United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1995
Panama Canal Commission Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1996 - Authorizes: (1) expenditures by the Panama Canal Commission for FY 1996 for the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the Panama Canal and for administrative expenses (limits reception and representation expenses of the Board); and (2) the use of Commission funds for the purchase of passenger motor vehicles for replacement only.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1995
Panama Canal Amendments Act of 1995 - Amends the Panama Canal Act of 1979 to reestablish the Panama Canal Commission as a wholly owned Government corporation within the executive branch.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1995
Waterways Restoration Act of 1995 - Amends the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act to delete the requirement that each watershed improvement under such Act must contain benefits directly related to agriculture that account for at least 20 percent of the total project benefits. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and implement a Waterways Restoration Program which provides technical assistance and grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities for carrying out waterway restoration projects. Requires such projects to achieve ecological restoration or protection and one or more of the following objectives: (1) flood damage reduction; (2) erosion control; (3) stormwater management; or (4) water quality enhancement. Provides project descriptions and priorities, including the location of projects in low-income or economically depressed areas adversely affected by poor watershed management. Outlines other project requirements, including a cost-benefit analysis. Requires the Secretary to designate Program administrators for each participating State (including a State agency if approved by the Secretary). Requires program grants to be awarded on an annual basis. Provides project application and selection requirements, including the establishment in each participating State of an interdisciplinary team of specialists to assist in reviewing project applications under the Program. Outlines conditions for receiving assistance under the Program, with sponsor and cosponsor requirements. Requires a non-Federal share of 25 percent of project costs, with a waiver for economically depressed communities. Limits the administrative and technical assistance costs of the Program. Requires the Governor of each participating State to establish a citizens oversight committee to evaluate management of the Program in that State. Requires program administrators to issue annual reports summarizing the Program evaluations of the oversight committees. Requires the Secretary to give a priority to waterways restoration projects in making funding decisions under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1995
Newborn Infant HIV Notification Act - Requires a State, if it requires that the results of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing of an infant be reported to it (or if the State conducts an HIV test of the infant), to disclose such results to: (1) the biological mother of the infant if the mother is the legal guardian; or (2) specified State agencies if the State is the legal guardian of the infant. Directs the State, in disclosing such results (other than to State agencies), to ensure that appropriate counseling on HIV is provided to the individual.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1995
Amends the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 to exempt the provision of food by other foreign countries from provisions calling upon them to restrict trade with Cuba. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate the denial of foreign tax credit with respect to Cuba.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1995
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits total outlays in any fiscal year from increasing by a percentage greater than the percentage increase in nominal gross domestic product in the last calendar year ending prior to the beginning of such fiscal year. Prohibits total outlays in any fiscal year from exceeding the ratio of the outlays in the fiscal year at the time of submission of this proposed amendment to the States to gross domestic product in the last calendar year ending prior to the fiscal year at the time of submission to the States, times gross domestic product in the last calendar year ending prior to the fiscal year for which this limitation is being calculated. Declares that total receipts includes all receipts of the United States except those derived from borrowing, and total outlays includes all outlays of the United States, both on-budget and off-budget, except those for the repayment of debt principal. Requires inflation to be measured by the gross domestic product deflator. Declares that total outlays include the cost to any State or local government of engaging in any activity or service mandated by any law of the United States beyond that required by existing law or the Constitution at the time of the submission of this proposed amendment to the States, unless an appropriation is made and disbursed to pay that State or local government for such cost. Requires that for any fiscal year in which total receipts exceed total outlays, the surplus shall be used to reduce the public debt until such debt is eliminated. Requires the President, prior to each fiscal year, to transmit to the Congress a proposed statement of receipts and outlays for such fiscal year consistent with this Act. Authorizes the Congress, following a declaration of an emergency by the President and with a two-thirds vote of both Houses, to authorize a specified amount of emergency outlays in excess of the limit. Prohibits, for each of the first four fiscal years after ratification of this amendment, total grants to States and local governments from being a smaller fraction of total outlays than the average of the three fiscal years prior to ratification. Provides for the enforcement of this amendment by a Member of Congress or the President, in an action brought in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1995
