United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend permanently the tax credit for expenses of clinical testing of certain drugs for rare diseases or conditions. Allows a three-year carryback and 15-year carryforward of unused credit amounts, except that no credit may be carried to a taxable year beginning before January 1, 1995.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1995
Calls upon: (1) the Government of Japan to honor and abide by the terms of the United States-Japan bilateral aviation agreement and immediately authorize U.S. air cargo and passenger carriers which have pending route requests relating to their "beyond rights" to immediately commence service on such routes; and (2) the President to identify countermeasures that could be taken against such Government for its egregious violation of the agreement and to promptly impose appropriate countermeasures to ensure that such Government abides by the terms of the agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1995
Access to Medical Treatment Act - Permits any individual to be treated by a health care practitioner with any medical treatment that the individual desires, or that is authorized by the legal representative of the individual, if: 1) the practitioner agrees to treat the individual; and 2) the administration of such treatment does not violate licensing laws. Authorizes health care practitioners to provide any method of treatment to such an individual: 1) if there is no evidence that the treatment is a danger to the individual; and 2) if the treatment has not been approved, the individual has been informed that the treatment has not been approved and the food, drug, or device contains a warning to that effect. Requires a practitioner, after administering such treatment and discovering it to be a danger to an individual, to submit a report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Requires the Secretary to properly disseminate information with respect to the danger of the medical treatment. Requires a practitioner to immediately report to the Office of Alternative Medicine the positive effects of an unconventional medical treatment for a life-threatening medical condition including: 1) the nature of such treatment; 2) the results of such treatment; and 3) the protocol of such treatment.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Health Care Access, Portability, and Renewability Subtitle A: Group Health Plan Rules Subtitle B: Individual Health Plan Rules Subtitle C: COBRA Clarifications Subtitle D: Private Health Plan Purchasing Coalitions Title II: Application and Enforcement of Standards Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions Health Insurance Reform Act of 1995 - Title I: Health Care Access, Portability, and Renewability - Subtitle A: Group Health Plan Rules - Prohibits insurers from declining to provide coverage, and plans from establishing certain types of requirements, based on health status, medical condition, and similar factors. (Sec. 102) Mandates plan renewability, except for nonpayment of premiums, termination of the plan, or other specified reasons. (Sec. 103) Regulates the circumstances in which a plan may impose a benefit limitation or exclusion because of a preexisting condition. Allows State laws that limit preexisting conditions to shorter periods than the provisions of this paragraph. (Sec. 104) Mandates special enrollment periods for individuals who have certain types of changes in family composition or employment status. (Sec. 105) Regulates disclosures an insurer must make to a small employer (as defined in State law, or employers with not more than 50 employees if not defined in State law). Subtitle B: Individual Health Plan Rules - Prohibits an insurer from establishing, for an individual in a period of previous qualifying coverage, eligibility, continuation, or enrollment requirements based on health status, medical condition, and similar factors. (Sec. 111) Mandates renewability of coverage for individuals, except for nonpayment of premiums, misrepresentation of material fact, or termination of the plan. (Sec. 112) Requires that State law in effect on, or enacted after, enactment of this Act apply in lieu of the standards above in this subtitle unless the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that the State law is not as effective in providing access. (Sec. 113) Mandates a study and report on ensuring the availability of health insurance to individuals, the need for Federal premium variation standards, and the effectiveness of this Act and State laws in stabilizing the small group health insurance market by providing for the broad pooling of risk. Subtitle C: COBRA Clarifications - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to modify continuation coverage requirements. Subtitle D: Private Health Plan Purchasing Coalitions - Requires a State to certify health plan purchasing coalitions (HPPCs) meeting the requirements of this paragraph. Provides for Federal certification if a State fails to do so. Regulates HPPC organization, duties, and activities. Preempts, for a HPPC meeting these requirements, State fictitious group laws, State rating requirement laws (subject to exception), and other State laws in direct conflict. Applies to HPPCs the requirements of ERISA provisions relating to fiduciary responsibility and administration and enforcement. Title II: Application and Enforcement of Standards - Deems a requirement or standard under this Act imposed on: (1) a plan to be imposed on the insurer; and (2) a self-insured plan to be imposed on the plan sponsor. (Sec. 202) Requires each State to mandate that each plan in the State meet the standards under this Act pursuant to an enforcement plan filed by the State with the Secretary of Labor. Directs the Secretary, for self-insured health plans, to enforce the standards under this Act. Subjects failing plans to civil enforcement under specified ERISA provisions. Provides for Federal enforcement if a State fails to do so. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow a health maintenance organization, if notified by a member that a medical savings account has been established for the member and if the member requests, to reduce the basic health services payment by requiring the payment of a deductible for basic health services. Declares that it is the sense of the Senate that the Congress should take steps to further the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1995
Common Trust Fund Improvement Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the nonrecognition of gain or loss for the transfer of common trust fund assets to regulated investment companies in exchange for stock when the stock is distributed to participants of the common trust fund in exchange for their interest in such fund.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1995
Whirling Disease Response Act of 1995 - Requires the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to submit preliminary and final reports to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives concerning whirling fish disease and other fish parasites and pathogens. Directs the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to make funds available to: (1) the Fish Technology Center in Bozeman, Montana; and (2) State, local, and private entities for cooperative studies of whirling disease at such center. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1995
