United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: All-Payer Fraud and Abuse Control Program Title II: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse Title III: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions Title IV: Civil Monetary Penalties Title V: Amendments to Criminal Law Title VI: Payments For State Health Care Fraud Control Units Health Care Fraud Prevention Act of 1995 - Title I: All-Payer Fraud and Abuse Control Program - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish: (1) an all-payer fraud and abuse control program; and (2) standards, including information standards and disclosure standards, to carry out such program. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes, to carry out such program, the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Account (the Account), which shall consist of gifts, bequests, deposits, and transfers under certain health care offenses provisions of specified Acts. (Sec. 102) Provides for the application to any health plan of specified health anti-fraud and abuse provisions of part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary to annually solicit proposals for modification of, and modify, existing safe harbor rules. Permits any individual, at any time, to request a notice from the Inspector General (IG) which informs the public of practices which the IG considers to be suspect or of particular concern. (Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary to establish a program through which individuals entitled to Medicare benefits may confidentially report instances of suspected fraud. Title II: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse - Amends provisions of titles XI (General Provisions and Peer Review) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide for the mandatory exclusion of individuals with a felony fraud conviction from participation in Medicare and State health care programs; (2) establish a minimum period of exclusion for certain individuals and entities subject to permissive exclusion from Medicare and State health care programs; (3) provide for the permissive exclusion of individuals with ownership or control interest in sanctioned activities; (4) provide for a minimum period of exclusion for practitioners and individuals failing to meet statutory obligations; and (5) intermediate sanctions for Medicare health maintenance organizations. Title III: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary to provide for the establishment of a national health care fraud and abuse data collection program for the reporting of final adverse actions against health care providers, suppliers, or practitioners. Title IV: Civil Monetary Penalties - Provides, under part A of title XI of the Social Security Act, for: (1) the payment of the portion of amounts recovered under provisions of this Act into the Account; and (2) an increase in the civil monetary penalty. Subjects an excluded individual retaining an ownership or controlling interest in a Medicare or State health care program to such penalty. Permits the Secretary to impose a penalty on any individual (including any organization, but excluding a beneficiary) who knowingly receives any kickback or bribe in return for making a referral or purchasing equipment in a Medicare or State health care program. Title V: Amendments to Criminal Law - Amends the Federal criminal code provisions: (1) relating to mail fraud, to impose a fine or imprisonment for up to ten years or both in the case of health care fraud; (2) to provide for the forfeiture of property in certain Federal health care offenses; (3) provide for injunctive relief as specified; (4) provides for fines or imprisonment or both in connection with Federal health care offenses; (5) establish a voluntary disclosure program in connection with Federal health care offenses; and (6) provide penalties for obstructions of criminal investigations of Federal health care offenses, theft or embezzlement in connection with health care, and the laundering of monetary instruments in connection with a Federal health care offense. Title VI: Payments for State Health Care Fraud Control Units - Directs the Governor of each State to establish and maintain a State agency to act as a State Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Unit. Provides for specified Federal payments to the States for such agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1995
Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to: (1) make permanent the Medicare select policy program; and (2) allow access to Medicare select policies in all States. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the Medicare select policy program and provide for a civil penalty for misrepresentations made in connection with a Medicare select policy.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 1995
Court Reporter Fair Labor Amendments of 1995 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to allow an exemption from certain Federal wage and hour requirements for State and local official court reporters while they are performing transcription duties for a private party outside of normal working hours, provided there is an understanding between the court reporters and their State or local court employer.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1995
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Attorney General should fully enforce the law and take any necessary measures to protect from violent attack persons seeking to provide or obtain reproductive health services.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Davis-Bacon Repeal Act - Repeals the Davis-Bacon Act (an Act which requires that the locally prevailing wage rate be paid to various classes of laborers and mechanics working under federally-financed or federally-assisted contracts for construction, alteration, and repair of public buildings or public works). Repeals the Copeland Act (an Act which requires certain payroll information reports from Federal contractors to prevent kickbacks).
