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United States · Official source
2,523 records where Rep. Roukema, Marge [R-NJ-5] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1993
Prohibits Department of Defense funds from being obligated or expended for activities of the armed forces participating in, or operating in support of, the United Nations-led force in Somalia.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1993
Prohibits, with exceptions, the refugee admission into the United States of persons who served in the Iraqi armed forces during the Persian Gulf conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1993
Designates October 19, 1993, as National Mammography Day.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1993
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to make matching contributions to: (1) the Palisades Interstate Park Commission for the acquisition of Sterling Forest, New York; and (2) Passaic County, New Jersey, toward the outstanding amount owed for certain lands, as specified in the consent judgment in County of Passaic against MPS Corporation, Sterling Forest Corporation, and Sterling Forest Development Corporation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Improved Access to Affordable Health Care Subtitle A: Increased Availability and Continuity of Health Coverage for Employees and Their Families Subtitle B: Reform of Health Insurance Marketplace for Small Business Subtitle C: Preemption Subtitle D: Health Deduction Fairness Subtitle E: Improved Access to Community Health Services Subtitle F: Improved Access to Rural Health Services Subtitle G: State Flexibility in the Medicaid Program: The Medical Health Allowance Program Title II: Health Care Cost Containment and Quality Enhancement Subtitle A: Medical Malpractice Liability Reform Subtitle B: Administrative Cost Savings Subtitle C: Deduction for Cost of Catastrophic Health Plan; Medical Savings Accounts Subtitle D: Anti-Fraud Subtitle E: Medicare Payment Changes; Part B Premium Tax for High-Income Individuals Subtitle F: Removing Anti-Trust Impediments Subtitle G: Encouraging Enforcement Activities of Medical Self-Regulatory Entities Subtitle H: Prefunding Government Health Benefits for Certain Annuitants Subtitle I: Miscellaneous Provisions Title III: Long-Term Care Subtitle A: Tax Treatment of Long-Term Care Insurance Subtitle B: Protection of Assets Under Medicaid Through Use of Qualified Long-Term Care Insurance Subtitle C: Studies Subtitle D: Volunteer Service Credit Demonstration Projects Affordable Health Care Now Act of 1993 - Title I: Improved Access to Affordable Health Care - Subtitle A: Increased Availability and Continuity of Health Coverage for Employees and Their Families - Part 1: Required Coverage Options for Eligible Employees, Spouses, and Dependents - Requires each employer to make available to each eligible employee a group health plan under which: (1) coverage of each eligible individual with respect to such employee may be elected on an annual basis; (2) coverage is provided for at least the required coverage specified; and (3) employees may elect to have premiums collected through payroll deduction. Does not require employer contributions to the cost of coverage under such a plan. Provides for the exclusion of: (1) employers who have been employers for less than two years or who have no more than two eligible employees or no more than two eligible employees not covered under any group health plan; and (2) family members under specified circumstances. Specifies that a group health plan shall not be treated as failing to meet the requirements of this Act solely because a period of service by an eligible employee of not more than 60 days is required for coverage. Specifies that the required coverage is standard coverage, except that in the case of a small employer that has not contributed during the previous plan year to the cost of coverage for any eligible employee under any group health plan, the required coverage for the plan year is coverage under a MedAccess standard, MedAccess catastrophic, and MedAccess medisave plan. Provides for a five-year transition for existing group health plans. (Sec. 1002) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) compliance with applicable requirements through multiple employer health arrangements; and (2) coverage options under a State medical health allowance program. Part 2: Preexisting Conditions and Continuity of Coverage; Renewability - Prohibits a group health plan from imposing (and an insurer from requiring an employer from imposing through a waiting period for coverage under a plan or similar requirement) a limitation or exclusion of benefits relating to treatment of a preexisting condition if: (1) the condition relates to a condition that was not diagnosed or treated within three months before the date of coverage under the plan; or (2) the limitation or exclusion extends over more than six month after the date of coverage, applies to an individual who, as of the date of birth, was covered under the plan, or relates to pregnancy. Specifies that, in the case of an individual who is eligible for coverage under a plan but for a waiting period imposed by the employer, the individual shall be treated as having been covered under the plan as of the earliest date of the beginning of the waiting period. (Sec. 1012) Requires each group health plan to waive any period applicable to a preexisting condition for similar benefits with respect to an individual to the extent that the individual, prior to enrollment in such plan, was covered for the condition under any other health plan. (Sec. 1013) Prohibits: (1) a multiemployer plan and an exempted multiple employer health plan from canceling or denying renewal of coverage under such a plan for an employer other than for nonpayment of contributions, fraud or other misrepresentation, noncompliance with plan provisions, or misuse of a provider network provision, or because the plan is ceasing to provide any coverage in a geographic area; (2) an insurer from canceling a health insurance plan or denying renewal of coverage other than as prescribed above; and (3) an insurer who terminates the offering of health insurance plans in an area from offering such a plan to any employer in the area until five years after the date of the termination. Part 3: Enforcement; Effective Dates; Definitions - Makes provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 applicable with respect to enforcement of this Act (by the Department of Labor). Amends the Internal Revenue Code (Code) to impose a tax ($100 per day for each individual involved, subject to specified limitations) on the failure of an insurer to comply with the requirements under part 2 unless the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) determines that the State has in effect a regulatory enforcement mechanism that provides adequate sanctions. Subtitle B: Reform of Health Insurance Marketplace for Small Business - Requires each insurer that makes available a health insurance plan to a small employer in a State to make available to each small employer in the State a MedAccess standard, MedAccess catastrophic, and MedAccess medisave plan, with exceptions for health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and if a State provides for guaranteed availability (rather than guaranteed issue). Requires each insurer that offers a MedAccess plan to a small employer in a State to accept: (1) every small employer in the State that applies for coverage; and (2) every eligible individual who applies for enrollment on a timely basis. Sets forth provision regarding: (1) special rules for HMOs; (2) timely enrollment requirements; and (3) enrollment of spouses and dependents. Makes such requirements inapplicable in a State that has provided (in accordance with specified standards) a mechanism under which each insurer offering a health insurance plan to a small employer in the State must participate in a program for assigning high-risk small employer groups (or individuals within such a group) among some or all such insurers, if the insurers comply. (Sec. 1102) Defines "MedAccess plan" as a health insurance plan that: (1) is designed to provide standard coverage with substantial cost-sharing, only catastrophic coverage, or medisave coverage; (2) includes only essential and medically necessary services; (3) meets applicable requirements relating to guaranteed issue; and (4) meets specifies consumer protection standards. Defines "MedAccess standard plan," "MedAccess catastrophic plan," and "MedAccess medisave plan" to mean a MedAccess plan that provides for at least standard coverage, for only catastrophic coverage, or medisave coverage, respectively. Requests the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to submit to the Secretary a set of rules which NAIC determines is sufficient for determining, in the case of any health insurance plan and for purposes of this subtitle, the actuarial value of the coverage offered by the plan. Directs the Secretary to certify such set of rules for use under this subtitle if they meet such requirements or establish such a set of rules. Specifies that a health insurance plan is considered to provide: (1) standard coverage if the benefits are determined, in accordance with certified rules of actuarial equivalence, to have a value that is within five percentage points of an established target actuarial value for standard coverage; (2) catastrophic coverage if benefits are available under the plan for a year only to the extent that expenses for covered services in a year exceed a deductible amount that is consistent with a specified requirement for a catastrophic health plan under the Code, and are determined, in accordance with certified actuarial equivalence rules, to have a value that is within five percentage points of an established target actuarial value for catastrophic coverage; and (3) medisave coverage if such plan consists of a catastrophic health plan within the meaning of the Code and a medical savings account. Requests NAIC to submit to the Secretary target actuarial values for standard and catastrophic coverage. Permits NAIC to submit periodic revisions of, and permits the Secretary to revise, the set of rules of actuarial equivalence and target actuarial values where necessary to take into account changes in the relevant types of health benefits provisions, in deductible levels for catastrophic coverage, or in relevant demographic conditions. (Sec. 1103) Directs the Secretary to request NAIC to develop model regulations that specify standards with respect to requirements: (1) that insurers make available MedAccess plans; (2) of guaranteed availability of MedAccess plans to small employers; (3) relating to limits on premiums and certain consumer protections; and (4) relating to limitation of annual premium increases. Requires the Secretary to review such standards and, if NAIC fails to specify standards meeting such requirements, to promulgate standards. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the application of MedAccess standards and consumer protection standards by the States; and (2) the Federal role. (Sec. 1104) Sets forth provisions: (1) regarding limits on premiums and annual premium increases; and (2) requiring an insurer, at the time of offering a health insurance plan to a small employer, to fully disclose rating practices for health insurance plans, including rating practices for different populations and benefit designs. (Sec. 1106) Directs the Secretary to: (1) request NAIC to develop models for reinsurance or allocation of risk mechanisms for health insurance plans made available to small employers for whom an insurer is at risk of incurring high costs under the plan; and (2) review such models or specify models. Sets forth provisions regarding implementation of reinsurance or allocation of risk mechanisms by the States and the Federal role. Amends the Code to provide for the imposition of a tax on any health insurance plan which covers any employee in a Federal reinsurance State. (Sec. 1108) Directs the Secretary to establish an Office of Private Health Care Coverage. Requires the Office Director to submit to the Congress annual reports evaluating health care coverage reform. (Sec. 1109) Authorizes the Director to conduct: (1) research on the impact of this subtitle on the availability of affordable health coverage for employees and dependents in the small employers group health care coverage market and other specified topics; and (2) demonstration projects relating to such topics. Requires the Director to develop: (1) methods for measuring the relative health risks of eligible individuals in terms of the expected costs of providing benefits under health insurance plans and, in particular, MedAccess plans; and (2) a model for equitably distributing health risks among insurers in the small employer health care coverage market. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Preemption - Part 1: Scope of State Regulation - Prohibits: (1) State benefit mandates for group health plans; and (2) State or local law prohibitions against two or more employers obtaining coverage under an insured multiple employer health plan. (Sec. 1203) Preempts State restrictions concerning: (1) reimbursement rates or selective contracting; (2) differential financial incentives; and (3) utilization review methods. