United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1994
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Retirement Savings Incentives Subtitle A: Restoration of IRA Deduction Subtitle B: Nondeductible Tax-Free IRAs Title II: Penalty-Free Distributions Title III: Aid to Families With Dependent Children Savings and Investment Incentive Act of 1994 - Title I: Retirement Savings Incentives - Subtitle A: Restoration of IRA Deduction - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove the limitation on the deductibility of contributions to individual retirement plans (IRAs) by active participants in employer-maintained plans, thereby restoring the IRA deduction. Provides an inflation adjustment after 1995. Allows certain spouses a full deduction for contributions to an IRA. Makes certain coins and bullion ineligible as collectible investments for purposes of distributions from an IRA. Subtitle B: Nondeductible Tax-Free IRAs - Allows individuals to establish individual retirement plus (IRA plus) accounts with tax treatment similar to that for individual retirement plans. Makes contributions to such accounts nondeductible. Title II: Penalty-Free Distributions - Allows distributions from certain retirement plans without penalty to purchase first homes, pay higher education expenses and financially devastating medical expenses, and assist certain unemployed individuals. Title III: Aid to Families with Dependent Children - Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act to exclude from AFDC eligibility determinations certain income and resources that are to be used for education, training, and employability purposes. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to the Congress on a revision of the AFDC limit on automobiles in order to increase the employability of AFDC recipients.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1994
Honors the 14 Federal fire fighters who died on July 6, 1994, for their heroic efforts to contain a fire on Storm King Mountain near Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1994
Amends the Fisherman's Protective Act of 1967 to direct the Secretary of State to reimburse vessel owners for fees paid to a foreign government to navigate in its waters if such a fee is regarded by the United States as being inconsistent with international law. Repeals the statutory formula used to fix the related fees collected by the Secretary of State. Extends the Act's termination date from October 1, 1993, to October 1, 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1994
World War II Peace Accords Commemorative Coin Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the 50th anniversary of the signing of the World War II peace accords on the U.S.S. Missouri should not go unrecognized at the national level; and (2) the United States should recognize such anniversary by minting and issuing a commemorative coin. Sets forth specifications for half dollar clad coins. Mandates that the surcharges received from the sale of such coins be paid by the Secretary of the Treasury to the Admiral Nimitz Foundation for the purpose of preserving the Pacific War heritage of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1994
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Subtitle A: Short title; Table of Contents Subtitle B: Federally Qualified Health Insurance Plan Subtitle C: Certification of Federally Qualified Health Insurance Plans Title II: Paperwork Reduction and Administrative Simplification Title III: Health Care Liability Reform Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Medical Malpractice and Product Liability Reform Subtitle C: Requirements for State Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems (ADR) Title IV: Antitrust Provisions Title V: Anti-Fraud and Abuse Control Program Subtitle A: All-Payer Fraud and Abuse Control Program Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse Subtitle C: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions Subtitle D: Amendments to Criminal Law Title VI: Expanding Access in Rural Areas Title VII: Tax Provisions Title VIII: Revenue Provisions Advancement of Health Care Reform Act of 1994 - Amends COBRA provisions of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to continuation coverage requirements to permit the options of: (1) identical coverage; (2) coverage with an annual $1,000 deductible; and (3) coverage with an annual $3,000 deductible. Permits penalty-free withdrawals from qualified retirement plans for such coverage. Subtitle B: Federally Qualified Health Insurance Plan - Establishes standards for the certification of a health insurance plan as a federally qualified health insurance plan. Requires a federally qualified plan to, among other requirements: (1) cover medically necessary acute care, including, physician services, inpatient, outpatient, and emergency hospital services and appropriate alternatives to hospitalization, and inpatient and outpatient prescription drugs; (2) have specified limits on deductibles and coinsurance payments; (3) vary premium rates only in the basis of age, sex, and geography, except that discounts may be offered to individuals who participate in specified programs which promote healthy behavior, prevent the onset of illness, or provide for the early detection of illness; (4) provide guaranteed issue at standard rates to all applicants and not exclude from coverage, on the basis of a preexisting medical condition, an individual who has been continuously insured for the preceeding year or, in the care of a break in coverage, not exclude an indivdual from coverage for more than one year; and (5) not exclude a policyholder from coverage, except for nonpayment of premiums or fraud or misrepresentation by the policyholder. Subtitle C: Certification of Federally Qualified Health Insurance Plans - Requires each State to establish a regulatory program with specified requirements, including: (1) procedures certifying that the requirements of subtitle B have been met by a health insurance plan applying as a federally qualified health insurance plan; (2) meeting solvency standards; (3) reporting requirements under which carriers report to the Internal Revenue Service regarding the acquisition and termination by individuals of coverage under federally qualified health insurance plans; and (4) requirements for the passback of claims and premiums with respect to an individual who has been continuously treated for a treatment and who moves to a new plan; and requirements concerning market practices, risk adjustment or reinsurance, and nonbinding standards for premiums rating practices and guaranteed renewability of coverage. Title II: Paperwork Reduction and Administrative Simplification - Preempts State quill pen laws. (Sec. 202) Provides for the confidentiality of electronic health care information. (Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to establish national goals