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Poverty Data Correction Act of 1995 - Requires any data relating to the incidence of poverty produced or published by or for the Secretary of Commerce for subnational areas to be corrected for differences in the cost of living and data produced for State and sub-State areas to be corrected for differences in the cost of living for at least all States of the United States. Requires such corrected data to be published in 1995 and biennially thereafter. Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop or cause to be developed a State cost-of-living index which ranks and assigns an index value to each State using data on wage, housing, and other costs relevant to the cost of living; and (2) multiply the Federal Government's statistical poverty thresholds by the index value for each State's cost of living to produce State poverty thresholds for each State. Requires the State cost-of-living index and resulting State poverty thresholds to be published before September 30, 1996 for calendar year 1995 and to be updated annually thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit the energy tax credit in connection with depreciable solar energy property and geothermal property against the taxpayer's entire regular tax liability and minimum tax liability.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Provides for travel privileges on military aircraft for any former member of the armed forces who has a service-connected disability rated total by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 1994
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Environmental Protection Agency should not exempt mercury hazardous wastes from hazardous waste regulation but should adopt waste management policies and rules that seek to minimize all releases of mercury into the environment while encouraging the recycling of mercury-containing fluorescent lamps and other mercury-containing devices.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1994
Americans with Disabilities Business Development Act of 1993 - Amends the Small Business Act to: (1) substitute the definition of "severe disability" (the meaning given such term, by regulation, by the Small Business Administration) for "handicapped individual"; and (2) include Americans with severe disabilities among those considered to be socially disadvantaged for purposes of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 1994
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. delegation to the Spring 1995 meeting of the Facilitation Division of the International Civil Aviation Organization: (1) seek to amend the Convention on International Civil Aviation, done on December 7, 1944, at Chicago, to end aircraft disinsection practices that threaten the health of aircraft passengers and crew; and (2) make every effort to gain the support of other member nations of the organization in that amendment.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1994
Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act of 1994 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike a bronze medal to commemorate organ and tissue donors and their families. Makes eligible for the medal any organ or tissue donor or donor's family. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to arrange for medal presentation to eligible individuals. Declares the medals to be national medals. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into agreements with the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network to solicit donations to offset expenditures relating to medal issuance. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit all solicited donations into the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1994
Ryan White CARE Reauthorization Act of 1994 - Amends the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act of 1990 (title XXVI of the Public Health Service Act) to limit the grant program for emergency relief for areas with substantial need for services to eligible areas with a population of at least 500,000 individuals. Requires an HIV health services planning council (which advises on the distribution of such grants) to be reflective of the demographics of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in an eligible area, with particular consideration given to disproportionately affected and historically underserved groups. Revises the method of distributing such grants and extends authorized appropriations for them until FY 2000. Revises the care grant program that makes funds available for individuals and families with the HIV disease. Authorizes the award of supplemental grants to eligible entities to enhance community-based care, treatment, and supportive services through the development and operation of consortia and innovative approaches. Extends authorized appropriations for such grant program through FY 2000. Requires the establishment of grievance procedures to address allegations of egregious violations of title XXVI of the Public Health Service Act. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate the planning and implementation of Federal HIV programs to facilitate the development of a complete continuum of HIV-related services for individuals with HIV disease and those at risk of such disease. Extends authorized appropriations for early intervention services until FY 2000. Extends authorized appropriations until FY 2000 for grants for coordinated services and access to research for children, youth, women, and families (formerly known as demonstration grants for research and services for pediatric patients regarding acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Makes appropriations available for special projects of national significance program to award direct grants to public and nonprofit private entities to fund special programs for the care and treatment of individuals with HIV disease.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1994
Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide a one-year extension of the applicability to mental health and substance abuse block grant programs of specified provisions regarding transfers between allotments.
