United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Legislative Reform Title II: Federal Intergovernmental Relations Fiscal Accountability and Intergovernmental Reform Act (FAIR Act) - Title I: Legislative Reform - Provides that, with certain exceptions, whenever a committee of either House reports a bill or resolution of a public character to its House mandating unfunded requirements upon State or local governments or the private sector, the report accompanying that bill or resolution shall analyze the effect of the new requirements on: (1) State and local government expenditures necessary to comply with Federal mandates; (2) private businesses; and (3) economic growth and competitiveness. Title II: Federal Intergovernmental Relations - Requires, to the fullest extent practicable, that: (1) the policies, regulations, and public laws of the United States be interpreted and administered in accordance with this Act; (2) all Federal agencies, consistent with attainment of the requirements of Federal law, minimize the adverse effects of rules affecting the economy; and (3) Federal agencies take certain actions in promulgating new rules, reviewing existing rules, developing legislative proposals, or initiating any other major Federal action affecting the economy whenever an agency identifies two or more alternatives which will satisfy the agency's statutory obligations. Provides that, whenever an agency publishes a general notice of proposed rulemaking, promulgates a final rule, or before initiating or implementing any other major Federal action affecting the economy, the agency shall prepare and make available for public comment an Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Assessment. Specifies the contents of such an assessment.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1993
Citizens' Self-Defense Act of 1993 - Declares that a person not prohibited by Federal law from receiving a firearm shall have the right to obtain firearms for security and to use firearms in defense of self, family, or home. Authorizes persons whose rights under this Act have been violated to bring an action in U.S. district court against the United States, any State, or any person for damages, injunctive relief, and such other relief as the court deems appropriate. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the award of attorney's fees; and (2) the statute of limitations.
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
Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 to reduce the Official Mail Allowance for each Member of the House of Representatives by 20 percent.
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
Urges the President to urge the: (1) United Kingdom to take prompt steps toward the realization of reconciliation in Northern Ireland by the initiation of a process for the declaration and constitutional incorporation of human rights and civil liberties, similar to the U.S. Bill of Rights and European Convention on Human Rights; and (2) European Community to take action to ensure that the Government of the United Kingdom is brought up to par with the rest of the Community's member nations in the oversight and protection of human rights and civil liberties in Northern Ireland.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1993
Targeted Tax Relief Disclosure Resolution of 1993 - Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that each public bill or joint resolution reported by the Committee on Ways and Means identify: (1) each provision (if any) of the bill or joint resolution which is intended to provide special benefits with respect to five or fewer taxpayers, transactions, events, items of property, projects, or issuances of bonds; (2) each beneficiary (known by the Committee) of such provision; (3) the Member or Members of the Congress who sponsored the inclusion of each such beneficiary in such provision; and (4) an estimate by the Joint Committee on Taxation of the loss in revenues resulting from such provision with respect to each such beneficiary for the fiscal year for which such loss in revenues first occurs and each of the five fiscal years thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1993
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to detail members of the armed forces to a State or local correctional agency for temporary duty as advisors and instructors at a correctional facility operated as a military-style boot camp if the Secretary determines that such personnel could contribute to the rehabilitative purposes of such facility. Credits such military personnel for all service performed during such detail. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 and other Federal provisions relating to actions taken in conjunction with defense base closures and realignments to authorize the Secretary to transfer to the State or local government in which the military installation is located appropriate property or facilities for conversion and use in conjunction with military-style boot camp operations at a correctional facility.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1993
Subjects the purchases of district office equipment or furnishings by a departing Member of the House of Representatives to the right of the Member's successor to retain such equipment or furnishings for official use.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to redefine "adjusted gross income" as the product of the excess of gross income over specified deductions and the area cost-of-living multiplier (currently, gross income minus specified deductions). Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe an annual cost-of-living multiplier for each area of the United States by dividing the average cost-of-living for the United States for the preceding calendar year by the cost-of-living for such area for the same period. Bases the cost-of-living of an area on the average of retail market prices for such area in a 12-month period. Requires the cost-of-living multiplier for areas outside of the United States to be one.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand current provisions concerning civil damages for certain unauthorized collection actions to allow taxpayers to sue for civil damages if in the determination of tax the Internal Revenue Service carelessly disregards tax law. Repeals the "substantially justified" test for determining whether a taxpayer may recover costs and fees incurred as part of an administrative or court proceeding. Increases the interest rate for overpayment of tax from two percent to three percent (making such rate equal to the interest rate for underpayment of tax).
