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86 records in 1995

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Bill· HRH.R. 1416 (104th)referred

Torture Victims Relief Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1995

Torture Victims Relief Act of 1995 - States that the United States shall not involuntarily return a person to a country where such person would be subject to torture. Establishes an expedited procedure for processing refugee, asylum, withholding of deportation, and parole entry claims of torture victims. Expresses the sense of the Congress that sufficient funds should be allocated to the Immigration and Naturalization Service's Resource Information Center to maintain information on foreign torture. Provides for specialized training in torture identification and handling of torture victims for consular, immigration, and asylum personnel. Directs the Center for Disease Control to study and report on torture victims residing in the United States. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide for respective domestic and foreign treatment centers for torture victims. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations from specified funds for the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. Expresses the sense of the Congress in support of international means to protect torture victims and investigate human rights violations.

Question· oralPQ 28asked

30 Mr. E. Byrne asked the asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, further to his reply to Parliamentary Question 59 of 2 March 1995, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that negotiations between Bhutan and Nepal regarding southern Bhutanese refugees have broken down; whether his attention has been further drawn to the concerns of Amnesty International in relation to the refugees; whether his attention has further been drawn to the concerns regarding the human rights situation within Bhutan following enactment of the National Security Act, 1992; in view of the breakdown of talks, the action, if any, the Irish Government will take, through the European Union, the United Nations or unilaterally to ensure that the Bhutanese Government encourages and accepts repatriation and guarantees the safety of its people who left Bhutan and fled to refugee camps in Nepal due to Government actions under the Security Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 4 April 1995

30 Mr. E. Byrne asked the asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, further to his reply to Parliamentary Question 59 of 2 March 1995, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that negotiations between Bhutan and Nepal regarding southern Bhutanese refugees have broken down; whether his attention has been further drawn to the concerns of Amnesty International in relation to the refugees; whether his attention has further been drawn to the concerns regarding the human rights situation within Bhutan following enactment of the National Security Act, 1992; in view of the breakdown of talks, the action, if any, the Irish Government will take, through the European Union, the United Nations or unilaterally to ensure that the Bhutanese Government encourages and accepts repatriation and guarantees the safety of its people who left Bhutan and fled to refugee camps in Nepal due to Government actions under the Security Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [

Bill· HRH.R. 1360 (104th)referred

Kosova Peace, Democracy, and Human Rights Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1995

Kosova Peace, Democracy, and Human Rights Act of 1995 - Bars specified sanctions, prohibitions, or requirements with respect to Serbia or Montenegro under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 from ceasing to be effective unless: (1) the President first submits to the Congress the certification described by this Act; and (2) such requirements are met. Describes such certification as a certification that: (1) there is substantial progress toward the realization of a separate identity for Kosova, the right of the people of Kosova to govern themselves, and the creation of an international protectorate for Kosova; (2) there is substantial improvement in the human rights situation in Kosova; and (3) international human rights observers are allowed to return to Kosova and the government of Kosova is permitted to meet and carry out its mandate as elected representatives of the people of Kosova. Directs the President to report to the Congress on: (1) the situation in Kosova; (2) measures to provide humanitarian assistance to Kosova and Kosovar refugees; (3) recommendations on what modalities may be pursued; (4) the current status of U.S. efforts to establish a U.S. Information Agency cultural center in Kosova; and (5) the presence of U.S. officials in Kosova prior to establishment of such center.

Bill· SS. 643 (104th)referred

James P. Grant World Summit for Children Implementation Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1995

James P. Grant World Summit for Children Implementation Act of 1995 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) specified amounts should be appropriated for FY 1996 and 1997 to achieve full participation in the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children under the Child Nutrition Act (WIC program); and (2) appropriations for Head Start should be augmented for FY 1996 through 2001 to achieve full participation. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 for contributions to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 for the Child Survival Fund. Earmarks funds for activities that have a direct measurable impact on reducing rates of child morbidity and mortality. Expresses the sense of the Congress that authority should be granted to the President to exercise specified debt forgiveness for least developed countries that are pursuing economic policy reforms to promote long-term development. Earmarks development assistance funds for FY 1996 and 1997 for the Vitamin A Deficiency Program. Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 for: (1) iodine and iron fortification programs; and (2) prevention, care, and control programs related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in developing countries. Earmarks development and economic assistance funds for FY 1996 and 1997 for programs in support of basic education. Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 for population assistance activities. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 for migration and refugee assistance. Urges the President to call upon other governments to provide their share of resources required to achieve the World Summit for Children goals by the year 2000.

