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United States · Official source
4,447 records where Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the luxury excise tax on passenger vehicles, boats, aircraft, jewelry, and furs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1993
Small Business Lending and Credit Availability Act of 1993 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to participate in loans to small businesses located in States in which one or more insured depository institutions have been closed due to inability to meet depositor demands. Directs the SBA to guarantee 90 percent of any such loan for amounts between $200,000 and $500,000, and 95 percent of any such loan for amounts less than $200,000. Prohibits the SBA from collecting a guarantee fee from the lending institution or the borrower for such loan participation during the first two years of such participation, with a one percent (of the loan) fee permitted for the third through fifth years. Authorizes lenders to retain one-half of any fee so collected in order to encourage lenders to provide loans to small businesses located in areas of failed depository institutions. Limits the loan participation program to five years.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1993
Community Enhancement Act of 1993 - Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to require specified percentages of appropriations from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to be made available for assistance to States for outdoor recreation programs. Provides that payments to States for outdoor recreation may not cover more than 75 percent of: (1) the cost of acquisition of specified lands, waters, and interests; or (2) the cost of revising comprehensive State outdoor recreation plans to conform to specified requirements. Permits counties or political subdivisions to receive funds allocated to States for land acquisition purposes to cover up to 50 percent of the cost of developing or revising local plans to retain land for recreation and open space preservation purposes. Authorizes counties or other governmental entities to receive funds to cover up to 60 percent of the cost of acquiring lands, waters, or interests, following adoption of a plan and through September 30, 1997. Treats Indian tribes and Alaska Native Village Corporations collectively as one State for purposes of receiving outdoor recreation assistance and provides for a competitive grant program for the receipt of such assistance. Requires statewide outdoor recreation plans to contain: (1) a description of Federal and State activities that adversely affect open space and recreational resources; and (2) an evaluation of the extent to which local zoning or the lack of zoning contributes to degradation of State and local projects funded with outdoor recreation assistance. Establishes a program to provide Federal assistance to States, local and interstate entities, and private nonprofit organizations for the protection or establishment of: (1) Greenways (linear parks or open spaces linking natural and cultural features within or near metropolitan areas); and (2) Urban Open Space Preserves (open spaces with natural, rural, or agricultural character within large metropolitan areas). Requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct studies and report to the Congress on Federal assistance to protect open space areas. Authorizes appropriations from the Fund for loans to State, local, or interstate entities if recreational resources are of vital significance and are in imminent danger of damage or when an opportunity to address a severe recreation deficiency will be foregone. Establishes an advisory board to assist in the selection of projects to receive such assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1993
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide a duty with respect to certain plastic flat goods with an outer surface area of not less than 20 percent leather.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1993
Family Farm Tax Relief and Savings Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to nontaxable exchanges to allow the rollover of gain from the sale of a qualified farm asset into one or more individual retirement plans, to be known as asset rollover accounts. Denies an itemized deduction for contributions to such accounts and sets forth contribution limitations. Provides that rollover contributions to an asset rollover account may be made only from other such accounts. Sets forth reporting requirements for individuals making contributions to such accounts and taxes excess contributions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1993
Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to: (1) define the term "dietary supplement"; and (2) exclude a dietary supplement from the definition of "food additive." Deems a dietary supplement adulterated if it: (1) contains an unsafe dietary ingredient which presents a substantial and unreasonable risk of illness or injury; or (2) contains a dietary ingredient that has not been adequately substantiated for safety. Prohibits the establishment of maximum limits on the potency of any dietary supplement, except in the case of a supplement represented to be for the use of individuals with specific diseases or disorders. Allows a dietary supplement's label to characterize the relationship between the supplement and a disease under specified conditions. Deems food misbranded unless the label lists the daily value of specified nutrients which shall reflect the daily intake of each nutrient that will promote optimal health. Prohibits such value from being less than the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance. Establishes an Office of Dietary Supplements within the National Institutes of Health.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1993
SSI Disability Reform Act of 1993 - Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) allow government agencies to serve as paid representative payees; (2) set the maximum fee payable to representative payees at ten percent of the monthly benefit involved; and (3) revise the provision of SSI benefits to the disabled based on substance abuse. Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to provide for mandatory Medicaid coverage of approved substance abuse treatment programs for certain disabled SSI beneficiaries.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Cancellation and Suspension Title II: Data Collection Title III: Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act Food Quality Protection Act of 1993 - Title I: Cancellation and Suspension - Amends provisions of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) relating to cancellations, changes in classifications, or other terms of registration with respect to the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Requires that a rulemaking under such provisions be based on a validated test or other significant evidence raising prudent concerns of unreasonable adverse effects to man or to the environment. Denies registration applications that are not in compliance with this Act. Title II: Data Collection - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to collect pesticide use data of statewide or regional significance for all the major crops and crops of dietary significance. Mandates research, development, and dissemination of integrated pest management techniques and other pest control methods that enable producers to reduce or eliminate application of pesticides which pose a greater than negligible dietary risk to humans. Title III: Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to define, subject to exception, "pesticide chemical" as it is defined in FIFRA. Deems a food adulterated if it bears or