Provides that, in the administration of the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, minors under age 18 shall be permitted to load materials into balers or compactors that meet specified safety standards of the American National Standards Institute.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1995
Federal Election Law Reform Commission Act - Establishes the Federal Election Law Reform Commission to recommend Federal election law reform. Requires a Federal election bill to be introduced in the House and the Senate within a specified time of the Commission's submittal of draft legislation. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995
Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act of 1995 - Establishes in the U.S. Treasury the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund. Authorizes appropriations. Specifies that any individual who submits to the Attorney General written medical documentation that the individual has a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection shall receive $125,000 from amounts available in the Fund if the individual: (1) has a blood-clotting disorder and was treated with blood-clotting agents between January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1987; (2) is the lawful spouse of such individual or the former lawful spouse and was the lawful spouse of the individual at any time after a date within such period on which the individual was treated; or (3) acquired the HIV infection through perinatal transmission from a parent who is such an individual. Requires that a claim for payment be filed with the Attorney General by or on behalf of such individual and that the Attorney General determine that the claim meets the requirements of this Act. Specifies that a claim under this Act shall not be assignable or transferable. Sets limits regarding the number of claims per victim. Prohibits the Attorney General from paying claims filed under this Act unless filed within three years after this Act's enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995
Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to revise and rename it the Integrated Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Act of 1995. (Sec. 1) Instructs the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to accept spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste by not later than January 31, 1998. Entitles contract holders to specified remedies for the Secretary's failure to meet service contract obligations, or to accept spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste as mandated under this Act. States that the Nuclear Waste Fund shall fund the execution of service contract and implementation of the Secretary's responsibilities, including the acceptance of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at contract holder sites and transporting such fuel or waste to a private storage facility. Establishes an integrated spent nuclear fuel management system for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, including its storage, transportation, and disposal. Prescribes procedural guidelines for the use of: (1) railroads; (2) transportation planning and requirements; (3) multi-purpose canister systems; (4) interim storage facilities; (5) permanent disposal; (6) land withdrawal; and (7) private storage facilities. Prescribes consultation and assistance guidelines between the Secretary and the State of Nevada. Prescribes budget priorities for purposes of annual requests for appropriations from the Waste Fund. Prescribes a fee schedule for electricity and nuclear fuel used to generate electricity in a civilian nuclear power reactor. Sets forth advance contract prerequisites for utilization or production facility license renewals. Reestablishes the Nuclear Waste Fund and the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish by rule the appropriate portion of the costs of managing high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel allocable to the interim storage or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel from atomic energy defense activities; and (2) advise the Congress annually of the amount of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel from atomic energy defense activities requiring management in the integrated spent nuclear fuel management system. Subjects the Secretary to all Federal, State, and local environmental or land use laws and regulations, with specified exceptions. Grants the U.S. courts of appeals original and exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions under this Act. Provides that upon a contract holder's request, the Secretary shall take title to or possession of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste without removing it from the contract holder's designated storage site if the Secretary cannot accept such items within the contract's acceptance schedule. Requires the NRC to promulgate regulatory guidelines for: (1) financial assurances for low-level radioactive waste site closures; and (2) training and qualification of civilian nuclear powerplant personnel. Reestablishes the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to take action as necessary to improve the management of the civilian radioactive waste management program to ensure that it is operated to the maximum extent like a private business. States that the program is not subject to civil service regulations. Abolishes the Interim Storage Fund, the Monitored Retrievable Storage Commission, the Office of Subseabed Disposal Research, and the Office of Nuclear Waste Negotiator. Repeals all references to the Yucca Mountain site. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress whether particular milestones have been reached with respect to: (1) multi-purpose canister systems; (2) land withdrawals; (3) interim storage facilities; and (4) acceptance of spent nuclear fuel from contract holders. Directs the Secretary to: (1) create a value engineering function within the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management; and (2) employ on an on-going basis, integrated performance modeling regarding site characterization. (Sec. 2) Sets forth transition provisions for the continuation of: (1) contracts; (2) Nuclear Waste Fund; (3) Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management; and (4) Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. (Sec. 3) Mandates that amounts in the Nuclear Waste Fund be appropriated exclusively for certain authorized purposes cited in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. Precludes such appropriations from being taken into account for any budget enforcement procedures under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Amends such Act to provide that appropriations to the Nuclear Waste Fund are not subject to its discretionary spending limits or to a certain allocation of the Energy and Waster Development Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. Reduces specified discretionary spending limits under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that in order to curb the deficit and to ameliorate the debt burden of future generations, reduction of the Federal deficit should be a very high budgetary priority of the Government and savings from the enactment of spending-reduction legislation should be applied primarily to deficit reduction.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 1995
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to make certain employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and civil defense officers eligible for public safety officers' death benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Repeal of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 Title II: Grants for Correctional Facilities Title III: State and Local Law Enforcement Grants Title IV: Protection Against Sexually Violent Predators Title V: Eliminating Excessive and Redundant Appeals Title VI: Reform of Exclusionary Rule Title VII: Truth-In-Sentencing Title VIII: Prison Work Required; Luxuries Abolished Title IX: Improving Border Controls Title X: Enhanced Gun Penalties Title XI: Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund Title XII: Mandatory Life Imprisonment for Persons Convicted of Certain Felonies Back-To-Basics Crime Control Act of 1995 - Title I: Repeal of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 - Repeals the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Title II: Grants for Correctional Facilities - Directs the Attorney General to make grants to States to construct, expand, and improve prisons and jails. Authorizes specified sums to each State without conditions imposed by the Federal Government, except requirements to comply with this title and to use such funds exclusively for the construction of prisons and jails. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth formulas for the distribution of funds in FY 1996, 1997, and 1998 based on violent crimes reported by the States to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Title III: State and Local Law Enforcement Grants - Requires the Attorney General to make grants to States to increase the number of law enforcement officers in service. Authorizes specified funds, without conditions imposed by the Federal Government (except that the funds be used exclusively to increase the number of law enforcement officers in service). Requires States to allocate 80 percent of their grants to local government for use by local law enforcement, as nearly as possible in proportion to the populations served by such local law enforcement agencies (LEAs). Title IV: Protection Against Sexually Violent Predators - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish guidelines for State programs to require a sexually violent predator to register a current address with a designated State LEA upon being released from prison or being placed on parole or supervised release; and (2) approve each State program that complies with the guidelines. Makes States that do not implement and maintain such programs ineligible to receive ten percent of the funds that would otherwise be allocated to the State in drug control and system improvement grants under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. Requires: (1) the determination that a person is, or is no longer, a sexually violent predator to be made by the sentencing court after receiving a report by a board of experts on sexual offenses; and (2) each State to establish a board composed of experts in the field of the behavior and treatment of sexual offenders. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) notification regarding the duty of an offender to register and to provide any new address to a designated State LEA and of a State prison official to obtain specified information; (2) the transfer of information to the State LEA and to the FBI; (3) quarterly verification of the released offender's address; (4) penalties for failing to register and keep the registration current; (5) termination of the obligation to register; (6) community notification concerning a predator required to register; and (7) immunity for good faith conduct by LEAs, their employees, and State officials. Title V: Eliminating Excessive and Redundant Appeals - Amends the Federal judicial code to establish a one-year statute of limitations for habeas corpus actions brought by State prisoners. Vests authority to issue certificates for probable cause for appeal of habeas corpus orders exclusively in the courts of appeals. Permits denial on the merits of habeas corpus writs notwithstanding the failure to exhaust State remedies. Establishes a two-year statute of limitations for Federal prisoners filing for collateral relief. (Sec. 506) Sets forth special habeas corpus procedures in capital cases brought by prisoners in State custody who are subject to a capital sentence. Makes such procedures contingent upon: (1) a State establishing by rule of its court of last resort or by statute a mechanism for the appointment, compensation, and