Public Buildings Reform Act of 1995 - Amends the Public Buildings Act of 1959 to direct the Administrator of General Services to consider the impact of the selection of a particular site on the cost and space efficiency of the project. Repeals provisions requiring the Administrator to submit to the Congress a prospectus on each proposed public building acquisition, lease, or alteration exceeding specified amounts. Requires the Administrator, not later than 15 days after the President submits the U.S. budget to the Congress, to submit a biennial public buildings plan that includes: (1) a strategic capital asset management plan for accommodating the public building needs of the Federal Government; (2) a prioritized list of each construction, alteration, purchase, or acquisition project, of each lease or lease renewal, and of each planned repair or alteration project requested for the first year of the biennial plan or expected to be requested for the second year; (3) an explanation of the basis for each order of priority specified; (4) the estimated annual and total cost of each project requested in the biennial plan; (5) a list of each public building planned to be vacated in whole or in part, to be exchanged for other property, or to be disposed of during the period covered by the biennial plan; and (6) requests for authorizations of appropriations necessary to carry out the projects listed in the biennial plan for the first year. Requires the information regarding a project to be presented in the form of a prospectus with respect to a project for which the Administrator has requested an authorization of appropriations for the first year and in the form of a project description with respect to a project for which the Administrator expects to request an authorization of appropriations for the second year. Considers each reference to cost, price, or any other dollar amount contained in a project description to be a good faith estimate by the Administrator. Permits the Administrator to include a project that was not approved in a biennial plan in a subsequent plan. Prohibits the Administrator from obligating funds that are made available for any project for which approval is required unless the project was included in the biennial plan for the fiscal year and the prospectus for the project was submitted to the Congress. Allows the Administrator to submit a written request for emergency authority to construct, alter, purchase, or acquire a public building or to lease office or storage space to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives if the authority cannot be obtained in a timely manner through the biennial planning process. Requires the Administrator to develop standard cost benchmarks for projects for the construction of courthouses and other public buildings consisting solely of general office space. Requires the Administrator to use the results of the continuing investigation and survey to establish a central repository for the asset management information of the Federal Government. Calls on each Federal agency to identify public buildings that are or will become unneeded, obsolete, or underutilized during the five-year period beginning on the date of identification. Gives the Administrator the task of finding more cost-effective uses for, or selling, the public buildings that the Federal agency identified. Prohibits the Administrator, for 270 days after the enactment of this Act, from expending funds on any project relating to the construction, purchase, or acquisition of a public building with respect to which no funds have previously been expended. Requires the Administrator to develop design guides and standards for Federal court accommodations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1995
Regulatory Procedures Reform Act of 1995 - Amends Federal Government operations law on regulatory function analysis, among other things, to revise judicial review provisions. Defines "major rule" as a rule or group of closely related rules not expressly excluded from coverage under this Act that the proposing agency, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), or presidential designee determines is likely to affect the economy each year, directly or indirectly, in a specified manner. Requires Federal agencies: (1) before publishing rulemaking notices, to determine whether or not the rule in question is a major rule (giving the OMB Director or presidential designee as appropriate the authority to make certain redeterminations); and (2) when publishing a rulemaking notice for a major rule, issue an initial cost-benefit analysis, and, later, when the final major rule is published, a final analysis, with specified contents, along with an appropriate summary for each analysis. Requires initial analysis to contain risk assessments prepared by covered agency heads based on the best available scientific information in accordance with adopted guidelines incorporating specified requirements, including those for peer review panels, if a major rule addresses health, safety, or environmental risks as well as benefit assessments of risk reductions associated with regulatory alternatives. Prescribes executive oversight authority and requirements. Amends Federal Government operations law to add provisions governing congressional review of agency rulemaking, requiring promulgated final major rules to be submitted to the Congress for review in accordance with specified procedures before they take effect. Requires certain risk assessment and other specified studies by the Administrative Conference of the United States for a report to the Congress. Outlines provisions for: (1) encouraging covered Federal agencies engaged in regulating health, safety, and environmental risks to achieve the greatest overall net risk reduction at the least cost practical through appropriate priorities included in the agency's budget and planning; (2) promoting coordination risk reduction policies and programs and open communication between Federal entities and the public regarding risk prevention and management; and (3) comparative risk analysis and a certain methodological study provided for by OMB. Limits judicial review under this paragraph. Details provisions requiring certain biennial accounting statements from the President to the Congress, along with an associated report with appropriate program recommendations, estimating annual regulatory costs and corresponding benefits in accordance with specified guidelines, with appropriate recommendations for improvements from the Congressional Budget Office to the President after such statements and reports have been submitted to the Congress. Requires guidance from OMB for standardized agency cost-benefit measures and statement format. States that regulatory accounting requirements shall not be subject to judicial review.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1995
Women's Choice and Reproductive Health Protection Act of 1995 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) current provisions of law requiring funding for abortion services in cases of life endangerment, and for victims of rape or incest, to women eligible for medical assistance through the Medicaid program are essential to their health; (2) Federal resources are necessary to ensure that women have safe access to reproductive health facilities and that health professionals can deliver services in a secure environment free from threats of force; (3) it is necessary and appropriate to use Federal resources to combat the nationwide campaign of violence and harassment against reproductive health centers; (4) the program of grants under title XV of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) should receive a level of funding that is adequate for all States to receive grants under such title; (5) the program of research centers under the PHSA should receive a level of funding that is adequate for a reasonable number of individuals to conduct research under the program; and (6) the program of loan-repayment contracts under the PHSA should receive a level of funding that is adequate for a reasonable number of individuals to conduct research under the program. Amends the PHSA to authorize appropriations for FY 1996 through 2000 for population research and family planning programs. Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit any government authority from limiting the right of any individual to provide or receive nonfraudulent information about the availability of reproductive health care services, including family planning, prenatal care, adoption, and abortion services. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) assure that the Food and Drug Administration evaluates the drug Mifepristone or RU 486; and (2) assess initiatives by which the Department of Health and Human Services can promote the testing, licensing, and manufacturing of the drug Mifepristone or other antiprogestins in the United States. Prohibits Federal law from being construed to prohibit health insurance providers from offering coverage for any reproductive health care services, including abortion services. Amends Federal law to provide that the performance of an abortion in a facility of the uniformed services located outside the 48 contiguous States of the United States is not prohibited provided specific requirements are met.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Amendments to the Securities Laws Title II: Clarification of Antitrust Laws Charitable Giving Protection Act of 1995 - Title I: Amendments to the Securities Laws - Exempts from the jurisdiction of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 any security issued by or any interest or participation in any pooled income fund, collective trust fund, collective investment fund, or similar fund deemed not to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (charitable gift annuities). Preempts State law to extend the charitable gift annuities exemption from its jurisdiction over: (1) securities registration or qualification requirements; and (2) any charitable organization regulation. Permits a State to enact a statute that specifically refers to this Act and provides prospectively that it does not preempt its laws. Title II: Clarification of Antitrust Laws - Exempts charitable gift annuities from application of the antitrust laws.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1995
Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1995 - Requires a health plan to provide maternity benefits for a minimum hospital stay for a mother and her newborn following the birth of the child. Provides an exception for home births. Prohibits a health plan from modifying the terms and conditions of coverage if the enrollee requests less than minimum coverage. Requires a health plan to provide written notice, prominently positioned in any literature or correspondence, to each enrollee regarding the coverage required by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1995
Rural Health Improvement Act of 1995 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to replace the essential access community hospital (EACH) program with grants to States for Medicare rural hospital flexibility programs for the purpose of: (1) ensuring rural community access to health care services through designated critical access hospitals limiting the scope of available inpatient acute care services; (2) providing more appropriate and flexible staffing and licensure standards; (3) enhancing hospital financial security by requiring Medicare reimbursement on a reasonable cost basis; and (4) promoting linkages between such hospitals and broader programs for development and transition to integrated provider networks. Specifies requirements of such a program. Continues payments to designated EACHs. Authorizes appropriations. Makes various specified amendments under Medicare parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) related to rural primary care and critical access hospitals. Creates within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) an Assistant Secretary for Rural Health to: (1) head an independent Office of Rural Health Policy; and (2) report directly to the HHS Secretary on the implications of national health care reforms for rural areas. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) use of telemedicine services can increase rural resident access to specialized health services; and (2) although such services are furnished to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, service providers are not reimbursed for them under Medicare. Makes it the purpose of this Act to improve rural Medicare beneficiary access to such services by requiring Medicare reimbursement for them pursuant to a methodology developed by the HHS Secretary and submitted to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1995
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act of 1995 - Divides the current U. S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit into the following two circuits: (1) the Ninth Circuit composed of the States of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, consisting of 19 judges, and holding regular sessions in San Francisco and Los Angeles; and (2) the Twelfth Circuit which contains Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, consisting of seven judges, and holding regular sessions in Portland and Seattle.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1995
Amends the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 to establish a National Forest System ski area permit fee formula. Withdraws ski areas from the operation of mining and mineral leasing laws.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1995
American Farm and Ranch Protection Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross estate, if elected by the executor, the value of land subject to a qualified conservation easement, except for any debt-financed portion. Provides for the treatment of any retained development right. Adds references to such property to provisions controlling the basis of property acquired from a decedent. Prohibits treating the transfer by gift of land subject to a qualified conservation easement as a transfer of property by gift for purposes of provisions relating to gift taxes. Amends provisions relating to the valuation of certain farm and other real property to prohibit a qualified conservation contribution (as defined in provisions relating to charitable contributions) from being deemed a disposition unless it is subject to a conservation easement. Declares that, if property is otherwise qualified real property, being subject to a conservation easement does not disqualify it. Allows a contribution to be treated as exclusively for conservation purposes if the surface estate and mineral interests have been and remain separated (currently, if the surface estate and mineral interests were separated before June 13, 1976, and remain separated) and if the probability of surface mining is so remote as to be negligible.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1995
Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to convey specified property that has served as a support complex and recreational facilities for the radar bomb scoring site in Forsyth, Montana, to that city for housing and recreation purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1995
Church Retirement Benefits Simplification Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to recodify and revise qualifications for church retirement and pension plans. Makes employee contributions to such plans nonforfeitable. Requires the plan to meet minimum vesting requirements. Recodifies the authority of a church or a convention or association of churches to be treated as an employer making contributions to retirement income accounts. Subjects church-related hospitals and universities to certain coverage and related rules in the case of a contract purchased by a church. Requires distributions from retirement income accounts provided by churches to be in accordance with distributions under cash or deferred arrangements. Provides for determining the beginning date for such distributions. Allows self-employed ministers and chaplains who work for non-church employers to participate in their church plans. Provides that certain rules aggregating employees do not apply to churches. Restores qualified voluntary employee contributions to church plans. Treats self-employed ministers as employees for purposes of certain welfare benefit plans and retirement income accounts. Allows a deduction for contributions to retirement income accounts by such ministers. Provides that a church plan maintained by more than one employer shall not be treated as a single plan. Provides that accounting methods of deferred compensation plans of State and local governments and tax-exempt organizations do not apply to a church plan. Exempts a church plan from the requirement to maintain separate accounts for medical benefits for key employees. Provides that the special rules for computing employee contributions to pension plans do not apply to certain foreign missionaries. Repeals the elective deferral catch-up limitation for church retirement income accounts. Allows church plans to annuitize benefits and increase benefit payments. Provides that rules for self-insured medical reimbursement plans are not applicable to church plans. Provides that retirement benefits of ministers are not subject to the tax on net earnings from self-employment.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1995