United States · United States Congress · 24 August 1994
Commends the U.S. rice industry for its decision to establish an industry organization. Recognizes the success such decision will have in promoting the interests of the rice industry and the rice-consuming public.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 1994
Missing Service Personnel Act of 1994 - Requires the military commander of the unit, facility, or area to which the following persons are assigned to conduct an investigation as to their whereabouts after receiving factual information that their status is uncertain: (1) military personnel who disappear during a period of war, national emergency, or hostilities; and (2) any civilian Federal employee (including an employee of a Federal contractor) who serves with or accompanies an armed force in the field during such a period. Requires such persons to be placed in a missing status and requires notification of such status to either the officer having general court-martial authority over the person (for military personnel) or the Secretary of the military department employing such person (for civilian and contractor employees). Requires such officials to be kept informed (specifies deadlines) as to all information and inquiries concerning efforts to locate such missing personnel. Requires such officials to appoint a board to conduct an inquiry into the whereabouts and status of such persons. Provides for: (1) board composition, activities, and access to information; (2) inquiry proceedings (requiring the appointment of counsel, with specified duties, to represent the missing person); (3) a board recommendation as to the official status of a person following such an inquiry; (4) board reports to the officials involved as to board conclusions (prohibiting public availability of such reports for a one-year period); (5) report review by the official; (6) a report from such official to interested persons; and (7) an additional investigation and inquiry by an additional board upon receipt of new information within one year after the date of the first official notice of a person's disappearance. Allows interested persons (family members, dependents, next of kin) to participate at the proceedings of the board during such additional inquiry. Provides for the availability of appropriate information to board personnel conducting investigations and inquiries. Provides similar procedures for the second board with respect to meetings (open to the public, with exceptions), recommendations, reports, review by the Secretary of the military department concerned, and reports to interested persons. Requires a board to be reconvened when information becomes available that would directly lead to a determination of a person's status. Requires the Secretary concerned to appoint a board to conduct an inquiry as to the status of a missing person: (1) on or about three years after the first official notice of the disappearance of such person; and (2) not later than every three years thereafter until a total of 12 years after the first official notice. Provides for: (1) the release to a board by the Secretary concerned of all personnel file information concerning missing persons; (2) the treatment of classified information; (3) penalties for the wrongful withholding of information; (4) limited circumstances under which a board may recommend that a missing person be declared officially dead; (5) the submission by the board of appropriate information if such recommendation occurs; and (6) judicial review for interested persons of a board decision to declare a person officially dead. Provides for the appointment of a board to review the status of a person previously declared dead, with board procedures similar to those described above. Requires a person previously declared dead or in a missing status who is subsequently found alive to be paid for the full time of their absence.
United States · United States Congress · 12 August 1994
Amends the Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training Act of 1992 to eliminate the 18-month limit on the period of training (but not the limit on the amount of subsidy). Provides that certain standards for wages and benefits refer to other employees and training programs in the same community during the entire program period of the eligible person. Provides that the amount of the wage subsidy payment to the employer on behalf of the eligible person may not exceed the number of hours equivalent to 18 months of training. Revises provisions relating to entry into the program of job training and the time period for disapproval of assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 8 August 1994
International Peace Operations Support Act of 1994 - Directs the President to submit a report to the Congress setting forth a plan and procedures for recruiting, training, and organizing into units of the armed forces a contingency force of up to 3,000 personnel, comprised of current active-duty military personnel, who volunteer additionally and specifically to serve in international peace operations and who receive added compensation for such service. Authorizes the President: (1) upon approval by the United Nations Security Council of an international peace operation and after appropriate congressional consultation, to make those units available for such operations; and (2) to terminate U.S. participation in international peace operations at any time and take actions necessary to protect U.S. forces. Requires termination of any use of the armed forces with respect to which a report was submitted or required to be submitted under the War Powers Resolution within 180 days, unless the Congress has extended by law such period. Authorizes the use of funds available to the Department of Defense to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1994
Smithsonian Institution Sesquicentennial Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue five-dollar gold coins and one-dollar silver coins emblematic of the scientific, educational, and cultural significance of the Smithsonian Institution. Mandates that: (1) all but a certain portion of surcharges received from coin sales be paid by the Secretary to the Smithsonian Institution to support programming related to the 150th anniversary and general activities of the Smithsonian Institution; and (2) a certain portion of such surcharges be dedicated to supporting the operation and activities of the National Numismatic Collection at the National Museum of American History.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1994