contains: (1) a pesticide chemical residue that is unsafe; or (2) a new animal drug or conversion product that is unsafe. Sets forth requirements relating to tolerances and exemptions from tolerances for pesticide chemical residues in food, including residues of degradation products. Prohibits establishment of a tolerance higher than a level the Administrator determines is adequate to protect the public health. Allows a greater than negligible dietary risk if: (1) use protects from greater adverse health effects to humans or the environment; (2) use avoids greater risks from another pesticide; or (3) the unavailability of the pesticide would reduce the availability of an adequate, wholesome, and economical domestic supply of the food, and the adverse effects from the reduction would outweigh the risk posed by the residue. Allows the Administrator to issue an exemption from the requirement for a tolerance only if a tolerance is not needed to protect the public health, in view of the levels of dietary exposure that could reasonably be expected to occur. Prohibits a final rule that revokes, modifies, or suspends a tolerance or exemption until the Administrator has taken any necessary action under FIFRA with respect to the registration of the pesticide involved. Requires the Administrator, if the Administrator takes certain actions with respect to the registration of a pesticide, to revoke any tolerance or exemption that allows the presence of the chemical or chemical residue. Requires the suspension of any tolerance or exemption upon the suspension of the use of an associated registered pesticide. Provides for: (1) tolerances for unavoidable residues in the case of a residue of a canceled or suspended pesticide chemical that will unavoidably persist in the environment and be present in or on a food; and (2) residues resulting from an application which was lawful at the time of application. Prohibits, subject to exception, a State from enforcing any limit on a qualifying pesticide chemical residue in or on any food which is not identical to Federal requirements. Prohibits a State from enforcing a residue limit which was lawful at the time of application. Authorizes appropriations for increased monitoring of pesticide residues in imported and domestic food.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Line-Item Veto Title II: Capital Gains Title III: Social Security Earnings Test Title IV: Urban Tax Enterprise Zones and Rural Development Investment Zones Subtitle A: Designation and Tax Incentives Subtitle B: Redevelopment Bonds for Tax Enterprise Zones Subtitle C: Credit for Contributions to Certain Community Development Corporations Subtitle D: Indian Employment and Investment Subtitle E: Study Title V: Workfare Title I: Line Item Veto - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to grant the President legislative line item veto rescission authority. Authorizes the President to rescind all or part of any budget authority if the President determines that such rescission: (1) would help balance the Federal budget, reduce the Federal budget deficit, or reduce the public debt; (2) will not impair any essential Government functions; and (3) will not harm the national interest. Requires the President to notify the Congress of such a rescission by special message. Makes such a rescission effective unless the Congress, during a review period of 20 calendar days, enacts a rescission disapproval bill. Describes: (1) information to be included in the President's message; and (2) procedures to govern consideration of rescission disapproval legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Title II: Capital Gains - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth a formula for the determination of a deduction for gain on investments in new small business stock (seed capital) held for at least five years. Establishes special rules for such investments. Provides for determining the maximum capital gains rate for small business net capital gain or seed capital gain. Treats capital gains on the sale of such stock as a preference item for purposes of the minimum tax. Title III: Social Security Earnings Test - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to increase the retirement test exempt amount and lower the reduction factor with respect to certain earnings. Title IV: Urban Tax Enterprise Zones and Rural Development Investment Zones - Declares it to be the purpose of this title to establish a demonstration program of providing incentives for the creation of tax enterprise zones in order to: (1) revitalize economically and physically distressed areas; (2) promote meaningful employment for zone residents; and (3) encourage individuals to reside in the zones in which they are employed. Subtitle A: Designation and Tax Incentives - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation of tax enterprise zones during calendar years after 1992 and before 1998: (1) by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in the case of an urban tax enterprise zone; and (2) by the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, in the case of a rural development investment zone. Sets forth the eligibility criteria for such designation for urban tax enterprise zones and for rural development investment zones. Allows an enterprise zone employment credit to small employers as a general business credit of 15 percent of the qualified zone wages. Allows a deduction for the purchase of enterprise zone stock paid in cash. Excludes from gross income 50 percent of qualified capital gain recognized on the sale or exchange of a new qualified zone asset held for more than five years. Subtitle B: Redevelopment Bonds for Tax Enterprise Zones - Sets forth special rules for tax-exempt redevelopment bonds which provide financing for tax enterprise zones for the first 60-month period after a zone is so designated. Subtitle C: Credit for Contributions to Certain Community Development Corporations - Allows a general business tax credit for contributions to selected community development corporations to provide employment of, and business opportunities for, low-income individuals who are residents of the operational areas of the community. Subtitle D: Indian Employment and Investment - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish an Indian reservation credit as a tax credit for investment in qualified Indian reservation property. Allows businesses an employment credit of ten percent (30 percent in the case of an employer with at least 85 percent Indian employees) of the sum of the qualified wages and qualified employee health insurance costs paid or incurred during a taxable year. Subtitle E: Study - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the appropriate Secretary, to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to report to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance on the effectiveness of the incentives provided by this subtitle in achieving its purposes. Title V: Workfare - Requires the Secretary of Labor to report to the Congress on a comprehensive legislative proposal which would require adults receiving aid to families with dependent children under the Social Security Act to enter the workforce within two years of receiving such aid.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to declare that unrelated trade or business does not include the activity of soliciting and receiving qualified sponsorship payments (payments received by tax-exempt organizations from corporations and other sponsors in connection with certain athletic and other public events) for purposes of the tax on unrelated business income of charitable, etc., organizations. Excludes royalties received by certain tax-exempt olympic organizations for the 1996 Olympics as income from an unrelated trade or business.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1993
