Budget

22 Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the effect the changes outlined in budget 2012 will have on beef farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38940/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 14 December 2011

22 Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the effect the changes outlined in budget 2012 will have on beef farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38940/11]

21 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the effect budget 2012 will have on active farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38946/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 14 December 2011

21 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the effect budget 2012 will have on active farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38946/11]

18 Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes to the capital budget 2012 will make to the forestry sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38953/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 14 December 2011

18 Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes to the capital budget 2012 will make to the forestry sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38953/11]

15 Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the effect the budget announcements for 2012 will have on Ireland’s ability to deal with the removal of milk quotas in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38936/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 14 December 2011

15 Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the effect the budget announcements for 2012 will have on Ireland’s ability to deal with the removal of milk quotas in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38936/11]

10 Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiatives included in budget 2012 in order to retain and create jobs within coastal communities with particular regard to deep-sea fish farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38948/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 14 December 2011

10 Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiatives included in budget 2012 in order to retain and create jobs within coastal communities with particular regard to deep-sea fish farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38948/11]

14 Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the targets agreed in Food Harvest 2020; the effect that changes made in budget 2012 may have on Food Harvest 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38951/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 14 December 2011

14 Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the targets agreed in Food Harvest 2020; the effect that changes made in budget 2012 may have on Food Harvest 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38951/11]

8 Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views that the targets set out in the food harvest strategy can be achieved by 2020; the effects that the recent budget announcements will have on these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38928/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 14 December 2011

8 Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views that the targets set out in the food harvest strategy can be achieved by 2020; the effects that the recent budget announcements will have on these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38928/11]

Budget Process Improvement Act of 2011

United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2011

Budget Process Improvement Act of 2011 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) to require: (1) the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to include a descriptive analysis for the second decade budget impact of a measure when submitting a cost estimate of it, and (2) the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) to provide such an analysis when its submitting revenue estimates to CBO. Requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to publish a report on the size, scope, risk, and cost of the contingent federal liabilities, including the implicit guarantees to government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac). Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to conduct performance reviews of JCT identified tax expenditures on an ongoing basis. Requires OMB to: (1) develop a proposal for the implementation of an accrual-based accounting system for certain portions of the budget, and (2) report to Congress on legislation necessary to implement such system. Requires CBO, in conjunction with JCT, to publish a report that projects annual federal revenues by source over the next 10 fiscal years and includes a discussion of the assumptions used to project such revenues. Amends the CBA to require: (1) biennial (instead of annual) budget resolutions, (2) biennial appropriations Acts, and (3) biennial government strategic and performance plans. Makes conforming amendments to the Rules of the House of Representatives. Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. Requires: (1) a federal agency, upon request by a congressional committee, to provide appropriate information regarding its appropriations requests and program administration; (2) the Comptroller General to furnish to such committee summaries of any audits or reviews of such program which the Comptroller General has completed during the preceding six years; and (3) the Comptroller General, Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and the Director of the Congressional Research Service (CRS) to furnish such committee appropriate information, studies, analyses, and reports. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine and report to Congress on the impact and feasibility of changing the definition of a fiscal year, and the budget process based on that definition, to a two-year fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on such period. Requires the President's budget submission for FY2014 to include: (1) an identification of the budget accounts for which an appropriation should be made for each fiscal year of the FY2014-FY2015 biennium, and (2) budget authority that should be provided for each such fiscal year for the budget accounts. Directs: (1) the House and Senate committees, during the first session of the 113th Congress, to work with the Comptroller General to develop plans to transition program authorizations to a multi-year schedule; and (2) the Comptroller General, during such Congress, to continue to provide assistance to Congress with respect to programmatic oversight, and in particular to assist the congressional committees in designing and conforming programmatic oversight procedures for FY2014-FY2015 biennium.

Down Payment to Protect National Security Act of 2011

United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2011

Down Payment to Protect National Security Act of 2011 - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine the number of full-time employees employed in each federal agency. Prohibits a federal agency head from hiring more than 1 employee for every 3 full-time employees who leave employment in such agency until the OMB Director makes a determination that the number of full-time federal employees is 10% less than the initial level as determined by OMB.  Allows a waiver of such workforce limitation by the President for national security reasons or in the case of an extraordinary emergency. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act), as amended by the Budget Control Act of 2011, to offset mandatory sequestration in security and nonsecurity categories in FY2013 with revenues resulting from reductions in the federal workforce under this Act.

Adjusting the amount provided for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Twelfth Congress.

United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2011

Adjusts the amount for the expenses of the following House Committees in the 112th Congress: (1) Agriculture; (2) Armed Services; (3) the Budget; (4) Education and the Workforce; (5) Energy and Commerce; (5) Ethics; (6) Financial Services; (7) Foreign Affairs; (8) Homeland Security; (9) House Administration; (10) Intelligence; (11) the Judiciary; (12) Natural Resources; (13) Oversight and Government Reform; (14) Rules; (15) Science, Space, and Technology; (16) Small Business; (17) Transportation and Infrastructure; (18) Veterans' Affairs; and (19) Ways and Means.

Directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make corrections in the enrollment of H.R. 3672.

United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2011

Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make corrections in the enrollment of H.R. 3672 (Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2012) to: (1) make an across-the-board 1.83% rescission in discretionary spending for FY2012, with exceptions for the Departments of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA), disaster relief, and Overseas Contingency Operations/the Global War on Terrorism; and (2) require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to report on the account and amount of each rescission.