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act of 1995 - Divides the current U. S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit into the following two circuits: (1) the Ninth Circuit composed of the States of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, consisting of 19 judges, and holding regular sessions in San Francisco and Los Angeles; and (2) the Twelfth Circuit which contains Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, consisting of seven judges, and holding regular sessions in Portland and Seattle.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Management of Grazing on Federal Land Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Qualifications and Grazing Preferences Subtitle C: Grazing Management Subtitle D: Authorization of Grazing Use Subtitle E: Civil Violations and Failures of Compliance Subtitle F: Unauthorized Grazing Use Subtitle G: Procedure Subtitle H: Advisory Committees Subtitle I: Reports Title II: Grassland Livestock Grazing Act - Title I: Management of Grazing on Federal Land - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Sets forth findings, objectives, and definitions. States that land use plans shall manage livestock grazing under the principle of multiple use and sustained yield. Subtitle B: Qualifications and Grazing Preferences - Sets forth: (1) mandatory qualifications for grazing use on Federal land; (2) grazing preferences (base property and specifying grazing preference); and (3) allocations resulting from changes in Federal land acreage. Subtitle C: Grazing Management - Requires the creation of allotment management plans and sets forth required plan contents. (Sec. 122) Authorizes Secretary of the Interior-lessees range improvement cooperative agreements. (Sec. 123) States that no water rights shall be acquired or transferred in connection with livestock grazing management unless authorized by State law. Subtitle D: Authorization of Grazing Use - Requires grazing applications to be filed at local Bureau of Land Management offices. Specifies permit and lease terms and conditions. (Sec. 135) Sets forth livestock ownership and identification provisions. (Sec. 137) Establishes a grazing fee based upon the gross value of livestock production. Subtitle E: Civil Violations and Failures of Compliance - Sets forth civil sanctions for specified acts of noncompliance. Subtitle F: Unauthorized Grazing Use - Specifies damages for unauthorized grazing use, including livestock impoundment and sale. Subtitle G: Procedure - Sets forth specified grazing permit or lease procedures. Subtitle H: Advisory Committees - Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) grazing use advisory committees; and (2) resource advisory councils and grazing advisory councils for each grazing district. Subtitle I: Reports - Directs the Secretary to report annually to the Congress regarding grazing revenues, costs, and rangeland management. Title II: Grassland - Amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 to remove National Grasslands and land utilization projects from National Forest System management. Amends the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act to provide for a program of land conservation and utilization to accomplish livestock grazing purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1995
James Madison Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue commemorative one-dollar silver coins emblematic of the 250th anniversary of the birth of James Madison and the life and achievements of the fourth President of the United States. Requires the Secretary to turn over proceeds from surcharges to the National Trust for Historic Preservation to be used to: (1) establish an endowment as a permanent source for Montpelier (home of James Madison and a museum); and (2) fund capital restoration projects at Montpelier.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1995
Semiconductor Investment Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the depreciable life of semiconductor manufacturing equipment three years for purposes of application of the accelerated cost recovery system.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1995
Animal Drug Availability Act of 1995 - Amends Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act provisions relating to new animal drugs to redefine "substantial evidence" to mean evidence from one or more scientifically sound studies including, as appropriate, in vitro studies, studies in laboratory animals, bioequivalence studies, tissue residue studies, and any studies voluntarily undertaken by or for the applicant that provide some assurance that the drug will have the intended effect. Excludes a claim for the use of a drug in a minor species or a minor use of a drug from disapproval, if there is an application filed for the drug which is approved prior to the submission of the claim. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider the following issues when a new animal drug contains more than one active ingredient, or the labeling of the drug suggests use of the drug in combination with another animal drug: (1) whether any active ingredient or any combination of drugs alters the safe concentration of another of the active ingredients or drugs in the combination; (2) whether each of the active ingredients or drugs in the combination have been shown to contribute to the same intended effect; and (3) whether each of the active ingredients or drugs in the combination has an identified target population for which dosing with the active ingredients or combination represents appropriate concurrent therapy. Requires the Secretary to issue proposed regulations implementing the provisions of this section which: (1) further define "substantial evidence"; (2) take into account the proposals contained in the citizen petition submitted by the American Veterinary Association and the Animal Health Institute; (3) provide for a conference to make a decision establishing a submission or an investigational requirement; and (4) define the kinds of evidence an applicant may use to establish the contribution of each active ingredient and to establish the appropriateness of concurrent therapy in a new animal drug, or new animal drug used in combination with another drug. (Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to approve or disapprove the application within 90 (currently 180) days of receipt of the application. (Sec. 5) Requires: (1) the Secretary to refer disputed issues received in writing from an applicant to an advisory committee or to a special Government employee; and (2) the committee or employee to submit a report containing recommendations regarding the matter. (Sec. 6) Requires the Secretary to refuse approval of an application if information submitted with respect to the drug indicates that any use suggested in labeling proposed for that drug will result in a unsafe amount of residue. (Sec. 7) Permits the export of an unsafe (as defined in the Act) new animal drug, if it is not in conflict with the laws of the country to which it is exported. (Currently, such export is prohibited.)
