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Bill· HRH.R. 3365 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1996
Black Canyon National Park Complex Act of 1996 - Establishes the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado. Abolishes the Black Canyon National Monument and incorporates all lands and interests therein as part of the Park. Establishes in Colorado: (1) the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (conservation area); (2) the Curecanti National Recreation Area (recreation area); (3) the Denver and Rio Grande National Historic Site (consisting of the Denver and Rio Grande rolling stock and train trestle at Cimarron) and the Curecanti Archeological District located within the recreation area; and (4) the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Complex (consisting of the Park, the conservation area, the recreation area, and portions of the Gunnison National Forest). Requires the Secretary of the Interior to transmit to specified congressional committees: (1) a comprehensive plan for the long-range protection and management of the conservation area; and (2) a comprehensive list of authorizing documents issued by the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forest Service for the use of lands within the recreation area. Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, with respect to areas within their jurisdictions, to: (1) provide for appropriate general recreation and multiple use activities, including swimming, fishing, boating, rafting, hiking, horseback riding, camping, and picnicking and, subject to valid existing rights, grazing and hay harvesting and the maintenance of roads, stock driveways, and utility rights-of-way; (2) permit limited off-road vehicle use within the recreation area; and (3) permit hunting, fishing, noncommercial taking of fresh-water crustaceans, and trapping (except that hunting and trapping are prohibited within the Park and in such zones and periods as the Secretaries may designate). Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1707 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1996
Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 to provide that a livestock dealer or market agency shall hold the proceeds of a cash sale in trust for the seller until the seller receives full payment. Exempts certain small dealers or market agencies from such provision. States that: (1) a dishonored payment instrument shall not constitute a sale (with resultant loss of trust benefit); (2) third-party purchaser rights shall not be affected by such livestock dealer trust; and (3) jurisdiction for related civil matters shall be in U.S. district courts.
Bill· HRH.R. 3325 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1996
Makes certain Department of Agriculture funds available for erosion-related technical assistance to the Chickasaw Basin Authority.
Bill· HRH.R. 3347 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: General Provisions Title II: Interagency Council on the Homeless Title III: Federal Emergency Management Agency Food and Shelter Program Title IV: Housing Assistance Subtitle A: Reorganization of Certain McKinney Act Housing Provisions Subtitle B: Other Housing Assistance Programs for the Homeless Under McKinney Act Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Homeless Housing Provisions Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1996 - Title I: General Provisions - Requires budget compliance. Title II: Interagency Council on the Homeless - Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (Act) to authorize appropriations for and extend the Interagency Council on the Homeless. Title III: Federal Emergency Management Food and Shelter Program - Amends the Act to authorize appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency food and shelter program. Title IV: Housing Assistance - Subtitle A: Reorganization of Certain McKinney Act Housing Provisions - Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Housing Assistance Amendments Act of 1996 - Amends title IV (Housing Assistance) of the Act to replace the current individual programs of emergency shelter grants, supportive housing program, safe havens for homeless individuals, and the shelter plus care program with an inclusive flexible grant program. Sets forth program provisions. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Other Housing Assistance Programs for th e Homeless Under McKinney Act - Amends the Act to increase budget authority for section 8 assistance for single room occupancy dwellings. Authorizes section 8 assistance for shelter plus care single room occupancy dwellings. Authorizes appropriations for the rural homelessness grant program. Transfers such program from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Department of Agriculture. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Homeless Housing Provisions - Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to direct States and localities to eliminate unfit transient facilities for homeless families with children according to a specified housing strategy.
Bill· HRH.R. 3297 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1996
Modifies certain restrictions on the use of motorboats on, and motorized portages between, specified lakes within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. Permits the operation of motorized vehicles and associated equipment which is necessary to assist in the transport of boats across the portages from Moose Lake Chain (currently, Sucker Lake) to Basswood Lake, from Fall Lake to Basswood Lake, and from Lake Vermilion to Trout Lake. Establishes the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Intergovernmental Council to: (1) prepare and submit to the Secretary of Agriculture draft amendments and regularly scheduled revisions to the Wilderness management plan; (2) provide comments on the environmental impact of major Federal actions; and (3) analyze the economic and environmental costs and benefits of implementing sustainable practices for the Wilderness. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary: (1) to receive the Council's draft amendments, recommend revisions, and adopt the revised amendments that are consistent with the public interest and applicable laws; (2) if the Secretary decides not to adopt the Council's revised amendments, to appoint, and revise the management plan based on amendments submitted by, a management plan board; or (3) if the Council declines to submit revised amendments, to make necessary and appropriate amendments and implement the plan. Directs the Secretary to seek the Council's comments when considering major Federal actions that require public involvement and notification under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
Bill· SS. 1690 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1996
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to provide a specified grace period for the prohibition on lending to delinquent borrowers.
Bill· HRH.R. 3266 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Title II: Supplemental Security Income Subtitle A: Eligibility Restrictions Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children Subtitle C: State Supplementation Programs Subtitle D: Studies Regarding Supplemental Security Income Program Subtitle E: National Commission on the Future of Disability Title III: Child Support Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders Subtitle H: Medical Support Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Non-Residential Parents Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment Title IV: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits Subtitle B: Eligibility for State and Local Public Benefits Programs Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support Subtitle D: General Provisions Subtitle E: Conforming Amendments Title V: Reductions in Federal Government Positions Title VI: Reform of Public Housing Title VII: Child Care Title VIII: Child Nutrition Programs Subtitle A: National School Lunch Act Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Act of 1966 Title IX: Food Stamp and Related Programs Title X: Miscellaneous Bipartisan Welfare Reform Act of 1996 - Title I: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - Expresses the sense of the Congress that prevention of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and reduction in out-of-wedlock births are very important Government interests. (Sec. 103) Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program and Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program (JOBS) under, respectively, parts A and F of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with a program of block grants to the States for temporary assistance for needy families already with or expecting children (TEA program). Gives such program the stated purpose of increasing the flexibility of States in operating approved statewide programs, with: (1) certain mandatory work and education requirements (as well as penalties against adult family members on TEA who refuse to engage in various specified work activities); and (2) adult-supervised living arrangements for unmarried teenage parents to enable such families to leave the program and become self-sufficient. Includes participation in community service programs and subsidized public sector employment as TEA program work activities. Requires TEA programs to provide certain time-limited cash assistance (and thereafter vouchers) to eligible families entering into an individual responsibility plan with the State (with certain exceptions involving minor children and hardship situations), outlining their obligations in receiving TEA assistance (such as immunizing their children or finishing high school), as well as the specific services the State will provide (such as job preparation and family planning services and, at the State's option, substance abuse treatment services) to enable them to move into private sector employment. Requires State TEA programs also to: (1) establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies, with special emphasis on teenage pregnancies, over a specified ten-year period; and (2) encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. Denies TEA for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators and minor children absent from the home for a significant period. Suspends it for ten years for persons who have fraudulently misrepresented residence to obtain assistance in two or more States. Denies additional cash assistance, as a general rule, for additional children born to families already on TEA (except in cases of rape and incest), unless State law specifically exempts the State TEA program from such denial. Reduces or denies TEA for noncooperation in child support. Outlines State TEA plan contents. Provides for the State's choice of treatment of aliens and families moving interstate, and for the exchange of certain plan information about TEA applicants or recipients with law enforcement officers under prescribed conditions. Sets forth requirements for State plan approval by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), which include certifications that the State will operate a child protection and child support enforcement program under SSA title IV parts B and D (Child-Welfare Services Program and Child Support and Establishment of Paternity Program), respectively. Details TEA program grant administrative provisions: (1) determining the amounts of State grants for family assistance for FY 1996 through 2001; (2) outlining grant uses, including assistance to families in meeting home heating and cooling costs, and a State program under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990; (3) rewarding States with additional grant amounts for reductions in illegitimate births, as well as for population increases and TEA program work activities; and (4) establishing in the Treasury (and providing deposits for) a Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs for payments to certain eligible participating States. Makes necessary appropriations. Sets up a Federal loan program for certain State TEA programs for anti-fraud and other specified activities. Makes necessary appropriations. Establishes penalties for States and individual families for specified grant and program violations, respectively, through reduced grants and assistance payments. Allows States to terminate assistance payments, but prohibits assistance reduction or termination based on a refusal of an adult to work if the adult is a single custodial parent caring for a child under age six and unable to obtain needed child care for one or more specified reasons. Provides for State appeal of Federal adverse decisions with respect to State plans or imposition of penalties. Outlines specific program data collection and reporting requirements, as well as certain research, evaluation, and study requirements. Makes necessary appropriations. Provides for TEA grants to Indian tribes (with a special rule for Alaska Native tribes). Makes necessary appropriations. Directs the Bureau of the Census to expand the Survey of Income and Program Participation to obtain information enabling interested persons to evaluate the impact of this title on a random national sample of State TEA recipients and other appropriate low-income families. Makes necessary appropriations. Provides for the treatment of current and previously granted State AFDC (welfare reform) waiver projects. Retains the HHS Assistant Secretary for Family Support as the official responsible for administering SSA title IV part A and D programs. Expresses the sense of the Congress encouraging each State operating a TEA program to: (1) assign the highest priority to requiring adults in two-parent families and in single-parent families with older preschool or school-age children to engage in work activities; and (2) require non-custodial, nonsupporting parents under age 18 to fulfill community work obligations and attend appropriate parenting or money management classes after school. (Sec. 104) Allows States to contract with charitable, religious, or private organizations to provide services and administer programs established or modified by this Act, or to provide program beneficiaries with certificates, vouchers, or other forms of disbursement redeemable with such organizations. Prohibits the expenditure of financial assistance under such programs for sectarian worship, instruction, or proselytization. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to expand the data collection efforts of the Bureau of the Census to enable it to collect certain data on grandparent caregivers. (Sec. 106) Directs the HHS Secretary to report to the Congress on the status of State automated data processing systems used in administering State programs under SSA title IV part A. (Sec. 107) Requires the HHS Secretary to report to the Congress on outcomes measures for evaluating the success of the States in moving individuals out of the welfare system through employment as an alternative to the minimum participation rates under mandatory TEA work requirements. (Sec. 108) Makes conforming amendments to SSA, the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and related provisions of other specified Federal laws. (Sec. 111) Directs the Commissioner of Social Security (Commissioner) to develop a prototype of a counterfeit-resistant social security card and study and report to the Congress on different methods of improving the social security card application process. (Sec. 112) Requires any organization accepting Federal funds under this Act to disclose that fact in any communication it makes that intends to promote public support or opposition to any Federal, State, or local government policy through any broadcasting station, periodical, or other specified type of general public advertising. Makes any organization failing to make such a disclosure ineligible to receive Federal funds under this Act. (Sec. 113) Amends the Family Support Act of 1988 to remove the "demonstration" status of the Job Opportunities for Certain Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) program and give it an increased annual authorization for any fiscal year. Title II: Supplemental Security Income - Subtitle A: Eligibility Restrictions - Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to: (1) deny SSI by reason of disability to drug addicts and alcoholics for whom addiction or alcoholism would be a contributing factor material to the disability determination; (2) revise representative payee and treatment requirements; (3) deny SSI benefits for ten years to individuals found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain benefits simultaneously in two or more States; (4) deny SSI benefits for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators; and (5) outline the process for periodic review with respect to the continuing eligibility of an individual 18 years of age or older to receive certain SSI disability benefits. Provides certain supplemental funding for alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs. Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children - Revises the rules with respect to childhood eligibility, with corresponding changes to childhood SSI regulations modifying the medical criteria for evaluation of mental and emotional disorders, and discontinuing the use of individualized functional assessments for children. Requires the Commissioner to redetermine the eligibility of any individual under age 18 receiving SSI benefits based on a disability as of the enactment of this Act, and whose eligibility for such benefits may terminate by reason of this Act. (Sec. 212) Provides that at least once every three years the Commissioner shall review the continued SSI eligibility of each individual who has not attained age 18 and is eligible for such benefits by reason of an impairment (or combination of impairments) which may improve (or, which is unlikely to improve, at the option of the Commissioner). Requires a parent or guardian of a recipient whose case is so reviewed to present evidence that the recipient is and has been receiving treatment of the condition which was the basis for the SSI benefits. Provides that if an individual is eligible for SSI disability benefits for the month preceding the month in which the individual attains age 18, the Commissioner shall redetermine such eligibility: (1) during the one year period beginning on the individual's 18th birthday; and (2) by applying the criteria used in determining the initial eligibility for applicants who have attained age 18. Outlines specific requirements governing: (1) continuing disability reviews for low birth weight babies; and (2) benefit payments through representative payees to eligible individuals and their spouses. (Sec. 214) Provides for a reduction in cash SSI benefits payable to institutionalized individuals whose medical costs are covered by private insurance. (Sec. 215) Reduces by specified basic needs and earned income disregard allocations the amount of parental income attributed to disabled children. Subtitle C: State Supplementation Programs - Repeals maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SSI benefits. Subtitle D: Studies Regarding Supplemental Security Income Program - Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to report annually to the President and the Congress regarding the SSI program and to make arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences, or other independent entity, to study the disability determination process under SSA titles II and XVI for similar reports. (Sec. 233) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report on the: (1) impact of this title on the SSI program; and (2) extra expenses incurred by families of children receiving SSI benefits that are not covered by other Federal, State, or local programs. Subtitle E: National Commission on the Future of Disability - Establishes the National Commission on the Future of Disability to develop and report to the President and the Congress: (1) a comprehensive study of all matters related to the nature, purpose, and adequacy of all Federal programs serving individuals with disabilities, including the programs under SSA titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) and XVI; and (2) recommendations for appropriate action. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Child Support - Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to require State plans for child and spousal support to provide: (1) certain services relating to paternity establishment or enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) continuation of services for families ceasing to receive assistance under Aid to Families with Dependent Children. (Sec. 302) Revises payment distribution guidelines for support obligations collected by the State on behalf of a family. (Sec. 303) Requires State plans to establish procedural guidelines for: (1) privacy safeguards regarding paternity and child support actions; and (2) notification of State plan services applicants or recipients about all proceedings and orders affecting child support obligations. Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking - Mandates that single statewide automated data systems include a State case registry containing records of: (1) each case in which services are provided by the State agency; and (2) each support order established on or after a specified date. Permits the linking of local registries. (Sec. 312) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. Permits the unit to be established by linking local disbursement units through an automated information network if the Secretary agrees that it will not cost more or take more time to establish or operate than a centralized system. (Sec. 313) Requires State plans to: (1) provide for a State-operated and automated State Directory of New Hires containing prescribed information furnished by employers on new personnel; and (2) transmit such information to the National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 314) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures: (1) for mandatory income withholding for support payments subject to enforcement; and (2) under which wages of a person with a support obligation imposed by a child support order issued before October 1, 1996, shall become subject to withholding if arrearages occur, without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. Revises the procedural guidelines for income withholding for child support enforcement. (Sec. 315) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures to ensure that Federal and State agencies conducting income-withholding activities have access to State locator systems for motor vehicle or law enforcement purposes. (Sec. 316) Revises the Federal Parent Locator Service to provide for additional information which may be transmitted to locate individuals and assets for purposes of: (1) establishing parentage; (2) establishing, setting the amount of, modifying, or enforcing child support obligations; and (3) enforcing child custody or visitation orders. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish in the Federal Parent Locator Service an automated Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders and an automated National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 317) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring recordation on such documents of the Social Security number of: (1) specified driver's, marriage, and occupational, and professional license applicants; (2) individuals subject to certain domestic relations orders; and (3) deceased individuals (on death records). Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures - Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1998. Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the procedures for the court to apply when determining which State order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement for child support orders. (Sec. 323) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring: (1) expedited administrative enforcement in interstate cases and support orders; and (2) expedited administrative and judicial procedures for establishing paternity and enforcing support obligations. Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment - Revises the guidelines for State laws governing paternity establishment. Requires State procedures under which the name of the father shall be included on the birth certificate only: (1) if the mother and father have signed a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity; or (2) pursuant to a judicial or administrative order. (Sec. 333) Requires State plans for child and spousal support to provide that the State agency administering the plan will make a determination as to whether a program recipient is cooperating in good faith with State efforts to establish paternity and secure support. Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding - Directs the Secretary to develop a new incentive system to replace the current one. Revises the guidelines for Federal performance-based incentive payments to the States for effective child support enforcement programs. (Sec. 342) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include prescribed procedures for State reviews and audits. Revises the guidelines for Federal evaluation and audit of State programs governing paternity, child and spousal support, and parent location. (Sec. 344) Revises the automated data processing requirements for State plans to mandate a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system which can perform specified tasks. (Sec. 345) Makes funds available to the Secretary for: (1) training of Federal and State staff, research and demonstration programs, and special projects of regional and national significance; and (2) operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service. Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders - Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. (Sec. 352) Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to authorize a consumer agency to furnish a consumer report: (1) in response to a request by a governmental child support enforcement agency; or (2) to the State administrative agency which sets child support awards. (Sec. 353) Shields a depository institution from Federal or State liability for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency. Prohibits such agency from disclosing such a financial record except for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary in, establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation. Sets forth civil penalties for any person knowingly or negligently violating such prohibition. Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders - Amends Internal Revenue Code procedural guidelines for the collection of arrearages to provide that no additional fee may be assessed for adjustments to a previously certified amount. (Sec. 362) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to revise procedural guidelines for: (1) consent by the United States to income withholding, garnishment, and similar proceedings for enforcement of child support and alimony obligations of current and retired Federal employees; and (2) enforcement of child support obligations of members of the Armed Forces. (Sec. 364) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to have in effect the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act of 1981, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act of 1984, or a similar law, as well as certain procedures governing the voiding of fraudulent transfers by a child support debtor. (Sec. 365) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include specified procedures: (1) to ensure that persons owing past-due support work or participate in work activities the court deems appropriate; (2) to report to credit bureaus the name of the parent in arrears for child support; (3) to provide for liens against real and personal property for the support arrearages of an absent parent; and (4) to implement the restriction of driver's, professional, occupational, and recreational licenses of individuals owing support arrearages. (Sec. 370) Instructs the Secretary of State to deny a passport to any individual certified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to be in arrears of more than $5,000 for child support payments. Authorizes revocation, restriction or limitation of a previously issued passport in connection with such individuals. (Sec. 371) Authorizes the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the HHS Secretary, to declare any foreign country a reciprocating country if it has established, or undertakes to establish, procedures for the establishment and enforcement of child support obligations whose obligees are U.S. citizens. Provides for revocation of such declaration in certain circumstances. Designates the HHS Secretary as the central authority for such enforcement. (Sec. 372) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which a State agency shall enter agreements with financial institutions doing business within the State to develop and operate a data match system to provide identifying information for each noncustodial parent targeted by the State who maintains an account at the institution, and to encumber or surrender such parent's assets at the institution pursuant to a lien or levy. (Sec. 373) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which child support orders relating to the child of minor parents, where the custodial parents are receiving assistance, are enforceable against the child's paternal or maternal grandparents. (Sec. 374) Amends Federal bankruptcy law to make nondischargeable in bankruptcy any debts owed to a State or municipality for child support. Subtitle H: Medical Support - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to include within the definition of medical child support order an order issued through a State administrative process. (Sec. 377) Amends part D of SSA title IV to mandate statutorily prescribed procedures under which all enforced child support orders shall include a provision for the health care coverage of the child. Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Non-Residential Parents - Amends part D of SSA title IV to prescribe guidelines under which the Administration for Children and Families shall make grants to enable States to establish and administer access and visitation programs to facilitate noncustodial parents' access to their children. Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment - Sets forth effective dates for this title. Title IV: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens - Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits - Denies Federal public benefits (except certain emergency disaster relief, public health, housing, and child nutrition benefits) to non-qualified aliens. (Sec. 402) Denies SSI and food stamp eligibility to all but certain qualified aliens, who may receive only limited benefits. (Sec. 403) Makes qualified aliens ineligible (with limited exceptions) for Federal means-tested public benefits for the first five years after U.S. entry. Amends SSA and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide for reporting of certain illegal alien information to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Subtitle B: Eligibility for State and Local Public Benefits Programs - Makes an alien who is not a qualified alien, a nonimmigrant, or a parolee for less than one year ineligible for State or local benefits (except certain emergency disaster relief, public health, housing, and child nutrition benefits). (Sec. 412) Authorizes States, with certain exceptions, to determine eligibility for State means-tested public benefits for qualified aliens, nonimmigrants, or certain parolees. Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support - Deems the income and resources of any alien over age 18 (who is not pregnant) applying for Medicaid and SSA title XXI benefits to include: (1) the income and resources of any person who executed an affidavit of support on the alien's behalf; and (2) the income and resources of the person's spouse (if any). (Sec. 422) Authorizes States to make similar attributions with respect to State programs (except certain emergency disaster relief, public health, housing, and child nutrition benefits). Subtitle D: General Provisions - Sets forth definitions and requires appropriate regulations by the Attorney General for State use. Subtitle E: Conforming Amendments - Makes conforming amendments to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 and the Housing Act of 1949. Title V: Reductions in Federal Government Positions - Outlines the mechanism for various specified Federal executive agency workforce reductions, requiring submission to specified congressional committees of determinations about the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions of their respective departments by the Secretaries of Agriculture, of Education, of Labor, of Housing and Urban Development, and of HHS. Requires the Secretaries to make FTE reductions, including reductions-in-force, over the ensuing 14 months. Requires the Comptroller General to analyze and report to such committees on such determinations, with recommendations for further FTE reductions, if appropriate. (Sec. 502) Requires the HHS Secretary to reduce the Federal workforce within HHS: (1) by 75 percent of the FTE positions relating to any direct or indirect discretionary spending program converted into a block grant program by this Act (including 245 FTE positions related to the program converted into TEA block grants); and (2) by 75 percent of a proportionate number of the total FTE departmental management positions (including 60 FTE managerial positions related to the program converted into TEA block grants). (Sec. 503) Encourages the HHS Secretary to reduce personnel in the Washington, D.C., area office (agency headquarters) before reducing field personnel. Title VI: Reform of Public Housing - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to prohibit increased housing assistance (except instances of limited-time frame benefits) to a family whose benefits under other public assistance programs have been reduced because of noncompliance. (Sec. 602) States that a person whose benefits under a means-tested welfare or public assistance program have been reduced because of fraud shall not, during such reduction period, receive an income-based increase in any other means-tested assistance program. Title VII: Child Care - Child Care and Development Block Grant Amendments of 1995 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations for FY 1996 through 2002. (Sec. 703) Amends part A (TEA) of Title IV of the Social Security Act to establish a general child care assistance entitlement program funded by Federal grants to the States. Authorizes appropriations. Prescribes program parameters. (Sec. 708) Repeals the program requirement for early childhood development and before- and after-school services. Revises enforcement guidelines to require a State to reimburse the Secretary for funds improperly expended on prohibited or non-authorized purposes. (Sec. 712) Revises the Secretary's congressional reporting requirements to mandate biannual reports to the House Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities. (Sec. 713) Authorizes an Indian tribe or tribal organization to use Federal funds for the construction or renovation of child care facilities. (Sec. 715) Repeals the Child Development Associate Scholarship Assistance Act of 1985 and the State Dependent Care Development Grants Act. Repeals funding authority for certain programs of national significance, involving: (1) child care for children of at-risk students; (2) alternative programs for bilingual and special education students; and (3) rural child care centers for student parents and their children. Repeals funding authority for Native Hawaiian Family- based Education Centers. Title VIII: Child Nutrition Programs - Subtitle A: National School Lunch Act - Amends the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to repeal specified authorities and requirements for the school lunch and related programs, including: (1) State educational authority to use resources from the nutrition and education (NET) program; (2) prohibition of State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; (3) certain demonstration grants to private nonprofit organizations or educational institutions for elementary school curriculum food and nutrition projects; (4) aspects of summer food service programs, reducing payment rates and daily meals at camps, reducing the National Youth Sports Program, and revising nutritional standards compliance requirements; (5) certain commodity distribution program requirements, including State Advisory Councils; (6) expansion of the child care food program; (7) adult care food aid to adult day care centers and services for persons over 60; (8) certain pilot projects, including one for paperwork reduction; and (9) an information clearinghouse. (Sec. 807) Prohibits, in general, any waiver that will increase Federal costs. (Sec. 810) Provides for grants for State assistance to family or group day care homes. Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services to study and report to specified congressional committees on the impact of this title on adult food care program participation and family day care licensing. Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Act of 1966 - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to revise the school breakfast program: (1) eliminating Federal assistance for food preparation training and program expansion and start-up costs; (2) repealing certain authorities and requirements relating to State administrative expenses; (3) repealing the prohibition against State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; (4) repealing the program of cash grants for nutrition education. (Sec. 830) Revises the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC), among other things repealing specified requirements and changing from mandatory to optional: (1) drug abuse education; and (2) provision of WIC information in languages other than English. Makes the Nutrition and Education program discretionary rather than mandatory. Authorizes appropriations. Title IX: Food Stamp Program and Related Programs - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to: (1) increase the standard deduction from income resources for eligibility purposes; (2) treat electronic benefit transfer cards and personal identification (PIN) numbers as coupons; (3) count vendor payments for transitional housing as income; (4) increase penalties for specified program violations; (5) revise disqualification penalties and periods, and their applications to entire households, for persons refusing to comply with work requirements; (6) revise general exemptions from employment and training requirements and funding for related programs; and (7) mandate disqualification of individuals for multiple receipt of food stamp benefits, of fleeing felons, and of individuals delinquent in child support payments. (Sec. 915) Authorizes State food stamp disqualification of a household member also disqualified from another means-tested public assistance program for failure to perform an action required for such program under Federal, State, or local law. (Sec. 918) Makes it an eligibility requirement for custodial parents to cooperate with child support agencies. (Sec. 920) Prescribes additional work requirements for able-bodied food stamp recipients. Requires State agencies to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 924) Provides for: (1) optional combined value allotments for expedited households; and (2) allotments to individuals residing in drug or alcohol abuse treatment centers. (Sec. 925) Authorizes reduction in State food stamp benefits of a household for whom benefits are also reduced in another means-tested public assistance program for a similar failure. (Sec. 927) Authorizes regulations to establish specific authorization periods, and specific periods for prohibiting participation of stores based on lack of business integrity. (Sec. 931) Revises requirements for State agency procedures for food stamp office operation. Augments the kinds of information (including retailer information) that may be exchanged among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. Authorizes the suspension of stores violating program requirements pending administrative and judicial review. (Sec. 939) Mandates regulations for: (1) food stamp program disqualification of retailers disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and (2) the permanent debarment of retailers who intentionally submit falsified applications. Subjects food stamp benefits to civil and criminal forfeiture for benefit violations. (Sec. 948) Authorizes States to operate simplified food stamp programs according to specified requirements. Repeals the authority to conduct specified pilot projects and the Food Bank Demonstration Project. (Sec. 949) Revises State plan requirements for the emergency food assistance program. Title X: Miscellaneous - Provides, among other things, for: (1) the expenditure of Federal funds received by a State under TEA and certain other Federal programs only in accordance with laws and procedures applicable to expenditure of the State's own revenues; (2) elimination of housing assistance with respect to fugitive felons and probation and parole violators; (3) certain options for State consideration of the resources of an ineligible household member when determining the food stamp eligibility and allotment of such individual's household; and (4) an increase in funding for abstinence education under SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services). (Sec. 1003) Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should adopt enterprise zone legislation in the 104th Congress providing for various specified incentives, regulatory reforms, and pilot projects. (Sec. 1004) Expresses the sense of the Senate that States: (1) should diligently continue their efforts to enforce child support payments by the non-custodial parent; and (2) should pursue pilot programs in which the parents of a non-adult, non-custodial parent who refuses to or is unable to pay child support must pay or contribute to the child support owed by the non-custodial parent or otherwise fulfill all financial obligations and meet all conditions imposed on the non-custodial parent, such as participation in a work program or other related activity. (Sec. 1006) Directs the HHS Secretary to: (1) implement a certain strategy for preventing out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancies and assuring that at least 25 percent of U.S. communities have teenage pregnancy prevention programs; and (2) report to the Congress on the State programs so implemented to determine their progress. (Sec. 1007) Expresses the sense of the Senate that States and local jurisdictions should aggressively enforce statutory rape laws. (Sec. 1008) Declares that States shall not be prohibited by the Federal Government from sanctioning welfare recipients who test positive for use of controlled substances. (Sec. 1010) Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to generally exempt from the required disclosures, protections, responsibilities, and authorized remedies of such Act, and any implementing regulation prescribed by the Federal Reserve Board, any electronic benefit transfer program established under State or local law or administered by a State or local government that distributes needs-tested benefits. (Sec. 1011) Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to reduce the authorization of appropriations for social services block grants. (Sec. 1012) Encourages the HHS Secretary to work in coordination with State agencies to ensure the efficient use of Federal transportation funds by recipients of public assistance under this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 3236 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1996
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to provide a specified grace period for the prohibition on lending to delinquent borrowers.
Bill· SS. 1662 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Opal Creek Wilderness and Scenic Recreation Area Title II: Upper Klamath Basin Title III: Mount Hood Corridor Title IV: Coquille Forest Ecosystem Management Plan Oregon Resource Conservation Act of 1996 - Title I: Opal Creek Wilderness and Scenic Recreation Area - Opal Creek Wilderness and Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area Act of 1996 - Designates certain land in the Willamette National Forest in Oregon as the Opal Creek Wilderness (OCW) and states that the OCW shall become a component of the National Wilderness System after the Secretary of Agriculture determines that certain other parcels of land have been donated to the United States without encumbrances. Requires that part of the Bull of the Woods Wilderness within the Forest be incorporated into the OCW. Directs the Secretary to establish the Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area within the Forest. Requires the Secretary to administer the Area in accordance with laws applicable to the National Forest System. Requires, with respect to such Area: (1) a comprehensive management plan prepared by the Secretary, which shall become part of the land and resource management plan for the Forest; (2) a review and revision of the inventory of cultural and historic resources on the public land in the Area; (3) transportation planning to maintain access to recreation sites and facilities in the Area, including access by persons with disabilities as well as motor vehicles; (4) the provision of hunting and fishing, with limitations; (5) a prohibition on the cutting of trees; (6) the recognition, and minimum authorized levels, of recreation activities; and (7) specified consultation and public participation to obtain the most sensitive present and future use of the Area for the public benefit. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory council for the Area. (Sec. 106) Authorizes the Secretary to acquire any lands, waters, or related interests in the Area or the OCW as needed to carry out this title, with specified conditions relating to the acquisition of public or private lands. Requires certain privately owned lands to be offered to the Secretary at no more than fair market value before being disposed of otherwise. Outlines sale conditions with respect to such offers. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct any necessary environmental response actions within the Area. Requires a map and description of the OCW and the Area to be filed with specified congressional committees. (Sec. 107) Amends the Wild and Scenic Recreation Rivers Act to designate Elkhorn Creek as a wild and scenic river. Title II: Upper Klamath Basin - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Upper Klamath Basin Working Group under which: (1) the Working Group will propose ecological restoration projects to be undertaken in the Upper Klamath Basin in Oregon and accept donations for such project: and (2) the Secretary shall pay no more than 50 percent of the cost of such projects during FY 1997 through 2001 (with a $1 million annual limit). Provides related agreement conditions. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the Deschutes Basin Working Group to be constituted in the same manner and for the same purposes as the Klamath Basin Group. Title III: Mount Hood Corridor - Provides for a land exchange between Longview Fibre Company and the Secretary of the Interior. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Coquille Forest Ecosystem Management Plan - (To be supplied.)
Bill· HRH.R. 3200 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Food Amendments Title II: Animal Drugs Food Amendments and the Animal Drug Availability Act of 1996 - Title I: Food Amendments - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to state the mission of the Food and Drug Administration. (Sec. 102) Modifies requirements regarding label claims of a relationship between a nutritional ingredient and a health-related condition. (Sec. 104) Prohibits construing FDCA provisions relating to misbranding or food additives to require a separate disclosure of a method of production or an ingredient other than in the statement of ingredients, unless necessary to protect the public health. (Sec. 105) Allows certain labeling and additive (including color additive) petitions to be submitted to an accredited person and deems the person's recommendation to be a decision of the Secretary of Health and Human Services unless the Secretary makes certain findings. Provides for accreditation. (Sec. 107) Allows an additive in feed for food-producing animals, and allows approval of a new animal drug, if the additive or drug presents a small risk (currently, if the additive will not adversely affect the animals and if no residue will be found in food from the animal). (Sec. 108) Prohibits States and subdivisions from having any requirement for a human food, a drug or biological product, or a cosmetic of the type authorized or required under the adulteration, misbranding, or new drug provisions of the FDCA, subject to exception and waiver. (Sec. 109) Directs the Secretary to regularly meet with other countries regarding reducing regulation and seeking reciprocal arrangements. (Sec. 110) Prohibits the Secretary from relying on statements that have not been promulgated in accordance with Federal rulemaking requirements to require any action to be taken to satisfy an FDCA requirement. (Sec. 111) Amends the FDCA and the Federal Trade Commission Act to remove or repeal provisions regulating the sale, public eating place serving, and advertising of colored oleomargarine or colored margarine. Repeals related definitions. Title II: Animal Drugs - Amends the FDCA to revise the definition (for new animal drug provisions) of "substantial evidence." Modifies requirements regarding approval of supplemental applications. Exempts use in a minor species and the minor use of a drug from provisions prohibiting approval if there is a lack of substantial evidence that the drug will have its purported effect. Revises requirements regarding combination drugs. (Sec. 202) Reduces the period for approval of new animal drug applications. (Sec. 203) Empowers applicants to declare that a review impasse exists. Sets forth a dispute resolution process. (Sec. 204) Revises requirements regarding drug residues and tolerances. (Sec. 205) Regulates animal feed drugs that are limited by approved applications to use under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian (veterinary feed directive drugs) (VFDDs). Deems animal feed with a new animal drug unsafe unless its labeling, distribution, holding, and use (currently, its labeling and use) conform to specified FDCA requirements. Allows withdrawal of approval for certain VFDD recordkeeping violations. Adds to the prohibited acts list the refusal to permit record access as required by VFDD provisions and the failure to maintain records or make reports as required by VFDD provisions.
Bill· SS. 1653 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1996
Directs the President to prohibit the entry, or withdrawal from warehouse for consumption, of certain Canadian grain products until the Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative submit to the Congress a determination that Canada has removed the prohibition on the importation of U.S. durum wheat products for which there is insufficient evidence of the existence of karnal bunt.
Bill· SS. 1646 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1996
Propane Education and Research Act of 1996 - Authorizes the qualified industry organizations (the National Propane Gas Association, the Gas Processors Association, or successor organizations, or a group of retail marketers or producers who collectively represent at least 25 percent of the volume of propane sold or produced in the United States) to conduct, at their own expense, a referendum among producers and retail marketers for the creation of a Propane Education and Research Council. Directs the Council, if established, to develop programs (including programs to enhance consumer and employee safety and training) and enter into contracts for: (1) propane research and development; (2) consumer education; and (3) payment for program costs with funds collected under this Act. Requires the Council to reimburse the Secretary of Energy annually for any costs incurred by the United States. Authorizes the Council to levy annual assessments on odorized propane, according to prescribed guidelines, to cover program costs. Directs the Council to establish a program to coordinate its operations with any State propane education and research council. Prohibits Council funds from being used for lobbying activities. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to prepare and make available to the Council, the Secretary of Energy (Secretary), and the public, annual analyses of changes in propane prices relative to other energy resources. Requires the Council to restrict its activities to research and development, training, and safety whenever in any year the five-year average rolling price index of consumer grade propane exceeds by more than 10.1 percent the five-year rolling average price composite index of residential electricity, residential natural gas, and refiner price to end users of Number 2 fuel oil. Requires the price of propane to be determined by market forces in all cases. Prohibits the Council from taking action to pass the cost of the annual assessments to consumers. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to report biennially to the Congress and the Secretary on whether: (1) operation of the Council, in conjunction with the cumulative effects of market changes and Federal programs, has had an effect on propane consumers, including residential, agriculture, process, and nonfuel users; and (2) there have been long-term and short-term effects on propane prices as a result of Council activities and Federal programs.
Bill· HRH.R. 3177 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1996
Repeals provisions of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 that grant congressional consent to the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact entered into among the States of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, subject to specified conditions, including conditions under which Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia may join the Compact.
Bill· SS. 1643 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1996
Older Americans Amendments of 1996 - Revises the Older American Community Service Employment Act (OACSE) and the Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA) (of which it is a part) to reauthorize and extend the former OACSE program (renamed the Senior Community Service Employment Program), as modified by this Act, through FY 1996, with, among other changes, revisions in the funding allotment formulae for making grants to eligible States and tribal organizations for authorized program projects employing older individuals. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 4) Reauthorizes and extends certain current OAA programs through FY 2001, including the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, the Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Services program, and supportive services programs providing legal, counseling, outreach, and other assistance to the aged, as well as nutrition services programs which are combined into a single congregate and home nutrition services program. Modifies such latter two programs, among other things, to: (1) authorize States to transfer funds, as appropriate, between supportive services and nutrition programs; and (2) eliminate the funding process between home-delivered and congregate meals programs. Eliminates other specified federally structured OAA programs, such as the school-based meals for volunteer older individuals and multigenerational programs and in-home services program for frail older individuals, in many cases allowing the States to design their own programs to provide such services. Authorizes appropriations. Reauthorizes and extends the Administration on Aging (AOA) through FY 2001. Authorizes appropriations. Includes within the modifications made to OAA and its programs by this Act: (1) restructuring OAA into four main titles on Federal functions, State and local responsibilities, and Native American programs on aging (thus eliminating current titles on training, research, and discretionary projects and programs, and on vulnerable elder rights protection activities, while relocating many of their key components elsewhere within OAA, such as those for training and demonstration projects and the prevention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation); (2) eliminating various special offices within AOA and giving the Assistant Secretary for Aging responsibility for administering all OAA programs; (3) revising State and local government authority with respect to designing and operating their own programs and projects for the aged (such as those for in-home services for frail older individuals); (4) abolishing the Federal Council on the Aging and the National Aging Information Center, and repealing the mandate for, but authorizing operation of, the National Center on Elder Abuse; (5) redefining "low-income individual" to mean a member of a family whose income is not more than 150 percent of the Federal poverty line; (6) permitting States to institute cost-sharing under the State's OAA plan while providing that no older individual will be denied a service under the plan because of inability to pay; and (7) making additional funds available for nutrition services for the aged provided through the Department of Agriculture. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 9) Provides for the transfer to the Department of Health and Human Services of all functions that the Secretary of Labor exercised before this Act was effective that relate to the former OACSE program and are minimally necessary to carry out such program.
Bill· SS. 1641 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1996
Repeals provisions of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 that grant congressional consent to the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact entered into among the States of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, subject to specified conditions, including conditions under which Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia may join the Compact.
Bill· HRH.R. 3146 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to exchange specified Federal lands in the Sierra National Forest, California: (1) known as the Camp Chawanakee for specified non-Federal lands located near the Sierra Summit Ski Area known as Summit 80; and (2) for specified non-Federal lands located southeast of Shaver Lake, California, known as the Statham Meadow, Three Springs, and Monroe Tracts.