payment of reasonable litigation expenses of competent counsel in State post-conviction proceedings brought by indigent prisoners whose capital convictions and sentences have been upheld on direct appeal to such court or have otherwise become final; and (2) such rule or statute providing standards of competency for the appointment of counsel. Provides for a mandatory stay of execution during the post-conviction review initiated pursuant to this title. Details conditions which will cause such stay to expire. Prohibits a Federal court from entering a stay of execution or granting relief in a capital case unless specified conditions are met. Sets forth time limits for determining petitions. Authorizes the State or Government to enforce such time limits by applying to the court of appeals or the Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus. Title VI: Reform of Exclusionary Rule - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit the exclusion of evidence obtained as a result of a search or seizure, in a proceeding in a court of the United States, on the grounds that the search or seizure was in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution if it was carried out in circumstances justifying an objectively reasonable belief that it was in conformity with such amendment. Makes the fact that evidence was obtained pursuant to and within the scope of a warrant prima facie evidence of the existence of such circumstances. Prohibits the exclusion of evidence, in a proceeding in a U.S. court, on the ground that it was obtained in violation of a statute, administrative rule or regulation, or rule of procedure unless exclusion is expressly authorized by statute or by a rule prescribed by the Supreme Court pursuant to statutory authority. Makes this title inapplicable with respect to a search or seizure carried out by, or under the authority of, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Internal Revenue Service. Title VII: Truth in Sentencing - Amends the Federal criminal code to permit the Bureau of Prisons to add, in its discretion, additional time to a prisoner's sentence of up to 15 percent of the prisoner's term for unsatisfactory behavior. Prohibits a sentence from being reduced for satisfactory behavior to a term less than the original sentence nominally imposed. Title VIII: Prison Work Required; Luxuries Abolished - Directs the Attorney General to implement and enforce regulations which: (1) mandate prison work for all able-bodied inmates in Federal penal and correctional institutions; and (2) prohibit the Government provision in inmates' cells of television, radio, telephone, stereo, or similar amenities. (Sec. 802) Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit awards of Pell grants to prisoners in Federal or State penal institutions. Title IX: Improving Border Controls - Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes and directs the Attorney General to use such funds to permit the commander of the Border Patrol to increase by at least 6,000 the number of border patrol agent positions above the number of such positions as of July 1, 1995. (Sec. 902) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for expedited deportation and exclusion of criminal aliens. Prohibits reentry of an alien into the United States during the minimum period of confinement to which the alien was sentenced. Authorizes the Attorney General to prescribe special regulations for the registration and fingerprinting of aliens on criminal probation or parole. Expands the definition of "aggravated felony." (Sec. 905) Sets forth deportation procedures for certain criminal aliens who are not permanent residents. Grants a U.S. district court jurisdiction to enter a judicial order of deportation at the time of sentencing against an alien whose criminal conviction causes such alien to be deportable under provisions relating to conviction of an aggravated felony if requested prior to sentencing by the U.S. Attorney. (Sec. 907) Restricts defenses to deportation for certain criminal aliens. Enhances penalties for failing to depart or reentering after a final order of deportation. (Sec. 910) Authorizes appropriations for a criminal alien information system. Title X: Enhanced Gun Penalties - Amends the Federal criminal code to enhance penalties imposed upon persons convicted of using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to the commission of a felony. (Sec. 1002) Sets a mandatory minimum sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, fugitive from justice, addict or unlawful user of a controlled substance, or transferor or receiver of a stolen firearm. (Sec. 1003) Increases the general penalty for violation of Federal firearms laws. Title XI: Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund - Establishes a Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund as a separate account in the Treasury into which shall be transferred savings realized from implementation of provisions of the Federal Workforce Restructuring Act of 1994. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) transfers into, and appropriations from, the Fund; (2) annual reporting requirements on the status of the Fund; and (3) allocation of sums in the Fund. Extends authorizations of appropriations for fiscal years for which the full amount authorized is not appropriated. Title XII: Mandatory Life Imprisonment for Persons Convicted of Certain Felonies - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for mandatory life imprisonment for persons convicted in Federal court of a serious violent felony if: (1) the person has been convicted (and the conviction has become final) on separate prior occasions in a Federal or State court of two or more serious violent felonies, or one or more serious violent felonies and one or more serious drug offenses; and (2) each serious violent felony or serious drug offense used as a basis for sentencing under this title, other than the first, was committed after the defendant's conviction of the preceding serious violent felony or serious drug offense. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) persons subject to the criminal jurisdiction of an Indian tribal government; and (2) resentencing upon the overturning of a prior conviction. (Sec. 1202) Prohibits the court from reducing the sentence of a defendant unless specified conditions are met, including that the defendant is at least age 70, has served at least 30 years in prison for the offense or offenses for which the defendant is currently imprisoned, and a determination has been made by the Director of the Bureau of Prisons that the defendant is not a danger to the safety of any other person or the community.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1995