Verslag houdende een lijst van vragen en antwoorden inzake Wijziging van de begrotingsstaten van het Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport (XVI) voor het jaar 2011 (wijziging samenhangende met de Najaarsnota)

Netherlands · House of Representatives · 14 December 2011

Verslag houdende een lijst van vragen en antwoorden inzake Wijziging van de begrotingsstaten van het Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport (XVI) voor het jaar 2011 (wijziging samenhangende met de Najaarsnota)

Gevolgen van het opheffen van het PBO-stelsel voor de begroting van het Ministerie van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie

Netherlands · House of Representatives · 14 December 2011

Gevolgen van het opheffen van het PBO-stelsel voor de begroting van het Ministerie van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie

472 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal, is one of the most efficiently run hospitals here, whether the fact that it will face an €8 million overspend in its 2011 budget suggests that the budget provided to it is completely inadequate. [39718/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

472 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal, is one of the most efficiently run hospitals here, whether the fact that it will face an €8 million overspend in its 2011 budget suggests that the budget provided to it is completely inadequate. [39718/11]

442 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the impact the recently announced budget cuts in his Department will have on nursing homes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39548/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

442 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the impact the recently announced budget cuts in his Department will have on nursing homes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39548/11]

441 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the impact the budget cuts in his Department will have on community nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39547/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

441 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the impact the budget cuts in his Department will have on community nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39547/11]

396 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants under the disadvantaged area aid scheme who solely have horses and the value of such claims; the estimated total number of applicants who will be impacted upon under Budget 2012 changes to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39773/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

396 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants under the disadvantaged area aid scheme who solely have horses and the value of such claims; the estimated total number of applicants who will be impacted upon under Budget 2012 changes to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39773/11]

229 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when persons who are over 16 years will be put back on domiciliary care allowance in view of the new condition set out in budget 2012; if persons who were refused disability allowance having turned 16 years will be put back on domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39603/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

229 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when persons who are over 16 years will be put back on domiciliary care allowance in view of the new condition set out in budget 2012; if persons who were refused disability allowance having turned 16 years will be put back on domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39603/11]

227 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to receive domiciliary care allowance in view the new conditions set out in budget 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39599/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

227 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to receive domiciliary care allowance in view the new conditions set out in budget 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39599/11]

226 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork who was refused disability allowance will be put back on domiciliary allowance in view of the new conditions announced in budget 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39596/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

226 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork who was refused disability allowance will be put back on domiciliary allowance in view of the new conditions announced in budget 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39596/11]

215 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she would provide details of the changes that will affect a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as a result of the budget. [39541/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

215 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she would provide details of the changes that will affect a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as a result of the budget. [39541/11]

157 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the effect there will be on specific postgraduate qualifications in guidance following his decision to withdraw ex-quota career guidance counsellors from post-primary schools in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39939/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

157 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the effect there will be on specific postgraduate qualifications in guidance following his decision to withdraw ex-quota career guidance counsellors from post-primary schools in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39939/11]

162 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has any concerns that the profession of career guidance counsellors will no longer exist following decisions taken in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39944/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

162 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has any concerns that the profession of career guidance counsellors will no longer exist following decisions taken in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39944/11]

161 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views that only qualified guidance counsellors should provide counselling services to students and that this should remain the case following the decision taken in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39943/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

161 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views that only qualified guidance counsellors should provide counselling services to students and that this should remain the case following the decision taken in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39943/11]

160 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that no other member of school management or teaching staff apart form those that are fully qualified guidance counsellors will be allowed to provide guidance to students following decisions taken in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39942/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

160 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that no other member of school management or teaching staff apart form those that are fully qualified guidance counsellors will be allowed to provide guidance to students following decisions taken in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39942/11]

159 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has taken into account the impact on subject choice at post-primary level following his decision to withdraw ex-quota career guidance counsellors from post-primary schools in budget 2012. [39941/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

159 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has taken into account the impact on subject choice at post-primary level following his decision to withdraw ex-quota career guidance counsellors from post-primary schools in budget 2012. [39941/11]

155 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the level of guidance counselling in schools will now be entirely a matter for school management; if schools will be required to have a certain level of guidance counselling following decisions taken in budget 2012 on guidance provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39937/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

155 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the level of guidance counselling in schools will now be entirely a matter for school management; if schools will be required to have a certain level of guidance counselling following decisions taken in budget 2012 on guidance provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39937/11]

153 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way he will ensure that all second level students have access to career guidance and counselling services following the announcement in budget 2012 of the withdrawal of ex-quota career guidance counsellors to schools, and given that section 9 of the Education Act requires that second level students receive appropriate guidance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39935/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

153 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way he will ensure that all second level students have access to career guidance and counselling services following the announcement in budget 2012 of the withdrawal of ex-quota career guidance counsellors to schools, and given that section 9 of the Education Act requires that second level students receive appropriate guidance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39935/11]

164 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the effect of pupil teacher ratio changes in budget 2012 on schools in Cork city and county. [39991/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

164 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the effect of pupil teacher ratio changes in budget 2012 on schools in Cork city and county. [39991/11]

149 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills following the budget announcements if a school (details supplied) in Dublin 1 will lose teachers in the coming year; if so, the number of same and the phasing in arrangements that have been planned by him. [39873/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

149 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills following the budget announcements if a school (details supplied) in Dublin 1 will lose teachers in the coming year; if so, the number of same and the phasing in arrangements that have been planned by him. [39873/11]

116 Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the phased adjustment proposed to staffing schedules for one, two, three and four teacher schools with fewer than 86 pupils in the 2012 budget; and the way this will impact on the pupil teacher ratios of such schools. [39536/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

116 Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the phased adjustment proposed to staffing schedules for one, two, three and four teacher schools with fewer than 86 pupils in the 2012 budget; and the way this will impact on the pupil teacher ratios of such schools. [39536/11]

100 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance if the relief for energy efficiency measures to the maximum value of €10,000 announced in budget 2011 will be honoured in 2012 to award credits to members of the public who undertook such work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39905/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

100 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance if the relief for energy efficiency measures to the maximum value of €10,000 announced in budget 2011 will be honoured in 2012 to award credits to members of the public who undertook such work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39905/11]

98 Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the specific measures he intends to introduce in the Finance Bill 2012, as mentioned in his budget speech, to support the continued success of the international funds industry, the corporate treasury sector, the international insurance industry and the aircraft leasing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39884/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

98 Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the specific measures he intends to introduce in the Finance Bill 2012, as mentioned in his budget speech, to support the continued success of the international funds industry, the corporate treasury sector, the international insurance industry and the aircraft leasing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39884/11]

41 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he has discussed the Irish budget 2012 with his counterparts at the European summit meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39782/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

41 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he has discussed the Irish budget 2012 with his counterparts at the European summit meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39782/11]

11 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Economic Management Council met in 2011 and prior to budget 2012. [39753/11]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 13 December 2011

11 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Economic Management Council met in 2011 and prior to budget 2012. [39753/11]

No Budget, No Pay Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2011

No Budget, No Pay Act - Prohibits the payment of any pay to any Member of Congress (excluding the Vice President): (1) if both houses of Congress have not approved a concurrent resolution on the budget for a fiscal year before October 1 of that fiscal year and have not passed all the regular appropriations bills for the next fiscal year by such date, or (2) until both houses of Congress approve such a budget resolution and pass all such appropriations bills. Prohibits any retroactive pay for such a period.