Law· HRH.R. 3136 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Social Security Earnings Limitation Amendments Title II: Line Item Veto Title III: Small Business Regulatory Fairness Subtitle A: Regulatory Compliance Simplification Subtitle B: Regulatory Enforcement Reforms Subtitle C: Strengthening Regulatory Flexibility Subtitle D: Congressional Review Title IV: Public Debt Limit Contract with America Advancement Act of 1996 - Title I: Social Security Earnings Limitation Amendments - Senior Citizens' Right to Work Act of 1996 - Amends title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to provide, through adjustments in the monthly exempt amount, for increases in the amounts of allowable earnings under the Social Security earnings limit for individuals who have attained retirement age. Retains the current limit on substantial gainful activity earnings applicable to individuals under age 65 who are eligible for disability benefits based on blindness. (Sec. 103) Authorizes making funds available from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund (OASI Fund) and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (DI Fund) for continuing disability reviews. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to regulate adjustments, new budget authority, and additional outlays related to the disability reviews. Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to mandate actions by the Budget Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives regarding adjustments and additional outlays related to the disability reviews. Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to ensure that continuing disability review funds are used to maximize savings in the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance, supplemental security income, and Medicare and Medicaid (titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act) programs. Directs the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration (SSA) to estimate annually the present value of savings to the OASI Fund, the DI Fund, the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund (HI Fund), and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund (SMI Fund) from cessation of benefit payments resulting from continuing disability reviews. Modifies the information required to be included in a specified annual report regarding amounts transferred to the Continuing Disability Review Administration Revolving Account in the DI Fund. Terminates the Continuing Disability Review Administration Revolving Account at the end of FY 2002, requiring that any balance in the Account revert to the DI Fund. Provides for appointment by the Commissioner of a Chief Actuary in the SSA. (Sec. 104) Bases entitlement of stepchildren to child's insurance benefits solely on their actual dependency on stepparent support. Repeals the requirement that the stepchild actually be living with the stepparent. Requires termination of any child's insurance benefits based on the wages and self-employment income of the stepparent after the natural parent's divorce from the stepparent becomes final. (Sec. 105) Provides that an individual shall not be considered to be disabled for OASDI purposes, or for supplemental security income (SSI) purposes under title XVI of the Act (thus denying them benefits), if alcoholism or drug addiction would be a contributing factor material to the determination of disability. (Continues disability benefits based on a separate disabling condition to individuals also disabled by drug addiction or alcoholism.) Requires the payment of OASDI or SSI benefits based on disability to a representative payee if such payment would serve the interest of an individual who also has an alcoholism or drug addiction condition and the individual is incapable of managing the benefits. Requires the Commissioner to refer such individual to the appropriate State agency administering the approved State plan for substance abuse treatment services. Appropriates additional specified amounts to supplement State and Tribal alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs funded under the Public Health Service Act. Requires State or Tribal governments receiving such an allotment to consider as priorities activities relating to the treatment of the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. (Sec. 106) Mandates a pilot study regarding providing individualized information to benefit recipients designed to promote better understanding of their contributions and benefits. (Sec. 107) Prohibits any U.S. officer or employee, with regard to the OASI, DI, HI and SMI Funds, from delaying any deposit or credit, refraining from investment in public debt obligations, or redeeming prior to maturity amounts invested in public debt obligations. (Sec. 108) Mandates appointment of three professional staff members of the Social Security Advisory Board, requiring that one of the three be appointed from individuals approved by Board members who are not members of the political party represented by the majority of the Board. Title II: Line Item Veto - Line Item Veto Act - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to cancel in whole any: (1) dollar amount of discretionary budget authority; (2) item of new direct spending; or (3) limited tax benefit. Requires the President to notify the Congress within five days. Makes the cancellation effective on Congressional receipt of the message. Requires the Office of Management and Budget to take certain actions: (1) for each dollar amount of discretionary budget authority and new direct spending cancelled regarding certain estimates and discretionary spending limits; (2) for each item of new direct spending or limited tax benefit cancelled regarding certain estimates; and (3) regarding providing estimates to the Budget Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Mandates a congressional review period of 30 days on which both Houses of the Congress are in session. Regulates procedures for consideration of disapproval bills. Requires the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) to review any revenue or reconciliation bill or joint resolution that includes any amendment to the Internal Revenue Code that is being prepared for filing by a conference committee and to provide the conference committee a statement identifying those benefits or declaring that the bill or resolution does not contain any such benefits. Allows the bill or resolution, as reported from the conference committee, to include in a separate section the information in that statement. Limits, if that section is included, the President's cancelling authority to any benefit identified in that section. Prohibits judicial review of the JCT statement or its inclusion. (Sec. 203) Allows any Member of Congress or any individual adversely affected by specified provisions of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to bring an action in U.S. district court for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief on the ground of unconstitutionality. Makes a resulting order reviewable by appeal directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. Requires expediting by the district court and the Supreme Court. Title III: Small Business Regulatory Fairness - Small Business Growth and Fairness Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Regulatory Compliance Simplification - States that for each rule or group of related rules for which an agency is required to prepare a final regulatory flexibility analysis, the agency shall publish one or more guides to assist small entities (businesses) in complying. Designates such publications as small entity compliance guides. Requires such guides to be provided through comprehensive sources of information. Limits judicial review with respect to the designation of such guides. (Sec. 313) Provides that, whenever appropriate, it shall be the practice of the agency to answer inquiries by small entities concerning information on and advice about compliance with statutes and regulations. Requires each agency regulating the activities of small entities to establish a program for responding to such inquiries within one year after enactment of this Act. (Sec. 314) Amends the Small Business Act to require small business development centers to provide assistance to small businesses concerning regulatory requirements and to develop informational publications, establish resource centers, and distribute compliance guides. (Sec. 315) Authorizes agencies to develop guides that fully integrate requirements of both Federal and State regulations where regulations within such agency's area of interest impact small businesses. Subtitle B: Regulatory Enforcement Reforms - Requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to designate a Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman to: (1) ensure that small businesses that receive an audit, on-site inspection, compliance assistance effort, or other enforcement action are given a means to comment on such enforcement activity; (2) establish means to receive comments from small businesses regarding enforcement actions; (3) report annually to the Congress and affected agencies on such comments; (4) provide affected agencies with an opportunity to comment on such reports; and (5) report annually to the SBA and the heads of affected agencies on activities, findings, and recommendations of the Boards. Directs the SBA to establish a Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board (Board) in each SBA regional office. Requires each Board to: (1) meet at least annually and report to the Ombudsman on instances of excessive enforcement actions taken against small businesses; (2) comment on the annual report of the Ombudsman; and (3) consist of owners, operators, or officers of small entities. (Sec. 322) Requires each agency regulating the activities of small entities to establish, within one year of enactment of this Act, a policy or program to provide for the reduction and possible waiver of civil penalties for violations by a small entity of a statutory or regulatory requirement. Provides policy or program conditions and exclusions. Requires each such agency to report to the Congress on the scope of its program or policy. Subtitle C: Strengthening Regulatory Flexibility - Revises judicial review procedures for small entities adversely affected or aggrieved by agency regulatory actions or requirements. (Sec. 332) Directs a regulatory agency, at least 30 days before publication of a general notice of proposed rulemaking, to transmit to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA a copy of the proposed rule and either: (1) a copy of the initial regulatory flexibility analysis for such rule; or (2) a determination that such an analysis is not required. Authorizes the Chief Counsel to transmit to such agency a written statement of the effect of such rule on small entities. Allows the agency to respond to such written statement. (Sec. 333) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Chief Counsel should be permitted to appear as amicus curiae in any U.S. action or case brought to review a rule. Subtitle D: Congressional Review - Provides that before a rule can take effect as a final rule, the Federal agency promulgating such rule shall submit to each House of Congress and the Comptroller General a report containing: (1) a copy of the rule; (2) a concise general statement of the rule; and (3) its proposed effective date. Requires such agency to make available to the Comptroller General and, upon request, to each House of Congress certain other relevant information, including a cost-benefit analysis of the rule. Directs the Comptroller General to report on each significant rule to the committees of jurisdiction of each House of Congress. Makes a major rule effective as a final rule on the latter of the date 60 days after: (1) the Congress receives the report on such rule; or (2) the rule is published in the Federal Register. Prohibits: (1) a rule from taking effect if the Congress passes a joint resolution of disapproval under procedures prescribed in this Act; or (2) a rejected rule from being reissued in substantially the same form. Authorizes the President to waive such a resolution if he determines, and notifies the Congress in writing, that the waiver is necessary: (1) because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency; (2) for the enforcement of criminal laws; (3) for national security; or (4) pursuant to any statute implementing an international trade agreement. Outlines the procedure for the congressional treatment of rules issued 60 days or earlier before the Congress adjourns a session. Provides transition rules for rules issued before the enactment of this title. Provides congressional rule disapproval procedures. Provides that, in the case of any deadline for or relating to any rule which does not take effect because of the enactment of a congressional joint resolution, such deadline is extended until one year after the enactment date of such resolution. Defines "major rule" for purposes of this section as a rule having an annual economic effect of $100 million or more, resulting in a major increase in costs or prices, or having a significant adverse effect on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S. companies to compete with foreign companies. Prohibits judicial review of determinations made under this title. States that the congressional review procedures of this title shall not apply to rules that concern monetary policy proposed or implemented by the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Open Market Committee. Allows the promulgating Federal agency to determine the effective date for any rule that establishes, modifies, opens, closes, or conducts a regulatory program for a commercial, recreational, or subsistence activity related to hunting, fishing, or camping. Title IV: Public Debt Limit - Amends Federal law to increase the public debt limit to $5.5 trillion.
Bill· HRH.R. 3127 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1996 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to dispose of certain Federal lands within the area under the jurisdiction of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management in Clark County, Nevada. Allows a unit of local government in whose jurisdiction the lands are located (Clark County, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, or Henderson, Nevada) to elect to obtain, without consideration, up to 12 percent of the lands for local public purposes. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) withdrawal of such lands from mining laws and from operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws; and (2) joint selection of such lands for sale or exchange by the Secretary and the respective unit of local government. Provides for allocation of proceeds from the land sales and exchanges to: (1) the general education program of Nevada; (2) the Southern Nevada Water Authority; (3) Clark County, Nevada, for development of parks and trails and for public recreation purpose; and (4) a special account in the Treasury for direct payments where lands are exchanged under this Act and for the acquisition of environmentally sensitive land in Nevada and for infrastructure needs associated with recreation and resource protection programs in Federal areas in Clark County. Requires the Secretary to transfer the airport environs overlay district lands identified in the Interim Cooperative Management Agreement between the United States Department of the Interior-Bureau of Land Management and Clark County, dated November 4, 1992, to Clark County upon request, without consideration, and subject to specified conditions. (Sec. 5) Allows the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to acquire environmentally sensitive land with the owner's consent. Provides that such acquired land that is within the boundaries of a unit of the National Forest System, the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the National Trails System, the National Wilderness Preservation System, or any other system or national conservation or recreation area established by Act of Congress shall: (1) become part of the unit or area without further action by the respective Secretary; and (2) be managed in accordance with all laws and regulations and land use plans applicable to the unit or area. States that nothing in this Act or any other shall be construed to constitute Federal reservation of water or water rights for any purpose arising from the acquisition of lands or interests in lands. Includes lands acquired by the Secretaries under this Act within the definition of entitlement lands with respect to Federal payments to a local unit of government in which such land is located (payments in lieu of taxes). (Sec. 7) Authorizes the Secretary, upon request by a grantee of lands within Clark County, Nevada, that are subject to a lease or patent issued under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act (RPPA) or a unit of local government making an election to obtain land for local public purposes under this Act, to enter into an exchange of lands on an equal value basis. Requires the Secretary: (1) to make land available under the RPPA to the Southern Nevada Water Authority; and (2) in consultation with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Clark County Nevada Regional Flood Control District in Nevada, to make land available to the District, in accordance with the RPPA, for flood control purposes. (Sec. 8) Amends the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Establishment Act of 1990 to modify the boundaries of the Area.
Bill· SS. 1626 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1996
Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1996 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to dispose of certain Federal lands within the area under the jurisdiction of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management in Clark County, Nevada. Allows a unit of local government in whose jurisdiction the lands are located (Clark County, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, or Henderson, Nevada) to elect to obtain, without consideration, up to 12 percent of the lands for local public purposes. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) withdrawal of such lands from mining laws and from operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws; and (2) joint selection of such lands for sale or exchange by the Secretary and the respective unit of local government. Provides for allocation of proceeds from the land sales and exchanges to: (1) the general education program of Nevada; (2) the Southern Nevada Water Authority; (3) Clark County, Nevada, for development of parks and trails and for public recreation purpose; and (4) a special account in the Treasury for direct payments where lands are exchanged under this Act and for the acquisition of environmentally sensitive land in Nevada and for infrastructure needs associated with recreation and resource protection programs in Federal areas in Clark County. Requires the Secretary to transfer the airport environs overlay district lands identified in the Interim Cooperative Management Agreement between the United States Department of the Interior-Bureau of Land Management and Clark County, dated November 4, 1992, to Clark County upon request, without consideration, and subject to specified conditions. (Sec. 5) Allows the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to acquire environmentally sensitive land with the owner's consent. Provides that such acquired land that is within the boundaries of a unit of the National Forest System, the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the National Trails System, the National Wilderness Preservation System, or any other system or national conservation or recreation area established by Act of Congress shall: (1) become part of the unit or area without further action by the respective Secretary; and (2) be managed in accordance with all laws and regulations and land use plans applicable to the unit or area. Includes lands acquired by the Secretaries under this Act within the definition of entitlement lands with respect to Federal payments to a local unit of government in which such land is located (payments in lieu of taxes). (Sec. 7) Authorizes the Secretary, upon request by a grantee of lands within Clark County, Nevada, that are subject to a lease or patent issued under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act (RPPA) or a unit of local government making an election to obtain land for local public purposes under this Act, to enter into an exchange of lands on an equal value basis. Requires the Secretary: (1) to make land available under the RPPA to the Southern Nevada Water Authority; (2) in consultation with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Clark County Nevada Regional Flood Control District in Nevada, to make land available to the District, in accordance with the RPPA, for flood control purposes; and (3) in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to make land available in the State of Nevada, in accordance with the RPPA, for affordable housing purposes. Limits availability of such lands to State or local governmental entities, including local public housing authorities. Considers such housing to be affordable housing if it is assisted under the United States Housing Act of 1937. (Sec. 8) Amends the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Establishment Act of 1990 to modify the boundaries of the Area.
Bill· SS. 1613 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1996
Amends the National School Lunch Act to permit schools to use any reasonable approach to meet certain dietary guidelines under the school lunch and breakfast programs. Prohibits schools from being required to use or conduct nutrient analysis.
Bill· HRH.R. 3088 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1996
Authorizes and directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to enter into an exchange with the Weyerhaeuser Company of specified lands, including mineral, oil, and gas interests, in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Provides for the inclusion of such lands in the Ouachita National Forest and the Cossatot National Wildlife Refuge.
Bill· HRH.R. 3102 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Corporate Tax and Agricultural Related Provisions Title II: Mineral Exploration and Development Subtitle A: Mineral Exploration and Development Subtitle B: Environmental Considerations of Mineral Exploration and Development Subtitle C: Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation Fund Subtitle D: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions Common Sense Corporate Responsibility Act of 1996 - Title I: Corporate Tax and Agricultural Related Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the election to take the percentage credit under the Puerto Rico and possessions tax credit provisions; (2) eliminate the exclusion of certain income of foreign sales corporations; and (3) repeal alcohol fuel incentives. (Sec. 104) Amends the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to require the payment of the full cost for the delivery of water used for the production of surplus crops. (Sec. 105) Amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to repeal: (1) title III (Export Enhancement Program); and (2) the market promotion program provisions. Title II: Mineral Exploration and Development - Subtitle A: Mineral Exploration and Development - Mineral Exploration and Development Act of 1996 - Sets forth guidelines for mineral exploration on public domain lands. Declares that holders of mining claims located or converted and maintained under this Act have the exclusive right of possession and use of the claimed land for mineral activities. (Sec. 205) Prescribes rules for mining claim location and use of public land surveys. Provides for administrative adjudication of conflicting claims. Mandates a specified location fee for every unpatented mining claim located after the date of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 206) Subjects existing unpatented mining claims, mill sites, and tunnel sites to the provisions of this Act ("converted mining claims"). (Sec. 207) Sets forth certain annual claim maintenance fees. Mandates that all monies received from such fees be deposited into the Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation Fund (established under this Act). (Sec. 208) States that failure to comply with the requirements of this Act shall be deemed conclusively to constitute forfeiture of the mining claim. (Sec. 209) Prescribes procedural guidelines for: (1) contesting a mining claim on the basis of discovery; and (2) demonstrating the continued sufficiency of a mining claim. Subtitle B: Environmental Considerations of Mineral Exploration and Development - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, and for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretaries), to require that mineral activities on Federal lands be conducted in a manner that minimizes adverse impacts to the environment. Prescribes surface management guidelines for the granting of both an exploration and an operations permit. Requires applications for such permits to contain both an operations plan and a reclamation plan, and evidence of financial assurances. Limits an operations permit to a ten-year term (subject to renewal). (Sec. 215) Declares persons in violation of this Act ineligible for permits. Sets as a prerequisite to the issuance of any permit evidence of financial assurance payable to the United States for all lands to be affected by the mineral activities described in the permit application. (Sec. 217) Mandates that lands subject to mineral activities be restored to a condition capable of supporting their prior uses, or to other beneficial uses which conform to applicable land use plans. Sets forth reclamation standards applicable to mineral exploration. (Sec. 218) Declares that State standards for reclamation, bonding, inspection, and water or air quality which either meet or exceed Federal standards shall not be construed as inconsistent with this Act. Permits cooperative agreements between the States and the Secretary. Prohibits the Secretary from delegating authorities or responsibilities conferred under this Act to any State or its political subdivision. (Sec. 219) Requires the Secretaries, in preparing land use plans, to determine those areas deemed unsuitable for certain mineral activities. Requires withdrawal of such areas from mineral exploration and development. Subtitle C: Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation Fund - Establishes the Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation Fund (the Fund), to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior acting through the Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, for the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by past minerals activities on certain public lands. (Sec. 233) Restricts reclamation expenditures to Federal or Indian land and water resources that traverse or are contiguous to Federal or Indian lands where such resources have been affected by past mineral activities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 236) Subjects the production of locatable minerals (or mineral concentrates or products derived from locatable minerals) from any mining claim under this Act to a royalty scheme of eight percent of the net smelter return. Subtitle D: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 and the National Materials and Minerals Policy Research and Development Act of 1980 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to implement minerals policy and actions to improve availability and analysis of mineral data in Federal land use decision making for National Forest System lands. (Sec. 242) Authorizes the Secretaries to establish and collect user fees to reimburse the United States for expenses incurred in administering this Act. (Sec. 243) Prescribes procedural guidelines for the publication of an application for an operations permit and the public participation requirements. (Sec. 244) Instructs the Secretaries to: (1) inspect mineral activities to ensure compliance with surface management requirements; and (2) require all operators to maintain a monitoring and evaluation system to identify compliance with them. Authorizes citizen suits to enforce compliance. (Sec. 246) Prescribes procedural guidelines for administrative and judicial review of agency actions. (Sec. 247) Sets forth enforcement guidelines and civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance. Provides transitional rules for: (1) new and preexisting claims; (2) claims that have not been converted; (3) contest proceedings; and (4) oil shale claims. (Sec. 251) Adjusts the dollar amounts established under this Act to a certain inflation formula. (Sec. 255) Prohibits the issuance after January 4, 1995, of patents for vein, lode, placer, and mill site mining claims unless certain administrative requirements are met. (Sec. 256) Declares that the Multiple Minerals Development Act, and certain other Federal law, apply to all mining claims located or converted under this Act. (Sec. 257) Amends Federal law to subject all mineral materials deposits to disposal under the terms of the Materials Act of 1947 (eliminating the concept of uncommon varieties). Renames specified Federal law: (1) the Surface Resource Act of 1955; and (2) the Materials Act of 1947. Repeals the Building Stone Act and the Saline Placer Act. (Sec. 258) Declares this Act applicable to Federal lands that are used for beneficiation or processing activities for any mineral regardless of Federal title to the mineral. (Sec. 259) Requires recipients of funds under this Act to comply with the "Buy American Act." (Sec. 260) Expresses the sense of the Congress that such funds should be used to purchase only American-made equipment and products. (Sec. 261) Declares a person ineligible to receive any contract made with funds provided under this Act if the person has been judicially determined to have intentionally affixed a "Made in America" label to a product that is not U.S.-made. (Sec. 263) Declares that court-awarded compensation for a Federal taking under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution shall be paid from the Fund. (Sec. 264) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to report annually to the Congress on the percentage of each mining claim held by a foreign firm.
Bill· SS. 1602 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1996
Amends the Plant Variety Protection Act to provide plant variety protection for certain tuber propagated plant varieties.
Bill· HRH.R. 3050 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1996
Declares that it is U.S. policy that: (1) the European Union's prohibition on the importation into European Union (E.U.) member states of meat from animals treated with hormones and the European Community's Third Country Meat Directive are nontariff trade barriers; and (2) it is in the public interest to remove such barriers to exports of U.S. meat products. Directs the President to prohibit the entry, or withdrawal from warehouse for consumption, into the customs territory of the United States of all meat products of E.U. member states. Declares that such prohibition shall remain in effect until the Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative have submitted to the Congress their joint determination that the E.U. has removed such prohibition, and that U.S. meat products are permitted access to their markets.
Bill· SS. 1594 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Omnibus Appropriations Title I (sic): Department of Justice Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Title III: The Judiciary Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies Title V: Related Agencies Title VI: General Provisions Title VII: Rescissions Title VIII: Prison Litigation Reform Title I (sic): Fiscal Year 1996 Appropriations Title II: District of Columbia School Reform Subtitle A: District of Columbia Reform Plan Subtitle B: Public Charter Schools Subtitle C: Even Start Subtitle D: World Class Schools Task Force, Core Curriculum, Content Standards, Assessments and Promotion Gates Subtitle E: Per Capita District of Columbia Public School and Public Charter School Funding Subtitle F: School Facilities Repair and Improvement Subtitle G: Residential School Subtitle H: Progress Reports and Accountability Subtitle I: Partnerships with Business Subtitle J: Management and Fiscal Accountability Subtitle K: Personal Accountability and Preservation of School-Based Resources Subtitle L: Establishment and Organization of the Commission on Consensus Reform in the District of Columbia Public Schools Subtitle M: Parent Attendance at Parent-Teacher Conferences Title I (sic): Department of the Interior Title II: Related Agencies Title III: General Provisions Title I (sic): Department of Labor Title II: Department of Health and Human Services Title III: Department of Education Title IV: Related Agencies Title V: General Provisions Title I (sic): Department of Veterans Affairs Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development Title III: Independent Agencies Title IV: Corporations Title V: General Provisions Title II (sic): Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1996 Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions Title IV: Contingency Appropriations Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996 - Title I (sic): Omnibus Appropriations - Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Department of Justice - Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes FY 1996 appropriations to the Department of Justice, including funding for the Community Relations Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Federal Prison System. (Sec. 114) Revises provisions of subtitle A (Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth in Sentencing Incentive Grants) of title II (Prisons) of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Directs the Attorney General to provide grants to eligible States to build or expand: (1) correctional facilities to increase the prison bed capacity for the confinement of persons convicted of a "part 1 violent crime" (murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) or adjudicated delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would be a part 1 violent crime; (2) temporary or permanent correctional facilities, including facilities on military bases, prison barges, and boot camps, for the confinement of convicted nonviolent offenders and criminal aliens for the purpose of freeing suitable existing prison space for the confinement of persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime; and (3) jails. Authorizes States to enter into regional compacts to carry out such provisions, subject to specified limitations. Specifies that an eligible State may receive either a general grant or a truth-in- sentencing incentive grant, with an exception. Sets forth general eligibility requirements. Requires a State, to be eligible for a general grant, to submit an application to the Attorney General that provides assurances that such State has, since 1993, increased the percentage of persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime sentenced to prison, the average prison time actually to be served in prison by such persons, and the average percentage of time of the sentence to be actually served in prison by persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime and sentenced to prison (with an indeterminant sentencing exception). Requires a State, to be eligible for a truth-in-sentencing incentive grant, to submit such an application providing assurances that: (1) such State has implemented truth-in-sentencing laws that require (or has enacted but has not yet implemented such laws that, within three years, will require) persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime to serve not less than 85 percent of the sentence imposed; or (2) if the State practices indeterminate sentencing, such State demonstrates that the average time served equals at least 85 percent of the sentences established for such crimes under the State's sentencing and release guidelines (with exceptions for geriatric prisoners or those whose medical condition precludes them from posing a threat to the public after a public hearing in which representatives of the public and the prisoner's victims have had an opportunity to be heard regarding a proposed release). Sets forth special rules regarding State: (1) sharing of funds with counties and other units of local government; (2) policies providing for the recognition of the rights and needs of crime victims; (3) use of funds to build or expand juvenile correctional facilities or pretrial detention facilities for juvenile offenders; and (4) use of funds for the privatization of correctional facilities. Sets forth: (1) formulas for the Attorney General to apply in determining the amount of funds that may be granted to each eligible State; and (2) accountability requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth provisions regarding the distribution, limitations on the use of, and matching requirements with respect to, grant funds. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) payments for incarceration on tribal lands; (2) payments to eligible States for incarceration of criminal aliens (and authorizes appropriations); (3) support of Federal prisoners in non-Federal institutions (and authorizes appropriations); and (4) reports by the Attorney General to the Congress. Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies - Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the Department of Commerce (Department) and related agencies and activities, including: (1) the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; (2) the International Trade Commission and international trade activities; (3) export administration; (4) the Economic Development Administration; (5) minority business development; (6) economic and statistical analysis and administration; (7) the Bureau of the Census and related activities; (8) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; (9) public broadcasting facilities, planning, and construction; (10) the Patent and Trademark Office; (11) the National Institute of Standards and Technology and related services and activities; (12) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (including a transfer of funds); (13) various government trust funds related to ocean and water resources development and activities; (14) technology policy and administration; and (15) the Office of the Inspector General. Rescinds $75 million of amounts available to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for the construction of research facilities. (Sec. 201) Allows advance payments to be made for authorized Department activities only upon certification by Department officials that such payments are in the public interest. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary or other appropriate agency head, if legislation is enacted to dismantle or reorganize the Department, to report to the appropriations committees within 90 days thereafter a plan for transferring funds provided to the Department in this Act to the appropriate successor organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to use any available funds to carry out the legislation, including voluntary separation incentives if duly authorized. (Sec. 207) Prohibits the use of funds appropriated under this title to implement specified provisions of the Endangered Species Act relating to the determination of endangered or threatened species, except to delist or reclassify species. (Sec. 208) States that the transfer of title of the Rutland City Industrial Complex to Hilinex, Vermont, shall not require compensation to the Government for its share of such property. (Sec. 209) Directs the Secretary to: (1) commence and complete a demolition of existing structures and an environmental cleanup of the Central Foundry Property in Holt, Alabama; and (2) transfer such property to the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority. (Sec. 210) Requires any costs incurred by a department or agency funded under this title resulting from personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions included in this title to be absorbed within the total budgetary resources available to such department or agency. Title III: The Judiciary - Judiciary Appropriations Act, 1996 - Appropriates FY 1996 funds for activities of the Judiciary, including: (1) the Supreme Court; (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; (3) the U.S. Court of International Trade; (4) the Courts of Appeals, district courts, and other judicial services; (5) the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (Administrative Office); (6) the Federal Judicial Center; (7) Judicial Retirement Funds; and (8) the United States Sentencing Commission. (Sec. 305) Revises provisions regarding judicial conferences of the circuits to allow (current law requires) the chief judge to summon judges to and preside at, and every judge to attend and remain throughout, such conferences. Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies - Department of State and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Appropriates funds for FY 1996 for the Department of State and related agencies, activities, and programs, including: (1) diplomatic and consular programs; (2) the Capital Investment Fund; (3) the Office of the Inspector General; (4) payments to the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (5) contributions to international organizations, peacekeeping activities, conferences and commissions; (6) a grant to the Asia Foundation; (7) the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA); (8) the United States Information Agency (USIA); (9) the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program Trust Fund; (10) the Israeli Arab Scholarship Program; (11) the American Studies Collections Endowment Fund; (12) international broadcasting operations, including broadcasting to Cuba; and (13) the National Endowment for Democracy. (Sec. 401) Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated under this Act. (Sec. 404) Requires the Secretary of State and the Directors of USIA and ACDA, within 90 days after the enactment of legislation consolidating, reorganizing, or downsizing the functions of such department and agencies, to submit to the appropriations committees a proposal for transferring or rescinding funds appropriated herein for such consolidated functions. Authorizes such officials to use any available funds to cover the consolidation costs required by such legislation, including voluntary separation incentives duly authorized. (Sec. 407) Amends the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Act to extend its Au Pair programs through FY 1999. (Sec. 408) Repeals Federal provisions limiting the use of endowment trust income under the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Act. (Sec. 409) Expresses the sense of the Senate that no funds made available under this Act should be used for the deployment of combat- equipped U.S. military personnel for any ground operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, except in specific limited circumstances. Title V: Related Agencies - Appropriates funds for FY 1996 for: (1) the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation; (2) the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; (3) the Commission on Civil Rights; (4) the Commission on Immigration Reform; (5) the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; (6) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; (7) the Federal Communications Commission; (8) the Federal Maritime Commission; (9) the Federal Trade Commission; (10) the Japan- United States Friendship Commission; (11) the Legal Services Corporation; (12) the Marine Mammal Commission; (13) the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission; (14) the Securities and Exchange Commission; (15) the Small Business Administration; (16) certain accounts and revolving funds; and (17) the State Justice Institute. (Sec. 501) Places limitations on the use of funds by the Legal Services Corporation. Directs the Corporation to: (1) implement a system of competitive awards of grants and contracts that will apply to all contracts for the delivery of legal assistance awarded by the Corporation after March 31, 1996; and (2) promulgate regulations to implement a competitive selection process for the recipients of such grants and contracts. Prohibits the Corporation from: (1) engaging in litigation that is in any way intended to or has the effect of altering or revising any legislative, judicial, or elective district; (2) attempting in any way to influence the issuance of any executive order or regulation or the passage or defeat of any legislation; (3) bringing a class action suit against the Federal Government or any State; (4) providing assistance to any alien unless the alien is lawfully present in this country or meets other specified requirements; (5) supporting or conducting programs to advocate particular public policies or encourage political activities; or (6) participating in any litigation with respect to abortion or any prisoner. Sets forth prohibited uses of funds appropriated to the Corporation. Directs the Corporation to report every 60 days to the appropriations committees setting forth the status of certain legal assistance cases and matters brought through the Corporation. Requires an audit (containing specified information) to be conducted of each person or entity receiving financial assistance from the Corporation. Allows the Corporation access to appropriate legal and financial documents for purposes of such audits, while requiring appropriate confidentiality. Requires such audits for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 1996. (Sec. 510) Provides authorized funds transfers, and transfer limits, for appropriations made to the Small Business Administration. Title VI: General Provisions - Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 607) Expresses the sense of the Congress that equipment and products purchased with funds from this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 611) Prohibits the use of funds from this Act to provide specified amenities or personal comforts in the Federal prison system. (Sec. 614) Amends the Federal criminal code to terminate the Advisory Corrections Council. (Sec. 615) Requires costs incurred by a department or agency funded under this title resulting from personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions included in this title to be absorbed within the total budgetary resources available to such department or agency. (Sec. 616) Repeals provisions of the Balanced Budget Downpayment Act, I which, among other things: (1) appropriate necessary amounts at a rate of operations provided for in the conference report on the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996, subject to exceptions; and (2) stipulate that, notwithstanding any other provision of such Act, the rate of operations only for program administration and the continuation of grants awarded in FY 1995 and prior years may be increased up to a level of 75 percent of the final FY 1995 appropriated amount for the Advanced Technology Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Ounce of Prevention Council, Drug Courts, Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, and Cops on the Beat Program. Title VII: Rescissions - Rescinds specified funds from unobligated balances within certain accounts of: (1) the Department of Justice; (2) the State Department; and (3) USIA. Title VIII: Prison Litigation Reform - Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 - Revises Federal criminal code provisions regarding remedies for prison crowding to substitute provisions regarding remedies for prison conditions. Prohibits: (1) prospective relief in any civil action regarding prison conditions from extending further than necessary to correct the violation of the Federal right of particular plaintiffs; and (2) the court from granting or approving any such relief unless that relief is narrowly drawn, extends no further than necessary to correct the violation of the Federal right, and is the least intrusive means necessary to correct the violation. Directs the court to give substantial weight to any adverse impact on public safety or the operation of a criminal justice system caused by the relief. Prohibits the court from ordering prospective relief that requires or permits a government official to exceed his or her authority under, or that otherwise violates, State or local law, unless: (1) Federal law permits such relief to be ordered in violation of State or local law; (2) the relief is necessary to correct the violation of a Federal right; and (3) no other relief will correct the violation of the Federal right. Authorizes the court to enter a temporary restraining order or an order for preliminary injunctive relief, which shall automatically expire 90 days after its entry, with exceptions. Directs the court to give substantial weight to any adverse impact on public safety or operation of a criminal justice system caused by the preliminary relief, and to respect principles of comity in tailoring any such relief. Prohibits a prisoner release order from being entered unless: (1) a court has previously entered an order for less intrusive relief that has failed to remedy the deprivation of the Federal right and the defendant has had a reasonable amount of time to comply with the previous court orders; and (2) it is entered by a three-judge court, which finds by clear and convincing evidence that crowding is the primary cause of the violation and no other relief will remedy it. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) termination or modification of relief; (2) settlements; (3) State law remedies; (4) procedure for motions affecting prospective relief; and (5) the use of special masters. (Sec. 803) Amends the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act to require the Attorney General to personally sign any complaint filed, or any certification or motion to intervene made, to initiate a civil action under the Act. Revises provisions of the Act to prohibit any action from being brought by a prisoner with respect to prison conditions until available administrative remedies are exhausted. Specifies that the failure of a State to adopt or adhere to an administrative grievance procedure shall not constitute the basis for an action. Directs the court to dismiss any such action if satisfied that the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief (and authorizes the court, in such instances, to dismiss the underlying claim without first requiring exhaustion of administrative remedies). Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) limits on the award of attorney's fees; (2) limits on recovery; (3) hearings; and (4) waiver of reply. (Sec. 804) Amends the Federal judicial code to require a prisoner: (1) of a Federal, State, or local institution seeking to bring a civil action or appeal a judgment in a civil action or proceeding without prepayment of fees or security to submit a certified copy of the prisoner's trust fund account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint or notice of appeal, obtained from the appropriate official of each institution at which the prisoner is or was confined; and (2) who brings a civil action or files an appeal in forma pauperis to pay the full amount of a filing fee (and directs the court to assess and, when funds exist, to collect, as a partial payment of any court fees required by law, an initial partial filing fee of 20 percent of the greater of the average monthly deposits to the prisoner's account or the average monthly balance in the prisoner's account for such six-month period). Sets forth similar provisions regarding the payment of costs by the prisoner. Revises provisions regarding the appointment of counsel in forma pauperis proceedings to require the court to dismiss the case at any time if the allegation of poverty is untrue or if the action or appeal is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. Makes an exception to the discharge of debt in a bankruptcy proceeding for a fee imposed by a court for the filing of a case, motion, complaint, or appeal, or for other costs and expenses assessed with respect to such filing, regardless of an assertion of poverty by the debtor or the debtor's status as a prisoner. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) successive claims; (2) judicial screening of complaints in civil actions brought by prisoners against governmental entities; and (3) limits of Federal tort claims by prisoners. (Sec. 807) Requires any compensatory damages award to a prisoner in connection with a civil action brought against any Federal, State, or local correctional facility or official or agent thereof to be paid directly to satisfy any outstanding restitution orders pending against the prisoner, with the remainder forwarded to the prisoner. (Sec. 808) Provides for notice to crime victims of pending damage awards. (Sec. 809) Authorizes the court to revoke earned release credit under specified circumstances. Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) direct the Bureau of Prisons, in awarding credit towards service of sentence for satisfactory behavior, to consider whether the prisoner has earned or is making satisfactory progress toward earning a high school diploma or an equivalent degree; and (2) provide that credit awarded after the date of enactment of this Act shall vest on the date the prisoner is released from custody. Title I (sic): Fiscal Year 1996 Appropriations - District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for the District of Columbia Government for FY 1996, including funds for: (1) the Federal payment ($660 million); (2) the Federal contribution to the Police Officers and Fire Fighters', Teachers', and Judges' Retirement Funds ($52.07 million); and (3) the Federal contribution to education reform ($14.93 million). Appropriates specified sums for the District of Columbia out of the District of Columbia general fund for the current fiscal year for: (1) governmental direction and support; (2) economic development and regulation; (3) public safety and justice; (4) the public education system; (5) education reform; (6) human support services; (7) public works; (8) repayment of specified loans and interest; (9) repayment of the general fund recovery debt; (10) repayment of interest on short-term borrowing; (11) the Rainy Day Fund; (12) the incentive buyout program; (13) outplacement services; (14) capital outlay (including rescissions); (15) the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund and construction projects; (16) the Lottery and Charitable Games Enterprise Fund; (17) the Cable Television Enterprise Fund; (18) the Starplex Fund; (19) D.C. General Hospital; (20) the D.C. Retirement Board; (21) the Correctional Industries Fund; (22) the Washington Convention Center Enterprise Fund; and (23) the D.C. Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority (Authority). Prohibits the use of revenues from Federal sources to support the Statehood Commission and Statehood Compact Commission. Requires the District to operate a free, 24-hour telephone information service where residents of the area surrounding Lorton prison can obtain information about all prison disturbances. Requires the Mayor of the District to reduce appropriations and expenditures in specified amounts for: (1) nonpersonal services and personal services, including by decreasing rates of compensation for District government employees through the renegotiation of existing collective bargaining agreements and otherwise, if necessary; and (2) boards and commissions. Requires the Chief Financial Officer of the District, on behalf of the Mayor, to adjust appropriations and expenditures for personal and nonpersonal services, together with the related full-time equivalent positions, in accordance with the direction of the Authority to obtain a specified net reduction within or among one or several of the various appropriation headings in this Act. (Sec. 101) Sets forth certain uses of and restrictions on the expenditure of appropriations made by this Act. (Sec. 110) Requires that the annual budget for the District of Columbia government for FY 1997 be transmitted to the Congress by April 15, 1996, or as provided under the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995. (Sec. 123) Directs the Mayor to submit to the D.C. Council, within 30 days after the end of the first quarter of FY 1996, the FY 1996 revenue estimates. (Sec. 130) Prohibits: (1) Federal funds provided under this Act from being used by the District to provide for salaries, expenses, or other costs associated with the offices of U.S. Senator or U.S. Representatives under the District of Columbia Statehood Constitutional Convention Initiatives of 1979; (2) any funds appropriated under this from being expended for any abortion unless it is necessary to save the life of the mother or if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest; or (3) any funds made available pursuant to this Act from being used to implement or enforce the District Domestic Partner Act (also called the District of Columbia Health Care Benefits Expansion Act of 1992) or any registration system for unmarried, cohabitating couples whether they are homosexual, lesbian, or heterosexual, including registration for the extension of employment, health, or governmental benefits to such couples on the same basis that such benefits are extended to legally married couples. (Sec. 135) Amends the District of Columbia Real Property Tax Revision Act of 1974 to require the D.C. Council, if it extends the time to establish rates of taxation on real property for a tax year, to establish such rates by permanent legislation. Changes the date by which the Council should establish the rates from July 15 to October 15. Applies, during a tax year, the rates of taxation for the prior year if the rates are not established and the Council does not extend the time. Makes the real property tax rates for taxable real property in the District for FY 1996 the same rates in effect for FY 1994. Repeals provisions of the Act which require such rates to be those submitted by the Mayor or the D.C. Council. (Sec. 137) Specifies reporting requirements for: (1) the Mayor (with respect to actions to effect the directives of the Council in this Act with respect to certain spending reductions); (2) the Board of Education; and (3) the University of the District of Columbia. (Sec. 144) Prohibits an agency from filling a position wholly funded by appropriations authorized by this Act which is vacant on October 1, 1995, or which becomes vacant during FY 1996, unless the Mayor or the independent agency submits a proposed resolution of intent to fill the vacant position to the D.C. Council for approval or disapproval. Prohibits any reduction in the number of full-time equivalent positions or any reduction-in-force due to privatization or contracting out if the Authority disallows the full-time equivalent position reduction provided in this Act in meeting the specified ceiling of 35,984 for FY 1996. Allows the appropriate personnel authority to fill a vacant position with a District government employee currently occupying a position that is funded with appropriated funds. Exempts local school-based teachers, officers, teachers' aides, or certain D.C. court personnel. (Sec. 147) Precludes the use of the funds provided in this Act for the renovation of property at 227 7th Street Southeast, Washington, D.C. (commonly known as Eastern Market), except for the regular maintenance and upkeep of its current structure and grounds. (Sec. 149) Modifies D.C. reductions-in-force procedures to allow a personnel authority to establish lesser competitive areas within an agency on the basis of all or a clearly identifiable segment of an agency's mission or a division or major subdivision of an agency. Authorizes each agency head to identify positions for abolishment. Outlines procedures for abolishment of such positions for FY 1996. (Sec. 150) Prohibits the total amount appropriated in this Act under the caption "Division of Expenses" for District operating expenses for FY 1996 from exceeding $4.994 billion, of which $165.339 million shall be from intra-District funds. Allows the Mayor to accept, obligate, and expend Federal, private, and other grants received by the District government that are not reflected in the amounts appropriated in this Act. Prohibits acceptance, obligation, and expenditure of such grants until: (1) the Chief Financial Officer submits to the Authority a report setting forth detailed information regarding such grant; and (2) the Authority reviews and approves such action. Prohibits obligation or expenditure from the general fund or other funds of the District government in anticipation of approval or receipt of such grants not subject to this Act. Requires the Chief Financial Officer to report monthly to the D.C. Council and specified congressional committees on detailed information regarding all of such grants subject to this Act. (Sec. 151) Requires the District, by March 15, 1996, to develop a series of alternative plans for the use and operation of the Lorton Correctional Complex, including plans under which the Complex will be closed, will remain in operation under the District's management, or will be operated under Federal or private management (Sec. 152) Prohibits a person from joining in a petition to a District court for a decree of adoption unless the person is the petitioner's spouse. Allows an unmarried person to file a petition for adoption when no other person joins in the petition or where the co-petitioner is the natural parent of the child. (Sec. 154) Establishes in the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund: (1) the Operation and Maintenance Account to be used solely for funding the operation and maintenance of the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Facility and related waste water treatment works; and (2) an Environmental Protection Agency Grant Account to be used solely for purposes specified under the terms of the grants and appropriations involved. Title II: District of Columbia School Reform - District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995 - Subtitle A: District of Columbia Reform Plan - Requires the Superintendent of the District of Columbia public schools, with the approval of the Board of Education, to submit a long-term reform plan for the District's school system to the Mayor, the D.C. Council, the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority, the Commission on Consensus Reform in the District of Columbia public schools (established under subtitle L), and the appropriate congressional committees within 90 days after this Act's enactment and each February 15 thereafter. Requires each plan to be consistent with the financial plan and budget for the District for FY 1996 and each subsequent fiscal year, as the case may be, required under the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995. Specifies areas to be addressed, measurement and deadline requirements, and goals for the plans, including: (1) improving the health and safety of students; and (2) providing after-school programs offering such activities as arts classes, physical fitness programs, and community service. Subtitle B: Public Charter Schools - Prescribes the process for filing charter petitions with respect to an eligible applicant seeking to: (1) convert an existing District public, private, or independent school into a public charter school; or (2) establish a public charter school in the District. (Sec. 2202) Lists the contents of public charter school petitions, including a description of the proposed scope and size of the school's program, any special area of focus for the school, the employment relationship between the school and its employees, and assurances that the school will seek and maintain accreditation and licensing. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the process for approving or denying petitions (permits approval of up to ten petitions for the 1996-1997 academic year and up to five for each year thereafter); (2) duties, powers, and other requirements of such schools (prohibits the schools from charging tuition, fees, or other mandatory payments, except to nonresident students or for field trips or similar activities and requires the schools to be nonsectarian and unaffiliated with a sectarian school or religious institution); (3) the Boards of Trustees of such schools; (4) student admission, enrollment, and withdrawal; (5) transfers, creditable service, and retirement concerns of District public school employees who work for public charter schools; (6) reduced fares on public transportation for the schools' students; and (7) the provision of services, such as facilities maintenance, to public charter schools by the Superintendent of D.C. schools. (Sec. 2210) Considers a public charter school, for any fiscal year, to be a local educational agency (LEA) for purposes of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and makes the school eligible for assistance under ESEA if the ratio of low-income students to all students in the school equals or exceeds the lowest of such ratio for an eligible public school. Provides for the allocation of ESEA assistance between eligible District public charter schools and public schools for FY 1996 through 1998. Requires the Secretary of Education to calculate such allocations for FY 1999 and there after according to a specified formula based on the numbers of low-income students served. Prohibits the Board of Education from directing a public charter school in the school's use of such funds. Exempts the public charter schools from specified ESEA provisions and from District property and sales taxes. Directs each public charter school to elect to be treated as an LEA or a District public school for purposes of specified provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. (Sec. 2211) Outlines the powers and duties of eligible chartering authorities. (Sec. 2212) Requires a charter granted to a public charter school to be in force for a five-year period. Allows renewal of such charter for an unlimited number of times (each for a five-year period). (Sec. 2213) Permits an eligible chartering authority that has granted a charter to a public charter school to revoke the charter if the authority determines that the school has committed a violation of applicable laws or a material violation of the conditions, terms, standards, or procedures set forth in the charter. (Sec. 2214) Establishes a Public Charter School Board within the District government. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 2000. (Sec. 2215) Encourages the following Federal agencies and federally established entities to explore whether it is feasible for the agency or entity to establish one or more public charter schools and to report such determination on the feasibility to the appropriate congressional committees: (1) the Library of Congress; (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Museum; (3) the Drug Enforcement Administration; (4) the National Science Foundation; (5) the Department of Justice; (6) the Department of Defense; (7) the Department of Education; and (8) the Smithsonian Institution, including the National Zoological Park, the National Museum of American History, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the National Gallery of Art. Subtitle C: Even Start - Amends ESEA to authorize appropriations for FY 1996 through 2000 for the purpose of carrying out Even Start programs in the District. Requires the Secretary to provide grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable them to carry out District Even Start programs that build on the findings of the National Evaluation of the Even Start Family Literacy Program, such as providing intensive services in early childhood education, parent training, and adult literacy or education. Limits such grants to eight for FY 1996, 14 for FY 1997, 20 for each of FY 1998 and 1999, and 20 or such number as the Secretary determines appropriate for FY 2000, taking into account the results of evaluations described in ESEA. Defines "eligible entity" as a partnership composed of at least: (1) a District public school: (2) the LEA in existence on September 1, 1995, for the District, any other public organization, or an institution of higher education as defined in the Higher Education Act of 1965; and (3) a private nonprofit community-based organization. Directs the Secretary to allocate specified amounts of authorized appropriations for District Even Start programs to: (1) enter into a contract with the National Center for Family Literacy for the provision of technical assistance to eligible entities; and (2) provide for evaluations to determine the effectiveness of such programs in providing high quality family literacy services. Subtitle D: World Class Schools Task Force, Core Curriculum, Content Standards, Assessments, and Promotion Gates - Part 1: World Class Schools Task Force, Core Curriculum, Content Standards, and Assessments - Authorizes the Superintendent to award a grant to a World Class Schools Task Force to enable the Task Force to recommend to the Superintendent, the Board of Education, and the District of Columbia Goals Panel: (1) content standards in the core academic subjects that are developed by working with the District community (requires such standards to be developed within 12 months after this Act's enactment); (2) a core curriculum (which includes the teaching of computer skills) developed by working with the D.C. community; (3) district-wide assessments for measuring student achievement in accordance with such content standards; and (4) model professional development programs for teachers using the standards and curriculum. Encourages the Task Force, to the extent practicable, to develop district-wide assessments that permit comparison among: (1) individual D.C. public schools and public charter schools and individual students attending such schools; and (2) students of other nations. (Sec. 2415) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996. Part 2: Promotion Gates - Requires the Superintendent, within one year of the adoption of the assessments, to establish and implement promotion gates: (1) for mathematics, reading, and writing for at least one grade level from kindergarten through grade four, including at least grade four, and to establish dates for establishing such other promotion gates for other subject areas; (2) with respect to at least one grade level from grades five through eight, including at least grade eight; and (3) with respect to at least one grade level from grades nine through 12, including grade 12. Subtitle E: Per Capita District of Columbia Public School and Public Charter School Funding - Requires the Mayor, for FY 1997 and each fiscal year thereafter, to make annual payments to the Board of Education for the operating expenses of the District public schools and charter schools from the general fund of the District in accordance with a specified formula based on the number of students in public schools and public charter schools. (Sec. 2502) Sets forth provisions which require reports by: (1) each public school and charter school to the Mayor and the Board of Education of the calculation of the number of students enrolled in each grade from kindergarten through grade 12; (2) the Board of Education to the Authority, the Mayor, the D.C. Council, the Consensus Commission, the Comptroller General of the United States, and appropriate congressional committees which summarize the most recent calculations; and (3) the Authority on an independent audit of such initial calculations. (Sec. 2503) Sets forth provisions providing for transition funding for District public charter schools. Subtitle F: School Facilities Repair and Improvement - Part 1: School Facilities - Requires the Administrator of the General Services Administration to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement or Understanding with the Superintendent regarding the terms under which the Administrator will provide technical assistance and related services with respect to District public schools facilities management. Authorizes the Administrator to accept and use a conditioned gift made for the express purpose of repairing or improving the District public schools, except that the Administrator shall not be required to carry out such repairs or improvements unless he or she accepts a donation sufficient to cover the costs of the repairs or improvements. (Sec. 2552) Requires the Mayor and the D.C. Council, within 24 months after the Agreement is signed and in consultation with the Administrator, the Authority, the Board of Education, and the Superintendent to: (1) design and implement a comprehensive long-term program for the repair and improvement, and maintenance and management, of the District public school facilities; and (2) designate a new or existing agency or authority within the District government to administer the program. (Sec. 2553) Authorizes appropriations to the Administrator for FY 1996 for the costs of engineering plans. Part 2: Waivers - Allows voluntary donation of materials and services for the repair and improvement of District school facilities. Waives, with respect to any contractor, subcontractor, and any other group, entity, or individual who donates materials and services for the repair or improvement of a District public school facility, all District fees and all requirements contained in the document entitled "District of Columbia Public Schools Standard Contract Provisions" published by the District public schools for use with construction or maintenance projects for purposes of repair and improvement of such facilities for a period beginning on this Act's enactment date and ending 24 months after such date. Part 3: Gifts, Donations, Bequests, and Devises - Allows a District public school or public charter school to accept directly from any person a gift, donation, bequest, or devise of any property, real or personal, without regard to any District law or regulation. Subtitle G: Residential School - Authorizes the Superintendent to develop a plan that meets specified requirements to establish for the District a residential school for academic year 1997-1998 and to assist in the startup of such school. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 to develop the plan and for 1997 for capital costs associated with the startup of the school, including the purchase of real and personal property and the renovation or construction of facilities. Makes the school an eligible institution for the purposes of scholarships awarded under this Act. Subtitle H: Progress Reports and Accountability - Requires the Superintendent to report to the appropriate congressional committees, the Board of Education, the Mayor, the Consensus Commission, and the D.C. Council on the progress of the District public schools toward achieving the goals of the long-term reform plan. (Sec. 2652) Requires the Chairperson of the D.C. Council to report to such committees on legislative and other actions the Council has taken or will take to facilitate the implementation of the goals of such plan. Subtitle I: Partnerships with Business - Requires the Superintendent to provide a grant to a private, nonprofit corporation which shall: (1) establish the District Education and Learning Technologies Advancement Council; (2) in conjunction with the Superintendent, students, parents, and teachers, implement strategies to ensure access to state-of-the-art educational technology within the District public schools and public charter schools; (3) assist the Superintendent in acquiring the necessary equipment, including computer hardware and software, to establish an electronic data transfer system and in training District public school employees in using such equipment; (4) establish the District Employment and Learning Center to serve as a regional institute providing job training and employment assistance; (5) establish initiatives with the District public schools and public charter schools, appropriate governmental agencies, and businesses and other private entities to facilitate the integration of rigorous academic studies with workforce preparation programs in District public schools and public charter schools; (6) establish a consortium for the purpose of establishing a program for the professional development of teachers and school administrators employed by the District public schools and public charter schools; (7) provide matching funds, or in-kind contributions, or a combination thereof, for the purposes of carrying out such duties; and (8) establish the Jobs for District of Columbia Graduates Program to assist District public schools and public charter schools in organizing and implementing a school-to-work transition system to give priority to providing assistance to at-risk and disadvantaged youths. (Sec. 2705) Requires the corporation, to the extent practicable, to provide matching funds, or in-kind contributions, or a combination thereof, for the purposes of carrying out such duties. (Sec. 2708) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 1998. (Sec. 2709) Terminates on October 1, 1998, the authority to provide assistance to the corporation or any other entity established by it. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the corporation's activities under this Act should continue to be carried out after such date with resources made available from the private sector; and (2) the corporation should provide oversight and coordination for such activities after such date. Subtitle J: Management and Fiscal Accountability - Requires the Board of Education: (1) to enter into a contract for academic year 1995 through 1996 and each succeeding academic year for the provision of all food services operations and security services for District public schools, unless the Superintendent determines that it is not feasible and provides such reasons in writing to the Board and to the Authority; and (2) for academic year 1995 through 1996, to consult with the Authority on the development of new management and data systems, as well as training of personnel to use and manage the systems in areas of budget, finance, personnel and human resources, management information services, procurement, supply management, and other systems recommended by the Authority. (Sec. 2752) Sets forth provisions with respect to the Board of Education regarding: (1) annual reporting requirements on positions and employees of the D.C. public school system; (2) annual budgets and budget revisions; (3) read-only access to its internal financial management systems and all other data bases to designated staff of the Mayor, the Council, the Authority, and appropriate congressional committees; and (4) development of its FY 1997 budget request. Subtitle K: Personal Accountability and Preservation of School- Based Resources - Prohibits a reduction in the full-time equivalent positions for school-based teachers, principals, counselors, librarians, or other school-based educational positions that were established as of the end of FY 1995, unless the Authority determines, based on student enrollment that: (1) fewer school-based positions are needed to maintain established pupil-to-staff ratios; or (2) reductions in positions for other than school-based employees are not practicable. Defines "school-based educational position" as a position located at a District public school or other position providing direct support to students at such a school such as a position for a clerical, stenographic, or secretarial employee, but not any part-time educational aide position. (Sec. 2802) Amends the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to modify the Board of Education's reduction-in-force procedures to prohibit the Board from requiring or permitting nonschool-based personnel or school administrators to be assigned or reassigned to the same competitive level as classroom teachers. (Sec. 2803) Makes the evaluation process and instruments for evaluating District public school employees a nonnegotiable item for collective bargaining purposes. (Sec. 2804) Provides that such an employee shall be: (1) classified as an educational service employee; (2) placed under the Board's personnel authority; and (3) subject to all Board rules. Subtitle L: Establishment and Organization of the Commission on Consensus Reform in the District of Columbia Public Schools - Establishes within the District government a Commission on Consensus Reform in the District of Columbia Public Schools to: (1) identify and suggest ways to remove obstacles to implementation of the long- term reform plan; (2) assist in developing programs that lower the dropout rate and that ensure that public school students achieve basic literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills; (3) assist in developing district-wide skills assessments; (4) make recommendations to improve community, parent, and business involvement in public schools; (5) recommend ways to increase student involvement and attention; and (6) assist in establishing procedures that ensure that every student is provided necessary employment skills, including the development of individual career paths. (Sec. 2854) Requires any student who is required to serve a suspension from classes at a District public school outside the school, to perform community service. (Sec. 2855) Allows the Commission to examine and request the Inspector General of the District of Columbia or the Authority to audit: (1) Board of Education records to ensure, monitor, and evaluate the Board's performance with respect to compliance with the long-term reform plan and such plan's overall educational achievement; and (2) records of any public charter school to assure, monitor and evaluate the performance of the school with respect to the content standards and district-wide assessment. Subtitle M: Parent Attendance at Parent-Teacher Conferences - Authorizes the Mayor to implement a policy which encourages all District residents with children attending a District public school to attend and participate in at least one parent-teacher conference every 90 days during the academic year. Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I (sic): Department of the Interior - Makes appropriations for the FY 1996 operation of the Department of the Interior. Prohibits this Act's funds being spent by the National Park Service for activities in direct response to the United Nations Biodiversity Initiative in the United States. Authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to transfer NPS funds to State, local, and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations to carry out NPS programs. Directs the National Park Service to conduct a Feasibility Study for a northern access route into Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Restricts or regulates: (1) the use of this Act's research resources funds regarding the Endangered Species Act; and (2) activities and funding relating to the National Biological Survey. Provides funding for the closure of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, transferring specified functions to the Secretary of Energy. Sets forth the uses and limitations for such appropriations, including use of Bureau of Indian Affairs school system funds. Provides for a report concerning Indian tribes and their compliance with provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. (Sec. 109) Repeals the Outer Banks Protection Act. (Sec. 118) Sets forth provisions affecting the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands concerning infrastructure assistance. Title II: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service. Prohibits the use of funds to implement any reorganization or "reinvention" of the Forest Service. Makes appropriations for the Department of Energy for, among other things, fossil energy research and development, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), and the SPR Account. Makes appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Indian Health Service for Indian health services and facilities. Appropriates funds to: (1) the Department of Education for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education for Indian Education; (2) the Office of Navajo and Hopi Relocation; (3) the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development; (4) the Smithsonian Institution; (5) construction and improvements at the National Zoological Park; (6) restoration and repair of buildings owned or occupied by the Smithsonian Institution; (7) the National Gallery of Art; (8) the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and (9) the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Makes appropriations for: (1) the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities; (2) the Institute of Museum Services; (3) the Commission of Fine Arts; (4) National Capital arts and cultural affairs; (5) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; (6) the National Capital Planning Commission; (7) the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission; and (8) the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. Requires that funds made available in previous years for the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation be available for operating and administrative expenses and for the orderly closure of the Corporation. Rescinds $2.172 million. Sets forth uses and prohibitions on such funds. Title III: General Provisions - Sets forth uses and limitations of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 307) Requires expenditures under this Act to comply with the Buy American Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress that entities receiving Federal assistance should purchase only American-made equipment and products. Prohibits Federal contracts with persons found to have falsely labeled a product with a "Made in America" inscription. (Sec. 312) Prohibits any funds from this Act from being used for the AmeriCorps program. (Sec. 313) Mandates dissolution of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation. (Sec. 314) Regulates use of any Act's funds for the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project. (Sec. 315) Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a fee program to demonstrate the feasibility of user-generated cost recovery for the operation and maintenance of recreation areas or sites and habitat enhancement projects on Federal lands. (Sec. 322) Prohibits, with exceptions, use of this Act's funds to accept or process applications for a patent for any mining or mill site claim located under the general mining laws. (Sec. 324) Prohibits funding the Office of Forestry and Economic Development after December 31, 1995. (Sec. 326) Provides for a land exchange in Washington State. Authorizes appropriations as necessary to carry out this Act. (Sec. 327) Provides for the establishment of the Timber Sales Pipeline Restoration Fund. (Sec. 328) Places limitations on the type of grant awards that can be made by the National Endowment for the Arts. (Sec. 329) Delays the implementation of regulations concerning livestock grazing on lands administered by the Forest Service. (Sec. 330) Increases penalties for the use of a hazardous or injurious device on Federal or Indian lands. (Sec. 331) Prohibits, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the use of funds available to the National Endowment for the Arts pursuant to this Act to promote, disseminate, sponsor, or produce any material or performance that: (1) denigrates the religious objects or religious beliefs of the adherents of a particular religion; or (2) depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual or excretory activities or organs. Requires that this prohibition be strictly applied without regard to the content or viewpoint of the material or performance. (Sec. 333) Prohibits using this Act's funds to review or modify sourcing areas previously approved under specified provisions of the Forest Resources Conservation and Shortage Relief Act of 1990 or to enforce or implement specified Federal regulations. Prohibits adoption of policies that would restrain domestic transportation or processing of timber from private lands or impose additional accountability requirements on any timber. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I (sic): Department of Labor - Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies within the Department of Labor. Rescinds unobligated advances to the Employment Security Administration account of the Unemployment Trust Fund. Title II: Department of Health and Human Services - Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services. Rescinds existing and makes new appropriations for low income home energy assistance, designating certain of the new appropriations as emergency requirements under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and making those funds available only on a formal presidential budget request that designates the request as an emergency requirement under that Act. Provides limitations on the use of appropriated funds. (Sec. 207) Requires a transfer of funds for the security protection of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (Sec. 209) Rescinds amounts for Disease Control, Research, and Training under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Title III: Department of Education - Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies and programs within the Department of Education. Sets forth general provisions relating to the use of appropriated funds. (Sec. 301) Prohibits appropriated funds from being used to transport teachers or students in order to: (1) overcome racial imbalance in any school or school system; or (2) carry out a racial desegregation plan. (Sec. 303) Prohibits the use of funds to prevent the implementation of programs of voluntary prayer and meditation in the public schools. Title IV: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the following agencies or programs: (1) Armed Forces Retirement Home; (2) Corporation for National and Community Service; (3) Corporation for Public Broadcasting; (4) Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; (5) Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission; (6) National Commission on Libraries and Information Science; (7) National Council on Disability; (8) National Education Goals Panel; (9) National Labor Relations Board; (10) National Mediation Board; (11) Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission; (12) Physician Payment Review Commission; (13) Prospective Payment Assessment Commission; (14) Social Security Administration; (15) Railroad Retirement Board; and (16) United States Institute of Peace. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth provisions on the use of the appropriated funds. (Sec. 505) Prohibits the use of funds to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug unless the Surgeon General determines that such programs are effective in preventing the spread of HIV and do not encourage the use of illegal drugs. (Sec. 506) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and funds purchased under this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 507) Imposes a disclosure requirement on grantees receiving Federal funds. (Sec. 508) Prohibits the use of funds to perform abortions except to save the life of the mother or where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. (Sec. 509) Permits States to not perform abortions, except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term. (Sec. 510) Sets forth limitations on the use of appropriated funds. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I (sic): Department of Veterans Affairs - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Provides for the use of such appropriations. Sets forth various administrative provisions, including specified limitations, with respect to availability, transfers, and use of such appropriations. (Sec. 103) Prohibits availability of such appropriations for: (1) purchase of any site for or toward the construction of any new hospital or home (except the appropriations for construction of major or minor projects or the parking revolving fund); and (2) hospitalization or examination of any persons except beneficiaries entitled under the laws bestowing such benefits to veterans, unless reimbursement is made to the appropriation at rates fixed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (Sec. 108) Authorizes the Secretary to transfer jurisdiction and control of certain land in Wichita, Kansas, to the Secretary of Transportation. Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Provides for the use of such appropriations. (Sec. 201) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 (USHA), as amended by the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Additional Disaster Assistance, for Anti-terrorism Initiatives, for Assistance in the Recovery from the Tragedy that Occurred at Oklahoma City, and Rescissions Act, 1995, to authorize public housing agencies to provide modernization assistance to mixed-income developments. (Sec. 203) Provides for conversion of certain public housing to vouchers. Requires each PHA to: (1) identify any distressed public housing developments that meet specified criteria; and (2) develop and carry out a plan in conjunction with the Secretary for their removal from the PHA inventory and the annual contributions contract, over a period of up to five years (with possible extensions for up to another five years in certain circumstances). Directs the Secretary to make authority available to a PHA to provide section 8 tenant-based assistance to families residing in any development that is removed from the PHA inventory and the annual contributions contract. Requires each conversion plan to require the PHA to notify and counsel families residing in such a development, and ensure that they are offered tenant-based or project-based assistance and relocated, as necessary, to other decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing which is, to the maximum extent practicable, housing of their choice. (Sec. 204) Repeals a "take one-take all" requirement under USHA that a housing owner who accepts a Section 8 voucher holder as a tenant must accept all others. Exempts housing unit owners participating in the certificate and voucher programs from certain notice requirements relating to rent increases or termination of their assistance payment contracts with a PHA. Limits certain requirements to the duration of a lease. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary to conduct a demonstration program under which up to 30 selected PHAs (including Indian housing authorities) may administer the public or Indian housing program and the section 8 housing assistance payments program in ways which are designed to reduce costs and achieve greater cost-effectiveness in Federal expenditures, provide incentives for heads of households to become economically self-sufficient, and increase housing choices for lower-income families. (Sec. 208) Amends the Multifamily Housing Finance Improvement Act, under the housing and Community Development Act of 1992, to extend the risk-sharing and housing finance agency pilot demonstration programs but reduce the number of units involved in such programs during FY 1996. (Sec. 209) Authorizes the Secretary of HUD to delegate, during FY 1996, to one or more entities the authority to carry out some or all of the Secretary's responsibilities and functions in connection with the foreclosure of HUD-held mortgages under the National Housing Act (NHA). (Sec. 210) Authorizes the Secretary, during FY 1996, to sell or otherwise transfer multifamily mortgages held by the Secretary under the National Housing Act to State housing finance agencies, in connection with the risk-sharing or the housing finance agency pilot demonstration program under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, without regard to certain unit limitations. (Sec. 211) Amends section 8 of the USHA to provide for the transfer of budget authority. Directs the Secretary, if a section 8 assistance contract, other than a contract for tenant-based assistance, is terminated, not renewed, or expires, to transfer any budget authority remaining in that contract to another contract, in order to provide continued assistance to eligible families, including those receiving the benefit of the project-based assistance at the time of the termination. (Sec. 212) Makes certain amendments (made by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1995) relating to documentation of multifamily refinancings under the National Housing Act effective during FY 1996 and thereafter. (Sec. 213) Directs the Secretary, in FY 1996 and 1997, to initiate a demonstration program with respect to multifamily projects: (1) whose owners agree to participate; (2) whose mortgages are insured under the NHA and assisted under section 8 of the USHA; and (3) whose present section 8 rents are, in the aggregate, exceed the fair market rent of the locality in which the project is located. Requires these programs to be designed to test the feasibility and desirability of the goal of ensuring, to the maximum extent practicable, that the debt service and operating expenses, including adequate reserves, attributable to such multifamily projects can be supported with or without mortgage insurance under the NHA and with or without above-market rents and utilizing project-based assistance or, with the consent of the property owner, tenant-based assistance, while taking into account the need for assistance of low and very low-income families in such projects. Authorizes the Secretary to use arrangements with third parties, under which the Secretary may provide for their assumption of some or all of the Secretary's functions, obligations, and benefits. Sets forth goals and demonstration approaches for such programs. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) manage and dispose of multifamily properties and multifamily mortgages for properties assisted under section 8 with rents above 110 percent of fair market rents; and (2) delegate to one or more entities the authority to carry out some or all of the Secretary's functions and responsibilities in connection with the foreclosure of mortgages held under the NHA. Authorizes the Secretary, subject to the consent of specified parties, to: (1) remove, relinquish, extinguish, modify, or agree to the removal of any mortgage, regulatory agreement, project-based assistance contract, use agreement, or restriction that had been imposed or required by the Secretary, including restrictions on distributions of income which would interfere with the ability of the project to operate without above market rents; (2) require an owner of a property assisted under the section 8 new construction-substantial rehabilitation program to apply any accumulated residual receipts toward effecting program purposes; (3) enter into contracts to purchase reinsurance, or enter into participations or otherwise transfer economic interest in contracts of insurance or in the premiums paid, or due to be paid, on such insurance to third parties; (4) offer project-based assistance with rents at or below fair market rents for the locality and negotiate other terms acceptable to the Secretary and the project owner; (5) offer to pay all or a portion of the project's debt service, including payments monthly from the appropriate Insurance Fund, for the full remaining term of the insured mortgage; (6) forgive and cancel any mortgage debt insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that a demonstration program property cannot carry at market rents while bearing full operating costs; and (7) for demonstration program properties that cannot carry full operating costs (excluding debt service) at market rents, approve project-based rents sufficient to carry such full operating costs (and offer to pay the full debt service in the specified manner). Directs the Secretary to develop procedures to provide appropriate and timely notice to local government officials, the community, and the tenants of the project. Limits such demonstration program authority with respect to mortgages to not more than 15,000 units. Prohibits the expansion of such demonstration until specified reports are submitted to the Congress. Appropriates funds for the cost of modifying loans held or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). (Sec. 217) Requires all remaining obligated and unobligated balances in the Renewal of Expiring Section 8 Subsidy Contracts account on September 30, 1995, to be transferred to and merged with the obligated and unobligated balances, respectively, of the Annual Contributions for Assisted Housing account. (Sec. 218) Directs the Secretary to cancel the indebtedness of the Hubbard Hospital Authority of Hubbard, Texas, of the Groveton Texas Hospital Authority, and of the Hepzibah Public Service District of Hepzibah, West Virginia, relating to specified public facilities loans under title II of the Housing Amendments of 1955. (Sec. 219) Determines the Paul Mirabile Center, San Diego, California, to satisfy HUD continuum care requirements. Treats such Center as entirely residential rental property consisting solely of residential units used exclusively to facilitate the transition of homeless individuals to independent living within 24 months. (Sec. 220) Limits to no more than seven Assistant Secretaries and 77 schedule C and 20 non-career senior executive service employees the number of such Assistant Secretaries and employees in HUD by the end of FY 1996. (Sec. 221) Requires specified funds to be made available to: (1) the County of San Bernardino in California to assist with the expansion of the Los Padrinos Gang Intervention Program and the Unity Home Domestic Violence Shelter (from remaining funds made available to Bethlehem House in Highland, California, for site planning and loan acquisition); and (2) the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio, for the renovation and rehabilitation of an industrial building (from specified funds for removal of asbestos from an abandoned public school building in that city). (Sec. 222) Amends the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 to revise eligibility criteria to determine which housing qualifies for lead-based paint abatement grants. (Sec. 223) Amends USHA to repeal the six-year limitation on the extension period for Federal sharing of utility cost savings with PHAs under the program of annual contributions for operation of low-income housing. (Sec. 223A) Amends NHA, with respect to the housing program for moderate income and displaced families, to extend through FY 1996 the period for mortgage note sales. (Sec. 223B) Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1988 to repeal the prohibition (Frost-Leland) against the use of funds for demolishing certain historic buildings in Dallas and Houston, Texas. (Sec. 223D) Prohibits the use of any funds in this Act: from being used: (1) by the Secretary to impose any sanction or penalty because of the enactment of any State or local law or regulation declaring English as the official language; or (2) for lobbying activities as prohibited by law. (Sec. 223E) Transfers to the Department of Justice all HUD functions, activities, and responsibilities relating to title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, and the Fair Housing Act, including any rights guaranteed under the Fair Housing Act and any functions relating to the Fair Housing Initiatives program under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, along with adequate personnel and resources allocated to any such activity. (Sec. 224) Prohibits the use of any funds provided in this Act during FY 1996 to investigate or prosecute under the Fair Housing Act any otherwise lawful activity engaged in by one or more persons, including the filing or maintaining of non-frivolous legal action, that is engaged in solely for the purposes of achieving or preventing action by a Government official, entity, or court of competent jurisdiction. (Sec. 225) Prohibits the use of any funds provided in this Act to take any enforcement action with respect to a complaint of discrimination under the Fair Housing Act on the basis of familial status and which involves an occupancy standard established by the housing provider, except to the extent that it is found that there has been discrimination in contravention of the standards provided a specified HUD Memorandum, or until such time that HUD issues a final rule. (Sec. 226) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 with respect to the eligibility of housing reconstruction costs for expenditure of Community Development Block Grant funds. Title III: Independent Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the: (1) American Battle Monuments Commission; (2) Community development Financial Institutions Fund; (3) Consumer Product Safety Commission; (4) Corporation for National and Community Service (including transfer of funds); (5) Court of Veterans Appeals; (6) Department of Defense-Civil for cemeterial expenses, Army; (7) Environmental Protection Agency; (8) Executive Office of the President for the Office of Science and Technology Policy; (9) Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality; (10) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); (11) General Services Administration for the Consumer Information Center; (12) National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (13) National Credit Union Administration for the obligations of the Central Liquidity Facility; (14) National Science Foundation; (15) Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation; and (16) Selective Service System. Authorizes exemption from categorical pretreatment standards under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, if specified conditions are met, of an industrial discharger that is a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility which discharged to the Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant (an advanced wastewater treatment plant with activated carbon) before enactment of this Act. Requires the Director of FEMA to promulgate a methodology, based on specified criteria, for assessment and collection of fees applicable to persons subject to the FEMA radiological emergency preparedness regulations. Authorizes such fee assessment and collection only during FY 1996. (Sec. 301) Prohibits EPA use of any funds provided in this Act to: (1) carry out any final action by the EPA Administrator or delegate for promulgation of a rule concerning any new standard for radon in drinking water; (2) sign, promulgate, implement or enforce a proposed regulation relating to individual foreign refinery baseline requirements for reformulated gasoline; (3) implement a provision of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (or any pending EPA action to implement such provision) for denial or restriction of the use of defined areas as disposal sites for dredged or fill material; or (4) implement specified requirements of the Clean Air Act with respect to any moderate nonattainment area in which the average daily winter temperature is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Declares that this last prohibition does not preclude EPA assistance to the State of Alaska to make progress toward meeting the carbon monoxide standard in such areas and to resolve remaining issues regarding the use of oxygenated fuels in such areas. (Sec. 305) Provides for the transfer of property and the making of a grant for the creation of the Center for Ecology, Research, and Training in Bay City, Michigan. Title IV: Corporations - Authorizes certain corporations and agencies of HUD to make commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as necessary to carry out provisions under the Government Corporation Control Act. Allows any collections by such corporations and agencies to be used for new loan or mortgage purchase commitments to the extent provided under this Act, with specified exceptions. Makes funds available for the Office of Inspector General of the Resolution Trust Corporation. Title V: General Provisions - Specifies certain uses, limitations, and prohibitions on uses of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 514) Requires FY 1996 pay raises to be absorbed within the levels appropriated in this Act. (Sec. 516) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and products purchased with funds made available under this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 517) Prohibits the use of funds to implement any cap on reimbursements to grantees for indirect costs, except as published in a specified Office of Management and Budget Circular. (Sec. 519) Requires the Director of FEMA to sell the disaster housing inventory of mobile homes and trailers, and deposit the proceeds in the Treasury. (Sec. 520) Requires that funds necessary to terminate the Office of Consumer Affairs be made available from funds appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services for FY 1996. Title II (sic): Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1996 - Makes supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Department of Agriculture for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Consolidated Farm Service Agency, the Rural Housing and Community Development Service, and the Rural Utilities Service; (2) the Department of Commerce for the Economic Development Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (3) the Small Business Administration; (4) the Department of the Army for the Corps of Engineers-Civil; (5) the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Service, and the Bureau of indian Affairs; (6) the Department of Agriculture for the National Forest System; (7) the Department of Transportation for the Office of the Secretary, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration; (8) the Department of Housing and Urban Development for Community development grants; (9) the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster relief; (10) the President for assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States and for foreign military financing for grants for Jordan; (11) the Department of Defense for military personnel, operation and maintenance, procurement, and for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization security investment program. Rescinds specified funds for: (1) missile procurement, other procurement, and research, development, test and evaluation, Air Force. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Permits the President to make available funds for population planning programs under titles II and IV of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1996, under specified circumstances. (Sec. 3002) Amends the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 to revise provisions relating to Department of Commerce grants to commercial fishermen for losses resulting from Hurricanes, Hugo, Andrew, or Iniki. (Sec. 3003) Sets forth provisions concerning Bonneville Power Administration refinancing. (Sec. 3005) Sets forth provisions concerning funds apportioned to the State of Vermont for a specified surface transportation program. Title IV: Contingency Appropriations - Makes appropriations, in addition to funds provided elsewhere in this Act to: (1) the Department of Commerce for the National Institute of Standards and Technology; (2) the Department of State for administration of foreign affairs, contributions to international organizations, and contributions for international peacekeeping activities; (3) the Legal Services Corporation; (4) the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs; (5) the Department of Energy for energy conservation; (6) the Department of Labor under specified headings found elsewhere in this Act; (7) the department of Veterans Affairs; (8) the Department of Housing and Urban Development; (9) the Environmental Protection Agency; (10) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and (11) the National Science Foundation.