Bill· HRH.R. 1214 (104th)open

Personal Responsibility Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Title II: Child Protection Block Grant Program Title III: Block Grants for Child Care and for Nutrition Assistance Subtitle A: Child Care Block Grants Subtitle B: Family and School-Based Nutrition Block Grants Subtitle C: Other Repealers and Conforming Amendments Subtitle D: Related Provisions Subtitle E: General Effective Date; Preservation of Actions, Obligations, and Rights Title IV: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits Programs 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: Food Stamp Reform and Commodity Distribution Subtitle A: Commodity Distribution Provisions Subtitle B: Simplification and Reform of Food Stamp Program Subtitle C: Effective Dates and Miscellaneous Provisions Title VI: Supplemental Security Income Title VII: 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 VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions Personal Responsibility Act of 1995 - Title I: Block Grants For Temporary Assistance For Needy Families - Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to convert the current AFDC program into a block grant program with specified work, job search, and education and training requirements designed to increase State flexibility in providing time-limited assistance and support services (including birth control and child care services) to needy families to enable them to leave the program and become self-sufficient. (Sec. 101) Prohibits such assistance, generally, to: (1) certain aliens; (2) families without a minor child; (3) families not cooperating in paternity establishment or child support; (4) children born out-of-wedlock to a minor parent (or the parent until such parent turns age 18); (5) families not assigning support rights to the State; (6) minor children born to benefit recipients; and (7) a person convicted of fraudulently misrepresenting residence in order to receive welfare benefits. Withholds a portion of assistance for families which include a child whose paternity is not established. Provides that in order to be eligible for block grants under such program a State must submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services a plan that includes: (1) an outline of the assistance the State intends on providing to needy families with children; and (2) certifications that the State will operate revised SSA title IV part B (Child-Welfare Services) and D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) programs in accordance with this Act. Allows States to use grants for: (1) providing low-income household heating and cooling assistance; (2) implementing an electronic benefit transfer system for providing assistance to needy families with children; and (3) carrying out a State program pursuant to specified provisions of Federal law, including the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. Gives States the authority to treat families moving interstate under the former State program rules if they reside in their new State of residence for less than 12 months. Increases the amount of such grants for States which have reduced their out-of-wedlock births. Sets out penalties for violations of grant uses and mandatory work requirements. Establishes in the Treasury a revolving loan fund known as the Federal Rainy Day Fund for making loans to, and receiving payments of principal and interest on such loans from, qualified States under the new State block grant program. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the States should require noncustodial, nonsupporting parents who have not attained 18 years of age to fulfill community work obligations and attend appropriate parenting or money management classes after school; and (2) each State that operates a block grant program is encouraged to assign the highest priority to requiring families that include older preschool or school-age children to be engaged in work activities. Directs the Secretary to: (1) research the costs and benefits of State activities under this title; (2) evaluate innovative approaches to employing program recipients; (3) rank States in order of their success under the grant program; and (4) review the most and least successful State work programs. Sets forth requirements for: (1) State data collection and reporting; and (2) a Census Bureau study obtaining information for evaluating the impact of this title on a random national sample of recipients of assistance under State block grant programs. Appropriates funds for the latter. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) conduct research on the effects, costs, and benefits of State block grant programs under this title; (2) assist States in development and evaluation of innovative approaches to employing welfare recipients; and (3) conduct studies of the caseloads of States operating programs under this title. Directs the Secretary to develop innovative methods of disseminating information on any research, evaluations, and studies conducted under this title. (Sec. 102) Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on automated data processing systems under State block grant programs and the modifications necessary for tracking public program participants and checking case records to prohibit participants from participating in public programs of two or more States. (Sec. 106) Provides for the continued application of current AFDC standards under the Medicaid program under SSA title XIX. Title II: Child Protection Block Grant Program - Revises SSA title IV part B's Child-Welfare Services program, converting it also into a program of block grants to the States, in this case, for the protection of children in accordance with specified standards. (Sec. 201) Sets forth requirements, similar to those in title I, pertaining to: (1) State eligibility plans with appropriate certifications; (2) grant uses; (3) penalties; (4) data collection and reporting; (5) research; (6) a national random sample study; and (7) continued application of current standards under the Medicaid program. Adds requirements for: (1) citizen review panels for examining specific cases to ensure that State and local agencies are doing their job properly to protect children; (2) a clearinghouse and telephone hotline on missing and runaway children; (3) decreasing the time children wait for adoption; and (4) preventing discrimination in multiethnic placements of children. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Block Grants For Child Care And For Nutrition Assistance - Subtitle A: Child Care Block Grants - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to add the following as goals for such Act: (1) to allow each State maximum flexibility in developing child care programs and policies that best suit the needs of children and parents within such State; (2) to promote parental choice to empower working parents to make their own decisions on the child care that best suits their family's needs; (3) to encourage States to provide consumer education information to help parents make informed choices about child care; (4) to assist States to provide child care to parents trying to achieve independence from public assistance; and (5) to assist States in implementing the health, safety, licensing, and registration standards established in State regulations. (Sec. 301) Reauthorizes and extends such Act through 2000. Makes various specified technical and other changes to the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 with regard to lead State agency designation, State application and plan, and limitations on State allotments. Repeals earmarked required expenditures. Requires each State to report a plan for annual evaluations of the extent to which the State has achieved each goal established by this Act. Authorizes a State to transfer funds to carry out other State programs operated under specified provisions of Federal law, including State Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) and Child-Welfare Services programs. (Sec. 302) Repeals certain child care assistance authorized by specified Acts other than the Social Security Act, including Native Hawaiian Family-Based Education Centers under the Native Hawaiian Education Act. Subtitle B: Family and School-Based Nutrition Block Grants - Revises the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, among other changes, converting the current child nutrition program under that Act into a State family nutrition block grant program with goals that include the following: (1) to provide nutritional risk assessment, food assistance based on such risk assessment, and nutrition education and counseling to economically disadvantaged pregnant women, postpartum women, breastfeeding women, infants, and young children at nutritional risk; and (2) to provide food assistance, including nutritious meal supplements, to such women in order to reduce incidences of low-birthweight babies and babies born with birth defects as a result of nutritional deficiencies. (Sec. 321) Sets forth the formula for allotting appropriations among the States. Specifies the use of grant amounts, and establishes penalties for misuse of funds. Requires the appropriate State agency to determine that sufficient grant amounts will remain available during a fiscal year to carry out this subtitle before using any such amounts for the fiscal year. Sets out State reporting requirements. Directs the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to develop, and report to specified congressional committees, model nutrition standards for food assistance provided to economically disadvantaged pregnant women, postpartum women, breastfeeding women, infants, and young children. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 341) Amends the National School Lunch Act, among other changes, converting the current school lunch program into a program of school-based nutrition block grants to States to provide assistance to schools to establish and carry out nutritious food service programs that provide affordable meals and supplements to students. Requires the appropriate State agency to determine that sufficient grant amounts will remain available during a fiscal year to carry out this subtitle before using any such amounts for the fiscal year. Prohibits a State from requiring a school district, private nonprofit school, of Department of Defense domestic dependents' school to accept commodities, except on request, for use in its food service program. Directs the States to ensure that schools provided State assistance in establishing and carrying out nutritious food service programs do not: (1) physically segregate children eligible to receive free or low cost meals or supplements on the basis of such eligibility; (2) provide for overt identification of such children by special means; or (3) otherwise discriminate against them. Provides that if, by reason of any other provision of law, a State is prohibited from providing assistance received from a grant under such Act to private nonprofit schools or Department of Defense domestic dependents' schools, or if the State has substantially failed or is unwilling to provide such assistance, the Secretary of Agriculture shall arrange for its provision to such schools in accordance with the requirements of such Act. Directs the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to develop, and report to specified congressional committees, model nutrition standards for meals provided to students under such Act. Eliminates other current school lunch programs, including the summer food service programs for children in service institutions, the child and adult care food program, meal supplements for children in afterschool care, specified pilot projects, as well as the current publication entitled "Nutrition Guidance for Child Nutrition Programs." Retains the current program for nutritious food service programs in Department of Defense overseas dependents' schools. (Sec. 361) Repeals the Commodity Distribution Reform Act and WIC Amendments of 1987 and the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 1989. Subtitle C: Other Repealers and Conforming Amendments - Repeals the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988 with conforming amendments to the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. (Sec. 371) Repeals the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act with conforming amendments to the Victims of Crime Act of 1984. Repeals the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978. Makes technical amendments to the Temporary Child Care for Children with Disabilities and Crisis Nurseries Act of 1986, eliminating the crisis nursery demonstration program, among other changes. Repeals: (1) the Missing Children's Assistance Act; (2) the family center support provisions of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act; (3) certain investigatory and prosecutory provisions of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990; and (4) the family unification program provisions of the United States Housing Act of 1937. Subtitle D: Related Provisions - Directs the Secretary to produce and publish data on the incidence of poverty for each State, county, and local government for which data have been compiled, as well as for each school district. Requires a report to the Congress, if such data cannot be produced, enumerating each government or school district excluded and giving the reasons for the exclusion. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 382) Requires the Secretary to produce data relating to participation in programs authorized by this Act by families and children. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle E: General Effective Date; Preservation of Actions, Obligations, And Rights - Specifies the effective date of this Act and the application of its amendments and repeals. Title IV: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens - Declares that: (1) it is a compelling government interest to enact new rules for eligibility and sponsorship agreements in order to assure that aliens be self-reliant in accordance with national immigration policy; and (2) it is a compelling government interest to remove the incentive for illegal immigration provided by the availability of public benefits. Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits Programs - Makes illegal and lawful nonimmigrant aliens ineligible for any Federal means-tested public benefits program, with exceptions for: (1) non-cash, in-kind emergency services and certain types of housing-related assistance; and (2) certain aliens granted asylum and temporary agricultural workers. (Sec. 403) Makes aliens lawfully present in the United States (other than as a nonimmigrant) ineligible for SSI, block grant temporary assistance for needy families, social services block grant assistance, Medicaid, and food stamps. Exempts from such eligibility restrictions on lawful aliens: (1) refugees until five years after their arrival in the United States; (2) all eligible resident aliens until one year after enactment of this Act; and (3) all lawful permanent residents 76 years of age or older who have resided in the United States for at least five years. (Sec. 404) Requires each Federal agency administering a program covered by this title to post information and provide general notification to the public and program recipients, either directly or through the States, of the requirements concerning alien eligibility for any such program pursuant to this title. Subtitle B: Eligibility for State and Local Public Benefits Programs - Makes illegal and nonimmigrant aliens ineligible for any State or local means-tested public benefits programs, with certain exceptions including those for non-cash, in-kind emergency services, aliens granted asylum, and temporary agricultural workers. (Sec. 413) Authorizes States to determine eligibility requirements for aliens who are lawfully present in the United States (other than as nonimmigrants) for any State or local means-tested public assistance program except non-cash, in-kind emergency assistance. Exempts from such eligibility restrictions on lawful aliens: (1) refugees until five years after their arrival in the United States; (2) all eligible resident aliens until one year after enactment of this Act; and (3) all lawful permanent residents 76 years of age or older who have resided in the United States for at least five years. Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support - Provides that in determining the eligibility and the amount of benefits of any alien for any means-tested public benefits program (except those for certain housing-related assistance), the income and resources of the alien shall be deemed 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). Applies such requirement with respect to an alien until such time as the alien achieves U.S. citizenship through naturalization. (Sec. 422) Sets forth requirements for sponsor's affidavit of support. Subtitle D: General Provisions - Sets forth definitions and provides for the determination of lawful presence. Subtitle E: Conforming Amendments - Makes conforming amendments relating to assisted housing under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980. Title V: Food Stamp Reform and Commodity Distribution - Food Stamp Reform and Commodity Distribution Act - Subtitle A: Commodity Distribution Provisions - Commodity Distribution Act of 1995 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to purchase and distribute food assistance commodities. (Sec. 513) Requires the Secretary to establish procedures for supplemental State, local, and private commodity donations. (Sec. 514) Requires a State seeking commodity assistance to submit an administrative plan every four years to the Secretary. (Sec. 515) Establishes program allocation guidelines. Requires States to make emergency feeding organizations their first priority. (Sec. 517) Authorizes the Secretary to use Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to pay initial commodity processing and packaging costs. (Sec. 519) Authorizes program appropriations, including separate authorization of appropriations for administrative costs. (Sec. 520) Obligates specified funds for a commodity supplemental food program for women, infants, and children or the elderly. Requires the CCC to donate specified amounts of cheese and nonfat dry milk to such program. (Sec. 521) States that commodities received under this title shall not be considered income or resources for any Federal, State, or local means-tested program. (Sec. 528) Repeals specified food and commodity distribution programs. Subtitle B: Simplification and Reform of Food Stamp Program - Food Stamp Simplification and Reform Act of 1995 - Chapter 1: Simplified Food Stamp Program and State Assistance for Needy Families - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (Act) to authorize a State to operate a program under which households receiving cash assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program established by this Act would receive food stamp benefits based upon TANF rules and procedures. Sets forth the conditions for a State to use TANF rules for food stamp benefits. Chapter 2: Food Stamp Program - Amends the Act to revise the thrifty food plan annual adjustment. (Sec. 552) Eliminates: (1) the food stamp program (program) income exclusion for energy assistance; and (2) annual inflation indexing for income and excess shelter deductions and vehicle allowances. (Sec. 554) Revises work requirements. (Sec. 555) Provides for comparable treatment of disqualified individuals under the program and TANF. (Sec. 556) Encourages States to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 559) Revises State error tolerance level provisions. Chapter 3: Program Integrity - Amends the Act to direct the Secretary to establish authorization periods for retail food stores and wholesale food concerns to redeem food stamps or benefits through an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system. (Sec. 572) Provides that no food store or concern be approved for program participation without a prior visit by a Department of Agriculture employee, or whenever possible, a designated State or local official. (Sec. 573) Establishes a six-month reapplication waiting period for a denied food store or concern. (Sec. 574) States that a food store or concern disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) shall be similarly disqualified from the program. (Sec. 575) Makes a permanent disqualification of a food store or concern effective from the date of receipt of the notice of disqualification. (Sec. 576) Replaces existing administrative forfeiture provisions with criminal forfeiture provisions. (Sec. 578) Increases specified penalties for program violations. (Sec. 579) Provides for the permanent disqualification of a person convicted of trafficking in food stamp benefits of $500 or more. (Sec. 580) Requires collection of claims against recipients from Federal income tax refunds and pay. Subtitle C: Effective Dates and Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth effective dates for provisions of this Act. (Sec. 592) Expresses the sense of the Congress that States that operate electronic benefit systems to transfer food stamp benefits should operate compatible systems. (Sec. 593) Expresses the sense of the House Committee on Agriculture that reductions in outlays resulting from this title shall not be taken into account for certain deficit reduction purposes. Title VI: Supplemental Security Income - Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to: (1) deny SSI by reason of disability to drug addicts and alcoholics; (2) place restrictions on eligibility for cash benefits for disabled children; (3) establish a program of block grants to States for children with disabilities; and (4) repeal the maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SSI benefits. Provides funding for the: (1) Federal Capacity Expansion Program for drug treatment; and (2) medication development project to improve drug abuse and treatment research. (Sec. 603) Amends the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994 to provide for the examination of certain mental disorder listings in determining the eligibility of children for SSI benefits by reason of disability. (Sec. 604) Amends SSA title XI to limit the total amount payable under SSA titles I (Old Age Assistance), X (Aid to the Blind), XIV (Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled), and XVI (SSI) to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. (Sec. 605) Repeals maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SI benefits. Title VII: Child Support - Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services, and Distribution of Payments - Revises SSA title IV part D's child support and paternity establishment program to make various specified changes with regard to: (1) case registries; (2) State obligation to provide child support enforcement services; (3) distribution of child support collections; and (4) privacy safeguards. Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking - Modifies such program further to make various additional specified changes with regard to: (1) automated State case registries and new hire directories for tracking cases, exchanging and comparing information, handling locate requests, and other specified matters; (2) collection and disbursement of support payments through State disbursement units; (3) income withholding; (4) locate information from interstate networks and the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS); (5) reimbursement for information from Federal agencies and for reports by State agencies; (6) an expanded FPLS containing the automated Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders and the National Directory of New Hires; and (7) collection and use of social security numbers for use in child support enforcement. Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures - Requires each State to have in effect the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, as approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in August 1992, and modified by this Act, and the procedures required to implement such Act. Requires such law to be applied to any case involving an order which is established or modified in a State and which is sought to be modified or enforced in another State. (Sec. 722) Amends the Federal judicial code to modify provisions concerning the full faith and credit for child support orders. (Sec. 723) Requires each State to have in effect laws: (1) requiring the use of procedures for administrative enforcement in interstate cases; and (2) providing expedited procedures for establishing paternity and for establishing, modifying, and enforcing support obligations using automated means. Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment - Modifies State law procedures for paternity establishment, among other changes, providing for voluntary paternity acknowledgment. (Sec. 732) Provides for outreach for voluntary paternity establishment. (Sec. 733) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to provide for the cooperation by applicants for and recipients of temporary family assistance in establishing the paternity of, and in establishing, modifying, or enforcing a support order for, any child of the individual. Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding - Makes various specified changes to State payment provisions, including incentive payment requirements. Revises State plan and other provisions with respect to, among other items, Federal and State reviews and audits and State procedures for collecting and reporting information required by SSA title IV part D. (Sec. 745) Revises automated data processing requirements, requiring State agencies to have a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system capable of performing specified tasks relating to the management of the State's SSA title IV part D program. (Sec. 746) Provides funding for technical assistance to States for improving their SSA title IV part D programs and for operation of the FPLS. (Sec. 747) Makes changes with regard to annual congressional reports and data collection by the Secretary. Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders - Revises the process for the review and adjustment of child support orders. Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and SSA title IV part D with regard to enforcement of child support orders, among other changes: (1) providing for changed order of refund distribution; (2) eliminating the disparities in treatment of assigned and non-assigned arrearages; (3) consolidating and revising authorities for collecting support from Federal employees; (4) providing for laws voiding fraudulent transfers; (5) providing for procedures to ensure that persons owing past-due support work or have a plan for payment of such support; and (6) defining the term "support order." (Sec. 763) Provides for enforcement of child support obligations of members of the armed forces. (Sec. 765) Expresses the sense of the Congress that each State should suspend any driver's license, business license, or occupational license issued to any person who owes past-due child support. Subtitle H: Medical Support - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to make a technical correction to the definition of medical child support order under that Act. Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Nonresidential Parents - Amends SSA title IV part D to require the Administration for Children and Families to make grants to enable States to establish and administer programs to support and facilitate absent parents' access to and visitation of their children. Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment - Sets forth the effective dates of this Act. Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Provides that none of the changes in direct spending resulting from this Act shall be reflected in estimates under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings). Amends such Act to provide for adjustments for discretionary programs resulting under this Act. (Sec. 802) Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to encourage electronic benefit transfer systems.