for the health care industry concerning the: (1) standardization for the electronic receipt and transmission of health plan information; (2) use of uniform health claims forms and identification numbers; (3) priority of insurers when benefits are payable under two or more health plans; and (4) availability of information among health plans when benefits are payable under two more plans. Requires the Secretary to promulgate requirements if the industry does not meet the goals. Provides for monetary penalties on any health plan that does not meets the Secretary's requirements. Title III: Health Care Liability Reform - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Makes the provisions of this title applicable to any medical malpractice liability claim or action in any Federal or State court, except for a vaccine-related claim or action or to the extent that title XXI of the Public Health Service Act applies. Subtitle B: Medical Malpractice and Product Liability Reform - Requires the initial resolution of a medical malpractice liability action through the alternative dispute resolution process. Limits the total amount of damages that may be awarded for noneconomic losses resulting from a medical malpractice or health care product liability claim to $250,000, unless there is a finding of special circumstances. Prohibits punitive or exemplary damages, unless malicious, wanton, willful, or excessively reckless behavior was involved. Prohibits punitive or exemplary damages against the manufacturer of a medical product. Directs that any punitive or exemplary damages awarded must be paid to the State for use in carrying out quality assurance activities. Provides for the periodic payment of damages exceeding $100,000. Sets forth provisions: (1) limiting attorney's fees; (2) permitting a defendant to be held severally but not jointly liable; (3) setting the statute of limitations; (4) requiring each State to develop a set of specialty clinical practice guidelines which; if used to establish a rebuttable presumption, may only be overcome by the presentation of clear and convincing evidence; (5) which permit a finding of negligence only if the defendants conduct was not reasonable; and (6) making special provision for certain obstetric services. Subtitle C: Requirements for State Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems (ADR) - Establishes the basic requirements for a State's ADR and provides for the certification of such systems. Sets forth reporting requirements concerning the evaluation of such systems. Title IV: Antitrust Provisions - Exempts from the antitrust laws specified "safe harbor" activities related to the provision of health care services. Sets forth provision regarding the award of attorney fees and costs of suit to the prevailing party in an action based on a claim involving activity found to be exempt. (Sec. 402) Lists as safe harbors specified: (1) activities relating to health care services of combinations of health care providers with market share below a specified threshold; (2) activities of medical self-regulatory entities relating to standard setting or enforcement activities not conducted for purposes of financial gain; (3) participation of a health care provider in a written survey of the prices of services, reimbursement levels, or the compensation and benefits of employees and personnel; (4) activities relating to health care joint ventures for high technology and costly equipment and services; (5) activities relating to hospital mergers; (6) joint purchasing arrangements; and (7) negotiations. (Sec. 403) Directs the Attorney General to publish a notice in the Federal Register soliciting proposals for additional safe harbors and to review and report to the Congress on proposed safe harbors. Sets forth criteria in establishing safe harbors, including: (1) the extent to which a competitive or collaborative activity will accomplish an increase in health care access and quality, the establishment of cost efficiencies, and increased ability of health care facilities to provide services in medically underserved areas or to underserved populations; and (2) whether designation as a safe harbor will result in specified desirable outcomes. (Sec. 404) Directs the Attorney General to issue certificates of review for providers of health care services and to assist persons in applying for such certificates. Sets forth provisions regarding, applications for, revocation of, and review of determinations regarding such certificates. Limits the disclosure of information. (Sec. 405) Sets forth provisions regarding notifications providing for a reduction in certain penalties under the antitrust laws for health care cooperative ventures. (Sec. 406) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) periodically review the safe harbors and certificates of review; and (2) promulgate such rules, regulations, and guidelines as necessary to carry out provisions of this title. (Sec. 408) Establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services an Office of Health Care Competition Policy. Title V: Anti-Fraud And Abuse Control Program - Subtitle A: All-Payer Fraud and Abuse Control Program - Requires the Secretary to establish in the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services a program to control fraud and abuse under the universal health care plan. Establishes the Anti-Fraud and Abuse Trust Fund. (Sec. 502) Amends title XI of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for the application of the penalties for Medicare and Medicaid fraud to all health care programs. (Sec. 503) Requires the Secretary to establish a program through which Medicare-eligible individuals may report instances of suspected fraud under Medicare. Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse - Revises current SSA title XI sanctions for fraud and abuse involving Medicare and State health care programs, providing for: (1) program exclusion for individuals convicted of a felony relating to fraud or the unlawful manufacture or dispensing of a controlled substance; (2) new offenses under civil monetary penalty provisions, such as the offering of inducements to program-eligible individuals; (3) establishment of a minimum period of exclusion for practitioners and persons who fail to meet statutory obligations; (4) intermediate sanctions on eligible health maintenance organizations for program violations; and (5) procedures for imposing such sanctions. Subtitle C: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary to establish a national health care fraud and abuse data collection program for the reporting by each government agency and health care plan of final adverse actions against health care providers, suppliers, and practitioners. Requires program information to be made available to the public for a reasonable fee. (Sec. 522) Amends SSA title XI to require the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register