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for the portion of employer social security taxes paid with respect to employee cash tips. Makes such credit part of the general business credit.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Safe Streets For Women Subtitle A: Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women Subtitle B: Rape Prevention Programs Subtitle C: Victim Compensation Subtitle D: National Board on Violent Crime Against Women Subtitle E: Safe Campuses for Women Title II: Safe Homes for Women Subtitle A: Interstate Enforcement Subtitle B: Arrest in Domestic Violence Cases Subtitle C: Safe Homes for Immigrant Women Subtitle D: Confidentiality for Abused Persons Title III: Civil Rights Title IV: Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Subtitle A: New Evidentiary Rules Subtitle B: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel in State Courts Subtitle C: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel in Federal Courts Violence Against Women Act of 1993 - Title I: Safe Streets for Women - Safe Streets for Women Act of 1993 - Subtitle A: Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (Omnibus Act) to authorize the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to: (1) make grants to reduce the rate of violent crimes against women to States and nonprofit nongovernmental victim services programs, and to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or nongovernmental domestic violence and sexual assault victim services programs on Indian reservations; and (2) request any Federal agency, with or without reimbursement, to use its authorities and resources to support such State and local efforts. (Sec. 112) Specifies that no State is entitled to funds under this title unless the State or other grantee incurs the full cost of forensic medical exams for victims of sexual assault. Subtitle B: Rape Prevention Programs - Chapter 1: Rape Prevention Grants - Authorizes the Director to make education and prevention grants to reduce sexual assaults against women. Chapter 2: Offender Training and Information Programs - Directs the: (1) National Institute of Justice to establish criteria and develop training programs to assist probation and parole officer and other personnel who work with released sex offenders in the areas of case management, supervision, and relapse prevention; and (2) Attorney General to compile information regarding sex offender treatment programs and ensure that information regarding treatment programs in the community into which a convicted sex offender is released is made available to persons imprisoned for sexual abuse offenses. Subtitle C: Victim Compensation - Amends the Federal criminal code to require that a court order restitution for violations of Federal sexual abuse laws. Subtitle D: National Board on Violent Crime Against Women - Establishes an Interagency Advisory Board on Violent Crime Against Women to assess and review, and make recommendations regarding, policies and practices of the Government regarding violence against women. Subtitle E: Safe Campuses for Women - Directs the Attorney General to provide for a national baseline study to examine the scope of the problem of campus sexual assaults and the effectiveness of institutional and legal policies in addressing such crimes and protecting victims. Title II: Safe Homes for Women - Safe Homes for Women Act - Subtitle A: Interstate Enforcement - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for traveling across a State line with the intent to: (1) contact that person's spouse or intimate partner and, in the course of such contact, intentionally committing a crime of violence causing bodily injury to such spouse or partner; and (2) engage in conduct that violates a protection order, or that would violate such order if the conduct occurred in the jurisdiction in which the order was issued, and engaging in such conduct. Requires that in any proceeding for the purpose of determining whether a defendant charged shall be released pending trial, or the conditions of such release, the alleged victim be given an opportunity to be heard regarding the danger posed by the defendant. Mandates that a court order restitution to the victim of an offense under this Act. Requires, provided that certain conditions are met, that a protection order issued by the court of one State be accorded full faith and credit by the court of another State. Subtitle B: Arrest in Domestic Violence Cases - Amends the Omnibus Act to authorize the Director to make grants to eligible States, Indian tribes, municipalities, or local governmental entities to encourage arrest policies in domestic violence cases, including mandatory arrest programs for protective order violations and improving judicial handling of domestic violence cases. Subtitle C: Safe Homes for Immigrant Women - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) permit an alien to petition for preference or immediate relative status under the Act (currently, only a U.S. citizen may petition claiming that an alien