Bill· HRH.R. 1157 (104th)open

Welfare Transformation Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Title II: Child Protection Block Grant Program Title III: Restricting Welfare for Aliens Title IV: Supplemental Security Income Title V: Child Support Subtitle A: Case Registries, Eligibility for Services, and 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 Welfare Transformation Act of 1995 - Title I: Block Grants For Temporary Assistance For Needy Families - Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to convert the current AFDC program into a block grant program with specified work, job search, and education and training requirements designed to increase State flexibility in providing time-limited assistance and support services (including birth control and child care services) to needy families to enable them to leave the program and become self-sufficient. (Sec. 101) Prohibits such assistance, generally, to: (1) certain aliens; (2) families without a minor child; (3) families not cooperating in paternity establishment; (4) children born out-of-wedlock to a minor parent (or the parent until such parent turns age 18); (5) families not assigning support rights to the State; (6) minor children born to benefit recipients; and (7) a person convicted of fraudulently misrepresenting residence in order to receive welfare benefits. Withholds a portion of assistance for families which include a child whose paternity is not established. Provides that in order to be eligible for block grants under such program a State must submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services a plan that includes: (1) an outline of the assistance the State intends on providing to needy families with children; and (2) certifications that the State will operate revised SSA title IV part B (Child-Welfare Services) and D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) programs in accordance with this Act. Allows States to use grants for: (1) providing low-income household heating and cooling assistance; (2) implementing an electronic benefit transfer system for providing assistance to needy families with children; and (3) carrying out a State program pursuant to specified provisions of Federal law, including the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. Gives States the authority to treat families moving interstate under the former State program rules if they reside in their new State of residence for less than 12 months. Increases the amount of such grants for States which have reduced their out-of-wedlock births. Sets out penalties for violations of grant uses and mandatory work requirements. Establishes in the Treasury a revolving loan fund known as the Federal Rainy Day Fund for making loans to, and receiving payments of principal and interest on such loans from, qualified States under the new State block grant program. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the States should require noncustodial, nonsupporting parents who have not attained 18 years of age to fulfill community work obligations and attend appropriate parenting or money management classes after school. Directs the Secretary to: (1) research the costs and benefits of State activities under this title; (2) evaluate innovative approaches to employing program recipients; (3) rank States in order of their success under the grant program; and (4) review the most and least successful State work programs. Sets forth requirements for: (1) State data collection and reporting; and (2) a Census Bureau study obtaining information for evaluating the impact of this title on a random national sample of recipients of assistance under State block grant programs. Appropriates funds for the latter. Directs the Secretary to develop innovative methods of disseminating information on any research, evaluations, and studies conducted under this title. (Sec. 102) Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on automated data processing systems under State block grant programs and the modifications necessary for tracking public program participants and checking case records to prohibit participants from participating in public programs of two or more States. (Sec. 106) Provides for the continued application of current AFDC standards under the Medicaid program under SSA title XIX. Title II: Child Protection Block Grant Program - Revises SSA title IV part B's Child-Welfare Services program, converting it also into a program of block grants to the States, in this case, for the protection of children in accordance with specified standards. (Sec. 201) Sets forth requirements, similar to those in title I, pertaining to: (1) State eligibility plans with appropriate certifications; (2) grant uses; (3) penalties; (4) data collection and reporting; (5) research; (6) a national random sample study; and (7) continued application of current standards under the Medicaid program. Adds requirements for: (1) citizen review panels for examining specific cases to ensure that State and local agencies are doing their job properly to protect children; (2) a clearinghouse and telephone hotline on missing and runaway children; (3) decreasing the time children wait for adoption; and (4) preventing discrimination in multiethnic placements of children. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Restricting Welfare for Aliens - Declares that it is a compelling government interest to enact new rules for eligibility and sponsorship agreements in order to assure that aliens be self-reliant in accordance with national immigration policy. (Sec. 302) Places restrictions on the types of Federal welfare assistance that certain aliens may receive. (Sec. 303) Makes illegal aliens ineligible for any State or local means-tested public assistance, with certain exceptions for emergency medical services, immunizations, and treatment of communicable diseases. (Sec. 304) Authorizes States to determine eligibility requirements for aliens who are lawfully present in the United States not as a result of any refugee, aged, or veteran exceptions for any State means-tested public assistance program, with the same medical care exceptions. (Sec. 305) Provides that in determining the eligibility and the amount of benefits of any alien for any means-tested public assistance program, the income and resources of the alien shall be deemed 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). Applies such requirement with respect to an alien until such time as the alien achieves U.S. citizenship through naturalization. (Sec. 306) Sets forth requirements for sponsor's affidavit of support. (Sec. 308) Requires each agency that administers the State block grant program under SSA title IV part A to provide the Immigration and Naturalization Service with any identification it has of any illegal alien with a child who is a U.S. citizen or national. Title IV: Supplemental Security Income - Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to: (1) deny SSI by reason of disability to drug addicts and alcoholics; (2) place restrictions on eligibility for cash benefits for disabled children; (3) establish a program of block grants to States for children with disabilities; and (4) repeal the maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SSI benefits. Provides funding to the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse for the: (1) Federal Capacity Expansion Program to expand the availability of drug treatment; and (2) medication development project to improve drug abuse and treatment research. (Sec. 403) Amends the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994 to provide for the examination of certain mental disorder listings in determining the eligibility of children for SSI benefits by reason of disability. (Sec. 404) Amends SSA title XI to limit the total amount payable under SSA titles I (Old Age Assistance), X (Aid to the Blind), XIV (Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled), and XVI (SSI) to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. (Sec. 405) Repeals maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SSI benefits. Title V: Child Support - Subtitle A: Case Registries, Eligibility for Services, and Distribution of Payments - Revises SSA title IV part D's child support and paternity establishment program to make various specified changes with regard to: (1) case registries; (2) State obligation to provide child support enforcement services; (3) distribution of child support collections; and (4) privacy safeguards. Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking - Modifies such program further to make various additional specified changes with regard to: (1) automated State case registries and new hire directories for tracking cases, exchanging and comparing information, handling locate requests, and other specified matters; (2) collection and disbursement of support payments through State disbursement units; (3) income withholding; (4) locate information from interstate networks and the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS); (5) reimbursement for information from Federal agencies and for reports by State agencies; (6) an expanded FPLS containing the automated Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders and the National Directory of New Hires; and (7) collection and use of social security numbers for use in child support enforcement. Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures - Requires each State to have in effect the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, as approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in August 1992, and modified by this Act, and the procedures required to implement such Act. Requires such law to be applied to any case involving an order which is established or modified in a State and which is sought to be modified or enforced in another State. (Sec. 522) Amends the Federal judicial code to modify provisions concerning the full faith and credit for child support orders. (Sec. 523) Requires each State to have in effect laws: (1) requiring the use of procedures for administrative enforcement in interstate cases; and (2) providing expedited procedures for establishing paternity and for establishing, modifying, and enforcing support obligations using automated means. Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment - Modifies State law procedures for paternity establishment, among other changes, providing for voluntary paternity acknowledgment. (Sec. 532) Provides for outreach for voluntary paternity establishment. (Sec. 533) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to provide for the cooperation by applicants for and recipients of temporary family assistance in establishing the paternity of, and in establishing, modifying, or enforcing a support order for, any child of the individual. Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding - Makes various specified changes to State payment provisions, including incentive payment requirements (with reduction adjustments for State failure to meet the paternity establishment percentage). Revises State plan and other provisions with respect to, among other items, Federal and State reviews and audits and State procedures for collecting and reporting information required by SSA title IV part D. (Sec. 545) Revises automated data processing requirements, requiring State agencies to have a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system capable of performing specified tasks relating to the management of the State's SSA title IV part D program. (Sec. 546) Provides funding for technical assistance to States for improving their SSA title IV part D programs and for operation of the FPLS. (Sec. 547) Makes changes with regard to annual congressional reports and data collection by the Secretary. Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders - Revises the process for the review and adjustment of child support orders. Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and SSA title IV part D with regard to enforcement of child support orders, among other changes: (1) providing for changed order of refund distribution; (2) eliminating the disparities in treatment of assigned and non-assigned arrearages; (3) consolidating and revising authorities for collecting support from Federal employees; (4) providing for laws voiding fraudulent transfers; (5) providing for procedures to ensure that persons owing past-due support work or have a plan for payment of such support and (6) defining the term "support order." (Sec. 563) Provides for enforcement of child support obligations of members of the armed forces. (Sec. 565) Expresses the sense of the Congress that each State should suspend any driver's license, business license, or occupational license issued to any person who owes past-due child support. Subtitle H: Medical Support - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to make a technical correction to the definition of medical child support order under that Act. Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Nonresidential Parents - Amends SSA title IV part D to require the Administration for Children and Families to make grants to enable States to establish and administer programs to support and facilitate absent parent' access to and visitation of their children. Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment - Sets forth the effective dates of this Act.