a listing of all final adverse actions taken during the quarter. Subtitle D: Amendments to Criminal Law - Amends the Federal criminal code to set penalties for knowingly executing a scheme or artifice to: (1) defraud any health care plan in connection with the delivery of, or payment for, health care benefits, items, or services (benefits); or (2) obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, money or property owned by, or under the custody or control of, any health care plan or person in connection with the delivery of, or payment for, health care benefits. (Sec. 532) Directs the court, upon a finding that a Federal health care offense is of a type that poses a serious threat to the health of any individual, or has a significant detrimental impact on the health care system, to order a person convicted of that offense to forfeit property that was used in the commission of the offense or that constitutes or was derived from proceeds traceable to the offense that is of a value proportionate to the seriousness of the offense. (Sec. 533) Authorizes the Attorney General to commence a civil action in Federal court to enjoin a violation constituting a Federal health care offense. (Sec. 534) Makes commission of a Federal health care offense a predicate to a violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute. Subtitle E: Amendments to Civil False Claims Act - Makes provisions of the Civil False Claims Act applicable to the use of false records or statements made to a health care plan. Includes within the definition of "claim" for purposes of such Act any request or demand for money or property which is made or presented to a health care plan. Title VI: Expanding Access In Rural Areas - Rural Health Innovation Demonstration Act of 1993 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize competitive grants: (1) to develop networks among rural and urban health care providers to preserve and share health care resources and enhance the quality and availability of health care in rural areas; (2) to develop and administer cooperatives in rural areas that will establish an effective case management and reimbursement system designed to support the economic viability of essential public or private health services, facilities, health care systems, and health care resources; and (3) to develop and implement a plan for mental health outreach programs in rural areas. (Sec. 605) Authorizes grants to enable rural communities to provide stipends to encourage health professional trainees to practice in such areas. Reauthorizes area health education center programs. Title VII: Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a business expense deduction for an employer's expenses for a group health plan or contributions to an employee's medical savings account, unless the plan is a federally qualified health plan. Extends permanently and increases to 100 percent the health insurance tax deduction for self-employed individuals. Title VIII: Revenue Provisions - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to FY 1995 through 1998, to provide for a discretionary spending limit reduction of four-tenths of one percent in the discretionary category of the amounts set forth in H. Con. Res. 64.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1994
Designates September 16, 1994, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Requires the display of the National League of Families POW/MIA flag at: (1) all national cemeteries and the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial on May 30, 1994 (Memorial Day), September 16, 1994 (National POW/MIA Recognition Day), and November 11, 1994 (Veterans Day); and (2) the White House, the Capitol Building, and the buildings containing the primary offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Selective Service System on September 16, 1994 (National POW/MIA Recognition Day).
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1994
Establishes the Special Subcommittee on Certain Allegations Concerning Whitewater Development Corporation, Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan Association, and Capital Management Services, Inc., and Related Issues within the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Declares that the purpose of such Subcommittee shall be to conduct an investigation into, and study matters related to: (1) Whitewater, Madison, Capital Management, the Arkansas Development Finance Authority, and Value Partners I; (2) the conduct and policies of specified Federal executive and regulatory agencies; and (3) the circumstances surrounding Hillary Rodham Clinton's commodities-futures trading activities. Requires the Subcommittee to report its findings to the Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1994
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Work Requirements for Welfare Recipients Title II: Promotion of Marriage and Social Responsibility Subtitle A: Welfare Benefits Subtitle B: Grants for Assistance to Children Born Out-of-Wedlock Subtitle C: Tax Credit for Certain Low-Income Families Subtitle D: Expansion of Abstinence Education Title III: Child Support Enforcement Title IV: Specific Reforms in Welfare Spending Title V: State Options and Miscellaneous Provisions Title VI: Capping the Aggregate Growth of Welfare Spending Welfare Reform Act of 1994 - Title I: Work Requirements for Welfare Recipients - Amends Part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require each State, as a condition of participation in the AFDC program, to establish a workfare and dependency reduction program meeting specified requirements. (Sec. 101) Sets forth program participation requirements for parents in the AFDC unemployed parent program and certain noncustodial parents, including a specified mix of weekly community work service and job search activities or benefits to wages program participation. Specifies participation requirements for each adult AFDC recipient in a single-adult family. Requires States to establish: (1) a community work service program under which a participating individual shall work for a public or nonprofit private sector organization; and (2) a benefits to wages program under which an individual shall work for a qualified private employer whom the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall pay a wage subsidy on behalf of such individual equal to the amount of AFDC allotment and the cash value of food stamp benefits the individual would otherwise receive. Sets forth penalties (including allotment reductions and eligibility denials) for individuals, including noncustodial parents, who fail to meet participation requirements. Prohibits participating organizations or entities from replacing any employed workers with participating AFDC individuals. Specifies payments to States for welfare and dependency reduction programs. Requires State plans to require custodial parents under 19 years old who have not successfully completed a high-school education to participate in an educational activity, either a high-school diploma or equivalency degree program or other training or work activities. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for advance payments of the earned income tax credit to employees in a benefits to wages program. (Sec. 102) Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to deny food stamp eligibility to any able-bodied individual belonging to a household otherwise eligible for food stamps if that individual has not performed at least 32 hours of work on behalf of a State or local government, through a program established by that government, during the preceding month. (Sec. 103) Specifies job search requirements for AFDC applicants and recipients with children over five years old. Title II: Promotion of Marriage and Social Responsibility - Subtitle A: Welfare Benefits - Declares the sense of the Congress that: (1) marriage is the foundation of a successful society; and (2) in view of specified negative consequences of out-of-wedlock birth on the child, the mother, and society, the reduction of such births is an important government interest. (Sec. 201) Amends SSA title IV Part A (AFDC) and the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to require State plans and State food stamp agencies, respectively, with specified exceptions, to deny AFDC payments for a child born to any unmarried individual under 26 (or later age, if the State so determines). Allows such payments if the child is legally adopted or if the child's custodian marries an individual who assumes lawful paternity or permanent legal guardianship and financial responsibility for the child. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to require public housing contracts to provide for denial of housing and rental assistance in the same circumstances. (Sec. 202) Amends SSA title IV Part A (AFDC) and the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to require similar denial of benefits with respect to any additional children born while the custodial parent was receiving assistance. (Sec. 203) Amends SSA title IV Part A (AFDC) to require reductions in AFDC payments to a family where a child has been born for whom paternity has not been established. Provides for such payments, notwithstanding such denial policy, for a child of up to four months old if some identifying information on the putative father is provided. Subtitle B: Grants for Assistance to Children Born Out-Of-Wedlock - Amends SSA title IV Part A (AFDC) to provide for grants to States for programs to discourage out-of-wedlock births and to care for children born out-of-wedlock. Allows the use of such funds to: (1) establish or expand out-of-wedlock pregnancy reduction programs; (2) promote adoption; (3) establish and operate orphanages; and (4) establish and operate closely supervised residential group homes for unwed mothers. (Sec. 211) Prohibits payments to: (1) parents of out-of-wedlock children; or (2) such children if parent and child live in any conventional residential or community setting, including a relative's household or a household headed by the custodial parent. Subtitle C: Tax Credit for Certain Low-Income Families - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an additional earned income tax credit for a married individual who: (1) has lived together with his or her spouse at all times during the marriage during the taxable year; and (2) has earned at least $8,500 in income for such year. Subtitle D: Expansion of Abstinence Education - Directs the HHS Secretary to make grants to States and public and private entities to establish educational programs beginning in the sixth grade or later that emphasize the social, psychological, and health gains to be derived from abstaining from sexual activity while unmarried. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Child Support Enforcement - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a system for the reporting of information relating to child support obligations of employees, including mandatory reporting of such information on W-4 forms. (Sec. 302) Amends SSA title IV Part A (AFDC) to require State agencies to: (1) maintain child support order registries; (2) make all pertinent State records accessible to any agency of any other State through the Interstate Locate Network; (3) give custodial parents access to State parent locator services to aid in establishment and enforcement of child support obligations against noncustodial parents; and (4) give noncustodial parents access to such services to aid in establishment of visitation rights. (Sec. 303) Provides for expansion of the Parent Locator Service. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish an Interstate Locate Network linking the Parent Locator Service and all State databases. Requires regulations governing information sharing among States, within States, and between the States and the Parent Locator Service. (Sec. 304) Amends SSA title IV Part A (AFDC) to require States to have laws requiring employers to withhold child support pursuant to uniform income withholding orders. (Sec. 305) Requires the responsible unit within HHS to develop: (1) a uniform abstract of a child support order containing specified terms for use by all State courts; and (2) procedures providing for voluntary establishment or acknowledgement of paternity. (Sec. 306) Waives the application and genetic testing fees for any individual receiving child support collection or paternity determination services who has been denied AFDC, food stamp, and housing assistance under this Act. Title IV: Specific Reforms in Welfare Spending - Amends the National School Lunch Act to reduce the income eligibility guidelines for reduced price lunches from 185 to 130 percent of the applicable family-size nonfarm income levels. (Sec. 402) Repeals the Mickey Leland Childhood Hunger Relief Act. Applies the Food Stamp Act of 1977 as if the Mickey Leland Childhood Hunger Relief Act had not been enacted. (Sec. 403) Amends the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993 to repeal the mandates and authorities for empowerment zones and enterprise communities. (Sec. 404) Amends SSA title IV Part A (AFDC) to reduce by 25 percent monthly benefits to AFDC families who also receive public housing benefits. (Sec. 405) Repeals the Davis-Bacon Act (which requires Federal contractors and subcontractors to pay prevailing wages). (Sec. 406) Reduces the authorization of appropriations for social services block grants for each fiscal year after FY 1994. (Sec. 407) Limits specified welfare benefits, currently available to aliens, to U.S. citizens only. Declares that it is the policy of the Congress that States and local educational agencies should not be required to provide a free public elementary or secondary education to any individual who is not a U.S. citizen, a