provisions; Transfer of Functions, Personnel, and Property Title III: Regulatory and Supervisory Responsibility Title IV: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Amendments Title V: Reorganization of Boards of Directors Title VI: Regulatory Uniformity Title VII: Credit Unions Bank Regulatory Consolidation and Reform Act of 1995 - Title I: Federal Bank Agency - Establishes an independent Federal Bank Agency, whose Administrator may impose and collect charges from any entity for which the Administrator is the appropriate Federal banking agency. Title II: Interim Provisions; Transfer of Functions, Personnel, and Property - Sets forth interim provisions to transfer to the Administrator the functions, staff, and property of the Comptroller of the Currency and of the Office of Thrift Supervision. Abolishes the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Title III: Regulatory and Supervisory Responsibility - Transfers to the Administrator all powers and duties that were vested in the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision and in the Comptroller of the Currency. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to make the Administrator of the Federal Bank Agency the appropriate Federal banking agency for certain kinds of Federal depository institutions and subsidiaries. Title IV: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Amendments - Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. Title V: Reorganization of Boards of Directors - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, the Federal Reserve Act, and the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to make technical and conforming amendments with respect to the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Title VI: Regulatory Uniformity - Amends the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of 1978 to direct the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council to: (1) establish uniform principles and standards to be applied by member agencies for the supervision of financial institutions and other financial service providers; and (2) make recommendations for uniformity in other supervisory matters, such as identifying financial service providers (in addition to financial institutions) in need of special supervisory attention, and the adequacy of supervisory tools for determining the impact of affiliate operations on insured depository institutions. Prescribes procedural guidelines under which the Council shall review for uniformity and efficacy proposed regulations submitted by each Federal financial institutions regulatory agency. Grants the Council rulemaking authority. Title VII: Credit Unions - Mandates that insured credit unions be supervised by the National Credit Union Administration under standards comparable to those for Federal depository institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Federal Derivatives Commission Title II: Supervisory Improvements Title III: Financial Institution Insolvency Reforms Title IV: Derivatives Dealer Self-Regulation Title V: Miscellaneous Risk Management Improvement and Derivatives Oversight Act of 1995 - Title I: Federal Derivatives Commission - Establishes the Federal Derivatives Commission to establish principles and standards to improve risk management techniques and the prudent use of derivative financial instruments by financial institutions. (Sec. 105) Directs the Commission to develop training programs in risk management techniques and derivatives activities for Federal and State regulatory personnel. (Sec. 108) Directs the Commission to establish a liaison committee to encourage the application of uniform examination standards by State and Federal supervisory agencies. (Sec. 110) Directs the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve Board) to encourage governments, central banks, and regulatory authorities of other countries to work toward adopting and maintaining certain supervisory and capital standards for financial institutions engaged in derivatives activities. (Sec. 111) Mandates that insured credit unions be supervised for purposes of derivatives activities by the National Credit Union Administration under standards no less stringent than those for Federal depository institutions. Title II: Supervisory Improvements - States that failure of an institution-affiliated party engaged in derivatives activities to have adequate technical expertise may be deemed by a Federal regulatory agency to constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice. (Sec. 203) Amends the International Banking Act of 1978 to include as a prerequisite for approval of a foreign bank office in the United States that its derivatives activities are subject to comprehensive regulation in its home country. (Sec. 204) Mandates that the Federal financial institution regulatory agencies develop the means to obtain all necessary information relating to derivatives activities (or any class of derivative financial instruments) whenever an appropriate regulatory agency determines that the information is necessary as a result of adverse market conditions or other emergency situations. Title III: Financial Institution Insolvency Reforms - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Federal bankruptcy law to include derivative financial instruments within the definition of "swap agreement" (thereby bringing such instruments within the parameters of their conservatorship and bankruptcy guidelines). (Sec. 302) Authorizes the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to prescribe expanded recordkeeping requirements for qualified financial contracts (including market valuations) by insured depository institutions. Title IV: Derivatives Dealer Self-Regulation - Derivatives Dealer