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study of the benefits and cost effectiveness of the use of managed care in the delivery of health services. Part 2: Multiple Employer Health Benefits Protections - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to allow a limited exemption under preemption rules for multiple employer plans providing health benefits subject to certain Federal standards. (Sec. 1212) Relieves exempted multiple employer plans providing medical care benefits of certain restrictions on preemption of State law. Treats such plans as employee welfare benefit plans. Allows commencement of new arrangements only if such exemption is in effect or an application is pending and the Secretary of Labor determines that provisional protection is appropriate. Sets forth exemption procedures, eligibility requirements, and additional requirements applicable to exempted arrangements. Requires certain disclosures to participating employers, maintenance of reserves, and corrective actions. Provides for expiration, suspension, and revocation of exemptions, and for review of actions by the Secretary. (Sec. 1213) Revises provisions relating to scope of preemption rules, and to treatment of single employer arrangements and of certain collectively bargained arrangements. (Sec. 1215) Establishes special rules for employee leasing healthcare arrangements. Treats such arrangements as multiple employer welfare arrangements except when they are multiple employer health plans. (Sec. 1216) Sets forth enforcement provisions relating to multiple employer welfare arrangements and employee leasing health care arrangements. (Sec. 1217) Sets forth filing requirements for multiple employer welfare arrangements. (Sec. 1218) Provides for cooperation between Federal and State authorities in enforcing ERISA requirements for multiple employer welfare arrangements with the limited exemption. Part 3: Encouragement of Multiple Employer Arrangements Providing Basic Health Benefits - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the commonality of interest or geographic location requirement for tax exempt trust status for multiple employer health plans and insured multiple employer health plans if they meet certain requirements under ERISA and this Act. Part 4: Simplifying Filing of Reports for Employers Covered under Insured Multiple Employer Health Plans - Amends ERISA to direct the Secretary of Labor to prescribe an alternative method providing for a single annual report with respect to all employers who are covered under the same insured multiple employer health plan. Part 5: Compliance with Coverage Option Requirements - Provides for compliance with applicable coverage requirements through multiemployer plans and other multiple employer health arrangements. Subtitle D: Health Deduction Fairness - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide: (1) for a permanent extension and increase in the health insurance tax deduction for self-employed individuals; and (2) that the deduction for certain health insurance costs be determined without regard to an adjusted gross income threshold. Disallows the deduction to individuals eligible for employer-subsidized coverage. Allows the deduction whether or not the individual itemizes other deductions. Subtitle E: Improved Access to Community Health Services - Part 1: Increased Authorization for Community and Migrant Health Centers - Directs the Secretary to provide for grants to migrant and community health centers to promote primary health care services for underserved individuals. Allows grants to be used to promote the provision of off-site services, to improve birth outcomes in areas with high infant mortality and morbidity, to establish primary care clinics in areas in need, and for recruitment and training costs of necessary providers and operating costs for unreimbursed services. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of the impact of such grants on access to health care, birth outcomes, and the use of emergency room services. Part 2: Grants for Projects for Coordinating Delivery of Services - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary to make grants to public and nonprofit private entities: (1) to carry out demonstration projects to increase access to outpatient primary health services in specified geographic areas (i.e., areas that are rational areas for the delivery of health services, have a population of not more than 500,000 individuals, and have been designated by the Secretary as areas with a shortage of personal health services or that have a significant number of individuals with low incomes or insufficient health care insurance through coordinating the delivery of such services under Federal, State, local, and private programs; and (2) for developing plans to carry out such projects. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Improved Access to Rural Health Services - Part 1: Establishment of Rural Emergency Access Care Hospitals Under Medicare - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for: (1) establishment of rural emergency access care hospitals under Medicare; and (2) coverage of and payment for rural emergency access care hospital services under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance). Part 2: Rural Medical Emergencies Air Transport - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary to make grants to States to assist in the creation or enhancement of air medical transport systems that provide victims of medical emergencies in rural areas with access to treatments. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) application and State plan requirements; (2) considerations in awarding grants; (3) State administration and use of grants; (4) the number of grants; and (5) reporting requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Part 3: Emergency Medical Services Amendments - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary to: (1) establish an Office of Emergency Medical Services, headed by a Director; (2) engage in specified emergency medical services activities, including disseminating information obtained in carrying out specified activities to public and private entities, providing technical assistance to State and local agencies, coordinating Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) activities with those of other Federal agencies; and (3) ensure that such activities are carried out consistent with certain requirements regarding maintaining an adequate number of health professionals with expertise in the provision of services, developing, periodically reviewing, and revising as appropriate guidelines for the provision of such services, appropriately using available technologies, and serving the unique needs of underserved inner-city and rural areas. (Sec. 1522) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States for the purpose of improving the availability and quality of emergency medical services through the operation of State offices of emergency medical services, subject to specified matching fund, budgetary, and other requirements. (Sec. 1523) Provides for demonstration projects to establish telecommunications between rural medical facilities and medical facilities with expertise or equipment. Directs the Secretary to ensure that the telecommunications technologies demonstrated include interactive video telecommunications, static video imaging transmitted through the telephone system, and facsimiles transmitted through such system. (Sec. 1524) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) emergency medical services (including for State offices of Emergency Medical Services and for telecommunications demonstrations); and (2) trauma care and certain other activities. Subtitle G: State Flexibility in the Medicaid Program: The Medical Health Allowance Program - Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to provide for the establishment of State health allowance programs under which the State makes payments to a group health plan which provides coverage to an eligible individual as an allowance towards the costs of providing the individual with benefits under the plan. Subtitle H: Medicaid Program Flexibility - Amends SSA title XIX Medicaid) to modify: (1) Federal requirements to allow States more flexibility in contracting for coordinated care services under Medicaid; and (2) provisions regarding the extension of certain waivers. Title II: Health Care Cost Containment and Quality Enhancement - Subtitle A: Medical Malpractice Liability Reform - Part 1: General Provisions - Makes this subtitle applicable with respect to any medical malpractice liability claim and to any medical malpractice liability action brought in State or Federal court, except a claim or action for damages arising from a vaccine-related injury or death to the extent that title XXI of the Public Health Service Act applies. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) preemption of State law; (2) effect on sovereign immunity and choice of law or venue; (3) jurisdiction; and (4) effective dates. Part 2: Medical Malpractice and Product Liability Reform - Prohibits a medical malpractice liability action from being brought in any State court during a calendar year unless the relevant claim has been initially resolved (i.e., a decision has been reached on whether the defendant is liable to the plaintiff for damages and on the amount of damages) under a certified alternative dispute resolution (ADR) system or an alternative Federal system. Prohibits a medical malpractice liability action from being brought in Federal court based on diversity of citizenship during a calendar year unless the relevant claim has been initially resolved under such a system in the State whose law applies. Directs the Attorney General to establish an ADR process for tort claims consisting of medical malpractice liability claims brought against the United States under chapter 171 of the Federal judicial code (U.S. Court of Federal Claims). Prohibits a medical malpractice liability action based on such a claim from being brought in any Federal court unless the claim has been initially resolved under such process. Sets forth procedures for filing actions. (Sec. 2012) Limits to $250,000 the amount of noneconomic damages that may be awarded to a claimant and family members in a medical malpractice liability action. Sets limits on punitive damages and on periodic payments for future losses. (Sec. 2013) Set forth provisions regarding: (1) limits on attorney fees and other costs; (2) joint and several liability (generally, liability may be found only for those damages directly attributable to the person's proportionate share of fault or responsibility for the injury); (3) a statute of limitations of seven years; and (4) a uniform standard for determining negligence (the defendant's conduct at the time of providing the health care services was not reasonable). (Sec. 2017) Specifies that in the case of a medical malpractice liability claim relating to services provided during labor or the delivery of a baby, if the health care professional did not previously treat the injured individual for the pregnancy, the trier of fact may not find that the defendant committed malpractice nor assess damages unless the malpractice is proven by clear and convincing evidence. Part 3: Requirements for State Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems - Lists requirements for State ADR systems, including that such a system: (1) applies to all medical malpractice liability claims under the jurisdiction of the courts of that State; (2) requires that a written opinion resolving the dispute be issued within six months after each party against whom the claim is filed has received notice of the claim; (3) is approved by the State or local governments; (4) provides for the transmittal to the State agency responsible for monitoring or disciplining health care professionals and providers of any findings of malpractice; and (5) provides for the regular transmittal of information on disputes resolved under the system to the Administrator for Health Care Policy and Research in a manner that protects the identity of the parties involved. (Sec. 2032) Directs the Secretary, by October 1 of each year, to certify State ADR systems that meet such requirements. Directs the Secretary to establish an alternative Federal ADR system for the resolution of medical malpractice liability claims in States that do not have in effect a certified ADR system. (Sec. 2033) Directs the Secretary, within five years, to submit to the Congress a report describing and evaluating State ADR systems and the alternative Federal system, including: (1) information on the effect of the ADR systems on health care costs, access to health care, and quality of care provided within the State; and (2) to the extent that such report does not provide information on no-fault systems operated by States as ADR systems, an analysis of the feasibility and desirability of establishing a system for resolving medical malpractice liability claims on a no-fault basis. Part 4: Other Provisions Relating to Medical Malpractice Liability - Authorizes a State agency responsible for disciplinary actions for a type of health care practitioner to enter into agreements with State or county professional societies to permit their participation in the licensing of such practitioner and to review any health care malpractice action, claims, or allegation, or other information concerning the practice patterns of any such practitioner. Sets forth agreement requirements. (Sec. 2042) Directs the Secretary to study incentives adopted by State and local governments, insurers, medical societies, and other entities to encourage physicians to volunteer to provide health care services in medically underserved areas. (Sec. 2043) Directs each State to require: (1) each health care professional and health care provider to participate in a risk management program to prevent, and provide early warning of, practices which may result in injuries to patients or endanger patient safety; and (2) each provider of health care professional and provider liability insurance in the State to establish risk management programs or sanction programs of risk management for health care professionals and providers provided by other entities, and require each such professional or provider, as a condition of maintaining insurance, to participate in one such program at least once in each three-year period. (Sec. 2044) Directs the Secretary to make grants: (1) for basic research in the prevention of, and compensation for, injuries resulting from health care professional or provider malpractice and for research of the outcomes of health care procedures; (2) to the States to assist in improving their ability to license and discipline health care professionals; and (3) to States and local governments, private nonprofit organizations, and health professional schools for educating the general public about the appropriate use of health care, realistic expectations of medical intervention, and the resources and role of health care professional licensing and disciplinary boards in investigating claims of incompetence or health care malpractice, and for developing programs of faculty training and curricula for educating health care professionals in quality assurance, risk management, and medical injury prevention. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Administrative Cost Savings - Part 1: Standardization of Claims Processing - Directs the Secretary to adopt standards relating to: (1) data elements for use in paper and electronic claims processing under health benefit plans and in utilization review and management of care; (2) uniform claims forms; and (3) uniform electronic transmission of the data elements. (Sec. 2102) Authorizes the Secretary, two years after standards are adopted for classes of services upon determining that a significant number of claims for benefits for such services under health benefit plans are not being submitted in accordance with such standards, to require that all providers of such services submit claims to health benefit plans in accordance with such standards. (Sec. 2103) Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide for the ongoing receipt and review of comments and suggestions for changes in the standards adopted and promulgated; (2) establish a schedule for the periodic review of such standards; and (3) revise such standards. Part 2: Electronic Medical Data Standards - Directs the Secretary to promulgate standards for hospitals concerning electronic medical data, including standards for transmission of such data and confidentiality of patient-specific information. Authorizes the Secretary to periodically revise such standards. (Sec. 2112) Sets forth requirements with respect to: (1) the sharing of hospital information under Medicare; (2) waiver of such requirements; and (3) application of such requirements to hospitals of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Sec. 2113) Authorizes the head of a Federal agency to require a provider to present and transmit a required data element electronically in accordance with applicable presentation or transmission standard. (Sec. 2114) Sets forth limitations on data requirements where standards with respect to data elements are in effect. (Sec. 2115) Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory commission on the standards established under this part and operational concerns about the implementation of such standards. Authorizes appropriations. Part 3: Development and Distribution of Comparative Value Information - Directs the Secretary to determine whether each State is developing and implementing a health care value information program that meets specified criteria and a specified schedule. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) make grants to enable each State to plan development and initiate implementation of its health care value information program; and (2) recover the amount of such a grant by offset against any other amount payable to the State under the Social Security Act under specified circumstances. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 2122) Directs the Secretary to take actions necessary to implement a comparable program in a State that fails to develop or implement a health care value information program in accordance with such criteria and schedule. Authorizes the Secretary to charge fees for the information materials provided pursuant to such a program. (Sec. 2123) Directs the head of each Federal agency with responsibility for the provision of health insurance or health care services to individuals to develop health care value information relating to each program that such head administers and covering the same types of data that a State program meeting such criteria would provide. (Sec. 2124) Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop model systems to facilitate the gathering of data on health care cost, quality, and outcome and the analysis of such data in a manner that will permit the valid comparison of such data among providers and among health plans; (2) support experimentation with different approaches to achieve such objectives in the most cost effective manner; and (3) evaluate the various methods to determine their relative success. Authorizes the Secretary to establish standards for the collective and reporting of data on health care cost, quality, and outcomes. Authorizes appropriations. Part 4: Additional Standards and Requirements; Research and Demonstrations - Directs the Secretary to: (1) adopt standards relating to the design and use of magnetized Medicare identification cards to assist health care providers in determining whether individuals are eligible for benefits for provided services under the Medicare program and in billing the Medicare program for covered services; (2) take steps to encourage and assist States in the design and use of magnetized Medicaid identification cards under their Medicaid plans; and (3) establish a Medicare and Medicaid information system to provide information on group health and other health benefit plans that are primary payors to the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 2132) Specifies that, effective January 1, 1994, no effect shall be given to any provision of State law that requires medical or health insurance records (including billing information) to be maintained in written, rather than electronic, form. (Sec. 2133) Requires, effective January 1, 1995, each health benefit plan: (1) to use a beneficiary's social security number as the personal identifier for claims processing and related purposes (authorizes the Secretary to impose a civil money penalty on any plan that fails to do so); and (2) to use the unique identifier under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare) for a provider that furnishes health care items or services to a beneficiary under the plan as the identifier of that provider for claims processing and related purposes. (Sec. 2134) Directs the Secretary to: (1) determine, where benefits are payable under two or more health benefit plans, whether problems relating to the rules for determining the liability of plans or the availability of information among plans causes significant administrative costs; and (2) promulgate standards, if the implementation of standards would significantly reduce such administrative costs. Authorizes the Secretary to impose a civil money penalty on plans that fail to comply with such standards. (Sec. 2135) Directs the Secretary to provide grants to qualified entities for research on the application of comprehensive information systems in continuously monitoring and improving patient care. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to: (1) two to five community organizations or coalitions of health care providers, health benefit plans, and purchasers to establish and document the efficacy of communication links between the information systems of health benefit plans and of health care providers; (2) two to five public or private nonprofit entities for the development of regional or community-based clinical information systems; and (3) public or private nonprofit entities to develop and test the definition of a comprehensive set of data elements and the specification and manner of presentation of the individual data elements of the set, for electronic medical data generated by physicians and other entities (other than hospitals) that provide health care services. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Deduction for Cost of Catastrophic Health Plan; Medical Savings Account - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include under the medical expense deduction the portion of such expense attributable to coverage under a catastrophic health plan. (Sec. 2202) Allows individuals a tax deduction for percentage of contributions made to a medical care savings account established for the benefit of an eligible individual. Allows such deduction whether or not an individual itemizes deductions. Disallows distributions from such accounts as medical expense deductions. Excludes employer contributions to such accounts from employment taxes. Establishes an excise tax for excess contributions to medical care savings accounts. Subtitle D: Anti-Fraud - Part 1: Criminal Prosecution of Health Care Fraud - Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) set penalties for health care providers who knowingly engage in any scheme or artifice to defraud any person in connection with the provision of health care; and (2) make activity which, if engaged in by the U.S. Postal Service, would be a violation of mail fraud provisions punishable to the same extent with respect to private or commercial interstate carriers. (Sec. 2303) Authorizes appropriations to hire, equip, and train no fewer than: (1) 225 special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and support staff to investigate health care fraud cases; (2) 50 assistant United States Attorneys and support staff to prosecute such cases; and (3) 25 investigators in the Office of Inspector General, DHHS, to be devoted exclusively to health care fraud cases. (Sec. 2304) Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize the Attorney General to make payments of up to $10,000 to a person who furnishes information unknown to the Government relating to a possible prosecution of health care fraud, subject to specified requirements and exceptions. Part 2: Coordination of Health Care Anti-Fraud and Abuse Activities - Directs the Secretary to establish in the Office of the Inspector General of DHHS a program (all-payer fraud and abuse control program) to: (1) coordinate Federal, State, and local law enforcement programs to control fraud and abuse with respect to the delivery of, and payment for, health care in the United States; (2) conduct investigations, audits, evaluations, and inspections relating to such delivery and payment; and (3) facilitate the enforcement of provisions of the Social Security Act and other statutes applicable to health care fraud and abuse. Directs the Secretary to establish standards to carry out such program, including standards relating to the furnishing of information by health insurers, providers, and other to enable the Secretary to carry out the program and procedures to assure that such information is provided and utilized in a manner that protects the confidentiality of the information and the privacy of individuals receiving health care services. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) qualified immunity for providing information; (2) ensuring access to documentation; and (3) failure to comply as grounds for exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. (Sec. 2312) Authorizes additional appropriations to enable the Secretary to conduct investigations of allegations of health care fraud and to carry out the all-payor fraud and abuse control program. (Sec. 2313) Establishes in the Treasury an Anti-Fraud and Abuse Trust Fund to be used to assist the Inspector General of DHHS in carrying out the all-payor fraud and abuse control program in the fiscal year involved. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the deposit into the Fund of Federal health anti-fraud and abuse penalties; and (2) the use of such penalties to repay beneficiaries for cost-sharing. (Sec. 2314) Amends SSA title XI to provide for the application of Federal health anti-fraud and abuse sanctions to all fraud and abuse against private health benefit plans. Subtitle E: Medicare Payment Changes; Part B Premium Tax for High-Income Individuals: Part 1 - Medicare Payment Changes - Amends SSA title XVIII to: (1) eliminate the membership limitation for Medicare health maintenance organizations; and (2) revise the Medicare select policy program and provide for a civil money penalty for misrepresentations made in connection with a Medicare select policy. (Sec. 2402) Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to: (1) make permanent the Medicare select policy program; and (2) allow access to Medicare select policies in all States. (Sec. 2403) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take such steps as may be necessary to consolidate the administration of Medicare parts A and B. Part 2: Part B Premium Tax for High-Income Individuals - (Sec. 2411) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on the Medicare part B premiums of high income individuals. Subtitle F: Removing Anti-Trust Impediments - Directs the Attorney General to promulgate guidelines under which a health care joint venture may submit an application requesting that the Attorney General provide the entities participating in the venture with an exemption under which: (1) monetary recovery on an antitrust claim brought against the entity shall be limited to actual damages if specified conditions are met; and (2) the conduct of the entity in making or performing a contract to carry out the venture shall not be deemed illegal per se. Requires the Attorney General to approve or disapprove the application within a specified time frame and to provide a statement explaining the reasons for any disapproval. Directs the Attorney General to approve the application if an entity participating in the venture submits to the Attorney General an application that contains the identities of the parties to the venture; the nature, objectives, and planned activities of the venture; and specified assurances and information. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) revocation and renewal of exemptions and withdrawal of an application; (2) requirements relating to notice and publication of exemptions; and (3) issuance of health care certificates of public advantage to each eligible health care joint venture that complies with specified requirements. Establishes the Interagency Advisory Committee on Competition, Antitrust Policy, and Health Care to: (1) discuss and evaluate competition and antitrust policy and their implications regarding the performance of health care markets; (2) analyze the effectiveness of health care joint ventures receiving exemptions in reducing costs and expanding access; and (3) make recommendations to the Congress. Subtitle G: Encouraging Enforcement Activities of Medical Self-Regulatory Entities - Part 1: Application of the Clayton Act to Medical Self-Regulatory Entities - Provides that no damages, cost of suit, or attorney fee may be recovered under section 4, 4A, or 4C of the Clayton Act, or under any similar State law, except by a State or the United States, from any medical self-regulatory entity as a result of engaging in standard setting or enforcement activities that are: (1) designed to promote the quality of health care provided to patients; and (2) not conducted for purposes of financial gain. Directs the court to award the cost of such a suit, including a reasonable attorney fee, to a substantially prevailing defendant. Part 2: Consultation by Federal Agencies - Requires any Federal agency engaged in the establishment of medical profession standards to consult with appropriate medical societies or associations, specialty boards, or recognized accrediting agencies, if available, in carrying out medical professional standard setting and guidelines or standards relating to the practice of medicine. Subtitle H: Prefunding Government Health Benefit for Certain Annuitants - Requires that certain agencies prefund Government health benefits contributions for their annuitants. Subtitle I: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends Civil Service and Federal Employees' Retirement Systems law to increase the minimum age required to be eligible for an immediate retirement annuity. Provides for the conformance of other Federal retirement systems with the minimum age increase made above. Title III: Long-Term Care - Subtitle A: Tax Treatment of Long-Term Care Insurance - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the treatment of qualified long-term care insurance as accident and health insurance for purposes of insurance company taxation. (Sec. 3002) Excludes from gross income benefits provided under a long-term care insurance contract. Includes in gross income employer-provided coverage for long-term care services. (Sec. 3003) Includes amounts paid for qualified long-term care services as medical expenses for individual itemized deductions. Includes any parent or grandparent as a dependent for purposes of such expenses. (Sec. 3004) Provides for the nonrecognition of gain or loss on the exchange of any life insurance contract or an endowment or annuity contract for a long-term care insurance contract. (Sec. 3005) Excludes from gross income certain amounts withdrawn from individual retirement accounts and certain employer cash or deferred arrangement to pay long-term care premiums. (Sec. 3006) Allows insurance companies to issue accelerated death benefit riders on life insurance contracts. Subtitle B: Protection of Assets Under Medicaid Through Use of Qualified Long-Term Care Insurance - Amends SSA title XIX to require State Medicaid plans to disregard some or all of the individual's assets attributable to coverage under a qualified long-term care insurance contract in determining the individual's eligibility for long-term care services. Subtitle C: Studies - Requires the Comptroller General to study the feasibility of: (1) encouraging health care providers to donate their services to homebound patients; and (2) providing heads of households who care for elderly family members in their home with an income tax credit. (Sec. 3203) Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to the Congress on the feasibility of encouraging or requiring the use of a single designate public or nonprofit agency to coordinate, through case management, the provision of long-term care benefits under current Federal, State, and local programs in a geographic area. Subtitle D: Volunteer Service Credit Demonstration Projects - (Sec. 3301) Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to require the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging to establish and operate a volunteer service credit demonstration project in each State.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1993