Bill· HRH.R. 1018 (104th)referred

Illegal Immigration Control Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Interdiction Title II: Alien Smuggling Title III: Employment Title IV: Government Benefits Title V: Criminal Aliens Title VI: Terrorist Aliens Title VII: Inspections Title VIII: Asylum Illegal Immigration Control Act of 1995 - Title I: Interdiction - Directs the Attorney General to install additional physicial barriers in high illegal-entry border areas. (Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations for additional Border Patrol personnel. (Sec. 103) Directs the Attorney General and the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to implement an interior repatriation program for illegal aliens who have been deported at least three times. (Sec. 104) Directs the Attorney General and the Commissioner of INS to increase border detention facilites. Authorizes the transfer of closed military bases to be used as Federal incarceration facilities for illegal aliens. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the Attorney General to require vessels to provide INS with port of entry notification. Title II: Alien Smuggling - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act) to expand INS forfeiture authority for smuggling or harboring illegal aliens. (Sec. 202) Brings alien smuggling operations under the purview of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) provisions. (Sec. 203) Amends the Act to increase penalties for certain alien smuggling offenses. (Sec. 204) Amends Federal law to authorize INS wiretaps for alien smuggling investigations. Title III: Employment - Amends the Act to revise alien employment documentation and employer verification provisions, including social security card enhancements. (Sec. 302) Authorizes appropriations for additional INS investigators. Title IV: Government Benefits - Prohibits direct Federal benefits (except for emergency medical care) or housing assistance to an alien who is not a permanent resident, a refugee, an asylee, or a parolee. (Sec. 402) Prohibits unemployment benefits to an alien who has not been granted INS work authorization. (Sec. 404) Authorizes appropriations for the Save System. (Sec. 405) Reduces Federal assistance by 20 percent to any locality that refuses to cooperate in the arrest and deportation of illegal aliens. (Sec. 406) Establishes a uniform vital statistics pilot program for three States with high numbers of undocumented aliens. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Criminal Aliens - Amends the Act to include aliens on criminal probation or criminal parole among the categories of aliens subject to special registration. (Sec. 502) Restricts specified deportation defenses. (Sec. 503) Authorizes electronic or telephonic deportation proceedings. (Sec. 504) Directs the Commissioner to operate a criminal alien tracking center. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 505) Directs the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to study the use and effectiveness of the Prisoner Transfer Treaty with Mexico to remove convicted aliens from the United States. (Sec. 506) Expedites deportation proceedings for specified criminal aliens. Title VI: Terrorist Aliens - Amends the Act to establish procedures for the removal of alien terrorists, including a special court to hear such cases. (Sec. 602) Makes membership in a terrorist organization a basis for U.S. exclusion. Title VII: Inspections - Directs the Attorney General to establish: (1) specified numbers of preinspection stations at foreign airports identified as last departure points for the greatest numbers of U.S.-arriving passengers and at those with the greatest numbers of U.S.-arriving undocumented aliens; and (2) an air carrier consultant program. (Sec. 702) Provides for the training of airline personnel in fraudulent document detection. Title VIII: Asylum - Amends the Act to revise asylum procedures. (Sec. 802) Sets forth mandatory and discretionary conditions for granting provisional asylum.

Bill· SS. 422 (104th)referred

International Partnership and Prosperity Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Bilateral Economic Assistance Title II: Security Assistance and Related Programs Title III: Trade, Investment and Export Promotion Title IV: International Financial Institutions Title V: Middle East Title VI: Europe and the New Independent States Title VII: Special Authorities Title VIII: Reports, Limitations, and General Provisions Chapter A: Reporting Requirements Chapter B: Limitations on Assistance Chapter C: Administrative Provisions International Partnership and Prosperity Act of 1995 - Title I: Bilateral Economic Assistance - Authorizes the President to provide bilateral economic assistance for the following purposes: (1) to promote economic reforms, conditions, and institutions which contribute to the transition to free markets and democracy; (2) to meet urgent disaster and humanitarian needs; and (3) to control transnational threats. Requires: (1) U.S. assistance policy and programs to take into consideration a nation's commitment to free market principles; and (2) U.S. assistance to contribute to the strengthening of institutions and organizations which expand political freedom and civil liberty. (Sec. 102) Authorizes the President to make voluntary contributions on a grant basis to international organizations and programs administered by such organizations. Prohibits funds under this section from being made available for programs for Iran, Iraq, Libya, Cuba, North Korea, or Burma. Directs the Secretary of State to report to specified congressional committees on: (1) the budgets and accounts of all international organizations receiving payments of funds under this section; and (2) the amount of funds expended by each international organization or program, including the amount contributed by the United States. Earmarks funding to carry out this section. (Sec. 103) Authorizes the President to provide, and earmarks funding for, assistance to alleviate human suffering caused by man- made and natural disasters. (Sec. 104) Earmarks funding for: (1) migration and refugee assistance, including a specified amount for refugees resettling in Israel; and (2) Peace Corps activities. (Sec. 106) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this title. Title II: Security Assistance and Related Programs - Permits U.S. security assistance to be provided only to: (1) enhance the military capabilities of a friendly nation to meet legitimate self- defense and security needs; (2) strengthen such capabilities to permit effective participation in collective security or peacekeeping activities; (3) support the efforts of a foreign government to combat mutual, transational threats; (4) strengthen civilian and military relations consistent with democratic principles and with emphasis on improving military standards of professionalism; (5) promote self- defense and defense cooperation with U.S. allies and friendly nations through the acquisition of U.S. defense articles and services; and (6) support the transition to democracy. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the President to furnish security assistance to any eligible and friendly country by: (1) acquiring from any source and providing any defense article or service; (2) assigning or detailing members of the armed forces and other personnel to perform noncombatant duties; or (3) transferring funds to meet obligations of the recipient for payments for sales under the Arms Export Control Act. (Sec. 203) Sets forth conditions for eligibility to receive defense articles, services, or related training. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the President to furnish military education and training to foreign military and civilian personnel. Earmarks funding for such training, including a specified amount for programs in Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. (Sec. 205) Authorizes the President to furnish assistance to friendly countries and international organizations for peacekeeping operations in furtherance of U.S. national security interests. Permits such assistance to include reimbursement to the Department of Defense for expenses incurred for noncombatant activities under the United Nations Participation Act. Limits such reimbursement to $10 million. Prohibits the use of funds to train, equip, or support U.S. military personnel serving under United Nations command. Earmarks funding to carry out this section, including a specified amount to support a joint Baltic peacekeeping battalion. (Sec. 206) Authorizes the President to provide antiterrorism assistance to foreign governments. (Sec. 207) Permits the President to transfer excess defense articles to: (1) member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which are eligible for U.S. security assistance and are integrated into NATO's military structure; (2) major non-NATO allies on the south and southeastern flank of NATO which are eligible for such assistance; (3) Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia; and (4) Latin American or Caribbean countries with democratic governments that are major drug producing or transit countries. Authorizes the transfer of nonlethal excess defense articles to other eligible countries, as necessary. Requires prior congressional notification for transfers of excess defense articles. (Sec. 208) Authorizes the President, after reporting to the Congress, to direct the drawdown of defense articles and services and military education and training for specified emergency or humanitarian purposes. Limits the aggregate value per fiscal year of articles, services, and training provided. (Sec. 209) Authorizes the President to assign members of the armed forces to a foreign country to: (1) provide equipment and services case management, training management, program monitoring, evaluation and planning of the host government's military capabilities and requirements, administrative support, and liaison functions; and (2) promote defense cooperation measures. (Sec. 210) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this title, earmarking an amount for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans under credit sales provisions of the Arms Export Control Act. Title III: Trade, Investment and Export Promotion - Requires U.S. assistance to be provided to expand American job, trade, and investment opportunities abroad. Provides that specified provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 that deal with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) shall remain in effect. Consolidates the programs of the Trade and Development Agency with those of OPIC. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the subsidy cost of OPIC direct loans, guarantees, and administrative expenses; and (2) such consolidation. Title IV: International Financial Institutions - Authorizes appropriations to fulfill obligations to international financial institutions. (Sec. 402) Provides that the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative (under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961) shall remain in effect. Title V: Middle East - Authorizes appropriations for: (1) Israel and Egypt; and (2) fulfilling conditions of agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel and Jordan. (Sec. 504) Deems a provision of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 relating to loan guarantees for Israel to remain in effect. Title VI: Europe and the New Independent States - Authorizes appropriations to carry out programs in Eastern Europe and the Baltics. (Sec. 603) Authorizes appropriations to carry out specified activities in the new independent states and earmarks specified amounts for Ukraine, Armenia, and Georgia and for joint law enforcement and training activities. (Sec. 604) Prohibits funds from being made available to Russia if the Russian Government directs or supports any action which violates the territorial integrity or national sovereignty of any other state. Exempts humanitarian assistance from such prohibition. Directs the Secretary to report annually to the Congress on any steps taken by a new independent state in violation of the territorial integrity or national sovereignty of any other state. (Sec. 605) Requires assistance programs under this title to be carried out exclusively on a bilateral basis. Title VII: Special Authorities - Authorizes the President to use funds made available under this Act to provide for unanticipated contingencies subject to fiscal year limitations and advance reporting requirements. (Sec. 702) Provides for the transfer of funds between accounts subject to certain limitations and advance congressional notification. (Sec. 703) Authorizes the President to waive certain restrictions in this Act or the Arms Export Control Act to authorize the furnishing of foreign assistance if it is in the national security interest. Limits amounts that may be made available. Title VIII: Reports, Limitations, and General Provisions - Chapter A: Reporting Requirements - Directs the Secretary to report annually to the Speaker of the House and specified congressional committees on human rights practices of countries that receive assistance under this Act or are members of the United Nations. (Sec. 802) Requires the Secretary to submit to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations a report on international narcotics control that is the same as an existing report required under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. (Sec. 803) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) congressional notification of program changes; and (2) an annual allocation report by the President regarding countries and organizations receiving assistance. Chapter B: Limitations on Assistance - Makes ineligible for foreign assistance any country: (1) that is a communist country; (2) that engages in gross violations of human rights; (3) that has expropriated property or nullified contracts with U.S. citizens and has not provided compensation or submitted the dispute to international arbitration within a specified time period; (4) whose elected head of government is deposed by military coup unless a democratically-elected government has taken office subsequent to the coup; (5) whose government provides support for international terrorism; (6) that is a major illicit drug-producing or transit country; or (7) that is more than one year in arrears to the U.S. Government on a payment of interest or principal on a loan made or credit extended under this Act, the Arms Export Control Act, or the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Exempts from such prohibition assistance that is in the national security interest, for alleviation of suffering resulting from a disaster, or for migration and refugee assistance, provided the President reports in advance to specified congressional committees. Sets forth provisions regarding the listing of communist and terrorist countries. Establishes additional restrictions on assistance under other specified Acts to human rights violators, terrorist countries, and major illicit drug-producing and transit countries. Chapter C: Administrative Provisions - Subchapter 1: Procurement - Permits funds to be made available for programs under this Act for procurement only in the United States, the recipient country, or developing countries. Lists conditions under which procurement may be made from other countries. (Sec. 822) Provides that ocean transportation between foreign countries of articles purchased with foreign currencies derived from funds made available under this Act, the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, or predecessor Acts and transfers of fresh fruit under this Act shall not be governed by the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 or any other law relating to the ocean transportation of commodities on U.S. flag vessels. Authorizes funding under this Act to be used to make grants to recipients or otherwise pay any differential that exists between U.S. and foreign flag vessel charter or freight rates. (Sec. 823) Sets forth provisions regarding the retention, transfer, or use of articles procured to carry out this Act. Subchapter 2: Inter-Agency Authorities - Sets forth provisions regarding the allocation and reimbursement of funds to Government agencies for providing foreign assistance. (Sec. 832) Authorizes Government agencies to furnish articles and services on an advance-of-funds or reimbursement basis to friendly countries and international and nongovernmental organizations. Subchapter 3: General Administration - Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) general assistance authorities, including conditions of assistance; (2) health and accident insurance for foreign employees of Government agencies or assistance programs and conditions under which alien participants in assistance programs may be admitted to the United States; (3) guarantees; (4) administrative uses of funds; and (5) termination expenses. Subchapter 4: Personnel - Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) employment of personnel and details of personnel to foreign governments and international organizations to carry out this Act; and (2) offices abroad. Subchapter 5: Definitions, Conforming Changes, Repeals - Sets forth definitions. Prohibits a U.S. court from declining on the ground of the Federal act of state doctrine to make a determination on the merits giving effect to the principles of international law in a case in which claim of title or other right to property is asserted by any party based upon a taking after January 1, 1959, by an act of that state in violation of the principles of international law. (Sec. 864) Deems references to: (1) the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) and to the administrator of the agency primarily responsible for administering part I of this part to be references to the Secretary; (2) AID to be references to the Department of State; and (3) the Trade and Development Agency to be references to OPIC. (Sec. 865) Repeals the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (with the exception of a few provisions).