Requests the President, within 14 days of the adoption of this resolution, to provide to the House of Representatives any document concerning: (1) the assured source of repayment to the United States for any credit facility made available to Mexico after December 31, 1994; (2) the net worth and historical annual revenues of Pemex as well as the projected annual revenues for the five-year period beginning on this resolution's adoption date and the extent to which proceeds from the sale of Mexican oil to customers are required to be paid to Mexico as taxes or payments in lieu of taxes or have been pledged as collateral for the repayment of loans or credit extended to Mexico or Pemex (other than credit facilities described in (1)); (3) the value of any oil the proceeds from the sale of which are pledged to assure the repayment of assistance provided by the United States and the manner in which the United States may exercise rights to obtain such proceeds as repayment for losses incurred; (4) assurances given by the Mexican Government with respect to changes in economic policies; (5) the decision by the President to use the assets of the exchange stabilization fund (fund) in connection with credit facilities described in (1) above; (6) criteria used in making any decision to use such assets to respond to any economic, balance of payments, or exchange crisis in any country and the facts on which such determinations were made with respect to Poland in 1989 and to Mexico in 1994 and 1995; (7) how the use of such assets as a source of credit to Mexico compares with all prior uses since 1945 for all other countries with regard to dollar amount, type, purpose, and duration of transaction, security or collateral pledged, and the existence of any agreement involving the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the Federal Reserve System; (8) outstanding debts owed by the Mexican Government to U.S. creditors; (9) an accounting of all the fund flows through the fund for the 24-month period preceding the date of adoption of this resolution; (10) the balance of available assets in the fund; (11) the amount by which the total extensions of credit that will be made available to Mexico exceeds available assets in the fund and the means for covering any shortfall; (12) the departure of the IMF from its customary guidelines for country assistance; (13) the factual circumstances pursuant to which the Bank for International Settlements has become a lender to individual countries beyond the Bank's role as a clearinghouse for central banks; (14) the financial obligations of the Federal Reserve to the Bank; (15) the relationship among the Federal Reserve, the Bank, and central banks of other countries affiliated with the Bank with regard to assigning the ultimate liability for loss incurred in connection with the extension of credit to Mexico; (16) any meeting between the President and Members of Congress concerning the President's proposed actions to strengthen the Mexican peso and support economic stability in Mexico; and (17) any discrepancy between the amount the President announced is available in the fund and the amount shown as being available in the monthly statement of the public debt of the United States on December 31, 1994.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1995
Free Trade With Cuba Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal the embargo on trade with Cuba. (Sec. 3) Prohibits the exercise by the President with respect to Cuba of certain authorities conferred by the Trading With the Enemy Act and exercised on July 1, 1977, as a result of a specified national emergency. Declares that any prohibition on exports to Cuba under the Export Administration Act of 1979 shall cease to be effective. Authorizes the President to impose export controls with respect to Cuba and exercise certain authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act only on account of an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security that did not exist before enactment of this Act. Repeals the Cuban Democracy Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate the denial of foreign tax credit with respect to Cuba. (Sec. 4) Authorizes common carriers to install, maintain, and repair telecommunications equipment and facilities in Cuba, and otherwise provide telecommunications services between the United States and Cuba. (Sec. 5) Prohibits regulation or banning of travel to and from Cuba by U.S. citizens or residents, or of any transactions incident to travel. (Sec. 6) Directs the U.S. Postal Service to provide direct mail service to and from Cuba. (Sec. 7) Urges the President to take all necessary steps to conduct negotiations with the Government of Cuba to: (1) settle claims of U.S. nationals against Cuba for the taking of property; and (2) secure protection of internationally recognized human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1995
Congressional Limitation on Executive Bailouts Act of 1995 - Provides that all existing and future budget authority and credit authority available to the exchange stabilization fund shall be effective only to extent provided in appropriation Acts.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1995