lawful resident alien, or an alien permanently residing in the United States under color of law. Requires a State or local educational agency to notify the Attorney General whenever it learns of a public school child who does not belong to any such category. Requires immediate deportation proceedings against such child. (Sec. 408) Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled) to direct the HHS Secretary to issue vouchers in lieu of cash benefits to each eligible child under 18 to cover the cost of certain medical expenses. (Sec. 409) Requires an eligibility review during the year after the 18th birthday of any individual receiving disability benefits. (Sec. 410) Requires a specified reduction of the authorization of appropriations for low-income home energy assistance for any fiscal year. Title V: State Options and Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends SSA title IV Part A (AFDC), the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to allow States the option to: (1) place a time limit on AFDC, food stamp, and housing assistance to any individual; and (2) apply that time limit to any household moving to a State from another State with such a time limit. (Sec. 502) Amends SSA title IV Part A (AFDC) to give a State the option to treat interstate immigrants under the AFDC benefit rules of their former State. (Sec. 503) Directs the Secretary of Labor, in cooperation with the States, to conduct ongoing evaluations of Federal and State job training programs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 504) Amends specified parts of the Social Security Act, the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to require safeguards and information exchange among law enforcement agencies to ensure that fugitive felons and probation and parole violators do not receive Medicaid, AFDC benefits, food stamps, SSI, or housing assistance. Requires public housing agencies to furnish Federal, State or local law enforcement agencies, upon request, the current address of any assistance recipient identified as a fugitive felon or probation or parole violator. Title VI: Capping the Aggregate Growth of Welfare Spending - Specifies FY 1995 through 1996 and subsequent fiscal year caps on Federal spending on certain welfare programs. (Sec. 602) Directs the HHS Secretary to make welfare block grants to the States for aid to low-income households. Prohibits the use of such funds for abortions or for any counseling related to abortion. Sets forth general work, job search, and training requirements for aid recipients, as well as certain participation requirements for States. Denies cash or direct food assistance to young unwed parents as under title II of this Act, or to noncitizens, fugitive felons, or probation or parole violators. (Sec. 603) Terminates funding and State obligations under specified cash, medical, housing, energy, education, jobs and training, social services, and low-income community aid welfare programs as of the end of FY 1994. (Sec. 604) Dedicates to deficit reduction all Federal savings under the spending cap mandated by this title. Requires the adjustment of the present discretionary spending caps for the net increase in discretionary spending that results from the creation of the welfare block grant as a replacement for current welfare entitlement programs. (Sec. 605) Sets forth special rules, upon termination of the AFDC program, with respect to grants for assistance to children born out-of-wedlock. (Sec. 606) Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) with respect to Medicaid eligibility criteria after enactment of this Act. Authorizes States to request a waiver to simplify such criteria. Requires the HHS Secretary to review and approve such requests only if Federal Medicaid expenditures will not be increased as a result.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1994
Public Braodcasting Act of 1994 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to extend through FY 1999 the authorization of appropriations for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1994
Telecommunications Services Enhancement Act of 1994 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit any State or local governmental entity, statute, or regulation from: (1) prohibiting the ability of an entity to provide interstate or intrastate telecommunications services; or (2) unreasonably discriminating among telecommunications carriers. Authorizes a Bell operating company or its affiliate to engage in the provision of interLATA (local access and transport areas) telecommunications services when the barriers to entry for the provision of interstate or intrastate telecommunications services have been removed. Prohibits a cable operator from providing telephone exchange service or telephone exchange access service in the geographic area where it provides video programming so long as the local exchange carrier (LEC) for such area is prohibited from providing video programming directly to its subscribers. Requires the Federal Communications Commission to promulgate regulations ensuring that all providers of competitive telecommunications services are subject to equivalent regulation. Authorizes (current law prohibits) an LEC to: (1) provide video programming to its subscribers either directly or through an affiliate; and (2) provide channels of communication or pole line, conduit space, or other rental arrangements to an entity directly owned, operated, or controlled by the LEC to be used to provide video programming directly to subscribers.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1994
Equitable Communication Site Fee Act of 1994 - Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to direct the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to establish and collect annual fees for the use of radio, television, and commercial mobile radio communications sites located on public lands. Sets forth fee schedules, with required annual fee review by the National Forest Service (Service) and the Bureau of Land Management (Bureau), and provides for annual fee adjustments, with limitations. Requires additional fees for additional site users. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish and collect an annual fee for the use of television translator stations and FM translator stations located on public lands. Directs the: (1) Secretaries to establish an advisory group for each of the television, radio, and commercial mobile radio industries to determine the fair market value for the use of communications sites on public lands; and (2) Chief Forester of the Service and the Bureau Director to jointly establish an advisory committee to determine fair market values and next best alternative uses for private radio communications site users from public and private communications sites. Requires reports from each of the advisory committees.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1994