Bill· HRH.R. 966 (104th)open

James P. Grant World Summit for Children Implementation Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1995

James P. Grant World Summit for Children Implementation Act of 1995 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 for contributions to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 for the Child Survival Fund. Earmarks funds for activities that have a direct measurable impact on reducing rates of child morbidity and mortality. Expresses the sense of the Congress that authority should be granted to the President to exercise specified debt forgiveness for least developed countries that are pursuing economic policy reforms to promote long-term development. Earmarks development assistance funds for FY 1996 and 1997 for the Vitamin A Deficiency Program. Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 for: (1) iodine and iron fortification programs; (2) prevention, care, and control programs related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in developing countries; and (3) population assistance programs. Earmarks development and economic assistance funds for FY 1996 and 1997 for programs in support of basic education. Expresses the sense of the Congress that specified amounts should be appropriated for FY 1996 and 1997 for migration and refugee assistance. Requires the President to call upon other governments to provide their share of resources required to achieve the World Summit for Children goals by the year 2000.

Bill· HRH.R. 759 (104th)open

Common Sense Welfare Reform Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Capping the Aggregate Growth of Welfare Spending Title II: Empowering Taxpayers to Participate in Poverty Relief Efforts Title III: Promoting Strong Families and Parental Responsibility Common Sense Welfare Reform Act of 1995 - Title I: Capping the Aggregate Growth of Welfare Spending - Establishes a cap on the growth of total Federal spending on certain welfare programs. (Sec. 101) Subjects to such spending limit the following programs: (1) the welfare block grant program established under this Act; (2) Head Start programs under the Head Start Act; (3) cash, medical, and social services assistance programs for refugees and entrants under Immigration and Nationality Act and the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980; (4) the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966; (5) programs providing general assistance to Indians under the Snyder Act; (6) programs providing Indian health services under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act; (7) programs providing Indian housing improvement grants; and (8) programs providing Indian and Native American employment training. Provides for reconciliation of such spending growth limits through specified procedures for allocations and reductions based on spending caps, and through consultation with specified congressional committees. (Sec. 102) Entitles each State to an annual welfare block grant payment based on a specified formula under a five-year program. Establishes the Welfare Revolving Fund. (Sec. 103) Eliminates certain welfare programs, under the following categories: (1) cash aid (Social Security Act (SSA) programs for Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Supplemental Security Income, foster care and adoption assistance, and grants to territories for aid to the aged, blind, or disabled); (2) medical aid (SSA program for maternal and child health services block grants, and Public Health Service Act programs for community health centers and migrant health centers); (3) food aid (the entire Food Stamp Act of 1977 and its food stamp program, the school lunch program under the National School Lunch Act (NSLA), the entire Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 and its emergency food assistance program, nutrition programs for the elderly under the Older Americans Act of 1965, the school breakfast program under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA), and other specified child and adult food programs); (4) housing aid (certain rental assistance and public housing programs under the United States Housing Act of 1937, certain interest reduction assistance under the National Housing Act, rent supplement assistance under the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, and Housing Act of 1949 programs for specified rural housing and rental assistance); (5) energy aid (the entire Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 and its low-income home energy assistance programs, and the weatherization assistance program under the Energy Conservation and Production Act); (6) education aid (Higher Education Act of 1965 programs for Pell grants, Federal supplemental educational opportunity grants, Federal TRIO programs, grants to States for State student incentives, and grants to institutions and consortia to encourage women and minority participation in graduate education, and Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 programs for improving local education agency basic programs for disadvantaged and for migratory children); (7) jobs and training aid (Job Training Partnership Act programs for adult training, summer youth employment and training, the Job Corps, and Native Americans and migrant and seasonal farmworkers, the older American community service employment program under the Older Americans Act of 1965, and the JOBS program under SSA); (8) social services (SSA block grants to States for social services, the entire Community Services Block Grant Act (except specified provisions) and its community services block grant program, the entire Legal Services Corporation Act of 1974 and its legal services program, the FEMA emergency food and shelter program under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, PHSA programs of research regarding family planning and population issues and of voluntary family planning projects, and the entire Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973); and (9) community aid (community development block grants and urban development action grants under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, and the entire Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 with its Appalachian regional development program (terminating the Appalachian Regional Development Commission)). Revises the Older Americans Act of 1965 with respect to supportive services for older individuals to include a Senior Opportunities and Services program. (Sec. 104) Requires the use for deficit reduction of all savings to the Federal Government resulting from the spending cap imposed under this Act. Prohibits the use of such savings to fund increased spending under any programs that are not subject to the spending cap. Provides that budgetary effects resulting from enactment of this title shall not be counted under the Balanced Budgetary and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1965 with respect to deficit amounts in excess of the statutory maximum (paygo scorecard) which trigger an offsetting sequestration. Title II: Empowering Taxpayers to Participate in Poverty Relief Efforts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to allow an individual tax credit for charitable contributions to certain private charities providing assistance to the poor. Title III: Promoting Strong Families and Parental Responsibility - Amends the IRC to allow an additional earned income credit for married individuals. (Sec. 302) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a system for the reporting of information relating to child support obligations of employees. Amends SSA title VI part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to require a State role in such system. (Sec. 303) Amends SSA title VI part D to require: (1) State registries of child support orders; and (2) certain procedures for accessibility of State information relating to child support. (Sec. 304) Expands the Parent Locator Service. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an Interstate Local Network linking the Parent Locator Service and all State databases relating to child support enforcement. Requires prescription of regulations governing information sharing among States, within States, and between States and the Parent Locator Service. (Sec. 305) Requires certain State procedures for collection and distribution of child support through income withholding. Provides for development of a uniform withholding order. Requires States to have laws requiring employers to withhold child support pursuant to uniform withholding orders. (Sec. 306) Requires development of a uniform abstract of a child support order for use by all State courts to record specified information with respect to each child support order in the registry.