Self-Regulation Act of 1995 - Authorizes the Federal Reserve Board to mandate the establishment of a self-regulatory system for the supervision of derivatives dealers (a national derivatives association). Prescribes implementation guidelines. Mandates membership in such association as a prerequisite to any transaction by a derivatives dealer relating to a derivative financial instrument. Sets forth criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Authorizes the Board to: (1) modify association rules; (2) impose sanctions upon the association; and (3) expel members and remove its officers. Title V: Miscellaneous - Sets forth savings provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 - Applies, by a specified conditional date, provisions of the following laws to the legislative branch: (1) the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938; (2) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; (3) the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990; (4) the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; (5) titles I and V of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; (6) the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA); (7) provisions relating to Federal labor management relations; (8) with the exception of the U.S. Capitol Police, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988; (9) the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act; and (10) the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Requires that an action to abate a violation of OSHA for which a citation is received take place as soon as possible, but no later than the fiscal year after the citation is issued. (Sec. 4) Establishes in the legislative branch an Office of Compliance to study and report to the Congress on: (1) the application of such laws to the legislative branch; (2) an examination of the procedures used by the instrumentalities to enforce the application of such laws; and (3) a determination as to whether to direct an instrumentality to make improvements in its regulations and procedures so as to assure that they are as effective as those specified in this Act. Authorizes the Office's Board of Directors to direct an instrumentality that has no such procedures to adopt the requisite procedures. Requires the Board to issue regulations governing such applicability which shall be subject to congressional approval. Makes applicable to the legislative branch any provision of Federal law to the extent that it relates to terms and conditions of employment (including protection from discrimination in personnel actions, health and safety of employees, and family and medical leave). Directs the Office, on an ongoing basis, to: (1) determine which of such laws should apply to the legislative branch; (2) study the application to the legislative branch of laws enacted after enactment of this Act; and (3) issue regulations to apply such laws to the legislative branch subject to congressional approval. Sets forth House and Senate procedures for concurrent resolutions to disapprove such regulations. (Sec. 6) Requires the Office to: (1) carry out an education program for Members of Congress and other employing authorities of the legislative branch respecting the laws made applicable to them and a program to inform individuals of their rights under such laws and this Act; (2) publish statistics on the use of the Office by congressional employees; and (3) develop a system for the collection of demographic data on the composition of the congressional employees. Requires the Board to submit to the Congress annual reports on the information collected under such system. (Sec. 7) Sets forth procedure for consideration of alleged violations of the laws made applicable to the legislative branch consisting of the following steps: (1) counseling through the Office; (2) mediation with the Office; (3) a formal complaint and hearing by a board; (4) judicial review if a congressional employee is aggrieved by a dismissal, final decision, or an order by the hearing board or if a head of an employing office is aggrieved by a final decision or would be subject to an order issued by such board; and (5) as an alternative to steps 3 and 4, a civil action in a U.S. district court. (Sec. 14) Declares that any intimidation of, or reprisal against, any employee because of the exercise of a right under this Act constitutes an unlawful employment practice that may be remedied in the same manner as a violation of law made applicable to the legislative branch under this Act. (Sec. 15) Requires all counseling, mediation, and hearings and deliberations of a hearing board to be confidential. Permits the records of hearing boards to be made public if required for judicial review. Authorizes the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to have access to the hearing of the hearing board only after the board has made a decision with respect to the matter. (Sec. 17) Provides that this Act shall not be construed to authorize enforcement by the executive branch of any of the laws made applicable to congressional employees under this Act. Limits a congressional employee to the judicial proceeding provided by this Act to redress prohibited practices. (Sec. 18) Requires the Office to study and report to the Congress on: (1) the ways that public access to information held by the Congress may be improved, streamlined, and made consistent between the House and the Senate; and (2) the application of the Freedom of Information Act and the Right to Privacy Act to the legislative branch.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Constitutional Amendment - Grants the President item veto authority with respect to appropriations bills.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1994