Act for the 99%

United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2011

Restore the American Dream for the 99% Act or Act for the 99% - Title I: Emergency Job Creation to Rebuild America - Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to states for: (1) subgrants to local education agencies (LEAs) to modernize, renovate, or repair public school facilities; and (3) grants to pay maintenance costs. Requires LEAs to use such funds, to the maximum extent practicable, for green schools. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for grants to institutions of higher education for an additional 250,000 part-time work-study jobs for students (Student Jobs Corps). Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Agriculture and to the Secretary of the Interior to create additional 100,000 positions in the Public Lands Corps. Authorizes the President to establish a Civilian Conservation Corps for specified activities in federal or state lands. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) a Teacher Corps in elementary and secondary schools; (2) a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program to hire an additional 40,000 state, local, and tribal career law enforcement officers; (3) a Firefighters Corps program to hire an additional 12,000 firefighters; and (4) a Community Corps to create an additional 750,000 jobs to perform energy audits, conservation upgrades, recycling, initial demanufacturing activities, urban land reclamation, rural conservation, public property maintenance and beautification, housing rehabilitation, and new housing construction. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to grant financial assistance to health care or long-term care (LTC) providers to pay the costs of hiring and retaining additional health care or LTC professionals (Health Care Corps). Amends the Head Start Act to direct the Secretary of HHS to provide funds to Early Head Start programs to hire additional infant and toddler specialists. Makes appropriations to the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor solely for on-the-job training. Buy American Enhancement Act of 2011 - Prescribes Buy American requirements for items purchased under this Act. Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to redefine independently owned and operated small business concerns to exclude publicly traded business concerns and subsidiaries as well as foreign-owned business concerns and subsidiaries. Requires the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to report annually on prime federal contracts awarded to small business concerns for the purposes of achieving specified small business contracting goals of the federal government. National Infrastructure Development Bank Act of 2011 - Establishes the National Infrastructure Development Bank (NIDB) as a wholly owned government corporation to provide financial assistance for transportation, environmental, energy, and telecommunications infrastructure projects of regional or national significance contributing to economic growth and job creation. Wounded Veteran Job Security Act - Amends the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) to include as service in the uniformed services any period for which a person is absent from a position of employment for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment for a service-connected injury or illness or one for which a "line of duty" document has been granted by the Secretary of Defense (DOD). Prescribes documentation requirements for an applicant for reemployment due to an absence for the purpose of obtaining such medical treatment. Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2011 - Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 to extend until January 4, 2013, any federal-state agreement to make emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) payments. Amends the Assistance for Unemployed Workers and Struggling Families Act to extend until January 4, 2013, full federal funding of extended unemployment compensation. Emergency Unemployment Compensation Expansion Act of 2011 - Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 to authorize a state, if implementation of first-tier EUC would unduly delay the prompt EUC payments, to elect to pay second-tier, third-tier, or fourth-tier EUC. Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to include as a "countervailable subsidy" requiring action under a countervailing duty or antidumping duty proceeding the benefit conferred on merchandise imported into the United States from foreign countries with fundamentally undervalued currency. Prioritize Emergency Job Creation Act - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) with respect to the designation of FY2012-FY2021 appropriations for discretionary accounts for emergency job creation. Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 - Declares it an unlawful practice for certain employers with at least 15 employees for each working day in each of at least 20 calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year to: (1) refuse to consider or offer employment to an individual based on present or past unemployment regardless of the length of time such individual was unemployed; (2) publish an advertisement or announcement for any job with provisions indicating that such an unemployed status disqualifies an individual and that an employer will not consider an applicant based on such status; and (3) direct or request that an employment agency account for such status when screening or referring applicants. Prohibits an employment agency (including agents and persons maintaining a website publishing job advertisements or announcements), based on such an individual's status as unemployed, from: (1) refusing to consider or refer an individual for employment; (2) limiting, segregating, or classifying individuals in any manner limiting access to job information; or (3) publishing an advertisement or announcement for any job vacancy that includes provisions indicating that such an individual is disqualified and that an employer will not consider such individuals. New Jobs for America Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Labor, subject to the availability of appropriations, to make grants to state and local governments and Indian tribes to carry out employment training programs to aid unemployed individuals in securing employment in a new area of expertise, particularly in emerging markets and industries (such as green technologies). Makes certain funds available to the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) for restoration, repair, construction, and other eligible surface transportation activities as well as for passenger and freight rail transportation and port infrastructure projects. Jobs NOW Act - Amends title IV part A (Grants to States for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish in the Treasury the Emergency Contingency Fund for State Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Programs. Amends the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act to repeal new discretionary spending limits. Title II: Responsible Savings and Fair Taxation - Responsible End to the War in Afghanistan Act - Limits the obligation and expenditure of funds for operations of the Armed Forces in Afghanistan to the safe and orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan of all members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense (DOD) contractor personnel. Defense and Deficit Reduction Act - Freezes the aggregate amount of funds made available for DOD-administered military functions (other than military personnel pay, health benefits, and drug interdiction and counter-drug activities) at: (1) the FY2008 level for FY2011, and (2) the previous fiscal year level for each of FY2012-FY2016. Places a permanent ceiling of 30,000 per fiscal year (with certain exceptions) on the end strength level of members of the Armed Forces assigned to permanent onshore duty in Europe and corresponding general end strength reductions. Specifies the breakdown of end strength levels for each of the services. Terminates the V-22 Osprey aircraft program as of FY2012. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to raise the basic range of income taxed at: (1) 15% from a maximum of $36,900 to a maximum of $69,000, (2) 28% from $36,900-$89,150 to $69,000-$139,350, (3) 31% from S89,150-$140,000 to $212,300-$379,150, (4) from $140,000-$ 250,000 to $379,150-$1 million, and (5) $39.6% from $250,000-and-over to $1 million-$10 million. Prescribes new tax rates of 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, and 49% for specified income levels above $10 million to $1 billion-and-over. Specifies the breakdown of such tax rates for heads of households, unmarried individuals, and married individuals filing separate returns. Prescribes a special rule for recapture of lower capital gains rates for individuals subject to at least a 45% rate bracket. End Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act of 2011 - Revises requirements for the amortization of geological and geophysical expenditures to convert the special tax rule for major integrated oil companies into a special rule for covered large oil companies (a major integrated oil company or a taxpayer with taxable year gross receipts exceeding $50 million. Denies taxpayers who are not small, independent oil and gas companies: (1) the tax credit for production of oil and gas from marginal wells, (2) the enhanced oil recovering tax credit, (3) the deduction for the intangible drilling and development costs of oil and gas wells, (4) the percentage depletion allowance, (5) the deduction for tertiary injectant expenses, (6) the exclusion from (and consequently subjection to) the disallowance passive activity losses and credits, and (7) the deduction for a portion of income derived from domestic production activities. Prohibits a major integrated oil company from using last-in, first-out (LIFO) tax accounting. Prescribes a special rule to deny to a dual capacity taxpayer a foreign tax credit for certain amounts paid or accrued to a foreign country or U.S. possession with respect to combined foreign oil and gas income. Superfund Reinvestment Act - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) to authorize the use of amounts in the Hazardous Substance Superfund for environmental cleanup costs authorized by such Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reinstate until December 31, 2018, the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate and the corporate environmental income tax and extend the borrowing authority of the Superfund through 2021. Wall Street Trading and Speculators Tax Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a .03% excise tax on the purchase of a security: (1) if such purchase occurs on a trading facility located in the United States, or (2) the purchaser or seller is a U.S. person. Extends through calendar year 2012 the making work pay tax credit. Employee Misclassification Prevention Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to require every person to: (1) keep records of non-employees (contractors) who perform labor or services (except substitute work), including through an entity such as a trust, estate, partnership, association, company, or corporation, for remuneration; and (2) provide certain notice to each new employee and new non-employee, including classification as an employee or non-employee and information concerning their rights under the law. Makes it unlawful for any person to: (1) discharge or otherwise discriminate against an individual (including an employee) who has opposed any practice, or filed a complaint or instituted any proceeding related to this Act, including with respect to an individual's status as an employee or non-employee; and (2) fail to classify accurately an employee or non-employee. Doubles the amount of liquidated damages for maximum hours, minimum wage, and notice of classification violations by an employer. Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a page on the Department of Labor website that summarizes the rights of employees under this Act. Amends SSA to require, as a condition for a federal grant for the administration of state unemployment compensation, for the state's unemployment compensation law to include a provision for: (1) auditing programs that identify employers that have not registered under the state law or that are paying unreported compensation where the effect is to exclude employees from unemployment compensation coverage, and (2) establishing administrative penalties for misclassifying employees or paying unreported unemployment compensation to employees. Corporate Assets Should be Used to Hire Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose on domestic corporations in taxable years beginning in 2011 or 2012 an additional 40% tax on the excess of their retained earnings over their average retained earnings for the preceding 3 taxable years. Exempts certain corporations from such tax, including corporations with retained earnings of less than $5 million in a taxable year. Title III: Protect and Strengthen Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid - Public Option Deficit Reduction Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to offer through Exchanges a health benefits plan (public health insurance option) that ensures choice, competition, and stability of affordable, high-quality coverage throughout the United States. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish an office of the ombudsman for the public health insurance option, and (2) establish geographically adjusted premiums at a level sufficient to fully finance the costs of the health benefits provided and related administrative costs. Requires repayment of start-up costs for the public health insurance option. Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2011 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate with pharmaceutical manufacturers the prices that may be charged to Medicare part D prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors and MedicareAdvantage (MA) organizations for covered part D drugs for part D eligible individuals who are enrolled under a PDP or under an MA-Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plan. Medicaid Enhancement and Emergency Job Creation Act of 2011 - Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2011 (ARRA) to extend through FY2012 the increase in the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) under SSA title XIX (Medicaid). Keeping Our Social Security Promises Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to apply employment and self-employment taxes to remuneration up to the contribution and benefit base and to remuneration in excess of $250,000.