Bill· HRH.R. 756 (104th)referred

Illegal Immigration Control Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Interdiction Title II: Alien Smuggling Title III: Employment Title IV: Government Benefits Title V: Criminal Aliens Title VI: Terrorist Aliens Title VII: Inspections Title VIII: Asylum Illegal Immigration Control Act of 1995 - Title I: Interdiction - Directs the Attorney General to install additional physicial barriers in high illegal-entry border areas. (Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations for additional Border Patrol personnel. (Sec. 103) Directs the Attorney General and the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to implement an interior repatriation program for illegal aliens who have been deported at least three times. (Sec. 104) Directs the Attorney General and the Commissioner of INS to increase border detention facilites. Authorizes the transfer of closed military bases to be used as Federal incarceration facilities for illegal aliens. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the Attorney General to require vessels to provide INS with port of entry notification. (Sec. 106) Directs the Commissioner to collect a user fee for each U.S. land entry. (Sec. 107) Establishes a Border Control Trust Fund. Title II: Alien Smuggling - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act) to expand INS forfeiture authority for smuggling or harboring illegal aliens. (Sec. 202) Brings alien smuggling operations under the purview of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) provisions. (Sec. 203) Amends the Act to increase penalties for certain alien smuggling offenses. (Sec. 204) Amends Federal law to authorize INS wiretaps for alien smuggling investigations. Title III: Employment - Amends the Act to revise alien employment documentation and employer verification provisions, including social security card enhancements. (Sec. 302) Authorizes appropriations for additional INS investigators. Title IV: Government Benefits - Prohibits direct Federal benefits (except for emergency medical care) or housing assistance to an alien who is not a permanent resident, a refugee, an asylee, or a parolee. (Sec. 402) Prohibits unemployment benefits to an alien who has not been granted INS work authorization. (Sec. 404) Authorizes appropriations for the Save System. (Sec. 405) Reduces Federal assistance by 20 percent to any locality that refuses to cooperate in the arrest and deportation of illegal aliens. (Sec. 406) Establishes a uniform vital statistics pilot program for three States with high numbers of undocumented aliens. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Criminal Aliens - Amends the Act to include aliens on criminal probation or criminal parole among the categories of aliens subject to special registration. (Sec. 502) Restricts specified deportation defenses. (Sec. 503) Authorizes electronic or telephonic deportation proceedings. (Sec. 504) Directs the Commissioner to operate a criminal alien tracking center. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 505) Directs the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to study the use and effectiveness of the Prisoner Transfer Treaty with Mexico to remove convicted aliens from the United States. (Sec. 506) Expedites deportation proceedings for specified criminal aliens. Title VI: Terrorist Aliens - Amends the Act to establish procedures for the removal of alien terrorists, including a special court to hear such cases. (Sec. 602) Makes membership in a terrorist organization a basis for U.S. exclusion. Title VII: Inspections - Directs the Attorney General to establish: (1) specified numbers of preinspection stations at foreign airports identified as last departure points for the greatest numbers of U.S.-arriving passengers and at those with the greatest numbers of U.S.-arriving undocumented aliens; and (2) an air carrier consultant program. (Sec. 702) Provides for the training of airline personnel in fraudulent document detection. (Sec. 703) Amends Federal law to increase specified passport and visa penalties. Title VIII: Asylum - Amends the Act to revise asylum procedures. (Sec. 802) Sets forth mandatory and discretionary conditions for granting provisional asylum.

Question· oralPQ 40asked

40 Kathleen Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, he has to meet the Russian ambassador to Ireland to discuss the current situation in Chechnya; whether he intends increasing Ireland's emergency humanitarian aid allocation to the region in view of the estimated 100,000 refugees created by the conflict; the measures, if any, which have been agreed by the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1434/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 24 January 1995

40 Kathleen Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, he has to meet the Russian ambassador to Ireland to discuss the current situation in Chechnya; whether he intends increasing Ireland's emergency humanitarian aid allocation to the region in view of the estimated 100,000 refugees created by the conflict; the measures, if any, which have been agreed by the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1434/95]

Question· oralPQ 19asked

40 Kathleen Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, he has to meet the Russian ambassador to Ireland to discuss the current situation in Chechnya; whether he intends increasing Ireland's emergency humanitarian aid allocation to the region in view of the estimated 100,000 refugees created by the conflict; the measures, if any, which have been agreed by the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1434/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 24 January 1995

40 Kathleen Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, he has to meet the Russian ambassador to Ireland to discuss the current situation in Chechnya; whether he intends increasing Ireland's emergency humanitarian aid allocation to the region in view of the estimated 100,000 refugees created by the conflict; the measures, if any, which have been agreed by the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1434/95]

Bill· SS. 269 (104th)reported

Immigrant Control and Financial Responsibility Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Immigrant Control Subtitle A: Law Enforcement Subtitle B: Other Control Measures Subtitle C: Effective Dates Title II: Financial Responsibility Immigrant Control and Financial Responsibility Act of 1995 - Title I: Immigrant Control - Subtitle A: Law Enforcement - Part 1: Additional Enforcement Personnel - Authorizes appropriations to hire additional Border Patrol agents and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) investigators. Part 2: System to Verify Eligibility to Work and to Receive Public Assistance - Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and implement a system to verify work and public assistance eligibility. Provides for the creation of related State and national demonstration projects. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Attorney General to establish the Database for Employment Authorization Verification. Establishes in the Department of Justice the Office of Employment and Public Assistance Eligibility Verification. Authorizes appropriations. Part 3: Alien Smuggling - Amends Federal law to: (1) authorize INS wiretaps for alien smuggling investigations; and (2) include alien smuggling and certain fraudulent document use provisions within the parameters of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute (RICO). (Sec. 123) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to increase alien smuggling penalties. (Sec. 124) Subjects all property, real and personal, associated with illegal alien smuggling or harboring activities (not only conveyances, as under current law) to Federal seizure and forfeiture. Part 4: Document Fraud, Misrepresentation, and Failure to Present Documents - Increases criminal penalties for fraudulent use of Government identification documents. Establishes civil and criminal penalties for immigration related document fraud, misrepresentation, and failure to present documents upon arrival. (Sec. 136) Makes document fraud or failure to present documents grounds for U.S. exclusion. Part 5: Exclusion and Deportation - Amends the Act to establish a special port of entry exclusion procedure for specified fraudulent document cases. (Sec. 142) Restricts judicial review of deportation and exclusion orders to limited habeas corpus proceedings. (Sec. 144) Provides civil penalties for failure to depart. (Sec. 145) Authorizes INS appropriations for deportation and related costs. (Sec. 147) Denies nonimmigrant visas for countries refusing to accept deported aliens. (Sec. 148) Limits withholding of deportation for excludable aliens apprehended at sea. Part 6: Miscellaneous - Establishes pilot programs for: (1) methods to deter multiple unauthorized entries by aliens into the United States, including the use of interior or third country repatriation; and (2) use of closed military bases to detain excludable or deportable aliens. Subtitle B: Other Control Measures - Part 1: Parole Authority - Amends the Act to make parole authority useable on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. (Sec. 162) Includes parolees in the world-wide level of family-sponsored immigrants. Part 2: Asylum and Refugees - Restricts asylum provisions, including work authorization. (Sec. 173) Authorizes the Attorney General, in order to reduce the asylum backlog, to temporarily: (1) use additional funds for property acquisition; and (2) hire Federal retirees. (Sec. 174) Amends the Act to require congressional approval for annual admission of more than 50,000 refugees. Part 3: Cuban Adjustment Act - Repeals the Cuban Adjustment Act. Subtitle C: Effective Dates - Sets forth specified effective dates. Title II: Financial Responsibility - Part 1: Receipt of Certain Public Benefits - Prohibits public assistance and benefits, with specified exceptions, to an alien who is not a permanent resident, a refugee, an asylee, a specified parolee, or an alien under withheld deportation. Prohibits unemployment benefits to an alien who has not been granted work authorization. (Sec. 203) Defines "public charge" for deportation purposes. (Sec. 204) Sets forth sponsor affidavit of support requirements. Part 2: Border Crossing Fee - Provides for the imposition of fees at ports of entry sufficient to cover INS costs of maintaining and operating port of entry facilities. Requires fees to be deposited in the Land Border User Fee Account of the Treasury. (Sec. 212) Authorizes pilot projects for: (1) commuter border crossing fees; and (2) automated border crossing technology. Part 3: Effective Dates - Sets forth specified effective dates.

Bill· SS. 179 (104th)referred

Criminal Alien Control Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Deportation of Criminal Aliens Title II: Local Cooperation with Federal Officials and Procedures Title III: Miscellaneous Criminal Alien Control Act of 1995 - Title I: Deportation of Criminal Aliens - (Sec. 101) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that an alien who is convicted of any felony, not just specified felonies as under current law, may be deported. (Sec. 102) Presumes conclusively that an alien convicted of a felony is deportable. Limits the scope of judicial review for an alien subject to a final order of deportation. (Sec. 103) Permits a U.S. district court or a State court to enter a judicial order of deportation at the time of sentencing an alien. (Sec. 105) Restricts certain defenses to deportation available for certain criminal aliens. (Sec. 106) Requires the deportation of a criminal alien after the issuance of the deportation order, even if an appeal is made. Permits review of the order by such alien while outside the United States. (Sec. 107) Prohibits a previously deported alien involved in a criminal proceeding for illegal U.S. entry from challenging the deportation order. (Sec. 108) Places restrictions on asylum claims for criminal aliens. (Sec. 109) Requires the Federal incarceration of an undocumented criminal alien under specified circumstances. (Sec. 110) Authorizes electronic or telephonic deportation hearings. Title II: Local Cooperation with Federal Officials and Procedures - (Sec. 201) Denies funding under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1993 to a State or local government that will not provide requested information to Federal immigration officials. Title III: Miscellaneous - (Sec. 301) Provides for the detention of undocumented criminal aliens on closed military installations. (Sec. 302) Authroizes special registration for aliens on criminal parole or probation.