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1995
Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Implementation Act of 1995 - Declares it is U.S. policy that: (1) Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel; and (2) construction of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem should begin no later than December 31, 1996, and officially open no later than May 31, 1999. States that not more than 50 percent of the funds appropriated for FY 1997 and 1999 to the Department of State for "Acquisition and Maintenance of Buildings Abroad" may be obligated in the respective fiscal year until the Secretary of State determines, and reports to the Congress, that (for FY 1997) such construction has begun and that (for FY 1999) the Embassy has opened. Limits the availability of specified amounts of such funds in certain fiscal years until they are expended for: (1) costs associated with relocating the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem; and (2) the costs for its construction. Requires the Secretary of State to report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on: (1) the Department of State's plan to implement this Act; and (2) progress made toward opening the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1995
National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 - Designates the most recent National Highway System (as of the date of this Act's enactment) as submitted by the Secretary of Transportation to be the National Highway System (NHS). Requires each State making a request for a change in the NHS to establish that each change has been identified by the State, in cooperation with local officials, pursuant to applicable transportation planning activities for metropolitan areas and statewide planning processes. Financing Improvement Act of 1995 - Prohibits the Secretary from approving an application for advance construction unless the project is included in the State's transportation improvement program. Revises Federal highway provisions to authorize a State to loan an amount equal to all or part of the Federal share of a toll project or a non-toll project that has a revenue source specifically dedicated to such project to a public entity constructing or proposing to construct a toll facility or non-toll facility with a dedicated revenue source. Modifies provisions regarding State highway departments to repeal a requirement that the organization of such a department include a secondary road unit. Specifies that such provisions do not restrict the eligibility of costs that may be claimed by a State nor limit a State's authority to engage the services of private professional firms. Permits donations of private funds, assets, and publicly owned rights-of-way for Federal-aid projects. Specifies that the State matching share for a project with respect to which Federal assistance is provided may be credited with the amount of the donated funds or the fair market value of publicly owned right-of-way incorporated into the project by the State highway agency. State Infrastructure Bank Financing Improvement Act of 1995 - Authorizes a State to establish a State Infrastructure Bank for making loans and providing other assistance to public or private entities constructing transportation projects, programs, or activities that are eligible to receive assistance under specified Federal provisions. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) deposits; (2) consultation with metropolitan planning organizations; (3) applicability of cash management requirements; (4) matching requirements; (5) investment income; (6) treatment of Federal deposits; (7) loans and other assistance; (8) administrative costs; (9) annual reports; and (10) conditions of receiving continuing Federal deposits.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1995
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the current Federal income tax deduction for interest paid on debt secured by a first or second home located in the United States should not be further restricted.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1995
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) it regrets that negotiations between the United States and Japan for reductions in trade imbalances in automotive sales and parts, through the elimination of restrictive Japanese market-closing practices, have collapsed; and (2) if negotiations fail to open the Japanese auto parts market, it supports the President's decision to impose sanctions on Japanese products.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Eligible Shareholders of S Corporation Subtitle A: Number of Shareholders Subtitle B: Persons Allowed as Shareholders Subtitle C: Other Provisions Title II: Qualification and Eligibility Requirements for S Corporations Subtitle A: One Class of Stock Subtitle B: Elections and Terminations Subtitle C: Other Provisions Title III: Taxation of S Corporation Shareholders Title IV: Effective Date S Corporation Reform Act of 1995 - Title I: Eligible Shareholders of S Corporation - Subtitle A: Number of Shareholders - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from 35 to 50 the maximum number of shareholders of an S corporation (electing small business corporation). Allows members of a family to be treated as one shareholder. Subtitle B: Persons Allowed as Shareholders - Allows the following entities to be shareholders of S corporations: (1) certain tax-exempt organizations; (2) financial institutions that do not use the reserve method of accounting for bad debts; (3) nonresident aliens; and (4) certain small business trusts. Subtitle C: Other Provisions - Extends the post-death qualification for certain trusts to be permitted as shareholders from 60 days to two years. Title II: Qualification and Eligibility Requirements for S Corporations - Subtitle A: One Class of Stock - Allows an S corporation to issue qualified preferred stock. Permits financial institutions to hold safe harbor debt. Subtitle B: Elections and Terminations - Revises the rules on inadvertent terminations by certain trusts of the election to be an S corporation. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to treat certain late elections as timely and to provide an automatic waiver procedure for certain inadvertent terminations. Expands the post-termination transition period until 120 days after a determination is made that the election had terminated in a prior year. Repeals the characterization of excessive passive investment income as a termination event. Increases the tax imposed on such excessive income. Subtitle C: Other Provisions - Permits an S corporation to wholly own the stock of a subsidiary. Provides for the treatment of distributions during loss years. Provides a consent dividend for S corporation elections to by-pass amounts in the accumulated adjustments account when making distributions. Eliminates the rule treating an S corporation as an individual in its capacity as shareholder of another corporation for purposes of subchapter C. Eliminates the pre-1983 earnings and profits accumulated by a corporation that was an S corporation for any taxable year beginning before January 1, 1983, and is so characterized for its first taxable year after December 31, 1995. Allows S corporations to make charitable contributions of inventory and scientific property. Repeals the requirement that partnership rules apply for fringe benefit purposes (making C corporation rules applicable). Provides for the application to two-percent shareholders of S corporations of the rules regarding deduction of health insurance costs of self-employed individuals. Title III: Taxation of S Corporation Shareholders - Applies the exemption from the excise tax on pension plan prohibited transactions to plans providing benefits for S corporation shareholder-employees (as defined before the effective date of the Subchapter S Revision Act of 1982). Treats losses on liquidations of S corporations as ordinary to the extent the loss created by ordinary income pass-through triggered the liquidation. Title IV: Effective Date - Makes this Act effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1995.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1995
Medicare Commission Act of 1995 - Establishes the National Commission on the Long-Term Solvency of the Medicare Program to provide analyses of and recommendations with respect to the current and long-term financial condition of the Medicare trust funds for a report to the President, the Congress, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1995
Authorizes contributions toward cooperative work in forest investigations or protection, management, and improvement of the National Forest System to be covered into a special Treasury fund and paid for such purposes and for refunds of amounts paid in excess of a contributor's share of the cost. Authorizes payment for such purposes to be made from any Forest Service appropriation that is available for similar work if a written agreement so provides and reimbursement will be provided by a cooperator in the same fiscal year as the expenditure by the Service. Requires a reimbursement received from a cooperator that covers his or her proportionate share of the cost of the work to be deposited to the credit of the Service's appropriation from which the payment was initially made or, if the appropriation is no longer available, to the credit of the Service's appropriation that is available for similar work. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish: (1) criteria to determine whether the acceptance of contributions under this Act would adversely affect the ability of a Department of Agriculture officer or employee to carry out his or her duty or program in a fair and objective manner; and (2) written rules that protect the Service's interests in cooperative work agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1995
Trust Fund Restoration Act of 1995 - 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: (1) included in the totals of either the President's budget or in the congressional budget; (2) considered as any category of discretionary appropriations as defined under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) or subject to discretionary spending limits under such Act; (3) subject to sequestration under such Act; and (4) exempt from any general budget limitation imposed by statute on expenditures and net lending (budget outlays). Makes any such disbursements subject to appropriations. Directs, with respect to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, that estimates of unfunded aviation authorizations and net aviation receipts be made annually and that adjustments be made if unfunded authorizations exceed receipts. Sets forth similar provisions for both the Inland Waterways Trust Fund and the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1995
Withdraws all federally-owned lands within the Badger-Two Medicine Area in Montana from all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the mining and public land laws and from disposal under geothermal and mineral leasing laws. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to manage the Area to protect its currently existing wilderness qualities. Allows the Blackfeet Tribe to gather timber within the Area in exercise of valid treaty rights. Prohibits any surface disturbance from being permitted with respect to oil and gas leases on Federal lands within the Area until Congress determines otherwise. Extends the term of any oil and gas lease, subject to the limitations imposed by this Act, for a period of time equal to the terms that such limitation remains in effect. Requires the Secretary to review this Area in accordance with the Wilderness Act of 1964 and report to the Congress and to give special consideration to the religious, wilderness, and wildlife uses of the Area taking into account any U.S. treaties entered into with the Blackfeet Nation. Requires the Secretary to establish a process to provide information to the Tribe and interested public about options for future designation of the Area.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1995
Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to deny a member of the armed forces sentenced by a court-martial to confinement and a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge or dismissal entitlement to military pay and allowances for any period after such sentence. Restores such entitlement if the sentence is disapproved or set aside. Authorizes the Secretary of the executive department concerned to pay transitional compensation to any spouse, dependent child, or former spouse of a member during any period in which the member's entitlement to pay and allowances is terminated under this Act. Allows such Secretary to pay emergency transitional assistance to a person for up to 45 days while the person's application for transitional compensation is pending approval.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1995