Nuclear Emergency Re-establishment of Obligations (NERO) Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2011

Nuclear Emergency Re-establishment of Obligations (NERO) Act - Prohibits the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from exercising emergency authority to make decisions or take actions otherwise reserved for the full Commission unless the Chairman has declared an emergency based upon: (1) an imminent safety threat to a facility or materials licensed or regulated by the NRC, or (2) a determination by senior officials of designated agencies that a security incident exists that poses an imminent threat to a facility or materials licensed or regulated by the NRC. Prescribes additional procedures if the Chairman does declare such emergency exists. Subjects to approval by the full Commission all appointments by the NRC Chairman of NRC officers. Prescribes time limits for NRC review of requested briefs. Directs the NRC to revise its procedures to ensure that any allegation of wrongdoing on the part of the NRC Chairman is referred to the Inspector General of the NRC. Instructs the NRC Chairman to authorize all domestic and international travel requested by NRC members for official business unless a notice of disapproval is submitted to the full Commission specifying the basis for the disapproval. Prohibits adoption of any budget or budget revision unless each NRC member has been given an opportunity to: (1) participate in the development of such budget or revision after being provided access to all relevant information, and (2) vote on the approval of such budget or revision.

Harbor Fairness Act of 2011

United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2011

Harbor Fairness Act of 2011 - Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 to direct the Secretary of the Army to assess the total operation and maintenance needs of all harbors and inland harbors within the United States, including harbors used: (1) for commercial navigation, (2) for commercial fishing, (3) for subsistence, (4) as harbors of refuge, (5) for transportation of persons, (6) in relation to domestic energy production, (7) by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, and (8) for recreation purposes. Directs the Secretary, in conjunction with transmittal of the President's FY2013 budget and biennially thereafter, to submit to specified congressional committees a report on commercial navigation projects for such harbors that identifies: (1) the operation and maintenance costs associated with the projects; (2) the amount of funding requested in the President's budget for such costs on a project-by-project basis; (3) the unmet operation and maintenance needs associated with such projects; and (4) the harbors for which the President will allocate funding over the next five fiscal years for operation and maintenance activities on a project-by-project basis. Directs the Secretary: (1) to make expenditures to pay for harbor operation and maintenance costs based on an equitable allocation of funds among all such harbors, regardless of the size or tonnage throughput of the harbor; and (2) to allocate not less than 40% of the total expenditures in FY2013 and FY2014 to pay for operation and maintenance costs of moderate and low use harbors. Permits the Secretary, notwithstanding such requirements, to make an expenditure to pay for such costs of a specific harbor if the Secretary: (1) determines that such action is necessary to address the navigation needs of a harbor where safe navigation has been severely restricted due to an unforeseen event, and (2) provides advance notice on the need for such a determination to Congress.