General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to set forth a 15-year statute of limitations within which a person may bring a civil action against an aircraft manufacturer for damages for death or injury or damage to property arising from an aircraft accident.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Research on Women's Health Subtitle A: NIH Women Scientist Employment Opportunities Act Subtitle B: Women and AIDS Research Initiative Amendments of 1993 Subtitle C: Women and Alcohol Research Equity Act of 1993 Subtitle D: National Breast Cancer Strategy Act of 1993 Subtitle E: Lupus Research Amendments of 1993 Subtitle F: Women's Midlife Health Research Act Subtitle G: Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disorders Research Education, and Health Services Act of 1993 Subtitle H: Ovarian Cancer Research and Information Amendments of 1993 Subtitle I: Antiprogestin Testing Act of 1993 Subtitle J: Women's Health Environmental Factors Research Act of 1993 Subtitle K: Federal Risk Assessment in Women's Health Act of 1993 Subtitle L: Pharmaceutical Interactions Safety Act Subtitle M: Pharmaceutical Testing Fairness Act Subtitle N: Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Studies Act of 1993 Title II: Services Regarding Women's Health Subtitle A: Equity in Health Professions Education Act Subtitle B: Women's Health Office Act of 1993 Subtitle C: Women's Health Information Act of 1993 Subtitle D: Breast and Cervical Cancer Amendments of 1993 Subtitle E: Women's Preventive Health Amendments of 1993 Subtitle F: Postreproductive Health Care Act Subtitle G: Medicare Bone Mass Measurement Coverage Act of 1993 Subtitle H: Mickey Leland Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Parenthood Act of 1993 Subtitle I: Adolescent Health Demonstrations Projects Act of 1993 Subtitle J: Eating Disorders Information and Education Act of 1993 Subtitle K: Women and HIV Outreach and Prevention Act Subtitle L: Standby Guardianship Act Subtitle M: Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1993 Subtitle N: Smoking Prevention and Cessation in WIC Clinics Act Subtitle O: Family and Medical Leave Health Care Reform Resolution of 1993 Subtitle P: Veteran Women's Health Improvement Act of 1993 Subtitle Q: Defense Women's Health Improvement Act of 1993 Subtitle R: International Population Stabilization and Reproductive Health Act Women's Health Equity Act of 1993 - Title I: Research on Women's Health - Subtitle A: Women Scientists Employment Opportunities Act - NIH Women Scientists Employment Opportunity Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health to: (1) establish policies for NIH on matters relating to the employment of women scientists by NIH; and (2) monitor compliance with such policies and take appropriate actions if the policies have been violated. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Women and AIDS Research Initiative Amendments of 1993 - Women and Aids Research Initiative Amendments of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to cases of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus, to establish a program, under the Public Health Service Act, for the purpose of conducting biomedical and behavioral research on such cases in women, especially on the prevention of such cases. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Women and Alcohol Research Equity Act of 1993 - Women and Alcohol Research Equity Act of 1993 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to obligate a specified amount to carry out research projects on alcohol abuse and alcoholism among women. Subtitle D: National Breast Cancer Strategy Act of 1993 - National Breast Cancer Strategy Act of 1993 - Establishes an Office of Breast Cancer within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health to coordinate activities of Federal agencies relating to breast cancer. (Sec. 118) Establishes the National Breast Cancer Commission to conduct a study on current efforts on both the public and private sectors relating to the prevention, early detection, treatment, education, and research relating to breast cancer. (Sec. 119) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1994 through 1996 for conducting and supporting research on breast cancer through the National Cancer Institute. (Sec. 120) Requires the Director of the National Cancer Institute to: (1) conduct and support biomedical and behavioral research and research training, the dissemination of health information, and other programs with respect to breast cancer; and (2) establish the Rose Kushner Scholarship Program for the purpose of entering into contracts with individuals under which the Institute provides scholarships to individuals for attending health professions schools and the individuals agree to study oncology and serve as employees of the National Institutes of Health for a specified period. (Sec. 121) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1994 through 1996 for at least ten research programs on breast cancer, lung cancer, or prostate cancer under designated programs. Subtitle E: Lupus Research Amendments of 1993 - Lupus Research Amendments of 1993 - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to expand and intensify research and related activities of the Institute with respect to lupus. Authorizes appropriations. Subpart F: Women's Midlife Health Research Act - Women's Midlife Health Research Act - Requires the Director of the National Institute on Aging to provide for the development or expansion of not less than five centers for research on: (1) the process by which the functioning of the ovaries diminishes or ceases completely; and (2) conditions arising from the diminished or complete cessation of the functioning of the ovaries. Subtitle G: Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disorders Research Education, and Health Services Act of 1993 - Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disorders Research, Education, and Health Services Act of 1993 - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the Director of the National Institute on Aging, and the Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to expand and intensify research on osteoporosis and related bone disorders. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services an Interagency Council on Osteoporosis and Related Disorders. Sets forth the duties of such Council. Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services an Advisory Panel on Osteoporosis and Related Disorders. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to make grants or enter into contracts with eligible organizations to establish a Resource Center on Osteoporosis and Related Disorders. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle H: Ovarian Cancer Research and Information Amendments of 1993 - Ovarian Cancer Research and Information Amendments of 1993 - Amends provisions of the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993 which added provisions to the Public Health Service Act to make revisions concerning ovarian cancer funding and public information education. Subtitle I: Antiprogestin Testing Act of 1993 - Antiprogestin Testing Act of 1993 - Provides for research on antiprogestin drugs for any potential use, including termination of pregnancy and contraception and when used therapeutically for cancer, endocrine disorders, and endometriosis. Subtitle J: Women's Health Environmental Factors Research Act of 1993 - Women's Health Environmental Factors Research Act of 1993 - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to carry out research on the effects that environmental factors have on women's health conditions. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle K: Federal Risk Assessment in Women's Health Act of 1993 - Federal Risk Assessment in Women's Health Act of 1993 - Directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy to conduct a review of all Federal programs that assess or mitigate the risks to women's health from environmental exposures. Subtitle L: Pharmaceutical Interactions Safety Act - Pharmaceutical Interactions Safety Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Service Act to require clinical investigations to include investigations of the possible interaction of the drug or biological product with relevant female or male hormones, unless inappropriate. Subtitle M: Pharmaceutical Testing Fairness Act - Pharmaceutical Testing Fairness Act - Requires new drug clinical investigations, device clinical investigations, and biological products clinical investigations to include women and minority groups as subjects, unless inappropriate. Subtitle N: Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Studies Act of 1993 - Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Studies Act of 1993 - Directs the Federal Trade Commissions to conduct specified studies concerning tobacco advertising and its effect on women and minorities, as well as its targeting of women and girls concerning weight loss, and the demographics of such advertising. Title II: Services Regarding Women's Health - Subtitle A: Equity in Health Professions Education Act - Equity in Health Professions Education Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study to determine the extent to which health professions schools provide adequate education to students on women's health conditions. Subtitle B: Women's Health Office Act of 1993 - Women's Health Office Act of 1993 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health an Office of Women's Health. Sets forth the duties of such Office. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 208) Establishes within the Office of the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention an Office of Women's Health. Sets forth the duties of such Office. Requires the Director of such Office to establish the Coordinating Committee on Research on Women's Health. Sets forth the duties of such Committee. (Sec. 209) Establishes within the Office of the Director of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research an Office of Women's Health. Sets forth the duties of such Office. Requires the Director of such Office to establish the Coordinating Committee on Research on the Women's Health. Sets forth the duties of such Committee. (Sec. 210) Amends title VII of the Social Security Act to provide for the establishment within the Office of the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration an Office of Women's Health. Sets forth the duties of such Office. Requires the Director of the Office to establish the Coordinating Committee on Research on Women's Health. Sets forth the duties of such Committee. (Sec. 210A) Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish within the Office of Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration an Office of Women's Health. Sets forth the duties of such Office. Requires the Director of such Office to establish the Coordinating Committee on Women's Health. Sets forth the duties of such Committee. Subtitle C: Women's Health Information Act of 1993 - Women's Health Information Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an Interagency Committee on Health Communications to provide advice to the Secretary on developing and coordinating Federal promotion and education activities, including activities within the Public Health Service. Requires the Committee to give priority to carrying out activities regarding women's health. (Sec. 214) Directs the Assistant Secretary for Health to establish the Clearinghouse on Women's Health to compile, archive and disseminate information concerning women's health and to publish a yearly summary of such materials to be made available upon request. Subtitle D: Breast and Cervical Cancer Amendments of 1993 - Breast and Cervical Cancer Amendments of 1993 - Amends provisions of the program under the Public Health Service Act which provides for breast cancer screenings to place certain limits on the amounts which may be paid to promote entities for such screenings. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1998 for the screening program. Subtitle E: Women's Preventive Health Amendments of 1993 - Women's Preventive Health Amendments of 1993 - Provides for grants for demonstration projects relating to preventive health care for women. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Postreproductive Health Care Act - Postreproductive Health Care Act - Provides for grants to provide specified health services to women who are of menopause age or older. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle G: Medicare Bone Mass Measurement Coverage Act of 1993 - Medicare Bone Mass Measurement Coverage Act of 1993 - Provides for Medicare coverage of bone mass measurements for qualified individuals. Subtitle H: Mickey Leland Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Parenthood Act of 1993 - Mickey Leland Adolescent Pregency Prevention and Parenthood Act of 1993 - Revises title XX of the Public Health Service Act. Renames such title as Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, Care, and Research Grants. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to provide prevention and care services to pregnant adolescents and their male partners, adolescent parents, and nonpregnant adolescents. Sets forth provisions affecting: (1) how such grants are to be used; (2) priorities, amounts, and duration of such grants; (3) grant application requirements; (4) program coordination; and (5) research. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle I: Adolescent Health Demonstrations Projects Act of 1993 - Adolescent Health Demonstrations Projects Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary to make grants to establish or support adolescent health demonstration projects in secondary schools for the purpose of demonstrating how such projects may be established throughout the United States. Requires that priority be given to projects serving low-income or minority populations. Prohibits the use of any project funds to perform or pay for abortions. Subtitle J: Eating Disorders Information and Education Act of 1993 - Eating Disorders Information and Education Act of 1993 - Provides for a program of information and education to the public on the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle K: Women and HIV Outreach and Prevention Act - Women and HIV Outreach and Prevention Act - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for a program that provides to women preventive health services that are related to acquired immune deficiency. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 253) Authorizes the Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to make grants for the treatment of women for substance abuse, including counseling to prevent infection with and transmission of AIDS. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 254) Authorizes appropriations for the AIDs early intervention program for women under the Public Health Service Act. Subtitle L: Standby Guardianship Act - Standby Guardianship Act - Amends part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to require a State, in order to be eligible for payments under such part, to have in effect standby guardianship laws and procedures. Subtitle M: Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1993 - Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for the imprisonment or fining of any individual who knowingly circumcises, excises, or infibulates the whole or any part of the labia majora or labia minora or clitoris of any person under the age of 18. Directs the Secretary to carry out outreach activities in communities that traditionally practice female circumcision. Subtitle N: Smoking Prevention and Cessation in WIC Clinics Act - Smoking Prevention and Cessation in WIC Clinics Act - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the State agency responsible for nutrition education and drug abuse education to establish a smoking cessation demonstration program for pregnant participants. Subtitle O: Family and Medical Leave Health Care Reform Resolution of 1993 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that any bill to address the ongoing and unmet health insurance needs of this country that is enacted should require that paid or unpaid leave, as detailed in the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, be incorporated as a basic or elective option in specified situations. Subtitle P: Veteran Women's Health Improvement Act of 1993 - Veteran Women's Health Improvement Act of 1993 - Includes women's health services within the definition of medical services authorized to be furnished to eligible veterans. Includes as women's health services pap smears, breast examinations, and reproductive health care. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract with non-Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for outpatient women's health services when Department facilities are inadequate or inaccessible. Requires information on the provision of women's health services to be included in a report from the Secretary to the Congress concerning women veterans. (Sec. 278) Amends the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 to: (1) require consultation by the Secretary with various officials, advisory committees, and task forces with regard to appropriate women's health research; (2) expand the research related to women to include specified topics; (3) include certain appropriate personnel of the Department in conducting such research, including women veterans and veteran members of minority groups; and (4) direct that a women veterans population study report required under such Act include an examination of the medical and demographic histories of women veterans comprising the study sample. (Sec. 279) Makes applicable to Department medical facilities provisions of the Public Health Service Act regarding mammography quality standards. Requires all Department facilities to meet such standards within two years. Subtitle Q: Defense Women's Health Improvement Act of 1993 - Requires female members and former members of the armed forces who are entitled to medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to be furnished primary and preventive health care services for women as part of such care. Provides the same coverage for female dependents of members and former members of the armed forces. (Sec. 283) Directs the Secretary of Defense to prepare and submit to the Congress a report evaluating the provision of health care services through military medical treatment facilities and CHAMPUS to female members of the armed forces and female covered beneficiaries. Requires the Secretary to include a study to determine the needs of female members and dependents for health care services, including primary and preventive health care services for women. (Sec. 284) Directs the Secretary to establish a Defense Women's Health Research Center within the Department of the Army to be the coordinating agent for multidisciplinary and multiinstitutional research within the Department of Defense on women's health issues related to service in the armed forces. (Sec. 285) Directs the Secretary of the Army, during FY 1994, to continue the breast cancer research program as established under prior law. (Sec. 286) Directs the Secretary of Defense, in conducting or supporting clinical research, to ensure that women and minority group members of the armed forces are included as research subjects. Provides a waiver of such requirement. (Sec. 287) Directs the Secretary to submit three annual reports on research relating to female members and dependents within the armed forces. (Sec. 288) Directs the Secretary to establish at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences a women's health curriculum advisory committee to promote the comprehensive integration of women's health issues into the curriculum. Subtitle R: International Population Stabilization and Reproductive Health Act - International Population Stabilization and Reproductive Health Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to set forth population assistance authorities and requirements. (Sec. 292) Makes such assistance available to a country that: (1) accounts for a significant portion of the world's annual population increment; (2) has significant unmet needs for methods of contraception, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, and obstetric and gynecological care and requires foreign assistance to sustain quality reproductive health services; or (3) demonstrates a strong commitment to population stabilization and reproductive health strategies. Prohibits nongovernmental and multilateral organizations from being subjected to requirements which are more restrictive than those applicable to foreign governments for such assistance. Makes funds available for: (1) the United Nations Population Fund if it agrees to prohibit the use of funds for coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization; and (2) the Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training to further international cooperation in the development of contraceptive technology. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 294) Makes development assistance available on a priority basis for countries which have agreed to address specific education, literacy, and health issues. Authorizes the President to establish a grant program, to be known as the Safe Motherhood Initiative, to improve the access of girls and women to reproductive health care services. Earmarks amounts of development and economic assistance for programs in support of equalizing male and female levels of primary and secondary school enrollment. Authorizes appropriations for the Child Survival Fund, the Safe Motherhood Initiative, and for research on, and treatment and control of, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in developing countries. (Sec. 296) Requires the U.S. executive directors of specified international financial institutions to report annually to the Congress on allocations to population activities and, if such allocations total less than $1 million, to set forth actions to encourage increased allocations. (Sec. 297) Establishes the Commission on World Population Stabilization and Reproductive Health to coordinate U.S. participation in the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 298) Provides for certain actions to support the United Nations Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1993
Prohibits the refugee admission into the United States of persons who served in the Iraqi armed forces during the Persian Gulf conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1993
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal Government should terminate the policy of allowing resettlement of members of the Iraqi armed forces in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Federal Responsibilities Subtitle A: Federal Workforce Preparation and Development Council Subtitle B: National Advisory Board on Workforce Preparation and Development Subtitle C: Federal Waiver Authority for Provisions of Workforce Preparation and Development Program Subtitle D: Implementation Grants and Technical Assistance Title II: State Responsibilities Subtitle A: State Human Resource Investment Council Subtitle B: Unified Single State Plan Subtitle C: Unified Service Areas Subtitle D: Local Workforce Development Boards Subtitle E: Community Job Resource Centers Title III: Conforming Amendments to Wagner-Peyser Act Title IV: Effective Date and Transition National Workforce Preparation and Development Reform Act - Establishes a comprehensive workforce preparation and development (WPD) system. Makes available specified amounts to provide implementation grants and technical assistance to States under this Act from amounts appropriated for national activities under the Job Training Partnership Act and for one-stop career centers. Title I: Federal Responsibilities - Subtitle A: Federal Workforce Preparation and Development Council - Establishes the Federal Workforce Preparation and Development Council, consisting of the Secretaries of Labor, Education, Health and Human Services, and Commerce, the Director of the Office of Management and the Budget, and any other Federal agency heads the President may designate, which shall develop a strategic WPD plan for the United States. Subtitle B: National Advisory Board on Workforce Preparation and Development - Establishes a bipartisan National Advisory Board on Workforce Preparation and Development. Directs the Advisory Board to advise the President and the Federal Council. Subtitle C: Federal Waiver Authority for Provisions of Workforce Preparation and Development Programs - Authorizes the Federal Council to waive provisions of law or regulations relating to State planning and reporting, performance standards, or other provisions with respect to WPD programs under unified State plans. Sets forth provisions for waiver applications, review, approval or disapproval, and revocation. Subtitle D: Implementation Grants and Technical Assistance - Authorizes the Federal Council to provide grants and technical assistance to States that have an approved application to carry out the single State plan. Requires a State to provide at least 70 percent of such a grant to the Local Boards. Title II: State Responsibilities - Subtitle A: State Human Resource Investment Council - Requires any participant State to establish a State human resource investment council to assist the Governor in developing a coordinated State strategy for WPD programs, including school-to-work transition and lifelong learning programs. Subtitle B: Unified Single State Plan - Requires any participant State to establish a unified single State plan to coordinate services under WPD programs. Subtitle C: Unified Service Areas - Requires any participant State to ensure establishment of unified service areas throughout the State to provide community-wide WPD services. Subtitle D: Local Workforce Development Boards - Requires any participant State to ensure establishment of a Local Workforce Development Board in each unified service area. Requires a participant Local Board, in partnership with local governments, to submit an annual unified local plan to the State Council for approval. Subtitle E: Community Job Resource Centers - Requires any participant State to ensure that each Local Board designates or establishes a network of community job resource centers in its unified service area, to be composed of specified entities. Title III: Conforming Amendment to Wagner-Peyser Act - Amends the Wagner-Peyser Act to require the local employment service office to participate in the operation of the community job resource centers established under this Act based on the plan developed by the Local Board. Allows such offices to apply to be designated as such centers. Title IV: Effective Date and Transition - Sets forth an effective date and transition provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1993
At-Birth Abandoned Infants Assistance Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988 to condition Federal project grants upon the existence of a State statutory scheme which effectuates: (1) the designation of preadoptive parents; (2) prompt placement of designated abandoned infants with preadoptive parents; and (3) expedited judicial proceedings to establish permanent parental rights for such preadoptive parents (thereby terminating the parental rights of all other persons with respect to that infant).