Repeals the Service Contract Act of 1965.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1993
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits fiscal year Federal outlays (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding receipts (except those derived from borrowing), unless the Congress authorizes a specific excess by a three-fifths vote of both Houses. Permits any bill for raising taxes to become law only if a majority of the whole number of both Houses of Congress approves it by roll call vote. Authorizes a waiver of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect. Prohibits an increase in the public debt limit unless three-fifths of both Houses provide by law for such an increase by a roll call vote.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1993
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the energy excise tax proposed by the President will seriously harm middle income citizens, rural residents, and the economy and should not be approved.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Public Debt Reduction Title II: Capital Formation Title III: Cooperative Enterprise Title IV: Business Liability Reform Subtitle A: Findings Subtitle B: Professionals' Liability Reform Subtitle C: Product Liability Fairness Title V: Regulatory Review Title VI: Total Quality Management Title VII: Long-Term Investment Title VIII: Amendments to the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 Fundamental Competitiveness Act of 1993 - Title I: Public Debt Reduction - Allows individual taxpayers to designate a portion of tax liability (not to exceed ten percent) on their tax returns to reduce the public debt. Establishes the Public Debt Reduction Trust Fund consisting of amounts so designated. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to provide for a sequestration of revenues equivalent to the estimated aggregate amount so designated. Specifies accounts exempted from such sequestration and establishes reporting requirements with respect to budget procedures. Title II: Capital Formation - Establishes a method of computing the credit for increasing research activities based on aggregate research expenses, as an alternative to the method based on qualified research expenses. Establishes a variable capital gains deduction with formulas on a sliding scale ranging from ten percent for assets held for one year up to 100 percent for assets held for ten years. Allows a deduction of 50 percent of the capital gain from stock investments by non-corporate taxpayers in start-up companies where initial stock offerings are held for two years. Requires indexing, based on the gross national product deflator, of the adjusted basis of certain assets (corporate stock and tangible property that is a capital asset of property used in a trade or business) that have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or other disposition, solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss. Permits an income tax deduction in the amount of dividends paid by domestic corporations, except S corporations, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, and personal holding companies. Repeals the income tax deductions currently permitted in connection with: (1) dividends received by a corporation; (2) dividends received by a corporation on the preferred stock of a public utility; and (3) dividends paid by a public utility on its preferred stock. Increases the deductible percentage of amounts received by a corporation from a qualified ten-percent owned foreign corporation. Allows a charitable deduction for corporate contributions of employee volunteer services to an educational organization. Establishes an investment tax credit for manufacturing and other productive equipment. Provides for determining the applicable percentage of such credit, which includes an efficiency improvement percentage. Increases the limitation based on the amount of tax for purposes of the general business credit. Provides for the treatment of losses on stock in manufacturing companies as ordinary (as opposed to capital) losses. Allows a partial exclusion of dividends or interest received by an individual. Provides for ordinary-loss treatment for losses on investments in a qualified startup company. Title III: Cooperative Enterprise - Amends the Clayton Act to bar the acquisition by one corporation of stock of another, subject to specified conditions, where there is a significant probability that such acquisition will substantially increase the ability to exercise market power (currently, where the effect of such acquisition may be to substantially lessen competition or to tend to create a monopoly). Defines the ability to exercise market power for purposes of such provision as the ability of one or more firms profitably to maintain prices above competitive levels for a significant period of time. Directs the court, in determining whether there is a significant probability that any acquisition will substantially increase the ability to exercise market power, to consider all economic factors relevant to the effect of the acquisition in the affected markets. Amends the National Cooperative Research Act of 1984 to include a joint production venture within the scope of such Act as an activity that shall not be deemed illegal per se under the antitrust laws. Changes the short title of such Act to the National Cooperative Research, Development, and Production Act. Title IV: Business Liability - Subtitle A: Findings - Makes findings with respect to the increasing amount of litigation in our society and the desirability of encouraging alternative dispute mechanisms and providing uniform legal standards in the areas of professional and product liability. Subtitle B: Professionals' Liability Reform - Professionals' Liability Reform Act of 1993 - Establishes certain limitations and procedures regarding professional liability actions. Preempts certain State laws. Provides that nothing in this Act shall prohibit any State from developing or implementing alternative procedures for: (1) expediting the adjudication of professional liability claims; (2) resolving professional liability disputes; or (3) compensating for harm caused by professional services. Requires professional liability actions to be brought within three years after the claimant discovered, or should have discovered, the harm. Requires the claimant, in any professional liability action, to establish certain elements of proof. Permits future damage awards exceeding $100,000 to be made by periodic payments. Requires that damage awards be offset by any amount received as compensation for the same injury. Establishes a contingency fee schedule for plaintiffs' attorneys. States that the principles of comparative liability shall apply unless persons engaged in concerted action which proximately caused the harm. Permits the awarding of punitive damages only where the conduct of the defendant: (1) manifested a malicious and reckless disregard for safety; and (2) constituted an extreme departure from accepted standards of safety. Makes any attorney who files a frivolous claim subject to pecuniary sanctions by the court. Requires each State to encourage professional organizations to form risk management programs. Subtitle C: Product Liability Fairness - Part I: General Provisions - Product Liability Fairness Act - Declares that this Act governs any product liability action brought against a manufacturer or product seller, on any theory, for harm caused by a product. States that a civil action brought against a manufacturer or product seller for loss or damage to a product itself or commercial loss shall be governed by applicable commercial or contract law. Supersedes