is entitled to such status), and provide that such a petition may only be withdrawn by the beneficiary or self-petitioner; (2) provide that an abused alien family member shall be considered to remain the spouse or child of a citizen or resident abuser after the legal termination of the marriage through which the member seeks immigrant status if specified conditions are met; and (3) provide for a stay of deportation and the granting of work authorization for abused alien family members until such time as an immigrant visa is available and the alien's application for adjustment of status has been finally adjudicated by the Attorney General (but authorizes the Attorney General to revoke the work authorization of, and initiate deportation proceedings against, any alien who has fraudulently made a claim to be an abused alien family member, if the alien has received notice of intent to revoke and has a reasonable opportunity to rebut evidence supporting the revocation). Subtitle D: Confidentiality for Abused Persons - Directs the Postmaster General to promulgate regulations to secure the confidentiality of abused persons' addresses or otherwise prohibit the disclosure of an abused person's address, subject to specified requirements. Title III: Civil Rights - Declares that all individuals within the United States, and the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, shall have the right to be free from crimes of violence motivated by the victim's gender. Permits individuals deprived of such right to bring a civil action for compensatory damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or any combination thereof, subject to specified limitations. Title IV: Equal Justice for Women in the Courts - Subtitle A: New Evidentiary Rules - Amends the Federal Rules of Evidence to make evidentiary rulings pursuant to Rule 412 (Rape Cases; Relevance of Victim's Past Behavior) subject to interlocutory appeal by the Government. (Sec. 402) Makes reputation or opinion evidence of the past sexual behavior of an alleged victim inadmissible in a criminal case, other than a sex offense case. Allows other types of evidence of a victim's past sexual behavior in accordance with specified procedures if its probative value outweighs the danger of unfair prejudice. (Sec. 403) Makes reputation or opinion evidence of the plaintiff's past sexual behavior inadmissible in a civil action involving allegations of actionable sexual misconduct. Allows other types of evidence of a plaintiff's past sexual behavior in accordance with specified procedures if its probative value outweighs the danger of unfair prejudice. (Sec. 404) Makes evidence of an alleged victim's clothing in a criminal case under Federal laws relating to sexual abuse inadmissible to show that the victim incited or invited the offense. Subtitle B: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel in State Courts - Authorizes the State Justice Institute to award grants to develop, test, present, and disseminate model programs to be used by States in training judges and court personnel in the laws of the State on rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes of violence motivated by the victim's gender. Subtitle C: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel in Federal Courts - Directs the: (1) circuit judicial councils to conduct studies of the instances of gender bias in their respective circuits; (2) Judicial Conference of the United States to designate an entity within the judicial branch to act as a clearinghouse to disseminate any reports and materials issued by the gender bias task forces and to respond to requests for such reports and materials; and (3) Federal Judicial Center to include in its educational programs information on issues related to gender bias in the courts, prepare materials necessary to accomplish that end, and take into consideration the findings and recommendations of such studies and consult with individuals and groups with relevant expertise in gender bias issues as it prepares or revises such materials.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Deficit Reduction Act of 1993 - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to set the aggregate amount of required outlay reductions for: (1) FY 1993 at $25 million; (2) FY 1994 at the amount necessary to bring the outlay level to 95 percent of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) baseline for such fiscal year; and (3) FY 1995 at the amount necessary to bring the outlay level to 90 percent of such baseline. Bases the OMB baseline for FY 1994 and 1995 on FY 1993 enacted appropriations less 1993 sequestrations. Requires an across-the-board sequestration to carry out the required outlay reductions. Exempts social security, interest on the debt, Medicare payments, and Head Start from sequestration. Authorizes the President to exempt any account from sequestration or provide for a lower uniform percentage reduction than would otherwise apply if such percentage reduction is increased for non-exempt accounts (subject to limitation).
