United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1993
Urges the President to urge the: (1) United Kingdom to take prompt steps toward the realization of reconciliation in Northern Ireland by the initiation of a process for the declaration and constitutional incorporation of human rights and civil liberties, similar to the U.S. Bill of Rights and European Convention on Human Rights; and (2) European Community to take action to ensure that the Government of the United Kingdom is brought up to par with the rest of the Community's member nations in the oversight and protection of human rights and civil liberties in Northern Ireland.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1993
Amends the Davis-Bacon Act to raise the threshold amount of contracts covered by such Act. Sets forth provisions relating to multiple contracts, apprentices, trainees, helpers, wage review, and administration of such Act. Amends the Copeland Anti-Kickback Act to revise payroll information reporting requirements. Directs the Secretary of Labor to study and report to the Congress on electronic reporting of such information.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Establishment of a State-Based American Health Security Program; Universal Entitlement; Enrollment Title II: Comprehensive Benefits, Including Preventive Benefits and Benefits for Long Term Care Title III: Provider Participation Title IV: Administration Subtitle A: General Administrative Provisions Subtitle B: Control Over Fraud and Abuse Title V: Quality Assessment Title VI: National Health Security Budget; Payments; Cost Containment Measures Subtitle A: Budgeting and Payments to States Subtitle B: Payments by States to Providers Subtitle C: Mandatory Assignment and Administrative Provisions Title VII: Promotion of Primary Health Care; Development of Health Service Capacity; Programs to Assist the Medically Underserved Subtitle A: Promotion and Expansion of Primary Care Professional Training Subtitle B: Direct Health Care Delivery Subtitle C: Primary Care and Outcomes Research Title VIII: Financing Provisions, American Health Security Trust Fund Subtitle A: American Health Security Trust Fund Subtitle B: Increases in Corporate and Individual Income Tax Rates; Health Security Premium; and Surtax on Individuals with Incomes Over $1,000,000 Subtitle C: Employment Tax Changes Subtitle D: Other Revenue Increases Primarily Affecting Individuals Subtitle E: Other Revenue Increases Primary Affecting Businesses Subtitle F: Estimated Tax Provisions Subtitle G: Alternative Taxable Years Subtitle H: Deduction for Charitable Contribution of Appreciated Property Limited to Adjusted Basis Subtitle I: Minimum 5 Percent Rate of Tax on Interest Paid to Foreign Persons American Health Security Act of 1993 - Title I: Establishment of a State-Based American Health Security Program; Universal Entitlement; Enrollment - Establishes in the United States an American Health Security Program (AHSP) to be administered by the States (including the District of Columbia and, if they so choose, U.S. territories) in accordance with Federal standards established under this Act. Requires a State to establish a State health security program (program) in accordance with this Act to receive Federal health care funding. (Sec. 102) Entitles every individual who is a resident of the United States and is a U.S. citizen or national or a lawful resident alien to benefits for health care services under this Act under the appropriate State program. Sets forth provisions regarding the treatment of nonimmigrants and other individuals. (Sec. 103) Requires each State program to: (1) provide a mechanism for the enrollment of individuals entitled or eligible for benefits (which includes a process for the automatic enrollment of individuals at the time of birth, immigration, or other acquisition of lawful resident status in the United States and provides for the enrollment of all individuals who are eligible to be enrolled as of January 1, 1995); and (2) issue a health security card to enrolled individuals. (Sec. 104) Makes benefits portable when enrollees move or travel between States. Prohibits imposition of a minimum residence or waiting period in excess of three months for program benefit eligibility. Allows reciprocal arrangements between programs in adjacent States for coverage for enrollees residing in the border region. (Sec. 105) Makes benefits available under this Act for items and services furnished on or after January 1, 1995. (Sec. 106) Supersedes Medicare, Medicaid, the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, and CHAMPUS, which must pay for completion of services they covered before January 1, 1995. Specifies that nothing in this Act affects the eligibility of veterans for Veterans Administration health benefits and services, or of Indians for benefits and services of the Indian Health Service. Title II: Comprehensive Benefits, Including Preventive Benefits and Benefits for Long Term Care - Entitles all eligible individuals to have payment made (if medically necessary and appropriate for the maintenance of health or for the diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation of a health condition) for inpatient and outpatient hospital services, professional services of State-authorized practitioners, community-based primary health services, preventive services, long-term and chronic care services, prescription drugs, biologicals, insulin, and medical foods, dental services, mental health services, substance abuse treatment services, diagnostic tests, and other specified items and services, including outpatient therapy, durable medical equipment, home dialysis, ambulance, prosthetic devices, and other items and services specified by the American Health Security Standards Board (Board) (established by title IV of this Act). Specifies that: (1) no deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments may be charged for acute care benefits; (2) no provider may charge a patient for covered services; (3) no private insurance may duplicate program benefits; and (4) States and employers may provide additional benefits at their own expense. (Sec. 203) Covers home and community-based long-term care services for persons unable to perform at least two of five listed activities of daily living without assistance. Limits the cost of such services to 65 percent (or an alternative percentage determined by the Board) of the cost of nursing home care for an individual in the same area in which the services were provided. (Sec. 204) Makes mental health, substance abuse, nursing facility, and home health services subject to utilization review. Directs the Board to make national determinations on coverage of experimental services, with professional and public input. Specifies that where the Board has recognized practice guidelines, coverage is limited to services provided according to the guidelines or any established exception process. Allows the Board to limit quantities of eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and durable medical equipment that will be covered. Excludes from coverage cosmetic procedures, personal comfort items, and services furnished in non-participating facilities. (Sec. 205) Specifies that: (1) States may require providers to certify that covered services were provided according to program requirements; (2) quality review programs must meet Federal standards; and (3) States may require plans of care for coverage of certain services. Title III: Provider Participation - Requires providers, to receive payment, to agree: (1) not to discriminate based on race, national origin, income, religion, age, sex or sexual orientation, disability, handicapping condition, or (subject to the professional qualifications of the provider) illness; (2) not to charge patients for covered services; (3) to furnish necessary information to the Board or program; (4) not to employ other providers whose participation has been terminated for cause; and (5) to submit bills within a specified time frame. (Sec. 302) Considers a health care provider to be qualified if it is licensed or certified and meets State law requirements, applicable Federal requirements, and additional standards that the Board may specify. Requires: (1) the Board to establish, evaluate, and update national minimum standards to assure the quality of services provided and to monitor efforts by programs