United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1996
Declares that: (1) the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between the United States and Japan remains vital to American and Japanese security interests as well as the security interests of the Nations of the Asia-Pacific region; and (2) the people of Okinawa deserve special recognition and gratitude for their contributions toward ensuring the Treaty's implementation.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1996
Designates the Federal building and U.S. courthouse located at 475 Mulberry Street in Macon, Georgia, as the William Augustus Bootle Federal Building and United States Courthouse.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1996
Declares that the Congress: (1) condemns human rights abuses and denials of religious liberty to Christians around the world and calls upon the responsible regimes to cease such abuses; (2) recommends that the President expand and invigorate U.S. international advocacy on behalf of persecuted Christians and initiate a thorough examination of all U.S. policies that affect persecuted Christians; (3) encourages the President to proceed expeditiously in appointing a White House special advisor on religious persecution; and (4) recognizes and applauds the day of prayer recognizing the plight of persecuted Christians worldwide.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1996
Urges the major broadcast television networks to renew their commitment to voluntarily reserving the first hour of prime time for programming suitable for American family members of all ages.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1996
False Statements Penalty Restoration Act - Modifies Federal criminal code provisions regarding false or fraudulent statements or entries to and set penalties with respect to a person who, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government, knowingly and willingly: (1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up a material fact by any trick, scheme, or device; (2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or (3) makes or uses any false writing or document, knowing that the document contains any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry. (Currently, such prohibition applies to any matter within the jurisdiction of any U.S. department or agency.) Makes this provision inapplicable to statements, representations, writings, or documents submitted to a court in connection with the performance of an adjudicative function. Defines "corruptly," for purposes of the prohibition on obstructing Congress, to mean acting with an improper purpose, personally or by influencing another, including but not limited to making a false or misleading statement, or withholding, concealing, altering, or destroying a document or other information. Amends the Federal judicial code to limit the exemption of Government officer or employee acting within an official capacity from U.S. district court jurisdiction to enforce a Senate subpoena or order to instances where the head of such person's department or agency has directed the officer not to comply with the subpoena or order and has identified the executive branch privilege or objection underlying such direction. Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize a U.S. district court to order an individual to provide information which he or she refuses to provide on the basis of the privilege against self- incrimination in proceedings ancillary to either House of Congress. (Currently, such authority applies only to proceedings before either House.)
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1996
Increases the authorization of appropriations for the National Park Service to assist Georgia in relocating a highway affecting the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1996
Provides for observation of a moment of silence at 9:02 a.m. central daylight time on April 19, 1996, in remembrance of the victims of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Commends the people of Oklahoma and the aid provided by rescuers, Federal agencies, countless volunteers, and Federal employees. Reaffirms trust in our system of justice to ensure that the perpetrators are convicted and punished.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Procurement Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Other Matters Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Title III: Operation and Maintenance Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Other Matters Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations Subtitle A: Active Forces Subtitle B: Reserve Forces Title V: Military Personnel Policy Subtitle A: Matters Relating to Reserve Components Subtitle B: Officer Education Programs Subtitle C: Other Matters Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances Subtitle B: Extension of Bonus and Incentive Pays Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances Subtitle D: Retired Pay, Survivor Benefits, and Related Matters Subtitle E: Other Matters Title VII: Health Care Provisions Title VIII: Acquisition and Related Matters Title IX: Organization and Management Subtitle A: General Matters Subtitle B: Financial Management Title X: General Provisions Subtitle A: Financial Matters Subtitle B: Civilian Personnel Subtitle C: Reporting Requirements Subtitle D: Matters Relating to Other Nations Subtitle E: Other Matters Title XXI(sic): Army Title XXII: Navy Title XXIII: Air Force Title XXIV: Defense Agencies Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations Title XXVIII: General Provisions Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes Subtitle B: Base Closure and Realignment and Environment Subtitle C: Land Conveyance Subtitle D: Other Matters National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for procurement to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for: (1) defense-wide procurement; (2) the Defense Inspector General; (3) the Defense Health Program; and (4) the chemical demilitarization program. Subtitle B: Other Matters - States that a current prohibition under a prior defense authorization Act against the new production of F-15E aircraft shall not apply to the obligation of funds authorized and appropriated for FY 1996 or to any appropriation or authorization for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY 1997. (Sec. 111) Increases the research and development and total procurement thresholds for a system to be considered a "major system" for DOD procurement purposes. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to adjust such amounts on the basis of DOD escalation rates, after notifying the Senate Armed Services and House National Security Committees. (Sec. 112) Amends the Defense Conversion, Reinvestment, and Transition Assistance Act of 1992 to require the Secretary, within 60 days after the enactment of an Act appropriating funds for DOD military functions, to: (1) identify which defense contracts under major defense programs will be terminated or substantially reduced as a result of reduced funding levels; and (2) ensure that notice of such termination or reduction is provided to each prime contractor under the contract, as well as to the Secretary of Labor. Requires subcontractors to be notified within 60 days after notification of the Secretary of Labor. Requires a contractor to notify affected employees within two weeks after receiving such notice. (Sec. 113) Strikes certain information concerning the completion status of major defense acquisition programs from information required to be contained in Selected Acquisition Reports for such programs. Requires such Reports to include procurement unit cost (currently, program acquisition unit cost). Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for the armed forces for research, development, test, and evaluation. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the Secretary to waive the live-fire survivability testing requirements with respect to V-22 aircraft. Provides for an alternative live-fire test program. Provides funding. (Sec. 203) Authorizes such live-fire test waiver with respect to the F-22 aircraft, requiring an alternative live-fire test program if the Secretary certifies that normal testing would be unreasonably expensive and impractical. Provides funding. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to conduct basic and applied research and advanced technology development on chemical and biological warfare defense technologies and systems, independent of any other DOD component. Title III: Operation and Maintenance - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for operation and maintenance for the armed forces and specified activities and agencies of DOD. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 to DOD for working capital and revolving funds. Subtitle B: Other Matters - Provides additional remedies for employees of defense contractors who disclose information regarding a substantial violation of law (whistle blowers). (Sec. 311) Repeals the requirement of a physical examination for members of the National Guard called into Federal service. (Sec. 312) Authorizes DOD to utilize military personnel under current agreements for the training of Federal employees in non-Government facilities and to pay in advance for such training. (Sec. 313) Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations for the sale of emission reduction credits or other incentives authorized under the Clean Air Act. (Sec. 314) Defines "capital assets" for purposes of assets in the Defense Business Operations Fund as those having a development or acquisition cost of not less than $100,000 (currently, $50,000). Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations - Subtitle A: Active Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths for active-duty forces as of the end of FY 1997. (Sec. 402) Excludes from active-duty end strength limits those members of the reserve serving on active duty for 181 days or more to perform special work in support of peacetime requirements of the active components and combatant commands. Subtitle B: Reserve Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths as of the end of FY 1997 for members of the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel on active duty in support of the reserves. Title V: Military Personnel Policy - Subtitle A: Matters Relating to Reserve Components - Provides that reserve officers in an inactive status who are required to be removed from such status: (1) shall be transferred to the Retired Reserve; or (2) may be discharged from their appointment. (Sec. 502) Provides an exception from the requirement of a baccalaureate degree for appointment to a grade above O-2 in the Naval Reserve in the case of persons appointed for service under either the Naval Aviation Cadet (current law) or Seaman to Admiral Program. (Sec. 503) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out in the United States a test program under which those reserve members eligible for commissary use will be permitted to use such stores on the same basis as members on active duty. Requires the Secretary to report test program results to the Congress. (Sec. 504) Provides an exception from the prohibition against the involuntary release or discharge of reserve personnel within two years of eligibility for retirement in the case of members who serve on active duty (other than for training) for a period of less than 180 days, as long as such member is informed of and consents to such exception prior to commencing such active duty. (Sec. 505) Requires an individual to have received his or her baccalaureate degree within eight (currently, three) years of appointment to a reserve officer position in order to meet the Selected Reserve officer education requirement. (Sec. 507) Increases the authorized activities of members of the reserve called to active duty for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the reserve components. Subtitle B: Officer Education Programs - Extends from under 25 to under 27 years old the age limit for initial appointment as a cadet or midshipman in the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and the military service academies. (Sec. 511) Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide financial assistance to a student enrolled in an advanced educational program beyond the baccalaureate degree level, as long as such student is also a cadet or midshipman in an advanced training program. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Reduces from three to two years the minimum time in grade required before a chief warrant officer may be considered for promotion. Authorizes warrant officers below the promotion zone to be selected for promotion to the grade of chief warrant officer, W-3. (Sec. 517) Repeals Federal provisions allowing for judicial review of a determination of death of a person previously in a missing status during service in the armed forces, as well as special interest cases eligible for review. Requires the Secretary of the military department concerned (currently, the theater component commander) to transmit within ten days (currently, 48 hours) after a preliminary status assessment a recommendation that a person be placed in a missing status. Requires the Secretary concerned to perform all duties currently required of the theater component commander with respect to such persons and their status. Repeals: (1) the requirement of appointment of counsel to represent a missing person during an inquiry into the status of such person; (2) the requirement that subsequent reviews of a person's status as missing occur at least every three years (instead requiring such review upon receipt of information that may result in a change of status); (3) a provision providing civil and criminal penalties for the wrongful withholding of information concerning a person's status; (4) the requirement that certain information be submitted by a board of inquiry making a recommendation that a missing person be declared dead; and (5) the inclusion of DOD civilian and defense contractor employees as covered persons under such provisions. (Sec. 518) Makes permanent (currently ends September 30, 1996) the authority for the temporary promotion of certain Navy lieutenants. Authorizes the Secretary, when considered expeditious, to extend for up to 180 days beyond the current limit of 365 days after enlistment in a reserve component the active-duty entry date under the delayed entry program. (Sec. 520) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to accept reenlistments of active-duty personnel in the armed forces or Coast Guard: (1) for at least two but no more than six years in the case of members with less than ten years of service; and (2) for an indefinite additional period in the case of members with ten or more years of service. (Sec. 521) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with the governments of allied and other friendly nations for the exchange of military and civilian defense personnel. Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits - Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances - Waives any FY 1997 military pay increases tied to increases in the General Schedule of Compensation for Government employees. Increases by 3.0 percent, effective on January 1, 1997, the rates of basic pay, basic allowance for subsistence, and basic allowance for quarters (BAQ). (Sec. 602) Prohibits the payment of a BAQ to a member of the Ready Reserve who is serving on active duty for 15 days or less and provided government quarters, unless such member is accompanied by his or her dependents. (Sec. 603) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay a BAQ for a member who is without dependents, serving in pay grade E-5, and assigned to sea duty. Authorizes the payment of a BAQ to two members in pay grades below E-6 who are married to each other without dependents and simultaneously assigned to sea duty on ships. (Sec. 604) Repeals a provision which requires the rate of monthly cadet or midshipman pay to be adjusted in the same manner and time as the adjustment of pay to military personnel in connection with General Schedule increases. Subtitle B: Extension of Bonus and Incentive Pays - Extends through FY 1999 specified authorities currently scheduled to expire at the end of FY 1997 with respect to certain special pay and bonus programs within the regular and reserve armed forces. Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances - Allows, as part of the transportation allowance for the transport of a motor vehicle in connection with a permanent change of duty station, a monetary allowance to be paid for: (1) return travel to the old duty station; or (2) travel from the new duty station to the port of debarkation to pick up the vehicle. (Sec. 611) Authorizes the Secretary to reimburse board members of the DOD domestic dependent school system for travel and transportation expenses which include program and activity fees, when the Secretary determines that such programs and activities are reasonable and necessary for the performance of school board duties. (Sec. 612) Provides that, when a member of the armed forces is ordered to a foreign country and the laws of such country prohibit or restrict the entry of a motor vehicle, such member may elect to receive paid storage of such vehicle in lieu of the normal transportation allowance for such vehicle. (Sec. 613) Repeals a Federal provision prohibiting the payment of lodging expenses of a DOD civilian employee on official business away from home when adequate Government quarters are available. Subtitle D: Retired Pay, Survivor Benefits, and Related Matters - Makes March 1996 the effective date of an increase in military retired pay which became effective on December 1, 1995. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to repeal a provision which provides a contingent alternative effective date for the military pay increase for FY 1998. (Sec. 616) States that the dependents of members of the Selected Reserve, like the members themselves, shall be permitted the use of certain morale, welfare, and recreation facilities of DOD on the same basis as members on active duty. Makes an identical allowance for dependents of members of the armed forces who would otherwise be eligible for military retired pay but for the fact that they are under 60 years of age. (Sec. 617) Repeals a Federal provision authorizing survivors of military personnel who die as a result of injury or illness incurred while serving on active duty in support of a contingency operation to receive a payment of all leave accrued. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Authorizes the payment of retirement benefits, eligibility for placement on the temporary disability retirement list, or eligibility for separation with severance pay for active-duty personnel who are: (1) not entitled to basic pay due to participation in an educational program; and (2) unfit to perform their duties because of a disability incurred while participating in such program. (Sec. 621) Amends Federal provisions concerning the payment of military retired or retainer pay to survivors and dependents of military personnel to: (1) include facsimile or other electronic transmission as a valid service of process; (2) require a finding of proper jurisdiction before a court of one state can modify or alter an original court order from another state; and (3) provide that the effective date of the termination of retirement benefits for a person who has been sentenced by a court-martial shall be the date of discharge from the uniformed services. (Sec. 622) Requires (current law authorizes) the Secretary, and the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard, to establish a program which assists eligible former military and Coast Guard personnel to obtain certification and licensure as elementary and secondary school teachers (known as the troops-to-teachers program). Reduces from five to two school years the period a former member must be employed as such a teacher after receiving such assistance. Reduces the amount required to be paid to the educational agency involved by the Secretary concerned representing a portion of the teacher salary. Makes similar changes with respect to current teacher placement programs for eligible separated civilian DOD employees and displaced DOD contractor employees. (Sec. 623) Allows a member whose travel to a new duty station is delayed by participation in a critical operational mission to defer such travel (for which a travel or transportation allowance is authorized) for up to one year after assignment to such mission. (Sec. 624) Authorizes the Secretary to pay to civilian DOD personnel performing overseas duty the same allowances and benefits authorized for members of the Foreign Service under the Foreign Service Act of 1980. Title VII: Health Care Provisions - Amends the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to authorize the Secretary to pay amounts for covered services which are higher than prescribed limits when enrollees in managed care programs obtain covered services (currently, covered emergency services) from nonparticipating providers. (Sec. 702) Amends Federal provisions establishing the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program to provide alternative service obligations (currently, the only authorized alternative is assignment to health professional shortage areas) for Program participants relieved of their active duty service obligation under the Program. Provides some of the alternative obligations for students participating in a similar program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. (Sec. 703) Excludes officers assigned to duty in DOD from the limitation on the maximum number of commissioned officers of the Public Health Service authorized to serve on active duty. (Sec. 704) Repeals statutory restrictions on the use of DOD funds or facilities to perform abortions. (Sec. 705) Provides CHAMPUS medical and dental care benefits for reserve personnel who incur or aggravate an injury, illness, or disease: (1) in the line of duty while performing active duty, active or inactive duty training, or full-time National Guard duty; (2) while traveling to or from such duty or training; or (3) in the line of duty while remaining overnight, between successive periods of inactive duty training, in a site beyond reasonable commuting distance from the member's residence. Authorizes the following for members described under (3), above: (1) the recovery, care, and disposition of remains; (2) eligibility for retirement pay upon separation due to disability after 30 days or less of active-duty service; (3) entitlement to basic pay; and (4) compensation for inactive-duty training. Title VIII: Acquisition and Related Matters - Repeals the defense procurement technical assistance cooperative agreement program. (Sec. 802) Authorizes the requisitioning and use of Government vehicles for the training and administration of the National Guard by the States, Territories, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. (Sec. 803) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act: (1) for Fiscal Year 1991 to extend through FY 1998 the pilot Mentor-Protege Program; and (2) for Fiscal Year 1994 to extend through FY 1999 the authority of the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to carry out prototype activities directly relevant to weapons or weapon systems proposed to be acquired or developed by DOD. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct a follow-on acquisition of any prototype or technology demonstrator developed in connection with such activities. (Sec. 805) Amends Federal provisions concerning the authority of the Secretary and the military department Secretaries to enter into transactions in order to carry out basic, applied, and advanced research projects to: (1) repeal a reporting requirement; and (2) state that certain proposals, business plans, or technical information submitted in anticipation of such projects will not be considered "agency records" for five years (and therefore will be considered confidential as proprietary data). (Sec. 806) Provides that any subdivision of appropriations made in this Act and hereafter under the heading "Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy" shall be considered to be for the same purpose as any subdivision under such heading in any prior year. (Sec. 807) Directs the Secretary to rely on the private sector for commercial or industrial type supplies and services for or beneficial to the accomplishment of authorized DOD functions, except when the Secretary determines that the function should be performed by government personnel. Empowers the Secretary to contract with private or non-government entities for the provision of such functions. Title IX: Organization and Management - Subtitle A: General Matters - Redesignates the North American Air Defense Command as the United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command. (Sec. 902) Authorizes civilian DOD employees to be included on ammunition storage boards. (Sec. 903) Amends the Foreign Trade Zones Act to remove the Secretary of the Army from membership on the Foreign Trade Zone Board. Subtitle B: Financial Management - Establishes in DOD and each of the military departments an Environmental Restoration Account. (Currently, there is established in DOD only the Defense Environmental Restoration Account.) (Sec. 911) Authorizes up to $2 million of DOD funds annually to be used for small meals and snacks during specified military recruiting functions. Title X: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Financial Matters - Repeals the requirement that amounts requested for the procurement of reserve equipment be set forth in a separate budget request. (Sec. 1002) Authorizes the Secretary to accept services as contributions for defense programs, projects, and activities. Directs the Secretary to establish written rules to be used as criteria for the acceptance of money, real or personal property, or services for such programs, projects, and activities. (Sec. 1003) Amends the Sikes Act to authorize the transfer to another military reservation (installation) of the wildlife conservation fees of a closed military reservation. (Sec. 1004) Authorizes a disbursing official to cash checks and other negotiable instruments and exchange U.S. currency on behalf of the United States at a U.S.-chartered Federal credit institution operating at DOD invitation in a foreign country where contractor-operated military banking facilities are not available. (Sec. 1005) Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act and the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (base closure laws) to provide for the disposition of funds arising from the disposal of real property or facilities acquired, constructed, or improved with commissary store or nonappropriated funds in connection with the closure or realignment of a military installation under a base closure law. Subtitle B: Civilian Personnel - Authorizes the Secretary to employ necessary civilian faculty personnel at the: (1) English Language Center of the Defense Language Institute; and (2) Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. (Sec. 1012) Excepts from the competitive service non-attorney positions established in a judge's chambers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. (Sec. 1013) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to repeal a provision which requires the Secretary to convert at least 10,000 military positions to civilian positions by the end of FY 1997. Subtitle C: Reporting Requirements - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to strike certain information currently required in an annual report concerning the ballistic missile defense program. (Sec. 1022) Repeals a requirement for an annual report from the Secretary to the Congress on defense contractor reimbursement costs. (Sec. 1023) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to repeal provisions requiring certain notification to parties substantially or seriously affected by military budget reductions, the closure or realignment of military installations, or the cancellation or curtailment of major defense contracts. Subtitle D: Matters Relating to Other Nations - Includes within the provision of international demining activities the payment of travel and subsistence expenses of persons participating in such program and the costs of equipment, supplies, and services acquired to carry out such program. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Repeals the requirement that the National Defense Technology and Industrial Base Council (Council) prepare specified periodic assessments and plans. Directs the Secretary to establish a program for analysis of national technology and industrial base (NTIB) issues, policies, and programs. Repeals specified provisions concerning administration, contracting, coordination and supervision with regard to such program. Directs the Secretary (currently, the Council) to prepare annually through FY 1998 (currently, 1997) selected assessments of the NTIB in attaining national security requirements. Outlines assessment requirements, requiring its integration with DOD's overall budget, acquisition, and logistics decision-making processes. Directs the Secretary to prescribe departmental guidance appropriate to implement the national security objectives of the President. Requires a report from the Secretary to the Congress concerning such guidance. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress in 1997 and 1998 on such guidance and the addressing of technological and industrial concerns. Repeals a provision requiring the Secretary to coordinate the encouragement of technology transfer program with the Council. Empowers the Secretary (currently, the Council) to appoint members for the Military-Civilian Integration and Technology Transfer Advisory Board, as well as related authority. Repeals the requirement that the National Defense Manufacturing Technology Program be coordinated with the NTIB. (Sec. 1031) Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1988 to authorize the Secretary to transfer real property located at military installations to be closed to a military department or other entity within DOD or the Coast Guard. (Sec. 1032) Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to dispose of all U.S. rights and interest to the primate research complex at Holloman Air Force Base, as well as the colony of chimpanzees housed at or managed from the complex. (Sec. 1033) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act: (1) for Fiscal Year 1993 to require the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development, and Acquisition (currently, for Installations, Logistics and Environment) to participate in functions and meetings of State chemical demilitarization citizens advisory commissions; and (2) for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to repeal a provision which terminates at the end of FY 1997 the authority of the Secretary to transfer excess personal property to Federal and State agencies. (Sec. 1035) Authorizes Reserve and Coast Guard judge advocates and law specialists (currently, only active-duty members of such professions) to act as notaries public. (Sec. 1036) Transfers to the Secretary (currently, the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force) the authority to control U.S. transportation systems in time of war. (Sec. 1037) States that statute-of-limitations provisions of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act shall not toll the period prescribed for the filing of a request for the correction of military records. Directs the corrections board involved to consider the claimant's military service and the effect of such service on the claimant's ability to file within the authorized time period (two years after discovery of the error). (Sec. 1038) Redesignates the: (1) Naval Records and History Gift Fund as the Naval Historical Center Fund; and (2) Office of Naval Records and History as the Naval Historical Center. (Sec. 1039) Authorizes the Secretary to accept pecuniary or service contributions from foreign nations on behalf of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) authorize participation in Center programs of European or Eurasian nations, when in the national interest; and (2) waive financial disclosure requirements for dignitaries invited to serve without compensation on the Marshall Center Board of Visitors. (Sec. 1040) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to the Secretary of the Army the Arlington National Cemetery Interment Zone as well as specified lands within the Robert E. Lee Memorial Preservation Zone. (Sec. 1041) Repeals a Federal provision directing the Secretary to authorize commissary and exchange officials to negotiate directly with private carriers for the most cost-effective transportation of commissary and exchange supplies by sea without relying on the Military Sealift Command or the Military Traffic Management Command. (Sec. 1042) Authorizes the Secretary or the Secretary of a military department to enter into cooperative agreements for the preservation, management, maintenance, research, and improvement of cultural resources on military installations. (Sec. 1043) Authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to certain named individuals for extraordinary service in the Army during World War II. (Sec. 1044) Revises generally provisions authorizing the Secretary to lend material, supplies, and personnel services to the Inaugural Committee. (Sec. 1045) Withdraws specified Federal lands in Imperial County, California, utilized in the mission of the Naval Air Facility, El Centro, California, from all forms of appropriation under the public land and mining laws, but not the mineral, geothermal leasing, or mineral materials sales laws. Reserves such withdrawn lands for use by the Secretary of the Navy for defense-related purposes in accordance with the Cooperative Agreement of June 29, 1987, among the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Department of the Navy. Provides for management of the withdrawn lands by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) permitted management activities; (2) management by the Secretary of the Navy for military operations, public safety, or national security purposes; (3) a land withdrawal and reserve duration limit of 25 years (with authorized extensions after certain notice and filing requirements); (4) early relinquishment of the land withdrawal and reservation; and (5) land decontamination and environmental remediation (including authorized alternatives). Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 - Title XXI(sic): Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to construct or acquire family housing units, to carry out architectural planning and design activities, and to improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after 1996 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Army. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXII: Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army. Title XXIII: Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army. Title XXIV: Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out architectural planning and design activities and to improve existing military family housing units, in specified amounts. (Sec. 2404) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund for appropriate uses. (Sec. 2405) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out certain energy conservation projects. (Sec. 2406) Authorizes appropriations to DOD for fiscal years after 1996 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of DOD. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program and authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1996 for such contributions. Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1996 for the Guard and Reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. (Sec. 2602) Authorizes specified Army National Guard military construction projects and architectural and engineering services and construction design, using prior year appropriations. Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in the titles XXI through XXVI of this Act on October 1, 1999, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for FY 2000, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain prior-year military construction projects. Title XXVIII: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes - Increases: (1) from $300,000 to $350,000 the active and reserve component minor construction threshold for a project the Secretary may carry out using operation and maintenance funds without prior approval from the appropriate congressional committees; and (2) from $400,000 to $1.5 million the reserve component minor construction project threshold beyond which congressional notification and a 21-day waiting period are required. (Sec. 2802) Includes major maintenance and the repair of drives within the definition of an "improvement" for purposes of authorized improvements to military family housing. Subtitle B: Base Closure and Realignment and Environment - Amends the base closure laws to authorize the Secretary to contract with local governments for the provision of certain community services at facilities on installations closed pursuant to such laws. (Sec. 2806) Authorizes the Secretary to pay from the Department of Defense Base Closure Account (Part II) up to $50,000 for stipulated environmental damages assessed against Loring Air Force Base, Maine. Subtitle C: Land Conveyance - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey to: (1) Richmond or Madison County, Kentucky, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky; (2) the Dublin San Ramon Services District, California, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Camp Parks, California; (3) Leavenworth, Kansas, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; (4) Pierce County, Washington, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at Fort Lewis, Washington; (5) Odenton, Maryland, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Meade, Maryland; (6) Monmouth County, New Jersey, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; and (7) Hinesville, Georgia, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at the Hunter Army Air Field, Fort Stewart, Georgia. (Sec. 2814) Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to grant an easement for rights-of-way for electric power or communication poles and lines. Subtitle D: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into an agreement with a local electric utility or private company to install, operate, and maintain a new electrical distribution system at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. Provides agreement conditions. Provides funds for such system from funds authorized and appropriated for FY 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1996
Allows funds appropriated pursuant to the authorizations for the Warsaw Initiative and the Partnership for Peace to be used to assist in the implementation of the Regional Airspace Initiative and the Partnership for Peace Information Management System. (Sec. 2) Revises, effective on September 1, 1997, the authorized end strengths for commissioned officers in the armed forces. (Sec. 3) Authorizes Department of Defense (DOD) procurement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements with any State or local government agency to assist in demonstrating and validating environmental technologies. (Sec. 4) Makes the Government of Haiti eligible to purchase defense articles and services from the United States under the Arms Export Control Act. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to participate in the Foundation Geneva Center for Security Policy. (Sec. 6) Repeals Federal provisions limiting the use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and financial transactions. (Sec. 7) Expands the authority of the Secretary to collect from third parties reimbursement for medical care and services provided under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to include: (1) a workers' compensation program or plan as an authorized third party; and (2) as reimbursable services personal injury protection or medical payments benefits in cases involving injuries resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle. (Sec. 8) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude as a contribution to the capital of a corporation the transfer of a DOD-owned utility system and any associated funds or utility connection fees. (Sec. 9) Applies specified Federal criminal fines and penalties to certain traffic offenses on Federal property. (Sec. 10) Amends the Social Security Act to revise the methods for service of process in connection with child support and alimony garnishment proceedings. (Sec. 11) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to eliminate the requirement for certain environmental remedial investigations and feasibility studies at military installations closed under base closure laws. (Sec. 12) Authorizes the Secretary to pay specified amounts to the Hazardous Substance Superfund as stipulated penalties assessed against DOD under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). (Sec. 13) Amends Federal transportation law to authorize the Secretary to transfer necessary DOD funds to reimburse the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), through the Aviation Insurance Fund, for loss or damage of civilian aircraft or death or injury to personnel used during DOD contingencies. Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, to authorize the Secretary to reimburse the Secretary of Transportation, through the Marine Insurance Fund, for losses, damages, injuries, or deaths resulting from the use of civilian vessels during a DOD contingency. Requires the Secretaries and the FAA Administrator to notify the Congress regarding any such loss, damage, injury, or death in amounts in excess of $1 million. (Sec. 14) Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to order certain members of the Individual Ready Reserve to up to 24 months of active duty other than during war or national emergency, as long as such members volunteer. (Sec. 15) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to extend through FY 1998 the authorized period of assistance by DOD for certain international nonproliferation activities.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1996
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Jackson, Mississippi, as the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1996
Pays tribute to the remarkable life and career of Ronald H. Brown (the late Secretary of Commerce) and to the contributions of all those who perished in the airplane accident on April 3, 1996, while in service to their country on a mission to Bosnia. Extends condolences to the victims' families.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1996
Commends the men and women who have served or are presently serving in the American Foreign Service and honors those who have given their lives in the line of duty. Designates the first Friday in May 1996 as American Foreign Service Day.
United States · United States Congress · 30 December 1995
Provides that, notwithstanding executive orders or Federal laws to the contrary, funds appropriated under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 for military pay raises and basic allowances may be obligated and expended for such purpose. Terminates such authority on April 2, 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 22 December 1995
Protecting Class Action Plaintiffs Act of 1995 - Amends the Federal judicial code to require the attorneys representing the class in a class action lawsuit, no later than ten days after a proposed settlement is filed, to serve the attorney general of each State in which a class member resides and the Department of Justice (DOJ) with specified information, including a copy of the complaint, notice of any scheduled judicial hearing in the class action, and any proposed or final class action settlement. Specifies that: (1) a hearing to consider final approval of a proposed settlement may not be held earlier than 120 days after such notice is served; (2) a class member may refuse to comply with, and may choose not to be bound by, a settlement agreement or consent decree in such a lawsuit if the class member resides in a State whose attorney general has not been provided such notice; and (3) any court order certifying a class or approving a proposed settlement in a class action and any written opinions concerning such court orders and decrees shall be made available for publication in official court reporters and electronic legal databases. Directs any court with jurisdiction over a class action in which the plaintiff is a class to require that: (1) any written notice provided to the class through the mail or publication in printed media contain a short summary written in plain, easily understood language describing the subject matter of the class action, the legal consequences of joining such action, and specified other information; and (2) any notice provided through television or radio to inform the class of its rights to be excluded from a class action or a proposed settlement indicate and explain in plain, easily understood language the individuals that may potentially become class members and that the failure of individuals to exercise their right to be excluded will result in the individual's inclusion in the class action.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1995
Occupational Safety and Health Reform and Reinvention Act - Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) to provide that employee safety and health participation committees are not prohibited under the National Labor Relations Act or the Railway Labor Act. (Sec. 3) Revises inspection provisions. Prohibits routine inspections of employers of ten or fewer employees if such employers: (1) are farming operations which do not maintain a temporary labor camp; or (2) are in a category of employers having an occupational injury or a lost workday case rate which is less than the national average. Grants the Secretary of Labor specified types of discretionary authority in determining which employee complaints must receive special inspection responses. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to establish a voluntary compliance program granting partial exemption from certain OSHA safety and health inspections and investigations for employers who either retain certain consultation or certification programs, or have an exemplary safety record and a safety and health program meeting specified criteria, including having an employee participation program. (Sec. 5) Adds employer defenses of employee misconduct or alternative safer methods. (Sec. 6) Prohibits the Secretary from establishing any quotas for subordinates within the Occupational Safety and Health Administration with respect to number of inspections conducted, citations issued, or penalties collected. (Sec. 7) Provides for warnings in lieu of citations. (Sec. 8) Reduces penalties for nonserious violations and where there are mitigating circumstances. Directs the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission to assess all civil penalties, giving due consideration to their appropriateness with respect to specified factors. Provides for various reductions of penalties for voluntary compliance program participants or exemplary safe worksites under certain conditions. (Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with States for the provision of State consultation services to employers concerning the provision of safe and healthful working conditions. Makes a State eligible to enter into such an agreement only if its approved plan does not include provisions for federally funded consultation to employers. Requires that at least 15 percent of the annual appropriation to carry out OSHA be expended for education, consultation, and outreach efforts. (Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) cooperative agreements to encourage the establishment of comprehensive safety and health management systems which include specified required features; and (2) a voluntary protection program, also with specified required features, to encourage the achievement of excellence in both the technical and managerial protection of employees from occupational hazards.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1995
Condemns the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Extends condolences to his family and to all the people of Israel. Expresses admiration for his historic contributions and support for the government of Acting Prime Minister Shimon Peres. Reaffirms a commitment to the process of building a just and lasting peace between Israel and its neighbors. Provides for the adjournment of the Senate as a further mark of respect for Rabin.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1995
Homesteading and Neighborhood Restoration Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to: (1) Habitat for Humanity International, whose headquarters are in Americus, Georgia; and (2) other national or regional organizations or consortia with experience in providing self-help housing homeownership opportunities.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1995
Repeals a Federal provision limiting salary increases for Federal judges or Supreme Court Justices to those specifically authorized by Act of Congress. Amends the Federal judicial code to make the cost of living adjustments in judicial salaries effective in the first pay period beginning on or after January 1 each year (currently, such adjustments are triggered by General Schedule adjustments).