Stewardship End-Result Contracts Demonstration Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a demonstration program to develop ecosystem-based and end-result oriented management practices on specified National Forest System lands. Authorizes the use of timber revenues to offset program costs. Authorizes and directs the Secretary to disseminate related research and program information.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1994
Welfare Antifraud Act of 1994 - Amends title IV (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of the Social Security Act to require a State agency to establish a two-digit fingerprint matching identification system to prevent multiple enrollments of an individual for benefits. Prescribes implementation guidelines.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1994
Designates the United States courthouse that is scheduled to be constructed in Concord, New Hampshire, as the Warren B. Rudman United States Courthouse.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1994
Amends Federal law (known as the Intergovernmental Personnel Act) to treat the assignment of: (1) a Federal agency employee to another organization (especially a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC)) in the same way as an assignment of a Federal agency employee to a State or local government; and (2) an employee of another organization (especially an FFRDC) in the same way as an assignment of a State or local government employee to a Federal agency.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1994
Private Property Rights Act of 1994 - States that the Congress declares that it is the policy of the Federal Government to use all practicable means and measures to minimize Federal takings of private property. Directs Federal agencies to certify to the Attorney General that a private property taking impact analysis has been completed before initiating any action which could result in a taking or diminution of use or value of private property. Requires that the policies, regulations, and public laws of the United States be interpreted and administered in accordance with the policies under this Act. Specifies the content of such an analysis and requires a copy to be transmitted to the owner of the affected property, as well as made available to the public. Creates a rebuttable presumption that unmodified analyses five years or older are outdated for purposes of any agency action or administrative or judicial proceeding. Sets the statute of limitations for court actions for enforcing this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1994
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Statement of Congressional Purpose Title II: Binding Budget Law Title III: Enforcement Mechanics Title IV: Sustaining Mechanism Title V: Protection of Social Security Title VI: Timetable Title VII: Conforming Amendments Title VIII: Definitions and Rules of Interpretation Title IX: Effective Date Budget Process Reform Act - Title I: Statement of Congressional Purpose - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to facilitate rational, informed, and timely decisions by the Congress in the course of the Federal budget process. (Sec. 102) 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. (Sec. 103) 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 of 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. (Sec. 203) Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit baseline budgeting. (Sec. 204) Requires the President to submit to the Congress on or before the 15th day after a joint resolution on the budget is enacted a detailed budget for the fiscal period beginning on October 1 of the current calendar year. Title III: Enforcement Mechanics - Subtitle A: Supermajority Required to Break Budget Law - Requires a three-fifths majority vote in the House and the Senate to consider any spending bill prior to the enactment of the budget law. (Sec. 302) Requires the Congressional Budget Office to provide to the Congress an estimate of the costs in each major functional category of certain spending bills as soon as practicable after its introduction. Requires a three-fifths affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to consider over-budget spending bills. Requires a three-fifths 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 limit the President's rescission authority to spending that is above the limits of the budget law. 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." Requires fixed-dollar appropriations for every account except social security and interest on the debt. Prohibits open-ended appropriations. Requires Executive agencies to adjust benefit levels to ensure that appropriations for entitlement programs are not exceeded. (Sec. 309) Restricts budget authority and entitlement authority to one fiscal period. Subtitle D: "Pay As You Go" Requirement for New Spending - Prohibits 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 three-fifths affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive such prohibition. 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. 403) Restricts legislation providing funding to the Committees on Appropriations. Title V: Protection of Social Security - 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: Timetable - Revises the timetable for the congressional budget process. Title VII: Conforming Amendments - 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 VIII: Definitions and Rules of Interpretation - Sets forth definitions for specified terms. Title IX: Effective Date - Declares the effective date of this Act to be January 1, 1995, applicable to fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1995.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1994
United States Botanic Garden Commemorative Coin Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) issue one-dollar silver coins for a one-year period to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the founding of the United States Botanic Garden; and (2) distribute all surcharges from the coin sales to the National Fund for the United States Botanic Garden.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1994
Abolishes the Medicare and Medicaid Coverage Data Bank established under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to the Congress on how to achieve the former objectives of such entity in the most cost-effective manner.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1994