Defines the term "disease," for purposes of determining the relationship between undiagnosed illness and disease for purposes of entitlement to veterans' disability compensation, as any deviation from or interruption of the normal structure or function of any part, organ, or system of the body that is manifested by a symptom or sign the etiology, pathology, and prognosis for which is known or unknown. Requires due consideration to be given to the common or shared experiences, medical symptoms, or signs of other veterans who were engaged in similar service and who exhibit similar medical symptoms or signs.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1994
Declares that the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 shall not apply to a specified foreign (Canadian) holding company solely as a result of its acquisition of all the voting securities of a gas utility company that: (1) is organized and operating under Vermont law; and (2) has its service territory contiguous to the gas utility operations of the holding company.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1994
Veterans Law Judge Act of 1994 - Redesignates the Chairman and other members of the Board of Veterans Appeals (other than temporary members) as veterans law judges. Classifies the pay rate for veterans law judges as that of administrative law judges. Authorizes the Chairman of the Board or other Board members to continue to serve in such positions, upon approval of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, after the expiration of their terms. Requires the Secretary to notify Board members at least 120 days in advance of a decision not to recommend such member for appointment to an additional term. Allows the opportunity for a hearing on such decision. Allows the President to disapprove the appointment of a Board member to an additional term. Provides for reversion to the civil grades and series held by Board members prior to their appointment upon the expiration of their terms of appointment. Directs the Secretary to prescribe criteria for Board member reappointment. Allows current Board members in the Senior Executive Service to continue to be paid at that rate.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1994
Amends Federal transportation law to provide that the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), in approving an application of a rail carrier for the construction and operation of railroad lines, shall require that a fair and equitable arrangement for the protection of the affected railroad employees' interests be no less protective of and beneficial to their interests than those established under other specified Federal provisions. Prohibits the ICC from approving the sale or the offer of financial assistance to a rail carrier to avoid the abandonment and discontinuance of railroad line transportation unless it certifies that such employees' interests will be protected.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1994
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the U.S. Government should: (1) enunciate a policy to promote democracy in Burma; (2) encourage members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the July meetings in Bangkok to join U.S. efforts to seek the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, achieve the transfer of power to the winners of the 1990 democratic election, join the U.S. arms embargo against Burma, and end human rights abuses perpetrated by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC); (3) indicate continued U.S. opposition to SLORC participation in ASEAN; (4) work to implement United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution 48/150 and pledge to seek international sanctions through the UN and the appointment of a special envoy; (5) oppose commercial arrangements and foreign aid and financial assistance from international finance institutions that only provide financial support for the SLORC; (6) encourage the Government of Thailand to allow Burmese political leaders and refugees to continue their efforts to bring democratic change to Burma without fear of harassment or other pressure; (7) continue the current policy of not sending an ambassador to Rangoon until the SLORC has taken steps to end human rights abuses and transfer power to the democratically elected leaders of Burma; and (8) investigate claims of forced repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1994
National Institute for the Environment Act - Establishes the National Institute for the Environment to: (1) increase scientific understanding of environmental issues by supporting scientific environmental research and other environmental programs; (2) assist decision-making on environmental issues by providing assessments of knowledge of such issues; (3) serve as the foremost provider of access to current scientific and technical information about the environment; (4) sponsor higher education and training in environmental fields; (5) support the development of methods and technologies that increase understanding of the environment and minimize adverse environmental impact; (6) evaluate the status and needs of the various environmental sciences and fields; (7) foster interchange of scientific information about the environment; (8) address emerging environmental issues and aspects of environmental problems; and (9) establish research priorities for environmental issues. Establishes a Governing Board for the Institute and an Interagency Advisory Committee to ensure that the environmental efforts of the Institute and Federal agencies are complementary. Makes scientists, engineers, and other researchers eligible to receive funding from the Institute. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1994