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Ethics in Government Act Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to specify the circumstances under which Federal officers and employees, other than Members of Congress and noncareer officers and employees whose rate of basic pay is equal to or greater than that for Level V of the Executive Schedule, may receive an honorarium for an article in a bona fide publication, a speech, or an appearance. Prohibits the amount of honorarium accepted from exceeding the usual and customary fee for the services for which the honorarium is paid, up to $2,000. Subjects the acceptance of any honorarium to financial disclosure. Requires the rules and regulations of each supervising ethics office (ethics office) designated under the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 to include procedures under which certain senior level or high-salaried noncareer officers and employees must notify their respective ethics office before accepting any of the honoraria permitted above that, in the aggregate, equal or exceed $200 in value from any one source in a calendar year. Requires each ethics office to compile and make public all notifications received during each calendar quarter. Subjects to specified penalties any person who fails to notify the appropriate ethics office before accepting honoraria. Amends the Federal criminal code to waive certain postemployment restrictions on Members of Congress and congressional employees and on certain senior executive branch personnel with respect to a communication or appearance made solely on behalf of a candidate for Federal or State office, in his or her capacity as a candidate, a political party, or certain political organizations, with specified exceptions.
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
Tennessee Valley Authority Power Privatization Act of 1993 - Directs the President to develop and transmit to the Congress a plan for transferring, by sale or otherwise, all real property, facilities, and equipment of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to appropriate public and private entities. Requires such plan to provide for transfer of: (1) TVA power generation facilities and equipment; (2) National Fertilizer and Environmental Research Center facilities and equipment; (3) TVA's jurisdictional authority over real property; and (4) TVA functions unrelated to power generation to appropriate Federal departments and agencies. Terminates the TVA after the completion of such transfers.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Federal Workforce Efficiency Act - Limits the total number of civilian employees in an executive agency to the number of employees at the end of the fiscal year in which this Act is enacted. Directs the head of each executive agency to establish a program which shall provide for: (1) cash awards for any managerial or supervisory personnel whose personal efforts result in significant savings to the Government that are attributable to personnel reductions or increased personnel efficiency; (2) education or training for managerial or supervisory personnel to promote better awareness and use of the authorities available to them to improve worker efficiency and productivity; and (3) other similar measures. Sets a limit on the amount of such an award. Provides for a reduction in executive agency budgets with respect to employee salaries over a two-year period by five percent per fiscal year.
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.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Expresses the sense of the Congress that tax increases should not be considered until real and substantial spending cuts have been enacted and a Balanced Budget Amendment has been sent to the States for ratification.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1993
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that any legislation enacted to reform the health care system must: (1) ensure that every person has access to coverage for medically and psychologically necessary treatments for mental disorders that is equitable to the coverage provided for treatments of physical illnesses; and (2) meet specified requirements concerning coverage, consumer choice, financial protection, financing policies, and coordination across Federal, State, and local programs.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1993
Directs the Secretary of Defense to issue a commendation to each individual who was exposed to mustard agents in testing during World War II while serving in the armed forces. Requires the Secretary to: (1) notify each individual so exposed of possible health effects; and (2) make available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs any information regarding such exposure.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1993
Freedom of Choice Act of 1993 - Provides that a State: (1) may not restrict the right of a woman to choose to terminate a pregnancy before fetal viability; (2) may restrict such right after fetal viability unless necessary to preserve the life or health of the woman; and (3) may impose requirements on the performance of abortion procedures if medically necessary to protect the health of the woman. Declares that this Act shall not be construed to prevent a State from: (1) protecting individuals from having to participate in abortions to which they are conscientiously opposed; (2) declining to pay for such abortions; or (3) requiring minors to involve responsible adults before terminating a pregnancy.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1993
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to study and report to the Congress on potential national historic landmarks in Lynn, Massachusetts. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1993