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Admission of Immigrants Title II: Admission of Refugees Title III: Asylum Reform Title IV: Criminal Aliens Title V: Financial Responsibility Title VI: Employer Sanctions Title VII: Border Security Title VIII: Alien Smuggling Title IX: Effective Date Immigration Stabilization Act of 1994 - Title I: Admission of Immigrants - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to reduce annual immigration ceilings. (Sec. 103) Revises immigration preference allocations. Title II: Admission of Refugees - Limits nonemergency refugee admissions in any fiscal year to 50,000. (Sec. 202) Requires congressional approval for additional emergency refugee admissions. (Sec. 203) Repeals the Cuban Adjustment Act (P.L. 94-571). Title III: Asylum Reform - Amends provisions with respect to: (1) alien inspection and exclusion by immigration officers; (2) asylum; and (3) judicial review. Title IV: Criminal Aliens - Expands the definition of "aggravated felony." (Sec. 402) Provides for the expedited deportation of certain nonpermanent resident aliens convicted of an aggravated felony. (Sec. 403) Authorizes judicial deportation for an alien convicted of a felony. (Sec. 405) Increases penalties for reentry or failure to depart. (Sec. 406) Authorizes the deportation of an alien prisoner prior to sentence completion under specified circumstances. (Sec. 407) Amends Federal criminal law to require the issuance of a judicial order of deportation in the case of an alien being sentenced for an aggravated felony. (Sec. 408) Authorizes Federal incarceration and deportation of certain State-convicted aliens. (Sec. 409) Amends Federal criminal law to increase penalties for specified visa and passport related crimes. (Sec. 410) Requires State or local law enforcement agencies to notify the district Immigration and Naturalization Service office upon the felony arrest of an alien. (Sec. 412) Authorizes the exclusion of an alien in violation of any immigration law or any Federal or State fraud law, including income tax evasion. Title V: Financial Responsibility - Authorizes the admission of an alien otherwise excludable as a public charge (as defined by this Act) if such alien has a sponsor guarantee of financial responsibility. (Sec. 503) Limits benefits, including unemployment benefits, for illegal aliens. Title VI: Employer Sanctions - Revises employer sanction provisions, including: (1) work eligibility documents; and (2) social security telephone verification. (Sec. 603) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a national electronic network linking State vital statistics records. Title VII: Border Security - Increases Border Patrol personnel levels. Establishes: (1) a border crossing fee; and (2) a Border Control Trust Fund. (Sec. 704) Amends the Act to establish increased penalties or a required pilot program for international carriers that bring in more than specified numbers of undocumented aliens. Title VIII: Alien Smuggling - Directs the Secretary of State to enter into cooperative foreign arrangements to prevent the unlawful entry of aliens into the United States. (Sec. 802) Directs the Secretary of Defense to instruct the Coast Guard with respect to preventing the illegal entry of aliens into the United States by sea. (Sec. 803) Amends Federal criminal law to bring specified alien related activities under the purview of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) provisions. (Sec. 804) Increases alien smuggling penalties. (Sec. 805) Expands forfeiture provisions for smuggling or harboring aliens. (Sec. 806) Amends Federal criminal law to authorize wiretaps for alien smuggling investigations. Title IX: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date for provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1994
Home Office Deduction Act of 1994 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide qualifications for a home office as a principal place of business for purposes of the deductibility of expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1994
Extends the compliance date for certain provisions of the worker protection standard with respect to pesticide safety requirements under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) from April 15, 1994, to January 1, 1995. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) develop and distribute pesticide safety training materials that convey, at a minimum, information set forth in the CFR; and (2) assist the appropriate Federal, State, and tribal agencies in implementing required pesticide safety training programs. Provides that until January 1, 1995, the labeling requirements set forth for pesticides and devices in the CFR that are due to become effective on April 21, 1994, may be enforced only in a State that has established a worker protection program with respect to such pesticides and devices and for purposes of enforcing such a program. Considers State worker protection programs to have met CFR requirements until January 1, 1995, after which time the Administrator shall reassess such programs. Directs pesticide registrants, beginning April 22, 1994, to provide information for point-of-sale notification to inform purchasers of pesticides that the applicable compliance date for labeling is January 1, 1995.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1994
Directs the Administrative Conference of the United States to carry out a study of the Department of Veterans Affairs system for the disposition of claims for veterans' benefits, with a purpose of enhancing the efficiency of the processing and expedient disposition of claims. Requires: (1) Conference consultation with non-Department entities such as veterans service organizations and other veteran representatives; and (2) cooperation by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in providing information required for such study. Requires reports. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1994
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the special rules for gifts or qualified appreciated stock to certain tax-exempt private foundations for purposes of the itemized deduction of charitable contributions. Includes grants to certain foreign organizations as qualified distributions by private foundations for purposes of the tax on failure to distribute income.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1994
Welfare and Medicaid Responsibility Exchange Act of 1994 - Provides for the termination of AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children), JOBS (Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program), WIC (Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children), and food stamp programs after FY 1995, shifting financial responsibility to the States for providing similar assistance to low-income individuals, with such assistance paid for out of a reduction in the State's share of Medicaid funding equivalent to the Federal welfare savings. Federalizes the Medicaid program after FY 2000, relieving States of their administrative or financial responsibility for it.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1994
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to make technical corrections to provisions added by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 in order to allow children and pregnant women to receive Medicaid services from osteopathic physicians and in emergency departments of hospitals.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1994