any inconsistent State law regarding recovery in such actions. Lists specific laws not superseded. Declares that U.S. district courts shall not have jurisdiction over any civil action under this Act, based on specified provisions of Federal law relating to district court jurisdiction. Declares that, if any provision of this Act would shorten the period during which a manufacturer or seller would otherwise be exposed to liability, the claimant may, notwithstanding that period, bring any civil action under this Act within one year after the effective date of this Act. Part II: Out of Court Procedures - Allows any claimant to bring a civil action for damages against a person for harm caused by a product under applicable State law, except to the extent such law is superseded by this title. Sets forth expedited settlement measures. Sets forth alternative dispute resolution procedures. Creates a rebuttable presumption that a refusal to so proceed was unreasonable, or not in good faith, if a verdict is rendered in favor of the offeror. Part III: Court Procedures - Allows a person seeking to recover for harm caused by a product to bring a civil action against the manufacturer or seller under applicable State or Federal law, except to the extent such law is superseded by this Act. Establishes a standard of product seller liability for proximate causes of harm, established by a preponderance of the evidence, which fall under the categories of negligence or express warranty. Sets forth uniform standards for the award of punitive damages. Bars any civil action under this title: (1) unless filed within two years after the claimant discovered or should have discovered the harm and its cause, subject to exception; and (2) if the product involved is a capital good that is alleged to have caused harm which is not a toxic harm unless filed within 25 years after delivery of the product, provided the claimant has received or would be eligible for State or Federal workers' compensation. Excludes a motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or railroad used primarily to transport passengers for hire from these time limitations. Requires reduction in the damages awarded by the sum of all State or Federal workers' compensation benefits to which the employee is or would be entitled. Declares that, in any product liability action, the liability of each defendant for noneconomic damages shall be several and not joint. Requires the trier of fact to determine the proportion of responsibility of each party for the claimant's harm. Establishes a complete defense, in any civil action under this Act in which all defendants are manufacturers or sellers, that the claimant was under the influence of alcohol or any drug and that, as a result, the claimant was more than 50 percent responsible for the event which resulted in the harm. Defines "drug" to mean any non-over-the-counter drug which has not been prescribed by a physician. Title V: Regulatory Review - Prohibits an agency from proposing or promulgating a regulation without first analyzing its direct and indirect effects on the health and safety of consumers and workers, including effects due to wage and job losses, price increases, product restrictions, technological delays, and substitution effects. Title VI: Total Quality Management - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to allow the formation or operation of quality circles or joint production teams composed of labor and management, with or without the participation of representatives of labor organizations. Title VII: Long-Term Invesment - Long-Term Investment Promotion Act of 1993 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to eliminate the requirement that publicly-held corporations report their financial status on a quarterly basis. Title VIII: Amendments to the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 - Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to change from discretionary to mandatory a Federal agency's authority to permit the director of any of its laboratories to enter into cooperative research and development agreements on its behalf. Authorizes each Federal agency to copyright on behalf of the United States any computer software prepared in whole or in part by Government employees involved in cooperative research and development agreements. Includes software royalties in the current distribution format (agency, laboratory, author, and Treasury) under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1993
Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to permit the extra-label use of drugs in animals if such use is upon the order of licensed veterinarian, is in compliance with appropriate regulations, and is in the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Prohibits such use if it results in unacceptable residues of a drug in food.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1993
Amends rule XXVII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require the Clerk to make the signatures on a motion to discharge a matter of public record once it has been filed in the House.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1993
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for the tariff treatment of time-recorders that are battery or AC powered with opto-electronic display only. Provides for retroactive application of this Act, upon request filed by a certain deadline, for liquidation or relinquishment of any entry or withdrawal on or after January 1, 1993, and before the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the luxury excise tax parts for accessories installed for use on passenger vehicles by disabled individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1993
Exclusion and Asylum Reform Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to create grounds for exclusion of an alien who: (1) uses or attempts to use a fraudulent document to enter the United States, or to board a common carrier for such purpose; or (2) uses a document to board a common carrier and then fails to present such document to an immigration official upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry. Prohibits the granting of asylum to an alien who is found to be using fraudulent entry documents or who fails to present entry-related documents, unless a specially trained immigration officer determines such actions were pursuant to departure from a country in which: (1) the alien had a credible fear of persecution; or (2) there was a significant danger that the alien would be returned to a country in which he or she would have a credible fear of persecution. Provides for port of entry exclusion and deportation without administrative or judicial appeal (except by a limited petition of habeas corpus) for such admission document fraud. Increases penalties for certain alien smuggling offenses.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a partial exclusion of dividends or interest received by an individual.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1993