Repeals provisions of Federal law authorizing a departing Member of the House of Representatives to purchase his or her district office equipment or furnishings.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Regulatory Impact on Credit Availability Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Impact of Accounting and Capital Issues on Credit Availability Subtitle C: Disincentives to Risk-Taking Subtitle D: Miscellaneous Credit Availability Provisions Title II: Regulatory Micromanagement Title III: Unnecessary Cost, Paperwork and Regulation Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Holding Company Efficiencies Title IV: Consumer Inconvenience, Paperwork, and Cost; Other Non-Supervisory Reforms Subtitle A: Consumer Benefits and Lending Process Improvements Subtitle B: Other Non-Supervisory Reforms Title V: Community Investment Economic Growth and Financial Institutions Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1993 - Title I: Regulatory Impact on Credit Availability - Subtitle A: General Provisions - (Sec. 101) Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) to direct the appropriate Federal banking agencies to minimize the negative impact upon credit availability for small business, residential, and agricultural purposes and on low-and moderate-income communities when prescribing real estate lending standards. (Sec. 102) Amends the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 to direct the Appraisal Subcommittee to encourage the States to develop reciprocity agreements among themselves so as to readily authorize licensed appraisers in good standing to perform appraisals in sister States. Subtitle B: Impact of Accounting and Capital Issues on Credit Availability - (Secs. 111-113) Amends the FDIA to amend the regulatory scheme with respect to: (1) audits of insured depository institutions; (2) recourse agreements; and (3) market value accounting. (Sec. 114) Requires the Department of the Treasury to report to certain congressional committees on the effect on the national economy resulting from implementation of risk based capital standards (including the Basle international capital standards). Subtitle C: Disincentives to Risk Taking - (Sec. 121) Amends the FDIA and the Federal Credit Union Act with respect to the due process protections accorded the attachment of assets, and the statutory authority to require a depository institution to prohibit a person from alienating property under certain circumstances. Subtitle D: Miscellaneous Credit Availability Provisions - (Sec. 131) Mandates the establishment of a regulatory appeals process within each appropriate Federal banking agency and the National Credit Union Administration. (Secs. 132 and 133) Amends the Federal Reserve Act to modify the aggregate limits on insider lending for specified small banks. Mandates that certain agencies study and report to the Congress on the advisability and budgetary impact of requiring insured depository institutions to maintain sterile reserves. (Sec. 134) Amends the FDIA to prescribe guidelines under which the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) may, with respect to an undercapitalized insured depository institution, waive its right to repudiate an agreement to sell credit card accounts receivable. (Sec. 135) Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to permit FHLBA banks to: (1) make secured advances upon obtaining a security interest in certain nonresidential real estate-related collateral; and (2) invest surplus funds to purchase participation interests in residential construction loans originated by member institutions. Title II: Regulatory Micromanagement - (Secs. 201-204) Amends the FDIA to modify the regulatory scheme with respect to: (1) safety and soundness standards; (2) paperwork reduction; (3) rules on deposit taking; and (4) a transition period for new regulations. Title III: Unnecessary Cost, Paperwork and Regulation -Subtitle A: General Provisions - (Secs. 301-303) Amends the FDIA with respect to: (1) bank examinations; (2) coordination of State and Federal examinations; and (3) the use of accounting principles. (Secs. 304-306) Prescribes guidelines for the reduction of call report requirements and capital compliance requirements. Excludes automated teller machines and specified bank branches from FDIA branch closure notice requirements. (Sec. 307) Amends Federal law regarding monetary instruments transactions to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to annually: (1) review all regulations pertaining to monetary instruments transaction requirements, seeking public comment; and (2) publish all written rulings interpreting such law, as well as staff commentaries. (Sec. 309) Amends the FRA and the FDIA to cite conditions under which accounts of U.S. banks are shielded from liability to repay] deposits made at foreign branches. Subtitle B: Holding Company Efficiencies - (Secs. 321-325) Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to modify the procedures under which bank holding companies: (1) are formed; and (2) acquire interests in nonbanking activities. Reduces the post-approval waiting period for bank holding company acquisition and bank mergers. Title IV: Consumer Inconvenience, Paperwork, and Cost; Other Non-Supervisory Reforms - Subtitle A: Consumer Benefits and Lending Process Improvements - (Sec. 401) Mandates a Federal Reserve study and report to the Congress on ways to streamline the credit-granting process. (Secs. 402-403) Amends the Truth in Lending Act regarding: (1) certain exemptions from credit cost disclosure requirements; (2) modification of waiver of the debtor's rescission rights; and (3) alternative disclosures for adjustable rate mortgages. (Sec. 405) Amends the Truth in Savings Act to exempt business accounts from its purview. Subtitle B: Other Non-Supervisory Reforms - (Secs. 411-413) Amends the Expedited Funds Availability Act regarding: (1) the availability of Treasury checks and local checks; (2) new accounts; and (3) the allocation of risks of loss and liability to the States and political