Bill· HRH.R. 3038 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1996
Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 - Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act (the Act) to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make capitalization grants to States to establish State drinking water treatment revolving loan funds. Places the authority to establish assistance priorities for financial assistance provided with amounts deposited into the State loan fund in the State agency that has primary responsibility for the administration of the State program. Directs the Governor, in nonprimacy States, to determine which State agency will have the authority to establish priorities for such assistance. Authorizes State Governors to transfer amounts between such funds and water pollution control revolving funds established under the Clean Water Act. Requires the Administrator to reserve one and a half percent of drinking water funds for capitalization grants to Indian tribes for the improvement of public water systems. Specifies that such funds shall be used to address the most significant threats to public health associated with public water systems that serve Indian tribes, as determined by the Administrator in consultation with the Director of the Indian Health Service and Indian tribes. Directs the Administrator, in consultation with the Director and such tribes, to prepare surveys and assess the needs of drinking water treatment facilities to serve Indian tribes. Authorizes the Administrator to make such grants to the District of Columbia and specified U.S. territories. Authorizes: (1) States to reserve a certain amount of such grants for technical assistance for small public water systems; and (2) the Administrator to make grants to Alaska for the benefit of Alaska Native villages. Requires the Administrator, beginning in FY 1999, to withhold a specified percentage (five percent for FY 1999, ten percent for FY 2000, and 15 percent for each subsequent fiscal year) of each capitalization grant made to a State unless the State has met specified requirements under this Act regarding new system capacity. Sets forth provisions regarding projects eligible for assistance, including assistance for disadvantaged communities, and source water quality protection and capacity development (but limits the total amount of assistance provided and expenditures made by a State for each fiscal year, with respect to such protection and development, to 15 percent of the amount of the capitalization grant received by the State for that year, and not exceeding ten percent of that amount for: (1) acquiring land or conservation easements; (2) providing funding to implement recommendations of source water quality protection partnerships; (3) providing assistance through a capacity development strategy; or (4) making expenditures to delineate or assess source water protection areas). Sets forth provisions regarding State loan fund administration, technical assistance, and management. Requires: (1) States to prepare annual intended use plans for funds; (2) priority for the use of funds to be given to projects that address the most serious risk to human health, that are necessary to ensure compliance with filtration requirements and other specified requirements, and that assist those most in need on a per household basis according to State affordability criteria; and (3) each State, after notice and opportunity for public comment, to publish and periodically update a list of projects in the State that are eligible for assistance, including the priority assigned to each project and the expected funding schedule for each project. Directs the Administrator to: (1) conduct annual reviews and audits as the Administrator considers appropriate, or require each State to have the reviews and audits independently conducted, in accordance with specified single audit requirements; (2) submit to the Congress a periodic survey and assessment of the needs for facilities in each State eligible for assistance (including, in Alaska, the needs of Native villages); (3) conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the State loan funds through FY 1999; and (4) publish such regulations and guidance as necessary. Specifies that the failure or inability of any public water system to receive funds, or a delay in obtaining the funds, shall not alter the obligation of the system to comply in a timely manner with all applicable drinking water standards and requirements under the Act. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator to reserve: (1) $10 million for health effects research on specified drinking water contaminants, giving priority to research concerning the health effects of cryptosporidium, disinfection byproducts, and arsenic, and for the implementation of a research plan for subpopulations at greater risk of adverse effects; (2) $2 million to pay the costs of monitoring for unregulated contaminants; and (3) specified sums for small system technical assistance. (Sec. 4) Repeals specified existing requirements for the Administrator to issue maximum contaminant level goals (MCLGs) and national primary drinking water (NPDW) regulations. Requires the Administrator to publish an MCLG and promulgate an NPDW regulation for each contaminant (with exceptions) for which a NPDW regulation has been promulgated as of the date of this Act's enactment if the Administrator determines, based on adequate data and appropriate peer- reviewed scientific information and an assessment of health risks, that the contaminant may have an adverse effect on the health of persons and that the contaminant is known to occur, or there is a substantial likelihood that it will occur, in public water systems with a frequency and at levels of public health concern. Directs the Administrator: (1) not later than July 1, 1997, to publish and periodically update a list of contaminants that are known or anticipated to occur in drinking water provided by public water systems that may warrant regulation; and (2) at such time as such list is published, to describe available and needed information and research regarding the health effects of the contaminants, their occurrence in drinking water, and treatment techniques and other feasible means to control the contaminants. Requires (with exceptions) the Administrator, by July 1, 2001, and every five years thereafter, to take one of the following actions for not fewer than five contaminants: (1) publish a determination that information available to the Administrator does not warrant the issuance of an NPDW regulation; (2) publish a determination that an NPDW regulation is warranted, and proceed to propose an MCLG and NPDW regulation not later than two years after the date of publication of the determination; and (3) propose an MCLG and NPDW regulation. Sets forth provisions regarding insufficient information to make, and the basis for, such determinations. Requires the Administrator to give priority to those contaminants not currently regulated that are associated with the most serious adverse health effects and that present the greatest potential risk to human health due to their presence in drinking water provided by public water systems. Sets forth provisions regarding public comment and judicial review. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate an interim NPDW regulation for a contaminant to address an urgent threat to public health. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) schedules for publication of MCLGs and NPDW regulations; (2) substitution of contaminants; and (3) promulgation, by December 31, 1995, of an information collection rule to facilitate further revisions to the NPDW regulation for disinfectants and disinfectant byproducts, including information on microbial contaminants such as cryptosporidium. (Sec. 5) Requires the Administrator, in carrying out the Act, to: (1) use the best available, peer-reviewed science and supporting studies conducted in accordance with sound and objective scientific practices, and data collected by accepted or best available methods; and (2) ensure that the presentation of information on public health effects is comprehensive, informative, and understandable. Directs the Administrator to conduct a cost-benefit analysis for each NPDW regulation containing a maximum contaminant level (MCL) or treatment technique before it is proposed, including consideration of alternative MCLs or treatment requirements. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 6) Permits the MCLG for contaminants that are known or likely to cause cancer in humans to be set at a level other than zero if the Administrator determines, based on the best available, peer-reviewed science, that there is a threshold level below which there is unlikely to be any increase in cancer risk and the Administrator sets the MCLG at that level with an adequate margin of safety. Requires the Administrator, at the time he or she proposes an NPDW regulation, to publish a determination as to whether the benefits of the MCL justify the costs. Authorizes the Administrator to establish an MCL for a contaminant at a level other than the feasible level if the technology, treatment techniques, and other means used to determine the feasible level would result in an increase in the health risk from drinking water by: (1) increasing the concentration of other contaminants in drinking water; or (2) interfering with the efficacy of drinking water treatment techniques or processes that are used to comply with other NPDW regulations. Authorizes the Administrator, if he or she determines that the benefits of an MCL would not justify the cost of complying with the level, to promulgate an MCL for the contaminant that maximizes health risk reduction benefits at a cost that is justified by the benefits, with an exception. Prohibits the Administrator from establishing an MCL in a Stage I or Stage II NPDW regulation for contaminants that are disinfectants or disinfection byproducts, or to establish an MCL or treatment technique requirement for the control of cryptosporidium. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) judicial review; (2) disinfectants and disinfectant byproducts; and (3) review of standards. (Sec. 7) Sets forth requirements with respect to the promulgation of NPDW regulations for: (1) arsenic (requires the Administrator to follow a specified schedule, to develop and carry out a comprehensive plan for research in support of drinking water rulemaking, and to take other specified steps regarding assessment, proposed regulation, and final regulation of arsenic); (2) radon (provides for an MCL of 3,000 picocuries per liter but permits a revision to the regulation to include a different MCL under specified circumstances; e.g., if the Administrator determines, and the National Academy of Sciences and the Science Advisory Board concur, that revision is appropriate and supported by peer-reviewed scientific studies to address risks from ingestion of radon in drinking water); and (3) sulfate (prior to promulgating an NPDW regulation for sulfate, the Administrator and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control shall jointly conduct additional research to establish a reliable dose-response relationship for the adverse health effects that may result from exposure to sulfate in drinking water, including the health effects that may be experienced by groups within the general population that are potentially at greater risk of adverse health effects as the result of such exposure, conducted in consultation with interested States and based on the best available, peer-reviewed science and supporting studies, and subject to notice of proposed rulemaking and public comment). (Sec. 10) Directs the Administrator to: (1) amend filtration criteria to allow a State exercising primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems, on a case-by-case basis, to establish treatment requirements as an alternative to filtration for systems having uninhabited, undeveloped watersheds in consolidated ownership, and having control over access to, and activities in, those watersheds, if the State determines (and the Administrator concurs) that the quality of the source water and the alternative treatment requirements established by the State ensure significantly greater removal efficiencies of pathogenic organisms for which NPDW regulations have been promulgated or which are of public health concern than would be achieved by the combination of filtration and chlorine disinfection); and (2) propose a regulation that describes treatment techniques that meet the filtration requirements that are feasible for community water systems serving a population of 3,300 or for fewer and noncommunity water systems. Delays until at least three years after the enactment of this Act the deadline for issuing regulations to require disinfection at groundwater systems. (Sec. 11) Revises provisions regarding NPDW regulation effective dates to provide that such a regulation shall take effect three years after the date on which it is promulgated unless the Administrator determines that an earlier date is practicable, except that the Administrator, or a State in the case of an individual system, may allow up to two additional years to comply with an MCL or treatment technique if the Administrator or State determines that additional time is necessary for capital improvements. (Sec. 12) Directs the Administrator, simultaneously with promulgating NPDW regulations, to issue guidance or regulations regarding system treatment technologies. Requires the Administrator to include in the list of the technology, treatment techniques, and other means which the Administrator finds to be feasible for purposes of meeting NPDW MCLs any means that is feasible for small public water systems serving specified populations and that achieves compliance with the MCL or treatment technique, including packaged or modular systems and point-of-entry treatment units. Prohibits the Administrator from including in the list any point-of-use treatment technology, treatment technique, or other means to achieve compliance with an MCL or treatment technique requirement for a microbial contaminant. Specifies that if the American National Standards Institute has issued product standards applicable to a specific type of point-of-entry or point-of-use treatment device, individual units of that type shall not be accepted for compliance with an MCL or treatment technique requirement unless they are independently certified in accordance with such standards. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to institutions of higher learning to establish and operate not fewer than five small public water system technology assistance centers in the United States. (Sec. 13) Revises provisions of the Act authorizing variances and exemptions from NPDW regulations to: (1) allow public water systems to receive a variance on the condition that they install and operate best available treatment technology; and (2) authorize the Administrator (or a State with primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems) to grant to public water systems serving a population of 10,000 or fewer a variance for compliance with a requirement specifying an MCL or treatment technique contained in an NPDW regulation if a system cannot afford to comply with the regulation and adequate protection of public health is ensured. (Sec. 15) Requires each State to: (1) obtain the legal authority or other means to ensure that all new community water systems and new nontransient, noncommunity water systems commencing operation after October 1, 1996, demonstrate technical, managerial, and financial capacity with respect to each NPDW regulation in effect, or likely to be in effect, on the date of commencement of operations; (2) prepare, periodically update, and submit to the Administrator a list of community water systems and nontransient, noncommunity water systems that have a history of significant noncompliance; (3) report to the Administrator on the success of enforcement mechanisms and initial capacity development efforts in assisting such systems to improve technical, managerial, and financial capacity; and (4) develop and implement a strategy to assist public water systems in acquiring and maintaining such capacity. Directs the Administrator to support: (1) the States in developing capacity development strategies; and (2) the network of university-based Environmental Finance Centers in providing training and technical assistance to State and local officials in developing the capacity of public water systems, including the establishment of a national public water systems capacity development clearinghouse. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 16) Requires public water systems receiving assistance from a State Revolving Loan Fund to be operated by a trained and certified operator. Specifies that, in the case of a State with primary enforcement responsibility or any other State that has established a training program that is consistent with the guidance issued under the Act, the authority to prescribe the appropriate level of training for certification for all systems shall be solely the responsibility of the State. Authorizes the Administrator to withhold funds that would otherwise be allocated to the State, or require the repayment of an amount equal to the amount of any such assistance, for noncompliance. (Sec. 17) Directs each State to: (1) delineate the source water protection areas for community water systems in the State using hydrogeologic information considered to be reasonably available and appropriate by the State; and (2) conduct vulnerability assessments in source water areas determined to be a priority by the State. Authorizes States to establish source water quality partnership petition programs to assist in the local development of a voluntary, incentive-based partnership to reduce the presence in drinking water of contaminants and to obtain Federal and State financial or technical assistance. Sets forth requirements for State approval of petitions, including: (1) an identification of technical, financial, or other assistance that the State will provide to assist in addressing the drinking water contaminants that may be addressed by a petition based on specified factors; and (2) a description of technical or financial assistance pursuant to Federal and State programs that is available to assist in implementing recommendations of the partnership, including any voluntary agricultural resource management plan or voluntary whole farm or whole ranch management plan developed and implemented under a process established by the Secretary of Agriculture. Authorizes the Administrator to make a grant to each State that establishes an approved program in an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the cost of administering the program. Directs the Administrator to publish guidance to assist: (1) States in the development of a source water quality protection partnership program; and (2) municipal or local governments or political subdivisions and community water systems in the development of source water quality protection partnerships and in the assessment of source water quality. (Sec. 18) Grants: (1) a State primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems if the Administrator determines that such State has adopted drinking water regulations that are no less stringent than the NPDW regulations within two years after such regulations are promulgated. Authorizes the Administrator to provide an extension of not more than two years if, after submission and review of appropriate, adequate documentation from the State, the Administrator determines that the extension is necessary and justified. Grants a State that has primary enforcement authority for existing drinking water regulations interim primary enforcement authority for new regulations pending such determination. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 19) Requires the Administrator to review existing monitoring requirements for not fewer than 12 contaminants within two years. Authorizes: (1) States to establish alternative monitoring programs for any NPDW regulation, except for a regulation applicable to a microbial contaminant or an indicator of such a contaminant, subject to specified requirements; and (2) the Administrator or a State to suspend quarterly monitoring requirements applicable to small systems for any contaminant (other than a microbial contaminant or such an indicator, that causes an acute effect, or a contaminant formed in the treatment process or distribution system) that is not detected during the first quarterly sample in a monitoring cycle. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations establishing the criteria for a monitoring program for unregulated contaminants, and to list up to 20 contaminants. Requires all systems serving more than 10,000 people to monitor for such contaminants. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Administrator to establish a national database containing information on the occurrence of regulated and unregulated contaminants. Provides that information requirements imposed by the Administrator that require monitoring, the establishment or maintenance of records, or reporting, by a substantial number of public water systems, shall be established by regulation. Directs the Administrator to review new analytical methods to screen for regulated contaminants. Authorizes the Administrator to approve such methods as are more accurate or cost-effective than established reference methods for use in compliance monitoring. (Sec. 20) Requires each owner or operator of a public water system to give notice to those served by the system: (1) of any failure of the system to comply with an applicable maximum contaminant level or treatment technique requirement of, or a testing procedure prescribed by, an NPDW regulation, or to perform required monitoring; (2) of the existence of a variance granted for an inability to meet a maximum contaminant level requirement or a granted exemption and of any failure to comply with the requirements of any schedule prescribed pursuant to the variance or exemption; and (3) of the concentration level of any unregulated contaminant for which the Administrator has required public notice. Directs the Administrator to prescribe the manner, frequency, form, and content of such notice to provide for different notice frequencies for violations that are intermittent or infrequent and violations that are continuous or frequent, and to take into account the seriousness of any potential adverse health effects that may be involved. Permits a State to establish alternative notification requirements. Sets forth reporting requirements. (Sec. 21) Revises enforcement provisions of the Act to permit enforcement actions to be taken by both EPA and a State with primary enforcement responsibility. Directs the Administrator to notify local elected officials before taking enforcement actions against public water systems in nonprimacy States. Authorizes the Administrator or a State to suspend enforcement action with respect to a violation for a two-year period if the violation is to be corrected through a consolidation or restructuring during that period. Requires States, to have primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems, to adopt administrative penalties of at least $1,000 per violation for large systems. Increases the maximum amount for an administrative penalty imposed by EPA from $5,000 to $25,000 per violation, but only after a hearing on the record. (Sec. 22) Revises current provisions governing the applicability of drinking water laws and regulations to the Federal Government. Waives the sovereign immunity of the United States with respect to any requirement, administrative authority, or process or sanction under such laws and regulations. Allows citizens and States to seek penalties for all violations of the Act at Federal facilities. (Sec. 23) Authorizes appropriations for research with respect to the safe supply of drinking water. Directs the Administrator to: (1) develop, and periodically update, an integrated risk characterization strategy for drinking water quality; and (2) develop and carry out a research plan to support the development and implementation of rules regarding enhanced surface water treatment, disinfectant and disinfection byproducts, and groundwater disinfection. Sets forth reporting requirements. (Sec. 24) Revises the definition of "public water system" to include systems that provide water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances. Excludes from regulation connections to non-piped systems if the water is used exclusively for non-residential uses, the Administrator or the State determines that alternative water to achieve the equivalent level of public health protection provided by the applicable NPDW regulation is provided for residential or similar uses for drinking and cooking, or the Administrator or the State determines that the water provided for residential or similar uses for drinking and cooking is centrally treated or treated at the point of entry by the provider, a pass-through entity, or the user to achieve the equivalent level of protection provided by the applicable NPDW regulations. Sets forth transition provisions. (Sec. 25) Authorizes the Administrator to makes grants to States for the development and implementation of State programs for the protection of groundwater resources. Prohibits any such grant from being used for more than half of the cost of the program. Authorizes appropriations. Reauthorizes grants to support: (1) the critical aquifer protection program; (2) the wellhead protection program; and (3) State administration of the Underground Injection Control program. Directs the Administrator to study and report to the Congress on the extent and seriousness of contamination of private sources of drinking water that are not regulated under this Act. Authorizes the Administrator to reestablish a partnership between the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory and the National Center for Ground Water Research, a university consortium, to conduct research, training, and technology transfer for groundwater quality protection and restoration. Authorizes the Administrator to provide: (1) technical and financial assistance to units of State or local government for projects that demonstrate and assess innovative and enhanced methods and practices to develop and implement watershed protection programs, including methods and practices that protect both surface and groundwater; and (2) financial assistance to New York State for demonstration projects implemented as part of the watershed program for the protection and enhancement of the quality of source waters of the New York City water supply system. Sets forth matching and reporting requirements. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 26) Amends prohibitions on lead plumbing and pipes to prohibit: (1) the use in the installation or repair of any public water system or in any plumbing in a facility providing water for human consumption of any plumbing fitting or fixture that is not lead free; (2) the sale (effective two years after this Act's enactment) of any pipe or plumbing fitting or fixture that is not lead free, with exceptions; or (3) the sale of any solder or flux that is not lead free that does not bear a label stating that it is illegal to use the solder or flux in plumbing providing water for human consumption. Directs the Administrator to: (1) provide accurate and timely technical information and assistance to qualified third-party certifiers in the development of voluntary standards and testing protocols for the leaching of lead from new plumbing fittings and fixtures that are intended by the manufacturer to dispense water for human ingestion; and (2) promulgate regulations setting a health effects-based performance standard establishing maximum leaching levels from new plumbing fittings and fixtures that are intended by the manufacturer to dispense water for human ingestion if a voluntary standard is not established within a year. Repeals Federal law encouraging the use of geothermal heat pumps that return water to the distribution lines of public water systems. (Sec. 27) Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue a regulation establishing for bottled water a quality level for each contaminant of public water systems for which such a level is established or make a finding that a regulation is unnecessary because the contaminant is not contained in water used for bottled drinking water (requires the Secretary to issue the regulation or make the required finding for any contaminant for which a NPDW regulation was promulgated before this Act's enactment within one year). (Sec. 28) Authorizes the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers to modernize the Washington Aqueduct. Authorizes appropriations. Modifies the membership of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council to include two members representing small, rural water systems. Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to: (1) require the designated chairpersons of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force to invite representatives of the Lake Champlain Basin Program to participate as ex officio members of the Task Force; and (2) include Lake Champlain among the waters with respect to which the aquatic nuisance species and zebra mussel demonstration programs apply. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator to establish the Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy, consisting of a consortium of American and Mexican universities, to: (1) conduct research and development programs, projects, and activities, including training and community service, on U.S.-Mexico border environmental issues, with particular emphasis on water quality and safe drinking water; (2) provide objective, independent assistance to the EPA and other Federal, State, and local agencies involved in environmental policy, research, training, and enforcement; and (3) help to coordinate and facilitate the improvement of environmental policies and programs between the United States and Mexico. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Administrator to develop a screening program, using appropriate validated test systems, to determine whether certain substances may have an effect in humans that is similar to an effect produced by a naturally occurring estrogen, or such other endocrine effect as the Administrator may designate. Sets forth provisions regarding program implementation, substances to be tested, exemptions, information collection, penalties and procedures for failure to submit required information, action by the Administrator to protect public health, and reporting requirements. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to the State of Alaska for the benefit of rural and Native villages in Alaska to pay the Federal share (50 percent) of the cost of: (1) the development and construction of water and wastewater systems to improve the health and sanitation conditions in the villages; and (2) training, technical assistance, and educational programs relating to the operation and management of sanitation services in rural and Native villages. Requires the Administrator to consult with such State on a method of prioritizing grant allocation according to the needs of, and relative health and sanitation conditions in, each eligible village. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Administrator and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies to award grants to any appropriate entity or border State (i.e., Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas) to provide assistance to eligible communities (colonias lacking basic sanitation facilities) for: (1) the conservation, development, use, and control of water for the purpose of supplying drinking water; and (2) the construction, improvement, operation, and maintenance of sewers and treatment works for wastewater treatment. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1590 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Repeal of Emergency Salvage Timber Sale Program Title II: Northwest Forest Plan Title III: Lawful Expediting of Salvage Timber Sales Title IV: Timber Stand Health Prioritization Public Participation in Timber Salvage Act of 1996 - Title I: Repeal of Emergency Salvage Timber Sale Program - Amends Federal law to repeal the emergency salvage timber sale program. (Sec. 102) Suspends, and provides for replacement or termination of, existing timber sale contracts. Requires compliance with environmental and natural resource laws. (Sec. 103) Subjects sales initiated but not awarded to the provisions of title III of this Act and to appropriate environmental and natural resource laws. Authorizes suspension of timber harvest activities. Title II: Northwest Forest Plan - Directs the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to expeditiously award timber sales contracts consistent with the Northwest Forest Plan. Provides for the availability of necessary funds. Title III: Lawful Expediting of Salvage Timber Sales - Sets forth salvage timber sales provisions. Provides for: (1) fund transfers; and (2) expedited procedural regulations. (Sec. 306) Directs the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to establish pilot projects to sell harvest contracts for salvage timber sales and associated forest activities. Title IV: Timber Stand Health Prioritization - Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to review and report on the health of their respective timber stands. Authorizes appropriations.
Law· HRH.R. 3019 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of Justice Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Title III: The Judiciary Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies Title V: Related Agencies Title VI: General Provisions Title VII: Rescissions Title VIII: Prison Litigation Reform Title I (sic): Department of the Interior Title II: Related Agencies Title III: General Provisions Title I (sic): Department of Labor Title II: Department of Health and Human Services Title III: Department of Education Title IV: Related Agencies Title V: General Provisions Title VI: Additional Appropriations Title I (sic): Department of Veterans Affairs Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development Title III: Independent Agencies Title IV: Corporations Title V: General Provisions Title II (sic): Emergency Peacekeeping Appropriations Title III: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Title IV: Contingent Supplemental Appropriations Balanced Budget Down Payment Act, II - Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Department of Justice - Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes FY 1996 appropriations to the Department of Justice, including funding for the Community Relations Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Federal Prison System. (Sec. 114) Revises provisions of subtitle A (Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth in Sentencing Incentive Grants) of title II (Prisons) of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Directs the Attorney General to provide grants to eligible States to build or expand: (1) correctional facilities to increase the prison bed capacity for the confinement of persons convicted of a "part 1 violent crime" (murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) or adjudicated delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would be a part 1 violent crime; (2) temporary or permanent correctional facilities, including facilities on military bases, prison barges, and boot camps, for the confinement of convicted nonviolent offenders and criminal aliens for the purpose of freeing suitable existing prison space for the confinement of persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime; and (3) jails. Authorizes States to enter into regional compacts to carry out such provisions, subject to specified limitations. Specifies that an eligible State may receive either a general grant or a truth-in- sentencing incentive grant, with an exception. Sets forth general eligibility requirements. Requires a State, to be eligible for a general grant, to submit an application to the Attorney General that provides assurances that such State has, since 1993, increased the percentage of persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime sentenced to prison, the average prison time actually to be served in prison by such persons, and the average percentage of time of the sentence to be actually served in prison by persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime and sentenced to prison (with an indeterminant sentencing exception). Requires a State, to be eligible for a truth-in-sentencing incentive grant, to submit such an application providing assurances that: (1) such State has implemented truth-in-sentencing laws that require (or has enacted but has not yet implemented such laws that, within three years, will require) persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime to serve not less than 85 percent of the sentence imposed; or (2) if the State practices indeterminate sentencing, such State demonstrates that the average time served equals at least 85 percent of the sentences established for such crimes under the State's sentencing and release guidelines (with exceptions for geriatric prisoners or those whose medical condition precludes them from posing a threat to the public after a public hearing in which representatives of the public and the prisoner's victims have had an opportunity to be heard regarding a proposed release). Sets forth special rules regarding State: (1) sharing of funds with counties and other units of local government; (2) policies providing for the recognition of the rights and needs of crime victims; (3) use of funds to build or expand juvenile correctional facilities or pretrial detention facilities for juvenile offenders; and (4) use of funds for the privatization of correctional facilities. Sets forth: (1) formulas for the Attorney General to apply in determining the amount of funds that may be granted to each eligible State; and (2) accountability requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth provisions regarding the distribution, limitations on the use of, and matching requirements with respect to, grant funds. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) payments for incarceration on tribal lands; (2) payments to eligible States for incarceration of criminal aliens (and authorizes appropriations); (3) support of Federal prisoners in non-Federal institutions (and authorizes appropriations); and (4) reports by the Attorney General to the Congress. Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies - Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the Department of Commerce (Department) and related agencies and activities, including: (1) the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; (2) the International Trade Commission and international trade activities; (3) export administration; (4) the Economic Development Administration; (5) minority business development; (6) economic and statistical analysis and administration; (7) the Bureau of the Census and related activities; (8) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; (9) public broadcasting facilities, planning, and construction; (10) the Patent and Trademark Office; (11) the National Institute of Standards and Technology and related services and activities; (12) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (including a transfer of funds); (13) various government trust funds related to ocean and water resources development and activities; (14) technology policy and administration; and (15) the Office of the Inspector General. Rescinds $75 million of amounts available to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for the construction of research facilities. (Sec. 201) Allows advance payments to be made for authorized Department activities only upon certification by Department officials that such payments are in the public interest. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary or other appropriate agency head, if legislation is enacted to dismantle or reorganize the Department, to report to the appropriations committees within 90 days thereafter a plan for transferring funds provided to the Department in this Act to the appropriate successor organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to use any available funds to carry out the legislation, including voluntary separation incentives if duly authorized. (Sec. 207) States that the transfer of title of the Rutland City Industrial Complex to Hilinex, Vermont, shall not require compensation to the Government for its share of such property. (Sec. 208) Directs the Secretary to: (1) commence and complete a demolition of existing structures and an environmental cleanup of the Central Foundry Property in Holt, Alabama; and (2) transfer such property to the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority. (Sec. 219) Requires any costs incurred by a department or agency funded under this title resulting from personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions included in this title to be absorbed within the total budgetary resources available to such department or agency. (Sec. 210) Prohibits funds to develop new fishery management plans approved by a Regional Fishery Management Council until the payment of specified offsetting fees. Title III: The Judiciary - Judiciary Appropriations Act, 1996 - Appropriates FY 1996 funds for activities of the Judiciary, including: (1) the Supreme Court; (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; (3) the U.S. Court of International Trade; (4) the Courts of Appeals, district courts, and other judicial services; (5) the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (Administrative Office); (6) the Federal Judicial Center; (7) Judicial Retirement Funds; and (8) the United States Sentencing Commission. (Sec. 305) Revises provisions regarding judicial conferences of the circuits to allow (current law requires) the chief judge to summon judges to and preside at, and every judge to attend and remain throughout, such conferences. Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies - Department of State and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Appropriates funds for FY 1996 for the Department of State and related agencies, activities, and programs, including: (1) diplomatic and consular programs; (2) the Capital Investment Fund; (3) the Office of the Inspector General; (4) payments to the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (5) contributions to international organizations, peacekeeping activities, conferences and commissions; (6) a grant to the Asia Foundation; (7) the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA); (8) the United States Information Agency (USIA); (9) the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program Trust Fund; (10) the Israeli Arab Scholarship Program; (11) the American Studies Collections Endowment Fund; (12) international broadcasting operations, including broadcasting to Cuba; and (13) the National Endowment for Democracy. (Sec. 401) Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated under this Act. (Sec. 404) Requires the Secretary of State and the Directors of USIA and ACDA, within 90 days after the enactment of legislation consolidating, reorganizing, or downsizing the functions of such department and agencies, to submit to the appropriations committees a proposal for transferring or rescinding funds appropriated herein for such consolidated functions. Authorizes such officials to use any available funds to cover the consolidation costs required by such legislation, including voluntary separation incentives duly authorized. (Sec. 407) Repeals Federal provisions limiting the use of endowment trust income under the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Act. (Sec. 408) Expresses the sense of the Senate that no funds made available under this Act should be used for the deployment of combat- equipped U.S. military personnel for any ground operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, except in specific limited circumstances. (Sec. 409) Requires costs incurred by a department or agency funded under this title resulting from personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions included in this title to be absorbed within the total budgetary resources available to such department or agency. Title V: Related Agencies - Appropriates funds for FY 1996 for: (1) the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation; (2) the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; (3) the Commission on Civil Rights; (4) the Commission on Immigration Reform; (5) the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; (6) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; (7) the Federal Communications Commission; (8) the Federal Maritime Commission; (9) the Federal Trade Commission; (10) the Japan-United States Friendship Commission; (11) the Legal Services Corporation; (12) the Marine Mammal Commission; (13) the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission; (14) the Securities and Exchange Commission; (15) the Small Business Administration; (16) certain accounts and revolving funds; and (17) the State Justice Institute. (Sec. 501) Places limitations on the use of funds by the Legal Services Corporation. Directs the Corporation to: (1) implement a system of competitive awards of grants and contracts that will apply to all contracts for the delivery of legal assistance awarded by the Corporation after March 31, 1996; and (2) promulgate regulations to implement a competitive selection process for the recipients of such grants and contracts. Prohibits the Corporation from: (1) engaging in litigation that is in any way intended to or has the effect of altering or revising any legislative, judicial, or elective district; (2) attempting in any way to influence the issuance of any executive order or regulation or the passage or defeat of any legislation; (3) bringing a class action suit against the Federal Government or any State; (4) providing assistance to any alien unless the alien is lawfully present in this country or meets other specified requirements; (5) supporting or conducting programs to advocate particular public policies or encourage political activities; or (6) participating in any litigation with respect to abortion or any prisoner. Sets forth prohibited uses of funds appropriated to the Corporation. Directs the Corporation to report every 60 days to the appropriations committees setting forth the status of certain legal assistance cases and matters brought through the Corporation. Requires an audit (containing specified information) to be conducted of each person or entity receiving financial assistance from the Corporation. Allows the Corporation access to appropriate legal and financial documents for purposes of such audits, while requiring appropriate confidentiality. Requires such audits for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 1996. (Sec. 510) Provides authorized funds transfers, and transfer limits, for appropriations made to the Small Business Administration. Title VI: General Provisions - Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 607) Expresses the sense of the Congress that equipment and products purchased with funds from this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 609) Prohibits funds from this Act from being used to pay for costs incurred for: (1) opening or operating any U.S. diplomatic or consular post (post) in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that was not operating on July 11, 1995; (2) expanding any such post that was in operation on such date; or (3) increasing the number of personnel assigned to such post above the level existing on such date, unless the President certifies that the Vietnamese Government is fully cooperating with the United States in activities relating to the investigation and recovery of missing U.S. military personnel from the Vietnam area. (Sec. 611) Prohibits the use of funds from this Act to provide specified amenities or personal comforts in the Federal prison system. (Sec. 614) Amends the Federal criminal code to terminate the Advisory Corrections Council. (Sec. 615) Requires costs incurred by a department or agency funded under this title resulting from personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions included in this title to be absorbed within the total budgetary resources available to such department or agency. Title VII: Rescissions - Rescinds specified funds from unobligated balances within certain accounts of: (1) the Department of Justice; (2) the State Department; and (3) USIA. Title VIII: Prison Litigation Reform - Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 - Revises Federal criminal code provisions regarding remedies for prison crowding to substitute provisions regarding remedies for prison conditions. Prohibits: (1) prospective relief in any civil action regarding prison conditions from extending further than necessary to correct the violation of the Federal right of particular plaintiffs; and (2) the court from granting or approving any such relief unless that relief is narrowly drawn, extends no further than necessary to correct the violation of the Federal right, and is the least intrusive means necessary to correct the violation. Directs the court to give substantial weight to any adverse impact on public safety or the operation of a criminal justice system caused by the relief. Prohibits the court from ordering prospective relief that requires or permits a government official to exceed his or her authority under, or that otherwise violates, State or local law, unless: (1) Federal law permits such relief to be ordered in violation of State or local law; (2) the relief is necessary to correct the violation of a Federal right; and (3) no other relief will correct the violation of the Federal right. Authorizes the court to enter a temporary restraining order or an order for preliminary injunctive relief, which shall automatically expire 90 days after its entry, with exceptions. Directs the court to give substantial weight to any adverse impact on public safety or operation of a criminal justice system caused by the preliminary relief, and to respect principles of comity in tailoring any such relief. Prohibits a prisoner release order from being entered unless: (1) a court has previously entered an order for less intrusive relief that has failed to remedy the deprivation of the Federal right and the defendant has had a reasonable amount of time to comply with the previous court orders; and (2) it is entered by a three-judge court, which finds by clear and convincing evidence that crowding is the primary cause of the violation and no other relief will remedy it. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) termination or modification of relief; (2) settlements; (3) State law remedies; (4) procedure for motions affecting prospective relief; and (5) the use of special masters. (Sec. 803) Amends the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act to require the Attorney General to personally sign any complaint filed, or any certification or motion to intervene made, to initiate a civil action under the Act. Revises provisions of the Act to prohibit any action from being brought by a prisoner with respect to prison conditions until available administrative remedies are exhausted. Specifies that the failure of a State to adopt or adhere to an administrative grievance procedure shall not constitute the basis for an action. Directs the court to dismiss any such action if satisfied that the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief (and authorizes the court, in such instances, to dismiss the underlying claim without first requiring exhaustion of administrative remedies). Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) limits on the award of attorney fees; (2) limits on recovery; (3) hearings; and (4) waiver of reply. (Sec. 804) Amends the Federal judicial code to require a prisoner: (1) of a Federal, State, or local institution seeking to bring a civil action or appeal a judgment in a civil action or proceeding without prepayment of fees or security to submit a certified copy of the prisoner's trust fund account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint or notice of appeal, obtained from the appropriate official of each institution at which the prisoner is or was confined; and (2) who brings a civil action or files an appeal in forma pauperis to pay the full amount of a filing fee (and directs the court to assess and, when funds exist, to collect, as a partial payment of any court fees required by law, an initial partial filing fee of 20 percent of the greater of the average monthly deposits to the prisoner's account or the average monthly balance in the prisoner's account for such six-month period). Sets forth similar provisions regarding the payment of costs by the prisoner. Revises provisions regarding the appointment of counsel in forma pauperis proceedings to require the court to dismiss the case at any time if the allegation of poverty is untrue or if the action or appeal is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. Makes an exception to the discharge of debt in a bankruptcy proceeding for a fee imposed by a court for the filing of a case, motion, complaint, or appeal, or for other costs and expenses assessed with respect to such filing, regardless of an assertion of poverty by the debtor or the debtor's status as a prisoner. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) successive claims; (2) judicial screening of complaints in civil actions brought by prisoners against governmental entities; and (3) limits of Federal tort claims by prisoners. (Sec. 807) Requires any compensatory damages award to a prisoner in connection with a civil action brought against any Federal, State, or local correctional facility or official or agent thereof to be paid directly to satisfy any outstanding restitution orders pending against the prisoner, with the remainder forwarded to the prisoner. (Sec. 808) Provides for notice to crime victims of pending damage awards. (Sec. 809) Authorizes the court to revoke earned release credit under specified circumstances. Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) direct the Bureau of Prisons, in awarding credit towards service of sentence for satisfactory behavior, to consider whether the prisoner has earned or is making satisfactory progress toward earning a high school diploma or an equivalent degree; and (2) provide that credit awarded after the date of enactment of this Act shall vest on the date the prisoner is released from custody. Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Department of the Interior - Makes appropriations for the FY 1996 operation of the Department of the Interior. Prohibits this Act's funds being spent by the National Park Service for activities in direct response to the United Nations Biodiversity Initiative in the United States. Authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to transfer NPS funds to State, local, and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations to carry out NPS programs. Directs the National Park Service to conduct a Feasibility Study for a northern access route into Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Restricts or regulates: (1) the use of this Act's research resources funds regarding the Endangered Species Act; and (2) activities and funding relating to the National Biological Survey. Provides funding for the closure of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, transferring specified functions to the Secretary of Energy. Sets forth the uses and limitations for such appropriations, including use of Bureau of Indian Affairs school system funds. Provides for a report concerning Indian tribes and their compliance with provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. (Sec. 109) Repeals the Outer Banks Protection Act. (Sec. 118) Sets forth provisions affecting the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands concerning infrastructure assistance. Title II: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service. Prohibits the use of funds to implement any reorganization or "reinvention" of the Forest Service. Makes appropriations for the Department of Energy for, among other things, fossil energy research and development, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), and the SPR Account. Makes appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Indian Health Service for Indian health services and facilities. Appropriates funds to: (1) the Department of Education for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education for Indian Education; (2) the Office of Navajo and Hopi Relocation; (3) the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development; (4) the Smithsonian Institution; (5) construction and improvements at the National Zoological Park; (6) restoration and repair of buildings owned or occupied by the Smithsonian Institution; (7) the National Gallery of Art; (8) the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and (9) the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Makes appropriations for: (1) the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities; (2) the Institute of Museum Services; (3) the Commission of Fine Arts; (4) National Capital arts and cultural affairs; (5) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; (6) the National Capital Planning Commission; (7) the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission; and (8) the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. Requires that funds made available in previous years for the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation be available for operating and administrative expenses and for the orderly closure of the Corporation. Sets forth uses and prohibitions on such funds. Title III: General Provisions - Sets forth uses and limitations of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 307) Requires expenditures under this Act to comply with the Buy American Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress that entities receiving Federal assistance should purchase only American-made equipment and products. Prohibits Federal contracts with persons found to have falsely labeled a product with a "Made in America" inscription. (Sec. 312) Prohibits any funds from this Act from being used for the AmeriCorps program. (Sec. 313) Mandates dissolution of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation. (Sec. 314) Regulates use of any Act's funds for the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project. (Sec. 315) Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a fee program to demonstrate the feasibility of user-generated cost recovery for the operation and maintenance of recreation areas or sites and habitat enhancement projects on Federal lands. (Sec. 322) Prohibits, with exceptions, use of this Act's funds to accept or process applications for a patent for any mining or mill site claim located under the general mining laws. (Sec. 324) Prohibits funding the Office of Forestry and Economic Development after December 31, 1995. (Sec. 326) Provides for a land exchange in Washington State. Authorizes appropriations as necessary to carry out this Act. (Sec. 327) Provides for the establishment of the Timber Sales Pipeline Restoration Fund. (Sec. 328) Places limitations on the type of grant awards that can be made by the National Endowment for the Arts. (Sec. 329) Delays the implementation of regulations concerning livestock grazing on lands administered by the Forest Service. (Sec. 330) Increases penalties for the use of a hazardous or injurious device on Federal or Indian lands. (Sec. 331) Prohibits, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the use of funds available to the National Endowment for the Arts pursuant to this Act to promote, disseminate, sponsor, or produce any material or performance that: (1) denigrates the religious objects or religious beliefs of the adherents of a particular religion; or (2) depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual or excretory activities or organs. Requires that this prohibition be strictly applied without regard to the content or viewpoint of the material or performance. (Sec. 333) Prohibits using this Act's funds to review or modify sourcing areas previously approved under specified provisions of the Forest Resources Conservation and Shortage Relief Act of 1990 or to enforce or implement specified Federal regulations. Prohibits adoption of policies that would restrain domestic transportation or processing of timber from private lands or impose additional accountability requirements on any timber. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Department of Labor - Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies within the Department of Labor. Rescinds unobligated advances to the Employment Security Administration account of the Unemployment Trust Fund. (Sec. 102) Amends the Job Training Partnership Act to repeal the prohibition on using appropriated funds to carry out any contract with a nongovernmental entity to administer or manage a Civilian Conservation Center of the Jobs Corps. Title II: Department of Health and Human Services - Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services. Rescinds appropriations made to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for immunization activities. Rescinds appropriations for low income home energy assistance. Provides limitations on the use of appropriated funds. (Sec. 207) Requires a transfer of funds for the security protection of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Title III: Department of Education - Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies and programs within the Department of Education. Sets forth general provisions relating to the use of appropriated funds. (Sec. 301) Prohibits appropriated funds from being used to transport teachers or students in order to: (1) overcome racial imbalance in any school or school system; or (2) carry out a racial desegregation plan. (Sec. 303) Prohibits the use of funds to prevent the implementation of programs of voluntary prayer and meditation in the public schools. Title IV: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the following agencies or programs: (1) Armed Forces Retirement Home; (2) Corporation for National and Community Service; (3) Corporation for Public Broadcasting; (4) Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; (5) Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission; (6) National Commission on Libraries and Information Science; (7) National Council on Disability; (8) National Education Goals Panel; (9) National Labor Relations Board; (10) National Mediation Board; (11) Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission; (12) Physician Payment Review Commission; (13) Prospective Payment Assessment Commission; (14) Social Security Administration; (15) Railroad Retirement Board; and (16) United States Institute of Peace. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth provisions on the use of the appropriated funds. (Sec. 505) Prohibits the use of funds to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug unless the Surgeon General determines that such programs are effective in preventing the spread of HIV and do not encourage the use of illegal drugs. (Sec. 506) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and funds purchased under this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 507) Imposes a disclosure requirement on grantees receiving Federal funds. (Sec. 508) Prohibits the use of funds to perform abortions except to save the life of the mother or where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. (Sec. 509) Permits States to not perform abortions, except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term. (Sec. 511) Sets forth limitations on the use of appropriated funds. (Sec. 515) Prohibits appropriated funds being used by any Federal program or to assist any State when such Federal program or State discriminates against any health care entity that refuses to undergo training in the performance of abortions. Title VI: Additional Appropriations - Makes supplemental appropriations for the Health Care Financing Administration, the Office of the Secretary, and the Social Security Administration. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Department of Veterans Affairs - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Provides for the use of such appropriations. Sets forth various administrative provisions, including specified limitations, with respect to availability, transfers, and use of such appropriations. (Sec. 103) Prohibits availability of such appropriations for: (1) purchase of any site for or toward the construction of any new hospital or home (except the appropriations for construction of major or minor projects or the parking revolving fund); and (2) hospitalization or examination of any persons except beneficiaries entitled under the laws bestowing such benefits to veterans, unless reimbursement is made to the appropriation at rates fixed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (Sec. 107) Authorizes the Secretary to transfer jurisdiction and control of certain land in Wichita, Kansas, to the Secretary of Transportation. Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Provides for the use of such appropriations. (Sec. 201) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 (USHA), as amended by the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Additional Disaster Assistance, for Anti-terrorism Initiatives, for Assistance in the Recovery from the Tragedy that Occurred at Oklahoma City, and Rescissions Act, 1995, to authorize public housing agencies to provide modernization assistance to mixed-income developments. (Sec. 202) Provides for conversion of certain public housing to vouchers. Requires each PHA to: (1) identify any distressed public housing developments that meet specified criteria; and (2) develop and carry out a plan in conjunction with the Secretary for their removal from the PHA inventory and the annual contributions contract, over a period of up to five years (with possible extensions for up to another five years in certain circumstances). Directs the Secretary to make authority available to a PHA to provide section 8 tenant-based assistance to families residing in any development that is removed from the PHA inventory and the annual contributions contract. Requires each conversion plan to require the PHA to notify and counsel families residing in such a development, and ensure that they are offered tenant-based or project-based assistance and relocated, as necessary, to other decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing which is, to the maximum extent practicable, housing of their choice. (Sec. 203) Repeals a "take one-take all" requirement under USHA that a housing owner who accepts a Section 8 voucher holder as a tenant must accept all others. Exempts housing unit owners participating in the certificate and voucher programs from certain notice requirements relating to rent increases or termination of their assistance payment contracts with a PHA. Limits certain requirements to the duration of a lease. (Sec. 204) Directs the Secretary to conduct a demonstration program under which up to 30 selected PHAs (including Indian housing authorities) may administer the public or Indian housing program and the section 8 housing assistance payments program (for a total number of public housing units up to 25,000) in ways which are designed to reduce costs and achieve greater cost-effectiveness in Federal expenditures, provide incentives for heads of households to become economically self-sufficient, and increase housing choices for lower- income families. (Sec. 205) Amends the Multifamily Housing Finance Improvement Act, under the housing and Community Development Act of 1992, to extend the risk-sharing and housing finance agency pilot demonstration programs but reduce the number of units involved in such programs during FY 1996. (Sec. 206) Authorizes the Secretary of HUD to delegate, during FY 1996, to one or more entities the authority to carry out some or all of the Secretary's responsibilities and functions in connection with the foreclosure of HUD-held mortgages under the National Housing Act (NHA). (Sec. 207) Authorizes the Secretary, during FY 1996, to sell or otherwise transfer multifamily mortgages held by the Secretary under the National Housing Act to State housing finance agencies, in connection with the risk-sharing or the housing finance agency pilot demonstration program under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, without regard to certain unit limitations. (Sec. 211) Amends section 8 of the USHA to provide for the transfer of budget authority. Directs the Secretary, if a section 8 assistance contract, other than a contract for tenant-based assistance, is terminated, not renewed, or expires, to transfer any budget authority remaining in that contract to another contract, in order to provide continued assistance to eligible families, including those receiving the benefit of the project-based assistance at the time of the termination. (Sec. 209) Makes certain amendments (made by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1995) relating to documentation of multifamily refinancings under the National Housing Act effective during FY 1996 and thereafter. (Sec. 210) Directs the Secretary, in FY 1996 and 1997, to initiate a demonstration program with respect to multifamily projects: (1) whose owners agree to participate; (2) whose mortgages are insured under the NHA and assisted under section 8 of the USHA; and (3) whose present section 8 rents are, in the aggregate, exceed the fair market rent of the locality in which the project is located. Requires these programs to be designed to test the feasibility and desirability of the goal of ensuring, to the maximum extent practicable, that the debt service and operating expenses, including adequate reserves, attributable to such multifamily projects can be supported with or without mortgage insurance under the NHA and with or without above-market rents and utilizing project-based assistance or, with the consent of the property owner, tenant-based assistance, while taking into account the need for assistance of low and very low-income families in such projects. Authorizes the Secretary to use arrangements with third parties, under which the Secretary may provide for their assumption of some or all of the Secretary's functions, obligations, and benefits. Sets forth goals and demonstration approaches for such programs. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) manage and dispose of multifamily properties and multifamily mortgages for properties assisted under section 8 with rents above 110 percent of fair market rents; and (2) delegate to one or more entities the authority to carry out some or all of the Secretary's functions and responsibilities in connection with the foreclosure of mortgages held under the NHA. Authorizes the Secretary, subject to the consent of specified parties, to: (1) remove, relinquish, extinguish, modify, or agree to the removal of any mortgage, regulatory agreement, project-based assistance contract, use agreement, or restriction that had been imposed or required by the Secretary, including restrictions on distributions of income which would interfere with the ability of the project to operate without above market rents; (2) require an owner of a property assisted under the section 8 new construction-substantial rehabilitation program to apply any accumulated residual receipts toward effecting program purposes; (3) enter into contracts to purchase reinsurance, or enter into participations or otherwise transfer economic interest in contracts of insurance or in the premiums paid, or due to be paid, on such insurance to third parties; (4) offer project-based assistance with rents at or below fair market rents for the locality and negotiate other terms acceptable to the Secretary and the project owner; (5) offer to pay all or a portion of the project's debt service, including payments monthly from the appropriate Insurance Fund, for the full remaining term of the insured mortgage; (6) forgive and cancel any mortgage debt insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that a demonstration program property cannot carry at market rents while bearing full operating costs; and (7) for demonstration program properties that cannot carry full operating costs (excluding debt service) at market rents, approve project-based rents sufficient to carry such full operating costs (and offer to pay the full debt service in the specified manner). Directs the Secretary to develop procedures to provide appropriate and timely notice to local government officials, the community, and the tenants of the project. Limits such demonstration program authority with respect to mortgages to not more than 15,000 units. Prohibits the expansion of such demonstration until specified reports are submitted to the Congress. Appropriates funds for the cost of modifying loans held or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). (Sec. 212) Requires all remaining obligated and unobligated balances in the Renewal of Expiring Section 8 Subsidy Contracts account on September 30, 1995, to be transferred to and merged with the obligated and unobligated balances, respectively, of the Annual Contributions for Assisted Housing account. (Sec. 213) Directs the Secretary to cancel the indebtedness of the Hubbard Hospital Authority of Hubbard, Texas, of the Groveton Texas Hospital Authority, and of the Hepzibah Public Service District of Hepzibah, West Virginia, relating to specified public facilities loans under title II of the Housing Amendments of 1955. (Sec. 214) Determines the Paul Mirabile Center, San Diego, California, to satisfy HUD continuum care requirements. Treats such Center as entirely residential rental property consisting solely of residential units used exclusively to facilitate the transition of homeless individuals to independent living within 24 months. (Sec. 215) Limits to no more than seven Assistant Secretaries and 77 schedule C and 20 non-career senior executive service employees the number of such Assistant Secretaries and employees in HUD by the end of FY 1996. (Sec. 216) Requires specified funds to be made available to: (1) the County of San Bernardino in California to assist with the expansion of the Los Padrinos Gang Intervention Program and the Unity Home Domestic Violence Shelter (from remaining funds made available to Bethlehem House in Highland, California, for site planning and loan acquisition); and (2) the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio, for the renovation and rehabilitation of an industrial building (from specified funds for removal of asbestos from an abandoned public school building in that city). (Sec. 217) Amends the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 to revise eligibility criteria to determine which housing qualifies for lead-based paint abatement grants. (Sec. 218) Amends USHA to repeal the six-year limitation on the extension period for Federal sharing of utility cost savings with PHAs under the program of annual contributions for operation of low-income housing. (Sec. 219) Amends NHA, with respect to the housing program for moderate income and displaced families, to extend through FY 1996 the period for mortgage note sales. (Sec. 220) Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1988, to repeal the prohibition (Frost-Leland) against the use of funds for demolishing certain historic buildings in Dallas and Houston, Texas. (Sec. 222) Prohibits the use of any funds in this Act: from being used: (1) by the Secretary to impose any sanction or penalty because of the enactment of any State or local law or regulation declaring English as the official language; or (2) for lobbying activities as prohibited by law. (Sec. 223) Transfers to the Department of Justice all HUD functions, activities, and responsibilities relating to title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, and the Fair Housing Act, including any rights guaranteed under the Fair Housing Act and any functions relating to the Fair Housing Initiatives program under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, along with adequate personnel and resources allocated to any such activity. (Sec. 224) Prohibits the use of any funds provided in this Act during FY 1996 to investigate or prosecute under the Fair Housing Act any otherwise lawful activity engaged in by one or more persons, including the filing or maintaining of non-frivolous legal action, that is engaged in solely for the purposes of achieving or preventing action by a Government official, entity, or court of competent jurisdiction. (Sec. 225) Prohibits the use of any funds provided in this Act to take any enforcement action with respect to a complaint of discrimination under the Fair Housing Act on the basis of familial status and which involves an occupancy standard established by the housing provider, except to the extent that it is found that there has been discrimination in contravention of the standards provided a specified HUD Memorandum, or until such time that HUD issues a final rule. (Sec. 226) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 with respect to the eligibility of housing reconstruction costs for expenditure of Community Development Block Grant funds. Title III: Independent Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the: (1) American Battle Monuments Commission; (2) Consumer Product Safety Commission; (3) Court of Veterans Appeals; (4) Department of Defense-Civil for cemeterial expenses, Army; (5) Environmental Protection Agency; (6) Executive Office of the President for the Office of Science and Technology Policy; (7) Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality; (8) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); (9) General Services Administration for the Consumer Information Center; (10) National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (11) National Credit Union Administration for the obligations of the Central Liquidity Facility; (12) National Science Foundation; (13) Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation; and (14) Selective Service System. Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for necessary expenses for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to terminate all programs, activities, and initiatives under the National and Community Service Act of 1990, and to resolve all responsibilities and obligations in connection with the CNCS and its Office of Inspector General. Authorizes exemption from categorical pretreatment standards under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, if specified conditions are met, of an industrial discharger that is a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility which discharged to the Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant (an advanced wastewater treatment plant with activated carbon) before enactment of this Act. Requires the Director of FEMA to promulgate a methodology, based on specified criteria, for assessment and collection of fees applicable to persons subject to the FEMA radiological emergency preparedness regulations. Authorizes such fee assessment and collection only during FY 1996. (Sec. 301) Prohibits EPA use of any funds provided in this Act to: (1) carry out any final action by the EPA Administrator or delegate for promulgation of a rule concerning any new standard for radon in drinking water; (2) sign, promulgate, implement or enforce a proposed regulation relating to individual foreign refinery baseline requirements for reformulated gasoline; (3) implement a provision of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (or any pending EPA action to implement such provision) for denial or restriction of the use of defined areas as disposal sites for dredged or fill material; or (4) implement specified requirements of the Clean Air Act with respect to any moderate nonattainment area in which the average daily winter temperature is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Declares that this last prohibition does not preclude EPA assistance to the State of Alaska to make progress toward meeting the carbon monoxide standard in such areas and to resolve remaining issues regarding the use of oxygenated fuels in such areas. Title IV: Corporations - Authorizes certain corporations and agencies of HUD to make commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as necessary to carry out provisions under the Government Corporation Control Act. Allows any collections by such corporations and agencies to be used for new loan or mortgage purchase commitments to the extent provided under this Act, with specified exceptions. Makes funds available for the Office of Inspector General of the Resolution Trust Corporation. Title V: General Provisions - Specifies certain uses, limitations, and prohibitions on uses of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 514) Requires FY 1996 pay raises to be absorbed within the levels appropriated in this Act. (Sec. 516) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and products purchased with funds made available under this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 517) Prohibits the use of funds to implement any cap on reimbursements to grantees for indirect costs, except as published in a specified Office of Management and Budget Circular. (Sec. 519) Requires the Director of FEMA to sell the disaster housing inventory of mobile homes and trailers, and deposit the proceeds in the Treasury. (Sec. 520) Requires that funds necessary to terminate the Office of Consumer Affairs be made available from funds appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services for FY 1996. (Sec. 111)(sic) Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow the import of a drug, food, or food additive if it is to be incorporated into a product that will be exported as specified. Title II: Emergency Peacekeeping Appropriations (sic) - Makes supplemental appropriations for: (1) the Department of State for the administration of foreign affairs; (2) the United States Information Agency for salaries and expenses; (3) the President for the Agency For International development for assistance for Eastern Europe and Baltic States and for the Foreign Military Financing Program; (4) the Export- Import Bank of the United States; and (5) the Department of Defense for military construction, military personnel, operation and maintenance, and procurement. Rescinds funds appropriated for: (1) missile and other procurement, Air Force; (2) research, development, test and evaluation, for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defense-Wide. Title III: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for: (1) the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Consolidated Farm Service Agency, the Rural Housing and Community Development Service, and the Rural Utilities Service. Makes supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Small Business Administration for the Disasters Loans Program Account; (2) the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers-Civil; and (3) the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Reclamation. Provides for a transfer of funds to the Alaska Power Administration. Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of land Management, the U.S. Fish and wildlife service, the national Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and for territorial and international affairs. Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service. Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Transportation for the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. Makes supplemental appropriations to the Panama Canal Commission. Makes supplemental appropriations to the Federal emergency Management Agency for disaster relief. Title IV: Contingent Supplemental Appropriations - Makes contingent supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Department of Commerce for the National Institute of Standards and Technology; (2) the Department of State for international organizations and conferences, including contributions for international peacekeeping activities; (3) the Department of Labor for the Employment and Training Administration; (4) the Department of Health and Human Services for substance abuse and mental health services; (5) the Department of Education for education reform, education for the disadvantaged, school improvement programs, and education research, statistics and improvement; (6) the Department of Veterans Affairs for departmental administration; (7) the Department of Housing and Urban Development for housing programs, community planning and development grants, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Office of the Inspector General; (8) the Environmental Protection Agency programs and management, buildings and facilities, the Hazardous Substance Superfund, State and tribal assistance grants; (9) the Executive Office of the President for the Council on and Office of Environmental Quality; (10) the National Science Foundation; and (11) the Department of the Treasury for community development financial institutions.
Bill· HRH.R. 2973 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Agricultural Credit Subtitle A: Amendments to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act Subtitle B: Amendments to the Farm Credit Act of 1971 Title II: Rural Development Title III: Conservation Subtitle A: Consolidation of Conservation Financial Assistance Programs of the Department of Agriculture Subtitle B: Water Quality Conservation Program for Livestock Operations Subtitle C: Highly Erodible Cropland Conservation Subtitle D: Environmental Conservation Acreage Reserve Program Subtitle E: Wetland Conservation Reform Title IV: Agricultural Trade Subtitle A: Public Law 480 and Related Law Subtitle B: Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Subtitle D: Dairy Export Programs Title V: Extension of Research Authorities Title VI: Issuance of Orders for Promotion, Research, and Information Activities Regarding Agricultural Commodities Title VII: Miscellaneous Provisions Subtitle A: General Conservation Provisions Subtitle B: Inspection Agricultural Regulatory Relief and Trade Act of 1996 - Title I: Agricultural Credit - Subtitle A: Amendments to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to target ownership and operating loans to (citizen) family farmers. (Sec. 103) Eliminates specified non-income producing loans and authorities. (Sec. 104) Prohibits (with exceptions) loans to previously defaulting borrowers. (Sec. 105) Reduces emergency loan limits. (Sec. 106) Revises specified beginning farmer provisions. (Sec. 107) Repeals target participation rate provisions. Subtitle B: Amendments to the Farm Credit Act of 1971 - Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 with respect to: (1) loan decisions; (2) loan restructuring and bankruptcy; (3) borrower stock; (4) nonaccrual status; and (5) right of first refusal. Title II: Rural Development - Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to authorize State rural development capitalization grants. Eliminates specified rural development provisions and makes conforming amendments to specified agricultural and rural Acts. Title III: Conservation - Conservation Consolidation and Regulatory Reform Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Consolidation of Conservation Financial Assistance Programs of the Department of Agriculture - Part 1: Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program - Establishes the agricultural conservation assistance program to assist soil, water, and related conservation measures undertaken on private lands. Authorizes appropriations. Part 2: Conforming Amendments - Repeals specified programs and makes conforming amendments to specified Acts, including: (1) the Great Plains conservation program; (2) the agricultural conservation program; (3) the Colorado River Basin salinity control program; (4) the rural environmental conservation program; (5) water quality and tree planting programs; (6) the integrated farm management program; (7) certain forestry assistance programs; and (8) the Water Bank Act. Subtitle B: Water Quality Conservation Program for Livestock Operations - Establishes a program of technical and cost-sharing assistance for water quality conservation for livestock operations. Obligates program funds. Subtitle C: Highly Erodible Cropland Conservation - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to revise the highly erodible land conservation program, including: (1) guideline technical requirements; (2) variance procedures; and (3) good faith exemptions. (Sec. 356) Requires notice of possible violations to be provided during on-site inspections. (Sec. 357) Terminates such program authority, including any ineligibility provisions, after a specified date. Subtitle D: Environmental Conservation Acreage Reserve Program - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to extend the conservation reserve program. Revises enrollment provisions. Repeals the environmental easement program. Authorizes owners or operators to terminate program contracts. Subtitle E: Wetland Conservation Reform - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to revise the wetland conservation program, including program ineligibility provisions. Establishes a mitigation banking program. Title IV: Agricultural Trade - Subtitle A: Public Law 480 and Related Law - Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (P.L. 480) to extend the trade and development and food for development programs. Makes program revisions including: (1) country priorities; (2) eligible private entities; (3) sale conditions; (4) commodities; and (5) local currencies. (Sec. 420) Extends and increases obligation authority for the farmer-to-farmer program. (Sec. 421) Extends the food for progress program. (Sec. 422) Amends the Agricultural Act of 1980 to rename title III as the Food Security Commodity Reserve Act of 1995. Expands the commodities eligible for the food security commodity reserve (currently the food security wheat reserve). Extends and revises such program. Subtitle B: Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 - Amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to extend export credit guaranties. (Sec. 434) Revises agricultural embargo protection payment provisions. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous - Repeals provisions of specified agricultural trade-related Acts, including: (1) export enhancement; and (2) agricultural aid and trade missions. (Sec. 449) Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to extend funding for promotion of agricultural exports to emerging markets (currently, emerging democracies). (Sec. 452) Amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to monitor foreign compliance with the Agriculture Agreement of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, including World Trade Organization member compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary measures. (Sec. 453) Provides for a limitation on durum wheat export subsidies. (Sec. 454) Extends the market promotion program. (Sec. 455) Extends funding for the export enhancement program. (Sec. 458) Amends the Disaster Assistance Act of 1988 to extend funding obligations for sunflower seed oil and cottonseed oil export sales. (Sec. 459) Amends the Agricultural Trade Acts of 1978 to establish a foreign market development cooperation program. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Dairy Export Programs - Directs the Secretary to assist the dairy industry to establish an export trading company, and designate an entity if the industry is unable to establish one. Title V: Extension of Research Authorities - Amends specified Acts to extend the following: (1) national genetics resources program; (2) national agricultural weather information system; (3) agricultural storage program; (4) water quality program; (5) livestock product safety and inspection program; (6) mesquite program; (7) prickly pear program; (8) deer tick program; (9) agricultural telecommunications program; (10) national centers for agricultural product quality; (11) pilot project to coordinate food and nutrition education programs; (12) assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities; (13) national rural information center clearinghouse; (14) Indian subsistence farming demonstration grant program; (15) Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences; (16) National Agricultural Research and Extension Users Advisory Board; (17) food and agricultural sciences grant program; (18) commodity-based alcohol and hydrocarbon development program; (19) food science and nutrition research center; (20) nutrition education program; (21 ) animal health science research advisory board; (22) animal health and disease research programs; (23) regional animal health and disease research; (24) 1890 land-grant college programs of resident instruction and facilities upgrades; (25) national research and training centennial centers; (26) specified research and education programs; (27) alternative crop development; (28) aquaculture assistance; (29) rangeland research; (30) dairy goat research; (31) Federal agricultural research facilities construction; (32) competitive, special, and facilities research program; (33) research facilities program; (34) critical agricultural research; and (35) pseudorabies eradication program. Title VI: Issuance of Orders for Promotion, Research, and Information Activities Regarding Agricultural Commodities - Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996 - Authorizes the Secretary to issue agricultural producer, handler, and importer commodity marketing orders. Authorizes appropriations. Title VII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Subtitle A: General Conservation Provisions - Amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 to provide that State water use or allocation shall not be superseded by National Forest System resource planning provisions. Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to extend the application deadline for specified water system rights-of-way. (Sec. 705) Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to repeal the composting research program. (Sec. 706) Repeals the Farms for the Future Act of 1990. (Sec. 708) Authorizes a program of technical and educational assistance for private grazing land conservation. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Inspection - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to permit use of State inspectors. Expands State inspection authority. (Sec. 723) Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to establish in the Department of Agriculture the Safe Meat and Poultry Inspection Panel.
Bill· SS. 1571 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1996
Lost Creek Land Exchange Act of 1996 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire certain land and interests in land owned by R-Y Timber, Inc., located in the Lost Creek area and other areas of the Deerlodge National Forest, Montana, in exchange for specified lands in the Deerlodge National Forest and the right to harvest specified amounts of timber on certain land in the Deerlodge, Helena, and Lewis and Clark National Forests. Directs that: (1) timber harvest practices used on such National Forest lands be conducted in accordance with applicable Montana law and be in addition to the present or future planned timber sale quantities for such Forests; and (2) the Forest Service enter a contract with a qualified private person agreed on by the Secretary and R-Y to perform the field work associated with the designations. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) minimum annual designations of timber harvest; and (2) review, standards for quality, and conveyance of title. Specifies that all land conveyed to the United States under this Act shall be added to and administered as part of the Deerlodge National Forest. Deems the values of the lands and interests exchanged under this Act to be of approximately equal value. Shields the United States from liability as a result of the acquisition of an interest in the Lost Creek Tract or due to circumstances or events occurring before acquisition, including any release or threat of release of a hazardous substance.
Law· HRH.R. 2969 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1996
Federal Tea Tasters Repeal Act of 1996 - Repeals the Tea Importation Act (thereby eliminating the Board of Tea Experts).
Bill· HRH.R. 2941 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1996
Housing Improvement Act for Land Management Agencies - Authorizes the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to make rental housing available to their respective land management field employees. Authorizes in furtherance of such purpose: (1 joint public- private sector housing programs; (2) joint employee-agency housing programs; (3) leasing of seasonal employee quarters; and (4) cooperative ventures for related utilities and infrastructure facilities. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2950 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1996
Agriculture Market Development Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and, in cooperation with eligible trade organizations (ETOs), carry out a foreign market development cooperator program to maintain and develop foreign markets for U.S. agricultural commodities. Requires that the program be carried out through multiyear contracts or agreements between the Secretary and ETOs, with cost sharing provided by the Secretary to the ETOs. Authorizes appropriations. Defines "eligible trade organization" to mean a U.S. trade organization that promotes agricultural exports and that does not have a business interest in or receive remuneration from specific sales. Requires participating ETOs to submit annual marketing plans.
Bill· HRH.R. 2934 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1996
Taxpayer Savings Act of 1996 - Amends Federal law to repeal or eliminate the following: (1) the commercial export market promotion program and the export enhancement program, both established and operated by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) under the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978; (2) certain animal damage control activities under the Rural Development, Agriculture, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1986; and (3) the tax credit under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) for the use and production of ethanol as a fuel and other incentives (including reduced tax rates) for the use and production of ethanol (requiring fuel alcohol to be taxed in the same manner as other motor fuels). Imposes a floor stocks tax rate of 18.4 cents a gallon on fuel alcohol held on the date of enactment of this Act. Outlines liability for such tax and the method and time of payment. Prohibits the imposition of such tax: (1) on fuel alcohol held in the tank of a motor vehicle or motorboat; and (2) when the aggregate amount of fuel held by a person (including certain corporations) does not exceed 2,000 gallons. Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to terminate the agricultural price support and production adjustment programs for sugar beets and sugarcane. Terminates the acreage allotments and marketing quotas for such products under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938. Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from making price supports available for crops of sugar beets or sugarcane by using CCC funds or under any other law. Requires the Secretary to settle outstanding loans. Terminates the peanut marketing quota and peanut price support programs under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 and the Agricultural Act of 1949. Prohibits the Secretary from making future price supports for peanut crops. Requires the Secretary to settle outstanding loans.
Bill· HRH.R. 2908 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1996
Domesticated Salmonid Broodstock and Seedstock Act of 1996 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in cooperation with producers of domesticated salmonid seedstock, to establish a comprehensive program with regard to domesticated salmonid broodstock and seedstock to: (1) provide effective and efficient diagnostic and certification services in a manner that fosters the participation of State and private laboratories; (2) establish health criteria; and (3) monitor, evaluate, and facilitate the elimination of unreasonable impediments to the interstate commerce of such stock that is certified under the program. Authorizes the Secretary to use specified authorities to regulate the production, transportation, and exportation of such stock in order to prevent the introduction or dissemination in interstate commerce and international trade of any contagious, infectious, or communicable disease associated with it and to promote its exportation. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish an advisory committee to advise the Secretary regarding the development and implementation of the program; and (2) certify to any person the health status of any domesticated salmonid seedstock intended for export from the United States. Grants the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce sole responsibility for the health of salmonids and the products thereof located in any facility administered by the Departments of the Interior or Commerce.
Bill· HRH.R. 2915 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Title II: Supplemental Security Income Subtitle A: Eligibility Restrictions Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children Subtitle C: Studies Regarding Supplemental Security Income Program Subtitle D: National Commission on the Future of Disability Subtitle E: State Supplementation Programs Subtitle F: Retirement Age Eligibility Title III: Food Stamp Program Subtitle A: Food Stamp Reform Subtitle B: Anti-Fraud and Trafficking Title IV: Child Nutrition Programs Subtitle A: Reimbursement Rates Subtitle B: Grant Programs Subtitle C: Other Amendments Subtitle D: Reauthorization Title V: Noncitizens Title VI: Child Care Title VII: Protection of Battered Individuals Title VIII: Adoption Expenses Title IX: Child Support Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders Subtitle H: Medical Support Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Nonresidential Parents Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment Title X: Reform of Public Housing Title XI: Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Subtitle A: General Program Subtitle B: Community-Based Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Grants Subtitle C: Family Violence Prevention and Services Subtitle D: Adoption Opportunities Subtitle E: Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1986 Subtitle F: Reauthorization of Various Programs Title XII: Reductions in Federal Government Positions Title XIII: Miscellaneous Provisions Work Opportunity Act of 1995 - Title I: Block Grants For Temporary Assistance For Needy Families - Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA), and the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program (JOBS) under part F as well, with a single program of block grants to eligible States with plans approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for operating statewide temporary assistance (TEA) programs for helping welfare recipients make the transition into the work world, and for preventing and reducing the incidence of teenage pregnancies. (Sec. 101) Includes within the general program framework certain mandatory work, education, and job preparation requirements, as well as certain optional community service requirements, outlined in detail, as the primary program components for providing needy families either already having or expecting a child with the specific assistance and support services (including child care) they need to overcome any unique circumstances and become self-sufficient. Requires families to achieve such independence within a certain negotiated time-limited period (generally no more than five years except in certain cases involving minor children and hardship situations) pursuant to either a limited benefit plan or personal responsibility contract. Requires such instruments to be entered into with the particular participating State and to outline the steps for families to take to get off welfare after receiving an appropriate assessment by the relevant State agency's case manager of the family member's skills, prior work experience, and employability. Provides, additionally, within the general program framework for the following by participating States as subsidiary matters: (1) establishment of annual goals and institution of actions to prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies, with special emphasis on teenage pregnancies, with respect to FY 1996 through 2000; (2) strategic plans for assessing program outcomes over a three-year period and estimating the total amount of State and local expenditures under the program for the fiscal year in which such plan is submitted; and (3) certain certifications that the State will, among other things, operate a child support enforcement program under SSA title IV part D, operate a child protection program under SSA title IV part B, and operate a foster care and adoption assistance program under SSA title IV part E. Allows States to determine the treatment of aliens and families moving inter-State under their respective State TEA plans. Details grant administrative provisions, including those for: (1) determining the amounts of State and Indian tribe grants under the TEA program; (2) outlining grant uses, with a limit on how much of the grant may be used for administrative purposes; (3) setting up a Federal loan program using the newly established Treasury Federal Loan Fund for State Welfare Programs for State TEA program anti-fraud and other specified activities; (4) providing for job placement performance bonuses for States based on the number of families that became ineligible for TEA program assistance as a result of unsubsidized employment; and (5) establishing a Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs in the Treasury for payments to certain eligible States; (6) providing supplemental grant amounts for population increases in certain States; and (7) increasing grants for States that reduce out-of-wedlock births. Authorizes appropriations, including additional amounts for certain current SSA title IV part A demonstrations and for the cost of developing and evaluating innovative approaches for reducing welfare dependency and increasing the well-being of minor children, among other things. Penalizes States and individual families for specified grant and program violations, respectively, through reduced grants and assistance payments, allowing States to terminate such payments to certain adult family members without small children needing child care who refuse to engage in the required number of hours per week in mandatory program work and other activities. Limits the amount of any penalty reduction in the State's quarterly grant payment. Denies TEA assistance in certain cases, for example where an individual family member is a fugitive felon or a probation or parole violator, and suspends it for ten years in certain other cases where an individual is found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain TEA assistance in two or more States. Provides for the exchange of TEA program information with law enforcement agencies under certain conditions. Outlines congressional findings with regard to the importance of marriage in a successful society and the negative consequences of out-of-wedlock births and the raising of children in single-parent homes. Expresses the sense of the Congress that prevention of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and reduction in out-of-wedlock births are important Government interests and that the policy in this title is intended to address such interests. Gives States certain options for promoting responsible parenting, including the ability to deny assistance for a child born out-of- wedlock to an individual who has not attained 18 years of age, or for the individual, until the individual attains such age, and for a minor child who is born to a recipient of assistance under the TEA program or an individual who received such benefits at any time during the ten-month period ending with the birth of the child. Requires, in addition, certain mandatory adult-supervised living arrangements for unmarried teenage parents, with certain exceptions, and the participation of certain teenage parents with a minor child at least 12 weeks of age in high school or approved alternative educational activities in order to receive full TEA assistance (or, with regard to the latter, and at the option of the State, reduced assistance). Authorizes appropriations to provide States with assistance for providing or locating adult-supervised living arrangements for unmarried teenage parents. Provides for a separate reduction in State TEA grant payments for States failing to comply with Federal requirements under SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity). Expresses the sense of the Congress that State TEA programs should assign the highest priority to requiring adults in two-parent families and in single-parent families with older preschool or school-age children to be engaged in required program activities. Outlines specific program audit, data collection and reporting requirements as well as certain research, evaluation, and study requirements, among other things requiring quarterly reports by the States on family case record information and research by the HHS Secretary on the benefits, effects, and costs of operating different State TEA programs. Directs the Bureau of the Census to expand the Survey of Income and Program Participation as necessary to obtain information that will enable interested persons to evaluate the impact of the changes made by this title on a random national sample of recipients of assistance under State programs funded under this title, and on other appropriate low-income families. Provides for the treatment of certain State AFDC waivers in effect or approved by the HHS Secretary as of October 1, 1995. Provides that nothing in SSA title IV part A shall be construed as limiting a State's ability to conduct demonstration projects for the purpose of identifying innovative or effective program designs in one or more political subdivisions of the State, provided that such State contains more than one county with a population of greater than 500,000. Requires the HHS Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture to enter jointly into negotiations with all counties having a population greater than 500,000 which desire to conduct such a demonstration project for the purpose of establishing appropriate rules to govern the establishment and operation of such project. Provides for direct funding, by way of three-year tribal family assistance grants, to Indian tribes (including Indian tribes in Alaska) for tribal administration of TEA programs. Makes the HHS Assistant Secretary for Family Support the official responsible for administering SSA title IV part A and D programs. Sets forth the mechanism for State appeal of Federal adverse decisions with respect to State TEA plans or imposition of penalties, providing for notification of any program violation. Discusses performance bonuses and high performance bonuses for States making the most progress in certain measurement categories, such as a reduction in the average length of time families in the State receive TEA assistance during a fiscal year, and an increase in the percentage of families receiving such assistance that receive child support payments under SSA title IV part D. Authorizes appropriations. Specifies amounts for child care allocations to the States to be used to provide child care assistance as a support service under the State TEA program. Requires determination of eligibility for such assistance by the appropriate State agency in accordance with State- determined criteria. Authorizes appropriations. Outlines the mechanism for collecting the amount of any overpayments under an approved State TEA plan from Federal tax refunds. (Sec. 102) Allows States to contract with charitable, religious, and private organizations to provide services and administer programs established or modified under titles I, II, and X of this Act. Prohibits the expenditure of financial assistance under such programs for sectarian worship or instruction, except where such assistance is provided to or on behalf of beneficiaries of assistance in the form of certificates, vouchers, or other forms of disbursement, if such beneficiary may choose where such assistance shall be redeemed. (Sec. 104) Provides for the continued application of AFDC standards under the Medicaid program. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to expand census data collection efforts to enable the Bureau of the Census to collect statistically significant data on grandparent caregivers. (Sec. 105A) Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to: (1) develop a prototype of a counterfeit-resistant social security-card that also provides proof of citizenship or legal resident alien status; and (2) conduct a study and report to the Congress on different methods of improving the social security card application process. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 106) Makes conforming amendments to SSA, the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and related provisions of other specified Federal laws. (Sec. 109) Directs the HHS Secretary to study and report to the Congress on the impact of the amendments of this Act on grandparents who have assumed the responsibility of providing care to their grandchildren. (Sec. 110) Requires any organization accepting Federal funds under this Act to disclose that fact in any communication it makes that in any way intends to promote public support or opposition to any Federal, State, or local government policy through any broadcasting station, periodical, or other specified type of general public advertising. Makes any organization failing to make such a disclosure ineligible to receive Federal funds under this Act. (Sec. 110A) Amends the Family Support Act of 1988 to remove the "demonstration" status of the Job Opportunities for Certain Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) program and give it an increased annual authorization for any fiscal year. (Sec. 110B) Directs the Secretary of Education to make demonstration grants to States to enable them to increase the number of hours during each day when existing public school facilities are available for use in expanding the scope of student programs offered before and after pre-existing school hours and for making school facilities available for educational, recreational, and social activities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 110C) Requires the Federal Government, prior to assessing a penalty against a State under any program established or modified under this Act, to: (1) notify the State of the violation of law for which such penalty would be assessed; and (2) allow the State the opportunity to enter into a corrective compliance plan outlining how it will correct any violations for which such penalty would be assessed, and how it will insure continuing compliance with the requirements of such program. Provides that if a State has not corrected the violation in a timely manner under the plan, some or all of the penalty shall be assessed. (Sec. 110D) Details specifics of parental responsibility contracts, as well as penalties for noncompliance with such contracts. (Sec. 110E) Sets forth provisions similar to those for corrective compliance plans with regard to corrective action plans, giving States specified grace periods from notification of law violation to submission of a proposed corrective action plan, and from Federal Government acceptance of such a plan till imposition of any penalty if the State corrects the violation. Title II: Supplemental Security Income - Subtitle A: Eligibility Restrictions - Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to: (1) deny SSI by reason of disability to drug addicts and alcoholics if addiction or alcoholism is a contributing factor material to the disability determination; (2) revise representative payee requirements; (3) provide for treatment services for individuals with a substance abuse condition; (4) provide for limited eligibility of certain noncitizens for SSI benefits; (5) deny SSI benefits for ten years to individuals found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain benefits simultaneously in two or more States; (6) deny SSI benefits for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators; and (7) provide for exchange of SSI information with law enforcement agencies. Provides for certain supplemental funding for alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs. Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children - Revises the rules with respect to childhood eligibility, with corresponding changes to childhood SSI regulations modifying the medical criteria for evaluation of mental and emotional disorders, and discontinuing the use of individualized functional assessments for children. Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to redetermine the eligibility of any individual under age 18 who is receiving SSI benefits based on a disability as of enactment of this Act, and whose eligibility for such benefits may terminate by reason of the above amendments. (Sec. 212) Provides that not less frequently than once every three years the Commissioner shall review the continued SSI eligibility of each individual who has not attained 18 years of age, and is eligible for such benefits by reason of an impairment (or combination of impairments) which may improve (or, which is unlikely to improve, at the option of the Commissioner). Requires a parent or guardian of a recipient whose case is so reviewed to present, at the time of review, evidence demonstrating that the recipient is, and has been, receiving treatment, to the extent considered medically necessary and available, of the condition which was the basis for providing benefits under the SSI program. Provides that if an individual is eligible for SSI benefits by reason of disability for the month preceding the month in which the individual attains age 18, the Commissioner shall redetermine such eligibility: (1) during the one year period beginning on the individual's 18th birthday; and (2) by applying the criteria used in determining the initial eligibility for applicants who have attained age 18. Outlines specific requirements governing: (1) continuing disability reviews for low birth weight babies; and (2) benefit payments through representative payees to eligible individuals and their spouses. Subtitle C: Studies Regarding Supplemental Security Income Program - Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to report annually to the President and the Congress regarding the SSI program. (Sec. 222) Requires the Commissioner to issue a request for comments in the Federal Register regarding improvements to the disability evaluation and determination procedures for individuals under age 18 to ensure a comprehensive assessment of such individuals. Directs the Commissioner to review such comments and issue regulations implementing any necessary changes not later than 18 months after this Act is enacted. (Sec. 223) Requires the Commissioner to make arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences, or other independent entity, to study the disability determination process under SSA titles II and XVI for reports to the President and the Congress. (Sec. 224) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report on the impact of the amendments made by, and the provisions of, this title on the SSI program. Subtitle D: National Commission on the Future of Disability - Establishes the National Commission on the Future of Disability to make a comprehensive study of all matters related to the nature, purpose, and adequacy of all Federal programs serving individuals with disabilities, including the programs under SSA titles II and XVI, with resulting recommendations for appropriate action submitted to the President and the Congress. Subtitle E: State Supplementation Programs - Repeals maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SSI benefits. Subtitle F: Retirement Age Eligibility - Provides that, for purposes of determining an aged individual under SSI, the age used shall be the retirement age used under the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program under SSA title II. Title III: Food Stamp Program - Subtitle A: Food Stamp Reform - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (Act) to establish a maximum 24- month food stamp program (program) authorization period for households whose adult members are elderly or disabled. (Sec. 302) Treats children who are themselves parents living with their children and married children living with their spouses as part of an existing household rather than as a separate household. (Sec. 303) Authorizes States to establish additional criteria for separate household determinations. (Sec. 304) Revises thrifty food plan adjustment provisions. (Sec. 305) Revises the definition of "homeless individual" to limit the length of time a person may temporarily live in another person's residence. (Sec. 307) Revises household income exclusion provisions regarding: (1) students; and (2) Federal energy assistance. (Sec. 309) Revises household income deduction provisions regarding: (1) standard deductions; (2) earned income; (3) dependent care; (4) child support payments; (5) homeless shelter assistance; (6) excess medical expenses; and (7) excess shelter expenses. (Sec. 310) Eliminates a specified auto asset increase. (Sec. 311) Increases the income and resources attribution period for sponsored aliens. (Sec. 312) Revises provisions regarding disqualification for refusal to register for or accept employment. (Sec. 314) Revises work requirement and employment and training provisions. Extends employment and training authorizations. (Sec. 315) Authorizes comparable program disqualification based upon welfare or public assistance disqualification. (Sec. 316) Requires at State option: (1) cooperation with child support agencies in order to maintain program eligibility; and (2) program disqualification for child support arrears. (Sec. 318) Disqualifies permanently an individual who participates in the program in two or more States. (Sec. 319) Defines "work program." Makes nonexempt persons ineligible for program benefits if during the preceding 12-monyh period they received food stamps for four months or more without working at least 20 hours per week, or participating in a workfare program. Sets forth exempted persons and situations. (Sec. 319A) Disqualifies a fleeing felon from program participation. (Sec. 320) Authorizes States to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 321) Eliminates annual minimum allotment adjustments. (Sec. 323) Authorizes a combined allotment for expedited households. (Sec. 324) Authorizes program reductions for failure to comply with a public assistance reduction requirement. (Sec. 325) Authorizes program assistance for households residing in a homeless shelter or drug or alcohol treatment center. (Sec. 326) Revises: (1) food stamp office operating provisions; and (2) expedited coupon service requirements. (Sec. 327) Eliminates certain certification personnel training requirements. (Sec. 328) Provides for the exchange of information with law enforcement or Immigration and Naturalization Service personnel. (Sec. 330) Authorizes a family to withdraw a fair hearing request. (Sec. 331) Permits States to use income, and immigration eligibility verification systems other than a specified system under the Social Security Act. (Sec. 332) Includes among the means that States shall use to collect coupon overissuances: (1) withholding of unemployment compensation; and (2) recovery from Federal pay or Federal tax refund. Establishes family hardship and maximum reduction provisions. (Sec. 333) Terminates Federal matching requirements for program recruitment activities. (Sec. 335) Authorizes States to use funds otherwise available to a participating household for a work supplementation or support program. (Sec. 336) Authorizes waiver of program requirements as necessary to conduct related pilot projects. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 337) Authorizes States to carry out private sector employment initiatives. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 340) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) program operations; and (2) Puerto Rico block grants. (Sec. 342) Authorizes States to carry out a Simplified Food Stamp Program in lieu of existing program requirements. Sets forth Program provisions. (Sec. 343) Establishes an optional State food assistance block grant program in lieu of the food stamp program. Sets forth program provisions. Subtitle B: Anti-Fraud and Trafficking - Expands the definition of "coupon." (Sec. 352) Increases penalties for specified program violations. (Sec. 353) Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to establish specific time periods for: (1) retail food stores and wholesale food concerns (stores) to apply for food stamp program (program) participation; and (2) prohibition of program participation based on lack of business integrity. (Sec. 355) Includes income and sales tax information among the types of eligibility verification information which may be requested. (Sec. 356) Establishes a six-month reapplication waiting period for a store that does not meet participation requirements. (Sec. 358) Authorizes suspension of a store pending administrative and judicial review. (States that the Secretary shall not be liable for lost sales during such period.) (Sec. 359) Provides for disqualification of a store that is disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). (Sec. 360) Provides for permanent disqualification of a store that knowingly submits a falsified application. (Sec. 361) Expands civil and criminal forfeiture for specified violations of the Act. Title IV: Child Nutrition Programs - Subtitle A: Reimbursement Rates - Amends the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to terminate the additional lunch payment for schools with high percentages of free or reduced price lunches. (Sec. 402) Revises NSLA annual adjustment provisions for: (1) value of food assistance; and (2) lunches, breakfasts, and supplements. (Sec. 404) Revises NSLA service institution payment provisions for the summer food service program for children. (Sec. 405) Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to revise annual adjustment provisions for: (1) the special milk program; and (2) the school breakfast program. (Sec. 407) Conforms reimbursement for CNA school breakfasts with that for NSLA school lunches. Subtitle B: Grant Programs - Amends CNA to: (1) terminate school breakfast startup grants; and (2) reduce annual authorization of appropriations for nutrition education and training programs. Subtitle C: Other Amendments - Amends NSLA and CNA to set forth free and reduced price policy statements for the school lunch program and the school breakfast program. (Sec. 422) Revises NSLA provisions for the summer food service program for children. Allows participating school food authorities to permit a child to refuse not more than one item of a meal that the child does not intend to consume. Provides that a refusal of an offered food shall not affect the amount of payments to a school for the meal. Removes a requirement that States submit a plan or schedule as part of notice to institutions. (Sec. 423) Revises NSLA provisions for the child and adult care food program with respect to payments to certain sponsor employees. Revises provisions regarding day care home reimbursements. Requires reservation of certain funds for grants to States for assistance for family or group day care homes. Requires Federal and State provision of certain data to family or group day care home sponsoring organizations. Disallows certain meal claims. Eliminates certain requirements involving State paperwork and outreach. Requires States to provide training, technical assistance, and monitoring. Sets deadlines for the Secretary's issuance of specified interim and final regulations. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to study the impact of amendments made by this section on various aspects of program participation and family day care licensing, and to submit a report on such study to specified congressional committees. (Sec. 424) Requires a review of all NSLA and CNA reporting requirements and a report recommending elimination of any that impose a paperwork burden on agencies and schools which cannot be justified by their contribution to program effectiveness. Subtitle D: Reauthorization - Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to reauthorize appropriations for the commodity distribution program. (Sec. 432) Amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 to extend authority and reauthorize appropriations for the emergency food assistance program. (Sec. 433) Amends the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988 to reauthorize appropriations for the soup kitchens program. (Sec. 434) Amends the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 to extend authority for processing of agricultural commodities into food products. (Sec. 435) Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to extend authority for the commodity supplemental food program. Title V: Noncitizens - Authorizes States to prohibit use of Federal funds received for any means-tested public assistance program for noncitizens (with specified exceptions). (Sec. 502) Includes a sponsor's and spouse's income and resources actually provided to a sponsored alien as part of such alien's income and resources for purposes of Federal and federally funded assistance program eligibility. Makes such provision inapplicable to: (1) certain emergency medical services; (2) short-term emergency disaster relief; (3) National School Lunch Act or Child Nutrition Act of 1966 benefits; (4) public health immunization and communicable disease assistance; (5) Head Start; and (6) specified community services. (Sec. 503) Requires a sponsor affidavit of support to be legally enforceable. (Sec. 504) Amends the Social Security Act to limit noncitizen eligibility for supplemental security income (SSI). (Sec. 505) Prohibits any need-based Federal or federally-funded assistance (with specified exceptions) to be given to a noncitizen for the first five years after such person's entry into the United States. (Sec. 506) Amends the Social Security Act and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide for State reporting of certain illegal alien information to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. (Sec. 507) Prohibits Federal benefits to be paid or provided to any person not lawfully in the United States. Specifies exceptions for: (1) certain emergency medical services; (2) short-term emergency disaster relief; (3) National School Lunch Act or Child Nutrition Act of 1966 benefits; and (4) public health immunization and communicable disease assistance. Authorizes appropriations. Title VI: Child Care - Child Care and Development Block Grant Amendments Act of 1995 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations for FY 1996 through 2000. Revises program implementation requirements. Repeals the mandate for State early childhood development and before- and after-school services; but allows States to offer such services. (Sec. 602) Prescribes guidelines under which an Indian tribal organization may use for facility construction or renovation Federal financial assistance earmarked for child care and development services, subject to certain conditions. (Sec. 603) Repeals: (1) the State Dependent Care Development Grants Act; and (2) the Child Development Associate Scholarship Assistance Act of 1985. Title VII: Protection of Battered Individuals - Provides for administrative exemption of battered individuals from specified requirements of this Act, the Social Security Act and the Food Stamp Act, if the physical, mental, or emotional well-being of the individual would be endangered by compliance with such requirements. Title VIII: Adoption Expenses - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow up to $5,000 of qualified adoption expenses as a tax credit to certain income-level individuals; (2) exclude from gross income employee or military adoption assistance benefits; and (3) permit individual retirement account (IRA) withdrawals without penalty for qualified adoption expense purposes. Title IX: Child Support - Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to require State plans for child and spousal support to provide: (1) certain services relating to paternity establishment or enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) continuation of services for families ceasing to receive assistance under Aid to Families with Dependent Children. (Sec. 902) Revises payment distribution guidelines for support obligations collected by the State on behalf of a family. (Sec. 903) Requires State plans to establish procedural guidelines for: (1) notification of all proceedings and orders affecting child support obligations; and (2) privacy safeguards regarding paternity and child support actions. Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking - Mandates that single statewide automated data systems include a State case registry containing records of: (1) each case in which services are provided by the State agency; and (2) each support order established on or after a specified date. Permits the linking of local registries to establish such a State registry. (Sec. 912) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated State disbursement unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. (Sec. 913) Requires State plans to: (1) provide for an automated State Directory of New Hires containing prescribed information furnished by employers on new personnel; and (2) transmit such information to the National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 914) Revises the requirement for State procedures for mandatory income withholding for support payments subject to enforcement. Requires procedures under which child support orders issued before October 1, 1996, shall become subject to withholding from wages if arrearages occur, without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. Revises the procedural guidelines for such income withholding. (Sec. 915) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures to ensure that Federal and State agencies conducting income-withholding activities have access to State locator systems for motor vehicle or law enforcement purposes. (Sec. 916) Revises the Federal Parent Locator Service to provide for additional information which may be transmitted to locate individuals and assets for purposes of: (1) establishing parentage; (2) executing child support obligations; and (3) enforcing visitation orders. (Sec. 917) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring recordation on such documents of the Social Security number of: (1) specified driver's, marriage, and occupational, and professional license applicants; (2) individuals subject to certain domestic relations orders; and (3) death records. Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures - Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1997. Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the procedures for the court to apply when determining which State order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement for child support orders. (Sec. 923) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring: (1) expedited administrative enforcement in interstate cases and support orders; and (2) expedited administrative and judicial procedures for establishing paternity and enforcing support obligations. Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment - Revises the guidelines for State laws governing paternity establishment. Requires State procedures under which the name of the father shall be included on the birth certificate only: (1) if the mother and father have signed a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity; or (2) pursuant to a judicial or administrative order. (Sec. 933) Requires State plans for child and spousal support to provide that the State agency administering the plan will make a determination as to whether a program recipient is cooperating in good faith with State efforts to establish paternity and secure support. Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding - Revises the guidelines for Federal performance-based incentive payments to the States for effective child support enforcement programs. (Sec. 942) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include prescribed procedures for State reviews and audits. Revises the guidelines for Federal evaluation and audit of State programs governing paternity, child and spousal support, and parent location. (Sec. 944) Revises the automated data processing requirements for State plans to mandate a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system which can perform specified tasks. (Sec. 945) Makes funds available to the Secretary for: (1) training of Federal and State staff, research and demonstration programs, and special projects of regional and national significance; and (2) operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service. Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders - Establishes the National Child Support Guidelines Commission to determine the need for consideration by the Congress of national child support guidelines. (Sec. 952) Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. (Sec. 953) Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to authorize a consumer agency to furnish a consumer report: (1) in response to a request by a governmental child support enforcement agency; or (2) to the State administrative agency which sets child support awards. (Sec. 954) Shields a depository institution from Federal or State liability for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency. Prohibits such agency from disclosing such a financial record except for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary in, establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation. Sets forth civil penalties for any person knowingly or negligently violating such prohibition. Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders - Amends Internal Revenue Code procedural guidelines for the collection of arrearages to provide that no additional fee may be assessed for adjustments to a previously certified amount. (Sec. 962) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to revise procedural guidelines for: (1) consent by the United States to income withholding, garnishment, and similar proceedings for enforcement of child support and alimony obligations of current and retired Federal employees; and (2) enforcement of child support obligations of members of the Armed Forces. (Sec. 964) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to have in effect the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act of 1981, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act of 1984, or a similar law, as well as certain procedures governing the voiding of fraudulent transfers by a child support debtor. (Sec. 965) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include specified procedures: (1) to ensure that persons owing past-due support work or participate in work activities the court deems appropriate; (2) to report to credit bureaus the name of the parent in arrears for child support; (3) to provide for liens against real and personal property for the support arrearages of an absent parent; and (4) to implement the restriction of driver's, professional, occupational, and recreational licenses of individuals owing support arrearages. (Sec. 970) Requires the Secretary of State to deny, revoke, or limit a passport upon certification of nonpayment of child support. (Sec. 971) Authorizes the Secretary of State to negotiate reciprocal agreements with foreign nations: (1) regarding international enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) designating the Department of Health and Human Services as the central authority for such enforcement. (Sec. 972) Denies means-tested Federal benefits to a non-custodial parent who is more than two months delinquent in paying child support. (Sec. 973) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to provide that such State will make reasonable efforts to enter into cooperative agreements with an Indian tribe or tribal organization having an established tribal court system with child support enforcement powers for the cooperative delivery of child support enforcement services. Authorizes the Secretary to make direct payments (analogous to payments to a State plan for spousal and child support) to an Indian tribe or tribal organization with an approved child support enforcement plan. (Sec. 974) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which a State agency shall enter agreements with financial institutions doing business within the State to develop and operate a data match system to provide identifying information for each absent parent targeted by the State who maintains an account at the institution, and to encumber such parent's assets at the institution pursuant to a lien or levy. Subtitle H: Medical Support - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to include within the definition of medical child support order an order issued through a State administrative process. (Sec. 976) Amends part D of SSA title IV to mandate statutorily prescribed procedures under which all enforced child support orders shall include a provision for the health care coverage of the child. (Sec. 977) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which child support orders relating to the child of minor parents, where the mother is receiving assistance, are enforceable against the child's paternal grandparents. Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Nonresidential Parents - Amends part D of SSA title IV to prescribe guidelines under which the Administration for Children and Families shall make grants to enable States to establish and administer access and visitation programs to facilitate absent parents' access to their children. Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment - Sets forth effective dates for the provisions of this title. Title X: Reform of Public Housing - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise public housing rent provisions, including: (1) ceiling rents; and (2) definition of adjusted income. (Sec. 1003) Prohibits increased public housing assistance based upon reduced family income resulting from a failure to comply with other welfare or public assistance programs. (Sec. 1004) Makes the provisions of this title applicable to Indian housing. (Sec. 1006) Makes the "take-one-take-all" requirement (acceptance of one voucher holder requires acceptance of all similar applicants) under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 inapplicable to a specified housing project in Madison, Wisconsin. (Sec. 1007) Prohibits an assistance increase to a person based upon reduced income resulting from a fraud reduction in benefits from another means-tested assistance program. Title XI: Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment - Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Amendments of 1995 - Subtitle A: General Program - Revises the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to replace provisions directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect with provisions authorizing the Secretary to establish an Office on Child Abuse and Neglect to execute and coordinate functions and activities under the Act. (Sec. 1114) Changes from mandatory to discretionary the Secretary's authority to appoint the Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect. Requires the Advisory Board to report to the Secretary and the appropriate congressional committees its: (1) recommendations on coordinating Federal, State, and local child abuse and neglect activities with similar activities pertaining to family violence prevention; (2) specific modifications needed in Federal and State laws and programs to reduce the number of unfounded or unsubstantiated reports of child abuse or neglect; and (3) recommendations for modifications needed to facilitate coordinated national data collection. (Sec. 1115) Repeals the mandate to establish an Interagency Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect. (Sec. 1116) Requires the Secretary to establish the National Clearinghouse for Information Relating to Child Abuse either through the Department of HHS (currently, through the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect) or by one or more contracts let through competition (currently, by one contract only). Requires the HHS Secretary to develop a Federal data collection which: (1) includes data on false and unsubstantiated reports and data on deaths resulting from child abuse and neglect; and (2) collects and makes available State child abuse and neglect reporting information which is universal and case specific, and integrated with other case-based foster care and adoption data. (Sec. 1117) Directs the Secretary to restructure the interdisciplinary program of research to provide information needed to better protect children from abuse or neglect and to improve the well-being of abused or neglected children, with at least a portion of such research being field initiated. Directs the Secretary to require research on additional specific issues, including research on: (1) the causes, prevention, assessment, identification, treatment, cultural and socio-economic distinctions, and consequences of child abuse and neglect; (2) incidence of substantiated and unsubstantiated reported child abuse cases; (3) number of unsubstantiated cases that result in a judicial finding of child abuse or neglect or related criminal court convictions; and (4) the extent to which the lack of adequate resources and adequate training of reporters has contributed to the inability of a State to respond effectively to serious cases of child abuse and neglect. Expands the types of technical assistance which may be provided to State and local public and nonprofit agencies to include, among other things, ways to mitigate psychological trauma to the child victim. Allows the Secretary of disseminate information. Revises requirements for peer review. (Sec. 1118) Changes from mandatory to discretionary the program of grants to, and contracts with, public or nonprofit private agencies or organizations for time limited, child abuse prevention and treatment demonstration programs and projects, especially grants for the establishment of resource centers. Revises the requirements for certain innovative projects to: (1) eliminate specified programs, but provide, instead, for collaborative partnerships between the State child protective service agency, community social service agencies and family support programs, schools, churches and synagogues, and other community agencies to allow for establishment of a triage system of report assessment; and (2) provide for kinship care and supervised visitation centers for families. (Sec. 1119) Revises the program of mandatory development and operation grants to assist States in improving their child protective service systems in specified ways, including grant purposes (especially services to disabled infants), eligibility requirements (especially provision for prompt expungement of public records in unsubstantiated or false cases), and State program plan elements. Directs the Secretary within six months after receiving the State reports, to prepare and submit an annual report to the Secretary. (Sec. 1120) Repeals provisions regarding: (1) technical assistance to States for child abuse prevention and treatment programs; and (2) the requirement that the Secretary ensure that a majority of assistance under the Act is available for discretionary research and demonstration grants. (Sec. 1122) Redefines "child abuse and neglect" to mean, at a minimum, any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death or serious physical, sexual, or emotional harm, or presents an imminent risk of serious harm. (Sec. 1123) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 2000 to carry out child abuse and neglect program activities, including specified allocations for discretionary activities and demonstration projects. (Sec. 1124) Declares that nothing in such Act shall be construed: (1) as establishing a Federal requirement that a parent or legal guardian provide a child any medical service or treatment against the religious beliefs of the parent or legal guardian; or (2) requiring that a State find, or prohibiting a State from finding, abuse or neglect in cases in which a parent or legal guardian relies solely or partially upon spiritual means rather than medical treatment, in accordance with the religious beliefs of the parent or legal guardian. Requires a State, at a minimum, to have in place authority under State law to permit the State child protective service system to pursue any legal remedies, including the authority to initiate legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction, to provide medical care or treatment for a child when such care or treatment is necessary to prevent or remedy serious harm to the child, or to prevent the withholding of medically indicated treatment from children with life threatening conditions. Places case by case determinations concerning the exercise of such authority within the sole discretion of the State. Subtitle B: Community-Based Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Grants - Revises the Act with regard to community-based family resource and support formula grants. (Sec. 1131) Revises program purposes to emphasize: (1) developing, operating, expanding, and enhancing statewide networks of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs that provide specified services (statewide networks); (2) fostering the development of a continuum of preventive services for children and families through State and community-based collaborations and partnerships; (3) financing the start-up, maintenance, expansion, or redesign of specific family resource and support program services identified as an unmet need, and integrated with the network of community-based family resource and support program to the extent practicable given funding levels and community priorities; (4) maximizing funding for specified activities for establishing, operating, or expanding a statewide network; and (5) financing specified public information activities. Revises requirements for: (1) grant eligibility (repealing the requirement of a State trust fund, but requiring the State to designate an existing public, quasi-public, or nonprofit private entity as lead entity to administer the funds involved and create or enhance a Statewide network of programs); (2) grant amounts; (3) existing and continuation grants; (4) grant applications; (5) local programs; and (6) performance measures. Authorizes the Secretary to allocate funds to support the activities of the lead entity in the State to: (1) create, operate, and maintain a peer review process, an information clearinghouse, and a computerized communication system between lead entities; (2) fund a yearly symposium on State system change efforts that result from the operation of the Statewide networks; and (3) fund State-to-State technical assistance through biannual conferences. Authorizes appropriations for such grant programs through FY 2000. (Sec. 1132) Repeals the Temporary Child Care for Children with Disabilities and Crisis Nurseries Act of 1986 and provisions of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act regarding family support centers. Subtitle C: Family Violence Prevention and Services - Revises the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to prohibit a grant to an entity other than a State or an Indian tribe unless the entity provides for a non-Federal matching local share: (1) of not less than 20 percent with respect to an entity operating an existing program; and (2) of not less than 35 percent with respect to an entity intending to operate a new program. (Sec. 1143) Requires that each State be allotted not less than one percent of amounts available for grants for the fiscal year in which the allotment is made or $400,000 (currently, $200,000), whichever is the lesser amount. (Sec. 1144) Requires that, of amounts appropriated for family violence prevention and services in a fiscal year, not less than: (1) 70 (currently, 80) percent be used for making grants to States; and (2) ten percent be used by the Secretary for making grants for State domestic violence coalitions. Requires that Federal funds made available to a State be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, and local public funds expended. Subtitle D: Adoption Opportunities - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978, revising the findings and purposes, and directing the Secretary to study: (1) the nature, scope, and effects of the placement of children in kinship care arrangements or pre-adoptive as well as in (as currently) adoptive homes; and (2) the efficacy of States contracting with public or private nonprofit agencies, organizations, or sectarian institutions to recruit potential adoptive and foster families and to provide assistance in the placement of children for adoption. (Sec. 1153) Requires each State entering into an agreement regarding grants for improving State efforts to increase the placement of foster care children legally free for adoption to submit an application that describes the manner in which the State will use funds during the three fiscal years subsequent to the date of the application to accomplish the purposes of the Act. Directs the Secretary to provide: (1) technical assistance and resource and referral information to assist State or local governments with termination of parental rights issues, in recruiting and retaining adoptive families, in successful placement of children with special needs, and in the provision of pre- and post-placement services; and (2) other assistance to help State and local governments replicate successful adoption-related projects from other areas in the United States. (Sec. 1154) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 2000. Subtitle E: Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1986 - Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988 through FY 2000. Subtitle F: Reauthorization of Various Programs - Extends the authorization of appropriations through FY 1997 for the Missing Children's Assistance Act (and directs that not more than five percent of the amount appropriated for a fiscal year be used to evaluate the effectiveness of specified programs and activities established and operated under the Act). (Sec. 1172) Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 for two years. Title XII: Reductions in Federal Government Positions - Outlines the mechanism for various specified Federal executive agency workforce reductions, requiring submission to specified congressional committees of certain determinations about the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions of their respective departments by the Secretaries of Agriculture, of Education, of Labor, of Housing and Urban Development, and of HHS. Requires the Secretaries to make FTE reductions, including reductions-in-force, resulting from such determinations. Requires the Comptroller General to analyze and report to such committees on such determinations, with recommendations for further FTE reductions, if appropriate. (Sec. 1202) Requires the HHS Secretary to reduce the Federal workforce within HHS: (1) by 75 percent of the FTE positions relating to any direct spending program, or any program funded through discretionary spending, that has been converted into a block grant program by this Act; and (2) by 75 percent of a proportionate number of the total FTE departmental management positions. Requires reduction of FTE positions in HHS: (1) by 245 FTE positions related to the Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) program converted by this Act into TEA block grants; and (2) by 60 FTE managerial positions. (Sec. 1203) Encourages the HHS Secretary to reduce personnel in the Washington, D.C., area office (agency headquarters) before reducing field personnel. Title XIII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Provides, among other things, for: (1) the expenditure of Federal funds received by a State under TEA and certain other Federal programs only in accordance with laws and procedures applicable to expenditures of the State's own revenues; (2) elimination of housing assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937 with respect to fugitive felons and probation and parole violators; (3) certain options for State consideration of the income and resources of an ineligible household member when determining under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 the food stamp eligibility and allotment of such individual's household; and (4) an increase in funding for sexual abstinence education under SSA title XX. (Sec. 1302) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide for the exchange of housing information with law enforcement agencies. (Sec. 1303) Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Congress should adopt enterprise zone legislation in the 104th Congress providing for various specified incentives, regulatory reforms, and school reform pilot projects. (Sec. 1304) Expresses the sense of the Senate that States: (1) should diligently continue their efforts to enforce child support payments by the non-custodial parent; and (2) are encouraged to pursue pilot programs in which the parents of a non-adult, non-custodial parent who refuses to or is unable to pay child support must pay or contribute to the child support owed by the non-custodial parent or otherwise fulfill all financial obligations and meet all conditions imposed on the non-custodial parent, such as participation in a work program or other related activity. (Sec. 1306) Expresses the sense of the Senate that before the Senate acts on the conference report on either H.R. 4 or any other legislation including welfare reform provisions, the Congressional Budget Office shall prepare an analysis of the conference report to include estimates of the costs to States of requirements imposed on them by such legislation, the resources available to meet such requirements, and the amount of any additional revenue needed by the States to meet such requirements. (Sec. 1307) Expresses the sense of the Senate that any legislation enacted by the Congress should not eliminate or in any way weaken the present competitive bidding requirements for the purchase of infant formula with respect to any program supported wholly or in part by Federal funds. (Sec. 1308) Directs the HHS Secretary to: (1) implement a certain strategy for preventing out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancies and assuring that at least 25 percent of U.S. communities have teenage pregnancy prevention programs; and (2) report to the Congress on the State programs so implemented to determine their progress. Provides under SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) for a study to determine the effectiveness of State out-of- wedlock and teenage pregnancy prevention programs for a report to the Congress. (Sec. 1309) Expresses the sense of the Senate that States and local jurisdictions should aggressively enforce statutory rape laws. (Sec. 1310) Declares that States shall not be prohibited by the Federal Government from sanctioning welfare recipients who test positive for use of controlled substances. (Sec. 1311) Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) to provide for a set-aside for sexual abstinence education.
Bill· HRH.R. 2921 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1996
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to subject imported tomatoes to certain domestic packing requirements.
Bill· HRH.R. 2905 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1996
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study and report to the Congress regarding establishment of risk management fund accounts for farm owners and operators.
Bill· SS. 1541 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1996
Agricultural Market Transition Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Agricultural Market Transition Program - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to enter into production flexibility contracts through crop year 2002 with eligible agricultural operators and owners with respect to conservation, wetlands, and planting flexibility requirements. Requires contracts to be entered into by April 15, 1996, with certain exceptions for conservation reserve lands. Defines eligible "owners and operators" and "farmland." Sets forth: (1) contract payment amounts for each of FY 1996 through 2002 and allocation amounts for wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, upland cotton, and rice; and (2) annual payment rate factors. Permits any commodity or crop to be planted on contract acreage with special provisions and limitations for fruit and vegetables, haying and grazing, alfalfa, and legumes. (Sec. 14) Directs the Secretary to make nonrecourse marketing assistance loans for crop years 1996 through 2002 to producers of wheat, feed grains (corn, grain sorghum, barley, and oats), upland and extra long staple cotton, and oilseeds (sunflower, canola, rapeseed, safflower, mustard, flaxseed, and other oilseeds). Sets forth commodity loan rate, term, and repayment provisions. Directs the Secretary to make loan deficiency payments to producers (of other than extra long staple cotton) who forego obtaining such nonrecourse loans in an amount equal to the difference between a commodity's loan rate and repayment level. Establishes special marketing loan provisions for upland cotton, including: (1) cotton user marketing certificates; (2) a special import quota; and (3) a limited global import quota for upland cotton. (Sec. 15) Establishes fiscal year payment limitations for individuals of: (1) $40,000 for flexibility contracts; and (2) $75,000 for marketing loan and loan deficiency payments. (Sec. 16) Directs the Secretary to: (1) make nonrecourse loans available to quota peanut producers at $610 per ton and to additional peanut producers at appropriate rates; (2) make related warehouse storage loans available; (3) provide for marketing area pools for quota and additional peanuts, with separate pools for New Mexico-produced Valencia peanuts; (4) require that all domestic and export peanuts comply with specified quality standards; and (5) provide for a nonrefundable marketing assessment. Provides that: (1) net gains from each marketing pool shall be distributed only to pool producers; and (2) losses in quota pools shall be covered using a specified order of priority. Prohibits the Secretary from making quota peanut loans if producers have disapproved poundage quotas. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 with regard to the peanut program to: (1) extend peanut quota provisions through crop year 2002; (2) eliminate the minimum national poundage quota; (3) eliminate seed peanuts from the national poundage quota determination; (4) create a temporary quota allocation for seed peanuts; (5) eliminate the Texas increased quota allocation; and (5) authorize transfers of additional peanuts to the quota pool where natural disasters prevented quota poundage harvesting and marketing. (Sec. 17) Directs the Secretary to make recourse loans available to processors of domestically grown sugarcane and sugar beets at 18 cents per pound and 22.9 cents per pound, respectively. Sets loan terms at the earlier of nine months or the end of the fiscal year, with supplemental loans available for loans made in the last three months of a fiscal year. Authorizes the Secretary to provide nonrecourse loans when the imported tariff rate quota for sugar imports exceeds 1.5 million short tons raw value. Sets forth first processor sugarcane and sugar beet marketing assessment rates for FY 1996 through 2003, which shall be collected monthly and remitted to the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Sets forth enforcement and reporting provisions. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to repeal marketing allotment provisions. Makes this section applicable to the 1996 through 2002 crops of sugarcane and sugar beets. (Sec. 18) Directs the Secretary to carry out the provisions of this subtitle through the CCC. (Sec. 19) Repeals the Agricultural Act of 1949, with specified sections transferred to the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938. (Eliminates permanent price support authority.) Makes conforming amendments to the Agricultural Act of 1938. Subtitle B: Conservation - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to provide mandatory FY 1996 through 2002 funding through the CCC for the conservation reserve and wetlands programs, and the livestock environmental assistance program. Establishes the livestock environmental assistance program to provide FY 1996 through 2002 technical assistance and cost-sharing and incentive payments to livestock producers who enter into land management and structural contracts to protect water, soil, and related resources from livestock-related degradation. (Makes waste management facility construction ineligible for cost-sharing payments.) Replaces wetlands reserve program permanent easement authority with 15-year easement authority. Limits conservation reserve program total acreage enrollment to 36.4 million acres. Authorizes producers to terminate program participation. Prohibits new acreage enrollment in 1997. Subtitle C: Agricultural Promotion and Export Programs - Amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to: (1) authorize specified FY 1996 through 2002 appropriations for the market promotion program; and (2) authorize specified FY 1996 through 2002 funding from the CCC for the export enhancement program. Subtitle D: Miscellaneous - Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to authorize the Secretary, in consultation with insurance providers, to offer catastrophic risk protection in a State (or portion of a State) through local Department of Agriculture offices if the Secretary determines insufficient coverage is otherwise available. Provides for the transfer of current policies to private insurers. States that beginning with the spring-planted 1996 crop catastrophic coverage shall not be required for agricultural program benefits if the producer signs a written emergency crop loss assistance waiver. Extends crop insurance provisions to seed crops. (Sec. 52) Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize the Secretary to collect fees to cover the costs of providing import quarantine and inspection services. Establishes in the Treasury the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection User Fee Account. (Sec. 53) Increases the CCC interest rate applicable to agricultural commodity loans by 100 basis points.