Comprehensive Wetlands Conservation and Management Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prohibit, unless such activity is undertaken pursuant to a permit issued by the Secretary of the Army: (1) the discharge of dredged or fill material into U.S. waters; or (2) the draining, channelization, or excavation of wetlands. Requires the Secretary, upon receiving permit applications, to: (1) classify as Type A wetlands wetlands that are of critical significance to the long-term conservation of an ecosystem; (2) classify as Type B wetlands wetlands that provide habitat for a significant population of wildlife or provide other significant wetlands functions; and (3) classify as Type C wetlands wetlands that serve marginal functions but exist in such abundance that regulation of activities is not necessary to conserve wetlands values and functions, or are lands that do not serve significant wetlands functions. Permits owners of interests in Type A wetlands to seek compensation for the fair market value of such lands. Provides that title for such lands shall pass to the United States upon acceptance of an offer for compensation. Requires the Secretary to deny a permit authorizing activities in Type A wetlands unless: (1) such activities can be undertaken with minimal alteration or disturbance; (2) there are public interest concerns that require use of the lands for purposes other than conservation; or (3) the proposed use of the land will result in overall environmental benefits. Authorizes the Secretary to issue a permit for activities in Type B wetlands subject to conditions that ensure that the wetland ecosystem does not suffer loss or degradation. Imposes requirements for mitigation when such activities result in permanent wetland loss or degradation. Directs the Secretary to establish a mitigation banking program in each State to ensure compensation for loss and degradation of wetlands. Requires the primary objective of such programs to be to provide for the restoration, enhancement, or creation of ecologically significant wetlands on an ecosystem basis. Exempts specified activities from this Act's requirements. Prohibits more than 20 percent of any county, parish, or borough from being classified as Type A wetlands. Requires the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to undertake a project to identify and classify U.S. wetlands. Authorizes civil actions and prescribes penalties for permit violations. Authorizes States to administer permit programs for activities covered by this Act, subject to the Secretary's approval.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1993
Workplace Leave Fairness Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide that the length of an employee's leave of absence (even if it is only part of one day) shall not disqualify that employee from the exemption from minimum wage and maximum hours requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1993
National Cooperative Production Amendments of 1993 - Amends the National Cooperative Research Act of 1984 to apply such Act to joint ventures for the production of a product, process, or service and the testing in connection with such production. Revises the Act to exclude from the definition of "joint venture" activities where two or more persons enter into an agreement or engage in any other conduct restricting, requiring, or otherwise involving the marketing, distribution, or provision by any person who is a party to such venture of any product, process, or service other than: (1) the distribution among the parties to such venture of a product, process, or service produced by the venture; (2) the marketing of proprietary information developed through the venture formed under a written agreement entered into before the date of this Act's enactment; or (3) the licensing, conveying, or transferring of intellectual property developed through such venture formed under a written agreement entered into on or after such date. Excludes from such definition the following activities: (1) entering into any agreement or engaging in any other conduct allocating a market with a competitor; (2) exchanging among competitors information relating to production (other than production by such venture) of a product, process, or service if such information is not reasonably required to carry out the purpose of such venture; (3) entering into any agreement or engaging in any other conduct restricting, requiring, or otherwise involving the production of a product, process, or service (other than the production by such venture); (4) using existing facilities in connection with the production of a product, process, or service by such venture unless such use is for the production of a new product or technology; and (5) entering into any agreement or engaging in any other conduct to restrict or require participation by any party to such venture in any unilateral or joint activity that is not reasonably required to carry out the purpose of such venture, with exceptions. Modifies the "rule of reason" standard to provide that, in any action under Federal antitrust law or similar State law, the conduct of any person in making or performing a contract to carry out a joint venture shall not be deemed illegal per se, but shall be judged based on its reasonableness, taking into account all relevant factors affecting competition, including effects on competition in properly defined, relevant research, development, product, process, and service markets. Specifies that: (1) for the purpose of determining a properly defined, relevant market, worldwide capacity shall be considered if appropriate in the circumstances; and (2) if a purpose of a joint venture is the production of a product, process, or service, a party to such venture may file a written notification of the identity and nationality of any party to such venture or controlling entity. Makes protections of the Act inapplicable with respect to a joint venture's production of a product, process, or service, unless: (1) the principal facilities for such production are located in the United States or its territories; and (2) each person who controls any party to such venture (including such party itself) is a U.S. person or a foreign person from a country whose law accords antitrust treatment no less favorable to U.S. persons than to such country's domestic persons with respect to participation in joint ventures for production. Sets forth reporting requirements regarding joint ventures and U.S. competitiveness.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1993
Chemical Control Amendments Act of 1993 - Amends the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 to: (1) replace references to "listed precursor chemicals" with "list I chemicals" and "listed essential chemicals" with "list II chemicals"; and (2) revise the definitions of "regulated person" (to include individuals who act as brokers or traders for international transactions involving a listed chemical, tableting machine, or encapsulating machine) and "regulated transaction" (to include international transactions involving shipment of a threshold amount of a listed chemical and to exclude specified transactions). Removes the exemption for products in which ephedrine is the only active medicinal ingredient in therapeutic amounts. Permits the Attorney General to remove the exemption for other drugs containing listed chemicals if it is determined that they are being diverted for use in the illicit production of a controlled substance, with exceptions. Provides registration requirements for list I chemicals, including the authority to revoke or deny based on public interest grounds, immediate suspension in cases of imminent danger to the public health or safety, and criminal penalties for distribution, importation, or exportation without the required registration. Authorizes the Attorney General to reduce controls on the importation of specified chemicals by modifying or eliminating the advance notice requirement. Adds specific criminal penalties for: (1) attempting to evade reporting requirements by falsely claiming that a shipment is destined for a country for which a waiver has been established; and (2) smuggling of listed chemicals. Makes it a felony for a person who possesses a listed chemical with intent that it be used in the illegal manufacture of a controlled substance to manage the listed chemical or waste from the manufacture of a controlled substance other than as required under the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Specifies that a person who violates such prohibition shall be assessed costs of the initial cleanup and disposal of the listed chemical and contaminated property, as well as the cost of restoring property damaged by exposure to such chemical. Subjects listed chemicals to the same forfeiture provisions which apply to controlled substances. Amends the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986 to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make available to the Attorney General information in the national practitioner data bank.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1993