Bill· SS. 180 (104th)referred

Workforce Development Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Streamlining and Consolidation Title II: Market Building Activities Subtitle A: Federal Level Activities Subtitle B: State Level Activities Subtitle C: Local Level Activities Title III: Enhancing Individual Choice Through Training Accounts Title IV: Private-Public Linkages Title V: Integrated Labor Market Information System Workforce Development Act - Consolidates and revises Federal job training programs to create a workforce development system. (Sec. 3) Authorizes appropriations. Title I: Streamlining and Consolidation - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) any budget savings realized through elimination or consolidation of programs under this title should be reinvested in the national job training (or workforce development) system; and (2) elimination or merging of programs should be done without reducing the Federal commitment or level of effort to improve education, employment, and earnings of all workers, particularly hard-to-serve individuals. (Sec. 102) Repeals the provisons of various Federal laws for certain employment training programs, including specified ones under the Food Stamp Act of 1977, Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965, Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Federal Transit Act, Displaced Homemaker Self-Sufficiency Assistance Act, Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), and Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. (Sec. 103) Repeals provisions for certain adult job training and employment programs under the JTPA, Wagner-Peyser Act, Trade Act of 1974, Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, and Older Americans Act of 1965. Requires any State receiving an implementation grant (to develop an integrated workforce development system) to include the components of these repealed programs and activities in such system. Allows any such State to include additional programs in such system, under certain conditions. (Sec. 104) Directs the National Workforce Development Board (established under title II) to advise on consolidation of workforce development programs through: (1) recommendations to the President and the Congress for the elimination of Federal workforce development programs, or programs whose functions should be subsumed under other Federal programs; (2) a report and recommendations for proposed reforms to specified congressional committees based on its analysis of the experience of leading edge States and the progress toward establishing an integrated workforce development system; and (3) a draft of a joint resolution to the Congress with provisions to develop a streamlined, integrated, federally supported workforce development system, from listed programs and any other appropriate Federal program (including recommendations for standard program measures and a description of how the new system will maintain services to hard-to-serve populations). (Sec. 105) Directs the President to establish an expedited process to consider and act on requests by States for waivers of laws and regulations for specified programs for: (1) two years to facilitate provision of assistance for workforce development, for States not receiving implementation grants; or (2) the duration of the implementation grant, for States receiving such grants. Title II: Market Building Activities - Subtitle A: Federal Level Activities - Establishes the National Workforce Development Board (the Board). (Sec. 202) Requires the Board to prepare annually the Nation's Workforce Development Report Card (National Report Card), which shall assess the U.S. workforce development system performance and evaluate all workforce development programs that receive Federal funding. Directs the Board to review development, implementation, and matching incentive grant proposals. Terminates the Board after it submits to the President and the Congress the joint resolution to develop a streamlined, integrated, federally supported workforce development system required by title I. Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to repeal the establishment of the National Commission for Employment Policy. Replaces references to such Commission with references to the Board. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make grants to applicant States to: (1) develop strategic plans for development of comprehensive statewide integrated workforce development systems; and (2) if they are leading edge States, implement such systems. Directs the Secretary to use specified information clearinghouses and other entities to: (1) collect and disseminate information to help States and localities to streamline and reform their job training systems; and (2) facilitate exchange of information and ideas among States and localities carrying out job training reform initiatives. Requires the Board to determine whether any proposed Federal job training legislation complies with data reporting, common definitions, and common funding cycles provisions under this Act. Makes it out of order for the Senate or House of Representatives to consider any bill or resolution concerning workforce development that would not comply with the national workforce development system, as determined by the Board. Requires a three-fifths affirmative vote to waive or suspend such requirement in the Senate or House. (Sec. 204) Establishes a quality assurance system. Directs the Secretaries of Labor, of Education, and of Health and Human Services to jointly develop common terms and definitions and a placement accountability system and adjust existing program performance standards. Directs the Board to recommend a system of performance standards in its joint resolution to the Congress that includes standard outcome measures relating to employment, job retention, earnings, and nonemployment outcome measures (such as learning and competency gains). Requires each workforce development program that receives Federal funds to collect, and report to the Governor and State Council, specified information relating to each participant's: (1) quarterly employment status and earnings for one year after no longer receiving program assistance; (2) economic and demographic characteristics; (3) services received and spending for them; (4) program outcomes; and (5) other data that may be added as the Board develops other standard definitions. Requires that program monitoring under these provisions supplant existing monitoring and reporting requirements for program participants. Directs each Federal department and agency with responsibility for a workforce development program to report to the Board on its progress in adopting common terms and definitions for program participants, service activities, and outcomes by program operators and grant recipients. Directs the Board to make recommendations to: (1) the Secretaries and heads of other agencies operating workforce development programs, on common definitions for other terms; and (2) the Congress, on legislative action if any of the proposed common definitions require amendment to existing laws. Establishes a placement accountability system for all federally funded workforce development programs. Requires each such program to: (1) monitor its own performance by measuring quarterly employment status and earnings of each participant for one year after he or she no longer receives program assistance; and (2) provide required information on participants, to be matched by information from the State agency for labor market information which shall be reimbursed by the requesting program with Federal funds. Directs the State agency to submit the results of the matching to the State Council. Requires the Governor to ensure submission of matched data to the State Council, the Board, the Secretary (of Labor), and other Federal entities. Requires that such program quality assurance information be made available to the State Council, local workforce development boards in the State, and consumers of labor market information. Requires all federally funded workforce development programs to be funded on a consistent funding cycle basis. Directs the Board to make recommendations to the Congress on the appropriate funding cycle. Subtitle B: State Level Activities - Requires each State desiring to participate in development of an integrated and accountable workforce development system to: (1) establish a State Workforce Development Council (State Council); or (2) have an existing entity similar to a State Council that includes representatives of employers and workers. Directs each State Council to: (1) serve as principal advisory board to the Governor for all programs in the State's integrated workforce development system; and (2) assume the functions and responsibilities of councils and commissions required under Federal law that are part of such system. (Sec. 214) Directs the State Council to assist the Governor in: (1) preparing a biennial State Workforce Development Policy Blueprint and an annual State Workforce Development Report Card; and (2) certifying each local workforce development board, as well as recommending criteria to judge such local boards' effectiveness. (Sec. 215) Requires the State Council to develop a quality assurance systems to complement and expand upon the one established under subtitle A, in order to provide customers of job training services with consumer reprts on the supply, demand, price, and quality of job training services in each unified service delivery area in the State. Directs each State to select tools and measures appropriate to its needs, including: (1) collecting and organizing service provider performance data; and (2) conducting surveys to ascertain customer satisfaction. Directs the State Council, with the local workforce development boards, to establish mechanisms for collecting and disseminating the quality assurance information to individuals seeking employment, employers, Federal, State, and local policymakers, and training and education providers. Requires each public and private education, training, and career development service provider receiving Federal funds under a program in a State integrated system to collect and provide the quality assurance information. (Sec. 216) Sets forth State Council authorities, including funding and operating special projects for research or improvement of system performance. (Sec. 217) Directs State Councils to make recommendations to Governors for establishment of unified service delivery areas (SDAs). Requires States receiving implementation grants to establish unified SDAs to provide community-wide workforce development assistance in one-stop career centers. Requires consideration of existing labor market areas, local governments, and SDAs under JTPA, as well as distance traveled by individuals to receive services. Allows merger of existing SDAs. Prohibits approval of a total number of such unified SDAs greater than that of the existing SDAs in the State. (Sec. 218) Requires each State to use a portion of its development grant to design a unified financial and management information system. Directs each State receiving an implementation grant to require all programs in the integrated system to use such unified financial and management information system. Sets forth requirements for such systems. (Sec. 219) Requires each State, from its development or implementation grant, to develop a strategy to enhance capacity of institutions, organizations, and staff involved in State and local workforce development activities by providing certain types of services. (Sec. 220) Provides that the Governor of each State implementing an integrated workforce development system: (1) may adjust existing performance standards for programs in such system, using specified criteria; and (2) shall, within parameters established by the Board, prescribe adjustments to such performance criteria for unified SDAs based on certain factors. Requires such developed performance criteria to be used in lieu of similar criteria for programs receiving Federal funding included in the State's integrated system, to the extent determined by the State Council subject to Board approval. Subtitle C: Local Level Activities - Requires the local elected officials of each unified SDA, in each State receiving an implementation grant (except any with a single unified SDA with contiguous borders), to establish a workforce development board (local board) to administer the workforce development assistance provided by all programs in the integrated workforce development system in such area. (Sec. 232) Requires each local board to report to the State Council a biennial workforce development board policy blueprint. (Sec. 233) Requires each local board to submit to the State Council an annual unified SDA report card. (Sec. 234) Requires each local board receiving funds under an implementation grant to develop and implement a network of one-stop career centers in its unified SDA to provide jobseekers, workers, and businesses universal access to a comprehensive array of quality employment, education, and training services. Requires selection of a method for such establishment consistent with specified criteria. Makes eligible for selection as a one-stop career center each entity within the unified SDA that performs specified brokerage services for individuals and employers. Prohibits any entity that performs one-stop career center functions from making an education and training referral to itself; but allows waivers of this prohibition under certain conditions. Allows each one-stop career center to charge fees for certain brokerage services to employers, subject to local board approval. Requires each such center to: (1) adopt core data elements and common definitions; and (2) enter into an operating agreement with the local board. (Sec. 235) Requires each local board to identify capacity building actions to be taken for the workforce development system in its unified SDA. Directs the State Council to make funds available to each local board for capacity building activities from implementation grant funds and other funds within the State's integrated workforce development budget. Lists types of capacity building activities. Title III: Enhancing Individual Choice through Training Accounts - Requires each State receiving an implementation grant under title II to establish a training account system to provide education and training. (Sec. 303) Requires such States to use at least 60 percent of the funds made available under JTPA title III provisions for dislocated workers and certain funds under this Act to provide education and training under the JTPA dislocated worker program only through the training account system. Allows a State, at least one year after it begins administering such system, to provide education and training through it to adults eligible to participate in other workforce development programs, under certain conditions including Board approval. (Sec. 304) Allows an eligible individual to apply to establish a training account only at a one-stop career center. Requires such centers to provide certain assistance and information. Allows an individual to be provided a training account for a maximum of two years within any five-year period. Sets the total amount to be deposited in such an account for any fiscal year at the greater of the maximum amount of a Pell grant for such year established under the Higher Education Act of 1965 or by an appropriations Act. Allows account funds to be used by the individual for education and training services from eligible service providers. Sets forth requirements for administrative procedures. Requires the State blueprint to describe how it will administer such system. (Sec. 305) Makes providers of education and training services eligible to receive funds from such training accounts if they use certain common definitions and performance-based information and are either: (1) eligible to participate in student assistance programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965; or (2) determined eligible under alternative eligibility procedures established by State Governors. (Sec. 306) Directs the Board to evaluate the administration and effectiveness of the training account system, and include such evaluation in its National Report Card and draft joint resolution. (Sec. 307) Directs the Secretary of Labor to report, with recommendations, to the Congress on the need for income support to enable dislocated workers and economically disadvantaged adults to participate in long-term job training, and on options for ways of providing such support. Title IV: Private-Public Linkages - Directs the Board to make recommendations on measures (including tax code changes) to: (1) encourage employers and workers to invest in training and skills upgrading; (2) encourage employers to hire and train hard-to-serve individuals; and (3) provide income support to enable job-seekers and workers to participate in long-term training programs. (Sec. 403) Directs the Board to issue an annual report on private-public training programs. (Sec. 404) Establishes a program of incentive grants for incumbent worker training, consisting of competitive matching grants to local boards to respond to the training needs of front-line workers in their communities. Sets forth provisions for applications, selection of grantees by the Secretary according to certain criteria, authorized uses of funds, and Federal and local matching shares of funding. Title V: Integrated Labor Market Information System - Directs the Secretary to oversee and ensure development, maintenance, and continued improvement of: (1) a nationwide integrated system of labor market information that will serve specified functions, include certain information, use common standards, and make certain data and information available to the Board and to consumers in automated delivery systems; and (2) certain mechanisms and programs for dissemination, technical assistance, and research. (Sec. 502) Directs the Board to plan, review, and evaluate the national integrated labor market information system. (Sec. 503) Requires the Secretary to: (1) manage the investment in an integrated labor market information on system in a specified manner; and (2) submit an annual plan for improving such system to the Board for review and recommendations, and to the President and the Congress. (Sec. 504) Directs each Governor and State Council to designate one State agency to be responsible for: (1) managing and overseeing a statewide integrated labor market information system; and (2) developing an annual State unified labor market information budget. Conditions Federal financial assistance under this title on the Governor or State Council's carrying out other specified functions with respect to labor market information. Provides that the State agency is not limited by this Act from conducting additional data collection, analysis, and dissemination activities with funds derived from sources other than this Act.