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1994 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities, including employing authorities of the House of Representatives, employing offices of the Senate, and instrumentalities of the Congress. Declares that: (1) this Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's partner; and (2) a disparate impact does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. Prohibits quotas and preferential treatment. Declares that this Act does not apply to: (1) religious organizations (except in their for-profit activities); (2) the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Provides for enforcement. Disallows State and Federal immunity. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Prohibits retaliation and coercion. Requires posting notices for employees and applicants.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1994
Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Consent Act - Grants the consent of the Congress to the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact entered into between the States of Maine, Texas, and Vermont.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1994
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should actively seek: (1) an international agreement prohibiting the production, possession, transfer, and use of antipersonnel landmines; and (2) in the interim, international agreements to further limit the production, possession, transfer, and use of such landmines. Expresses the sense of the Congress that a U.S. moratorium on the purchase and production of such landmines would encourage other nations to adopt similar measures. Establishes such moratorium for a one-year period beginning 90 days after enactment of this Act. Calls for the President to urge other nations to adopt such a moratorium. Allows the moratorium to be extended. Earmarks funds authorized under the current Department of Defense Authorization Act for improving landmine detection and neutralization. Directs the Administrator of the Agency for International Development and the Secretary of State to jointly submit to the Congress a report containing an analysis of the social, economic, and environmental costs and effects of the use of antipersonnel landmines. Directs the Secretary of Defense to report to the Congress on the total number of U.S. military personnel killed or wounded by such landmines during World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, and the Persian Gulf War.
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 · 8 June 1994
Fairness for Adopting Families Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an individual income tax deduction for qualified adoption expenses. Makes deductible reasonable and necessary expenses that are directly related to a legal adoption of any child if the adoption has been arranged by a State, local, or other nonprofit agency or through a private placement. Excludes from an employee's gross income any amounts paid on behalf of the employee by an employer pursuant to a qualified adoption assistance program. Limits both the deduction and the exclusion to $5,000 ($7,000 in the case of an international adoption). Reduces the amount when the taxpayer's income exceeds $60,000. Permits an employer to treat an adoption assistance program as a statutory employee benefit plan, thus making the employer's contributions to such a program tax deductible as business expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1994
Allows payments to members of the armed forces under the Special Separation Benefits program or the Voluntary Separation Incentive program of the Department of Defense without a concurrent pro rata reduction of veterans' disability compensation paid to such members through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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 · 24 May 1994
Wetlands and Green Space Preservation Assistance Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for determining the environmental use value of sensitive environmental areas for estate tax purposes. Requires the estate to grant an environmental preservation easement for a period of ten years after the death of the decedent. Imposes an additional estate tax if an heir fails to maintain the easement.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1994
Support for Families with Children with Disabilities Act of 1994 - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to add a new part I, Family Support, which may be cited as the Families of Children with Disabilities Support Act of 1994. Directs the Secretary of Education to make three-year grants to States for systems change and advocacy activities for statewide systems of support for families with children with disabilities. Sets forth priorities and application requirements. Requires States desiring such assistance to designate lead entities and establish State Family Support Policy Councils. Includes among authorized activities training and technical assistance, interagency coordination, local or regional councils, outreach, advocacy services, policy studies, hearings and forums, public awareness and education, needs assessment, program data, and pilot demonstration projects. Requires State strategic plans, progress criteria, and reports. Requires panels of experts to evaluate grant applications. Directs the Secretary to make grants to or contracts with appropriate public or private agencies and organizations, including institutions of higher education, for: (1) providing technical assistance and information on statewide systems of family support; and (2) conducting a national evaluation of the program of grants to States. Directs the Secretary to: (1) review Federal programs with respect to their impact on such family support, consistent with specified policies; and (2) make grants or contracts for projects of national significance for developing national and State policies and practices for family-centered and family-directed systems of support for families of children with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1994
Designates August 1, 1994, as Helsinki Human Rights Day. Authorizes the President to reassert America's commitment to the Helsinki Accords and requests him to: (1) convey to all signatories of the Accords that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is a vital element of further progress in the ongoing Helsinki process; and (2) develop new proposals to advance the human rights objectives of such process to address the major problems that remain.
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.
![Official portrait of Sen. Jeffords, James M. [I-VT]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/j000072_200.jpg)