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorization of Appropriations Title II: Reducing the Burden of Federal Paperwork on the Public Title III: Enhancing Federal Agency Responsibility and Accountability for Reducing the Burden of Federal Paperwork Title IV: Enhancing Government Responsibility and Accountability for Reducing the Burden of Federal Paperwork Title V: Enhancing Agency Responsibility for Sharing and Disseminating Public Information Title VI: Additional Government Information Management Responsibility Title VII: Effective Dates Paperwork Reduction Act of 1993 - Title I: Authorization of Appropriations - Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 to authorize appropriations to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Title II: Reducing the Burden of Federal Paperwork on the Public - Applies the Act to all federally sponsored paperwork. Requires a Government-wide paperwork reduction goal of at least five percent and individual agency goals that aggregate to the Government-wide goal. Title III: Enhancing Federal Agency Responsibility and Accountability for Reducing the Burden of Federal Paperwork - Makes the senior official charged with carrying out the responsibilities of a Federal agency under the Act the head of a separate office with qualified staff responsible for assuring agency compliance with requirements under the Act. Requires each agency to: (1) prepare estimates of the burden that will result from proposed collections of information; (2) develop a strategic Information Resources Management Plan; and (3) establish oversight procedures for agency information systems. Requires each agency head to establish a certification process for the review of each information collection request before it is submitted to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. Title IV: Enhancing Government Responsibility and Accountability for Reducing the Burden of Federal Paperwork - Makes the OMB Director responsible for ensuring that all information collection requests display an estimate of the paperwork burden for each response. Requires OMB procedures in order for agencies to estimate such burden. Requires OMB pilot projects to test approaches to improve information management practices and related activities. Reduces the time afforded the OMB Director for approving a routine agency request to collect information. Provides for greater participation by the public and Federal agencies in the review of proposed paperwork burdens generated by agency information requests. Requires the OMB Director to make publicly available any decision to disapprove a collection of information requirement contained in an agency rule, together with the reasons for such decision. Provides protection for whistleblowers of unauthorized Federal paperwork burdens. Provides for expedited OMB review of an agency information request with a reduced paperwork burden. Title V: Enhancing Agency Responsibility for Sharing and Disseminating Public Information - Provides for Government-wide standards for sharing and disseminating public information. Imposes certain responsibilities on Federal agencies for sharing and disseminating public information. Abolishes the Federal Information Locator System established in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs and replaces it with a system in each agency for providing public access via electronic and other means to a comprehensive inventory of agency information dissemination products. Title VI: Additional Government Information Management Responsibility - Revises the statistical policy and coordination functions of the OMB Director. Requires the OMB Director to: (1) establish an interagency working group on statistical policy to coordinate agency statistical activities; and (2) provide training in the statistical policy functions of the chief statistician to Federal employees. Provides for the use of electronic information collection and dissemination techniques to reduce the Federal paperwork burden. Requires the OMB Director's annual report to the Congress to list any increased Federal paperwork burdens and describe each agency's plans to implement the applicable policies, standards, and guidelines under the Act. Requires the OMB Director to develop a plan for meeting the automatic data processing needs of the Federal Government in accordance with the Act and certain requirements of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949. Title VII: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates for this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1993
At-Birth Abandoned Baby Act of 1993 - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require States to place babies abandoned at birth with preadoptive parents within 30 days of obtaining custody of such babies, and to find new preadoptive parents for such babies if the initial preadoptive parents do not petition the courts of the State within 90 days of receiving them for an expedited hearing to become their permanent adoptive parents. Treats such babies as children with special needs, thus qualifying their adoptive parents for adoption assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Statement of Congressional Purpose Title II: Binding Budget Law Title III: Enforcement Mechanics Subtitle A: Supermajority Required to Break Budget Law Subtitle B: Line Item Reduction Subtitle C: "Blank Check" Appropriations Prohibited Subtitle D: "Pay As You Go" Requirement for New Spending Title IV: Sustaining Mechanism Title V: Protection of Social Security Title VI: Timetable Title VII: Conforming Amendments Title VIII: Definitions and Rules of Interpretation Title IX: Effective Date Budget Process Reform Act - Title I: Statement of Congressional Purpose - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to facilitate rational, informed, and timely decisions by the Congress. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal budget process should focus the attention of policymakers and the public on the aggregate impact of Federal spending on the economy, and on the tradeoffs that must be made among priorities in order to control overall levels of spending. Declares that the budget process should contain safeguards against delay and inaction, so that temporary shut-downs of the Government may be avoided. Title II: Binding Budget Law - Requires the Congress to enact a binding budget law, in the form of a joint resolution, by April 15 of the calendar year before that in which the fiscal period commences. Makes it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any spending bill affecting spending in a major functional category unless and until a joint resolution on the budget is enacted. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit baseline budgeting. Requires the President to submit to the Congress on or before the 15th day after a joint resolution on the budget is enacted a detailed budget for the fiscal period beginning on October 1 of the current calendar year. Title III: Enforcement Mechanics - Subtitle A: Supermajority Required to Break Budget Law - Requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House and the Senate to consider any spending bill prior to the enactment of the budget law. Requires the Congressional Budget Office to provide to the Congress an estimate of the costs in each major functional category of certain spending bills as soon as practicable after its introduction. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to consider over-budget spending bills. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive any provision of this Act. Subtitle B: Limited Enhanced Rescission Authority - Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to limit the President's rescission authority to spending that is above the limits of the budget law. Subtitle C: "Blank Check" Appropriations Prohibited - Declares the intent of the Congress to end open-ended, "blank check" appropriations which typically authorize spending "such sums as may be necessary." Requires fixed-dollar appropriations for every account except social security and interest on the debt. Prohibits open-ended appropriations. Requires Executive agencies to adjust benefit levels to ensure that appropriations for entitlement programs are not exceeded. Restricts budget authority and entitlement authority to one fiscal period. Subtitle D: "Pay As You Go" Requirement for New Spending - Prohibits the Congress from considering any legislation which exceeds the budget ceiling unless it offsets such increased spending with an equal amount of reductions. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive such prohibition. Title IV: Sustaining Mechanism - Makes appropriations to provide for an automatic continuing resolution if for any account an appropriation for a fiscal period does not become law before the beginning of such period. Restricts legislation providing funding to the Committees on Appropriations. Title V: Protection of Social Security - Provides that no reduction in benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) shall be made as a consequence of this Act. Title VI: Timetable - Revises the timetable for the congressional budget process. Title VII: Conforming Amendments - Makes various technical and conforming amendments, including changing references to a concurrent resolution on the budget to references to a joint resolution on the budget. Title VIII: Definitions and Rules of Interpretation - Sets forth definitions for specified terms. Title IX: Effective Date - Declares the effective date of this Act to be January 1, 1995, applicable to fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1995.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: School-to-Work Opportunities Basic Program Components Title II: School-to-Work Opportunities System Development and Implementation Grants to States Subtitle A: State Development Grants Subtitle B: State Implementation Grants Title III: Federal Implementation Grants to Partnerships Title IV: National Programs Title V: General Provisions School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1993 - Establishes a national framework for development of School-to-Work Opportunities systems in all States. Declares the congressional intent that the Secretaries of Education and Labor jointly administer this Act in a flexible manner. Directs the Secretaries to jointly administer the programs established by this Act. Title I: School-to-Work Opportunities Basic Program Components - Requires School-to-Work Opportunities (SWO) programs to: (1) integrate work-based and school-based learning; (2) provide students with the opportunity to complete career majors; and (3) incorporate specified program components including work-based and school-based learning and connecting activities. Title II: School-to-Work Opportunities System Development and Implementation Grants to States - Subtitle A: State Development Grants - Authorizes the Secretaries to award development grants to applicant States to complete development of a comprehensive, statewide SWO system. (Such development may have begun with funds awarded under the Job Training Partnership Act and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act.) Subtitle B: State Implementation Grants - Allows States to apply to the Secretaries for competitive implementation grants, with applications containing: (1) plans for comprehensive, statewide SWO systems meeting content requirements; (2) descriptions of how funds will be allocated to local SWO partnerships; and (3) optional requests for waivers of certain statutory or regulatory requirements. Title III: Federal Implementation Grants to Partnerships - Authorizes the Secretaries to award competitive SWO implementation grants to partnerships in States that have not received State implementation grants. Authorizes the Secretaries to award grants to implement SWO programs in high poverty areas. (Such funds may be awarded in combination with funds appropriated for the Youth Fair Chance Program.) Title IV: National Programs - Directs the Secretaries to provide for: (1) research, demonstration, and other projects; (2) performance outcomes and evaluation, in collaboration with States; and (3) training and technical assistance. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth provisions relating to: (1) State requests and responsibilities for waivers of statutory and regulatory requirements; (2) such waivers by each of the Secretaries; (3) program safeguards, including nondisplacement of current workers; and (4) acceptance of gifts. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1993
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that public ceremonies for the admission of new citizens be conducted solely in English.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1993
Poverty Data Correction Act of 1993 - Requires any data relating to the incidence of poverty produced or published by or for the Secretary of Commerce for subnational areas to be corrected for differences in the cost of living and data produced for State and sub-State areas to be corrected for differences in the cost of living for at least all States of the United States. Requires such corrected data to be published in 1995 and biennially thereafter. Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop or cause to be developed a Sate cost-of-living index which ranks and assigns an index value to each State using data on wage, housing, and other costs relevant to the cost of living; and (2) multiply the Federal Government's statistical poverty thresholds by the index value for each State's cost of living to produce State poverty thresholds for each State. Requires the State cost-of-living index and resulting State poverty thresholds to be published before September 30, 1994, for calendar year 1993 and to be updated annually thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1993
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 · 28 July 1993
Designates August 1, 1993, as National Incest and Sexual Abuse Healing Day.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1993
Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior to be transferred to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to be used to acquire an undeveloped, open space tract of land presently owned by the Sterling Forest Corporation to protect the watershed, outdoor recreational, wildlife habitat, and Appalachian Trail values in the Sterling Forest area of the New York/New Jersey Highlands Region. States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the Government, or relieve the Commission and New York of any obligation otherwise imposed under New York State law, to pay property taxes or provide for the costs of stewardship and management of any lands located in New York that may be acquired through this authorization. Requires the Commission to hold and manage all property acquired with funds made available in this Act for the purposes specified in it.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1993
Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to set 55 years as the maximum hiring or minimum retirement age which States and localities may require for fire fighters and law enforcement officers unless there is an age of hiring and retirement in effect under applicable State or local law on March 3, 1983. Provides that elected State or local judges shall not be required to retire before the expiration of the term of office in which they attain the compulsory retirement age. Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1986 to repeal a provision which would have terminated an exemption for hiring and retirement plans applicable to State and local fire fighters and law enforcement officers. (This Act thereby preserves such exemption beyond 1993.)