to assure such quality; (2) a reasonable transition period for any new standards; and (3) the Board to provide for an exchange of information among programs with respect to quality assurance and cost containment. (Sec. 303) Defines a "comprehensive health service organization" (CHSO) as a public or private organization which, in return for a capitated payment amount, furnishes or arranges a full range of health services and out-of-area coverage in the case of urgently needed services to an identified population in a specified service area which enrolls voluntarily in the organization. Sets forth various CHSO requirements regarding enrollment, withdrawal for cause, accessibility of services, continuity of care, consumer and provider representation on the board of directors, a patient grievance program, medical standards committees, premiums, utilization and bonus information, provision of services to enrollees at institutions operating under global budgets, marketing of services, and provision of emergency services to nonenrollees. (Sec. 304) Extends current Medicare prohibitions on physician self-referrals for clinical laboratory services to other services and applies such prohibitions to AHSP. Title IV: Administration - Subtitle A: General Administrative Provisions - Establishes the American Health Security Standards Board to develop policies and procedures for enrollment, benefits, provider participation, national and State funding levels, assisting programs with planning for capital expenditures and service delivery, and other functions and to establish uniform reporting standards for health services and programs. Authorizes the Board to make statistical and other studies, test alternative payment methods, and develop and test information and budget systems. Provides for the appointment of an Executive Director of the Board and an Inspector General. (Sec. 402) Directs the Board to provide for an American Health Security Advisory Council to advise the Board on matters of general policy, in the formulation of regulations, and in the performance of the Board's duties and to study the operation of, and utilization of health services under, this Act. (Sec. 403) Directs the Board to appoint advisory committees on benefits, cost containment, primary care and the medically underserved, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and prescription drugs. Authorizes the Board to appoint other temporary advisory committees. (Sec. 404) Establishes an American Health Security Quality Council which shall be responsible for quality review activities (under title V). Directs the Quality Council to report to the Board annually on activities and findings from outcomes research and development of practice guidelines that may affect the Board's determination of coverage of services. (Sec. 405) Requires: (1) each State to submit to the Board a plan for a program for providing health care services to residents of the State (but allows neighboring States to join in regional plans); (2) the Board to provide incentives for States to develop regional planning mechanisms to promote the rational distribution of, adequate access to, and efficient use of, tertiary care facilities, equipment, and services; (3) State programs to meet Federal standards, including single-agency administration, a State health security budget, provider payment and quality review methodologies consistent with Federal standards, freedom to choose providers, a consumer ombudsman, an annual report, and a fraud and abuse prevention and control unit; and (4) the Governor of each State to provide for appointment of a State Health Security Advisory Council to advise and make recommendations to the Governor and State regarding program implementation. Allows: (1) programs not meeting Federal requirements, after notice, to be placed in receivership under the Board's jurisdiction; and (2) States to use fiscal agents, after competitive bidding, to process claims. (Sec. 406) Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to direct all activities of the Department of Health and Human Services toward contributions to health of the people in a manner complementary to this Act. Subtitle B: Control Over Fraud and Abuse - Authorizes the Board to exclude providers from participation, impose civil monetary penalties, and seek criminal prosecution for fraud or abuse, based on current Medicaid standards. Requires providers to disclose relevant information about their ownership interest in health facilities and services, based on current Medicaid standards. (Sec. 412) Requires the Board: (1) through the Inspector General, to establish a national health care fraud and abuse data base, including the identity of any provider who has been convicted, had a license revoked, has been excluded or suspended from participation, or has been subjected to a civil penalty with respect to a State program, Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federally funded health program; and (2) to establish rules to protect the confidentiality of information in the data base. Requires States to provide relevant information for this purpose and to periodically inquire of the data base to determine provider qualifications to participate in programs. Sets penalties for submitting false information. (Sec. 413) Requires each program to establish and maintain a health care fraud and abuse unit. (Sec. 414) Directs the Board to provide for the assignment of a unique identifier to each participating provider and to each individual eligible for services, which shall be used for claims and payment. Title V: Quality Assessment - Directs the Quality Council to: (1) collect data from outcomes research on an ongoing basis and develop practice guidelines on the basis of such data and existing clinical knowledge; (2) adopt methodologies for profiling the patterns of practice of health care professionals and for identifying outliers (i.e., health care providers whose patterns of practice suggest quality deficiencies); (3) develop standards for the development of centers of excellence for designated procedures and for education of and sanctions for outliers; and (4) disseminate all quality guidelines and standards to the States for implementation. (Sec. 502) Requires each participating State to establish an entity to conduct quality reviews of persons providing covered services under its program which meet Federal standards for the adoption of practice guidelines, identification of outliers, development of remedial programs and monitoring for outliers, and the application of sanctions. Allows the State to adopt alternative methodologies to those adopted by the Quality Council provided that the State can demonstrate that the efficacy of such review and education programs meets Federal standards. Mandates that the quality review entity be administratively independent of the individual or board that administers the program and not provide any financial incentive to reviewers to favor one pattern of practice over another. (Sec. 503) Expresses the intent to replace random utilization controls with a systematic review of patterns of practice that compromise the quality of care by January 1, 1998. Supercedes all existing Federal utilization review programs, including random case-by-case reviews and programs requiring pre-certification of medical procedures on a case-by-case basis, with exceptions. Specifies that nothing in this section shall preclude case management of catastrophic, mental health, or substance abuse cases where necessary to achieve appropriate, cost-effective, and beneficial comprehensive medical care. (Sec. 504) Requires: (1) each State program to develop and use a uniform electronic data base which uses software designated by the Board and which assures confidentiality for all patient records to enable systematic quality review and outcomes analysis; and (2) the Board to designate such software and establish standards designed to protect the privacy of patients. Limits access by government agencies to patient records. Title VI: Health Security Budget; Payments; Cost Containment Measures - Subtitle A: Budgeting and Payments to States - Directs the Board to establish a national health security budget which specifies the total expenditures to be made by the Federal Government and the States for covered health care services, and allocates those expenditures among the States. Prohibits such