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1995
Senior Citizens Health Care Freedom to Contract Act of 1995 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to declare that nothing in such title shall prohibit a physician or other provider from entering into a private health services contract with a Medicare beneficiary for which no claim for payment is to be submitted under the program.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1995
Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to revise and rename it the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1995. Instructs the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to: (1) develop and operate a repository for the permanent geologic disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; (2) accept spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste by no later than January 31, 1998, at facilities designated pursuant to certain interim storage facility contracts; (3) provide for the transportation of such wastes (including procuring all systems and components necessary to transport such fuel and waste among facilities comprising the Integrated Management System established by this Act); and (4) pursue expeditiously the development of each component of the integrated management system. Establishes an integrated management system for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, including its storage, transportation, and disposal. Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary is charged with the development and operation of a rail spur originating in Lincoln County, Nevada, and terminating at the interim storage facility site. Provides for intermodal transfer pending direct rail access. Sets a deadline by which the Secretary must develop the capability to commence rail to truck intermodal transfer at Caliente, Nevada. Requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Caliente and Lincoln County, Nevada, to advise the Commission regarding intermodal transfer and to facilitate on-site representation. Prescribes procedural guidelines for the availability by January 31, 1998 of: (1) railroads; (2) transportation planning and requirements; (3) interim storage facilities; (4) permanent disposal; and (5) land withdrawal. Prescribes guidelines for consultation, financial, and technical assistance between the Secretary and the State of Nevada. Instructs the Secretary to: (1) offer the State of Nevada and the affected local governmental entity an opportunity to designate an on-site oversight representative; and (2) offer to enter into separate benefits agreements with the State of Nevada and certain affected Counties concerning the integrated management system. Establishes a Review Panel to advise the Secretary on the integrated management system. Prescribes a fee schedule for electricity generated by civilian nuclear power reactors and spent nuclear fuel used to generate electricity in a civilian nuclear power reactor. Provides that payment of a one-time fee on either spent nuclear fuel used to generate electricity in a civilian nuclear power reactor, or the high- level radioactive waste derived from it, relieves the responsible party from further financial obligation to the Federal Government for its long-term storage or permanent disposal. Sets forth advance contract prerequisites for utilization or production facility license renewals under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Continues the Nuclear Waste Fund and the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. Directs the Secretary to: (1) issue a final rule establishing the appropriate portion of the costs of managing high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel allocable to the interim storage or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste from atomic energy defense activities and spent nuclear fuel foreign research reactors; and (2) advise the Congress annually of the amount of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from atomic energy defense activities requiring management in the integrated spent nuclear fuel management system. Prescribes a prioritization scheme for the allocation of funds: (1) to components of the integrated management system; and (2) from the Nuclear Waste Fund. States that actions authorized by this Act shall be governed solely in accordance with the provisions of specified statutes. Grants the United States courts of appeals original and exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions under this Act. Prescribes guidelines for NRC licensing hearings. Prohibits the Secretary from conducting site-specific activities for a second repository unless the Congress has specifically authorized and appropriated funds therefor. Requires the NRC to promulgate regulatory guidelines for: (1) financial assurances for low-level radioactive waste site closures; and (2) training and qualification of civilian nuclear power plant personnel. Delineates an acceptance schedule for contract holders' spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Proscribes: (1) subseabed or ocean water disposal of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste; and (2) any obligation of funds for any such related activity. Continues the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to take action as necessary to improve the management of the civilian radioactive waste management program to ensure that it is operated to the maximum extent like a private business. States that the program is not subject to civil service regulations. Abolishes the Interim Storage Fund, the Monitored Retrievable Storage Commission, the Office of Subseabed Disposal Research, and the Office of Nuclear Waste Negotiator. Requires the Secretary to present annual schedule and timeline status reports to the Congress. Directs the Secretary to: (1) create a value engineering function within the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management; (2) employ, on an on-going basis, integrated performance modeling regarding site characterization; and (3) report an action plan (and annual updates) to the Congress regarding implementation of this Act and development of the Integrated Waste Management System.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Senate Election Spending Limits and Benefits Title II: Reduction of Special Interest Influence Subtitle A: Elimination of Political Action Committees From Federal Election Activities Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Soft Money of Political Parties Subtitle C: Soft Money of Persons Other Than Political Parties Subtitle D: Contributions Subtitle E: Additional Contribution Limits Subtitle F: Independent Expenditures Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions Senate Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1995 - Title I: Senate Election Spending Limits and Benefits - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to set forth Senate election spending limits and benefits. Entitles complying candidates to specified: (1) broadcast discounts and free time; and (2) postage reductions. (Sec. 103) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to: (1) provide for preemption only in situations beyond a station's control; and (2) extend the license revocation provision for failure to provide access to cable systems. Title II: Reduction of Special Interest Influence - Subtitle A: Elimination of Political Action Committees From Federal Election Activities - Amends FECA to prohibit Federal election activities by political action committees (as defined by this Act). States that if such ban is not in effect: (1) a committee's contributions to a candidate shall not exceed limits applicable to an individual; and (2) a candidate may not accept more than 20 percent of contributions from committee sources. Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Soft Money of Political Parties - Amends FECA to set forth soft money contribution and reporting provisions. Subtitle C: Soft Money of Persons Other Than Political Parties - Amends FECA to set forth reporting requirements for persons other than political parties (with exceptions for candidate's authorized committees or independent expenditures) who disburse more than $2000 for political activities. Subtitle D: Contributions - Amends FECA to set forth conditions under which contributions to a candidate made by a person through an intermediary or conduit shall be treated as having come from the person or from the intermediary. Subtitle E: Additional Prohibitions on Contributions - Requires candidates to raise at least 60 percent of their contributions from in-State individuals in order to be in FECA compliance. Subtitle F: Independent Expenditures - Amends FECA to redefine "independent expenditure." Includes within the definition of "contribution" certain expenditures containing express advocacy made by a candidate or candidate's representative. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends FECA to prohibit the personal use of campaign funds. (Sec. 302) Sets forth political advertising provisions for print and broadcast or cablecast communications. (Sec. 303) Authorizes the Federal Election Commission to: (1) prescribe regulations for computer and facsimile reporting; and (2) conduct random post-election audits to ensure voluntary FECA compliance. (Sec. 305) Prohibits franked mass mailings by a Member in his or her election year (unless such Member will not be a candidate for any Federal office). (Sec. 306) Grants the Commission injunctive relief authority. (Sec. 308) Provides for direct appeal to the United States Supreme Court from any judicial ruling on the constitutionality of any provision of this Act. (Sec. 309) Revises certain political committee reporting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Wheat Title II: Feed Grains Title III: Cotton Title IV: Rice Title V: Oilseeds Title VI: Peanuts Title VII: Sugar Title VIII: General Commodity Provisions Subtitle A: Amendments to Agricultural Act of 1949 Subtitle B: Miscellaneous Commodity Provisions Subtitle C: Conforming Amendments Subtitle D: Application Agricultural Competitiveness Act of 1995 - Title I: Wheat - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 (Act) to extend and set forth wheat loan, payments, and acreage reduction programs. Establishes: (1) a minimum 85 percent loan and purchase level; (2) a $4.00 per bushel target price; and (3) a 75 percent non-paid base acreage. Title II: Feed Grains - Amends the Act to extend and set forth feed grain loan, payments, and acreage reduction programs. Establishes: (1) a minimum 85 percent loan and purchase level; (2) target prices for corn ($2.75 per bushel), oats ($1.45 per bushel), grain sorghums ($2.61 per bushel), and barley (85.8 percent of corn price); and (3) a 75 percent non-paid base acreage. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to extend the silage recourse loan program. Title III: Cotton - Amends the Act to extend and set forth upland cotton loan, payments, and acreage reduction programs. Establishes: (1) a $0.729 per pound target price; and (2) a 75 percent non-paid base acreage. Extends: (1) the extra long staple cotton program; and (2) cottonseed and cottonseed oil price supports. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to extend cotton skiprow practices. Amends the Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act to extend cotton classification services. Title IV: Rice - Amends the Act to extend and set forth rice loan, payments, and acreage reduction programs. Establishes: (1) a minimum 85 percent loan and purchase level; (2) a $10.71 per hundredweight target price; and (3) a 75 percent non-paid base acreage. Title V: Oilseeds - Amends the Act to extend and set forth the oilseed loan program. Establishes target prices for: (1) soybeans at $5.50 per bushel; (2) sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed, and flaxseed at $9.75 per hundredweight; and (3) other oilseeds based upon soybean prices. Title VI: Peanuts - Amends the Act to extend and revise the peanut program. Suspends marketing quota and acreage allotment provisions. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish national poundage quotas based upon domestic edible uses. Repeals: (1) undermarketing poundage increases; and (2) the special poundage allocation for Texas. Revises poundage quota transfer provisions. Extends experimental and research programs. Limits: (1) price support increases or decreases to five percent annually; and (2) entry into the New Mexico area marketing association to New Mexico-produced peanuts. Requires imported and exported peanuts to comply with U.S. quality standards. Extends assessment provisions. Title VII: Sugar - Amends the Act to extend and set forth sugar price support provisions. Establishes: (1) the sugarcane target price at 18 cents per pound; and (2) a two-tiered assessment for marketings within and in excess of base amounts. Establishes a procedure to assure the supply of raw cane sugar. Requires the establishment of marketing assessment bases. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to extend the reporting requirement regarding third party nation exporting of Cuban sugar into the United States. Title VIII: General Commodity Provisions - Subtitle A: Amendments to Agricultural Act of 1949 - Amends the Act to extend: (1) deficiency and land diversion payments; and (2) support price and established price adjustments. Permits: (1) alternative crops to be planted on 100 percent (currently 25 percent) of crop acreage base without penalty; and (2) planting of crops on up to 25 percent of historical soybean acreage without loss of agricultural program eligibility. Subtitle B: Miscellaneous Commodity Provisions - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to extend payment limitations. Amends the Options Pilot Program Act of 1990 to extend the options pilot program. Amends the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 to extend the National Agricultural Cost of Production Standards Review Board. Subtitle C: Conforming Amendments - Makes specified conforming amendments. Subtitle D: Application - Sets forth application dates for amendments made by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 August 1995
Medicare Consumer Protection Act of 1995 - Revises title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to modify the prohibition against selling or issuing a health insurance policy to an individual entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B with the knowledge that such policy duplicates health benefits to which the individual is otherwise entitled under such title or title XIX (Medicaid). Exempts Medicare supplemental policies from such prohibition. Requires the duplication to be substantial before the prohibition applies. Makes such prohibition inapplicable to: (1) a health insurance policy providing for benefits payable to or on behalf of an individual without regard to other health benefit coverage of such individual; or (2) a health insurance policy, or a rider to an insurance contract which is not a health insurance policy, providing benefits only for long-term, nursing home, home health, or community-based care, or any combination thereof, that prevents duplication by coordinating against or excluding items and services available or paid for under medicare, and such coordination or exclusion is disclosed in the policy's outline of coverage. Modifies the prohibition against selling or issuing a Medicare supplemental policy to an individual entitled to benefits with the knowledge that such policy duplicates health benefits to which the individual is entitled under another Medicare supplemental policy. Declares that a seller (who is not the issuer) of such a policy shall not be considered to have violated this prohibition if the policy is sold in compliance with specified requirements and the statement indicates on its face that the sale will not duplicate health benefits to which the individual is otherwise entitled under another Medicare supplemental policy. Repeals: (1) the exemption from such prohibition of certain group policies or plans sold or issued to employees or former employees or members or former members of labor organizations; and (2) specified disclosure requirements with respect to duplication of benefits. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) limitations on legal actions including causes of action that arose before specified dates; and (2) exclusivity of remedies available with respect to this Act's non-duplication requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: 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: State Health Care Fraud Control Units Title VII: Medicare Billing Abuse Prevention Health Care Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act of 1995 - Title I: All-Payer Fraud and Abuse Control Program - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to establish: (1) an all-payer fraud and abuse control program; and (2) guidelines, including information guidelines, to carry out such program. Establishes the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control account (the account), which shall consist in part of amounts deposited or transferred to such Account under specified health care offenses provisions of specified Acts. (Sec. 102) Applies specified Medicare and State health care anti-fraud and abuse provisions of part A (General Provisions) of SSA title XI to all Federal health programs. (Sec. 103) Directs the HHS Secretary annually to solicit proposals for modifications to existing safe harbors and for additional safe harbors, according to certain criteria, for payment practices. Permits any person, at any time, to request a notice from the HHS Inspector General (IG) which informs the public of practices which the IG considers to be suspect or of particular concern (special fraud alerts), as well as interpretive rulings with regard to the application of certain anti-fraud and abuse provisions under SSA title XI. 