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Amendments to Fair Credit Reporting Act Title II: Credit Repair Organizations Title III: Truth in Lending Act Title IV: Disaster Relief Title I: Amendments to Fair Credit Reporting Act - Consumer Reporting Reform Act of 1994 - Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act (the Act) to specify that the term "credit transaction which is not initiated by the consumer" does not include use of a consumer report (CR) by a person with which the consumer has an account for purposes of reviewing or collecting the account. (Sec. 102) Excludes certain communications by employment agencies from the definition of "consumer report." (Sec. 103) Allows the furnishing of a CR for: (1) a legitimate business need in connection with a business transaction that is initiated by the consumer; and (2) employment purposes only if certain disclosures are made, the consumer consents, and the information will not be used in violation of any Federal or State equal employment opportunity law or regulation. Permits the furnishing or use of a CR for employment purposes only if the employment is expected to require: (1) a Federal security clearance; (2) an employee to be covered by a fidelity bond; or (3) an employee to have access to substantial amounts of cash or other things of value or to engage in any activity with respect to which the employee has a fiduciary duty. (Sec. 104) Prohibits: (1) using or obtaining information from a CR unless it is obtained for an authorized purpose and the purpose is certified under certain provisions of the Act; (2) the furnishing of a CR for use in credit transactions not initiated by the consumer; and (3) a credit reporting agency (CRA), in connection with employment or credit transaction purposes, from furnishing, without the consumer's consent, a CR which contains medical information. Requires CRAs to maintain a notification system, including a toll- free telephone number, which permits any consumer to elect to be excluded from lists provided in connection with solicitations of credit not initiated by the consumer. (Sec. 106) Removes exceptions to prohibitions on reporting obsolete information. (Current law prohibits reporting information which is over a specified number of years old, except for credit transactions, life insurance, or employment involving amounts over specified limits.) Regulates the beginning of the seven-year reporting period for certain types of information. Requires CRAs to include in CRs information that a consumer voluntarily closed an account and to indicate any information that is disputed by a consumer. Includes in CRs and CRA consumer files any information regarding failure of a consumer to make payment on an account that was due in a period during which such consumer was receiving disaster assistance or unemployment compensation if, the consumer requests the inclusion of such information and provides documentation regarding the receipt of such assistance or compensation. (Sec. 107) Prohibits a person who procures a CR from reselling the information unless the identity of the end user and the purpose is disclosed to the CRA. (Sec. 108) Requires a CRA to: (1) disclose to a consumer all information in the consumer's file, certain information about the recipients of a CR, the permissible purpose for which each recipient procured a CR, a record of inquiries in the last year that identified the consumer in connection with a credit transaction which was not initiated by the consumer, and, with any such disclosures, a summary of the consumer's rights under the Act; and (2) unless the dispute is frivolous or irrelevant to reinvestigate disputed information free of charge or delete the item from the file, to notify the information furnisher, to delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information, and to notify the consumer of the results of the reinvestigation. (Sec. 109) Requires CRAs, upon request of a consumer, to provide at least one free CR to a consumer during the 12-month period after the consumer receives a notification of the deletion of inaccurate or unverifiable information. Requires certain CRAs to implement automated reinvestigation systems. (Sec. 110) Regulates charges by CRAs for certain disclosures. Provides for certain free disclosures to a consumer if the consumer certifies that he or she is unemployed or is a recipient of public welfare assistance or has reason to believe that the consumer file is inaccurate due to fraud. (Sec. 111) Requires any person who takes an adverse action with respect to a consumer in connection with a transaction initiated by the consumer or an employment determination to notify the consumer, disclose the identity of the CRA furnishing the report, and advise the consumer of certain rights. Provides for certain notifications and disclosures to consumers in cases where adverse actions are taken by affiliates of users of credit information. Specifies the duties of persons taking certain actions based on information provided by affiliates. (Sec. 112) Subjects any person (currently, any CRA or user of information) to civil liability for willful or negligent noncompliance with the Act. (Sec. 113) Sets forth: (1) duties of furnishers of information to CRAs, including a prohibition on furnishing information which the furnisher should have known is incomplete or inaccurate; and (2) provisions regarding investigative consumer reports. Increases criminal penalties for obtaining information under false pretenses. (Sec. 117) Authorizes State civil actions to enforce the Act, subject to a specified limitation. (Sec. 119) Preempts any State law relating to CR and CRA requirements imposed under this Act with specified exceptions. (Sec. 