budget from exceeding the budget for the preceding year increased by the percentage increase in gross domestic product. Divides the budget into quality assessment, professional education, administrative, and operating components. (Sec. 602) Provides for the allocation of funds in the budget by the Board to the States, based on the national average per capita costs of covered services adjusted for differences among the States in costs and the health status of populations. Permits the use of statistical models to estimate State capitation amounts. Sets forth State adjustment factors to reflect differences in relative needs for funds and directs that such factors be applied in a budget-neutral manner resulting in no change in total Federal expenditures from the national per capita average. (Sec. 603) Requires each program to submit to the Board a proposed and final annual budget broken into quality assessment, professional training, administrative, and operating components, with the operating component broken into facility-based services, individual practitioner payments, payments to CHSOs, and payments for other items and services. Sets forth provisions regarding proposed and final budget deadlines, adjustments in allocations, and expenditure limits. Permits programs to provide for a process for the approval of capital expenditures based on information derived from regional planning agencies. (Sec. 604) Provides for programs to receive Federal funds equal to a weighted average of 86 percent of their population-based share of the budget, which the Board may adjust between 81 and 91 percent based on State economic conditions. (Sec. 605) Requires each program to establish a separate budget account for health professional education expenditures and to distribute funds consistent with the achievement of specified national and program goals, including the receipt by the Board of reports to monitor compliance, and taking into account the potentially higher costs of placing health professional students in clinical education programs in health professional shortage areas. Subtitle B: Payments by States to Providers - Directs that: (1) payment for operating expenses for institutional and facility-based care under State programs be made directly to each institution or facility under an annual prospective global budget approved under the program; (2) such budgets take into account discharges by diagnosis-related group, prior expenditures, the extent to which debt service for capital expenditures has been included in the proposed operating budget, change in the consumer price index and other price indices, compensation, occupancy levels, past financial and clinical performance, training, technological changes, and incentives to maintain costs without reducing care; and (3) facility budgets be adjusted to reflect payments made by CHSOs. Allows programs to permit institutions and facilities to raise funds from private sources to pay for newly constructed facilities, major renovations, and equipment. (Sec. 612) Requires: (1) State programs to pay individual practitioners on a fee-for-service basis, as negotiated between States and practitioner representatives; (2) the Board to establish models for such payment and for global fee payment methodologies to encourage payment for combinations of services; and (3) practitioners to bill State programs within 30 days of providing services. Permits States to require electronic billing. (Sec. 613) Authorizes programs to pay CHSOs based on annual budgets or risk-adjusted capitation payments, reduced by the costs of covered services not provided by the CHSO. (Sec. 614) Directs that programs pay for community-based primary health services based on global budgets, basic primary care capitation amounts for enrollees, or fee-for-service, taking into account costs of serving non-covered patients, providing case management, transportation, and translation, and providing health professional education programs. (Sec. 615) Requires: (1) the Board to establish a list of approved prescription drugs based on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Prescription Drugs and to negotiate maximum prices with manufacturers; and (2) each program to pay for such drugs based on such maximum prices and to pay separate dispensing fees to pharmacies. (Sec. 616) Directs the Board to establish a list of approved durable medical equipment and therapeutic devices and equipment and programs to pay for such items based on maximum prices determined by the Board. (Sec. 617) Requires State programs to pay for other items and services based on methodologies to be adopted by the Board, consistent with the State health security budget. (Sec. 618) Directs the Board to establish model payment methodologies and other incentives to promote the provision of services in medically underserved areas. Permits programs to adjust payments amounts within their budgets to encourage provision of appropriate services in underserved areas. (Sec. 619) Authorizes programs to utilize alternative payment methodologies, provided that such methodologies do not affect the entitlement of individuals to coverage, the weighting of fee schedules to encourage an increase in the number of primary care providers, the ability of individuals to choose among qualified providers, the benefits covered under the Program, or compliance with the State health security budget. Requires States to report on the operation and effectiveness of alternative methodologies to enable the Board to evaluate the appropriateness of applying such methodologies to other States. Subtitle C: Mandatory Assignment and Administrative Provisions - Specifies that participating providers: (1) must accept payment from a program as full payment for covered services; and (2) may not impose additional charges on patients. Permits the Board to exclude from participation and subject to civil penalties violators of such provision. (Sec. 632) Requires programs to establish: (1) procedures for reimbursing providers within 60 days of bill submission; and (2) an appeals process to handle grievances pertaining to provider payments. Title VII: Promotion of Primary Health Care; Development of Health Service Capacity; Programs to Assist the Medically Underserved - Subtitle A: Promotion and Expansion of Primary Care Professional Training - Makes the Board responsible for: (1) coordinating health professional education policies and goals to achieve national goals; (2) overseeing program health professional education expenditures; (3) developing and maintaining a system to monitor the number and specialties of individuals through their health professional education, any postgraduate training, and professional practice; and (4) developing, coordinating, and promoting other policies that expand the number of primary care practitioners. Sets as national goals that: (1) at least 50 percent of graduate medical residencies be in primary care within five years of this Act's enactment; and (2) there be a certain number, specified by the Board, of midlevel primary care practitioners employed in the health care system as of January 1, 2000. Directs the Board to: (1) establish a method of applying such goals to program goals for each medical residency program or consortium of programs and reducing payments for residency programs failing to meet their goals; (2) advise the Public Health Service on allocations of funding under specified programs to increase the supply of midlevel primary care practitioners; and (3) commission a study of the potential benefits and disadvantages of expanding the scope of practice authorized under State laws for any class of midlevel primary care practitioners. (Sec. 702) Requires the Board to establish an Advisory Committee on Health Professional Education to advise the Board concerning graduate medical education policies under this title. (Sec. 703) Directs the Board to transfer specified revenues from the American Health Security Trust Fund (Trust Fund) for specified existing programs supporting health professional education and nursing education and for the National Health Service Corps. Subtitle B: Direct Health Care Delivery - Requires the Board to transfer specified Trust Fund revenues to the Public Health Service for: (1) maternal and child health block grants, preventive health block grants, grants to States for community mental health services and prevention and treatment of substance abuse, and grants for HIV health care services; and (2) grants to nonprofit community health centers and similar facilities. (Sec. 713) Directs the Board to make grants to primary care centers (i.e., nonprofit community health centers, migrant health centers, and other federally qualified health centers) to serve medically underserved populations in urban and rural areas. Specifies that grant funds may be used to plan, develop, and deliver primary care in such areas. Subtitle C: Primary Care and Outcomes Research - Requires the Board to transfer specified Trust Fund revenues to the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research for health outcomes research. (Sec. 722) Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) an Office of Primary Care and Prevention Research to be headed by a Director who shall identify and coordinate research activities relating to primary care and prevention, including care provided by multidisciplinary teams. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Director of NIH to establish a national data system and clearinghouse on primary care and prevention research. Title VIII: Financing Provisions; American Health Security Trust Fund - Subtitle A: American Health Security Trust Fund - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to create the American Health Security Trust Fund. Appropriates to the trust fund the increase in tax liabilities attributable to the application of amendments made by this title and receipts from the following programs: Medicare, Medicaid, Federal employees health benefit program, and the CHAMPUS program. Transfers to such trust fund amounts in the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund. Subtitle B: Increases in Corporate and Individual Income Tax Rates; Health Security Premium; Surtax on Individuals With Incomes Over $1,000,000 - Increases individual and corporate income tax rates, including the imposition of a health premium on such increased rates. Imposes a surtax on individuals with incomes over $1 million. Subtitle C: Employment Tax Changes - Increases the tax on employers for hospital insurance. Modifies self-employment and railroad retirement tax provisions. Makes State and local employees subject to the hospital insurance tax. Subtitle D: Other Revenue Increases Primarily Affecting Individuals - Makes permanent the overall limitation on itemized deductions for high-income taxpayers. Makes permanent the phaseout of the deduction for personal exemptions for such taxpayers. Removes residence sale, purchase, or lease expenses and meals while traveling from the deduction for moving expenses. Increases the overall dollar limitation for moving expenses in connection with the commencement of work. Makes the highest estate and gift tax rates permanent. Denies any deduction for club membership fees as an entertainment expense. Includes increased social security benefits in gross income. Provides for the collection of a monthly long-term health care premium for the elderly (other than the low-income elderly) for deposit into the American Health Security Trust Fund. Subtitle E: Other Revenue Increases Primarily Affecting Businesses - Applies mark-to-market accounting method rules for certain securities held by dealers in securities (with specified exceptions for certain types of securities such as those held for investment or as a hedge). Increases the applicable recovery period for depreciation of nonresidential real property under the accelerated cost recovery system. Includes imported property income of a controlled foreign corporation or related person as foreign base company income. Requires the separate application of the limitation on the foreign tax credit on imported property income. Applies the look-thru rules in the case of controlled foreign corporations to such income. Repeals: (1) the deduction for intangible drilling and development costs in the case of oil and gas wells and geothermal wells; (2) the percentage depletion for oil and gas wells; and (3) the application of like-kind exchange rules to real property. Disallows the capitalization of a percentage of advertising expenses. Allows the amortization of such disallowed amount. Subtitle F: Estimated Tax Provisions - Increases individual and corporate estimated tax payments. Repeals special rules which denied the use of a previous year's liability safe harbor for certain individuals with significant increases in tax liability from one year to the next. Modifies corporate annualized income installment provisions. Subtitle G: Alternative Taxable Years - Provides that the taxable year for an S corporation of partnership must be the same as an entity's reporting period if an entity has annual reports or statements which ascertain income profit or loss and are provided to shareholders or used for credit purposes. Revises computation of the amount of the required payment that must be made by a partnership or S corporation that elects a taxable year other than the required taxable year. Subtitle H: Deduction for Charitable Contribution of Appreciated Property Limited to Adjusted Basis - Limits the deduction for charitable contribution of appreciated property to the amount which would have been gained had the property been sold by the taxpayer at its fair market value. Subtitle I: Minimum 5 Percent Rate of Tax on Interest Paid to Foreign Persons - Sets a minimum rate of tax on interest paid to foreign persons notwithstanding any treaty obligations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1993
Amends Federal law to increase the Federal payments in lieu of taxes to units of local government for entitlement land. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to adjust such payments by the rate of inflation according to the Consumer Price Index.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1993
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to permit the extra-label use of drugs in animals if such use is upon the order of a licensed veterinarian, is in compliance with appropriate regulations, and is in the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Prohibits such use if it results in unacceptable residues of a drug in food.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1993
Air Traffic Supervisor Retirement Reform Act of 1993 - Provides that service performed by certain civilian employees of the Departments of Transportation or Defense holding positions for which experience as an air traffic controller is a prerequisite (air traffic second-level supervisors and managers) shall be creditable for retirement under the Civil Service and Federal Employees' Retirement Systems.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1993
Constitutional Amendment - Defines "person" to include the unborn for the purpose of the right to life guarantee. Exempts from applicability of this amendment laws permitting medical procedures required to prevent the death of the mother.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1993
Elementary and Secondary School Library Media Act - Amends the Department of Education Organization Act to establish a Division of Elementary and Secondary School Library Media Services within the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. Requires the Director of the Division to award grants to States for acquisition of school library media resources for public elementary and secondary schools. Sets forth requirements for allocation to States, State plans, and State distribution of allocation to local educational agencies. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Director to award grants for projects that: (1) encourage collaboration between public elementary and secondary library media specialists and teachers to develop instructional units that enable students to use a variety of information resources; and (2) expand students' information-gathering abilities and certain cognitive skills. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Director to award grants to encourage collaborative elementary and secondary school library media specialist and teacher programs to: (1) expand use of computers and computer networks in the curriculum; and (2) enable elementary and secondary school library media centers to access information from computerized databases. Authorizes the Director to enter into cooperative agreements with the National Science Foundation and other appropriate nonprofit agencies and organizations in carrying out this grants program. Authorizes appropriations. Requires that funds under this Act supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, or local funds.