National Highway System Designation Act of 1994 - Designates the most recent National Highway System 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 an existing route segment 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.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1994
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Alien Smuggling Control Title II: Port of Entry Inspections Title III: Penalties for Document Fraud and Misrepresentation Title IV: Asylum Reform Title V: Illegal Immigration and Border Security Title VI: Border Crossing User Fee Title VII: Detention of Illegal Aliens Title VIII: Public Benefits Abuse Title IX: Work Authorization Verification Title X: Numerical Limitations on Admission of Aliens into the United States Title XI: Miscellaneous Provisions Comprehensive Immigration and Asylum Reform Act of 1994 - Title I: Alien Smuggling Control - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) increase the penalty for alien smuggling; (2) provide an additional penalty for a smuggler who subjects an alien to a substantial risk of death or bodily harm; and (3) subject any smuggler to the death penalty for causing the death of an alien. (Sec. 103) Makes it a crime to smuggle aliens for the purpose of committing crimes in the United States. (Sec. 104) Adds smuggling to RICO. (Sec. 105) Expands Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) seizure authority to permit the seizure of any property used for smuggling or harboring aliens. (Sec. 106) Grants the INS wiretap authority for alien smuggling investigations. (Sec. 111) Expands the definition of aggravated felony for purposes of the immigration laws to include firearms violations, child pornography, RICO violations, and specified other crimes. (Sec. 112) Presumes deportable any alien convicted of an aggravated felony. Provides for the elimination of an administrative hearing for an alien convicted of an aggravated felony who is not lawfully admitted for permanent resident or is a conditional permanent residence. Eliminates other specified deportation procedures for such aliens. (Sec. 113) Permits a U.S. district court to enter a judicial order of deportation at the time of sentencing an alien. (Sec. 114) Restricts certain defenses to deportation available for certain criminal aliens. (Sec. 115) Increases criminal and civil penalties for failing to depart. Title II: Port of Entry Inspections - Makes excludable any alien who presents forged, stolen, altered, or counterfeit documents. Excepts those with a credible fear of persecution or of return to persecution who used such documents. Defines credible fear of persecution or of return to persecution. (Sec. 203) Restricts judicial review to limited habeas corpus proceedings. Title III: Penalties for Document Fraud and Misrepresentation - Increases penalties for fraud and misuse of immigration documents and government issued identification documents. (Sec. 302) Establishes civil and criminal penalties for the preparers of false documents. (Sec. 303) Makes it unlawful to present fraudulent documents before boarding a common carrier or upon arrival. Title IV: Asylum and Reform - Places limits on an asylum applicant's authority to work. (Sec. 403) Grants the Attorney General authority for two years for a program to address the asylum backlog. (Sec. 405) Precludes counting any time in deportation proceedings towards the seven consecutive years defense. Title V: Illegal Immigration and Border Security - Provides for the hiring of 125 additional INS investigators and support staff. Provides additional funding for deportation costs. Title VI: Border Crossing User Fee - Providers for the imposition of fees at ports of entry sufficient to cover the INS's costs of maintaining and operating port of entry facilities. Requires fees to be deposited in the Land Border User Fee Account. Provides for the funding of 100 additional Border Patrol agents and support personnel from the Account. Title VII: Detention of Illegal Aliens - Provides for a two year pilot program of using closed military bases for the detention of illegal aliens. Title VIII: Public Benefits Abuse - Prohibits any unlawful alien from receiving any financial benefits under any Federal program except for specified emergency health care or child nutrition programs. (Sec. 802) Attributes sponsor income to family preference aliens. Title IX: Work Authorization Verification - Provides for the development and implementation of a counterfeit-resistant system to verify work eligibility and Federally-funded public assistance benefits eligibility for all individuals within the United States. Prohibits any document which may be issued under such program from being used as a national identification card. Title X: Numerical Limitations on Admission of Aliens into the United States - Reduces worldwide immigration during FY 1995 through 1999. Limits numerically the number of refugees that may be admitted in any year, unless the Congress enacts an exception. Title XI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Provides for the availability of information for use in criminal prosecutions. Provides for communications between Federal agencies and the INS.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1994
Social Security Disability and Rehabilitation Act of 1994 - Amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require individuals on drugs or alcohol to: (1) undergo, or be scheduled for, appropriate treatment for substance abuse if it is reasonably available; (2) comply with the terms of such treatment; and (3) have a qualified governmental representative payee in order to receive disability benefits under the social security disability insurance (SSDI) and SSI programs. Sets up a monitoring and testing program under each such title for ensuring such compliance, with benefits terminated or suspended in cases of noncompliance, and with all disability benefits related to substance abuse terminated after three years. Requires the proceeds derived from criminal activities to support substance abuse to be considered substantial gainful activity. Revises penalty provisions, with changes providing for the exclusion of SSDI and SSI program defrauders from such programs and other Federal health and social services programs. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) assure that every individual on drugs or alcohol who is receiving SSDI or SSI disability benefits be given high priority for treatment through entities supported by State substance abuse block grants; and (2) provide for the establishment of referral and monitoring agencies for each State for carrying out treatment requirements under this Act.
![Official portrait of Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000858_200.jpg)