120) Allows the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to modify or make more stringent certain requirements if found necessary for the protection of consumers. (Sec. 121) Amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to provide exceptions to certain debt collection practices with respect to communications. (Sec. 122) Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to authorize the furnishing of consumer reports to certain officials for purposes relating to child support. (Sec. 123) Requires a CRA to identify financial institutions at which a consumer maintains or has maintained an account for purposes of foreign counterintelligence investigations. Authorizes a court, if requested by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to issue an order directing a CRA to furnish a CR to the FBI upon a showing in camera that: (1) the CR is necessary for an authorized foreign counterintelligence investigation; and (2) there are facts giving reason to believe that the consumer whose CR is sought is a foreign agent and is engaging or has engaged in international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities that may involve a criminal violation. Limits the FBI's use of such CRs and sets forth prohibitions on disclosure. Permits disclosure to the consumer upon completion of the FBI investigation. Makes the FBI or the Department of Justice liable to the consumer for damages for disclosure violations. Terminates court order provisions of this section five years after this Act's enactment. (Sec. 126) Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) individuals should generally be judged on their own credit worthiness and not on the zip code or neighborhood in which they live; and (2) the FTC shall report to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on whether and how the location of the residence for unsecured credit is considered by financial institutions in deciding whether to grant credit. Title II: Credit Repair Organizations - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to provide that specified provisions of that Act may be cited as the Credit Repair Organizations Act. (Sec. 201) Prohibits: (1) advising any consumer to make an untrue or misleading statement, or to alter the consumer's identification to prevent the display of the consumer's credit record; (2) other fraud or deception; and (3) a credit repair organization (CRO) from charging or receiving valuable consideration for any service before such service is fully performed. Specifies a statement which a CRO must provide to consumers before an agreement is executed regarding the consumer, the CRO, and related rights, powers, and obligations. Requires written, signed contracts covering specified matters in order for a CRO to provide services. Allows a consumer to cancel a contract with a CRO within three business days of making the contract. Declares void any consumer waiver of any protection under this title. Makes an attempt to obtain a waiver a violation of this title. Voids any contract not in compliance with this title. Provides for civil liability for failing to comply with this title, including allowing punitive damages and class actions. Requires enforcement of this title under the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA) by the FTC. Makes: (1) a violation of this title an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of specified provisions of the FTCA; and (2) all functions and powers of the FTC available for enforcement of this title. Establishes a statute of limitations for actions to enforce liability under this title. Title III: Truth in Lending Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to include certain intangible taxes and delivery fees as finance charges for purposes of consumer credit cost disclosure. Declares that creditors have no civil or criminal liability, and that consumers have no extended rescission rights, due to a creditor's improper disclosure of such taxes and fees for transactions consummated prior to February 1, 1995. Title IV: Disaster Relief - Authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to make exceptions to the Truth in Lending Act and the Expedited Funds Availability Act for transactions within a disaster area resulting from damage related to tropical storm Alberto, if the exceptions can reasonably be expected to alleviate hardships to the public that outweigh possible adverse effects. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration should encourage depository institutions to meet the financial service needs of their communities and customers located in areas affected by the 1994 flooding in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida resulting from tropical storm Alberto.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1994
Ryan White CARE Reauthorization Act of 1994 - Amends the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act of 1990 (title XXVI of the Public Health Service Act) to limit the grant program for emergency relief for areas with substantial need for services to eligible areas with a population of at least 500,000 individuals. Requires an HIV health services planning council (which advises on the distribution of such grants) to be reflective of the demographics of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in an eligible area, with particular consideration given to disproportionately affected and historically underserved groups. Revises the method of distributing such grants and extends authorized appropriations for them until FY 2000. Revises the care grant program that makes funds available for individuals and families with the HIV disease. Authorizes the award of supplemental grants to eligible entities to enhance community-based care, treatment, and supportive services through the development and operation of consortia and innovative approaches. Extends authorized appropriations for such grant program through FY 2000. Requires the establishment of grievance procedures to address allegations of egregious violations of title XXVI of the Public Health Service Act. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate the planning and implementation of Federal HIV programs to facilitate the development of a complete continuum of HIV-related services for individuals with HIV disease and those at risk of such disease. Extends authorized appropriations for early intervention services until FY 2000. Extends authorized appropriations until FY 2000 for grants for coordinated services and access to research for children, youth, women, and families (formerly known as demonstration grants for research and services for pediatric patients regarding acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Makes appropriations available for special projects of the national significance program to award direct grants to public and nonprofit private entities to fund special programs for the care and treatment of individuals with HIV disease.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1994
Designates the week beginning October 16, 1994, as National Penny Charity Week.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1994
Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to extend from three years to five years the period during which Medicare select policies may be issued.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1994
Designates November 1, 1994, as National Family Literacy Day.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1994
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Department of Housing and Urban Development should not interfere with the exercise of the right of free speech, the right of free association, or the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1994
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the limited deduction for the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1994
Designates October 29, 1994, as National Firefighters Day.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 1994
Commends the work of private voluntary organizations that have made life more bearable for Romanian children infected with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) virus. Calls for the continuation of current measures to assist children infected with the AIDS virus in the Constanta region of Romania and elsewhere, and for the implementation by the Government of Romania of a nationwide AIDS-awareness campaign to lessen the possibility of the spread of infection. Urges the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to use its authority under the Support for East European Democracy Act of 1989 to provide assistance for the extension of AIDS treatment programs to other areas of Romania. Calls on USAID to: (1) report to specified congressional committees on the extent of human immunodeficiency virus infection among children in Romania and on efforts to provide assistance to address this problem and prevent further infection; and (2) offer assistance to the Romanian Ministry of Health in the collection and analysis of relevant statistics regarding AIDS. Calls on the Government of Romania to provide all appropriate assistance to address the AIDS problem, in particular, statistical and other analyses on the spread of infection by the AIDS virus.
United States · United States Congress · 17 August 1994
Amends the Mississippi River Corridor Study Commission Act of 1989 to extend until June 30, 1996, the deadline for the Mississippi River Corridor Study Commission to make its final report.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1994
Designates the months of March 1995 and March 1996 as Irish-American Heritage Month.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1994
Establishes the fourth Sunday of every July as Parents' Day.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1994
Condemns, and conveys condolences to the families of the victims of, the bombings: (1) of the Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires, Argentina; (2) targeted against the Israeli embassy and a building housing a Jewish charity in London, England; and (3) of a commuter aircraft in Panama. Reaffirms support for the Middle East peace process. Condemns the effort to undermine such process through terrorist acts. Urges all countries and peoples to work actively to bring peace to the region. Urges the President to: (1) unilaterally take action to strengthen sanctions against countries which support international terrorism and to strengthen U.S. efforts against radical Islamic groups which engage in terrorist acts; (2) work to place the issue of international terrorism on the agenda for the next summit meeting of the leaders of the G-7 group of nations; and (3) convene a conference on international terrorism and intensify and coordinate an effective international response and sanctions against countries which support international terrorism. Requests the President to work to bring the issue of international terrorism before the Organization of American States as a priority issue and to provide technical support and assistance to the countries of the Americas to improve their intelligence and investigative capacity to counter threats and acts of international terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1994