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for the portion of employer social security taxes paid with respect to employee cash tips. Makes such credit part of the general business credit.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Satellite Carriers Title II: Secondary Transmissions by Cable Systems Title I: Satellite Carriers - Amends Federal copyright provisions to revise the formula for computing royalty fees for secondary transmissions for private home viewing by satellite carriers as follows: (1) 17.5 cents per subscriber for superstations not subject to syndicated exclusivity under Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations; and (2) 14 cents per subscriber for superstations subject to such exclusivity. Requires such amounts to be totalled with the sum of the number of subscribers receiving secondary transmissions of network stations multiplied by six (currently, three) cents to calculate the royalty fee for a six-month period. Repeals provisions concerning notice of voluntary negotiation proceedings regarding such fees. Extends to June 1, 1995, the date by which the Copyright Royalty Tribunal is required to publish notice of arbitration proceedings for determining fees to be paid by satellite carriers that are not parties to voluntary royalty fee payment agreements. Title II: Secondary Transmissions by Cable Systems - Defines "cable system," for purposes of provisions governing secondary transmissions by cable systems, as a facility, other than a satellite carrier, that receives signals embodying a performance or display of a work transmitted by broadcast stations licensed by the FCC or by Canadian or Mexican governmental authorities and makes secondary transmissions of such signals to subscribing members of the public.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Safe Streets For Women Subtitle A: Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women Subtitle B: Rape Prevention Programs Subtitle C: Victim Compensation Subtitle D: National Board on Violent Crime Against Women Subtitle E: Safe Campuses for Women Title II: Safe Homes for Women Subtitle A: Interstate Enforcement Subtitle B: Arrest in Domestic Violence Cases Subtitle C: Safe Homes for Immigrant Women Subtitle D: Confidentiality for Abused Persons Title III: Civil Rights Title IV: Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Subtitle A: New Evidentiary Rules Subtitle B: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel in State Courts Subtitle C: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel in Federal Courts Violence Against Women Act of 1993 - Title I: Safe Streets for Women - Safe Streets for Women Act of 1993 - Subtitle A: Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (Omnibus Act) to authorize the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to: (1) make grants to reduce the rate of violent crimes against women to States and nonprofit nongovernmental victim services programs, and to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or nongovernmental domestic violence and sexual assault victim services programs on Indian reservations; and (2) request any Federal agency, with or without reimbursement, to use its authorities and resources to support such State and local efforts. (Sec. 112) Specifies that no State is entitled to funds under this title unless the State or other grantee incurs the full cost of forensic medical exams for victims of sexual assault. Subtitle B: Rape Prevention Programs - Chapter 1: Rape Prevention Grants - Authorizes the Director to make education and prevention grants to reduce sexual assaults against women. Chapter 2: Offender Training and Information Programs - Directs the: (1) National Institute of Justice to establish criteria and develop training programs to assist probation and parole officer and other personnel who work with released sex offenders in the areas of case management, supervision, and relapse prevention; and (2) Attorney General to compile information regarding sex offender treatment programs and ensure that information regarding treatment programs in the community into which a convicted sex offender is released is made available to persons imprisoned for sexual abuse offenses. Subtitle C: Victim Compensation - Amends the Federal criminal code to require that a court order restitution for violations of Federal sexual abuse laws. Subtitle D: National Board on Violent Crime Against Women - Establishes an Interagency Advisory Board on Violent Crime Against Women to assess and review, and make recommendations regarding, policies and practices of the Government regarding violence against women. Subtitle E: Safe Campuses for Women - Directs the Attorney General to provide for a national baseline study to examine the scope of the problem of campus sexual assaults and the effectiveness of institutional and legal policies in addressing such crimes and protecting victims. Title II: Safe Homes for Women - Safe Homes for Women Act - Subtitle A: Interstate Enforcement - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for traveling across a State line with the intent to: (1) contact that person's spouse or intimate partner and, in the course of such contact, intentionally committing a crime of violence causing bodily injury to such spouse or partner; and (2) engage in conduct that violates a protection order, or that would violate such order if the conduct occurred in the jurisdiction in which the order was issued, and engaging in such conduct. Requires that in any proceeding for the purpose of determining whether a defendant charged shall be released pending trial, or the conditions of such release, the alleged victim be given an opportunity to be heard regarding the danger posed by the defendant. Mandates that a court order restitution to the victim of an offense under this Act. Requires, provided that certain conditions are met, that a protection order issued by the court of one State be accorded full faith and credit by the court of another State. Subtitle B: Arrest in Domestic Violence Cases - Amends the Omnibus Act to authorize the Director to make grants to eligible States, Indian tribes, municipalities, or local governmental entities to encourage arrest policies in domestic violence cases, including mandatory arrest programs for protective order violations and improving judicial handling of domestic violence cases. Subtitle C: Safe Homes for Immigrant Women - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) permit an alien to petition for preference or immediate relative status under the Act (currently, only a U.S. citizen may petition claiming that an alien is entitled to such status), and provide that such a petition may only be withdrawn by the beneficiary or self-petitioner; (2) provide that an abused alien family member shall be considered to remain the spouse or child of a citizen or resident abuser after the legal termination of the marriage through which the member seeks immigrant status if specified conditions are met; and (3) provide for a stay of deportation and the granting of work authorization for abused alien family members until such time as an immigrant visa is available and the alien's application for adjustment of status has been finally adjudicated by the Attorney General (but authorizes the Attorney General to revoke the work authorization of, and initiate deportation proceedings against, any alien who has fraudulently made a claim to be an abused alien family member, if the alien has received notice of intent to revoke and has a reasonable opportunity to rebut evidence supporting the revocation). Subtitle D: Confidentiality for Abused Persons - Directs the Postmaster General to promulgate regulations to secure the confidentiality of abused persons' addresses or otherwise prohibit the disclosure of an abused person's address, subject to specified requirements. Title III: Civil Rights - Declares that all individuals within the United States, and the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, shall have the right to be free from crimes of violence motivated by the victim's gender. Permits individuals deprived of such right to bring a civil action for