Truth in Budgeting Act - Prohibits the receipts and disbursements of the Highway Trust Fund, the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, and the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund from being included in either the Federal budget as submitted by the President or in the congressional budget. Exempts such trust funds from any general statutory budget limitation. (Sec. 3) Amends Federal transportation law to require the Secretary of Transportation to estimate annually what, but for this Act, would be at the close of the next fiscal year: (1) the amount of unfunded aviation authorizations; and (2) the net aviation receipts. Requires the Secretary to: (1) determine the amount by which unfunded aviation authorizations does or does not exceed net aviation receipts; and (2) make appropriate adjustments to amounts authorized to be appropriated and the amounts available for obligation from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund based on the difference. (Sec. 4) Sets forth similar provisions with respect to the Inland Waterways and the Harbor Maintenance Trust Funds.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1995
Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 to revise the formula for the Official Mail Allowance (thereby reducing the amount allowed) for Members of the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1995
Superfund Recycling Equity Act of 1995 - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to absolve persons (other than owners or operators) who arranged for the recycling of recyclable material from liability for environmental response actions. Deems transactions involving scrap paper, plastic, glass, textiles, or rubber (other than whole tires) to be arranging for recycling if the person who arranged the transaction demonstrates that the following criteria were met: (1) the recyclable material met a commercial specification grade and a market existed for the material; (2) a substantial portion of the material was made available for use as a feedstock for the manufacture of a new saleable product; (3) the material (or product to be made from the material) could have been a replacement for a virgin raw material; and (4) with respect to transactions occurring 90 days after this Act's enactment, the person exercised reasonable care to determine that the facility where the material would be managed by another was in compliance with Federal, State, or local environmental laws or regulations. Deems transactions involving scrap metal to be arranging for recycling if the person who arranged the transaction demonstrates that: (1) the criteria for scrap materials were met; (2) he or she complied with applicable standards regarding activities associated with the recycling of scrap metals; and (3) the scrap metal was not melted prior to the transaction. Deems transactions involving spent lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, or other batteries to be arranging for recycling if the person involved demonstrates that: (1) the criteria for scrap materials were met; and (2) he or she complied with applicable Federal environmental regulations or standards regarding such batteries. Makes the exemptions from liability under this Act inapplicable if the person: (1) had an objectively reasonable basis to believe at the time of the recycling transaction that the recyclable material would not be recycled or would be burned as fuel or for energy recovery or incineration or that the consuming facility was not in compliance with Federal, State, or local environmental laws or regulations; (2) added hazardous substances to the material for purposes other than processing for recycling; or (3) failed to exercise reasonable care with respect to the management of the material. Makes such exemptions inapplicable if the recyclable material contained polychlorinated biphenyls in excess of 50 parts per million or any new Federal standard.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1995
Directs the Comptroller General, within seven days of the adoption of this resolution, to transmit to the House of Representatives a report containing: (1) the opinion of the Comptroller General on whether the proposed actions of the President to strengthen the Mexican peso and support economic stability in Mexico require congressional authorization or appropriation; (2) an evaluation of the terms and conditions of commitments and agreements entered into by the President, including the terms which provide for collateral or methods of assuring repayment of outlays by the United States; (3) an analysis of the resources which the International Monetary Fund has agreed to make available to strengthen the Mexican peso and support economic stability; (4) an evaluation of the role played by the Bank for International Settlements in efforts to strengthen the Mexican peso and support economic stability and the extent of the financial exposure of the United States; (5) an analysis of the relationships between the Bank and the Federal Reserve and the Bank and the Secretary of the Treasury and the extent to which such relationships involve a financial commitment to the Bank, on the part of the United States, of public money or financial resources under control of the Federal Reserve; and (6) an accounting of fund flows, in the 24 months preceding this resolution's adoption, through the exchange stabilization fund, the manner in which the fund has been used domestically and internationally, and the extent to which the use of the fund to strengthen the Mexican peso and support economic stability represents a departure from previous uses.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1995
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the current link should be maintained between: (1) the levels of earnings allowed for blind individuals entitled to disability insurance benefits; and (2) the exempt amounts allowed for purposes of the social security earnings test for individuals who have attained retirement age.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit the imposition of any excise tax on air transportation for the purpose of providing medical care if such transportation is not scheduled and is not along regular routes. (Current tax law refers to such air transportation by helicopter.)