Drug and Alcohol Offenders Treatment Act of 1993 - Amends the Contract Services for Drug Dependent Federal Offenders Treatment Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations for FY 1993 through 1995.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1993
Multiple Employer Health Benefits Protection Act of 1993 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to establish certification standards under title I (Protection of Employee Benefit Rights) for multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) providing health benefits. Treats as employee welfare benefits plans, and exempts from certain restrictions on preemption, a MEWA which provides benefits consisting solely of specified medical care, which is not fully insured, and which applies for and receives a specified exemption. Sets forth exemption procedures, as well as additional requirements applicable to exempted arrangements. Requires certain disclosures to participating employees. Requires exempted MEWAs which are not fully insured to maintain specified types of reserves. Sets forth corrective actions which such MEWAs' operating committees must take: (1) to avoid depletion of reserves; or (2) in connection with termination of the MEWA. Provides for review of actions by the Secretary of Labor with respect to denials of applications for, or suspensions or revocations of, such exemptions. Revises ERISA with respect to: (1) a specified exemption from preemption; (2) treatment of single employer arrangements; and (3) treatment of certain collectively bargained arrangements. Sets forth ERISA requirements relating to employee leasing health care arrangements (ELHAs). Provides for treatment of ELHAs as MEWAs, with certain exceptions. Sets forth special rules under which an ELHA may receive a MEWA exemption. Includes under such exemption requirements: (1) a minimum three-year lessor tenure; (2) solicitation restrictions; (3) creation of an employment relationship, involving disclosure statements, informed consent, and informed recruitment of the lessee's employees; and (4) a requisite employer-employee relationship under the ELHA. Allows delegation to a State of some or all of the Secretary's enforcement authority with respect to MEWAs with exemptions. Directs the Secretary to provide enforcement and technical assistance to the States with respect to MEWAs.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Domestic Terrorism Title II: Explosives Title III: Illegal Immigration Title IV: International Terrorism Title V: Authorizations to Expand Counter-Terrorist Operations Terrorism Prevention and Protection Act of 1993 - Title I: Domestic Terrorism - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for imposition of the death penalty if death results from: (1) the commission of terrorist acts; and (2) using, or attempting or conspiring to use, weapons of mass destruction under specified circumstances. (Sec. 102) Enhances penalties for specified violations of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act and passport and visa provisions of the Federal criminal code. (Sec. 104) Extends the statute of limitations for specified terrorism offenses. (Sec. 105) Revises provisions regarding Federal Bureau of Investigation access to telephone subscriber information to increase such access under specified circumstances involving counterintelligence investigations and international terrorism. (Sec. 106) Sets penalties for: (1) violence at airports serving international civil aviation; and (2) violation of Federal aviation security regulations. (Sec. 108) Establishes an Economic Terrorism Task Force. (Sec. 109) Revises the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) concerning alien witness cooperation with Federal or State law enforcement authorities or courts. (Sec. 110) Sets penalties regarding: (1) providing material support to terrorists; (2) homicides and attempted homicides involving firearms in Federal facilities; and (3) specified explosives offenses. (Sec. 113) Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to amend sentencing guidelines to increase the base offense level for a felony that involves international terrorism. Title II: Explosives - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit the: (1) manufacture of explosive material which does not contain an identification taggant and a detection taggant which meet standards to be promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury; and (2) transport, shipment, distribution, receipt, or other disposition or importation of explosive materials not containing such taggants. Title III: Illegal Immigration - Immigration Preinspection Act of 1993 - Amends the INA to: (1) require the Attorney General to establish and maintain preinspection stations in at least three of the ten foreign airports which the Attorney General identifies as serving as last points of departure for the greatest number of passengers who arrive from abroad by air at ports of entry within the United States; and (2) convert the visa waiver pilot program for certain visitors into a permanent program, subject to specified revisions. (Sec. 304) Revises INA provisions regarding passenger manifests (including authorizing the use of electronic manifests), inspection by immigration officers, and immigration inspection and preinspection services to expedite airport immigration processing. Directs the Attorney General to implement an expedited process for the inspection of U.S. citizens upon arrival from abroad by air at ports of entry within the United States. Title IV: International Terrorism - Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act to provide that whenever an alien furnishes information leading to the conviction of an international terrorist, or the prevention, frustration, or favorable resolution of an international terrorist act, and the Secretary of State and the Attorney General jointly determine that the protection of such alien or the alien's immediate family requires admission, such alien and immediate relatives may be issued visas and admitted for permanent residence, subjects to specified limitations. (Sec. 402) Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) increase penalties for international terrorist acts; and (2) prohibit specified offenses of violence against maritime navigation or fixed platforms. (Sec. 406) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) extension of the territorial sea and assimilated crimes in such areas; and (2) jurisdiction over crimes against U.S. nationals on foreign ships. (Sec. 409) Sets penalties for: (1) torture; (2) counterfeiting U.S. currency abroad; and (3) foreign murders of U.S. nationals. Provides for the imposition of the death penalty for terrorists under specified circumstances. Title V: Authorizations to Expand Counter-Terrorist Operations - Authorizes appropriations to specified departments and agencies for counter-terrorist operations and programs.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that a qualified veteran, for purposes of eligibility for mortgage revenue bond financing, is one who meets applicable State law requirements. (Current law specifies deadlines to be met by such veterans.)