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1993
Amends the Federal criminal code to include peonage and slavery offenses as predicates to a violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Bank Enterprise Act Enhancements Title II: Bank Community Development Incentives Title III: Housing and Small Business Finance Title IV: Credit Union Amendments Title V: Consumer Education Title VI: Community Development Task Force Bank Enterprise Act Amendments of 1993 - Title I: Bank Enterprise Act Enhancements - Amends the Bank Enterprise Act (BEA) to establish the Community Development Fund, to be administered by the Community Enterprise Assessment Credit Board (created by this Act). Requires the Fund to establish a national information clearinghouse in coordination with designated Federal agencies. Earmarks the Fund for: (1) investments and assistance to enable community development financial institutions to target distressed communities; (2) financial and technical assistance to such institutions; and (3) the clearinghouse. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 102) Amends the Bank Enterprise Act of 1991 (BEA 91) to make community development banks newly chartered under this Act eligible for community enterprise assessment credit. (Sec. 103) Authorizes any insured depository institution located in a qualified distressed community to sell property and casualty insurance to residents and/or individuals employed within such community. Amends Federal banking law and the Home Owners' Loan Act, respectively, to authorize a well-capitalized national bank or savings association located in a qualified distressed community to trade in securities issued by any small business located in that community. (Sec. 104) Amends the BEA 91 to direct the Community Enterprise Assessment Credit Board to: (1) establish independent criteria for distressed rural area eligibility as a qualified distressed community; and (2) grant priority to qualified distressed communities when it allocates funds. Provides for the establishment of nonprofit, private, community development corporations whose purpose is to sponsor enterprises providing employment, housing, and business development opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents of a qualified distressed community. Title II: Bank Community Development Incentives - Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to direct the Financial Institutions Examination Council to: (1) establish performance rating standards to assess the record of a regulated financial institution in meeting the credit needs of its community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods; (2) list those activities and investments which qualify as community reinvestment activities; (3) establish procedures under which a regulated financial institution can obtain a written opinion on the qualification of a proposed transaction as a community reinvestment activity; (4) establish criteria and procedures for delineating the service area of a regulated financial institution on the basis of existing market conditions and the local credit needs of low- and moderate-income neighborhoods; and (5) solicit community comments before making any final determination regarding the proposed treatment of a transaction as a qualified community reinvestment. (Sec. 204) Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to set forth expedited procedures under which a bank holding company may gain ownership or control of a community development corporation. (Sec. 205) Amends Federal banking law and the Home Owners' Loan Act to authorize national banks and Federal savings associations, respectively, to deal in securities issued by companies located and primarily doing business in qualified distressed communities. (Sec. 206) Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to cite circumstances under which a bank holding company may acquire enhanced passive investment interests in the shares of any company located and primarily doing business in a qualified distressed community. (Sec. 207) Directs the Financial Institutions Examination Council to give awards annually for outstanding efforts by insured depository institutions to meet community credit needs. (Sec. 208) Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to modify the guidelines under which shares of stock shall be treated as a qualified stock issuance. Title III: Housing and Small Business Finance - Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to authorize Federal home loan banks to establish programs and engage in activities designed to meet housing finance and community development needs in qualified distressed communities that are unmet by the private sector. (Sec. 302) Amends the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish separate specific goals for: (1) low- and moderate-income housing; (2) special affordable housing; and (3) housing for underserved areas. Directs the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation to help community development organizations assist low- and moderate-income families with first-home purchases. (Sec. 303) Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to include among the qualified thrift investments of a savings association loans or extensions of credit for certain building projects and small businesses located within a qualified distressed community. (Sec. 304) Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration to establish a model program to determine the feasibility of developing a private secondary market for loans guaranteed under the microloan guarantee demonstration programs. Title IV: Credit Union Amendments - Amends the Federal Credit Union Act to modify guidelines for community development credit unions to reflect this Act, including authority to invest in U.S. securities certain money in the Community Development Credit Union Revolving Loan Fund. Title V: Consumer Education - Directs the Federal banking regulatory agencies to encourage insured depository institutions to promote educational services regarding their financial products for consumers residing in qualified distressed communities located in the service area of such institutions. Title VI: Community Development Task Force - Directs the President to appoint a community development task force to report to the Congress on the progress made by Federal agencies and instrumentalities in implementing the policies and programs established by this Act and the BEA 91.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1993
Community Investment Demonstration Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out a community investment demonstration program to provide project-based rental assistance (under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937) on behalf of low-income families in housing that is constructed, rehabilitated, or acquired pursuant to a loan or other financing from an eligible pension fund.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1993
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Maurice River, the Menantico Creek, the Manumuskin River, and the Muskee Creek in New Jersey as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to manage such segments through cooperative agreements with appropriate political jurisdictions except that publicly-owned lands within the boundaries of the segments shall be managed by the agency having jurisdiction over them. Requires cooperative agreements for the management of the segments to provide for the long-term protection, preservation, and enhancement of the segments and to be consistent with the comprehensive management plan prepared by the Secretary and with the local river management plans prepared by appropriate local political jurisdictions in conjunction with the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to review compliance with the local river management plans biennially and to report to specified congressional committees on any deviation which may diminish the values for which the river segment was designated. Encourages the Secretary to work with municipalities to negotiate agreement for designating additional eligible segments of the Maurice River and its tributaries. Designates the eligible segments for study as potential additions to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1993
Business, Commercial, and Community Development Secondary Market Development Act - Prescribes guidelines under which any person or governmental unit may be certified by the Secretary of the Treasury as a secondary market facilitating organization (organization) which raises capital for business, commercial, and community development by: (1) the placement of debt and equity securities; (2) the guarantee of timely payment of principal or interest on such securities; and (3) the sale or purchase of business, commercial, and community development debt and equity assets. Provides for: (1) Federal examination and oversight of such organizations; (2) mandatory submission to the Secretary of annual organization status reports; and (3) assessments and fees for examination and administrative costs. Declares that the obligations of the organizations are not backed by either the full faith and credit of the United States or any Federal guarantees. Directs the Financial Institutions Examination Council to establish uniform reporting standards for such debt and equity investments for bank examination purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Smuggling and Fraud Title II: Asylum Title III: Inspections Title IV: Authorization of Appropriations for the Immigration and Naturalization Service Immigration Enforcement and Asylum Reform Act of 1993 - Title I: Smuggling and Fraud - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide expedited exclusion procedures for aliens who arrive without proper documentation or who are determined by a special asylum officer not to have a proper claim of asylum (based upon a credible fear of persecution). Limits judicial review to habeas corpus. Increases penalties for certain alien smuggling offenses. Extends penalties to persons who contract to bring in illegal labor. Treats smuggling as an aggravated felony. Title II: Asylum - Revises asylum procedures. Sets forth mandatory and discretionary conditions for granting provisional asylum. Establishes new application deadlines. States that asylum applications shall be determined by specially trained asylum officers. Terminates an alien's claim for failure to appear at the application hearing. Title III: Inspections - Directs the Attorney General to establish: (1) specified numbers of preinspection stations at foreign airports identified as last departure points for the greatest numbers of U.S.-arriving passengers and at those with the greatest numbers of U.S.-arriving undocumented aliens (and to assign additional immigration officers at such airports without preinspection stations); and (2) an expedited inspection process for U.S. citizens returning by air from abroad. Revises the pilot visa waiver program to: (1) make it permanent; (2) repeal certain paperwork requirements; (3) subject participants to exclusion or deportation without appeal (except for an asylum claim); and (4) require carriers to distribute program information to passengers. Provides for the training of airline personnel in detection of fraudulent documents. Title IV: Authorization of Appropriations for the Immigration and Naturalization Service - Authorizes appropriations for the Border Patrol.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1993
Presidential Commission on TV Violence and Children Act - Establishes a Presidential Commission on TV Violence and Children. Directs the Commission to: (1) review and report on findings linking television (TV) violence and violence in children and society; (2) solicit opinions from children and their parents on their views concerning TV violence and their suggestions for lessening its negative effects; (3) solicit opinions from public health, crime, and education experts, and the broadcast, cable, film, and advertising industries of TV violence and their recommendations for lessening its negative effects; and (4) present a final report and recommendations for comprehensive strategies and solutions to alleviate harmful effects of TV violence that continue to preserve our tradition of free expression. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1993
Firefighters and Police Retirement Security Act of 1993 - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1986 to repeal a provision which would have terminated an exemption for certain bona fide hiring and retirement plans applicable to State and local fire fighters and law enforcement officers. (This Act thereby preserves such exemption beyond 1993.)
