Rep. Zimmer, Dick [R-NJ-12]

An amendment (printed as amendment No. 30 in the Congressional Record of February 8, 1995) to bar luxury personal items from correctional facilities. It requires all inmates to work full 40-hour weeks and imposes tougher restrictions on violent offenders. It also directs the Bureau of Prisons to conduct an annual report on prison expenses, comparing spending on amenities with investments in security and basic needs.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment, printed as amendment No. 11 in House Rept. 104-146, to require all unspent funds in Members' allowances at the end of FY 1996 be returned to the Treasury to be used for deficit reduction.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment to reduce the loan levels in the bill for REA hardship loan programs from $125 million per electric and telephone cooperative to $25 million per cooperative.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment not preprinted in the Congressional Record to prohibit certain amenities in Federal prisons.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment, printed as amendment No. 75 in the Congressional Record of June 4, 1996, to express the sense of Congress that the government of Poland should prohibit construction of a shopping mall within 500 yards of the Auschwitz concentration camp.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment to require that meetings of the Board of Directors of the Office of Compliance be open to the public, as well as all Congressional committee meetings dealing with concurrent resolutions to disapprove of regulations promulgated by the Board.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment which would allow facilities receiving out-of-state waste under existing contracts to continue doing so (without the need for local authorization) for the life of the contract, as determined by state law, or for six years after enactment.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment, printed as amendment No. 48 in the Congressional Record of July 11, 1995, to prohibit the use of any funds appropriated in the bill from being used to demolish, or ban pedestrians from using the bridge from Jersey City and Ellis Island, so long as the bridge meets generally accepted safety standards.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment, not preprinted in the Congressional Record, to delete all funds appropriated in the bill for the Export Marketing Program.

United States · United States Congress

Amendment required the National Academy of Sciences to report to Congress by June 30, 1992 on a research opportunities assessment and a space infrastructure assessment for proposed space-based life sciences and microgravity research.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment, printed as amendment No. 29 in the Congressional Record of July 13, 1995, to prohibit any funding appropriated in the bill from being used to pay salaries of personnel who carry out the Commodity Credit Corporation's market promotion program.