Bill· HRH.R. 460 (104th)referred

Vietnam and Korea POW/MIA Rescue Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1995

Vietnam and Korea POW-MIA Rescue Act - Directs the Attorney General to grant asylum to: (1) nationals of Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, or Burma who assist in the return of living Vietnam POW/MIAs; and (2) nationals of North Korea, South Korea, or China who assist in the return of living Korean POW/MIAs.

Bill· SS. 160 (104th)referred

Immigration Moratorium Act of 1994

United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1995

Immigration Moratorium Act of 1994 - Imposes a five-year immigration moratorium, with exceptions for refugees, certain priority and skilled workers, and immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens.

Bill· SS. 143 (104th)open

Workforce Development Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Use of Federal Funds for State Employment Training Activities Title II: Consolidation of Employment Training Programs Job Training Consolidation Act of 1995 - Consolidates Federal employment and training programs. Grants waivers to States and localities to coordinate program services during a transition period. Title I: Use of Federal Funds for State Employment Training Activities - Allows States and localities that receive formula assistance for covered activities under specified Federal employment training programs, or certain discretionary assistance, or States that apply for funds for trade adjustment assistance services, to: (1) use such assistance to develop a comprehensive statewide employment training system; or (2) use assistance that would otherwise have been used for two or more covered activities to address unemployed persons' high priority needs for employment training services, improve efficiency in delivery of covered activities, or combine or eliminate overlapping or duplicative activities. (Sec. 105) Requires State and locality reports on use of such assistance. Title II: Consolidation of Employment Training Programs - Repeals, 24 months after enactment of this Act, the following: (1) the Job Training Partnership Act; (2) the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act; (3) authority for certain literacy programs under the Adult Education Act; (4) the JOBS program for AFDC recipients under the Social Security Act; (5) trade adjustment assistance services under the Trade Act of 1974; (6) the Wagner-Peyser Act (employment services); (7) vocational rehabilitation services under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; (8) employment and training program provisions under the Food Stamp Act of 1977; (9) the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980; (10) the State legalization impact assistance grant program under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; (11) education, training, and community services programs under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act; (12) community service employment for older Americans under the Older Americans Act of 1965; and (13) the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994.

Bill· HRH.R. 375 (104th)open

Immigration Accountability Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Asylum Title II: Prohibition of Federal Benefits for Certain Aliens Title III: Citizenship Title IV: Border Patrol Immigration Accountability Act of 1995 - Title I: Asylum - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise and expedite asylum procedures. Title II: Prohibition of Federal Benefits for Certain Aliens - Prohibits direct Federal financial assistance and unemployment benefits to aliens who are not lawful permanent residents (including asylees and refugees). Title III: Citizenship - Restricts the basis for automatic U.S. citizenship for certain persons born in the United States to a mother who is neither a U.S. citizen nor a lawful permanent resident. Title IV: Border Patrol - Increases the number of Border Patrol personnel.

Bill· HRH.R. 373 (104th)referred

Immigration Moratorium Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995

Immigration Moratorium Act of 1995 - Restricts U.S. immigration levels to specified numbers of family-sponsored immigrants, employment-based immigrants, and refugees.

Bill· HRH.R. 4 (104th)passed

Work Opportunity Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Reducing Illegitimacy Title II: Requiring Work Title III: Capping the Aggregate Growth of Welfare Spending Title IV: Restricting Welfare for Aliens Title V: Consolidating Food Assistance Programs Title VI: Expanding Statutory Flexibility of States Title VII: Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Title VIII: Effective Date Personal Responsibility Act of 1995 - Title I: Reducing Illegitimacy - Expresses the sense of the Congress with regard to the importance of marriage as a social institution and the negative consequences of out-of-wedlock births, declaring that the reduction of such births is an important government interest. (Sec. 101) Amends parts A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC), D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity), and E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to generally deny AFDC to families on whose behalf an AFDC application is made after the effective date of this title for a dependent child whose paternity has not been established, unless the child was conceived through rape or incest, or efforts to establish paternity would result in physical danger to the child or relative claiming such aid. Allows AFDC payments if such relative alleges that any of up to three named individuals may have fathered the child, provides their addresses, and the State has not disproved the allegation. States that denial of AFDC benefits shall have no effect on the family's eligibility for Medicaid and foster care and adoption assistance. (Sec. 102) Requires unwed mothers under age 19 to live at home or in another adult-supervised living arrangement in order to receive AFDC. (Sec. 103) Requires State officers or employees, as soon as they become aware, in the performance of official duties, of a pregnant, unmarried individual, to warn the individual of ineligibility for State aid unless she informs the State of the prospective father's identity and cooperates in establishing the child's paternity. Calls for States to: (1) develop procedures in public hospitals and clinics to facilitate the acknowledgement of paternity; and (2) establish legal procedures that permit the establishment of paternity as quickly and easily as possible. (Sec. 104) Increases the State paternity establishment percentage. (Sec. 105) Denies, generally, AFDC to a child born out-of-wedlock on or after the effective date of this title to an individual under age 18 unless afterwards such individual marries the biological father, or the biological parent with legal custody of the child marries an individual who legally adopts the child. Preserves the family's eligibility for Medicaid and foster care and adoption assistance despite reduction or denial of AFDC. (Sec. 106) Denies AFDC with respect to additional children born on or after the effective date of this title to an AFDC recipient or to an individual who received AFDC at any time during the ten-month period ending with the birth of the child, unless the recipient or individual was pregnant with the child when applying for AFDC. Preserves the family's eligibility for Medicaid and foster care and adoption assistance despite reduction or denial of AFDC. (Sec. 107) Gives States the option of denying AFDC (but without effect on eligibility for Medicaid and foster care and adoption assistance) to individuals aged 18, 19, or 20 who have a child out-of- wedlock after the effective date of this title, as well as to an out- of-wedlock child of such an individual, unless, after the child's birth, such individual marries the biological father, the biological parent with legal custody of the child marries an individual who legally adopts the child, or the individual is the biological and custodial parent of another child not born out-of-wedlock. Allows States the option of denying housing benefits to the same individuals unless the same conditions are met, or Federal housing assistance eligibility is based on any household member's disability or handicap of a household member. (Sec. 108) Adds under SSA title IV a new part C (Grants for Assistance to Children Born Out-of-Wedlock) for giving qualified States the flexibility and resources necessary to provide appropriate non-abortion related services and activities to discourage out-of- wedlock births and to care for children born out-of-wedlock through such initiatives as promoting adoption and establishing and operating group homes and orphanages. Requires the Comptroller General to report to the Congress on whether illegitimacy rates have changed as a result of this Act, and on State efforts under such new grant program. (Sec. 109) Prohibits any agency or entity that receives Federal assistance, and is involved in adoption or foster care placements, from: (1) denying to any person the opportunity to become an adoptive or a foster parent on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the person, or of the child, involved; and (2) delaying or denying the placement of a child for adoption or into foster care, or otherwise discriminating in making a placement decision on such basis. Title II: Requiring Work - Amends SSA title IV part A to require State AFDC plans to require AFDC recipients to participate for a certain number of hours per week in a work supplementation or community work experience program under SSA title IV part F (Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program), or in any other work program established by the State and, under certain circumstances, in job search activities in order to move adult welfare recipients from welfare dependency to paid employment as quickly as possible. (Sec. 202) Provides for a reduction in AFDC in cases of noncompliance with work requirements, and for eventual termination of AFDC for repeated noncompliance. Terminates AFDC to any adult recipient after five years. Grants States the option of terminating AFDC after two years. Makes various specified changes relating to unemployed parents, with the option to limit the AFDC-UP program extended to all States. Eliminates certain JOBS program rules. Expresses the sense of the Congress that each State that operates an AFDC program is encouraged to assign the highest priority to requiring families that include older preschool or school-age children to participate in a work program. (Sec. 203) Revises work supplementation program provisions, among other changes, giving States the authority to use sums that would otherwise be expended for food stamp benefits to provide subsidized jobs for participants. (Sec. 204) Provides for payments to States for certain individuals receiving State food assistance who perform work on behalf of the State or a political subdivision through a work program. Title III: Capping the Aggregate Growth of Welfare Spending - Limits the total amount of Federal spending for AFDC, supplemental security income (SSI), housing aid, and other specified welfare programs beginning in FY 1996 to the total amount of Federal spending for the preceding fiscal year on those programs, adjusted for inflation and change of the poverty population. (Sec. 301) Requires: (1) the joint explanatory statement accompanying a conference report on a budget resolution to include allocations to each committee based on such spending cap; and (2) reconciliation directives to specify reductions for each committee necessary to comply with such caps. (Sec. 302) Terminates all entitlements of individuals to benefits, and of States to payments, under SSA's AFDC, child support enforcement, and SSI programs effective October 1, 1995. (Sec. 303) Requires all savings from welfare spending limits to be used for deficit reduction. Title IV: Restricting Welfare for Aliens - Makes aliens (with exceptions for refugees, elderly lawful residents, and current eligible residents) ineligible for specified public assistance programs, except for emergency medical services. (Sec. 402) Amends SSA title IV part A to require State AFDC agencies to provide the Immigration and Naturalization Service with information on illegal aliens. Title V: Consolidating Food Assistance Programs - Repeals the Food Stamp Act of 1977, the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983, the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988, the National School Lunch Act, the Commodity Distribution Reform Act and WIC Amendments of 1987, and other specified Federal laws and replaces them with a: (1) State food assistance block grant program to provide food assistance to economically disadvantaged individuals and families; and (2) new food coupon program. (Sec. 503) Authorizes the Secretary and the Commodity Credit Corporation to sell surplus commodities and foodstuffs to the States to provide food assistance to eligible populations. Title VI: Expanding Statutory Flexibility of States - Amends SSA title IV part A to grant States the option of: (1) converting their AFDC payments into a fixed annual block grant; (2) treating new residents under the rules of the former State; (3) reducing AFDC payments for parents under age 21 who have not completed high school or earned their high school equivalency; (4) providing for a married couple transition benefit under certain conditions; (5) disregarding income and resources designated for education, training, and employability, or related to self-employment; and (6) requiring attendance at parenting and money management classes, and prior approval of any action that would result in a change of school for a dependent child. Title VII: Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients - Amends SSA title IV part A to require AFDC recipients to undergo necessary substance abuse treatment as a condition of receiving AFDC. Title VIII: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date of this Act.

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