compensatory damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or any combination thereof, subject to specified limitations. Title IV: Equal Justice for Women in the Courts - Subtitle A: New Evidentiary Rules - Amends the Federal Rules of Evidence to make evidentiary rulings pursuant to Rule 412 (Rape Cases; Relevance of Victim's Past Behavior) subject to interlocutory appeal by the Government. (Sec. 402) Makes reputation or opinion evidence of the past sexual behavior of an alleged victim inadmissible in a criminal case, other than a sex offense case. Allows other types of evidence of a victim's past sexual behavior in accordance with specified procedures if its probative value outweighs the danger of unfair prejudice. (Sec. 403) Makes reputation or opinion evidence of the plaintiff's past sexual behavior inadmissible in a civil action involving allegations of actionable sexual misconduct. Allows other types of evidence of a plaintiff's past sexual behavior in accordance with specified procedures if its probative value outweighs the danger of unfair prejudice. (Sec. 404) Makes evidence of an alleged victim's clothing in a criminal case under Federal laws relating to sexual abuse inadmissible to show that the victim incited or invited the offense. Subtitle B: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel in State Courts - Authorizes the State Justice Institute to award grants to develop, test, present, and disseminate model programs to be used by States in training judges and court personnel in the laws of the State on rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes of violence motivated by the victim's gender. Subtitle C: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel in Federal Courts - Directs the: (1) circuit judicial councils to conduct studies of the instances of gender bias in their respective circuits; (2) Judicial Conference of the United States to designate an entity within the judicial branch to act as a clearinghouse to disseminate any reports and materials issued by the gender bias task forces and to respond to requests for such reports and materials; and (3) Federal Judicial Center to include in its educational programs information on issues related to gender bias in the courts, prepare materials necessary to accomplish that end, and take into consideration the findings and recommendations of such studies and consult with individuals and groups with relevant expertise in gender bias issues as it prepares or revises such materials.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Young American Workers' Bill of Rights - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to revise and increase requirements relating to child labor standards, including: (1) reporting, recordkeeping, and certification; (2) orders and regulations; (3) penalties; (4) coverage regardless of sales volume; (5) civil actions; and (6) migrant or seasonal agricultural labor. Directs the Secretary of Labor to: (1) compile annual data relating to child labor (jointly with the Census Bureau); (2) provide for coordination among enforcement personnel for Federal and State labor standards, occupational health and safety laws, and Federal immigration laws; (3) establish an Advisory Committee for Child Labor; and (4) publicize violators of child labor laws. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Low-Income Housing Revitalization Act - Amends Internal Revenue Code (IRC) provisions relating to the low-income housing credit to increase the credit from four percent to nine percent with respect to new buildings that are federally subsidized. Extends the low-income housing credit permanently. Amends IRC accounting provisions to exempt low-income housing credit activities from limitations on passive losses. Revises the accelerated cost recovery system in connection with low-income residential rental property to reduce the applicable recovery period from 27.5 to 20 years. Disallows an income tax deduction for any expense relating to residential rental units unless such units are suitable for occupancy. Excludes deductions for business expenses, interest on indebtedness, and taxes from calculations to determine the passive loss limitation in connection with rental real estate activity relating to a qualified low-income housing project in which a noncorporate taxpayer actively or materially participates.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that any legislation enacted to reform the health care system must: (1) ensure that every person has access to coverage for medically and psychologically necessary treatments for mental disorders that is equitable to the coverage provided for treatments of physical illnesses; and (2) meet specified requirements concerning coverage, consumer choice, financial protection, financing policies, and coordination across Federal, State, and local programs.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1993
Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide that title I (Protection of Employee Benefit Rights) does not preempt any State law which provides for: (1) the payment of prevailing wages; (2) standards or other requirements relating to apprenticeship or other training programs; or (3) liens, bonding, or other security to collect delinquent contributions to a multiemployer plan.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1993
Amends Federal law to extend certain retirement-related provisions of the Civil Service Retirement System for Federal law enforcement officers to: (1) revenue officers in the Internal Revenue Service; (2) customs inspectors and canine enforcement officers in the U.S. Customs Service; and (3) inspectors in the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1993
Amends the Railroad Retirement Solvency Act of 1983 to make permanent the transfer to the Railroad Retirement Account of income tax revenues attributable to the taxation of tier II railroad retirement benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Balancing the Budget Title II: Technical and Conforming Amendments Balanced Budget Enforcement Act of 1993 - Title I: Balancing the Budget - Part A: Purposes - Repeals provisions of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) with respect to: (1) emergency powers to eliminate deficits in excess of the maximum deficit amount; (2) budgetary treatment of social security trust funds; and (3) miscellaneous and related provisions. Declares the purpose of this Act to balance the budget by FY 1998 and each year thereafter. Part B: The Deficit Elimination Act of 1993 - Establishes deficit reduction targets for direct spending and receipts legislation for FY 1994 through 1998. Establishes discretionary funding limits in terms of new budget authority for FY 1994 through 1998. Requires, whenever appropriate, that adjustments to such limits be made to reflect: (1) changes in budget accounting concepts; (2) changes in inflation for each year and outyear (any of the four fiscal years that follow the budget year); (3) renewal/replacement multiyear subsidized housing contracts; (4) emergency requirements; (5) new limits for 1998 and thereafter; and (6) any law that raises excise taxes dedicated to a transportation trust fund. Provides that if at the start of the 1998 budget-year session the baseline assuming deficit reduction projects a deficit (or surplus) for that year, then the direct spending and receipts deficit reduction requirement for that year and the discretionary funding limit for that year shall each be changed by amounts that, when debt service effects are added, will produce a balanced budget. Provides for preventing deficits starting with FY 1999. Provides for the enactment of a spin-off law through congressional budget procedures or other means to balance the budget in 1998 or prevent deficits after 1998. Establishes a scorecard for the recording of the estimated increase or decrease in deficit reduction for the current year, the budget year, and each fiscal year through 1998 due to enactment (after August 15, 1992) of any law, or the imposition of any sequestration, or the change in the baseline which relates to certain expiring provisions of law and to veterans' compensation, affecting the level of direct spending or the level of receipts. Requires the creation of a new scorecard for FY 1999 and thereafter for the estimated increase or decrease in the deficit or surplus for the budget