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1993
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide hospital care, and authorizes the Secretary to provide nursing home care, to a veteran exposed to an environmental hazard. Makes a veteran who the Secretary finds may have been exposed to a toxic substance or an environmental hazard during the Persian Gulf War eligible for hospital and nursing home care for any disability which becomes manifest before October 1, 1996, notwithstanding whether it is medically evident that such disability is associated with such exposure. Extends through FY 1998 the provision of such care. Makes such veterans eligible for outpatient care for any disability through such period, if the disability becomes manifest before October 1, 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1993
Housing Programs Extension Act of 1993 - Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to extend: (1) the termination date for the National Commission on Manufactured Housing; (2) the deadline for the Commission's final report (after an interim report); and (3) authorization of appropriations for the Commission. Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to: (1) extend authority for Federal agency housing subdivision approval reciprocity; (2) increase Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured mortgage authority; and (3) increase Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) guarantee authority.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1993
Homeless and Community Development Amendments Act of 1993 - Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Secretary) to carry out an innovative homeless initiatives demonstration program. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to increase funding for the moving to opportunity for fair housing demonstration program. Authorizes the Secretary to provide assistance to the National Community Development Initiative for grants to local community development organizations. Directs the Secretary to carry out a section 8 (United States Housing Act of 1937) community investment demonstration program.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1993
World Summit for Children Implementation Act of 1993 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that specified amounts should be appropriated for FY 1994 and 1995 to achieve full participation in the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children under the Child Nutrition Act (WIC program) and the Head Start program. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1994 and 1995 for contributions to the United Nation's Children's Fund and for the Child Survival Fund. Expresses the sense of the Congress that authority should be granted to the President to exercise specified debt forgiveness for least developed countries that are pursuing economic policy reforms to promote long-term development. Earmarks development assistance funds for FY 1994 and 1995 for the Vitamin A Deficiency Program. Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 1994 and 1995 for: (1) iodine and iron fortification programs; and (2) prevention, care, and control programs related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in developing countries. Earmarks development and economic assistance funds for FY 1994 and 1995 for programs in support of basic education. Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 1994 and 1995 for population assistance activities. Expresses the sense of the Congress that specified amounts should be appropriated for FY 1994 and 1995 for migration and refugee assistance. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the World Bank to: (1) ensure that poverty reduction and support of basic human needs become a higher priority within the Bank; (2) ensure that the majority of water and sanitation projects fall within targeted interventions against poverty; and (3) increase the proportion of total Bank lending which supports primary health care and basic education, with a minimum of five percent of total lending devoted to each area. Requires the President to call upon other governments to provide their share of resources required to achieve the World Summit for Children goals by the year 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1993
Lead-Based Paint Hazard Abatement Trust Fund Act of 1993 - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to establish a program of formula allotments to eligible public entities for lead-based paint hazard reduction. Sets forth matching requirements and authorized uses of grants. Prohibits States from providing grants to public entities or other units of general local government unless such entities or units have local lead-based paint laws in effect. Permits the expenditure of grant amounts only in accordance with an approved plan that sets priorities for lead risk assessment and abatement in rental housing and in owner-occupied housing occupied by children and pregnant women. Requires the certification of personnel conducting assessment and abatement activities. Bars the use of more than 20 percent of a grant for emergency measures. Limits assistance to small nonprofit organizations and businesses for performing such activities to one percent of the grant amount. Provides for the continued use of eligible residential units at which lead abatement activities are carried out as affordable housing. Permits grant amounts to be expended for abatement activities for an eligible unit only if the eligible public entity has entered into an agreement with the unit owner that: (1) provides for the abatement activities to be carried out; (2) establishes a lien (held by the public entity) on the unit to ensure compliance with affordable housing requirements; and (3) provides penalties for the breach of the agreement. Sets forth elements of plans required to be submitted by public entities as a condition of receiving grants. Establishes formulas for the determination of allotments. Authorizes appropriations from the Lead Abatement Trust Fund to carry out this Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax of 45 cents per pound on: (1) lead removed from any U.S. smelter; and (2) lead and lead in any taxable lead product entered into the United States for consumption, use, or warehousing. Provides a credit or refund for tax paid on lead or lead products that were exported. Establishes the Lead Abatement Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1993
Persian Gulf War Radiation Research Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to make a specified grant annually for FY 1994 through 1998 to an institution selected through established acquisition procedures to study the possible health effects of battlefield exposure to depleted uranium, including exposure through ingestion, inhalation, or bodily injury. Provides grant funding through Department of Defense research, development, test, and evaluation appropriations. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on such research activities.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1993
Vietnam Women's Memorial Coin Act of 1994 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue silver coins emblematic of the Vietnam Women's Memorial sculpture. Requires all surcharges received from the sale of such coins to be used for: (1) an endowment for the Memorial; (2) education and research concerning veterans and their families; and (3) the identification and documentation of women who served in the armed forces during the Vietnam era. Expresses the sense of the Congress that this coin program shall be self-sustaining and administered to result in no net cost to the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1993
Declares that each of the four major television broadcast networks and their affiliates, independent television stations, the Public Broadcasting System, and cable programmers and operators should: (1) not telecast programming containing dramatized violence; (2) superimpose explicit viewer advisories throughout programming containing dramatized or documentary violence; (3) provide explicit audio and on-screen viewer advisories immediately prior to transmittal of such programming; (4) not transmit programming promotions or advertisements that contain violence; (5) develop a standard scheme for classifying programming on the basis of the amount and type of dramatized violence it contains; and (6) educate and inform viewers about the harmful effects of exposure to television violence.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1993
Equitable Escheatment Act of 1993 - Amends specified Federal law to prescribe guidelines under which unclaimed distributions of security interests shall be subject to the custodial taking (escheatment) by the State which contains the principal executive offices of either the issuer or the holder of those securities.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1993
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 · 16 June 1993
Criminal Aliens Incarceration Act of 1993 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to permit the deportation of an alien in Federal or State detention prior to sentence completion. Amends Federal law to require a court to issue a deportation order as part of the sentencing order for an alien convicted of an aggravated felony. Amends the Act to provide for such deportations. Provides for Federal incarceration, upon State request, of undocumented criminal aliens.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1993
Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to: (1) require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide hospital care, and authorize such Secretary to provide nursing home care, to veterans exposed to environmental hazards during their military service; (2) make eligible for hospital and nursing home care for any disability of a Persian Gulf War veteran who was exposed to environmental hazards; (3) extend the authority for all such care through FY 2003; and (4) provide priority outpatient care for any disability of a Persian Gulf War veteran exposed during such service to environmental hazards.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1993
Breeder Reactor Termination Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to terminate the advanced liquid metal reactor program, including: (1) the program's promotion of the use of liquid metal reactors for high-level radioactive waste disposal; and (2) departmental support for regulatory applications to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for design certification for advanced liquid metal reactors or related licensed facilities. Directs the Secretary to reassign personnel displaced as a result of such termination to other departmental activities. Declares that it is the policy of the Congress that savings realized from such termination should be used to reduce the Federal budget deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1993
Designates June 12 through 19, 1994, as National Men's Health Week.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1993
Preservation of Life Through Water Resources Planning Act of 1993 - Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1993 to require the Secretary of the Army to consider the loss of life which may be associated with flooding and coastal storm events in the formulation and evaluation of flood control projects to be carried out by the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1993
Bankruptcy Amendments of 1993 - Amends Federal bankruptcy law to raise to $1 million the ceiling on debts for eligibility to file as a chapter 13 debtor (bankrupt consumer repayment of debt under court supervision). (Currently the ceiling is $100,000 for unsecured debts, or $350,000 for certain secured debts.) Modifies the guidelines for: (1) chapter 13 bankruptcies; (2) automatic stays; (3) exemptions; (4) discharges; and (5) preferences. Directs the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to compile and make available to the public statistical information regarding bankruptcy cases.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1993
Designates the week beginning October 31, 1993, as National Health Information Management Week.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1993
Designates October 1993 and October 1994 as National Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1993
Declares that it is the Congress' intent that the Secretary of Transportation, in negotiating under the auspices of the Land Transportation Standards Committee established under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), shall not weaken U.S. truck safety standards by increasing truck sizes and weights or by compromising such standards as truck driver hours of service, front brake and other safety equipment requirements, and the truck driver record system.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1993
Gaming Integrity and State Law Enforcement Act of 1993 - Amends the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to increase the membership of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Grants the Commission the authority to approve certain tribal gaming regulations. Revises conditions for regulation of Class II and Class III gaming activities on Indian lands. Limits gaming to the specific forms of, and methods of play for, those gaming activities expressly authorized by the law of the State. Revises provisions with respect to Class II licensing of persons other than Indian tribes. Places a moratorium on Tribal-State gaming compacts. Excludes video bingo from the definition of Class II gaming. Includes video bingo, and any other forms of electronic video games or devices, as well as slot machines, within the definition of Class III gaming. Shifts the burden of proof from a State to the United States in a compact negotiation action initiated by the United States on behalf of a tribe. Sets forth restrictions with respect to gaming on after-acquired lands (with a special provision for lands in Oklahoma). Subjects Indian gaming establishments to specified reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Requires the Attorney General to conduct specified background investigations of directors, financial backers, and key employees of Class III establishments. Amends Federal law to apply State gambling laws to Indian lands to the same extent that they apply to non-Indian lands. Grants the United States exclusive jurisdiction over related criminal prosecutions, with specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1993
Pornography Victims Protection Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal criminal code with respect to the prohibition against the sexual exploitation of children to add as a condition triggering Federal penalties that the person concerned knows that a minor was transported in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of producing pornography. Makes it a criminal offense for any person to coerce, intimidate, or fraudulently induce an individual 18 years or older to engage in any sexually explicit conduct for the purposes of producing any visual depiction of such conduct. Grants the U.S. district courts jurisdiction to prevent and restrain violations of this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General or any person threatened with loss or damage by such conduct to institute a civil suit. Provides for treble damages for a victim who suffers physical injury, emotional distress, or property damage. Imposes civil penalties for violation of the prohibition against sexual exploitation of children.