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and other Federal law to make any managed health care plan established by the Secretary of Defense in the Military Health Services System eligible for payments by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on behalf of any plan enrollees entitled to Medicare benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 1995
United States One Dollar Coin Act of 1995 - Amends Federal currency law to prescribe the color and content of one-dollar coins. Prohibits a Federal reserve bank from placing into circulation any one-dollar Federal Reserve note after the date that the one-dollar coins are first placed in circulation. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to cease regular production of one-dollar Federal Reserve notes (except for such quantities as are required to meet collectors' needs).
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a cost-of-living adjustment for the limitation on the aggregate reduction in the fair market value of qualified real property under the special estate tax valuation rules for certain farm property.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1995
Social Security Trust Funds Integrity Act of 1995 - Amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to restructure the Board of Trustees of the trust funds supporting the OASDI and Medicare programs, with each Board composed of members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, on a bipartisan basis at the recommendation of House and Senate leadership and the five largest organizations representing senior citizens. Makes it the duty of the Managing Trustee chairing the Board to invest trust fund amounts according to an annual investment plan the Board is required to formulate and submit to the President and the Congress. Removes restrictions on investment and disinvestment of amounts in such trust funds.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1995
Directs the Secretary of Commerce, upon determining on the basis of comments submitted in rulemaking under this Act that interest among manufacturers is sufficient to warrant the establishment of a three-year toll-free number pilot program and manufacturers will provide fees so that the program will operate without cost to the Federal Government, to: (1) establish such program solely to help inform consumers whether a product is made in America or the equivalent thereof; and (2) publish the toll-free number in the Federal Register. Requires: (1) the Secretary to contract for the establishment and operation of such pilot program and the registration of products; and (2) such number to be used solely to inform consumers as to whether products are American made. Requires consumers to be informed that such registration does not mean that: (1) the product is endorsed or approved by the Government; (2) the Secretary has conducted any investigation to confirm that the product meets the definition of American made; or (3) the product contains 100 percent U.S. content. (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary to propose regulations to: (1) establish a procedure under which the manufacturer of a product may voluntarily register such product as complying with such definition and have such product included in the information available through the toll-free number; (2) establish, assess, and collect a fee to cover all costs of registering products and including registered products in information provided under the number; (3) establish the pilot program; and (4) solicit views from the private sector concerning the level of interest of manufacturers in registering products. Requires the Secretary to promulgate such regulations if the pilot program and product registration is determined to be warranted. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) registration fees; and (2) penalties for knowingly registering a product which is not American made.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends provisions of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act that revise Federal patent law to provide that a patent term shall be the later of 17 years from the date the patent is granted or 20 years from the date the application was filed in the United States. Provides that if the application contains a reference to an earlier application, the term shall be 20 years from the date the earliest application was filed. Removes provisions that provide for extensions of patent terms under certain conditions. Provides for public disclosure and inspection of original and continuing patent applications in cases where a continuing patent application is filed that claims the benefit of the filing date of a prior application that was filed more than 60 months earlier. Requires the term of a patent that is in force or results from an application filed within six months after the Uruguay Round Agreements Act enactment date to be the term provided in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends Federal law to prohibit any State from imposing an income tax on the retirement income of any individual who is not a resident or domiciliary of that State.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Permits certain veterans with service-connected disabilities who are retired members of the uniformed services to receive compensation concurrently with retired pay, without deduction from either.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the burden of proof with respect to all issues, in the case of any court proceeding, is on the Secretary of the Treasury. Requires the Secretary to identify in writing the specific kind or type of tax, and its specific implementing regulations, within 14 days upon the written request from any person made liable for such tax. Increases the limitation on the amount of recovery for civil damages for unauthorized collection actions by the Internal Revenue Service. Excludes such damages from gross income.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Asylum Title II: Prohibition of Federal Benefits for Certain Aliens Title III: Citizenship Title IV: Border Patrol Immigration Accountability Act of 1995 - Title I: Asylum - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise and expedite asylum procedures. Title II: Prohibition of Federal Benefits for Certain Aliens - Prohibits direct Federal financial assistance and unemployment benefits to aliens who are not lawful permanent residents (including asylees and refugees). Title III: Citizenship - Restricts the basis for automatic U.S. citizenship for certain persons born in the United States to a mother who is neither a U.S. citizen nor a lawful permanent resident. Title IV: Border Patrol - Increases the number of Border Patrol personnel.