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1993
Competitive Consumer Electronics Availability Act of 1995 - Requires the Federal Communications Commission to adopt regulations to assure competitive availability, to consumers of telecommunication services, of converter boxes, interactive communications devices, and other customer premises equipment from manufacturers, retailers, and other vendors not affiliated with any telecommunications system operator. Provides that such regulations shall not prohibit any telecommunications system operator from also offering devices and customer premises equipment to consumers if the system operator's charges to consumers for such devices and equipment are separately stated and not bundled with or subsidized by charges for any telecommunications service. Authorizes the Commission to waive a regulation adopted pursuant to this Act for a limited time upon an appropriate showing by a telecommunications system operator that such waiver is necessary to the introduction of a new telecommunications service.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1993
Establishes the Joint Committee on Intelligence. Declares that such Committee has exclusive legislative jurisdiction with respect to any intelligence activity of the Federal Government and authorizations of appropriations for specified intelligence agencies and intelligence-related activities. Directs the Joint Committee to review and study on a continuing basis any intelligence activity conducted by any Federal agency or department. Prohibits any Member of Congress or committee from disclosing information received from the Joint Committee except in a closed session of the House of Representatives or the Senate. Requires a Federal agency or department which conducts any intelligence activity to keep the Joint Committee fully and currently informed and, if requested, to furnish any periodic reports relating to such activities. Directs the Joint Committee to: (1) classify its information and records according to standards used generally by the executive branch; and (2) establish guidelines under which such information and records may be maintained, used by the Joint Committee's staff, and made available to any Member of Congress. Authorizes public disclosure of information possessed by the Joint Committee if it is determined that such disclosure would serve the public interest. Sets forth procedures relating to public disclosure of classified security information received from the executive branch. Directs the Joint Committee to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of information in its possession. Repeals rule XLVIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives relating to the establishment of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1993
Amends rule I of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require the Speaker to administer a secrecy oath to a Member, officer, or employee of the House before that individual may have access to classified information.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1993
Amends the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 to prohibit certain corporate mergers, consolidations, conveyances, or transfer transactions by the issuer of federally registered debt securities in which the assets available to the issuer are reduced, unless the successor entity expressly assumes, by a supplement to the original trust indenture, the payment of interest and principal of all the securities involved and the performance of every covenant of the predecessor's indenture. Declares that subsequent to such transactions: (1) the successor corporation shall succeed to, and exercise every right and power of, the original issue under the indenture; and (2) neither the predecessor corporation, nor its successor, shall be released from its liabilities as obligor or maker on its respective securities.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1993
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission should refrain from further processing restructuring proceedings pursuant to a specified Order until 60 days after submission to the Congress of a General Accounting Office study of the economic impacts of such Order upon end-users of natural gas.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1993
Small Property and Casualty Insurance Company Equity Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a small insurance company deduction of the tentative taxable income of certain companies involved with property or casualty insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1993
Food Stamp Quality Control System Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to revise the formula (and related provisions) for determining a State's liability for excessive food stamp payment errors. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the State food stamp agencies to conduct a joint study and report to the appropriate congressional committees on measurement error and uniformity in the food stamp program quality control error-rate estimation system.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1993
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to permit the extra-label use of drugs in animals if such use is upon the order of a licensed veterinarian, is in compliance with appropriate regulations, and is in the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Prohibits such use if it results in unacceptable residues of a drug in food.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1993
Hate Crimes Sentencing Enhancement Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal judicial code to require the U.S. Sentencing Commission to: (1) promulgate or amend existing guidelines to provide for sentencing enhancements of not less than three offense levels for offenses that are hate crimes; and (2) ensure reasonable consistency with other guidelines, avoid duplicative punishments for substantially the same offenses, and take into account any mitigating circumstances that might justify exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1993
First-time Homebuyer Affordability Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the tax on prohibited transactions inapplicable to a home equity participation arrangement. Describes such arrangement as one in which the eligible participant in an individual retirement plan directs the plan trustee to acquire an ownership interest in all or part of any dwelling unit which within a reasonable period of time is to be used as the principal residence for a first-time homebuyer. Requires such ownership interest to be a fee interest which requires full repayment. Describes the first-time homebuyer as an eligible participant or a qualified family member (child, parent, grandparent, or spouse) who had no present ownership interest in a principal residence during the 36-month period before the date of the arrangement. Allows the use of amounts in an individual retirement plan to make loans to purchase a home for a first-time homebuyer on behalf of an eligible participant or a qualified family member. Requires the repayment of first-time homebuyer loans within 15 years.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for the portion of employer social security taxes paid with respect to employee cash tips. Makes such credit part of the general business credit.