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 provide for: (1) the mandatory exclusion of individuals with a felony fraud conviction from participation in Medicare and State health care programs; (2) a minimum period of exclusion for certain individuals and entities subject to permissive exclusion from Medicare and State health care programs; (3) the permissive exclusion of individuals with ownership or control interest in sanctioned entities; (4) 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 with respect to: (1) mail fraud, to impose a fine or imprisonment for up to ten years or both in the case of health care fraud; (2) the forfeiture of property in certain Federal health care offenses; (3) sppecified injunctive relief; (4) fines or imprisonment or both in connection with Federal health care offenses; and (5) 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: State Health Care Fraud Control Units - Provides, under Medicaid, for the extension of concurrent authority to investigate and prosecute fraud in other Federal programs and to investigate and prosecute patient abuse in non-Medicaid board and care facilities. Title VII: Medicare Billing Abuse Prevention - Directs the Secretary to: (1) require Medicare carriers to acquire commercial automatic data processing equipment meeting specified requirements to process Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) claims for the purpose of identifying billing code abuse; and (2) order a review of existing regulations, guidelines, and other guidance governing Medicare payment policies and billing code abuse to determine if revision is necessary to maximize the benefits to the Federal Government of the use of such equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Employee Group Health Plan Security Title II: Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement Reform Title III: Health Plan Purchasing Coalitions Employer Group Purchasing Reform Act of 1995 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to revise provisions relating to protection for employees in self-funded employee benefit health plans, State regulation of multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) operators, and voluntary health plan purchasing coalitions. (Sec. 2) Revises ERISA definitions and special rules to refer to self-funded, as well as to fully insured, employee benefit group health plans. Defines a self-funded health plan so as to require employers or plan sponsors to retain substantial financial risk for providing benefits under the plan as provided by regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Labor (in order for such plans to be afforded ERISA preemption from State insurance laws). Title I: Employee Group Health Plan Security - Establishes employee benefit group health plan nondiscrimination requirements under ERISA. Prohibits specified discrimination practices. Limits waiting periods based on preexisting conditions. Requires credit for qualifying previous coverage. Prohibits catastrophic or lifetime limits on coverage. (Sec. 102) Establishes disclosure requirements. Revises plan notification, disclosure, and termination requirements for fully insured or self-insured health plans. Provides increased security of health benefits for employees enrolled in employer-sponsored plans. (Sec. 103) Requires plan sponsors to notify each participant of the termination of a health plan, whether fully insured or self-funded, at least 90 days prior to the termination. Prohibits employers from modifying benefit or contribution levels in that 90-day period before termination. Requires self-funded health plans to submit proof of purchase of an involuntary termination policy, which must provide participants 90 days of coverage beyond the plan's termination date, with exceptions for single-employer plans with a AAA bond credit rating and for multiemployer plans that meet specified requirements under the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947. Title II: Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement Reform - Revises ERISA definitions with respect to the status of plans managed by participating employers under multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs). Provides that even if a MEWA is not treated as a benefit plan for ERISA purposes, each employer participating in a MEWA will be treated as maintaining (through the MEWA) a benefit plan, and the employer's employees will be treated as the plan's participants. (Sec. 201) Revises the definition of MEWA to include certain employee leasing arrangements. Requires MEWAs to register annually with the Department of Labor. Revises the definition of common control for single employer arrangements. (Sec. 202) Modifies preemption rules for MEWAs. Provides that State insurance laws apply to any MEWA which is an employee group health plan. (Sec. 203) Sets forth criminal penalties for false representation of the MEWA to any employer, employee, beneficiary, State, or the Secretary. Title III: Health Plan Purchasing Coalitions - Establishes provisions for health plan purchasing coalitions, which may be formed by groups of individuals or employers, but not formed or underwritten by insurers, agents, brokers, or any other individual or entity engaged in the sale of insurance. (Sec. 301) Requires State certification and Federal registration of such purchasing coalitions. Considers a purchasing coalition to be domiciled in the State in which most of its members are located. Requires each purchasing coalition to be governed by a board of directors, with certain requirements for board composition. Permits purchasing coalitions to establish membership criteria. Authorizes States to establish rules regarding the geographic area served by a purchasing coalition. Requires a purchasing coalition to: (1) enter into agreements with insured health plans; (2) enter into agreements with members; (3) participate in State-established risk adjustment or reinsurance programs; (4) prepare and distribute materials to permit members to compare plans; (5) market within the service area; and (6) act as ombudsman for all enrollees. Prohibits the purchasing coalition from performing certain other activities, including licensing health plans and assuming financial risk. Provides that members of the purchasing coalition (employers or plans) will be treated as maintaining a benefit plan on behalf of plan participants. Allows a purchasing coalition to act as plan administrator for employer members. Preempts State fictitious group laws, certain State rating requirement laws, and certain State mandated benefit laws. (Sec. 302) Permits the States to apply to the Secretary for partial or complete authority to enforce certain ERISA provisions relating to MEWAs and health plan purchasing coalitions. Authorizes the Secretary to provide assistance to the States by: (1) establishing communications between the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration and State agencies to share information on specific cases; (2) providing technical assistance relating to regulation of MEWAs; (3) assisting States in getting advisory opinions; and (4) distributing advisory opinions to State insurance commissioners.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1995
George Washington Commemorative Coin Act - Requires the Secretary of Treasury to mint and issue five-dollar gold coins emblematic of George Washington. Mandates that the design for the coins shall be: (1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association and the Commission of Fine Arts; and (2) reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee. Provides for the distribution of coin sale surcharges to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Small Business Advocacy Review Title II: Peer Review Survey Small Business Advocacy Act of 1995 - Title I: Small Business Advocacy Review - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate an EPA employee who is a member of the Senior Executive Service and whose immediate supervisor is appointed by the President to serve as the chairperson of each Environmental Small Business Advocacy Review Panel established under this Act. Directs the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) of the Department of Labor to designate an OSHA employee with such qualifications to serve as the chairperson of each Occupational Safety and Health Small Business Advocacy Review Panel established under this Act. Directs the appropriate chairperson, with respect to a proposed Federal agency rule (other than agency organization, management, or personnel rules), to determine whether such rule is significant (has an impact on small business and has an annual aggregate impact on government and the private sector of at least $50 million) and, if so, to notify the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget and the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration to appoint review panel members for evaluation of the rule. Requires each chairperson to notify panel members of the intent of an agency to issue a final rule, and to solicit comments from the panel with respect to the rule's effect on small business. Provides review panel administrative, procedural, and personnel matters. Directs each chairperson to submit to the appropriate Federal agency employees responsible for carrying out a significant rule and to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing the findings and recommendations of the review panel for such rule and a recommendation of whether to conduct a cross-section survey of the small businesses impacted by the rule. Prohibits: (1) the judicial review of review panel activities; or (2) the publication of a rule in the Federal Register until the appropriate chairperson has had an adequate opportunity for its review under this Act. Title II: Peer Review Survey - Provides that, if a review panel recommends that a survey be conducted, the Federal agency involved shall contract with a private sector firm or organization to conduct the survey. Requires the availability of survey results to each interested Federal agency and, upon request, to any other interested party.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1995
Investigations into Terrorism Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit knowingly falsifying or concealing a material fact or making any false statements or representations on any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch or any department, agency, committee, subcommittee, or office thereof, except a court when performing an adjudicative function (currently, such prohibition applies to any matter within the jurisdiction of any U.S. department or agency). Prohibits the obstruction of any U.S. department or agency proceeding or any congressional investigation by acting with an improper purpose, personally or by influencing another, including by making false or misleading statements or withholding, concealing, altering, or destroying documents. Amends the Federal judicial code to limit the exemption of an officer or employee of the Federal Government acting within an official capacity from U.S. district court jurisdiction to enforce a Senate subpoena or order to instances where the head of such person's department or agency, with the approval of the Attorney General, has directed the officer not to comply with the subpoena and has provided the issuer of the subpoena with a written explanation of the reasons for noncompliance. Provides for a U.S. district court to order an individual to provide information which he or she refuses to provide on the basis of the privilege against self-incrimination in proceedings ancillary to either House of Congress (currently, such authority applies only to proceedings before either House).
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 · 24 May 1995
Grants the consent of the Congress to the amendment to articles I, II, and III of the Historic Chattahoochee Compact between Alabama and Georgia which: (1) provide that the purpose of the Compact is to promote the cooperative development of the Chattahoochee valley's full potential for historic preservation and tourism; (2) make such Compact effective immediately as to the States ratifying it whenever Alabama and Georgia have ratified it and the Congress has given its consent; and (3) permit the two States to establish a joint agency to be known as the Historic Chattahoochee Commission.
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 · 27 April 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Procurement Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Title III: Operation and Maintenance Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Reserve Component Subtitle C: Other Matters Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations Subtitle A: Active Forces Subtitle B: Reserve Forces Subtitle C: Military Training Student Loads Title V: Military Personnel Policy Subtitle A: Officer Personnel Policy Subtitle B: Reserve Component Matters Subtitle C: Amendments to the Uniform Code of Military Justice Subtitle D: Other Matters Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances Subtitle B: Income Tax Matters Subtitle C: Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays Subtitle D: Travel and Transportation Allowances Subtitle E: Retired Pay, Insurance, and Survivor Benefits Subtitle F: Separation Pay Title VII: Civilian Employees Subtitle A: Civilian Personnel Policy Subtitle B: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits Subtitle C: Separation Provisions Title VIII: Health Care Provisions Subtitle A: Health Care Management Subtitle B: Other Matters Title IX: Department of Defense Organization and Management Subtitle A: Secretarial Matters Subtitle B: Professional Military Education Subtitle C: Other Matters Title X: General Provisions Subtitle A: Financial Matters Subtitle B: Counter-Drug Activities Subtitle C: Other Matters Title XI: Matters Relating to Allies, Other Nations, and International Organizations Title XII: Acquisition Reform National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 - Title I: Procurement - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and for other procurement. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 for: (1) defense- wide procurement; (2) the Defense Inspector General; (3) the chemical demilitarization program; and (4) the Defense Health Program. (Sec. 108) Repeals the current requirement for a separate budget request for the procurement of reserve equipment. Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 for the armed forces for research, development, test, and evaluation. Title III: Operation and Maintenance - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 for the armed forces and specified activities and agencies of the Department of Defense (DOD) for operation and maintenance. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for FY 1996 and 1997 for working capital and revolving funds. (Sec. 303) Establishes in the Treasury the Civilian Marksmanship Program Fund, to be available for all expenses of the Civilian Marksmanship Program. (Sec. 304) Repeals a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 which provides certain limitations on the use of funds in the Defense Business Operations Fund. (Sec. 305) Authorizes the use of the National Defense Sealift Fund for expenses of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. Subtitle B: Reserve Component - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act of 1995 to allow a DOD reimbursement official to use funds to provide pay and allowances to reserves engaged in activities in support of cooperative threat reduction with states of the former Soviet Union. Excludes such reserves from inclusion in any active duty end strength limitations for members on active duty. (Sec. 322) Authorizes the use of DOD funds for National Guard participation in joint Army and Air Force exercises concerning civil emergency and disaster response preparedness. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Amends Federal transportation provisions to authorize the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to transfer from any DOD funds necessary sums to reimburse the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for loss or damage to civil aircraft, death or injury to personnel, and related losses or damages which have been insured at the Secretary's request due to civilian participation in DOD emergency contingency operations. Requires the Secretary to use such funds to promptly reimburse the Aviation Insurance Fund of the FAA within 30 days (for hull damage) or 180 days (for all other valid claims) after presentment of claim by a civilian carrier. Requires the Secretary and the FAA Administrator to notify the Congress within 30 days of any losses, death, injuries, or damages at a cost in excess of $1 million. Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, to empower the Secretary with identical authority to reimburse the Secretary of Transportation for such losses insured by the Marine Insurance Fund. Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Transportation to report periodically to the Congress on claims paid in excess of $1 million. (Sec. 332) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 to require additional certifications from the Secretary to the congressional defense committees before proceeding beyond the low-rate initial production stage of a theater missile defense interceptor program. (Sec. 333) Authorizes the Secretary to assign overseas personnel under the defense dependents' education program to schools established under such program in the United States, and vice versa. (Sec. 334) Authorizes the use of funds appropriated to the Central Imagery Office for the design, development, and deployment of the Accelerated Architecture Acquisition Initiative program imagery systems of the military departments and related activities. (Sec. 335) Directs the Secretary to carry out a Department of Defense Laboratory Revitalization Program under which the Secretary may carry out minor military construction projects in order to improve DOD laboratories. Increases the maximum costs of minor construction projects for purposes of the Program. Directs the Secretary to designate the DOD laboratories to be covered by the Program. Requires a report. Prohibits the Secretary from carrying out any program after September 30, 2000. Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations - Subtitle A: Active Forces - Provides for the authorized end strengths for active- duty forces as of the end of FY 1996 and 1997. Subtitle B: Reserve Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths as of the end of FY 1996 and 1997 for members of the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel on active duty in support of the reserves. Subtitle C: Military Training Student Loads - Sets forth the authorized FY 1996 and 1997 military training student loads, allowing for certain adjustments consistent with authorized end strengths. Title V: Military Personnel Policy - Subtitle A: Officer Personnel Policy - Provides, with respect to members of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, that an individual's period of desertion, unexcused absence, confinement, or inability to perform duties, as well as the time required to make up any such absence, may not be counted for purposes of determining the individual's length of service. (Sec. 502) Redesignates certain general officer billet titles within the Marine Corps resulting from a headquarters reorganization. (Sec. 503) Revises the retirement date for warrant officers and certain active-duty officers chosen for selective early retirement. Requires an annual authorization of personnel strength levels for such members whose retirement has been deferred. (Sec. 504) Increases the authorized end strengths for active-duty commissioned Air Force majors, lieutenant colonels, and colonels. Terminates such increase at the end of FY 1997. Provides similar increases, with the same termination date, for commissioned Navy lieutenant commanders, commanders, and captains. (Sec. 506) Revises certain definitions under Federal provisions relating to the promotion of general or flag officers. Subtitle B: Reserve Component Matters - Repeals a Federal provision requiring each member of the National Guard called into or leaving Federal service to be examined for physical fitness. (Sec. 512) Authorizes a Federal employee military leave as a member of the reserve to perform public safety duty. (Sec. 513) Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to prescribe the duration of field training or a practice cruise (currently, either must be no less than six weeks) required for admission to the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) advanced course. (Sec. 515) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to require the Secretary of the Army to have an objective of increasing the percentage of qualified prior active-duty personnel in the Selected Reserve (currently, in the Army National Guard). (Sec. 516) Requires technicians employed by the Army or Air National Guard to wear the military uniform appropriate for the member's grade and component while performing technician functions. Considers such duty as active duty, thereby permitting a clothing allowance. (Sec. 517) Provides an exception to the prohibition against the involuntary separation from service of military personnel within two years from retirement in the case of reserve personnel performing active duty service for less than 180 days. (Sec. 518) Authorizes the Secretary to provide certain involuntarily separated military reserve technicians with placement consideration through the DOD Priority Placement Program. Subtitle C: Amendments to the Uniform Code of Military Justice - Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to make subject to its provisions those persons serving with or accompanying an armed force in the field in a time of armed conflict. (Sec. 553) Allows an investigative officer to investigate the subject matter of any uncharged offense against an accused during an investigation, as long as the accused is present, is informed of the nature of the investigation, and is permitted representation, presentation of evidence, and cross-examination. (Sec. 554) Eliminates the $500, six-month fine and imprisonment limits for persons convicted of refusing to testify before a court- martial. Revises provisions concerning the effective date of sentencings as they relate to the forfeiture of military pay and allowances. (Sec. 557) Allows deferment of a sentence of confinement upon application by the accused if the sentence has not been ordered to be carried out. Terminates the deferment at such time as the sentence is ordered to be executed. Allows the accused to submit to the convening authority written matters for consideration with respect to the findings and sentence. (Sec. 559) Allows a proceeding in revision (a proceeding to revise a trial record) to be ordered to correct an erroneously announced sentence. (Sec. 560) Allows the post-trial review of courts-martial in the Office of the Judge Advocate General, unless the accused has waived or withdrawn the right to appeal under the UCMJ. (Sec. 561) Authorizes the United States to appeal an order or ruling which directs the disclosure of classified information, imposes sanctions for nondisclosure of such information, or refuses to issue a protective order seeking to prevent such disclosure. (Sec. 562) Includes flight from arrest as a punishable action under the UCMJ. (Sec. 563) Removes a gender reference with respect to the UCMJ offense of carnal knowledge with a person under 16 years of age. Requires the accused in such a prosecution to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the other person was at least 12 years of age and that the accused reasonably believed the person to be at least 16. (Sec. 564) Requires newly enlisted personnel to be instructed in the UCMJ upon entrance into active or reserve duty. Subtitle D: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary concerned to accept at his discretion the reenlistment of members of the armed forces with ten or more years of service. Requires such reenlistment period to be unspecified on a career basis. (Sec. 572) Reduces from three to two years the minimum time in grade required for a chief warrant officer to be considered for promotion. Allows warrant officers below the promotion zone for the grade of chief warrant officer, W-3, to be considered for such a promotion. (Sec. 573) Allows the Secretary of the Army to retire a Director of Admissions of the U.S. Military Academy after 30 years of commissioned officer service. Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits - Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances - Waives any FY 1996 military pay increases tied to increases in the General Schedule of Compensation for Government employees. Increases by 2.4 percent, effective on January 1, 1996, the rates of basic pay and the basic allowance for subsistence. Increases by 3.4 percent the basic allowance for quarters, effective on the same date. (Sec. 602) Provides an evacuation allowance to civilian personnel and their dependents officially authorized to evacuate their duty stations. (Currently, such allowance is only paid to military personnel and their dependents who are ordered to evacuate.) (Sec. 603) Provides continuous entitlement to career sea pay for crew members on ships designated as a tender-class ship. (Sec. 604) Increases to $200 monthly the subsistence allowance payable to members of the Senior ROTC. (Sec. 605) Provides a dislocation allowance for those directed to move as a result of a base realignment or closure. (Sec. 607) Authorizes, as of July 1, 1996, the payment of a basic allowance for quarters for enlisted personnel in the pay grade of E-6. Subtitle B: Income Tax Matters - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit, after December 31, 1994, the exclusion of combat pay from withholding taxes only to the extent that such pay is excluded from gross income. Subtitle C: Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays - Reduces from nine to eight of the first 12 years of aviation service the period during which an officer must perform operational flying duties in order to receive aviation career incentive pay. (Sec. 622) Extends specified expiring authorities for certain special pay and bonus programs within the regular and reserve armed forces. Makes permanent: (1) the aviation officer retention bonus; (2) the authority for the temporary promotion of certain Navy lieutenants; and (3) the authority for the DOD specialized treatment facility program. Subtitle D: Travel and Transportation Allowances - Authorizes the Secretary concerned to provide contract quarters as lodging in kind when transient government quarters are unavailable for reserve personnel performing annual training duty or inactive-duty training. (Sec. 632) Deletes a provision limiting to surface transportation the means of shipping a motor vehicle for a member assigned to a permanent change of duty station. (Sec. 633) Includes students who graduate from or cease to be enrolled in a foreign institution of higher education within a provision authorizing the Secretary concerned to return to the United States formerly dependent children of military personnel who attain a nondependent age while overseas. Subtitle E: Retired Pay, Insurance, and Survivor Benefits - Makes ineligible for retired pay those persons convicted under the UCMJ whose sentences include death, dishonorable or bad conduct discharge, or dismissal from service. (Sec. 642) Makes first payable for March 1996 the FY 1996 cost-of- living adjustment for military retirees. (Sec. 643) Increases from $100,000 to $200,000 the amount of Servicemen's Group Life Insurance provided automatically to members assigned to active duty or the Ready or Retired Reserve. (Sec. 644) Authorizes the provision of medical and dental care, and the recovery, care, and disposition of remains, in the case of reserve members on duty other than active duty for more than 30 days, for members requiring such care while remaining overnight at or in the vicinity of a site outside reasonable commuting distance from the member's residence and at which site the member has performed inactive duty training between successive periods of such training. Entitles such individuals to basic pay while performing such service, or, if not entitled to such pay due to other eligibility requirements, to compensation as a member of the National Guard performing inactive- duty training. Subtitle F: Separation Pay - Provides certain transitional compensation for the dependents of any military member separated from the armed forces due to dependent abuse. (Currently, such compensation is only provided to dependents of members separated from active duty.) (Sec. 661) Authorizes the branch, office, or officer designated by the Secretary of the Navy to procure or sell to members of the Navy and Marine Corps specified articles and items of clothing and equipment, under such restrictions as such Secretary may prescribe. Directs such designate to sell to members of other military departments subsistence supplies and serviceable supplies at prices charged to members of the Navy and Marine Corps. Allows an honorably discharged member from any service branch who is receiving care and medical treatment from the Public Health Service or the Department of Veterans Affairs to buy subsistence supplies at prices charged to Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Allows honorably discharged individuals to buy exterior articles of uniform at such prices. Authorizes such Secretary to provide for the procurement and sale of items and articles designated by him to such U.S. civilian officers and employees as he considers proper at military installations: (1) outside the United States; and (2) inside the United States when it is impracticable for such officers and employees to obtain such articles and items from commercial enterprises without impairing the efficient operation of military activities. Requires such sales to be made only to those residing within the installation. Title VII: Civilian Employees - Subtitle A: Civilian Personnel Policy - Provides the legal public holiday days for those Federal employees whose basic workweek is other than Monday through Friday. (Sec. 702) Terminates the 120-day limit on administrative details within executive or military departments. (Sec. 703) Repeals a Federal provision requiring each Federal agency to submit to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) a report concerning part-time career employment activities undertaken by such agency. Subtitle B: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits - Repeals a Federal provision prohibiting DOD funds from being used to pay lodging expenses of a civilian DOD employee on official business when adequate government quarters are available. (Sec. 712) Includes within the definition of Federal employees the employees of various nonappropriated fund instrumentalities of the service branches. Subtitle C: Separation Provisions - Includes under Federal provisions authorizing continued health insurance coverage for a specified period after military discharge or separation those individuals: (1) voluntarily separating from the armed forces due to a reduction in force; and (2) whose positions are considered surplus due to the closure or realignment of a military installation. (Sec. 722) Entitles any eligible Federal employee to receive severance pay in a lump-sum amount. Requires refunding the pro rata share of a lump-sum payment if an individual is reemployed by the Government or the District of Columbia. Terminates such entitlement at the end of FY 1999. (Sec. 723) Directs OPM to prescribe regulations which permit, until September 30, 1996, DOD employees who are not scheduled for separation due to a reduction-in-force (RIF) to volunteer for RIF separation in place of employees who are so scheduled. Title VIII: Health Care Provisions - Subtitle A: Health Care Management - Amends the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to increase the health care professional payment limitation requirements under the CHAMPUS physician payment reform program, tying such limits to similar limits under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. Requires the Secretary to prescribe regulations covering such payment amounts, providing for exceptions in the case of adequate health care access. Provides transitional requirements. (Sec. 802) Amends specified prior national defense authorization Acts to repeal certain limitations on reductions in military medical personnel. Subtitle B: Other Matters - Requires a military medical advance directive (a directive to require or refuse life-support systems or to appoint a person to make such decisions) to be: (1) exempt from any State requirements of form, substance, formality, or recording; and (2) given the same legal effect as a State advanced medical directive. (Sec. 812) Terminates the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, directing the Secretary to phase out such University beginning in FY 1996 and ending at the close of FY 1999. Prohibits any new class of University students after FY 1995, and prohibits awarding degrees after FY 1999. (Sec. 813) Repeals a Federal provision prohibiting DOD funds from being used to perform abortions unless the life of the mother is in danger. Title IX: Department of Defense Organization and Management - Subtitle A: Secretarial Matters - Authorizes a 12th Assistant Secretary of Defense. (Sec. 902) Redesignates the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical Programs. Subtitle B: Professional Military Education - Includes within the National Defense University the Institute for National Strategic Studies (which replaces the Institute for National Strategic Study) and the Information Resources Management College. (Sec. 912) Includes the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies within a Federal provision authorizing the Secretary to employ as many civilian professors, instructors, and lecturers at specified institutions as considered necessary. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Amends various prior national defense authorization Acts and Federal armed forces provisions to reduce or eliminate specified congressional reporting, notification, or certification requirements. (Sec. 922) Repeals the Federal prohibition against contracting out for the fire fighting and security guard functions at military installations. (Sec. 923) Increases to: (1) $1.7 million the unspecified minor construction threshold; and (2) $350,000 the operation and maintenance threshold. (Sec. 924) Changes from February 15 to March 1 annually a required report from the Secretary concerning National Guard and reserve component equipment. (Sec. 925) Revises the annual date for the joint OMB-CBO report on the scoring of national defense budget outlays. (Sec. 926) Repeals a required annual report from the Secretary on payments made to defense contractors for the costs of environmental response actions. Title X: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Financial Matters - Requires the head of the Coast Guard, when such service is not operating as a service within the Navy, to designate disbursing officials within the Coast Guard for the disbursing of public funds. Allows the Secretary to designate deputy disbursing officials within DOD. (Currently, the Secretary of each military department may designate such an official within that department.) Authorizes the Secretary and the Secretary of Transportation, when operating the Coast Guard, to: (1) designate military personnel under their jurisdiction to certify vouchers; and (2) relieve certifying officials from certain liability concerning the certification of the use of public funds under their jurisdiction. Allows for the crediting of a deficiency in an account under the jurisdiction of such officials, in appropriate circumstances. (Sec. 1002) Provides an exception to certain military personnel due process requirements in the case of routine adjustments of military pay attributable to clerical or administrative error or processing delays. (Sec. 1003) Authorizes the Secretary, under specified limitations, to incur necessary obligations to preserve the military readiness in excess of contract authority and amounts available in DOD appropriations. Requires proposals to incur such additional obligations to be accompanied by offsetting rescission proposals, unless emergency conditions exist. Outlines procedures for charging such excess costs to certain DOD accounts which have been funded as subdivisions within an appropriation. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to allow, under certain limitations, an obligation and an adjustment to an obligation to be charged to any current DOD appropriation account that is available for the same purpose as a closed or expired DOD account when the expired or closed account was or may have been in violation of the Anti Deficiency Act (an Act which provides express time limitations on the expenditure and obligation of Federal appropriations or funds). (Sec. 1004) Authorizes the Secretary or the Secretary of a military department to waive certain settlement and payment limitations for claims by military personnel under that Secretary's jurisdiction when such claims arose from an emergency evacuation or from extraordinary circumstances warranting such waiver. Applies such waiver to claims arising on or after June 1, 1991. Subtitle B: Counter-Drug Activities - Authorizes the Secretary, in lieu of providing drug interdiction and counter-drug activities funds to a State, to allocate funds for the pay and related expenses of personnel of the National Guard of such State who perform counter- drug duty pursuant to a plan submitted to the Secretary by the governor of such State. Limits to 4,000 the total number of National Guard personnel who may perform such duty for more than 180 days, with an authorized 20 percent increase when necessary in the national interest. Outlines plan requirements. Requires the Secretary to examine the plan's adequacy in consultation with the Director of National Drug Policy. (Sec. 1012) Authorizes the Secretary to conduct outreach programs to reduce the demand for illegal drugs among youths. Provides funding from drug interdiction and counter-drug funding. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Increases from 90 days to one year the authorized period for the transportation of a Federal employee or official between his or her residence and place of employment in situations presenting a clear and present danger to such individual. Authorizes the Secretary and the Secretaries of the military departments to delegate their authority to choose those positions under their jurisdiction for which such transportation will be permitted. (Sec. 1022) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to: (1) remove the FY 1993-1995 limit for the National Guard Civilian Youth Opportunities Program; (2) state that the Program shall no longer be considered a pilot program; and (3) authorize the use of government vehicles pursuant to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 in conducting the Program. Authorizes the use of such government vehicles under such Act for the training and administration of the National Guard. (Sec. 1024) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to trade certain military historical items in exchange for conservation and preservation services and for educational programs, supplies and newly upgraded or renovated conservation equipment, facilities, and systems within existing structures. (Sec. 1025) Amends the DOD Education Loan Repayment Program to authorize the Secretary to repay any loan made under part D of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program) on behalf of the following: (1) enlisted members serving on active duty in certain military specialties; (2) enlisted members of the Selected Reserve with certain critical specialties; and (3) Selected Reserve health professions officers serving under wartime critical medical skill shortages. Title XI: Matters Relating to Allies, Other Nations, and International Organizations - Revises certain accounting procedures with respect to defense burden sharing contributions accepted from the Republic of Korea. (Sec. 1102) Authorizes the Secretary to accept such contributions from Japan and the Republic of Korea in dollars or in the currency of the host nation. Allows such contributions to be used for the relocation of U.S. military personnel in or to such countries. Requires annual reports from the Secretary specifying the amount of contributions accepted and expended. (Sec. 1103) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to assign members of the armed forces to any foreign country to promote rationalization, standardization, interoperability, and other defense cooperation measures. (Currently, such promotion is permitted only among members of NATO and with the armed forces of Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.) (Sec. 1104) Amends the Arms Export Control Act to authorize the Secretaries concerned to use amounts reimbursed to the United States by foreign countries for leased items which have been lost or destroyed to either replace such items or to fund upgrades or modifications of similar systems of the military departments. (Sec. 1105) Amends the Arms Export Control Act to authorize the President, under specified conditions, to acquire from an eligible foreign country or international organization a defense article previously transferred to such country under provisions of such Act, or to undertake an exchange of a defense article in return for a repaired or new article. (Sec. 1106) Limits to any operation which is expected to exceed $10 million in cost or last longer than three months the applicability of a requirement for notification from the President to the Congress when providing disaster assistance outside the United States. (Sec. 1107) Requires an annual report from the Secretary to specified congressional committees concerning the provision of worldwide humanitarian assistance by the United States to be submitted at the same time as the President's annual budget submission. Specifies additional information required to be included in such reports. (Sec. 1108) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to authorize during FY 1996 the use of DOD humanitarian assistance funds for activities supporting the clearing of landmines for humanitarian purposes. (Sec. 1109) Authorizes the President to provide personnel, supplies, services, and equipment in support of international peacekeeping and peace enforcement activities and to make contributions to pay the U.S. assessed share for such operations conducted by the United Nations when U.S. combat forces participate. Outlines provisions concerning: (1) appropriate reimbursement to the United States for the costs of such support, subject to specified conditions; (2) the appropriate crediting of reimbursements received; (3) the establishment of the International Peacekeeping and Peace Enforcement Activities Account for appropriate purposes; (4) an annual reporting requirement from the President to the Congress concerning such activities and expenditures; (5) an authorization of appropriations for the payment of assessments for UN operations; and (6) a prohibition on the payment of such UN assessed amounts for such activities when U.S. combat forces do not participate. (Sec. 1110) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to: (1) continue through FY 1996 the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance to support international nonproliferation activities; (2) change from the On-Site Inspection Agency to DOD the responsibility for certain on-site inspections in support of such activities; (3) add to authorized nonproliferation activities; and (4) continue through FY 1996 certain quarterly reporting requirements with respect to such activities. Title XII: Acquisition Reform - Exempts from Federal provisions requiring the cancellation of appropriated funds if not used by the end of the fifth fiscal year following their appropriation any funding appropriated for: (1) satellite on-orbit incentive fees, to remain until the fee is earned; and (2) government shipbuilding appropriations available for budgeted work that must be performed in the final stage of ship construction, to remain until its purpose is satisfied. (Sec. 1202) Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to require certain public notice of a proposed Federal contract expected to exceed $10,000 but not to exceed $25,000. (Sec. 1203) Repeals a Federal provision: (1) requiring letters of offer for the sale of defense articles and services from DOD stocks to include appropriate charges for a proportionate amount of any nonrecurring costs of research, development, and production of major defense equipment; and (2) authorizing the waiver of such charges by the President in certain circumstances. (Sec. 1204) Makes Federal provisions disallowing the receipt by a contracting official of any gratuities from the contractor inapplicable to contracts falling within the simplified acquisition threshold. (Sec. 1205) Amends the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 to require the heads of Federal agencies to make management decisions on all Office of Inspector General audits within six months (currently, no time limit) after their issuance. (Sec. 1206) Repeals a Federal provision prohibiting funds appropriated to DOD from being used to transfer to a foreign country a technical data package for a defense item being manufactured or developed in an arsenal, or to assist a country in producing such an item. (Sec. 1207) Makes permanent (currently only permitted during a national emergency) the power of the President to make, amend, or modify contracts to facilitate the national defense. (Sec. 1208) Includes a U.S. territory as a permissible entity to which the Secretary of the Navy may transfer a captured vessel or a vessel stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. (Sec. 1209) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1990 and 1991 to: (1) require a broad range of the services and supplies acquired by DOD to be included in a test program for negotiating comprehensive subcontracting plans; (2) revise provisions concerning DOD contractors eligible under the test program; and (3) repeal a provision limiting the FY 1994 participants in the program. (Sec. 1210) Removes the requirement of activation of the full Civil Reserve Air Fleet before the Secretary may contract with private aircraft owners for the incorporation of defense features on such aircraft. (Sec. 1211) Prohibits any court or board from exercising jurisdiction over any claim for the adjustment of a shipbuilding contract that was not submitted to the contracting officer within 18 months after the occurrence of the event giving rise to the claim. (Sec. 1212) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to acquire or transfer such vessels and equipment for operation by private salvage companies as the Secretary considers necessary. Authorizes such Secretary to settle and receive payment for any U.S. claim for salvage services rendered by the Navy. (Sec. 1213) Authorizes the Secretary or the secretaries of the military departments to have supplies needed for DOD or a military department made in factories, depots, or arsenals owned by the United States. Authorizes any such Secretary to disestablish any U.S. arsenal considered unnecessary. (Sec. 1214) Repeals a Federal provision prohibiting the use of any appropriated funds for documenting the economic or employment impact of DOD acquisition programs for which research, development, testing, and evaluation have not been completed. (Sec. 1216) Repeals a Federal provision authorizing the Secretary of a military department to delegate certain contract authority. (Sec. 1217) Exempts from certain monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and oversight requirements the defense acquisition pilot programs specified under the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 and such future programs as may be authorized by the Congress pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991. (Sec. 1218) Requires major defense system and munitions programs testing to begin at the component, subsystem, and subassembly level and to culminate with tests of the complete system configured for combat. Revises, generally, language and terms for such programs. (Sec. 1219) Requires any position papers or assessments made with respect to technological issues in defense research to be made part of the record when making acquisition program (currently, milestone O, I, and II) decisions. (Sec. 1220) Repeals a Federal provision which authorizes the head of an agency to waive certain restrictions on undefinitized contractual actions when necessary to support a contingency operation. Excludes from such restrictions contingency operations, peacekeeping and peace enforcement operations, disaster relief operations, and humanitarian assistance. (Sec. 1221) Provides an exception with respect to the requirement of independent cost estimates for major defense acquisition programs when the decision authority for that program has been delegated to an official of a military department, defense agency, or other DOD component. (Sec. 1222) Revises Federal provisions requiring unit cost reports for defense acquisition programs to: (1) remove the definition of "procurement program" for purposes of such reports; and (2) require such a report in certain cases where the current program acquisition unit cost has increased by at least five percent over the 15 percent increase in such cost for the program as shown in its baseline estimate. (Sec. 1223) Repeals Federal provisions requiring certain quality control in the procurement of critical aircraft and ship spare parts. (Sec. 1224) Authorizes funds appropriated to a military department to be used to procure rights to use designs and processes. (Currently, funds are authorized only for technical data and computer software.) (Sec. 1225) Authorizes the Secretary to exclude from certain required post-education duty assignments graduates of the Senior Acquisition Course at the Armed Forces Industrial College if they are assigned upon such graduation to critical acquisition positions. Repeals a Federal provision requiring individuals assigned to critical acquisition positions to so serve for a minimum of three years. (Sec. 1227) Repeals Federal provisions: (1) requiring certain limitations on the performance of depot-level maintenance of material; and (2) prohibiting the contracting-out of DOD depot-level maintenance or repair workload activities previously performed by DOD depot-level activities.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Division B (sic): Military Construction Authorizations Title XXI: Army Title XXII: Navy Title XXIII: Air Force Title XXIV: Defense Agencies Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Infrastructure Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations Title XXVIII: General Provisions Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes Subtitle B: Base Closure and Realignment and Environment Subtitle C: Land Conveyance Subtitle D: Other Matters Division B (sic): Military Construction Authorizations - Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 - Title XXI: Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to construct or acquire family housing units, to carry out architectural planning and design activities, and to improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after 1995 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Army. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXII: Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army under the previous title. Title XXIII: Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army. Title XXIV: Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements to construct, acquire, and improve family housing units at or near military installations for the purpose of encouraging private investments, in a specified amount. Authorizes the Secretary to improve existing military family housing units and to carry out certain energy conservation projects. Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for fiscal years after 1995 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of DOD. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Infrastructure - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Infrastructure Program and authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1995 for such contributions. Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1995 for the Guard and Reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in the preceding titles of this Act on October 1, 1998, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for FY 1999, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain FY 1992 and 1993 military construction projects. Title XXVIII: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes - Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to sell military family housing which has deteriorated beyond economical repair, along with the land on which such housing is located. Requires notification to the appropriate congressional committees and a waiting period of 21 days after such notice. Requires sale proceeds to be deposited into military family housing accounts and used for their purposes. (Sec. 2802) Increases from 300 to 450 the number of units of family housing authorized to be leased in foreign countries for U.S. military family housing purposes. (Sec. 2803) Extends permanently the authority of the Secretary to increase the maximum square footage of military family housing units acquired for military personnel of certain pay grades when determined to be cost effective. (Sec. 2804) Authorizes the Secretary of any military department (currently, only the Navy) to enter into limited partnerships with private developers for the construction of military family housing at or near a military installation. Renames the Navy Housing Investment Account (used for partnership purposes) as the Defense Housing Investment Account. Terminates the Navy Housing Investment Board created to oversee such partnerships. Extends through FY 2000 the authority to enter into such partnerships. (Sec. 2805) Provides that certain cost increase limits with respect to military family housing construction projects do not apply to the settlement of a contractor claim. Subtitle B: Base Closure and Realignment and Environment - Amends the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to allow funds in the Defense Environmental Restoration Account to be used in FY 1996 for environmental restoration activities for military installations approved for closure or realignment in 1995 under such Act. (Sec. 2808) Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act as well as the above Act to authorize the Secretary to enter into agreements (currently, only contracts) with local governments for the provision of certain services (police, fire, airfield operations) at military installations to be closed under such Acts when determined to be in the best interests of DOD. (Sec. 2809) Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1990 (CERCLA) to: (1) provide that certain environmental cleanup responsibilities of the United States with respect to Federal facilities transferred under such Act shall not apply to leases; and (2) authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency or the governor of the affected State to defer such responsibilities upon determination that the property is suitable for transfer or upon assurance that releases caused by the United States will be otherwise addressed. Subtitle C: Land Conveyance - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey to: (1) Burlington County, New Jersey, all rights and interest to the Fort Dix Resource Recovery Facility; (2) Augusta, Georgia, all rights and interest to several parcels of land containing water and wastewater treatment plants at Fort Gordon, Georgia; and (3) the Southern California Edison Company all rights and interest to the electrical distribution system at Fort Irwin, California. Subtitle D: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary concerned to sell to a public or private utility company electricity generated from energy production facilities (currently, only from alternate energy or cogeneration production facilities) that are under the jurisdiction of such Secretary. (Sec. 2815) Requires water conservation savings and water costs of DOD to be included within a required DOD energy performance goal for FY 1991 through 2000. (Sec. 2816) Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to convey all rights and interest to the primate research laboratory at Holloman Air Force Base, as well as ownership of certain chimpanzees used in connection with such research, to the Coulston Foundation or another nonprofit entity determined appropriate by the Secretary. Requires the grantee to utilize the laboratory for scientific or medical research and provide adequate care for the chimpanzees. (Sec. 2817) Requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to specified congressional committees with respect to the acquisition of leasehold interests in land for use in special operations activities. (Sec. 2818) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out school facilities activities, including the construction of elementary and secondary schools on military installations, under provisions of Federal law allowing the provision of education by the Federal Government when local educational agencies are unable to provide adequate educational facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1995
Reaffirms that: (1) the status quo on Cyprus is unacceptable; and (2) all foreign troops should be withdrawn. Welcomes the appointment of a Special Presidential Emissary for Cyprus. Expresses continued support for efforts by the United Nations (UN) Secretary General and the U.S. Government to resolve the Cyprus problem. Insists that all parties to the dispute agree to seek a solution based upon relevant UN resolutions. Supports demilitarization of Cyprus. Encourages the UN Security Council and the U.S. Government to consider alternative approaches to promote a resolution of the dispute based upon relevant Security Council resolutions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Findings; Need to Replace the Income Tax Title II: USA Tax for Individuals Title III: New Business Tax Title IV: Deferred Compensation Plans Title V: Technical and Administrative Changes USA Tax Act of 1995 - Title I: Findings; Need to Replace the Income Tax - States the findings of the Congress regarding the replacement of the current income tax with a new USA Tax and outlines features of the new system. Title II: USA Tax for Individuals - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the current individual income tax with a new USA Income Tax. Imposes the tax only upon individuals who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens. Excludes from gross income the following: (1) returns or benefits from certain previously taxed income, including social security benefits and insurance (including health plan) amounts; (2) compensation for certain kinds of service, including as a minister, a member of the military, or a foster care provider; (3) certain gratuitous, charitable, and governmental transfers, including public assistance program benefits; (4) state and local bond interest; (5) injury and sickness compensation; (6) certain fringe benefits and other benefits furnished primarily for the convenience of an employer; (7) borrowing proceeds and other receipts the taxpayer is legally obligated to return; (8) certain income and housing costs of citizens and residents abroad; (9) discharges of indebtedness; (10) rollovers of savings on which tax is deferred under this Act and of gain from principal residence sales; (11) certain amounts paid by an employer as savings on behalf of an employee; (12) a business entity's receipts that are taxable under the business tax provisions; and (13) casualty and property insurance proceeds. Reduces gross income by the amount deducted for alimony, child support, and separate maintenance payments and by the Unlimited Savings Allowance established by this Act (Allowance). Allows deductions of the following in computing taxable income: (1) personal and dependency exemptions; (2) a sum known as the Family Living Allowance, to be adjusted for inflation beginning in 1997; (3) interest paid on indebtedness to acquire a principal residence; (4) qualified educational expenses; (5) philanthropic transfers (charitable contributions); and (6) a transition basis amount, calculated using the savings assets that determine the Unlimited Savings Allowance. Sets forth tax rate schedules for married individuals filing joint returns and surviving spouses, heads of households, unmarried individuals, and married individuals filing separate returns. Prescribes rules for the tax treatment of unearned income of a child under the age of 14. Allows the following credits against income tax: (1) the foreign tax credit, with respect only to foreign taxes on amounts included in gross income; (2) a payroll tax credit equal to the sum of the employee's share of basic social security taxes, the Tier 1 railroad retirement tax, and one-half of the social security taxes imposed on self-employment income; (3) an earned income tax credit; and (4) a taxes-paid credit equal to the sum of withholding tax amounts, special refunds of social security taxes, overpayments of prior-year tax obligations applied to the current tax year, and estimated tax payments. Establishes a tax-deferred Unlimited Savings Allowance, comprised of deductible additions to savings (including payments of life insurance premiums and retirement account contributions). Prescribes rules for the treatment of deferred income withdrawn from savings, borrowing, and qualification of additions to the Allowance. Grants each taxpayer a general basis account into which may be withdrawn amounts saved that had been includible in income before the Allowance was made applicable or because the savings were considered nondeductible for certain reasons. Defines the basis of property sold or exchanged and nonrecognition transactions, including sale of a principal residence and involuntary conversions. Excludes from the Allowance contributions to a business entity (business) of personal-use property. Taxes a withdrawal of such property from business use only to the extent of the value of changes or repairs made by the business entity. Treats the rental of real estate (except for property rented not more than 14 days during the taxable year) as a business activity to which the business tax applies and ineligible for deductions other than those owing to savings additions. Excludes from the Allowance contributions to a hobby activity. Provides a rule for the tax treatment of ownership interests in land companies. Makes the taxable year for all individuals, except in cases of birth or death during the year, the calendar year. Requires use of the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting by all individual taxpayers. Imposes the greater of the following on nonresident aliens: (1) a tax on the nonbusiness income (with exceptions) and capital gains of such aliens; or (2) an alternate tax without exceptions (based on the rate of tax on unmarried individuals) if the alien lost U.S. citizenship within the ten previous years, unless the loss of citizenship was not principally to avoid the income or estate and gift taxes. Provides rules for treatment of community income. States the intention of the Internal Revenue Code (renamed the USA Tax Code by this Act) to promote a worldwide system in which each nation taxes under an individual tax and a business tax, respectively, only the income of individuals who are residents or citizens and only the business activity in such nation. Gives effect to exemptions of nonresident aliens from tax under treaty with the United States and provides reciprocity when a nation with a tax information sharing agreement with the United States exempts a U.S. resident or citizen from its income and withholding taxes. Provides rules for the tax treatment of contributions to and distributions from trusts and estates. Title III: New Business Tax - Replaces the current corporate income tax with a new tax on corporations and businesses. Imposes a business tax on the sale of goods and services in the United States equal to 11 percent of the gross profits of the business entity less a payroll tax credit (a credit for the social security, railroad retirement, and hospital insurance taxes paid by an employer. Defines gross profits as the excess of the business entity's taxable receipts over its deductible amounts. Excludes from taxable receipts, for purposes of calculating gross profits, certain receipts resulting from investments and financial transactions. Makes the following amounts deductible: (1) the cost of business purchases, consisting of amounts expended, including specified production and consumption taxes, for acquisition of property (or its use) and services; (2) a loss carryover for the taxable year; and (3) the sum of allowances for amortization of bases of depreciable property determined ratably beginning January 1, 1996 (the "transition basis deduction"). Provides rules for the treatment of: (1) capital contributions to a business entity by an individual or another business which becomes a partial or full owner; (2) distributions of property by a business to its owners, to a controlling business, or to an individual who contributed personal use property; and (3) consideration received for asset transfers by a business. Treats consideration allocable to savings assets as generally not included in the transferor's taxable receipts and not a business purchase of the purchaser. Allows an election to treat a substantial sale of a business's assets as if it were a stock acquisition having no direct consequences under the business tax. Treats mergers of one business into another or two into a third business or spinoffs, splitoffs, or split-ups or similar transactions as also having no direct business tax consequences. Requires all businesses to use an accrual method of accounting, except that a business that was permitted to use the cash receipts and disbursements method under the Internal Revenue Code and one which has the permission of the Secretary of the Treasury to use such method shall be permitted to do so. Sets forth accounting rules for: (1) determination of taxable year; (2) long-term contract expenses and receipts; and (3) treatment of post-sale price adjustments and refunds and bad debts. Disallows as a business purchase (and thus makes nondeductible) acquisition of unimproved land if the land is not acquired for use in a business activity or is acquired for speculation, development, temporary leasing or other use not commensurate with the land's value, indefinite future business use, or use in compensating employees. Makes the cost of land not used in business its tax basis. Includes as business purchases (thereby making deductible) fees paid for financial intermediation services (including lending, insurance, market making, and other services in which a person acts as an intermediary in property or financial transfers or risk pooling and derives gross receipts from financial flows associated with such transfers) but not costs of financial instruments. Prescribes rules for the treatment and allocation of "implicit" fees for such services. Makes deductible the cost of insurance premiums on business loss policies and includes proceeds from such insurance as taxable receipts. Provides for the taxation of a financial intermediation business by substituting financial receipts (all receipts other than amounts received as contributions to capital) for taxable receipts and including financial expenses as business purchases in the calculation of gross profits. Defines receipts and expenses for such purpose differently in the case of banks, insurance companies, and financial pass-thru entities. Provides rules for the treatment of tax-exempt organizations, including governmental entities, and imposition of the tax on unrelated business activity. Provides rules for the treatment of patronage dividends of supply and marketing cooperatives. Provides rules for determining the source of business income, including that: (1) amounts received for exports of property or services for use or consumption outside the United States shall be excluded from a business's taxable receipts; (2) imports of property or services for use in the United States in a business activity (including sale or retail) shall be treated as a business purchase; (3) communications services shall be treated as provided at the point of origin and not as imported or exported; and (4) insurance services shall be treated as provided at the location of the insurance company when both the services are provided and the risk is located in the United States. Makes payment of any import tax nondeductible. Provides rules for the treatment of receipts from the international transportation of property and passengers. Requires the Secretary to prescribe regulations regarding the location and source of banking services. Treats U.S. possessions as not part of the United States for purposes of the business tax. Prohibits the claiming of a payroll tax credit for payroll taxes paid with respect to income of residents of U.S. possessions. Allows business entities a payroll tax credit equal to the sum of the employer's share of old-age, survivors and disability insurance and hospital insurance and railroad retirement taxes and one-half of the allocable portion of the self-employment tax. Provides rules for the crediting of tax on the income of partnerships and proprietorships and a 15-year carryover of the payroll credit. Imposes a tax on all property entered into the United States for consumption (except property granted a personal exemption under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States) and all services treated as imported. Applies C corporation rules on tax administration to business entities until the Internal Revenue Code procedural and administrative provisions are amended to reflect this Act. Permits individuals engaged in business activities on their own or with their spouses, under rules prescribed by the Secretary, to file business tax returns with their individual returns and subjects such taxpayers to the estimated tax rules for individual returns. Provides rules for the filing of consolidated returns by business entities and financial intermediation businesses. Repeals Internal Revenue Code consolidated return provisions. Title IV: Deferred Compensation Plans - Redesignates Code provisions regarding deferred compensation plans, stating that: (1) they are included in the income tax provisions primarily for purposes of cross reference and determining the exemption of plans from the business tax; and (2) none of the deferred compensation provisions operates to create an individual or business income tax deduction or credit or disqualify an addition to savings under this Act. Title V: Technical and Administrative Changes - Redesignates the Internal Revenue Code as the USA Tax Code. States a rule for the general application of the procedural and administrative provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to the USA Income Tax and the business tax until such provisions are amended to reflect this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1995
Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Research, Assistance, and Education Act of 1995 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate a program for the conduct and support of research and training, the dissemination of health information, and other programs regarding Parkinson's disease. Establishes the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Parkinson's Disease. Requires Core Center Grants to encourage the development of innovative multidisciplinary research and provide training concerning Parkinson's, designating each grant recipient as a Morris K. Udall Center for Research on Parkinson's Disease. Authorizes establishment of the National Parkinson's Disease Data System to collect, store, analyze, retrieve, and disseminate data. Establishes: (1) the National Parkinson's Disease Information Clearinghouse; (2) a grant program to support scientists who have distinguished themselves in Parkinson's research; and (3) a national education program to foster a national focus on Parkinson's and the care of those with Parkinson's. Authorizes appropriations.
![Official portrait of Sen. Nunn, Sam [D-GA]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/n000171_200.jpg)