No Budget, No Pay Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2011

No Budget, No Pay Act - Prohibits the payment of any pay to any Member of Congress (excluding the Vice President): (1) if both houses of Congress have not approved a concurrent resolution on the budget for a fiscal year before October 1 of that fiscal year and have not passed all the regular appropriations bills for the next fiscal year by such date, or (2) until both houses of Congress approve such a budget resolution and pass all such appropriations bills. Prohibits any retroactive pay for such a period.

Reactie op de vraag van het lid Dijkgraaf, gesteld tijdens de begrotingsbehandeling ELI, voor het onderdeel landbouw inzake het verschuiven van budget van Kennisbasisonderzoek en Wettelijke Onderzoekstaken (WOT) naar praktijkonderzoek en innovatieregelingen om tot een verduurzamingsslag te komen (sts ELI)

Netherlands · House of Representatives · 13 December 2011

Reactie op de vraag van het lid Dijkgraaf, gesteld tijdens de begrotingsbehandeling ELI, voor het onderdeel landbouw inzake het verschuiven van budget van Kennisbasisonderzoek en Wettelijke Onderzoekstaken (WOT) naar praktijkonderzoek en innovatieregelingen om tot een verduurzamingsslag te komen (sts ELI)

Gebarung des Auslandsösterreicher-Fonds

Austria · National Council · 12 December 2011

Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Dr. Johannes Hübner, Kolleginnen und Kollegen an den Bundesminister für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten betreffend Gebarung des Auslandsösterreicher-Fonds

Verkauf eines im Eigentum des Bundes stehenden Grundstückes in Treffling/Linz

Austria · National Council · 12 December 2011

Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Elmar Podgorschek, Kolleginnen und Kollegen an den Bundesminister für Landesverteidigung und Sport betreffend Verkauf eines im Eigentum des Bundes stehenden Grundstückes in Treffling/Linz

Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012

United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2011

Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011 - Title I: Job Creation Incentives - North American Energy Security Act - Directs the President, acting through the Secretary of State, to grant a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline project application filed on September 19, 2008. Waives such requirement if the President determines that the Keystone XL pipeline would not serve the national interest. Requires the President, in that case, to report to certain congressional committees and officials a justification for his determination, including consideration of economic, employment, energy security, foreign policy, trade, and environmental factors. Declares that a permit for such pipeline shall take effect by operation of law if after 60 days following enactment of this Act the President fails to: (1) determine that the Keystone XL pipeline would not serve the national interest, or (2) grant the permit. EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 - Provides that the following rules shall have no force or effect and shall be treated as though they had never taken effect: (1) the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Major Sources: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters; (2) the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area Sources: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers; (3) the Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units; and (4) Identification of Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials That are Solid Waste. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in place of such rules, to promulgate and finalize on the date that is 15 months after enactment of this Act regulations for industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers and process heaters and commercial and industrial solid waste incinerator units subject to such rules, that: (1) establish maximum achievable control technology standards, performance standards, and other requirements for hazardous air pollutants or solid waste combustion under the Clean Air Act; and (2) identify non-hazardous secondary materials that, when used as fuels or ingredients in combustion units of such boilers, heaters, or incinerator units, are solid waste under the Solid Waste Disposal Act for purposes of determining the extent to which such combustion units are required to meet emission standards for such pollutants under such Act. Requires the Administrator to establish a date for compliance with standards and requirements under such regulations, which shall be no earlier than five years after such a regulation's effective date, after considering compliance costs, non-air quality health and environmental impacts and energy requirements, the feasibility of implementation, the availability of equipment, suppliers, and labor, and potential net employment impacts. Treats the date on which the Administrator proposes such a regulation establishing an emission standard as the proposal date for purposes of applying the definition of a "new source" to hazardous air pollutants requirements or of a "new solid waste incineration unit" to solid waste combustion requirements under the Clean Air Act. Requires the Administrator, in promulgating such regulations, to: (1) adopt the definitions of "commercial and industrial solid waste incineration unit," "commercial and industrial waste," and "contained gaseous material" in the rule entitled "Standards for Performance of New Stationary Sources and Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units"; (2) identify non-hazardous secondary material to be solid waste only if the material meets such a definition; (3) ensure that emissions standards for existing and new sources can be met under actual operating conditions consistently and concurrently with emission standards for all other air pollutants regulated by the rule for the source category, taking into account variability in actual source performance, source design, fuels, inputs, controls, ability to measure the pollutant emissions, and operating conditions; and (4) impose the least burdensome regulatory alternative. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2012 the increased (100%) bonus depreciation allowance for depreciable business assets; and (2) expand the election to accelerate alternative minimum tax (AMT) credits in lieu of bonus depreciation by allowing corporate taxpayers to claim 20% of depreciation not claimed as bonus depreciation, limited to the lesser of unused AMT credit amounts from taxable years ending before January 1, 2012, or 50% of the AMT credit for the first taxable year ending after December 31, 2011. Title II: Extension of Certain Expiring Provisions and Related Measures - Amends the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 to extend through 2012 the 2% reduction in employment tax rates for employees and the self-employed. Extended Benefits, Reemployment, and Program Integrity Improvement Act - Amends title III (Grants to States for Unemployment Compensation Administration) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require state unemployment compensation laws to require, as a condition of eligibility for regular compensation for any week, that an unemployment compensation claimant be able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work. Requires a claimant to meet minimum educational requirements, that is, to: (1) have earned a high school diploma, (2) have earned the General Educational Development (GED) credential or other state-recognized equivalent (including by meeting recognized alternative standards for individuals with disabilities), or (3) be enrolled and making satisfactory progress in classes leading to satisfaction of one of the latter requirements. Authorizes waiver of such requirements for an individual by a state agency if they would be unduly burdensome. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to enter into agreements with up to 10 states to conduct demonstration projects to test and evaluate measures designed to: (1) expedite the reemployment of individuals who establish initial eligibility for unemployment compensation under state law, or (2) improve the effectiveness of a state in carrying out its state law with respect to reemployment. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop model language that may be used by states in enacting self-employment assistance programs; (2) provide technical assistance to states in establishing, improving, and administering them; and (3) establish reporting requirements for states in regards to such programs. Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the SSA title III to require states (which, currently, are merely authorized) to reduce current unemployment benefits to recover prior unemployment benefit overpayments. Amends the SSA to authorize a state to reduce current unemployment benefits to recover prior federal additional compensation overpayments and prior unemployment benefit overpayments of another state. Amends the SSA title IX (Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Employment Security) to require the Secretary to designate standard data elements for any category of information required for data matching in the federal-state unemployment insurance system. Amends the SSA title III to declare that nothing in any federal law shall be considered to prevent a state from: (1) testing an applicant for unemployment compensation for the unlawful use of controlled substances as a condition for receiving such compensation, or (2) denying the compensation on the basis of test results. Unemployment Benefits Extension Act of 2011 - Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (SSA, 2008) with respect to the state-established individual emergency unemployment compensation account (EUCA). Extends the final date for entering a federal-state agreement under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program through January 31, 2013. Repeals current transitional requirements for an individual's remaining EUCA payments. Revises the formula for crediting Tier-1 and Tier-2 amounts to an applicant's EUCA. Eliminates Tier-3 and Tier-4 augmentation to an individual's EUCA. Repeals requirements authorizing a state governor in an extended benefit period, if state law permits, to provide for the payment of EUC before extended compensation to individuals who otherwise meet EUC requirements. Denies the application of a federal-state agreement to a state upon a determination by the Secretary that, under the state law or its applicable rule, the payment of extended compensation for which an individual is otherwise eligible may or must be deferred until after the payment of any EUC under the SSA, 2008, as amended by this Act, for which the individual is concurrently eligible. Amends the Assistance for Unemployed Workers and Struggling Families Act to extend until January 31, 2013, requirements that federal payments to states cover 100% of EUC. Amends the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 to exempt weeks of unemployment between enactment of this Act and January 31, 2013, from the prohibition in the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (FSEUCA of 1970) against federal matching payments to a state for the first week in an individual's eligibility period for which extended compensation or sharable regular compensation is paid if the state law provides for payment of regular compensation to an individual for his or her first week of otherwise compensable unemployment. (Thus allows temporary federal matching for the first week of extended benefits for states with no waiting period.) Amends the FSEUCA of 1970 to postpone similarly from December 31, 2011, to January 31, 2013, termination of the period during which a state may determine its "on" and "off" indicators according to specified temporary substitutions in its formula. Amends the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, as amended by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, and the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, to extend through January 31, 2012, the temporary increase in extended unemployment benefits for employees with 10 or more years of service as well as for those with less than 10. Amends the SSA, 2008 to allow a state agency to make EUC payments to individuals who are able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work. Includes in a federal-state agreement a requirement that a state provide reemployment services and reemployment eligibility assessment activities to certain recipients of EUC. Conditions an individual's continuing eligibility for EUC for any week on whether such individual: (1) meets the minimum SSA title III educational requirements; (2) participates in referred reemployment services; (3) is actively seeking work; and (4) has been referred to such services or activities and participated, or has completed such participation, unless there is justifiable cause for failure to do so. Authorizes a state to withhold up to $5 from an individual's weekly EUC payment for optional funding for such services and activities. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement with a state to allow it to divert, in any month, up to 20% of EUC beneficiaries, attributable to such state and receiving EUC for the first week of such month, to conduct demonstration projects to test and evaluate measures designed to: (1) expedite the reemployment of individuals who establish initial eligibility for unemployment compensation under state law, or (2) improve the effectiveness of a state in carrying out its state law with respect to reemployment. Requires a state agency (which, currently, is merely authorized) to recover an EUC overpayment to an individual by deductions from such individual's EUC payment during the three-year period after such individual received the EUC payment to which he or she was not entitled. Requires each deduction to be at least (currently, at most) 50% of the weekly benefit amount from which it is made, unless the amount to be repaid is less than 50% of that amount. Repeals the requirement (nonreduction rule) that makes a federal-state agreement inapplicable for a state upon a determination by the Secretary that the method governing the computation of regular compensation under state law has been modified in a certain manner. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish at 1.0% for 2012 and 2013 only the Medicare physician payment update to the single conversion factor in the formula for determining relative values for physicians' services. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to examine options for bundled or episode-based payments to cover physicians' services, currently paid under the Medicare physician fee schedule, for one or more prevalent chronic conditions (such as cancer, diabetes, and congestive heart failure) or episodes of care for one or more major procedures (such as medical device implantation). Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to examine initiatives of private entities offering or administering health insurance coverage, group health plans, or other private health benefit plans to base or adjust physician payment rates under such coverage or plans for performance on quality and efficiency as well as demonstration of care delivery improvement activities. Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to examine the feasibility of aligning private payer quality and efficiency programs with those in the Medicare program. Directs specified congressional committees each to study value-based measures and practice arrangements which may improve health outcomes and efficiency in the Medicare program to the end of replacing the Medicare sustainable growth rate in a fiscally responsible manner and establishing a sustainable payment system. Extends through 2012 the temporary increase for ground ambulance services. Extends through 2012 the increase in the assistance for rural providers furnishing (super rural ambulance) services in low population density areas. Directs the Comptroller General to update the GAO report GAO-07-383 (relating to Ambulance Providers: Costs and Expected Medicare Margins Vary Greatly) to reflect current costs for ambulance providers. Directs MEDPAC to study the add-on payments for ambulance providers. Applies additional requirements with respect to Medicare payment for outpatient therapy services. Directs MEDPAC to make recommendations on how to improve the outpatient therapy benefit under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance). Extends through 2012 the floor at 1.0 on the work geographic index in the formula for determining relative values for physicians' services for the Medicare physician payment. Directs MEDPAC to assess whether any geographic adjustment is needed under Medicare to distinguish the difference in work effort by geographic area, and if so, what that level should be and were it should be applied. Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to extend: (1) the qualifying individual (QI) program through 2012, and (2) the total amount available for allocation under such program. Extends transitional medical assistance (TMA) through 2012. Modifies requirements for qualifying for exception to the Medicare prohibition on certain physician referrals for hospitals. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the limitation on recapture of excess advance payments of the tax credit for health insurance premiums. Reduces the funding to the Prevention and Public Health Fund for FY2013, and eliminates it for FY2014-FY2015 and subsequent fiscal years. Revises the formula for determining the Medicare hospital outpatient department (OPD) payment amount for specified evaluation and management services. Amends SSA title XVIII to reduce the amount of bad debt treated as an allowable cost in the determination for FY2013-FY2014 and subsequent fiscal years of reasonable costs for hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) under Medicare. Amends SSA title XIX to authorize rebasing (reduction) of state disproportionate share hospital (DHS) allotments for FY2021. Welfare Integrity and Data Improvement Act - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of SSA title IV to extend the TANF program through FY2012. Directs the Secretary of HHS to designate standard data elements for any category of information required to be reported under TANF. Requires states to maintain policies and practices necessary to prevent the use of state TANF assistance in any transaction in any: (1) liquor store; (2) casino, gambling casino, or gaming establishment; or (3) retail establishment which provides adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state for entertainment. Title III: Flood Insurance Reform - Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011 - Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (NFIA) to extend the National Flood Insurance Program through FY2016. Amends the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 to authorize the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to suspend temporarily the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement for areas with special flood hazards, if they meet certain eligibility requirements. Requires a lender or servicer who receives confirmation of a borrower's existing flood insurance coverage to terminate force-placed insurance and refund to the borrower all force-placed insurance premiums. Requires each federal entity for lending regulation to direct regulated lending institutions to accept private flood insurance if it meets federal flood insurance requirements. Requires each federal agency lender, as well as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), to accept private flood insurance as satisfaction of the flood insurance purchase requirement if it meets such requirements. Amends NFIA to prescribe minimum annual flood insurance deductibles for subsidized rate and for actuarial rate properties. Revises the requirement that additional flood insurance in excess of specified limits be made available to any residential building for which the risk premium is determined in accordance with certain requirements so as to enable the insured or insurance applicant to receive coverage up to an aggregate liability of $250,000. Specifies that such additional flood insurance be made available only to a residential building designed for the occupancy of from one to four families. Applies the $250,000 aggregate flood insurance liability to any single building of that description. Makes technical revisions to analogous requirements for additional flood insurance in the case of any nonresidential building, including a church. Prescribes optional coverage for loss of use of personal residence and business interruption. Requires flood insurance regulations to allow installment payments of flood insurance premiums. Specifies the coverage of a new flood insurance policy on properties affected by floods in progress during the 30-day waiting period before the policy's effective date. Raises the annual limitation on premium increases from 10% to 20% of the average of the risk premium rates. Schedules a five-year phase-in of chargeable risk premium rates for flood insurance coverage for a newly mapped risk premium rate area. Prohibits extension of subsidized rates for policies lapsed as a result of policy holder's choice. Declares communities making adequate progress at reconstruction or improvement to 100-year frequency flood protection systems eligible for premium flood insurance rates that would apply if the reconstruction or improvement were completed. Revises requirements for special flood hazard rates for a community in the process of restoring flood protection afforded by a system previously accredited as providing 100-year frequency flood protection. Allows nonfederal, including private, entities that own, operate, maintain, or repair flood protection systems to determine whether a flood protection system is restorable. Establishes the Technical Mapping Advisory Council to develop new mapping standards for 100-year flood insurance rate maps. Prohibits the Administrator, until the Council submits proposed new mapping standards, from making effective any new or updated rate maps for flood insurance coverage under the Program that were not in effect as of enactment of this Act, or otherwise revising, updating, or changing the flood insurance rate maps in effect as of such date. Exempts from mandatory flood insurance purchase and compliance requirements property located in a special flood hazard area if the property owner submits an elevation certificate showing that the lowest level of the primary residence on such property is at least 3 feet higher than the elevation of the 100-year floodplain. Prohibits the Administrator from: (1) charging a fee for reviewing the flood hazard data, or (2) issuing flood insurance maps or making effective updated flood insurance maps that either omit or disregard the actual protection afforded by certain existing flood protection features. Requires the Administrator and the Comptroller General each to study strategies for privatizing the Program. Authorizes the Administrator to secure reinsurance of flood insurance program coverage from private market insurance, reinsurance, and