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Prohibits direct Federal financial benefits or social insurance benefits (including aid to families with dependent children, supplemental security income, food stamps, and public housing assistance) to aliens who are not lawful permanent residents. Prohibits unemployment benefits to aliens who have not been granted employment authorization under Federal law. Makes a limited exception from this prohibition for benefits under the old age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) program; but prohibits taking into account unauthorized wages paid on or after enactment of this Act in crediting quarters of coverage for the OASDI program under the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Immigration Document Fraud Prevention Act of 1993 - Provides for: (1) the replacement of current green cards with new counterfeit-resistant identification cards (which shall not be considered national identity cards) for all permanent resident aliens eligible to work in the United States; (2) a national program to educate employers about their responsibilities under the Immigration and Nationality Act and the uses of such cards; and (3) a demonstration program to determine the feasibility of a computerized telephone worker verification system for employers. Increases immigration fraud penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Voluntary Standards and Assessment Title II: National Education Reform and Excellence Title III: Freedom to Improve Educational Achievement Educational Excellence for All Students Act of 1993 - Expresses the sense of the Congress regarding attainment by the year 2000 of certain national educational goals relating to readiness for school, high school completion, student achievement and citizenship, science and mathematics, adult literacy and lifelong learning, and safe, disciplined, and drug-free schools. Title I: Voluntary Standards and Assessment - Part A: National Educational Goals Panel - Establishes a National Education Goals Panel. Directs the Panel to issue: (1) an annual national report card on progress toward achieving such goals; and (2) certification of content and student performance standards and the criteria for world-class assessments. Authorizes appropriations. Part B: Voluntary National Education Standards and Assessments - Establishes a National Education Standards and Assessments Council. Directs the Council to: (1) coordinate establishment of voluntary national education content and student performance standards, and of a voluntary system of assessments for individual students consistent with such standards; (2) develop criteria and establish guidelines for such standards and assessments; (3) issue approval of such standards, and transmit approved standards and criteria to the Panel for certification; and (4) report annually on progress and obstacles to State and local adoption of such standards. Directs the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate the Council's work. Authorizes appropriations. Part C: National Commission on Early Childhood Assessment - Establishes a National Commission on Early Childhood Assessment. Directs the Commission to: (1) advise the panel and establish a framework for understanding and assessing school readiness; (2) coordinate research and oversee development of such assessment; (3) monitor field testing and evaluate the assessments and their use; and (4) report annually. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: National Education Reform and Excellence - National Education Reform and Excellence Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to State educational agencies for State and local educational reform and improvement. Sets forth requirements for development and approval of State and local plans for and uses of such grants and subgrants. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth State allotment formulas, based on the chapter 1 formula for aid to disadvantaged students (under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965). Reserves a portion for education of Indian students. Provides for availability of information and training under this title for private schools and their teachers and administrators. Requires annual State progress reports. Requires the Secretary to: (1) evaluate State and local reform efforts; (2) disseminate information on approaches and materials developed; and (3) report annually to the Congress. Title III: Freedom to Improve Educational Achievement - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to waive certain Federal statutory and regulatory requirements, with specified exceptions, for States, and local educational agencies, and schools as part of systemic educational reform and efforts to meet the national education goals for all children. Allows additional waivers for specified related programs, with the approval of the appropriate Federal agency. Sets forth requirements for waiver applications, restrictions, evaluations, and reports (annually by States and local agencies or schools; biennially by the Secretary to the Congress).
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Improved Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 1993 - Increases FY 1994 personnel levels and funding for the Border Patrol and support personnel levels for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Provides for inservice training to familiarize Border Patrol personnel with the rights and varied cultural backgrounds of aliens and citizens. Authorizes FY 1994 appropriations. Increases FY 1994 personnel levels in: (1) the Wage and Hour Division with the Employment Standards Administration of the Department of Labor, and assigns such additional personnel to areas with high concentrations of undocumented aliens; and (2) the Investigations Division within INS, and assigns such additional personnel to investigate violations of the employer sanctions provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act). Increases for FY 1994 the number of Assistant United States Attorney positions, and assigns such additional personnel to prosecute persons who harbor or bring into the United States illegal aliens. Amends the Act to increase penalties for harboring or bringing into the United States aliens for profit (but specifies that mere employment of an individual by itself shall not be deemed to constitute harboring). Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Attorney General and the Secretary of State should initiate programs with Mexico and Canada to prevent and prosecute the smuggling of aliens into the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Directs the Attorney General to hire as additional border Patrol agents in the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 2,500 former military personnel involuntarily discharged under honorable conditions. Provides for inservice training for such individuals. Provides funding for such additional personnel from sums appropriated to the Department of Defense for FY 1994.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Illegal Alien Transportation Prevention Act of 1993 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the transportation of illegal aliens for employment purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Prohibits Federal financial assistance to localities whose officials refuse to cooperate in the arrest and deportation of illegal aliens.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the unified credit against the estate tax and the unified credit against the gift tax; and (2) require an estate tax return in cases where the gross estate exceeds $1.2 million (currently $600,000).
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Small Business Regulatory Cost Relief Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the small business tax credit for expenditures to provide access to disabled individuals with the small business tax credit for regulatory costs. Makes such credit 50 percent of qualified regulatory costs for a taxable year as exceed $250. Declares that such costs include eligible access expenditures for the disabled.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Tax Fairness and Accountability Act of 1993 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require any legislation that increases the tax rate, the tax base, or the amount of income subject to tax, or decreases a deduction, exclusion, or credit to be approved in the House of Representatives and the Senate by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of its Members.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require a three-fifths majority vote in the House of Representatives to waive or suspend a point of order under titles III, IV, and VI of the Act.