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President is: (1) required to obtain the prior approval of the Congress before U.S. armed forces may undertake offensive military action against the military leadership of Haiti in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 940; and (2) recognized as having the inherent authority to use such forces to protect or evacuate U.S. citizens from imminent danger or for humanitarian purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1994
Designates September 12 through 16, 1994, as National Gang Violence Prevention Week.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1994
Designates September 17, 1994, as Constitution Day.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1994
Designates the week of February 6, 1995, as National Inventors Week.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1994
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to pursue specified steps to enhance agricultural exports and related domestic programs, including aggressive utilization of Commodity Credit Corporation funds and commodities in the maximum amounts allowed under the Uruguay Round Agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1994
Expresses the sense of the House that the Government of Burma (a.k.a. Myanmar) should: (1) immediately release political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi; (2) permit the transfer of power to an elected civilian government based on the results of the 1990 election; (3) respect human rights and end forced labor; (4) allow free and confidential access to prisoners; (5) implement the Memorandum of Understanding with United Nations Commission on Human Rights and take specified steps concerning refugees; (6) respect the 1949 Geneva Conventions; and (7) take law enforcement actions against individuals engaged in illicit narcotics trafficking. Expresses the sense of the House that the President and other U.S. Government officials should: (1) urge the Burmese Government to release Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners; (2) maintain the current ban on nonhumanitarian assistance to Burma and encourage other members of the international community to do so; (3) disperse funds previously appropriated for Burma to support assistance for Burmese refugees and students on the Thai/Burma border; (4) maintain current limitations on bilateral narcotics control assistance to the Burmese Government until it demonstrates a commitment to combating illicit narcotics production and trafficking; (5) continue to oppose loans to Burma; (6) consider imposing further economic sanctions on Burma; (7) support the appointment of a United Nations special envoy to focus on conflict resolution for Burma; (8) maintain the arms embargo against Burma; and (9) encourage the United Nations to ensure that their activities meet basic human needs and human rights and do not benefit the military regime in Rangoon.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1994
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer to elect to include in income crop insurance proceeds and disaster payments in the year of destruction or in the following year. Revises the method of determining the inflation adjustment applicable to the luxury automobile excise tax.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1994
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1994 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities, including employing authorities of the House of Representatives, employing offices of the Senate, and instrumentalities of the Congress. Declares that: (1) this Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's partner; and (2) a disparate impact does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. Prohibits quotas and preferential treatment. Declares that this Act does not apply to: (1) religious organizations (except in their for-profit activities); (2) the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Provides for enforcement. Disallows State and Federal immunity. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Prohibits retaliation and coercion. Requires posting notices for employees and applicants.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1994
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Department of the Interior, the Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other executive agencies with relevant jurisdiction should evaluate the Walt Disney Company's proposed theme park, Disney's America, and ensure that it is in strict compliance with existing Federal environmental, transportation, and historic preservation statutes; (2) the congressional committees of jurisdiction should hold hearings to examine such aspects of the proposed theme park and the associated development of the surrounding area; (3) the historic Northern Piedmont area of Virginia should not be the site of a massive theme park and real estate project; and (4) the Walt Disney Company should seek another location for the park where its impact would not disturb areas of such great historical significance as the Northern Piedmont area of Virginia.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1994
African Conflict Resolution Act - Authorizes the President to provide assistance to: (1) strengthen the conflict resolution capabilities of the Organization of African Unity and subregional organizations established by countries in Subsaharan Africa; (2) provide for demobilizations of armed forces in Subsaharan African countries and for the retraining for civilian occupations of demobilized military personnel; and (3) nongovernmental organizations engaged in mediation and reconciliation efforts in Africa. Earmarks funds for such purposes from foreign assistance funds allocated for Subsaharan Africa. Authorizes the President to establish a program to provide education and training in conflict resolution and peacekeeping for civilian and military personnel of countries in Subsaharan Africa. Makes foreign assistance funds for military education and training available for such program.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1994