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Immigration Moratorium Act of 1995 - Restricts U.S. immigration levels to specified numbers of family-sponsored immigrants, employment-based immigrants, and refugees.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Language of Government Act of 1995 - Declares English to be the official language of the U.S. Government. States that the Government has an affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language. Requires the Government to conduct its official business in English. Prohibits anyone from being denied Government services because he or she communicates in English.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Provides that the effective date for discontinuance of veterans' disability compensation and veterans' pension paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall be the date on which the recipient dies (currently the last day of the month preceding death) in the case of a veteran with a surviving spouse. Requires payments of such compensation to be made to the surviving spouse. Provides that the effective date for the award of dependency and indemnity compensation for which application is received within one year from the date of the veteran's death shall be the day following the date of death in the case of a surviving spouse.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Gun Ban Repeal Act of 1995 - Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to repeal the ban on semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends Federal law to exclude the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund from the Federal and congressional budgets, and exempt it from any general budget limitation imposed by statute on U.S. budget outlays and from certain orders issued under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Provides that any amount remaining in an official allowance of a Member of the House of Representatives at the end of the session of Congress or other period for which the allowance is made available shall be returned to the Treasury to be used for deficit reduction.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Military Retirement Equity Act of 1995 - Permits retired members of the armed forces to be paid retirement pay concurrently with compensation for any service-connected disability if the person's entitlement to such retirement pay is based solely on age, length of service, or both. Reduces the retirement pay of individuals receiving both types of pay by a specified percentage of the disability compensation which decreases as the disability rating increases. Prohibits any reduction in the retirement pay of a disabled person when the disability rating is total. Declares that, once the Federal budget deficit has been reduced, the Congress should reexamine and eliminate any offset of retired pay by a veteran's disability compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Merchant Mariners Fairness Act of 1993 - Provides that certain qualified service of a member of the U.S. merchant marine, including a vessel crewmember of the U.S. Army Transport Service, during World War II constituted active military service for purposes of eligibility for various veterans' benefits under the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977. Requires the Secretary of Defense to issue an honorable discharge under such Act to each merchant marine member whose qualified service warrants such a discharge. Prohibits the payment of any retroactive benefits under this Act. Mandates a processing fee for any benefit application for such qualified service.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts (except those derived from borrowing) for that fiscal year unless the Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to the Congress. Requires the approval of a majority of each House by roll call vote before any bill to increase revenue may become law. Waives these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect. Waives these provisions when the United States is engaged in a military conflict which poses a threat to national security as declared by a joint resolution adopted by a majority of each House.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that: (1) nothing in the Constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual or group prayer in public schools or other public institutions; (2) no person shall be required by the United States or any State to participate in prayer; and (3) neither the United States nor any State shall prescribe the content of any such prayer.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Requests that the Secretary of the Interior: (1) withdraw the proposed regulations regarding rights-of-way across lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and (2) reissue such proposed regulations for public review and comment only after they have been redrafted to adequately reflect and comply with all pertinent laws, executive orders, rules, regulations, and historical and legal precedents.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Restricts the use of any travel award that accrues by reason of official travel of a Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives to official travel only.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1994
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that nothing in the Constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual or group prayer in public schools or other public institutions. States that no person shall be required by the United States or any State to participate in prayer. Provides that neither the United States nor any State shall compose prayers to be said in public schools.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1994
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Dr. Joycelyn Elders has consistently and publicly advocated practices and behaviors contrary to Federal law and the overall health and well-being of society in general. Calls on the President to ask for her resignation as U.S. Surgeon General.
![Official portrait of Rep. Taylor, Gene [D-MS-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/t000074_200.jpg)