United States · United States Congress

Budget Process Reform Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Statement of Congressional Purpose Title II: Binding Budget Law Title III: Enforcement of Budget Discipline Subtitle A: Supermajority Required to Break Budget Law Subtitle B: Line Item Reduction Subtitle C: "Blank Check" Appropriations Prohibited Subtitle D: "Pay-as-You-Go" Requirement for New Spending Subtitle E: "Lock-Box" for Savings From Spending Reductions Title IV: Sustaining Mechanism Title V: Protection of Social Security Title VI: Technical Amendments to Federal Law to Carry Out This Act Title VII: Definitions and Rules of Interpretation Budget Process Reform Act - Title I: Statement of Congressional Purpose - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal budget process should focus the attention of policymakers and the public on the aggregate impact of Federal spending on the economy, and on the tradeoffs that must be made among priorities in order to control overall levels of spending. Declares that the budget process should contain safeguards against delay and inaction, so that temporary shut-downs of the Government may be avoided. Title II: Binding Budget Law - Requires the Congress to enact a binding budget law, in the form of a joint resolution, by April 15 of the calendar year before that in which the fiscal period commences. (Sec. 202) Makes it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any spending bill affecting spending in a major functional category unless and until a joint resolution on the budget is enacted. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) to require a two-thirds majority vote in the House and the Senate to consider any spending bill prior to the enactment of the budget law. Repeals authority for consideration of spending bills prior to adoption of the budget resolution. (Sec. 203) Prohibits baseline budgeting. Requires objective year- to-year comparisons under budget law, with the starting point for both Presidential and congressional budgets the levels of budget outlays for the current fiscal year. (Sec. 204) Amends the CBA to establish a rainy day fund for natural disasters. Requires budget law to include a major functional category for natural disasters, under specified conditions. (Sec. 205) Amends Federal law relating to the contents of the President's annual budget submission to the Congress to require the President to submit: (1) a budget of the U.S. Government for the following fiscal period on a single page, which sets forth specific budget ceilings in each major functional category, by the first Monday in February of each year before that in which a fiscal period commences; and (2) a detailed budget for that fiscal period, on or before the 15th day after a joint resolution on the budget for the following budget period is enacted. Title III: Enforcement of Budget Discipline - Subtitle A: Supermajority Required to Break Budget Law - Amends CBA to require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to provide to the Congress an estimate of the costs in each major functional category of each spending bill before being voted on by the Senate or the House. (Sec. 301) Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to consider over-budget spending bills. (Sec. 302) Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive any provision of this Act. Subtitle B: Limited Enhanced Rescission Authority - Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to exercise line-item reduction authority if the Congress exceeds the budget ceilings in the binding budget law or an automatic continuing resolution for a fiscal period. Declares that such authority shall permit the reduction of over-budget spending in a major functional category to the level established in the binding budget law or automatic continuing resolution. Sets forth procedures for congressional introductions of line-item bills after the President transmits a special message to rescind an item of budget authority. Prohibits amendments to such bills. Subtitle C: "Blank Check" Appropriations Prohibited - Declares the intent of the Congress to end open-ended, "blank check" appropriations which typically authorize spending "such sums as may be necessary." (Sec. 306) Amends CBA to require fixed-dollar appropriations for every account except Social Security and interest on the debt. Prohibits open-ended appropriations. (Sec. 307) Requires Executive agencies to adjust expenditures, including program eligibility requirements and benefit levels, to ensure that appropriations for entitlement programs are not exceeded. (Sec. 308) Restricts budget authority and entitlement authority to one fiscal period. Subtitle D: "Pay As You Go" Requirement for New Spending - Amends CBA to prohibit the Congress from considering any legislation which exceeds the budget ceiling unless it offsets such increased spending with an equal amount of reductions. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House or in the Senate to waive such prohibition. Sets forth special rules in the case of legislation that exceeds a budget ceiling for the natural disaster functional category. Repeals a CBA provision for an exemption in the House from pay-as- you-go rules. Subtitle E: "Lock-Box" for Savings From Spending Reductions - Amends CBA to: (1) establish "lock-box" procedures to ensure budget savings from House and Senate amendments to appropriations bills result in actual spending cuts; (2) require Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports on such procedures; and (3) mandate reduction of spending allocations to House and Senate committees and subcommittees to meet "lock-box" levels. Title IV: Sustaining Mechanism - Makes appropriations to provide for an automatic continuing resolution if for any account an appropriation for a fiscal period does not become law before the beginning of such period. (Sec. 402) Provides for contingency regulations for automatic continuing resolutions. Grants each State the option of receiving an aggregate amount for the fiscal period for social safety net programs equal to the allocation to the State for such programs in the preceding fiscal period. (Sec. 403) Restricts consideration of legislation providing budget or spending authority to only that reported by the Committees on Appropriations. Makes such restriction inapplicable in the case of Social Security benefits. Title V: Protection of Social Security - Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to require or permit reductions in otherwise payable Social Security benefits. (Sec. 502) Provides that no reduction in benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) shall be made as a consequence of this Act. Title VI: Technical Amendments to Federal Law to Carry Out This Act - Makes various technical and conforming amendments, including changing references to a concurrent resolution on the budget to references to a joint resolution on the budget. Title VII: Definitions and Rules of Interpretation - Sets forth definitions for specified terms. Changes the definition of budget authority to exclude offsetting receipts.

Expressing the sense of the Congress that a model curriculum designed to educate elementary and secondary school-aged children about the Irish famine should be developed.

United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1996

Expresses the sense of the Congress that a model curriculum should be developed which is designed to educate elementary and secondary school-aged children about the famine in Ireland in the mid-19th century and its effects.

Act to Save America's Forests

United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Amendments to Existing Land Management Laws Title II: Protection for Northwest Ancient Forests, Roadless Areas, and Special Areas Act to Save America's Forests - Title I: Amendments to Existing Land Management Laws - Amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (National Forest System), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (public lands), the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (National Wildlife Refuge System), the National Indian Forest Resources Management Act (Indian lands), and Federal law relating to forest management on military lands to: (1) provide for native biodiversity conservation; and (2) restrict and prohibit certain logging practices. Title II: Protection for Northwest Ancient Forests, Roadless Areas, and Special Areas - Designates specified Special Areas which shall be subject to restrictions on road construction and logging in the following States: (1) Alabama; (2) Alaska; (3) Arizona; (4) Arkansas; (5) California; (6) Colorado; (7) Georgia; (8) Idaho; (9) Illinois; (10) Minnesota; (11) Montana; (12) New Mexico; (13) North Carolina; (14) Oregon; (15) South Carolina; (16) South Dakota; (17) Tennessee; (18) Texas; (19) Vermont; and (20) Wyoming. Restricts road construction and logging in Northwest Ancient Forests, Special Areas, and roadless areas on Federal lands.