Provides that any political subdivision of the State of Montana which accepts the terms and conditions for a license for the Flint Creek hydroelectric project in Granite and Deer Lodge Counties shall not be required to pay, for the five-year period following its acceptance of the license, annual charges for the use of Federal lands lying within the boundaries of the project. Requires such subdivision to pay an annual Federal charge of no more than $20,000 per year after the five-year period for the use of those lands as long as it holds such license.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Interstate Waste Title II: Flow Control Interstate Transportation of Municipal Solid Waste Act of 1995 - Title I: Interstate Waste - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize State Governors, if requested by an affected local government, to prohibit the disposal of out-of-State municipal solid waste in landfills or incinerators subject to their jurisdiction. Permits Governors to limit the quantity of out-of-State waste received at landfills and incinerators excepted from such prohibition to an annual amount equal to or greater than the quantity received during 1993. Authorizes Governors to prohibit or limit the disposal of such waste at landfills or incinerators covered by such exception that is generated by any State determined to have exported more than the following amounts of waste to landfills or incinerators not covered by host community agreements: (1) 3.5 million tons in 1996; (2) 3 million tons in 1997 and 1998; (3) 2.5 million tons in 1999 and 2000; (4) 1.5 million tons in 2001 and 2002; and (5) 1 million tons in 2003 and thereafter. Prohibits Governors from exercising authorities under this Act: (1) if such action would result in the violation of a host community agreement or a permit issued from the State to receive out-of-State municipal solid waste; or (2) except as otherwise provided, in a manner that would require landfills or incinerators covered by the exception to reduce the amount of out-of-State municipal solid waste received from any State to an annual quantity less than that received during 1993. Makes the authority to prohibit the disposal of out-of-State municipal solid waste inapplicable to landfills and incinerators that: (1) received documented shipments of such waste during 1993; (2) in the case of landfills, are in compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations relating to operation, design and location, leachate collection, groundwater monitoring, and financial assurance for closure and corrective action; or (3) in the case of incinerators, are in compliance with applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act and State laws and regulations relating to facility design and operations. Permits disposal of such waste at facilities that are not in compliance with applicable Federal and State laws and regulations unless disposal of waste that is generated within the State is also prohibited. Lists conditions under which host community agreements are prohibited. Authorizes States that imposed a special fee on the processing or disposal of out-of-State municipal waste on or before April 3, 1994, to continue to impose cost recovery surcharges for such activities subject to certain conditions. Title II: Flow Control - Municipal Solid Waste Flow Control Act of 1995 - Authorizes States and political subdivisions to exercise flow control authority for municipal solid waste and for recyclable materials voluntarily relinquished by the owner or generator that are generated in their jurisdictions by directing such waste and materials to waste management facilities or recyclables facilities if such authority: (1) is imposed pursuant to a law, regulation, or other legally binding provision in effect on May 15, 1994; and (2) has been implemented by designating before such date the particular waste facilities in operation as of such date to which the waste or recyclable materials must be delivered. Limits such authority to categories of waste to which flow control authority requiring a movement to a facility was actually applied on or before May 15, 1994, or to the specific categories for which a State or political subdivision, prior to such date, had committed to the designation of a facility. Authorizes a political subdivision to exercise such authority notwithstanding the requirement that facilities are designated before such date if the subdivision has taken specified actions, prior to such date, to commit to the designation of a facility to be constructed. Permits States or political subdivisions, on the request of a municipal solid waste generator, to authorize the diversion of waste generated by such generator to an alternative solid waste facility where such diversion would provide a higher level of health and environmental protection or reduce potential liability of the generator under Federal or State law. Permits the exercise of flow control authority only if the State or political subdivision certifies that revenues derived from such authority will be used solely for solid waste management services. Considers laws, regulations, or acts of States or political subdivisions that implement flow control authority to be a reasonable regulation of commerce.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1995
State and Local Volunteer Preservation Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to suspend overtime compensation requirements when State or local government employees volunteer their services to their public agency employer and sign a legally binding waiver of such compensation or of compensatory time.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1995
Missouri River Water Control Equity Act - Prohibits the Secretary of the Army from allowing the permanent pool levels in the following areas to fall below the specified level, unless the Secretary finds that a lower level is required to provide necessary emergency flood control, hydropower, or water supply: (1) for the Missouri River system, 44 million acre-feet; and (2) for Fort Peck Lake, 12 million acre-feet. Directs the Secretary to decrease the navigation season for the Missouri River by 30 days annually until it is eliminated. Directs the Secretary to develop and implement a plan to mitigate streambank and reservoir erosion caused by the operation of the Missouri River system. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1995
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) obstetrician-gynecologists should be included as primary care providers for women in Federal laws relating to the provision of health care; and (2) legislative proposals that define primary care should include primary care services performed by obstetrician-gynecologists in such definition.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1995
Fish and Wildlife Expenditure Recovery Act of 1995 - Prohibits the amount of fish and wildlife costs (costs) that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) may incur during a fiscal year from exceeding 20 percent of the gross annual power revenues, exclusive of gross residential exchange revenues, that the BPA Administrator accrues in that fiscal year. Makes nonreimbursable from BPA power revenues any costs incurred in a fiscal year in excess of such amount. Prohibits such costs from being allocated to or otherwise recovered through BPA power transmission rates.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1995
Expresses the sense of the Senate with respect to the effects of additional interest rate increases on the economy, homeowners, and the housing industry.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995