year. Sets forth deficit reduction requirements for the scorecard. Establishes a scorecard for each fiscal year starting with 1994 for discretionary appropriations amounts due to: (1) the enactment of any law in the budget-year session; (2) the enactment of any law in any previous session of Congress; or (3) the imposition of any across-the-board reduction of discretionary programs. Sets forth the method of enforcing deficit reduction targets in direct spending programs through a targeted sequestration procedure. Requires enactment of a spin-off law to initiate such procedure. Establishes a comprehensive sequestration procedure if such spin-off bill is not enacted. Requires under such procedure a freeze of entitlement spending and some revenue provisions in the amount needed to meet deficit targets. Sets forth the method of sequestering discretionary programs through uniform across-the-board reductions, unless the excess of new budget authority is less than $250 million. Lists the budget accounts or activities exempted from sequestration. Authorizes the President to exempt some or all of the budgetary resources of any military personnel account from sequestration, pending notification of the Congress. Subjects Federal administrative expenses to sequestration orders, with specified exceptions. Provides for the permanent sequestration of direct spending and receipts and for determining applicable uniform percentages for reductions. Sets forth the method of making reductions for specified programs. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish the method of sequestration through tax changes. Requires an increase in the top marginal rates and modifies the indexing provision under a sequestration order. Imposes a tax surcharge on individuals and corporations. Sets forth the timetable for estimating assumptions and filing reports and orders by the President, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Board of Estimates (established by this Act). Requires the making of sequestration reports, sequestration preview reports, and low-growth reports by CBO and OMB. Establishes the administrative procedures relative to such reports. Sets forth assumptions to be used in calculating the baseline for the budget year and each outyear with respect to direct spending and receipts and discretionary programs. Declares that a baseline assuming deficit reduction refers to a projection of current policy baseline surpluses or deficits into the budget year and the outlays that are adjusted in aggregate by: (1) assuming compliance with basic deficit reduction targets; (2) assuming compliance with the discretionary funding limits; and (3) excluding amounts resulting from legislation designated as an emergency requirement. Establishes as a deposit fund in the Treasury a Stabilization Reserve Fund to accumulate balances during years of comparative prosperity, which may later be used to cover the loss of receipts and the increase in outlays that occur during comparative economic distress. Requires annual surpluses to be paid into the Fund. Establishes congressional procedures in the event of a low-growth report or a declaration of war. Establishes a Board of Estimates to choose the applicable sequestration report from OMB or CBO to submit to the President. Provides judicial review procedures for provisions of this title. Title II: Technical and Conforming Amendments - Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Standing Rules of Senate, and specified other laws. Establishes the public debt limit.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 1993
Fairness for Adopting Families Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an individual income tax deduction for qualified adoption expenses. Includes as deductible reasonable and necessary expenses that are directly related to a legal adoption of any child if the adoption has been arranged by a State, local, or other nonprofit agency, or through a private placement. Excludes from an employee's gross income any amounts paid on behalf of the employee by an employer pursuant to a qualified adoption assistance program. Limits both the deduction and the exclusion to $5,000 ($7,000 in the case of an international adoption). Reduces the amount when the taxpayer's income exceeds $60,000. Permits an employer to treat an adoption assistance program as a statutory employee benefit plan, thus making the employer's contributions to such a program tax deductible as business expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1993
Authorizes the Air Force Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor the men and women who have served in the U.S. Air Force.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Copyright Office Title II: Copyright Royalty Tribunal Title III: General Provisions Copyright Reform Act of 1993 - Title I: Copyright Office - Amends Federal copyright law to provide that nothing in such law limits any rights under State law with respect to perfecting security interests. Authorizes a copyright owner, in the case of a work consisting of sounds, images, or both, the first fixation of which is made simultaneously with its transmission, to institute an infringement action either before or after such fixation takes place if he serves notice upon the infringer between ten and 30 days before the fixation and identifies the work and specific time and source of its first transmission. (Current law requires a work to be registered before an infringement action may be brought.) Repeals a provision which requires registration as a prerequisite to certain remedies for infringement. Converts the Register of Copyrights from a Librarian of Congress appointee to a presidential appointee. Title II: Copyright Royalty Tribunal - Replaces the Copyright Royalty Tribunal with copyright arbitration royalty panels to oversee the adjustment of copyright royalty rates and payments and to distribute royalty fees in the event a controversy over distribution exists. Sets forth provisions concerning panel membership and arbitration proceedings. Requires the Register of Copyrights to: (1) adopt a panel decision unless the decision is arbitrary; and (2) set a royalty fee or distribute fees if it rejects the decision. Provides for judicial review of Register decisions concerning panel determinations. Authorizes owners or users of copyrighted works to petition for adjustments of compulsory license rates by copyright arbitration royalty panels. Sets forth requirements for proceedings concerning cable television, phonorecords, coin-operated phonorecord players, noncommercial broadcasting, and digital audio recording. Repeals specified provisions concerning compulsory licenses and limitations on exclusive rights for coin-operated phonorecord players. Revises requirements concerning compulsory licenses for public broadcasting. Title III: General Provisions - Sets forth effective dates for the amendments made by this Act. Retains existing royalty rates and determinations concerning the proportionate division of compulsory license fees among copyright claimants until modified by voluntary agreement or pursuant to the amendments made by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1993
Ban on Smoking in Federal Buildings Act - Prohibits smoking in Federal buildings and in any other space owned or leased for use by a Federal agency. Directs the Administrator of General Services (with respect to the executive branch), the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (with respect to the judicial branch), and the House Office Building Commission, the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, and the Architect of the Capitol (with respect to the legislative branch) to take such actions as necessary to institute and enforce such prohibition. Requires the Administrator to report to specified congressional committees with information concerning the degree of compliance with this Act and an assessment of the legal status of smoking in public places. Specifies that nothing in this Act is intended to preempt any provision of State or local law that is more restrictive than a provision of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1993
Amends the Airport and Airway Safety, Capacity, Noise Improvement, and Intermodal Transportation Act of 1992 with respect to the establishment of the National Commission to Ensure a Strong Competitive Airline Industry.