Boat Protection Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1996

Boat Protection Act of 1996 - Sets forth copyright provisions regarding the protection of vessel hull designs. Defines: (1) "plug" as a device or model used to make a mold for the purpose of exact duplication, regardless of whether the device or model has an intrinsic utilitarian function that is not only to portray the appearance of the product or to convey information; (2) "mold" as a matrix or form in which a substance for material is used, regardless of whether the matrix or form has an intrinsic utilitarian function that is not only to portray the appearance of the product or to convey information; and (3) "commercially exploit" for purposes of this Act as the sale or offer for sale of a plug or mold after it is fixed in a vessel hull or otherwise distributed to the public for profit vessel hulls. Extends protection to an original plug or mold fixed in a vessel hull, if: (1) the owner of the plug or mold is a national or domiciliary of the United States or of a foreign nation which is party to a protection treaty to which the United States is also a party on the date on which the plug or mold is first commercially exploited; (2) the plug or mold is first commercially exploited in the United States; or (3) the plug or mold comes within the scope of a presidential proclamation extending reciprocal protection to the works of foreign nationals, domiciliaries, or sovereign authorities. Vests exclusive rights in such plugs or molds in the owner who may transfer (in whole or in part) or bequeath such interest. Recognizes the first registered transfer in case of a conflict. Sets the protection term for plugs or molds at ten years from the date of first commercial exploitation. Grants the owner of a plug or mold the exclusive rights to: (1) reproduce the plug or mold; (2) import or distribute a vessel hull in which it is embodied; and (3) cause another to perform such acts. Provides that it is not an infringement of the owner's exclusive rights: (1) to reproduce a plug or mold for purposes of teaching, analyzing, or evaluating concepts, techniques, design, or organization of components in it; or (2) to sell or otherwise dispose of a vessel hull lawfully made under this Act (without the authority of the owner of the plug or mold). Limits the liability of an innocent purchaser of an infringing vessel hull. Permits the owner of a plug or mold to place on it a specified notice of protection, which is not a condition of protection but shall constitute prima facie evidence of notice of protection. Entitles the owner of a plug or mold whose protection has been infringed to institute a civil action. Authorizes the award of attorney's fees to a prevailing party. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the U.S. Postal Service to issue regulations for the enforcement of the right to import a vessel hull in which the plug or mold is embodied. Permits the impoundment and seizure of vessel hulls imported in violation of the owner's exclusive rights. Sets forth remedies for infringement, including temporary and permanent injunctive relief, actual damages, the award of an infringer's profits to the owner, impoundment orders, and the award of statutory damages instead of actual damages or profits in an amount not to exceed $250,000, under specified conditions. Authorizes appropriations.

To authorize the National Park Service to coordinate programs with, provide technical assistance to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1996

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to coordinate the Underground Railroad interpretive programs of the National Park Service (NPS) with the interpretive activities of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center which is to be built in Cincinnati, Ohio, and devoted to the story of the Underground Railroad. Authorizes: (1) the Secretary to provide technical assistance to the Center in developing such programs and to enter into cooperative agreements with the State of Ohio, the city of Cincinnati, and other public or private entities to provide such assistance; and (2) the NPS to work in partnership with the Center in its efforts to disseminate information on the Underground Railroad. Requires the Secretary to treat the Center as an affiliated National Park System area.

To amend title 10, United States Code, to restore the provisions of chapter 76 of that title (relating to missing persons) as in effect before the amendments made by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997.

United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1996

Restores Federal armed forces provisions relating to the status of missing persons as in effect before amendments made by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997.

To authorize and request the President to award the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously to Theodore Roosevelt for his gallant and heroic actions in the attack on San Juan Heights, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.

United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1996

Authorizes the President to award the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously to Theodore Roosevelt for his actions in the attack of San Juan Heights, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War on July 1, 1898.

To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to prohibit the provision of assistance to foreign governments that provide assistance to Cuba.

United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1996

Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to prohibit foreign assistance (other than humanitarian and refugee assistance) to any foreign country that the President determines has provided economic assistance to, or engaged in nonmarket-based trade with, Cuba.

HIV Prevention Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1996

HIV Prevention Act of 1996 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to add certain requirements relating to prevention of the transmission of the HIV virus which State Medicaid plans must incorporate in order to receive Federal approval. Includes among such requirements: (1) mandatory confidential reporting of HIV positive results by the health professional or other entity performing HIV tests to the State public health officer; (2) informing of individuals who may have been exposed to HIV by the public health officer of the State; (3) mandatory HIV testing of alleged rapists for which victims and their attorneys are notified of the results; (4) subjection to mandatory HIV testing of prospective patients who are to undergo an invasive medical procedure that would place the health professionals involved at risk of becoming infected with HIV, with the health professionals notified of the results; and (5) notification of individuals who are to undergo an invasive medical procedure by any health professional who is to perform such procedure and knows that he or she has HIV disease. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) with respect to health professionals with HIV disease who perform invasive medical procedures on patients, the medical profession should develop guidelines to assist them in complying with the requirements of this Act; (2) the States should have in effect laws providing that, in the case of individuals who know they have HIV disease, it is a felony to engage in any behaviors that the individual knows will place others at risk of infection with the disease, regardless of whether the behaviors actually transmit such infection; and (3) strict confidentiality should be maintained in carrying out the requirements added by this Act.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to offer a loan guaranteed by an adjustable rate mortgage under Chapter 37 of such title.