subdivisions. (Secs. 414 and 421) Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer and the Truth in Lending Act to increase the consumer liability limit in specified circumstances of unauthorized electronic fund transfers and unauthorized use of credit cards where the cardholder has substantially contributed to the unauthorized transfer or use. (Sec. 432) Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to reduce the homeownership debt counseling notification requirement to no more than once per year. (Sec. 433) Prohibits a Federal banking agency from imposing data collection requirements upon an institution under its jurisdiction other than the information required under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975. (Secs. 441 and 442) Amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to: (1) modify the disclosure guidelines for the servicing of mortgage loans; and (2) exempt certain credit transactions from its purview. Title V: Community Investment - (Sec. 501) Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (the Act) with respect to: (1) minimizing the regulatory paperwork costs and burdens associated with compliance; (2) conditions under which an application for a deposit facility shall not be denied on the basis of compliance; (3) granting credit to a financial institution for making investments and loans to either minority and women's depository institutions, or to entities providing benefits to distressed communities; (4) assessments of special purpose banks; and (5) the acceptability of State examinations in lieu of Federal examinations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Balancing the Budget Title II: Technical and Conforming Amendments Balanced Budget Enforcement Act of 1993 - Title I: Balancing the Budget - Part A: Purposes - Repeals provisions of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) with respect to: (1) emergency powers to eliminate deficits in excess of the maximum deficit amount; (2) budgetary treatment of social security trust funds; and (3) miscellaneous and related provisions. Declares the purpose of this Act to balance the budget by FY 1998 and each year thereafter. Part B: The Deficit Elimination Act of 1993 - Establishes deficit reduction targets for direct spending and receipts legislation for FY 1994 through 1998. Establishes discretionary funding limits in terms of new budget authority for FY 1994 through 1998. Requires, whenever appropriate, that adjustments to such limits be made to reflect: (1) changes in budget accounting concepts; (2) changes in inflation for each year and outyear (any of the four fiscal years that follow the budget year); (3) renewal/replacement multiyear subsidized housing contracts; (4) emergency requirements; (5) new limits for 1998 and thereafter; and (6) any law that raises excise taxes dedicated to a transportation trust fund. Provides that if at the start of the 1998 budget-year session the baseline assuming deficit reduction projects a deficit (or surplus) for that year, then the direct spending and receipts deficit reduction requirement for that year and the discretionary funding limit for that year shall each be changed by amounts that, when debt service effects are added, will produce a balanced budget. Provides for preventing deficits starting with FY 1999. Provides for the enactment of a spin-off law through congressional budget procedures or other means to balance the budget in 1998 or prevent deficits after 1998. Establishes a scorecard for the recording of the estimated increase or decrease in deficit reduction for the current year, the budget year, and each fiscal year through 1998 due to enactment (after August 15, 1992) of any law, or the imposition of any sequestration, or the change in the baseline which relates to certain expiring provisions of law and to veterans' compensation, affecting the level of direct spending or the level of receipts. Requires the creation of a new scorecard for FY 1999 and thereafter for the estimated increase or decrease in the deficit or surplus for the budget year. Sets forth deficit reduction requirements for the scorecard. Establishes a scorecard for each fiscal year starting with 1994 for discretionary appropriations amounts due to: (1) the enactment of any law in the budget-year session; (2) the enactment of any law in any previous session of Congress; or (3) the imposition of any across-the-board reduction of discretionary programs. Sets forth the method of enforcing deficit reduction targets in direct spending programs through a targeted sequestration procedure. Requires enactment of a spin-off law to initiate such procedure. Establishes a comprehensive sequestration procedure if such spin-off bill is not enacted. Requires under such procedure a freeze of entitlement spending and some revenue provisions in the amount needed to meet deficit targets. Sets forth the method of sequestering discretionary programs through uniform across-the-board reductions, unless the excess of new budget authority is less than $250 million. Lists the budget accounts or activities exempted from sequestration. Authorizes the President to exempt some or all of the budgetary resources of any military personnel account from sequestration, pending notification of the Congress. Subjects Federal administrative expenses to sequestration orders, with specified exceptions. Provides for the permanent sequestration of direct spending and receipts and for determining applicable uniform percentages for reductions. Sets forth the method of making reductions for specified programs. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish the method of sequestration through tax changes. Requires an increase in the top marginal rates and modifies the indexing provision under a sequestration order. Imposes a tax surcharge on individuals and corporations. Sets forth the timetable for estimating assumptions and filing reports and orders by the President, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Board of Estimates (established by this Act). Requires the making of sequestration reports, sequestration preview reports, and low-growth reports by CBO and OMB. Establishes the administrative procedures relative to such reports. Sets forth assumptions to be used in calculating the baseline for the budget year and each outyear with respect to direct spending and receipts and discretionary programs. Declares that a baseline assuming deficit reduction refers to a projection of current policy baseline surpluses or deficits into the budget year and the outlays that are adjusted in aggregate by: (1) assuming compliance with basic deficit reduction targets; (2) assuming compliance with the discretionary funding limits; and (3) excluding amounts resulting from legislation designated as an emergency requirement. Establishes as a deposit fund in the Treasury a Stabilization Reserve Fund to accumulate balances during years of comparative prosperity, which may later be used to cover the loss of receipts and the increase in outlays that occur during comparative economic distress. Requires annual surpluses to be paid into the Fund. Establishes congressional procedures in the event of a low-growth report or a declaration of war. Establishes a Board of Estimates to choose the applicable sequestration report from OMB or CBO to submit to the President. Provides judicial review procedures for provisions of this title. Title II: Technical and Conforming Amendments - Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Standing Rules of Senate, and specified other laws. Establishes the public debt limit.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1993
ASRM Termination Act - Prohibits the expenditure of Federal funds for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Program.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1993
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the widespread rape and forced pregnancy of women and girls in the former Yugoslavia constitute war crimes; (2) the United Nations (UN) Security Council and UN Human Rights Commission should adopt resolutions explicitly recognizing that rape and forced pregnancy constitute war crimes; (3) such war crimes should be investigated by an international tribunal; (4) such tribunal may be convened by the UN at the highest level and should be provided with clear authority to investigate, prosecute, adjudicate, and punish those responsible for those and other crimes; (5) the UN should appoint a special rapporteur on sex discrimination and violence against women; and (6) the 1993 UN World Conference on Human Rights in June should consider violations of the human rights of women.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 1993
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should: (1) continue to send immediate fuel and humanitarian assistance to help Armenia and its economy and continue to withhold all U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan until Azerbaijan lifts its blockade and other uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh; (2) promote a lasting and equitable resolution to the conflict within the United Nations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe; (3) promote the full participation of the representatives of Nagorno Karabagh in all negotiations concerning this conflict; (4) encourage Turkey to play a neutral role in helping to promote an equitable resolution to this crisis; and (5) condemn the continuing blockade of Armenia and Karabagh and demand the immediate lifting of the blockade and the opening of corridors to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian goods to Armenia.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove charitable contributions of appreciated capital gain property as an item of tax preference for purposes of the alternative minimum tax.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1993
Unclaimed Deposits Amendments Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to direct the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), in its capacity as receiver, to offer to transfer certain unclaimed insured deposits to the custody of the appropriate State authority for disposition according to its abandoned property laws (thus precluding the inadvertent forfeiture of long-term certificates of deposits by owners who were unaware of the need to file a claim against the failed institution). Provides for such a transfer when a State accepts the offer. Requires the FDIC, if a State rejects such an offer, to permit a depositor to make a claim against the FDIC until the receivership ends. Applies such disposition procedures retroactively to deposits in institutions closed after January 1, 1989 (except for certain institutions in closed receiverships). Directs the FDIC and the Resolution Trust Corporation to establish procedures for refiling claims by depositors who inadvertently forfeited their insured deposits.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1993
Volunteer Protection Act of 1993 - Prescribes circumstances under which volunteers working for nonprofit organizations or government entities shall be immune from personal financial liability for acts on behalf of the organization or entity. Sets forth exceptions and conditions that a State may impose on the granting of such immunity. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to increase by one percent the fiscal year allotment which would otherwise be made to a State to carry out the Social Services Block Grant Program under title XX of the Social Security Act if such State has, within two years, certified to the Secretary that it has enacted a State law which provides such immunity. Provides for the continuation of such increase based on an annual recertification.
![Official portrait of Rep. Torkildsen, Peter G. [R-MA-6]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/t000314_200.jpg)