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Enhanced Supervision of Derivatives Activities Title II: Supervisory Improvements Title III: Financial Institution Insolvency Reforms Title IV: International Regulatory Cooperation Title V: GAO Study Derivatives Safety and Soundness Supervision Act of 1994 - Title I: Enhanced Supervision of Derivatives Activities - Directs the appropriate Federal regulatory agencies to jointly: (1) establish guidelines for capital, accounting, disclosure, suitability or other oversight actions regarding the derivatives activities of financial institutions; and (2) issue substantially similar regulations regarding such activities. (Sec. 101) Directs such agencies to consider comparable regulatory action by all such agencies in other matters regarding financial institutions engagd in derivatives activities, including the need for: (1) strong capital requirements; (2) comprehensive risk management systems; (3) joint regulatory examinations; (4) prudent use of collateral by counterparties to derivatives transactions; (5) evaluation tools regarding a financial institution's exposure to derivatives activities; (6) protections against credit, legal, and systemic risks; and (7) supervision of senior management by the board of directors of a financial institution regarding the prudence of derivatives activities. (Sec. 102) Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) and the Federal Credit Union Act to authorize Federal banking agencies to require that specified disclosures of derivatives activities be set forth in financial institution reports of condition ("call reports"). Subjects non-insured financial institutions and credit unions to the same disclosure requirements with respect to their derivatives activities. (Sec. 103) Includes the Chairperson of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Comptroller of the Currency as principals on any interagency task force dealing with issues regarding derivative financial instruments. (Sec. 104) Directs the Financial Institutions Examination Council to sponsor training programs concerning derivatives activities for examiners and assistant examiners employed by any agency represented on the Council. Mandates that the Council's risk management training include techniques related to derivatives activities. (Sec. 105) Directs the appropriate Federal regulatory agencies to establish liaison committees with State agencies which supervise financial institutions. Title II: Supervisory Improvements - Prohibits a financial institution from: (1) engaging in derivatives activities without a specified written management plan approved by its board of directors; or (2) acting as a dealer in derivative financial instruments or as an active end-user unless its board of directors is familiar with specified attendant risks. Authorizes the appropriate Federal regulatory agency to treat noncompliance with this Act as an unsafe or unsound practice. (Sec. 202) Mandates that the appropriate Federal regulatory agencies develop the means to obtain all necessary information regarding derivatives activities or instruments whenever it determines an emergency situation exists. (Sec. 203) Amends the FDIA to require each appropriate Federal banking agency to prescribe safety and soundness standards relating to internal control for activities involving derivative financial instruments for insured depository institutions and depository institution holding companies. (Sec. 204) Amends the International Banking Act of 1978 to include as a prerequisite of Federal approval of an application to establish a foreign bank office in the United States the comprehensive supervision and regulation of derivatives activities by the applicant's home country. Title III: Financial Institution Insolvency Reforms - Amends the FDIA regarding the treatment of certain swap agreements by conservators or receivers of insured depository institutions to include within the definition of such agreements: equity derivative, equity or equity index swap, equity or equity index option, bond option, and spot foreigh exchange transactions. (Sec. 302) Prohibits any construction of Federal law that would place any legal or judicial constraints upon the power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to transfer or liquidate any qualified financial contract. Requires the FDIC to prescribe regulations requiring more detailed recordkeeping for qualified financial contracts by undercapitalized insured depository institutions. (Sec. 303) Modifies the guidelines governing transfers of qualified financial contracts with respect to notification guidelines and the treatment of bridge banks. Title IV: International Regulatory Cooperation - Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to request a meeting with representatives of major industrialized countries to plan a study to examine the adequacy of the international regulation and supervision of derivatives activities of financial institutions. Prescribes study goals and issues. (Sec. 402) Directs the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Comptroller of the Currency to encourage central banks and regulatory authorities of other industrialized countries to maintain and adopt comparable supervisory and capital standards and regulations for financial institutions engaged in derivatives activities. Title V: GAO Study - Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to the Congress on speculative transactions by financial institutions involving derivative financial instruments and the feasibility of imposing margin and collateral requirements upon them.