Bill· HRH.R. 2903 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Banking, Housing, and Related Provisions Title II: Spectrum Allocation Provisions Title III: Medicaid Title IV: Medicare Title V: Welfare Reform Title VI: Federal Retirement Provisions Title VII: Veterans and Related Provisions Title VIII: Assets Sales, User Fees, and other Mandatory Provisions Title IX: Revenues Title X: Budget Enforcement Balanced Budget Act of 1995 for Economic Growth and Fairness - Title I: Banking, Housing, and Related Provisions - Subtitle A: Financial Institutions - Directs the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to impose a special assessment on the Savings Association Insurance Fund (SAIF)-assessable deposits of each insured depository institution at a rate applicable to all such institutions that the Board, in its sole discretion, determines will cause the SAIF to achieve the designated reserve ratio on the first business day of January 1996. Allows the Board to exempt weak institutions from such assessment. Mandates exemption from such assessment for certain newly chartered and other specified institutions, but requires such institutions to pay semiannual assessments at certain former rates during calendar years 1996 through 1999. (Sec. 2011) (sic) Authorizes certain institutions facing hardship as a result of the special assessment to elect to pay it in two assessments, plus a third supplemental special assessment, determined according to specified formulae. Prescribes adjustments of the special assessment for Bank Insurance Fund (BIF) member banks and certain savings associations. (Sec. 2012) Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (FHLBA) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) to revise the assessment authority of the Financing Corporation (FICO), extending FICO assessments to all depository institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) instead of SAIF members only. Repeals specified limits on the amount that may be assessed. (Sec. 2013) Declares that the SAIF and the BIF shall be merged into the Deposit Insurance Fund, which shall have a Special Reserve for any excess of the SAIF reserve ratio over the designated reserve ratio. Makes conforming amendments to FHLBA and FDIA. (Sec. 2015) Prescribes procedural guidelines with respect to the refund of assessed payments in a deposit insurance fund in excess of the designated reserve amount. (Sec. 2016) Amends the FDIA to declare that assessment rates for SAIF members may not be less than assessment rates for BIF members. (Sec. 2017) Prohibits the FDIC Board of Directors from setting semi-annual assessments in excess of the amount needed to maintain or achieve the designated reserve ratio of a deposit insurance fund. (Sec. 2018) Terminates as of December 31, 1995, the authority of the Thrift Depositor Protection Oversight Board to establish positions for and pay compensation and benefits to officers and employees, except for 18 individuals to carry out Board functions through May 1, 1996. Subtitle B: Housing - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 with respect to section 8 low-income housing rental increases (including considerations of operating costs, certificate program participation, and same-family occupancy). (Sec. 2052) Amends the National Housing Act to authorize: (1) insurance benefits to mortgagees for foreclosure avoidance activities; and (2) mortgagor assistance activities (mortgage payments or mortgage assignment to the Secretary of Housing and Human Development). Title II: Communications and Spectrum Allocation Provisions - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 (the Act) to state that certain competitive bidding requirements shall not apply to licenses or construction permits issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC): (1) that, as the result of the FCC carrying out specified obligations, are not mutually exclusive; (2) for public safety radio services, including Government uses that protect the safety of life, health, and property and that are not made commercially available to the public; or (3) for initial licenses or construction permits for new terrestrial broadcast digital television (TV) services assigned by the FCC to existing terrestrial broadcast licensees to replace their current TV licenses, unless specified conditions are met. Prohibits the FCC from assigning initial licenses or construction permits to terrestrial commercial TV broadcast licensees to replace their existing broadcast licenses before November 15, 1996, except as provided pursuant to this Act. Extends through FY 2002 the authority of the FCC to grant such licenses or permits. (Sec. 3001) (sic) Requires the FCC to complete all actions necessary to permit the assignment, by September 30, 2002, by competitive bidding of licenses for the use of bands of frequencies that: (1) individually span not less than 25 megahertz (mhz.), unless a combination of smaller bands can reasonably be expected to product greater receipts; (2) in the aggregate span not less than 100 mhz.; (3) are located below three gigahertz (ghz.); and (4) as of this Act's enactment date have not been designated by FCC regulation for assignment, identified by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to provisions of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (NTIAO), or reserved for Government use pursuant to the Act. Directs the FCC to conduct competitive bidding for not less than one-half of such aggregate spectrum by September 30, 2000. Requires the FCC, in making available bands of frequencies for competitive bidding, to: (1) promote the most efficient use of the spectrum; (2) take into account the cost to incumbent licensees of relocating existing uses to other bands of frequencies or other means of communication and the needs of public safety radio services; (3) comply with the requirements of international agreements concerning spectrum allocations; and (4) take into account the costs to satellite service providers that could result from multiple auctions of like spectrum internationally for global satellite systems. Directs the FCC to notify the Secretary if the FCC: (1) is unable to provide for the effective relocation of incumbent licensees to frequencies available for assignment; and (2) has identified bands of frequencies that are suitable for the relocation of such licensees and that are allocated for Government use but that could be reallocated pursuant to the NTIAO Act. Amends the NTIAO Act to require the Secretary, upon receiving a notice from the FCC pursuant to this Act, to prepare and submit to the President and the Congress a report recommending for reallocation for use other than by Government stations of bands of frequencies that are suitable for the uses identified in the FCC's notice. Authorizes any Federal entity which operates a Government station to accept payment in advance or in-kind reimbursement of costs, or a combination thereof, from any person to defray entirely the expenses of relocating the Federal entity's operations from one or more radio spectrum frequencies to other frequencies. Directs that any such payment be deposited in the account of such Federal entity in the Treasury. Authorizes any person seeking to relocate a Government station that has been assigned a frequency within a band allocated for mixed Federal and non-Federal use to submit a petition for such relocation to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Directs NTIA to limit or terminate the Government station's operating license when certain requirements are met. Specifies that if, within one year after the relocation, the Government station demonstrates to the FCC that the new facilities or spectrum are not comparable to those from which the Government station was relocated, the person seeking such relocation must take reasonable steps to remedy any defects or pay the Federal entity for the costs of returning the Government station to the spectrum from which such station was relocated. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) Federal action to expedite spectrum transfer; (2) identification and reallocation of auctionable frequencies; and (3) allocation and assignment of frequencies identified in the second reallocation report. (Sec. 3002) Prohibits any analog TV license from being renewed for a period that extends beyond the earlier of December 31, 2005, or one year after the FCC finds, based on annual surveys, that at least 95 percent of households in the United States have the capability to receive and display TV signals, other than TV signals transmitted pursuant to an analog TV license. Requires that, following such date, only advanced TV licenses be issued. Requires the Department of Commerce, for each calendar year from 1998 to 2005, to conduct a survey to estimate the percentage of U.S. households that have the capability to receive and display TV signals other than those transmitted pursuant to an analog TV license. Directs that licensees for new services be selected by competitive bidding. Requires the FCC to: (1) ensure that, as analog TV licenses expire, spectrum previously used for the broadcast of analog TV is reclaimed and organized in such manner as to maximize the deployment of new and existing services; and (2) complete the competitive bidding procedure by March 1, 2002. Requires the FCC to establish procedures to ensure that, within the year prior to the reversion date, the advanced TV licensees provide each requesting household without the capability to receive and display TV signals other than those transmitted pursuant to an analog TV license with the capability to receive and display advanced TV service. Mandates that each advanced TV service licensee provide, each day for the duration of its license, at least one non-subscription TV service that meets or exceeds minimum technical and other standards established by the FCC, as well as any other regulations pursuant to the Act and the Children's TV Act of 1990. Directs the FCC: (1) in setting such minimum technical standards, to ensure that picture and audio quality are at least as good as provided to recipients under current FCC rules for National Television Systems Committee signals and to adopt other requirements to assure the quality of the signal used to provide advanced TV services; and (2) revoke the license of any advanced TV licensee who fails to meet this condition of the license. Requires the FCC to promulgate regulations to assure the dissemination of converter boxes or devices necessary to ensure access to digital TV to all households that desire such access at a reasonable cost. Title III: Medicaid - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) for the following purposes. (Sec. 201) (sic) Sets a prescribed limit on the total amount of payments in grant awards to a State under Medicaid for FY 1997 through 2002 for each separate group of listed Medicaid beneficiaries in the State based on the total net matchable Medicaid expenditures for the State for the fiscal year, with certain exceptions for States providing medical assistance pursuant to an approved waiver and for certain Medicare cost-sharing, information system, Indian health and other specified expenditures. Declares that such limitation shall not be construed as applying to payments for the purchase and delivery of qualified pediatric vaccines. Details enforcement-related provisions for assuring actual payments to States consistent with such limitation. Provides for application of enhanced matching under State payment provisions for development of certain information reporting systems. Title IV: Medicare Savings - Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) part A to outline various specified changes related to the Hospital Insurance program under it that are designed to achieve Medicare savings through such measures involving, among other things: (1) adjustments for estimated case mix increase when recalibrating diagnosis-related group (DRG) prospective payment system (PPS) rates for inpatient hospital services; (2) temporary additional reduction in PPS capital and hospital-specific rates; (3) reductions in adjustments for disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) and indirect medical education (IME); (4) elimination of DSH and IME payments attributable to outlier payments; (5) reductions to capital payments for PPS-exempt hospitals; (6) basing updates to per diem cost limits effective for FY 1996 for skilled nursing facilities on limits for FY 1993, with payment for such facilities made on an interim prospective basis until FY 1999 when a full PPS is to be implemented; (7) salary equivalency guidelines for various specified therapy services; (8) removal of graduate medical education (GME), IME, and DSH payments from the calculation of the adjusted average per capita cost; (9) additional payments to hospitals for managed care enrollees; (10) rebasing the target amount and eliminating the volume adjustment for sole community hospitals; (11) expanding the essential access community hospitals (EACH) program (renamed the rural primary care hospital program) to all States with an end to new EACH designations, a limitation on length of inpatient stays, and certain payment-related changes; and (12) changes in the treatment of certain transfer cases. (Sec. 11105) (sic) Establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the National Commission on Medical Education and Workforce Priorities to develop and recommend to the HHS Secretary specific policies concerning health centers and the health care workforce. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 11118) Outlines various specified changes in certain provisions related to Medicare's Supplementary Medical Insurance program under SSA title XVIII part B that are designed to achieve Medicare savings and provide for coverage of additional benefits through such measures involving, among other things: (1) limited program coverage of respite services (the temporary care provided to individuals for the purpose of ensuring periodic time-off for co-resident primary informal caregivers); (2) new updates for physician services; (3) incentives to control high volume for in-hospital physicians' services; (4) reduced payment increases for ambulatory surgical center services for FY 1996 through 2002; (5) reductions in monthly payment amounts for oxygen and oxygen equipment; (6) payment limits for health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and competitive medical plans (CMPs); and (7) program coverage of annual screening mammography for women over age 49, and of colorectal screening. (Sec. 11128) Waives cost-sharing for mammography. (Sec. 11131) Establishes set payment amounts for certain vaccines and ties annual increases in them to increases in the yearly update for physicians' services for the particular year involved. Eliminates coinsurance and deductible for hepatitis B vaccine. (Sec. 11141) Directs the HHS Secretary to use a competitive process to contract with centers of excellence for cataract surgery, coronary artery by-pass surgery, and such other services as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, with payment for such services to be made on the basis of specified negotiated or all-inclusive rates. Requires the amount of payment made by the HHS Secretary to the center for covered services to be less than the aggregate amount of payments that would have otherwise been made to it had not such process been in effect. Requires that a portion of such savings be rebated to each individual to whom such services are furnished. (Sec. 11142) Restructures payment policy for home health services, among other things: (1) temporarily basing updates to per visit cost limits on pre-July 1, 1994 levels; (2) providing interim reduced cost limits for FY 1997 through 1999; (3) directing the HHS Secretary, for cost reporting periods beginning on or after FY 2000, to provide for payments for the services in accordance with a PPS which pays home health agencies on a per episode basis; (4) basing payment on the location where they are furnished; and (5) establishing a post-hospital home health benefit under Medicare part A while transferring other home health services to Medicare part B. (Sec. 11148) Provides for permanent extension of certain secondary payer provisions under Medicare, including those for the working disabled. (Sec. 11161) Modifies Medicare part B premium provisions, directing the HHS Secretary, during each September, to determine and promulgate a monthly premium rate for the succeeding calendar year equal to 50 percent of the monthly actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and over for that succeeding calendar year. Subtitle B: Expanded Medicare Choice - Gives Medicare a managed care component under a new part C (Managed Care Organizations) under which every individual entitled to benefits under Medicare part A and enrolled under Medicare part B (or enrolled under part B only) shall be eligible to enroll with any eligible organization contracting with the HHS Secretary to serve the geographic area in which the individual resides. Extends to such individuals a broader choice of managed care coverage through qualified HMOs, CMPs, preferred provider organizations, or provider sponsored organizations (PSOs). Delineates the types of benefits offered by each managed care organization or plan, requiring certain minimum services, with supplemental benefits subject to the Secretary's approval and provided at the enrollees' option. Outlines other program particulars regarding internal quality assurance, payment for services, and sanctions for noncompliance with program requirements. (Sec. 11203) Directs the HHS Secretary to develop standards for fiscal soundness and requirements against the risk of insolvency for PSOs that have entered into contracts under Medicare part C. (Sec. 11204) Provides for the applicability of Medicare rates to enrollees who use an out-of-plan provider of services. (Sec. 11205) Directs the HHS Secretary to provide for regulations requiring the collection, analysis, and reporting of data that will permit measurement of outcomes and other indices of the quality of managed care plans under contract with the Secretary. (Sec. 11206) Allows the HHS Secretary to waive certain HMO- and CMP-related requirements under Medicare with regard to certain described experiments and demonstration projects under provisions for economy while maintaining or improving quality in health services (competitive pricing demonstrations). Requires the HHS Secretary to report to the Congress specific recommendations for a new payment methodology for eligible organizations, with contracts under Medicare part C to be based on the results of such demonstrations. (Sec. 11207) Eliminates the health care prepayment plan option for entities eligible to participate under Medicare part C. (Sec. 11208) Provides various specified changes under the Medicare supplemental policy (Medigap) program, including uniform enrollment periods and community-rated premiums. (Sec. 11209) Directs the HHS Secretary to develop a standard package of benefits (in addition to those already covered under Medicare) that may be offered by eligible organizations under Medicare part C. Requires the HHS Secretary to request the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to examine the standard benefit packages for Medigap policies and recommend any restructuring needed in order to facilitate to the maximum extent feasible comparison across such policies and benefits offered by eligible organizations. Requires the HHS Secretary, after taking into account any such recommendations, to restructure such packages as needed. Provides during FY 1996 through 2000 for Medicaid payments to certain States with large populations of illegal immigrants to pay health care providers for services to such populations. (Sec. 11303) Revises Medicaid provisions regarding a State's erroneous excess payments for medical assistance, replacing references to such payments with references to erroneous enrollments, among other changes. (Sec. 11311) Gives States the option of making medical assistance under Medicaid available to certain groups of individuals who would otherwise be ineligible for such assistance. Provides for the disregard of such additional enrollees in calculating the Federal payment limit. (Sec. 11312) Places restrictions on certain authority under SSA title XI for new Medicaid eligibility expansion demonstrations. (Sec. 11313) Provides for an upper income limit on "less restrictive" eligibility methodologies. (Sec. 11321) Includes the provision of Medicaid items and services through a primary care case management system as a State Medicaid plan option. (Sec. 11322) Allows States to require Medicaid-eligible individuals to enroll with an HMO or a primary care case manager provided certain guidelines are followed. (Sec. 11323) Eliminates certain Medicaid restrictions on risk contracts. (Sec. 11324) Provides six-month guaranteed eligibility for all individuals enrolled in Medicaid managed care. (Sec. 11325) Requires State Medicaid plan requirements to ensure quality of and access to care under managed care plans. (Sec. 11331) Provides for home- and community-based services as a State option under Medicaid without need for a waiver. (Sec. 11332) Repeals Medicaid provisions for the enrollment of individuals under group health plans. Gives States the option of purchasing health insurance, or paying the costs of health insurance, for enrollees in providing medical assistance under the Medicaid program. (Sec. 11333) Modifies provisions for an extension of eligibility for medical assistance under Medicaid that concern the State "wrap-around" option, in which a State may pay a family's expenses for premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and similar costs for health insurance or other health coverage offered by an employer of the caretaker relative or by an employer of the absent parent of a dependent child. Provides that, in the case of such coverage offered by an employer of the caretaker relative, the State may limit the amount of any deductible or copayment for any health care item or service to the applicable portion of the amount the State would pay if such item or service had been furnished by a provider participating in the program under the State Medicaid plan. Eliminates the premium limit under provisions allowing a State to impose a premium for a family for additional extended coverage. Makes reporting requirements under provisions concerning an additional six-month extension optional. Gives States the option to terminate the benefits under such extension for a failure to report pursuant to such requirements. (Sec. 11341) Requires with respect to State Medicaid plans a public process for determining the rates of payment for nursing facility services and services of intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded. Requires the HHS Secretary to study and report to the Congress with regard to such rate setting and other specified matters. (Sec. 11343) Repeals Medicaid provisions for assuring certain payment levels for obstetrical and pediatric services. (Sec. 11351) Modifies Medicaid mechanized claims processing and information retrieval system requirements. (Sec. 11352) Eliminates certain personnel requirements under State Medicaid plan administrative provisions. (Sec. 11353) Repeals requirements under such provisions for cooperative arrangements with State health and vocational rehabilitation services agencies. (Sec. 11355) Requires appropriate State review of mentally ill or mentally retarded nursing facility residents under Medicaid upon a significant change in the resident's physical or mental condition. (Sec. 11356) Modifies certain provisions for approving nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs. (Sec. 11357) Allows a State to submit to the HHS Secretary for approval a single State plan to carry out: (1) the long-term care grant program established by subtitle E (sic); (2) the program of health insurance for the temporarily unemployed established by subtitle G (sic); and (3) the Medicaid program. (Sec. 11358) Requires State Medicaid plans to provide for a public process for developing State plan amendments. Subtitle D (sic): Fraud and Abuse - Federal Health Care Payment Integrity Act of 1995 - Amends SSA title XI civil monetary penalty provisions, with changes: (1) extending the applicability of such provisions to any Federal health care program; (2) outlining additional instances in which the HHS Secretary may impose civil money penalties, including for offering inducements to individuals enrolled under Federal health programs; and (3) modifying the amounts of various penalties and assessments. (Sec. 11403) Modifies provisions for the exclusion of certain individuals and entities from participation in Medicare and State health care programs, establishing certain minimum periods of exclusion for certain individuals and entities subject to permissive exclusion from Medicare and State health care programs, among other changes. (Sec. 11404) Amends Federal criminal laws to cover illegal remuneration with respect to health care benefit programs. (Sec. 11405) Repeals the prerequisite that a health care practitioner or person be determined "unwilling or unable" to comply substantially with a corrective action plan before sanctions may be imposed (thus permitting the HHS Secretary to exclude such practitioner or person from eligibility to provide services for failure to comply with a corrective action plan, regardless of circumstances). (Sec. 11406) Directs the HHS Secretary to establish a national health care fraud and abuse data collection program for the reporting of final adverse actions against health care providers, suppliers, or practitioners by government agencies and Federal health care programs. Provides that the information in the program database shall be available to Federal and State government agencies, health plans, and the public pursuant to procedures that the HHS Secretary shall provide, with certain fees allowed for disclosure. (Sec. 11407) Expands the various authorities of State Medicaid fraud control units, including to allow them to investigate and prosecute patient abuse in non-Medicaid board and care facilities. (Sec. 11408) Provides for the recovery of Medicare overpayments from bankrupt providers. (Sec. 11409) Authorizes the HHS Secretary to make grants to States for the revocation of licenses of unqualified providers. (Sec. 11410) Amends Federal criminal laws to provide for the authorization of interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications in connection with health care fraud. (Sec. 11421) Establishes under SSA title XI the new Medicare Anti-Fraud and Abuse Program to provide funding out of the Medicare trust funds for the activities of the HHS Inspector General related to preventing and detecting fraud and abuse in the programs under SSA title XVIII and determining the accuracy and appropriateness of expenditures under such programs. (Sec. 11422) Establishes the Medicare beneficiary integrity system for the review of the activities of service providers, audits, and education of service providers and others with respect to payment issues under Medicare. (Sec. 11423) Establishes the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account for covering the costs of activities designed to prevent and detect health care fraud and abuse and to promote economy and efficiency in Federal health care programs. (Sec. 11431) Makes various specified criminal law amendments covering matters relating to health care fraud through allowing fines or imprisonment for health care fraud violations, property forfeitures for certain Federal health care offenses, and certain sanctions for false statements relating to health care matters. Authorizes investigative demand procedures under certain conditions. (Sec. 11441) Provides for certain technical changes for coordinating Medicare benefits with those under primary plans, addressing such matters as when to file a claim and associated time limitations as well as claims between parties other than the United States. Revises Medicare secondary payer provisions concerning actions by the United States for double damages to condition such damages upon the entity's failure to demonstrate that it did not know, and could not have known, of its obligation to pay with respect to an item or service under a primary plan. (Sec. 11445) Repeals the excise tax under the Internal Revenue Code. (Sec. 11446) Mandates the provision by group health plans of certain information to HHS with respect to covered individuals entitled to Medicare benefits. Outlines similar requirements with respect to employers and employee organizations. (Sec. 11447) Makes certain technical changes under Medicare concerning minimum sizes of group health plans. (Sec. 11451) Provides for increased flexibility in contracting for Medicare claims processing by, among other means: (1) allowing carriers to include entities that are not insurance companies; (2) repealing cost reimbursement requirements; and (3) permitting initial contracts to be entered into without regard to any competition requirements. (Sec. 11461) Replaces the reasonable charge methodology under Medicare part B with fee schedules. (Sec. 11462) Provides, under Medicare part B, for the application of: (1) inherent reasonableness to surgical dressings; and (2) the competitive acquisition process to certain items and services, including laboratory services. (Sec. 11465) Makes certain changes in payments for clinical laboratory tests under Medicare part B. (Sec. 11471) Amends SSA title XI to authorize the HHS Secretary to require disclosing Medicare part A and B providers to provide the Secretary with their taxpayer identification numbers and other information for verification by the Secretary of the Treasury. (Sec. 11472) Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for the use of a wage index for an area in which home health services are furnished. Allows an individual to purchase or rent from a supplier an item of upgraded durable medical equipment for which payment would be made if the item was a standard one. Title V: Welfare Reform - Subtitle A: Temporary Employment Assistance - Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program under SSA title IV part A with the Temporary Employment Assistance (TEA) program for the purpose of providing assistance to families with needy children and assisting parents of such children to obtain and retain private sector work to the extent possible, and public sector or volunteer work if necessary, through the Work First Employment Block Grant (WORK FIRST) program established below. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 9101) Sets forth the elements for State TEA plans to be approved by the HHS Secretary, and effective in all political subdivisions in the State, including limits on the length of time for cash assistance, with specified exceptions for teen parents and individuals exempt from certain work requirements under this title because of illness or other specified reasons. Includes among such elements requirements for the State to: (1) assess the skills, prior work experience, and employability of each applicant for, or recipient of, TEA assistance who is age 18 or without a high school education and is not attending secondary school; (2) develop an individual responsibility plan (IRP) setting forth their job search, work, and educational obligations (including, at State option, appropriate substance abuse treatment) in order to receive the full amount of program assistance, with assistance denied after the third act of noncompliance with the plan; (3) place recipients of TEA assistance who have not become employed in the private sector within one year after signing an IRP in the first available slot in the State WORK FIRST program with certain exceptions for recipients who are ill, incapacitated, or of advanced age or who are enrolled in school or in educational or training programs that will lead to private sector employment; (4) require all applicants for, and recipients of, TEA assistance to cooperate in the establishment and enforcement of paternity and child support obligations; and (5) promote family preservation and stability. Denies TEA assistance for: (1) ten years to a person found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain assistance in two or more States; and (2) fugitive felons and probation and parole violators. Provides for the exchange of certain State TEA plan information with law enforcement agencies for the purpose of locating or apprehending such individuals. Outlines State TEA plan administrative elements, including requirements for a quality assurance system making use of a data collection and reporting system to promote accountability, continuous improvement, and integrity in State TEA and WORK FIRST programs. (Sec. 9201) Extends the applicability of Medicare eligibility for medical assistance to families that cease to be eligible for aid under SSA title IV part A after FY 2002. (Sec. 9202) Requires the applicable State agency to provide notice of the availability of the earned income tax credit to applicants and former recipients of TEA assistance, food stamps, and Medicaid. (Sec. 9203) Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to require inclusion on the W-4 form of a notice of availability of earned income tax and dependent care tax credit. (Sec. 9204) Provides for advance payment of the earned income tax credit through certain State demonstration programs under which participating residents shall receive advance earned income payments from a responsible State agency pursuant to a State Advance Payment Program in lieu of receiving earned income advance amounts from an employer. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 9205) Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to make various specified changes, including provisions to: (1) reauthorize the child care and development block grant program through FY 2002; (2) give priority in the use of funds under such program to families with an individual receiving TEA assistance while participating in education-, job-, or work-related programs under such program, and to families no longer qualifying for other child care because their TEA assistance was terminated because of increased income from employment; (3) authorize separate appropriations of Federal matching funds for child care services for eligible children out of which the State will be entitled to payments under a grant determined according to a specified formula; (4) decrease certain set-asides for improving the quality of child care and increasing the availability of early childhood development and before- and after-school care services, while repealing other related set-asides for conducting or expanding such services; and (5) direct the Secretary to establish a child care quality improvement incentive initiative to make funds available to States which have enhanced child care quality standards and licensing procedures or have progressed in implementing innovative teacher training programs. Eliminates State dependent care grants under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981. Repeals the Child Development Associate Scholarship Assistance Act of 1985. (Sec. 9206) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include as gross income Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits received by taxpayers under SSA title XVI, and make such benefits reportable. Provides that SSI benefits will not be taken into account for purposes of the earned income tax credit, and that adjusted gross income shall be determined without regard to any amount includable in gross income solely by reason of this paragraph. (Sec. 9207) Makes the dependent care credit refundable and phases it out for certain higher income taxpayers. Subtitle C: Work First (sic) - Replaces the current Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program (JOBS) under SSA title IV part F with the WORK FIRST program (the Work First Employment Block Grant program) under which States have the option of providing a wide variety of time-limited work-related assistance, pursuant to an approved State plan, to TEA recipients through certain minimum hours of participation in any of various specified program components ranging from microenterprise initiatives to separate workfare and job placement voucher programs established by the State under new SSA title IV parts G and H (but not both), with the goal of enabling the participant to find and hold a full-time unsubsidized position, preferably in the private sector, in a cost-effective fashion. (Sec. 9301) Outlines in detail WORK FIRST program components, including community service and subsidized private sector job initiatives under the workfare program for helping participants move into the private labor market, and job placement voucher programs' funding of subsidized temporary jobs out of the funds that would otherwise be used to provide individuals with TEA assistance or food stamps. Requires participating States to achieve certain outlined participation rates over a specified fiscal year period through 2003 and later. Expresses the sense of the Congress that States should target individuals who have not attained age 25 for participation in the WORK FIRST program in order to break the cycle of welfare dependency. Subtitle D: Family Responsibility and Improved Child Support Enforcement - Amends SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) with regard to eligibility and other matters concerning part D program clients, and includes among the changes made the following. (Sec. 9401) Requires each State to have in effect laws requiring procedures under which every child support order established or modified in the State on or after October 1, 1998, is recorded in a single centralized automated case registry established pursuant to this subtitle for the collection from income withholding, and prompt disbursement (including interstate collection and disbursement), of amounts payable as support under orders in all cases being enforced by the State unless the parties to the order opt out of such payment arrangement. Provides for such system to be coordinated with the automated data system established above. (Sec. 9402) Establishes procedures governing the distribution of child support payments where the family is, and is not, on TEA assistance, with certain alternative distributions provided for. (Sec. 9403) Adds State child and spousal support plan requirements for due process rights and privacy safeguards for affected parties in child support and paternity establishment cases. (Sec. 9411) Amends SSA title IV part D with regard to program administration and funding, and includes among the changes made: (1) an increased Federal matching rate for the total amounts expended by the State per quarter for operation of its part D plan; (2) new performance-based incentive adjustments to such rate as well as new penalties in the form of reduced State payments for, among other reasons, States failing to achieve the paternity establishment percentage or the appropriate level of overall performance in child support enforcement; (3) new Federal and State reviews and audits of State child support and paternity establishment program accomplishments with respect to applicable performance indicators; (4) the establishment of procedures to be followed by States for collecting and reporting information required to be provided under SSA title IV part D as well as uniform definitions to be applied in following such procedures; and (5) requirements for appropriate State agencies to have in operation a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system for use in program management. (Sec. 9416) Requires the HHS Secretary to study and report to the Congress on the staffing of each State child support enforcement program to examine staffing practices used by the States. (Sec. 9417) Provides certain funding for secretarial assistance to State child support enforcement programs. (Sec. 9421) Makes various specified changes under SSA title IV part D with regard to locate and case tracking through the newly provided for central case registry, including exchanges of data with an expanded Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) (containing among other things a directory of information supplied by employers on newly hired individuals) and State agencies administering TEA and Medicaid programs. (Sec. 9423) Revises income withholding, providing that all child support orders issued (or modified) before October 1, 1996, which are not otherwise subject to withholding, shall become subject to withholding from wages if arrearages occur without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. (Sec. 9425) Provides for an expanded FPLS, including an automated Data Bank of Child Support Orders and an automated Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 9426) Adds State law requirements for procedures requiring the recording of social security numbers of both parents on marriage licenses and divorce decrees and on birth records and child support and paternity orders. (Sec. 9431) Requires State adoption, with certain modifications and additions, of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, as approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in August, 1992, for use in the State on and after January 1, 1997. (Sec. 9432) Modifies the Federal judicial code with respect to full faith and credit for child support orders, among other changes specifying rules for courts to follow if one or more child support orders have been issued in the State (or another State) with regard to an obligor and a child in determining which order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement. (Sec. 9433) Adds State law requirements for expedited procedures for ordering genetic testing, entering default orders, and other specified purposes connected with paternity establishment and the establishment or modification of support obligations. (Sec. 9441) Expresses the sense of the Congress that social services should be provided in hospitals to women who have become pregnant as a result of rape or incest. (Sec. 9442) Makes various specified changes with regard to paternity establishment, making it a requirement under the State plan for outreach activities aimed at voluntary paternity establishment, and providing for an increased base matching rate for payments to the States, among other changes. Modifies the cooperation requirement and good cause exception. (Sec. 9451) Establishes the National Child Support Guidelines Commission to develop a national child support guideline for congressional consideration that is based on a study of various guideline models. (Sec. 9452) Restructures procedures for the review and adjustment of child support orders. (Sec. 9461) Makes a variety of changes under SSA title IV part D for the enforcement (including international enforcement) of child support orders, including: (1) elimination of disparities in the treatment of assigned and non-assigned arrearages under SSA title IV part D provisions for the collection of past-due support from Federal tax refunds; (2) certain actions by the State, such as the placement of liens on motor vehicle titles of individuals owing arrears of child support, voiding of fraudulent transfers by individuals to avoid payment to a child support creditor, and withholding or suspension of driver's and professional and occupational licenses of individuals owing overdue child support, in order to ensure compliance with support orders; (3) an extended statute of limitations for collection of support arrearages as well as the imposition of charges for such arrearages; (4) action by the Department of State denying or otherwise restricting passports for individuals with an arrearage of child support in excess of $5,000; (5) treatment by the State of international child support cases as interstate cases; and (6) making grandparents liable for the financial support of the children of their minor children. Revises and consolidates the authorities under SSA title IV part D for collecting support from Federal employees, and outlines the framework for a centralized personnel locator service for the Department of Defense for enforcement of the child support obligations of members of the armed forces. (Sec. 9468) Revises procedures for State reporting of support arrearages to credit bureaus. (Sec. 9472) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should ratify the United Nations Convention of 1956; and (2) the States should develop programs, such as the State of Wisconsin's Children's First Program, designed to work with noncustodial parents who are unable to meet their child support obligations. (Sec. 9481) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to include within the definition of "medical child support order" an order issued through a State administrative process. (Sec. 9491) Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to: (1) give the applicable State administrative agencies the option of requiring the cooperation of custodial and non-custodial parents with child support agencies in establishing paternity or providing support, except for certain good cause reasons, before they can participate in the food stamp program; and (2) provide States with a similar option with regard to individual family members delinquent in making any monthly child support payment. Subtitle E: Teen Pregnancy and Family Stability - Gives States the option of denying TEA assistance to families having additional children (other than as a result of rape or incest) while being a recipient of such aid or during the six month period ending with the date the family applied for such aid. (Sec. 9502) Requires State TEA plans to require any unmarried individual under age 18 who is pregnant or has a needy child in his or her care to reside in an adult-supervised living arrangement in order to receive TEA assistance (such aid to be provided to the parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative on behalf of such individual and child) unless the State agency determines that the individual's current living arrangement is appropriate for an individual with no parent or legal guardian of his or her own who is living and whose whereabouts are known. (Sec. 9503) Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to require the Secretaries of Education and of HHS and the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service to establish the National Clearinghouse on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Programs to serve as a national information and data clearinghouse and as a training, technical assistance, and material development source for adolescent pregnancy prevention programs. (Sec. 9504) Requires completion of high school or other educational training for teen parents required under the TEA program to participate in the WORK FIRST program. Gives the States the option of providing additional incentives and penalties to encourage teen parents to complete high school and participate in parenting activities. (Sec. 9505) Denies Federal housing benefits to minor heads of household who bear children out-of-wedlock until they attain age 18 unless: (1) after the birth of the child the individual marries the child's biological father, or, if the biological parent has legal custody of the child, an individual who legally adopts the child; (2) the individual is a biological and custodial parent of another child who was not born out-of-wedlock; (3) eligibility for such Federal housing assistance is based in whole or in part on any disability or handicap of a member of the household; or (4) the State deems it necessary. (Sec. 9506) Gives States the option to deny TEA assistance to minor parents, while still preserving each family member's Medicaid eligibility, and allowing the State to provide the family with vouchers, in amounts not exceeding the value of any such reduction in assistance, that may be used only to pay for goods and services suitable for the care of the child and the costs of the adult-supervised supportive living arrangement in which the parent and child live. Subtitle F: SSI Reform - Revises the eligibility rules for children, with corresponding changes to childhood SSI regulations: (1) modifying the medical criteria for evaluation of mental and emotional disorders by eliminating references to maladaptive behavior in the domain of personal-behavioral function; and (2) discontinuing the use of individualized functional assessments for children. Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to redetermine the eligibility of any individual under age 18 who is receiving SSI benefits based on a disability as of the date of the enactment of this Act, and whose eligibility for such benefits may terminate by reason of this subtitle. (Sec. 9602) Provides that at least every three years the Commissioner shall review the continued SSI eligibility of each individual who has not attained age 18 and is eligible for such benefits by reason of an impairment (or combination of impairments) which may improve (or, if the Commissioner chooses, which is unlikely to improve). Requires a parent or guardian of a recipient whose case is so reviewed to present, at the time of review, evidence demonstrating that the recipient is, and has been, receiving treatment, to the extent considered medically necessary and available, of the condition which was the basis for providing benefits under the SSI program. Provides that, if an individual is eligible for SSI benefits by reason of disability for the month preceding the month in which the individual attains age 18, the Commissioner shall redetermine such eligibility: (1) during the one year period beginning on the individual's 18th birthday; and (2) by applying the criteria used in determining the initial eligibility for applicants who have attained age 18. Outlines specific requirements governing: (1) continuing disability reviews for low birth weight babies; and (2) benefit payments through representative payees to eligible individuals and their spouses. (Sec. 9604) Amends SSA title XVI to provide for the denial of SSI benefits for drug addicts and alcoholics whose alcoholism or drug addiction would be a contributing factor towards the individual's disability. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to provide funding to the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse to expand the availability of drug treatment and for expenditure on the medication development project to improve drug abuse and drug treatment research. (Sec. 9605) Denies SSI benefits for: (1) ten years to individuals found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain benefits simultaneously in two or more States; and (2) fugitive felons and probation and parole violators. Provides for the exchange of certain SSI information with law enforcement agencies for locating or apprehending recipients who are fugitive felons or probation and parole violators. Subtitle D (sic): Supplemental Security Income - Provides that if the Commissioner determines that an individual, age 18 or older, is eligible to receive SSI benefits as a result of a disability, the Commissioner shall, at the time of the determination, either exempt the individual from an eligibility review or establish a schedule for reviewing the individual's continuing eligibility in accordance with specified guidelines. (Sec. 9607) Allows the Commissioner to revise such a determination and schedule a review if he or she obtains credible evidence that an individual may no longer be eligible for benefits or the Commissioner determines that a review is necessary to maintain the integrity of the SSI program. Provides that such reviews may be conducted by the applicable State agency or the Commissioner, whichever is appropriate. Subtitle H (sic): Treatment of Aliens - Extends the period of sponsor attribution of income and resources (to an alien) under the statewide TEA, SSI, and food stamp programs through the date (if any) of such alien's citizenship. Sets forth exceptions based upon age, military or veteran status, family status, domestic violence, or taxpayer status. (Permits Medicaid eligibility.) Amends the Social Security Act to set forth TEA rules regarding income and resource attribution. (Sec. 9802) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to set forth rules for sponsor affidavits of support. (Sec. 9803) Extends affidavit of support requirements to family-related and diversity immigrants. (Sec. 6102) (sic) Amends the Social Security Act to extend (and reduce from current levels) appropriations for State block grants for social services. (Sec. 120011) The Food Stamp Act Amendments of 1995 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1997 to treat children who are at least 18 years old and are themselves parents living with their children or married and living with their spouse as part of an existing household rather than as a separate household. (Sec. 12012) (sic) Revises thrifty food plan provisions. (Sec. 12013) Reduces the age for excluding student earnings from food stamp program (program) household income determinations. Includes energy assistance payments in household income determinations. (Sec. 12015) Revises and extends on a declining scale standard deduction provisions. (Sec. 12016) Authorizes States to make standard utility allowances mandatory. (Sec. 12017) Eliminates the October 1, 1996, specified auto asset increase. (Sec. 12018) Authorizes States to require cooperation with child support enforcement agencies as a prerequisite for program participation. (Sec. 12020) Eliminates the minimum allotment annual adjustment provision. (Sec. 12022) Prohibits allotment increases based upon household income reductions resulting from public assistance program penalties. (Sec. 12023) Permits States to use income and eligibility verification systems other than specified methods under the Social Security Act. (Sec. 12024) Expands claims collection methods. (Sec. 12031) Amends the National School Lunch Act to revise day care reimbursement provisions, including sponsor payments. (Sec. 12032) Revises reimbursement rate adjustment provisions for: (1) commodities; (2) special assistance funds; (3) the summer food service program; (4) family or group day care sponsors; (5) the special milk program; and (6) the breakfast program. (Sec. 12033) Amends the Child Nutrition Act to eliminate start-up and expansion grants. (Sec. 12034) Authorizes appropriations through FY 2002 for nutrition education and training. (Current authorization is permanent.) (Sec. 12035) Amends the National School Lunch Act to reduce the minimum amount of commodity assistance. Title X (sic): Food Stamps and Commodity Distribution - Food Stamp Reform and Commodity Distribution Act of 1995 - Subtitle A: Food Stamp Program - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to establish a program certification period of up to 24 months for households whose adult members are elderly or disabled. (Sec. 1012) (sic) Expands the definition of "coupon". (Sec. 1016) Revises the definition of "homeless individual" to limit the length of time a person may temporarily live in another person's residence. (Sec. 1023) Increases penalties for certain program violations. (Sec. 1024) Disqualifies permanently an individual convicted of specified coupon violations. (Sec. 1027) Revises employment and training provisions. Extends funding authorizations. (Sec. 1030) Disqualifies a fleeing felon from program participation. (Sec. 1034) Directs (with a waiver for unusual difficulties) States to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 1035) Eliminates the minimum allotment annual adjustment provision. (Sec. 1037) Authorizes an optional combined allotment for expedited households. (Sec. 1038) Prohibits allotment increases based upon household income reductions resulting from means-tested public assistance program penalties. (Sec. 1039) Authorizes benefits for households residing in drug or alcohol treatment centers. (Sec. 1046) Authorizes program information to be shared with law enforcement agencies under specified circumstances. (Sec. 1047) Revises expedited coupon service provisions. (Sec. 1048) Authorizes a family to withdraw a fair hearing request. (Sec. 1049) Permits States to use income, eligibility, and immigration status verification systems other than a specified method under the Social Security Act. (Sec. 1059) Extends pilot program authority. Subtitle B: Commodity Distribution Programs - Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to extend the commodity distribution and commodity supplemental food programs, including cheese and nonfat dry milk provisions. (Sec. 1073) Amends the Charitable Assistance and Food Bank Act of 1987 to repeal the food bank demonstration project. (Sec. 1074) Amends the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988 to eliminate provisions regarding: (1) soup kitchens and other emergency food aid; (2) food processing and distribution; and (3) food bank demonstration projects. Title VI (sic): Federal Retirement and Related Provisions - Subtitle A: Civil Service and Postal Service Provisions - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 to extend the delay in cost-of-living adjustments in Federal employee retirement benefits through FY 2002. (Sec. 6002) Revises Federal civil service law with respect to the Civil Service (CSRS) and Federal Employees (FERS) Retirement Systems regarding deductions, contributions, and deposits, increasing agency contributions under CSRS during calendar years 1996 through 2002, and providing for a phased-in increase under both systems of the amounts of individual deductions, deposits, and withholdings until 2003 when, in certain cases, the percentage of basic pay subject to such withholding reverts back to the current 1995 rate. (Sec. 6003) Makes additional retirement-related changes under both systems with regard to Members of Congress and congressional employees and their years of service for purposes of computing an annuity. (Sec. 6004) Provides under CSRS for treatment similar to that of congressional service with respect to accrual rates relating to certain Federal judges and other judicial personnel. (Sec. 6005) Amends Federal postal law to repeal the authorization of transitional appropriations for the U.S. Postal Service and make certain other changes to provide that liabilities formerly paid pursuant to such repealed authorization remain payable by the Postal Service. (Sec. 13103) (sic) Requires each Federal executive agency, the receipts and disbursements of which are not generally included in the totals of the Federal budget submitted by the President, to prepay the Government contributions which are or will be required in connection with providing health-benefits coverage for annuitants of such agency. Title VII: Veterans and Related Provisions - Veterans Reconciliation Act of 1995 - Subtitle A: Extension of Temporary Authorities - Extends through FY 2002: (1) the requirement that non-service disabled veterans having incomes above a specified level make copayments in exchange for hospital and medical care received through the Department of Veterans Affairs (Department, for purposes of this title); (2) the authority for collection of a $2 copayment from veterans earning above a minimum income level for prescription medication furnished for outpatient treatment of a nonservice-connected condition; (3) certain Department authority for veterans' medical care cost recovery; (4) the authority under Federal veterans' benefits provisions and the Internal Revenue Code to verify a veteran's income for purposes of eligibility for needs-based benefits; (5) a pension payment limitation of $90 monthly to Medicaid-eligible veterans and surviving spouses who have no dependents and who are in Medicaid-participating nursing homes; (6) the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to charge and collect a home loan fee for housing loans guaranteed by the Department; (7) the procedures applicable upon the default of such guaranteed loans; and (8) the authority of the Secretary to issue and guarantee the timely payment of certificates evidencing an interest in a pool of mortgage loans made in connection with the sale of defaulted properties. Subtitle B: Other Matters - Directs the Secretary, as of December 1, 1995, to round down to the next lower whole dollar any cost-of-living adjustments in veterans' disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation rates. Prohibits any such rates from being increased during FY 1997 through 2002 by a percentage which is more than the percentage increase for benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 10023) (sic) Revises the Government's liability standard for injuries or death resulting from Department treatment to allow compensation to be awarded for the additional disability in the same manner as if the disability or death were service-connected. Provides proximate cause requirements. Makes such revision effective for claims received by the Secretary on or after October 1, 1995. (Sec. 10024) Prohibits the withholding of any payments normally made to a veteran or their survivor because of any liability to the Secretary arising out of any loan made to, or insured or guaranteed on account of, such veteran unless the Secretary provides written notice through certified mail of the authority to waive the payment of the indebtedness. Outlines procedures to be followed when the Secretary does not waive the entire amount of such indebtedness. Subtitle C: Educational Benefits - Provides that the cost-of-living adjustments in the rates of veterans' educational assistance payments through FY 2002 shall be 50 percent of the amount by which such payments would have been increased otherwise. Title VIII: Asset Sales; User Fees and Other Mandatory Programs - Subtitle A: United States Enrichment Corporation - USEC Privatization Act - Directs the Board of Directors of the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) to transfer USEC ownership to a private corporation established under this Act. Mandates the inclusion of sale proceeds in the budget baseline required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act), and its inclusion as an offset to direct spending. (Sec. 3005) (sic) Requires USEC directors to establish a private for-profit corporation under the laws of a State for the purpose of receiving the assets and obligations of USEC at privatization and continuing USEC business operations following privatization. (Sec. 3007) Directs USEC to transfer the lease of gaseous diffusion plants and related property at Paducah, Kentucky, and Piketon, Ohio, to the private corporation concurrent with such privatization. Prohibits the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) from leasing to the private corporation facilities necessary for the production of highly enriched uranium. (Sec. 3008) Prescribes procedural guidelines for: (1) transfer of contracts to the private corporation, including the right to purchase power from the Secretary under previous power purchase contracts for the gaseous diffusion plants; (2) retention by the United States of pre-privatization liabilities; (3) pension, post-retirement health benefit, and collective bargaining agreement protections for contractor employees at the two gaseous diffusion plants; and (4) retention of Federal retirement and health benefits by former Federal employees. (Sec. 3011) Prohibits USEC directors, officers, or employees from acquiring any securities (or rights to acquire any securities) of the private corporation on terms more favorable than those offered to the general public in specified circumstances. (Sec. 3012) Requires the U.S. Executive Agent under the Russian HEU Agreement to transfer to the Secretary without charge title to an amount of uranium hexafluoride (based on a tails assay of 0.30 U235) equivalent to the natural uranium component of low-enriched uranium derived from at least 18 metric tons of highly enriched uranium purchased from the Russian Executive Agent under such Agreement. Deems such uranium hexafluoride to be of Russian origin. Requires the Secretary to sell, and receive payment for, the transferred uranium hexafluoride for: (1) overfeeding in the operations of enrichment facilities in the United States; (2) end use outside the United States; or (3) consumption by end users in the United States during calendar year 2001, according to a specified schedule beginning in 1998. Requires the U.S. Executive Agent, upon request of the Russian Executive Agent, to deliver concurrently to such Agent, an amount of uranium hexafluoride equivalent to the natural uranium component of such low-enriched uranium. Provides for auction of such uranium hexafluoride, or U308 (in the event that the conversion component of such hexafluoride has previously been sold), if the Russian Executive Agent does not exercise its right to agree to take delivery of the natural uranium component of any low-enriched uranium within 90 days after delivery of such low-enriched uranium to the U.S. Executive Agent. Grants the Secretary of Commerce responsibility for administration and enforcement of the limitations set forth in this section. Exempts from certain provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 highly enriched uranium and low-enriched uranium derived from highly enriched uranium (including the natural uranium component and any uranium products delivered pursuant to enrichment contracts affected by such imports), if the President determines that a waiver with respect to the importation of such uranium, which is derived from highly enriched uranium extracted from nuclear weapons dismantled in the Russian Federation and purchased from the Russian Federation under a government-to-government agreement, is in the U.S. national security interest. Requires the Secretary of Energy to transfer to USEC without charge up to 50 metric tons of enriched uranium and up to 7,000 metric tons of natural uranium from the Department of Energy (DOE) stockpile. Prohibits USEC from delivering for commercial end use in the United States: (1) any of such uranium before January 1, 1998; (2) more than ten percent of such uranium or more than 4 million pounds, whichever is less, in any calendar year after 1997; or (3) more than 800,000 separative work units contained in low-enriched uranium transferred in any calendar year. Authorizes the Secretary to sell, from time to time, natural and low-enriched uranium from the DOE stockpile, subject to specified conditions. Permits DOE transfer or sale of enriched uranium to: (1) Federal agencies; (2) any person for national security purposes; or (3) any State or local agency or non-profit, charitable, or educational institution for use other than the commercial generation of electricity. (Sec. 3013) Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary shall accept low-level radioactive waste (including depleted uranium if ultimately determined to be such waste) for disposal at the request and expense (by reimbursement) of the generator. (Sec. 3014) Grants USEC exclusive commercial rights to deploy and use any federally owned or controlled Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) patents, processes and technical information, upon completion of a royalty agreement with the Secretary. Instructs the President to transfer related AVLIS property (except those related to the gaseous diffusion, gas centrifuge, and uranium enrichment programs) to USEC upon its request. (Sec. 3017) Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to: (1) repeal the mandate and authority of USEC as of the privatization date; and (2) exclude from the definition of "production facility" the construction and operation of a uranium enrichment facility using AVLIS technology, and make such a facility eligible for one-step licensing. Prohibits issuance of any license or certificate of compliance to USEC or its successor if its issuance would, in the opinion of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), be inimical to: (1) the common defense and security of the United State; or (2) maintenance of a reliable and economical domestic source of enrichment services because of the nature and extent of USEC ownership, control or domination by a foreign corporation or government or any other relevant factors or circumstances. Provides for periodic application of USEC for NRC certification at least once every five years (instead of annually). Revises the purview of judicial review of NRC actions to include: (1) any final order establishing standards to govern DOE gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment facilities, including facilities leased to a corporation established under this Act; and (2) any final determination relating to whether such facilities comply with such standards. Provides for civil money penalties for violations of licensing or certification requirements. Subtitle B: Naval Petroleum Reserves Privatization - Naval Petroleum Reserves Privatization Act - Sets a deadline for the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to prepare, and submit for the President's approval, a plan for selling Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 (NPR 1), and for selling or leasing the remaining Reserves out of Federal ownership in FY 2002. Directs the President to approve the plan with or without modifications by a specified date. (Sec. 4121) Delineates guidelines within which: (1) the Secretary shall finalize equity interests of the known oil and gas zones in NPR 1; and (2) the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay to the State of California (to be credited by the State to the Supplemental Benefits Maintenance Account within the Teachers' Retirement Fund) seven percent of proceeds from the NPR 1 sale. Instructs the Secretary to exercise certain termination procedures so that specified contracts with Bechtel Petroleum Operations, Inc., and Chevron U.S.A, respectively, terminate not later than the closing date of the sale of such Reserve. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer to the purchaser of NPR 1 the incidental take permit regarding the reserve issued to the Secretary by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (Sec. 4122) States that if the President so designates, the net proceeds from privatizing the Reserves shall be included in the budget baseline required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings), and counted as an offset to direct spending. (Sec. 4123) Reduces, upon sale of NPR 1, certain discretionary spending limits set forth in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. (Sec. 4131) Transfers to the Secretary of the Interior the functions vested in the Secretary of Energy with regard to Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 2 (located in Utah). (Sec. 4132) Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to study and report to the President on the appropriateness of including the Green River area within the national wild and scenic rivers system. (Sec. 4133) States that nothing in this subtitle affects any interest in, or right or obligation respecting, the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. (Sec. 4151) Amends Federal law governing Naval Petroleum Reserves to revise jurisdictional, administrative, and product disposition guidelines in order to reflect the privatization of such Reserves under this Act. Repeals the requirement for the Secretary to obtain the President's approval before: (1) executing land purchases and condemnation proceedings; (2) entering into agreements with private interests; (3) changing the rate of prospecting and development. Eliminates the statutory guidelines governing the Secretary's authority to contract with private interests for exploration, prospecting and development of NPR 1. Restricts the amount of funds collected under the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 that may be used to enhance production from the Reserves for FY 1996. Authorizes the Secretary to mine and remove oil shale or oil shale products from Oil Shale Reserves for national defense or research. (Sec. 5221) Instructs the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to: (1) conduct an asset management and disposition program that will result in specified receipts and savings by the end of FY 2000; and (2) draw down and sell 32 million barrels of oil contained in the Weeks Island (Louisiana) Strategic Petroleum Reserve Facility. (Sec. 5223) Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to authorize the Secretary to store petroleum product owned by a foreign government in underutilized Strategic Petroleum Reserve facilities. Permits exportation of such product without license. Subtitle C: Natural Resources - Helium Act of 1995 - Amends the Helium Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) enter into agreements with private parties for the recovery and disposal of helium on Federal lands; (2) grant leasehold rights to such helium; (3) store, transport, and sell crude helium; and (4) maintain and operate existing crude helium storage facilities at the Bureau of Mines Cliffside Field. (Sec. 5313) Directs the Secretary to: (1) cease producing, refining, and marketing refined helium; and (2) dispose of all facilities, equipment, and Federal property interests relating to refined helium activities. Requires the Secretary to impose fees for helium storage, withdrawal, or transportation services. (Sec. 5314) Prescribes guidelines for: (1) the purchase of helium by Federal agencies from certain private persons; and (2) the sale of crude helium by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to make crude helium sales in amounts necessary to carry out this Act with minimum market disruption. Mandates that proceeds from helium sales be paid to the Treasury. (Sec. 5315) Instructs the Secretary to eliminate helium stockpiles by a certain deadline. Repeals the Secretary's authority to borrow under the Helium Act. (Sec. 5317) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Texas Plains Girl Scout Council for consideration of one dollar specified lands in Potter County, Texas, reserving easements to the United States for pipeline rights-of-way. (Sec. 5421) Outer Continental Shelf Deep Water Royalty Relief Act - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to reduce or eliminate any royalty or net profit share set forth in existing leases for oil or gas resources in certain areas of deep water on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. (Sec. 5422) Declares that, with specified exceptions, no royalty payments shall be due on new production from any lease or unit located in specified water depths in the Western and Central Planning Areas of the Gulf until certain volumes of oil equivalent are produced. (Sec. 5423) Provides for new leases and lease sales on the basis of a cash bonus bid meeting certain criteria. (Sec. 5424) Suspends royalties for a seven-year period for new leases in specified water depths in the Gulf. Subjects sales of such leases to such cash bonus bidding system. Subtitle C (sic): GSA Property Sales - Instructs the Administrator of General Services (the Administrator) to sell: (1) all Federal interests in and to Governors Island, New York, granting rights of first refusal to the State and the City of New York, respectively; and (2) the air rights adjacent to the Washington Union Station. (Sec.6022) Directs Amtrak to convey specified air rights to the Administrator as a condition of future Federal financial assistance. Prohibits Amtrak from obligating Federal funds for failure to comply. Title V: Energy and Natural Resources Provisions - Subtitle A: Nuclear Regulatory Commission Annual Charges - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to extend from September 30, 1998, to September 30, 2002, the authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to assess and collect annual user fees and charges. Subtitle B: Department of Energy Assets - Amends specified Federal law to increase the annual charge to San Francisco and other municipalities or water districts granted water rights-of-way from the Hetch Hetchy Dam. Makes annual operation of Yosemite National Park (currently, the building and maintenance of roads and trails in Yosemite and other California national parks) the highest priority use of the proceeds from such charges, with the remainder of any funds to be used for operations of the other California national parks. (Sec. 5402) Prescribes guidelines under which the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) shall refinance a certain appropriated debt by determining with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury: (1) a new principal amount for such debt; (2) a new interest rate for such debt based on the Treasury rate for the old capital investment; and (3) a $100 million limit on prepayments of old capital investments before a certain date. (Sec. 5406) Prescribes guidelines for interest rates for new capital investments. (Sec. 5408) Amends the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Grand Coulee Dam Settlement Act to credit specified amounts to the Administrator in certain fiscal years so long as the Administrator makes annual payments to the Tribes under a certain settlement agreement. (Sec. 5409) Directs the Administrator to offer to include provisions in future electric power service contracts that preclude further increases in the principal amount or interest rate obligations to the Government. (Sec. 5411) Alaska Power Administration Asset Sale and Termination Act - Sets forth definitions. (No further text provided in bill.) (Sec. 5451) Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (the Act) to revise admission guidelines, and increase special recreation use fees for the National Park System (NPS), and National Recreation Areas, respectively. Restricts lifetime admission permits to U.S. citizens, or persons permanently domiciled in the United States, who are permanently disabled (currently, blind or permanently disabled). Repeals the proscription against admission fees for the following NPS units: (1) U.S.S. Arizona Memorial; (2) Independence National Historical Park; (3) District of Columbia NPS units; (4) Arlington House-Robert E. Lee National Memorial; (5) San Juan National Historic Site; and (6) Canaveral National Seashore. Repeals the limitation imposed upon single-visit permit fees for the Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Grand Canyon National Parks. Revises guidelines governing recreation use fees. Removes the maximum statutory fine for violations. Revises guidelines governing covering of fees collected into a special NPS account. Revises commercial tour use fee guidelines to instruct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a commercial tour use fee in lieu of a per person admission fee imposed on each commercial tour vehicle. (Sec. 5452) Covers increased fees into special accounts for FY 1997 through 2005, specifying four percent annual increases thereafter. (Sec. 5453) Provides for allocation and use of receipts in each agency's special account. Subtitle F: National Defense Stockpile - Requires the President to dispose of all cobalt and specified materials listed in a certain National Defense Stockpile disposal schedule. (Sec. 9002) Amends the Act of August 5, 1909 to extend higher vessel tonnage duties through FY 2002. (Sec. 9003) Authorizes the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assess and collect fees applicable to persons subject to radiological emergency preparedness regulations. (Sec. 6011 (sic)) Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to extend Patent and Trademark Office surcharges through FY 2002. (Sec. 11161) (sic) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through FY 2002 the mandatory disclosure of return information to governmental agencies administering certain veterans programs. Subtitle F (sic): Taxpayer Bill of Rights 2 Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit the Secretary of the Treasury's authority to abate interest attributable to error by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) personnel to unreasonable error only. (Sec. 6105) Amends Federal civil service law to redefine Federal service in the armed forces or the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with respect to the denial of unemployment insurance to individuals who voluntarily leave military service. Title IX: Limitations on Corporate Welfare and Other Revenue Provisions - Subtitle A: Expatriation - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that if a U.S. citizen relinquishes citizenship, all property held by such citizen at the time immediately before relinquishment shall be treated as sold at such time for its fair market value and any gain or loss shall be subject to U.S. income tax. (Sec. 101) (sic) Permits an expatriate to elect to continue to be taxed as a United States citizen, in which case the provisions applicable to other expatriates will not apply. Excludes $600,000 in gain from taxation, except for allocable gain from interest in a beneficiary's qualified trust. Allows an expatriate to elect to have property made subject to tax in the same manner as if the individual were a U.S. citizen if the individual: (1) provides security for payment of tax; (2) consents to waiver of treaty rights that would preclude tax assessment or collection; and (3) complies with other requirements prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. Conditions that the election shall apply to all of the expatriate's property and shall be irrevocable. Directs that if an election is made to defer tax: (1) no amount shall be required to be includible in gross income; and (2) the expatriate's tax for the taxable year in which such property is disposed of, shall be increased by the deferred tax amount, regardless of whether gain or loss is recognized in whole or in part. States that these provisions apply to: (1) any interest in property held on the expatriation date the gain from which would be includible in gross income if sold for fair market value on such date; and (2) any other interest to which special rules applicable to beneficiaries' interests in trust apply. Excepts certain interests in U.S. real property interests and retirement plans. Prescribes such special rules applicable to beneficiaries' interests in trust. Terminates, on the date on which property held by an individual is treated as sold under this Act, any deferral of recognition of income or gain and any extension of time for payment of tax. Imposes a tentative tax, immediately before the expatriation date, on income required to be included equal to the amount that would be imposed if the taxable year were a short taxable year ending on the expatriation date. Disallows the exclusion from gross income of the value of any property acquired as a gift, bequest, devise, or inheritance received from a covered expatriate after the expatriation date. (Sec. 102) Requires the filing of certain information by expatriates. Subtitle B: Corporate Reforms - Provides, with respect to a corporate shareholder's basis in stock reduced by the nontaxed portion of extraordinary dividends, that if the nontaxed portion of such dividend exceeds such basis, such excess shall be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of such stock for the taxable year in which the extraordinary dividend is received. (Sec. 202) Requires the organizer of a corporate tax shelter to register the shelter. Sets forth penalties for failure to file. (Sec. 203) Prohibits a deduction for interest paid on life insurance policies or annuities which cover a company officer or employee. (Sec. 205) Revises the Puerto Rico and possession tax credit for years beginning after December 31, 1995. Provides for a five-year phasedown with respect to such credit. (Sec. 206) Directs that personal property used predominately within the U.S. exchanged and held for productive use or investment not be treated like personal property used predominately outside the U.S. (Sec. 207) Repeals the transition rule for a financial corporation with respect to rules allocating interest to foreign source income. (Sec. 208) Treats the conversion of a large corporations into an S corporation as a complete liquidation. (Sec. 209) Modifies the number of taxable years to which the net operating loss deduction may be carried. (Sec. 210) Treats an appreciated financial position as sold for its fair market value on the date of its constructive sale (and any gain for the taxable year which includes such date) if there is a constructive sale of such a position. (Sec. 211) Modifies the rules for allocating interest expense to tax-exempt interest. Makes such rules applicable to corporations (currently, financial institutions). (Sec. 212) Reduces the 70 percent dividends reduction to 50 percent. (Sec. 213) Modifies the holding period applicable to the dividends received deduction. (Sec. 214) Treats certain nonqualified preferred stock as boot (not as stock or securities) for the purposes of property transfers to a corporation controlled by the transferor. (Sec. 215) Disallows the deduction for any interest paid or accrued on certain debt instruments of a corporation. (Sec. 216) Defers the interest deduction on convertible indebtedness of a corporation until the taxable year in which it is paid. Subtitle C: Foreign Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the requirements regarding information that must be reported regarding certain foreign trusts. (Sec. 302) Modifies the circumstances (with regard to foreign trusts having one or more U.S. beneficiaries) in which a transferor is treated as the owner. (Sec. 303) Replaces provisions setting forth a special rule applicable to foreign grantors with provisions declaring that provisions relating to treating grantors and others as substantial owners shall apply only when that application results in an amount being currently taken into account in computing the income of a U.S. citizen or resident or a domestic corporation. (Sec. 304) Requires a United States person to report information regarding foreign gifts or bequests when the gifts' aggregate value during a taxable year exceeds $10,000. (Sec. 305) Modifies requirements regarding the interest charge on accumulation distributions from foreign trusts. (Sec. 306) Changes the circumstances in which an estate or trust is included in the definition of "United States person." Modifies the definition of "foreign estate" and "foreign trust." Requires (for provisions relating to the imposition of a tax on transfers to avoid income tax) treating a trust which is not a foreign trust and which becomes a foreign trust as having transferred, immediately before becoming a foreign trust, all of its assets to a foreign trust. (Sec. 311) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the definition of "foreign personal holding company income" to include income from a notional principal contract entered into for the purposes of hedging certain transactions and income. (Sec. 312) Disallows the foreign tax credit to any country for foreign oil and gas extraction income and eliminates the deferral for all foreign oil and gas extraction income with respect to foreign base company oil related income. (Sec. 313) Limits the exclusion on foreign earned income of U.S. citizens or residents living abroad for any taxable year at the lowest tax rate. Subtitle D: Accounting Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the reserve method of accounting for determining deductions for bad debts by thrift institutions, effective for taxable years beginning after 1995. Repeals, with respect to thrift institutions to which such accounting method applied, provisions relating to: (1) the denial of a portion of certain tax credits to a thrift institution; (2) special rules regarding the foreclosure of property securing loans of a thrift institution; (3) the reduction in the dividends received deduction of a thrift institution; and (4) the ability of a thrift institution to use a net operating loss to offset its income from a residential interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit. Provides rules to implement the change in the method of accounting required by the repeal. (Sec. 401) Defines applicable excess reserves. Sets forth provisions for thrifts which become small banks. Provides for the suspension of recapture if the taxpayer meets the residential loan requirement. Defines the term residential loan requirement. Allows in cases where the taxpayer is not a large bank, for the purposes of determining the net amounts of adjustments, that only the excess of the reserve for bad debts as of the close of the last taxable year before the disqualification year over the balance of reserves shall be taken into account. Provides for the treatment of reserves for bad debts under the elective cut-off method. Prohibits the inclusion of a portion of reserve in gross income under the elective cut-off method. Provides for continued application of provisions respecting distributions to stockholders, but the amount of the reserve accounted for by the taxpayer shall be the balance of the amount of the applicable excess reserves. Provides for the treatment of the balance of the applicable excess reserves and the balance of reserves accounted for by a taxpayer as carryovers in certain corporate acquisitions. (Sec. 402) Revises provisions concerning the income forecast method of determining depreciation deductions. (Sec. 403) Repeals the lower-of-cost-or-market method of accounting for inventories. Subtitle E: Administrative Provisions - Repeals the credit for purchasers of diesel-powered automobiles and light trucks. (Sec. 502) Increases the amount of penalty for any failure to file information returns if less than 97 percent of the aggregate amount of items are reported correctly. Subtitle F: Casualty and Involuntary Conversion Provisions - Revises provisions concerning the involuntary conversion of property into either similar property or money. Subtitle G: Excise Tax on Amounts of Private Excess Benefits - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a 25 percent tax (which shall be paid by the disqualified person) on any transaction from which an economic benefit is provided by a tax-exempt organization directly or indirectly to a disqualified person, if the value of the benefit provided exceeds the value of the consideration. Sets forth additional reporting requirements for 501(c)(3) organizations. Requires any solicitation of an organization that refers to itself as nonprofit, when it is not exempt from tax, to contain an express statement that it is not exempt from tax. Imposes a penalty for failure to disclose. Subtitle H: Extension of Certain Taxes - Extends: (1) the environmental tax until January 1, 1997; (2) the Hazardous Superfund Financing rate until October 1, 1996; (3) the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund financing rate until October 1, 2002; and (4) the Federal unemployment tax at the present rates through 2002 and 2003, respectively. Subtitle I: Provisions Relating to Individuals - Prohibits the nonrecognition of gain on the sale of a principal residence which is attributable to depreciation adjustments. (Sec. 852) Requires withholding from winnings of more than $5,000 from bingo or keno. (Sec. 853) Repeals the provision which provides for the exclusion from income of rent from the rental of a vacation home for less than 15 days. Subtitle J: Reform of the Earned Income Credit - Denies the earned income credit to individuals not authorized to be employed in the U.S. (Sec. 902) Modifies the definition of "disqualified income" to include capital gain net income for purposes of the denial of the earned income credit for individuals having excessive income. Title IX: Middle Class Bill of Rights - Middle Class Bill of Rights Tax Relief Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Middle Class Tax Relief - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals a tax credit of $300 per eligible child under the age of 13 years. Increases such credit to $500 per eligible child after December 31, 1998. Reduces such credit for incomes of $60,000 or more. Provides an inflation adjustment for such amounts beginning in 1999. (Sec. 2) (sic) Allows individuals a tax deduction for the qualified higher education expenses of the taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse and dependents. Limits such deduction to $10,000 ($5,000 for years 1996, 1997, and 1998). Reduces such limitation for modified adjusted gross incomes of $70,000 or more ($100,000 for a joint return). Allows such deduction in computing adjusted gross income. Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Individual Retirement Plans - Increases the income limitations on retirement savings deductions and provides a cost-of-living adjustment after 1994 for such limitations. (Sec. 12) Provides a cost-of-living adjustment for deductible retirement amounts after 1995. (Sec. 13) Coordinates the limit on such deduction with the elective deferral limit under other pension provisions. (Sec. 21) Establishes special individual retirement accounts that are nondeductible. Makes such accounts nontaxable if earnings on contributions are held for at least five years. Applies the early withdrawal penalty to distributions made before the end of the five-year period. (Sec. 21) (sic) Allows distributions from certain retirement plans without penalty to purchase first homes, pay higher education expenses and financially devastating medical expenses (including qualified long-term care services), and assist certain unemployed individuals. (Sec. 22) Requires contributions to such plans to be held for at least five years prior to such distributions. Subtitle C: Increase in Deduction for Health Care Costs of Self-Employed Individuals - Increases the deduction for health insurance costs of self-employed individuals by specified applicable percentages for taxable years beginning in 1996. Title X (sic): Budget Enforcement - Specifies discretionary spending limits for new budget authority and outlays for FY 1996 through 2002. Limits the amount of funding available for the Internal Revenue Service compliance initiative in any fiscal year not to exceed $405 billion each for additional new budget authority and in outlays. (Sec. 10003) (sic) Continues the enforcement of the pay-as-you-go provisions. (Sec. 10004) Defines the term "fiscal dividend " to mean the amount by which the deficit target exceeds the actual deficit. Provides for the use of the fiscal dividend in the congressional budget process for the current fiscal year.
Bill· SS. 1523 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1996
Agricultural Act of 1995 - Applies for 1996, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment of 1938, the Agricultural Act of 1949, the Food Security Act of 1985, and the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 and each program authorized or reauthorized by any of the Acts that were applicable on September 30, 1995. Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to: (1) modify planting flexibility requirements; and (2) set forth terms and conditions, applicable to 1995 disasters, for advance deficiency payments. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to allow inclusion in a conservation reserve program of croplands that will be used to store water for flood control in a closed basin.
Bill· HRH.R. 2863 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Export and Investment Assistance Title II: Bilateral Economic Assistance Title III: Military Assistance Title IV: Multilateral Economic Assistance Title V: General Provisions Title VI: Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1995 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Export and Investment Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for: (1) direct loans, loan guarantees, tied-aid grants, insurance, and administrative expenses under Export-Import Bank programs; (2) Overseas Private Investment Corporation direct and guaranteed loans and administrative expenses; and (3) the Trade and Development Agency. Title II: Bilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the U.S. contribution to: (1) the Agency for International Development (AID) for child survival and disease programs, specified development assistance (including for the Inter-American Foundation and development assistance for Sub-Saharan Africa), specified projects aimed at reunification of Cyprus, democracy and humanitarian activities in Burma, private and voluntary cooperative development organizations obtaining less than 20 percent of their funding for international activities from sources other than the U.S. Government, international disaster relief, emergency humanitarian assistance to the former Yugoslavia,debt restructuring, direct loans and loan guarantees for micro and small enterprise development programs, administrative expenses of the worldwide housing guarantees program, the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund, operating expenses of AID and the AID Office of Inspector General, economic support fund (ESF) assistance, the International Fund for Ireland, economic assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States, and assistance for the independent states of the former Soviet Union (including the establishment of a Trans-Caucasus Enterprise fund); (2) the Peace Corps (but with a prohibition on the use of such funds for abortions); (3) international narcotics control; (4) migration and refugee assistance, including refugee resettlement assistance; (5) the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund; (6) antiterrorism assistance; and (7) the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund. Bars the use of development assistance funds for: (1) abortions or involuntary sterilizations; and (2) U.S. private and voluntary organizations, except those which obtain less than 20 percent of annual funding for international activities from sources other than the U.S. Government. Permits humanitarian assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan, if the President determines that nongovernmental assistance is not adequate to address the suffering of refugees and internally displaced persons. Title III: Military Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for: (1) international military education and training, but bars such assistance to Zaire and Guatemala and allows funding to Indonesia only for expanded military education and training; (2) foreign military financing and direct loans; and (3) international peacekeeping operations. Prohibits foreign military financing for: (1) any non-NATO country participating in the Partnership for Peace Program except through the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations; and (2) Zaire, Sudan, Peru, Liberia, and Guatemala. Prohibits such assistance to Colombia or Bolivia until the Secretary of State certifies that such funds will be used primarily for counternarcotics activities there. Title IV: Multilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the U.S. contribution to the: (1) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank); (2) International Development Association; (3) International Financial Corporation; (4)Inter-American Development Bank; (5) Enterprise for the Americas Multilateral Investment Fund; (6) Asian Development Bank; (7) Asian Development Fund; (8) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; and (8) North American Development Bank. Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for international programs and organizations. Limits certain callable subscriptions. Sets certain restrictions on international organization funding, including prohibiting the use of funds made available to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for activities in China. Prohibits foreign assistance funds to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) unless the President makes a certain certification to the Committees on Appropriations. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth limits on the use of appropriations, including no more than: (1) 15 percent of such appropriations shall be obligated during the last month of availability; (2) $126,500 for official residence expenses of AID; (3) $5,000 for entertainment expenses of AID; (4) $95,000 for representation allowances for AID; (5) $2,000 for entertainment and representation allowances for the Inter-American Foundation; or (6) $4,000 for entertainment expenses for the Peace Corps. (Sec. 502) Prohibits the use of funds for: (1) bilateral funding of international financial institutions; (2) the export of nuclear equipment, fuel, or technology; (3) direct assistance or reparations to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Iran, Serbia, Sudan, or Syria; (4) assistance to any country whose elected head of government is deposed by military coup; (5) certain transfers between appropriations accounts without consultation with Congress; (6) assistance to any country in default in excess of a year on payments on a U.S. loan (except for Nicaragua and narcotics-related assistance for Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru); and (7) assistance for certain commodities which are in surplus on world markets and could injure U.S. producers of a similar commodity, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 514) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of specified international financial institutions to oppose any assistance for the production or extraction of any commodity or mineral for export if it is in surplus on world markets and such assistance will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of a similar commodity. (Sec. 516) Prohibits the use of international organization funds for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Libya, Iran, or certain Communist countries. (Sec. 517) Declares it is U.S. policy that funds allocated to Israel from the ESF shall not be less than the annual debt repayment from Israel to the United States. (Sec. 518) Prohibits the use of development assistance funds for abortions or involuntary sterilizations. (Sec. 519) Requires the President to report to the Committees on Appropriations on annual arms sales proposals covering major weapons under the Arms Export Control Act. (Sec. 520) Prohibits the use of funds for Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Liberia, Nicaragua, Peru, Russia, Sudan, or Zaire, except through the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 522) Makes funds available to AID for family planning, health, child survival, and AIDS research and control in developing countries. (Sec. 523) Bars funding for indirect assistance to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, Iran, Syria, North Korea, or China unless the President certifies that the withholding of such funds is contrary to the national interest. (Sec. 524) Amends the Arms Export Control Act to extend the President's waiver authority with respect to reciprocal leasing through FY 1996. (Sec. 525) Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to notify the Committees on Appropriations before providing excess DOD articles to certain NATO and major non-NATO countries. (Sec. 527) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of each international financial institution, and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the International Fund for Agriculture Development, to oppose any bilateral assistance to any country that supports terrorism. (Sec. 528) Authorizes the commercial leasing of defense articles to Israel, Egypt, NATO, and major non-NATO allies if the President determines that there are compelling foreign policy or national security reasons. (Sec. 529) Prohibits the sale of Stinger missiles to any country bordering the Persian Gulf. (Sec. 530) Authorizes nongovernmental organizations which are grantees or contractors of AID to place funds made available to them under this Act in interest bearing accounts in order to enhance their participation in economic activities under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, including endowments and debt-for-development and debt-for- nature exchanges. (Sec. 531B) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to make funds available for FY 1996 and FY 1997 for defense article stockpiles in the Republic of Korea and Thailand. (Sec. 532) Directs the Administrator of the AID to require foreign countries that receive foreign assistance which results in the generation of local currencies to deposit such currencies in a separate account to be used to finance foreign assistance activities. (Sec. 533) Prohibits payments to any international financial institution while the U.S. Executive Director to the institution is compensated at a rate in excess of that for a specified position under the Executive Schedule. (Sec. 534) Bars assistance to any country that is not in compliance with the United Nations sanctions against Iraq, Serbia, or Montenegro unless the President certifies to the Congress that such assistance: (1) is in the national interest; (2) will directly benefit the needy people in that country; or (3) will be humanitarian assistance for foreign nationals who have fled Iraq and Kuwait. Authorizes the President to prohibit the importation into the United States of any product of a foreign country that has not prohibited the importation of Iraq's, Serbia's, or Montenegro's products into its customs territory and the export of its products to such countries. (Sec. 535) Authorizes the drawdown of defense articles, services, and training to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos to assist in efforts to locate members of the armed forces and U.S. civilians who remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. (Sec. 537) Requires the Committees on Appropriations to be notified of each country that has been approved for cash flow financing for the procurement of defense articles in excess of $100 million. (Sec. 538) Declares that provisions under this or any other Act authorizing appropriations for foreign operations or export financing shall not be construed to prohibit activities authorized by the Peace Corps Act, the Inter-American Foundation Act, or the African Development Foundation Act. Directs an agency to report to the Committees on Appropriations whenever it is conducting or proposing activities in a country for which such assistance is prohibited. (Sec. 539) Prohibits the use of funds to provide: (1) any financial incentive to a business for purposes of inducing it to relocate outside the United States if it will reduce the number of employees in the United States; (2) assistance for developing in a foreign country an export processing zone or other designated area in which a country's tax, tariff, labor, environment, and safety laws do not apply to activities in the area, unless the President certifies that such assistance is not likely to cause a loss of U.S. jobs; or (3) assistance for any project that contributes to the violation of internationally recognized workers rights in such country. (Sec. 540) Authorizes the President, pursuant to a lifting of the United Nations arms embargo against Bosnia-Herzegovina, to transfer defense articles to such country's government without reimbursement if he certifies to the Congress that the transfer of such articles would assist that nation in self-defense and promote the security and stability of the region. (Sec. 541) Declares that funds appropriated under this Act for Haiti, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Cambodia, and for victims of war, displaced children, displaced Burmese, humanitarian assistance for Romania, and humanitarian assistance for the peoples of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Kosova, may be made available notwithstanding any other provision of law. Directs the President to terminate assistance to any country that the President determines is cooperating with the military activities of the Khmer Rouge. Authorizes the use of foreign assistance funds to support: (1) tropical forestry and energy programs aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases; and (2) biodiversity conservation activities. Authorizes AID to employ personal services contractors to administer programs for the West Bank and Gaza. (Sec. 542) Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to steps the President should take to encourage renunciation of the Arab boycott of Israel. (Sec. 543) Authorizes the use of ESF funds to strengthen the administration of justice in countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. (Sec. 544) Declares that restrictions on assistance to foreign countries contained in this Act or any other Act shall not be construed to restrict assistance in support of programs of nongovernmental organizations as long as it is in the national interest of the United States. (Sec. 546) Authorizes for FY 1996 the provision of nonlethal excess defense articles, without regard to certain restrictions, to countries for which U.S. foreign assistance has been requested and for which receipt of such articles was separately justified for the fiscal year. (Sec. 547) Prohibits the use of funds for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States that were not authorized before the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 548) Sets forth Buy American requirements. (Sec. 549) Prohibits the use of funds to pay any assessments, arrearages, or dues of any U.N. member. (Sec. 551) Prohibits the provision of funds to a private voluntary organization that fails to provide any document, file, or record necessary to the auditing requirements of AID. (Sec. 552) Prohibits the provision of funds to any foreign government that provides lethal military equipment to a country that the Secretary of State has determined has a terrorist government, unless the President determines that the furnishing of such assistance is in the national interest. (Sec. 553) Withholds assistance to a foreign country in an amount equal to 110 percent of the total unpaid parking fines and penalties owed by the country to the District of Columbia. (Sec. 554) Prohibits the obligation of any appropriations for the PLO for the West Bank and Gaza unless the President has exercised certain authorities to suspend prohibitions on assistance to the PLO. (Sec. 556) Permits the President to provide a specified amount of commodities and services to the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal if doing so will contribute to a resolution of charges regarding genocide or other violations of international law in the former Yugoslavia. (Sec. 557) Authorizes the use of funds made available to DOD for crating, packing, handling, and transportation of nonlethal excess defense articles transferred to countries eligible to participate in the Partnership for Peace and to receive assistance under the Program of Support for East European Democracy (SEED). (Sec. 558) Authorizes demining equipment used in support of the clearing of landmines for humanitarian purposes to be disposed of on a grant basis in foreign countries. (Sec. 559) Amends provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, with respect to nuclear non-proliferation conditions on assistance to Pakistan, to prohibit military assistance equipment or technology to be furnished to Pakistan unless there is certification that Pakistan does not possess a nuclear explosive device, except for any assistance or transfer provided for: (1) international narcotics control; (2) facilitating military-to-military contact, humanitarian, and civic projects; (3) peacekeeping and other multilateral operations, except for lethal military equipment provided on a lease or loan basis only; and (4) antiterrorism assistance or any provision of law available for antiterrorism assistance. Maintains restrictions on contracts for the delivery of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan. Allows military equipment, technology, and defense services, except for F-16 aircraft, to be transferred to Pakistan with respect to contracts entered into before October 1, 1990. (Sec. 560) Prohibits the obligation of appropriations to create in Jerusalem a new U.S. agency office for the purpose of conducting U.S. business with the Palestinian Authority over Gaza and Jericho (or any successor Palestinian governing entity) provided for in the Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles. (Sec. 561) Prohibits certain funds appropriated for Informational Program activities from being obligated to pay for: (1) alcoholic beverages; (2) food (other than food provided at a military installation) not provided in conjunction with Program trips where students do not stay at a military installation; or (3) entertainment expenses. (Sec. 562) Prohibits the use of funds for assistance in support of any country that restricts transport or delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance, except in the national security interest of the United States. (Sec. 563) Directs the President to withhold funds made available under this Act equal to the sum of assistance and credits, if any, provided by a foreign, country, or any entity in that country, in support of the completion of the Cuban nuclear facility at Juragua, near Cienfuegos, Cuba, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 564) Bars funding to Haiti if the Government of Haiti is controlled by a regime holding power through means other than the democratic elections to be held in 1995. (Sec. 566) Limits ESF assistance to Turkey. (Sec. 566A) Limits the use of funds for the North American Development Bank only for purposes set out in the binational agreement establishing the bank. (Sec. 567) Bars the use of funds for International Narcotics Control or Crop Substitution in Burma. (Sec. 568) Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to subscribe to an increase in the authorized capital stock of the Asian Development Bank (the fourth general capital increase). Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 569) Authorizes appropriations for the International Development Association (the tenth replenishment). (Sec. 570) Authorizes the President to reduce amounts owed to the United States by eligible countries as a result of: (1) housing guarantees made pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; or (2) credits extended or guarantees issued under the Arms Export Control Act. Permits such authority only: (1) to implement multilateral official debt relief and referendum agreements known as the Paris Club Agreed Minutes; and (2) with respect to countries with heavy debt burdens that are eligible to borrow from the International Development Association, but not from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IDA-only countries). Prescribes additional conditions for the exercise of such authority. (Sec. 572) Authorizes the President to direct the drawdown for Jordan of defense articles and services from DOD, and military education and training up to a specified dollar amount provided certain conditions are met. (Sec. 576) Amends the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 to require an additional report be made in 1996 respecting conditions in Hong Kong of interest to the United States and directs that such report include detailed information on the status of, and other developments affecting, implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong, including the: (1) Basic Law and its consistency with the Joint Declaration; (2) openness and fairness of elections to the legislature; (3) openness and fairness of election of the chief executive and the executive's accountability to the legislature; (4) treatment of political parties; (5) independence of the judiciary and its ability to exercise the power of final judgement over Hong Kong; (6) Bill of Rights. (Sec. 579) Amends the Import-Export Bank Act of 1945 to extend funding for the Tied-Aid Credit Program through FY 1997. Authorizes appropriations to the Tied-Aid Credit Fund for FY 1996 and 1997. (Sec. 581) Amends the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Act of 1990 to extend the Au Pair Program. (Sec. 583) Bars assistance to Haiti until the President reports to the Congress that: (1) the Haitian Government is conducting thorough investigations of extrajudicial and political killings; and (2) the Government is cooperating with the United States authorities in the investigations of such killings. Excludes from the limitation provision of humanitarian or electoral assistance. Permits the President to waive the requirements of the limitation if he determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the waiver is: (1) in the national interest; or (2) necessary to assure the safe and timely withdrawal of American forces from Haiti. (Sec. 584) Prescribes that funding for activities in the internationally-recognized borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, other than refugee and disaster assistance and assistance for the restoration of infrastructure, including power grids, water supplies and natural gas, be limited only to activities in the territory of the Bosniac-Croat Federation. (Sec. 585) Amends the NATO Participation Act of 1994 to authorize the President to: (1) evaluate the degree to which any country emerging from communist domination which has expressed interest in joining NATO meets the specified criteria; and (2) to designate one or more of these countries as eligible to receive assistance under the program to facilitate an eligible country's transition to NATO membership. Permits the President at any time to designate other such European countries for assistance under the program and at the time of designation, to determine and report to the House Committees on International Relations and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Appropriations that each country so designated meets the criteria. Title VI: Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1995 - Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1995 - Declares the sense of the Congress specifying additional steps the PLO must take to demonstrate an irrevocable denunciation of terrorism and ensure a peaceful settlement of the Middle East dispute. (Sec. 604) Authorizes the President to suspend specified provisions of law which prohibit the U.S. share of foreign and United Nations assistance to the PLO, the receipt or expenditure of PLO funds, and PLO membership in the International Monetary Fund, upon certification to specified congressional committees that: (1) such waiver is in the national interest; (2) the PLO continues to abide by commitments made in letters to Israel and the Foreign Minister of Norway and under the Declaration of Principles signed in September 1993; and (3) specified funds provided under this Act and other Acts have been used for the purposes for which they were intended. Makes such suspensions effective for up to six months.
Bill· SS. 1518 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1996
Federal Tea Tasters Repeal Act of 1996 - Prohibits Federal Drug Administration funds to be used to operate the Board of Tea Experts. Repeals the Tea Importation Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 2860 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1996
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act to remove or repeal provisions regulating the sale, public eating place serving, and advertising of colored oleomargarine or colored margarine. Repeals related definitions.
Law· HRH.R. 2854 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Agricultural Market Transition Program Title II: Conservation Title III: Agricultural Promotion and Export Programs Title IV: Miscellaneous Title V: Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture Title I: Agricultural Market Transition Program - Agricultural Market Transition Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to enter into production flexibility contracts through crop year 2002 with eligible agricultural operators and owners with respect to conservation, wetlands, and planting flexibility requirements. Requires contracts to be entered into by April 15, 1996, with certain exceptions for conservation reserve lands. Defines eligible "owners and operators" and "farmland." Sets forth: (1) contract payment amounts for each of FY 1996 through 2002 and allocation amounts for wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, upland cotton, and rice; and (2) annual payment rate factors. Permits any commodity or crop to be planted on contract acreage with special provisions and limitations for haying and grazing, alfalfa, and legumes. (Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary to make nonrecourse marketing assistance loans for crop years 1996 through 2002 to producers of wheat, feed grains (corn, grain sorghum, barley, and oats), upland and extra long staple cotton, and oilseeds (sunflower, canola, rapeseed, safflower, mustard, flaxseed, and other oilseeds). Sets forth commodity loan rate, term, and repayment provisions. Directs the Secretary to make loan deficiency payments to producers (of other than extra long staple cotton) who forego obtaining such nonrecourse loans in an amount equal to the difference between a commodity's loan rate and repayment level. Establishes special marketing loan provisions for upland cotton, including: (1) first handler marketing certificates; (2) cotton user marketing certificates; (3) a special import quota; and (4) a limited global import quota for upland cotton. (Sec. 105) Establishes fiscal year payment limitations for individuals of: (1) $40,000 for flexibility contracts; and (2) $75,000 for marketing loan and loan deficiency payments. (Sec. 106) Directs the Secretary to: (1) make nonrecourse loans available to quota peanut producers at $610 per ton and to additional peanut producers at appropriate rates; (2) make related warehouse storage loans available; (3) provide for marketing area pools for quota and additional peanuts, with separate pools for New Mexico-produced Valencia peanuts; (4) require that all domestic and export peanuts comply with specified quality standards; and (5) provide for a nonrefundable marketing assessment. Provides that: (1) net gains from each marketing pool shall be distributed only to pool producers; and (2) losses in quota pools shall be covered using a specified order of priority. Prohibits the Secretary from making quota peanut loans if producers have disapproved poundage quotas. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 with regard to the peanut program to: (1) extend peanut quota provisions through crop year 2002; (2) eliminate the minimum national poundage quota; (3) eliminate seed peanuts from the national poundage quota determination; (4) create a temporary quota allocation for seed peanuts; (5) eliminate the Texas increased quota allocation; and (5) authorize transfers of additional peanuts to the quota pool where natural disasters prevented quota poundage harvesting and marketing. (Sec. 107) Directs the Secretary to make recourse loans available to processors of domestically grown sugarcane and sugar beets at 18 cents per pound and 22.9 cents per pound, respectively. Sets loan terms at the earlier of nine months or the end of the fiscal year, with supplemental loans available for loans made in the last three months of a fiscal year. Authorizes the Secretary to provide nonrecourse loans when the imported tariff rate quota for sugar imports exceeds 1.5 million short tons raw value. Sets forth first processor sugarcane and sugar beet marketing assessment rates for FY 1996 through 2003, which shall be collected monthly and remitted to the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Sets forth enforcement and reporting provisions. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to repeal marketing allotment provisions. Makes this section applicable to the 1996 through 2002 crops of sugarcane and sugar beets. (Sec. 108) Directs the Secretary to carry out the provisions of this subtitle through the CCC. (Sec. 109) Repeals the Agricultural Act of 1949, with specified sections transferred to the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938. (Eliminates permanent price support authority.) Makes conforming amendments to the Agricultural Act of 1938. Title II: Conservation - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to provide mandatory FY 1996 through 2002 funding through the CCC for the conservation reserve and wetlands programs, and the livestock environmental assistance program. Establishes the livestock environmental assistance program to provide FY 1996 through 2002 technical assistance and cost-sharing and incentive payments to livestock producers who enter into land management and structural contracts to protect water, soil, and related resources from livestock-related degradation. (Makes waste management facility construction ineligible for cost-sharing payments.) Replaces wetlands reserve program permanent easement authority with 15-year easement authority. Limits conservation reserve program total acreage enrollment to 36.4 million acres. Authorizes producers to terminate program participation. Prohibits new acreage enrollment in 1997. Title III: Agricultural Promotion and Export Programs - Amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to: (1) authorize specified FY 1996 through 2002 appropriations for the market promotion program; and (2) authorize specified FY 1996 through 2002 funding from the CCC for the export enhancement program. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to authorize the Secretary, in consultation with insurance providers, to offer catastrophic risk protection in a State (or portion of a State) through local Department of Agriculture offices if the Secretary determines insufficient coverage is otherwise available. Provides for the transfer of current policies to private insurers. States that beginning with the spring-planted 1996 crop catastrophic coverage shall not be required for agricultural program benefits if the producer signs a written emergency crop loss assistance waiver. Extends crop insurance provisions to seed crops. (Sec. 402) Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize the Secretary to collect fees to cover the costs of providing import quarantine and inspection services. Establishes in the Treasury the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection User Fee Account. (Sec. 403) Increases the CCC interest rate applicable to agricultural commodity loans by 100 basis points. Title V: Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture - Establishes the Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture which shall assess: (1) the changes in U.S. production agriculture resulting from this Act; and (2) the current and future condition of U.S. production agriculture and the appropriate agricultural role of the Government. Terminates the Commission upon submission of a required report.