United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1996

Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to quarantee veterans loans for adjustable rate mortgages in a manner similar to the manner in which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development insures adjustable rate mortgages under provisions of the National Housing Act.

Veterans' Cemetery Protection Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1996

Veterans' Cemetery Protection Act of 1996 - Sets penalties for vandalism and theft at national cemeteries.

Sequoia Ecosystem and Recreation Preserve Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1996

Sequoia Ecosystem and Recreation Preserve Act of 1996 - Designates specified California lands within the Sequoia National Forest and the Inyo National Forest as wilderness areas to be administered as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. (Sec. 5) Establishes the Giant Sequoia National Forest Preserve as a unit of the National Forest System for the: (1) protection and maintenance of giant sequoia groves, their supporting ecosystems, and associated forests; and (2) preservation of the natural state and processes that have created and maintained such forests. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to appoint a Scientific Advisory Team for the Preserve. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to publish a final management plan for the Preserve for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of natural, scientific, and recreational values. Provides for interim Preserve management by the Secretary. (Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary, as part of the management plan, to designate and map the ancient forest reserves within the Preserve. (Sec. 10) Requires the management plan to include a comprehensive transportation plan that protects natural Preserve features while ensuring visitor safety and that includes a trail plan identifying which trails will allow motorized access. (Sec. 11) Allows all current campgrounds within the Preserve to remain in place, subject to evaluation by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to provide new camping opportunities. (Sec. 12) Authorizes the continued use of Preserve areas for hunting and fishing, firewood collection, and grazing, but prohibits new patents from being issued under the mining or geothermal laws. (Sec. 16) Directs the Secretary to establish a Community Assistance Task Force to oversee the provision of assistance to communities and workers in political subdivisions whose boundaries include Federal lands in the Preserve or contain facilities that milled timber from lands in the Preserve during any portion of the five-year period ending on the date of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 17) Prohibits the Secretary, in preparing the Preserve budget proposal for each fiscal year, from targeting any of the budget to any commodity production in the Preserve. (Sec. 18) Authorizes appropriations.

Power Marketing Administration Privatization and Reform Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Full Cost Recovery and Market Rates Title II: Privatization of PMA and TVA Assets Power Marketing Administration Privatization and Reform Act of 1996 - Title I: Full Cost Recovery and Market Rates - Directs the Secretary of Energy to develop and implement interim and final rates for power sales by Federal Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs) designed to recover all power related operations and maintenance expenses, including project investment costs pertaining to power production. (Sec. 102) Cites conditions under which the Secretary may price power sold by PMAs at market rates if the transition to full cost recovery rates would result in rates that exceed market rates. Instructs the Secretary to establish: (1) procedures to assure that all power sold by PMAs is sold at prices set by demand and supply within the relevant bulk power supply market; and (2) bid and auction procedures to implement market-based pricing for power marketing. Grants public bodies and cooperatives rights of first refusal with respect to future Federal power allocations or reallocations. Instructs the Secretary to require each PMA to implement: (1) program management in order to assign personnel and incur expenses exclusively for authorized power marketing, reclamation, and flood control activities; and (2) annual public disclosures of PMA activities, including the full costs of power projects and power marketing programs. Limits PMA power marketing contracts five year terms. Subjects a PMA (except the Bonneville Power Administration) to the facility construction restrictions imposed by the Flood Control Act of 1944. (Sec. 103) Grants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): (1) ratemaking jurisdiction over transmission service provided by the PMAs and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA); and (2) review, rejection, and revision authority over rate schedules for PMA power sales, and over rate schedule determinations made by the Secretary until a full transition is made to market-based rates for power sold by the PMAs. (Sec. 105) Makes conforming amendments to the Department of Energy Organization Act and other specified Federal law. Title II: Privatization of PMA and TVA Assets - Directs the Secretary of Energy to sell the hydroelectric power generation facilities used to generate the electric power marketed by the PMAs, together with all PMA contracts, interests and obligations, and all federally-owned electric power transmission facilities operated by a PMA. Directs TVA to sell its hydroelectric power generation facilities. Prescribes guidelines for such sales. Terminates the PMAs and TVA following the sale of all facilities and assets. (Sec. 202) Confers jurisdiction upon FERC for: (1) all rates and charges established for the wholesale sale of electric power from such sold facilities; and (2) licensing the privatized facilities and operations.