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
Western Hemisphere Environmental Cooperation Act of 1993 - Directs the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) to establish a Western Hemisphere Biodiversity Cooperation Program within AID to assist (including by purchase of commercial debts of foreign countries) in the establishment and strengthening of biodiversity management organizations to protect biological diversity and to enhance the economic value of the biological resources of Latin America and the Caribbean. Directs the Administrator of AID to establish a program of Western Hemisphere Biodiversity Cooperation Grants to be awarded to such organizations. Requires the President to direct an appropriate Federal entity to study the feasibility of establishing a Western Hemisphere Environmental Partnership to promote hemispheric technological cooperation on environmental problems.
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
Trident II (D-5) Missile Production Termination Act - Prohibits funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for fiscal years after 1993 from being obligated or expended for production of additional Trident II (D-5) missiles. Allows amounts appropriated to the Department to be expended for such missile only to complete production of those missiles commenced with funds appropriated before FY 1994.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1993
Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to limit the late enrollment penalty to a ten percent increase in the monthly part B premium due over a period equal to twice the number of years that the part B beneficiary could have been but was not enrolled under part B.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1993
Americans with Disabilities Business Development Act of 1993 - Amends the Small Business Act to: (1) substitute the definition of "disability" (a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of an individual) for "handicapped individual"; and (2) include Americans with disabilities among those considered to be socially disadvantaged for purposes of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the tax-exempt status of a cooperative telephone company to provide for the tax treatment of income received from a nonmember telephone company for services by the cooperative which are indirectly paid for by members of the cooperative. Includes billing and collection services for a nonmember telephone company under such treatment. Provides for the tax treatment of account reserve income that does not exceed a specified percentage of the company's total income. Subjects a portion of such investment income to unrelated business income tax.
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 · 2 February 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Shenandoah Valley National Battlefields Title II: Shenandoah Valley National Battlefields Commission Title III: Authorization Of Appropriations Shenandoah Valley National Battlefields Partnership Act of 1993 - Title I: Shenandoah Valley National Battlefields - Establishes the Shenandoah Valley National Battlefields as a unit of the National Park Service (NPS). Sets forth the areas and battlefields included within the Battlefields. Directs the Shenandoah Valley National Battlefields Commission (established in title II) to identify lands in the historic core and the contributing battlefield area in the vicinity that shall comprise the Battlefields. Requires the Secretary and the Commission to: (1) encourage heritage preservation within the regional area of the Battlefields by landowners, local governments, organizations, and businesses; and (2) cooperate to promote heritage tourism in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia that is compatible with resource protection. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) restoration of property within the Battlefields; (2) grant awards to property owners and governmental entities and provision of technical assistance to promote and maintain the historic character of the Battlefields; (3) reimbursement of planning costs; and (4) implementation grants to government entities and the private sector. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire lands and interests in lands within the historic core by donation. Directs the Commission to submit to the Congress a Shenandoah Valley Civil War Sites Heritage Plan that describes the appropriate protection, management, uses, and development of the Battlefields consistent with the purposes of this Act. Title II: Shenandoah Valley National Battlefields Commission - Establishes the Shenandoah Valley National Battlefields Commission to: (1) advise and actively participate with the NPS in developing a Heritage Plan; (2) assist in the implementation, coordination, protection, promotion, and management of Battlefield resources; and (3) administer donated funds. Title III: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1993
Preventing Our Kids From Inhaling Deadly Smoke (PRO-KIDS) Act of 1993 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to issue guidelines for enforcing a nonsmoking policy at each Federal agency that prohibits, at a minimum, smoking in each portion of a Federal building that is not ventilated separately. Directs the heads of Federal agencies, the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, and specified entities of the legislative branch to adopt nonsmoking policies that meet the guideline requirements. Authorizes Federal agencies to petition for a waiver from the general requirements if extenuating circumstances prevent enforcement and such agencies make a good-faith effort to enforce an alternative policy. Requires Federal agencies in which a labor organization is recognized as a bargaining unit to ensure implementation of the requirements that affect work areas predominantly occupied by employees represented by such organization. Exempts such work areas from the policy if a collective bargaining agreement exists that includes provisions relating to smoking privileges that are in violation of this Act. Terminates such exemption on the earlier of the first expiration date of the agreement or one year after the issuance of the guidelines. Requires the Administrator to establish an outreach program on the dangers of environmental tobacco smoke. Directs the Administrator to establish an Environmental Tobacco Smoke Advisory Office. Requires each person who uses Federal funds to provide children's services to establish and enforce a nonsmoking policy that: (1) prohibits smoking in each portion of the facility used in connection with children's services; and (2) provides for the posting of signs stating that smoking is not permitted. Authorizes persons who make a good-faith effort to enforce a policy that meets such requirements to petition their funding agency for a waiver from the general requirements. Sets forth conditions for granting waivers. Provides for special waivers for persons who provide children's services pursuant to certain collective bargaining agreements. Prescribes civil penalties for violations of this Act. Exempts specified individuals from this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1993
Social Security Appeals Process Reform Act of 1993 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct an evidentiary hearing with an applicant for disability benefits prior to making any decision regarding the applicant's claim for such benefits. Eliminates the reconsideration level of appeal. Requires the Secretary to make every reasonable effort to ensure that the applicant's case folder contains all relevant medical records as well as a statement from the applicant and any statements from family and friends describing the applicant's disability in order to make a disability determination.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1993
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that a monthly benefit shall be paid to the recipient's surviving spouse for the month in which the recipient dies, subject to a reduction of 50 percent in the last monthly payment if the recipient dies during the first 15 days of such month.
![Official portrait of Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/o000006_200.jpg)