State and Local Government Interstate Waste Control Act of 1995 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to prohibit a landfill or incinerator, effective January 1, 1996, from receiving out-of-State municipal solid waste for disposal or incineration unless the owner or operator of the landfill or incinerator obtains authorization (as part of a host community agreement) from the affected local government. Requires owners or operators to make specified information regarding the facility available prior to seeking such authorization. Authorizes State Governors, unless inconsistent with a host community agreement or permit authorizing the receipt of out-of-State waste, to limit the quantity of out-of-State waste received at landfills and incinerators that received documented shipments of such waste in 1993 (or were authorized to receive pursuant to an agreement or permit entered into prior to this Act's enactment) to an annual amount equal to the quantity received in 1993. Permits State Governors, unless inconsistent with a host community agreement or permit, to prohibit the disposal of such waste at landfills and incinerators that received such waste in 1993 (or were authorized to pursuant to a prior agreement or permit) if the waste is generated in a State determined to have exported more than the following amounts of waste to landfills or incinerators not covered by host community agreements: (1) 3.5 million tons in 1996; (2) 3 million tons in 1997 and 1998; (3) 2.5 million tons in 1999 and 2000; (4) 1.5 million tons in 2001 and 2002; and (5) 1 million tons in 2003 and thereafter. Establishes limitations on waste exports to landfills or incinerators not covered by host community agreements or permits. Exempts from the prohibition on receipt of out-of-State waste, except as otherwise provided, landfills and incinerators that: (1) received documented shipments of such waste during 1993; or (2) prior to this Act's enactment, entered into host community agreements or received permits authorizing the acceptance of such waste. Prohibits landfills or incinerators from receiving out-of-State waste in the absence of a host community agreement if the operating permit or license for the facility was denied or revoked. Permits the receipt of such waste without an authorization from the affected local government if the waste is generated within, and the landfill or incinerator is located within, the same bi-State level A metropolitan statistical area that contains two contiguous major cities located in different States.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1995
National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 - Designates the most recent National Highway System (as of the date of this Act's enactment) as submitted by the Secretary of Transportation to be the National Highway System (NHS). Authorizes the Secretary, at the request of a State, to add a new route segment to the NHS (including a new intermodal connection) or delete a route segment in existence on the date of the request if the total mileage of the NHS, including any route segment or connection proposed to be added, does not exceed 165,000 miles. Requires each State making a request for a change in the NHS to establish that each change has been identified by the State, in cooperation with local officials, pursuant to applicable transportation planning activities for metropolitan areas and statewide planning processes. Authorizes the Secretary to approve such a request upon determining that the change meets the criteria established for, and enhances the national transportation characteristics of, the NHS. Authorizes the obligation of funds for capital and operating costs for traffic monitoring, management, and control facilities and programs (currently, for startup costs for traffic management and control if such costs are limited as specified). Increases the percentage (from 40 to 60) of apportionments that may be transferred from the apportionment under one section to the apportionment under any other if requested by the State highway department and approved by the Secretary as being in the public interest. Revises provisions regarding the Federal share for: (1) highways, bridges, and tunnels to make such share a percentage determined by the State, but not to exceed 80 percent; and (2) bicycle transportation facilities and pedestrian walkways to make such share a sum to be determined according to a specified formula. Authorizes individuals to donate funds, materials, or services in connection with activities eligible for Federal assistance under Federal highway provisions. Directs that, in the case of such an activity with respect to which the Federal Government and the State share in paying the cost, any donated funds or the fair market value of any donated materials or services that are accepted and incorporated into the activity by the State highway agency shall be credited against the State share. Bars any State from being required to: (1) erect any highway sign that establishes any speed limit, distance, or other measurement using the metric system; or (2) modify any highway sign that establishes any such measurement so that the sign uses the metric system. Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to set a time limit for obligation of funds for intelligent vehicle-highway systems projects. Authorizes the Secretary to reallocate such funds if they are not obligated by the specified date.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the corporate income tax exclusion of contributions to the capital of the taxpayer. Includes as a qualifying contribution any amount of money or property received by a regulated public utility which provides water or sewage disposal services that: (1) is a contribution in aid of construction; (2) meets certain expenditure requirements; and (3) is not included in the taxpayer's rate base. Excludes amounts paid as service charges for starting or stopping services. Determines the depreciation deduction for such property by using the straight line method and provides for a 25-year recovery period.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1995
Fish and Wildlife Management Act of 1995 - Makes technical changes to the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. Amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to designate a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restore the business meal expense deduction to 80 percent (currently 50 percent) for individuals subject to the hours of service limitations of the Department of Transportation.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 1995
Conservation Reserve Program Extension Act of 1995 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to: (1) reauthorize the conservation reserve program; and (2) revise contract acceptance criteria.
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