capital market sources. Requires the Administrator to assess annually the Program's claims-paying ability, including its utilization of private sector reinsurance and reinsurance equivalents, with and without reliance on FEMA borrowing authority. Instructs the Administrator to report annually to Congress on the financial status of the Program and of the National Flood Insurance Fund (NFI Fund). Modifies the mitigation assistance grant program. Repeals the authority for planning assistance grants. Directs the Administrator to: (1) give priority to funding activities that will result in the greatest savings to the NFI Fund, including repetitive and severe repetitive loss structures; and (2) consider as an activity eligible for mitigation assistance the demolition and rebuilding of properties to at least base flood levels or higher, if required by either the Administrator or any governmental ordinance. Limits to $40 million per fiscal year the amount of funding for severe repetitive loss structures. Eliminates: (1) the grants program for repetitive insurance claims properties, and (2) the pilot program for mitigation of severe repetitive loss properties. Increases the amounts available from the NFI Fund to the National Flood Mitigation Fund (NFM Fund) for specified activities. States that amounts made available in the NFM Fund shall not be subject to offsetting collections through premium rates for flood insurance coverage. Revises requirements for additional flood insurance coverage for the costs of compliance with community land use and control measures to eliminate coverage for properties for which an offer of mitigation assistance is made under the repetitive loss priority program and the individual priority property program. Amends the FDPA to direct the Administrator to notify residents of special flood hazard areas annually of the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement and the rate phase-ins for such properties. Amends the NFIA to require the Administrator to notify: (1) Members of Congress whose districts or states would be affected of any significant action relating to any revision or update of any floodplain area or flood-risk zone, (2) tenants of the availability of contents insurance for property located in a special flood hazard area, and (3) policy holders annually regarding direct management by FEMA of their flood insurance policy and of the option to purchase flood insurance directly administered by an insurance company. Amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (RESPA) to require a lender's good faith estimate for loan applicants to disclose: (1) the availability of flood insurance for residential real estate both in and out of a special flood hazard area, and (2) that the escrowing of flood insurance payments is required for many loans. Directs the Administrator, when updating flood insurance maps, to communicate with communities located in areas where flood insurance rate maps have not been updated in 20 years or more and state emergency agencies to resolve outstanding issues, provide technical assistance, and disseminate all necessary information to reduce the prevalence of outdated maps in flood-prone areas. Authorizes the Administrator to refuse to accept the transfer of the administration of flood insurance policies that are written and administered by any insurance company, other insurer, or any insurance agent or broker. Directs the Administrator to: (1) notify local public media when establishing projected flood elevations with respect to certain communities; and (2) grant an additional 90-day extension of the initial 90-day period for appeals if an affected community certifies that there are property owners or lessees who are unaware of the statutory period to appeal proposed flood elevation determinations, and the community will use the time extension to notify those affected. Directs the Administrator to establish a separate National Flood Insurance Reserve Fund to meet expected future obligations of the Program. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to authorize community development block grants to supplement existing municipal funding for local administration of building code enforcement. Directs the Administrator to: (1) report to Congress on procedures to limit the percentage of flood insurance policies directly managed by FEMA to a maximum of 10% of the aggregate number of all flood insurance policies in force under the Program, and (2) reduce to a 10% maximum the number of flood insurance policies directly managed by either FEMA or its non-insurer direct servicing contractor. Directs the Administrator and Comptroller General each to study strategies for offering and incorporating voluntary community-based flood insurance policy options into the Program. Directs the Administrator to study the feasibility of amending the NFIA to include widely used and nationally recognized building codes as part of the floodplain management criteria. Directs the National Academy of Sciences to study methods for understanding graduated risk behind levees and the associated land development, insurance, and risk communication dimensions. Requires the Administrator to: (1) review the processes and procedures for determining that a flood event has commenced or is in progress for flood insurance purposes, and for providing public notification that such an event has commenced or is in progress; and (2) plan how to repay within 10 years all amounts owed pursuant to NFIA on notes and obligations approved by the President, including any previously borrowed but not yet repaid. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, upon request of a governmental entity, to evaluate a levee system that was designed or constructed by the Secretary for the purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program. Title IV: Jumpstarting Opportunity with Broadband Spectrum Act of 2011 - Jumpstarting Opportunity with Broadband Spectrum Act of 2011 or the JOBS Act of 2011 - Requires, within specified deadlines and subject to exceptions, that: (1) the President withdraw or modify the assignment of specified ranges of electromagnetic spectrum now assigned to federal government stations, and (2) the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocate certain spectrum and paired frequencies and reallocate the 700 MHz public safety narrowband and guard band spectrums for commercial use through competitive bidding auctions. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize the FCC to encourage spectrum licensees to voluntarily relinquish usage rights to permit the assignment of new initial licenses subject to flexible-use service rules by sharing with such licensees a portion of the proceeds from competitive bidding auctions. Requires the FCC, as a condition to such auctions, to first conduct a reverse auction with at least two competing licensees to determine the amount of compensation licensees would accept in return for such voluntary relinquishment. Sets forth restrictions particular to broadcast television spectrum auctions and the valuation of voluntarily relinquished broadcast television spectrum. Authorizes the FCC, subject to specified conditions, to reassign and reallocate broadcast television spectrum for such auctions. Requires that certain relocation cost reimbursements be made to reassigned broadcast television licensees and related multichannel video programming distributors. Authorizes waivers from FCC flexible use service rules in lieu of such reimbursements. Prohibits the FCC from involuntarily reassigning a broadcast television licensee from: (1) an ultra high to a very high frequency television channel, and (2) a television channel between 174-216 megahertz to a channel between the 54-88 megahertz frequencies. Extends the FCC's auction authority until September 30, 2021. Prohibits the FCC, in assigning licenses through competitive bidding, from: (1) limiting a licensee's ability to manage the applications, services, and priority of traffic on its network; and (2) requiring the licensee to sell network access on a wholesale basis. Requires the FCC to assess allowing unlicensed U-NII (Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure) devices in the 5 GHz band. Directs: (1) the FCC to establish a Public Safety Communications Planning Board to develop proposals for a National Public Safety Communications Plan, and (2) the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce to select an Administrator of the Plan. Requires the FCC to assign the Administrator a renewable 10-year license for exclusive use of the public safety broadband and 700 MHz D block spectrums to authorize the operation of state public safety broadband communications networks in accordance with the Plan. Directs each state desiring such a network to establish or designate a State Public Safety Broadband Office (SPSBO). Authorizes grants to SPSBOs for eligible activity costs and contracts with private-sector entities for the construction, management, maintenance, and operation of such networks. Authorizes borrowing from the Treasury's general fund: (1) by the FCC for the relocation of television broadcasters, and (2) by the Assistant Secretary to enter a contract with a Plan Administrator and make SPSBO grants. Establishes the Public Safety Trust Fund. Requires that various auction proceeds be deposited in such Fund and used, through FY2021, according to a specified order of priority, to: (1) carry out programs and activities under this Act, (2) repay amounts borrowed from the Treasury's general fund, and (3) dedicate specified amounts toward deficit reduction. Directs amounts remaining in the Fund after FY2021 to be deposited in the general fund for the sole purpose of deficit reduction. Next Generation 9-1-1 Advancement Act of 2011 - Amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act to reestablish and extend matching grants, through October 1, 2021, to eligible state or local governments or tribal organizations for the implementation, operation, and migration of various 9-1-1, E9-1-1 (wireless telephone location), Next Generation 9-1-1 (voice, text, video), and IP-enabled emergency services and public safety personnel training. Directs the Assistant Secretary and the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish a 9-1-1 Implementation Coordination Office. Provides immunity and liability protection, to the extent consistent with specified provisions of the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999, to various users and providers of Next Generation 9-1-1 and related services, including for the release of subscriber information. Directs the FCC to: (1) initiate a proceeding to create a specialized Do-Not-Call registry for public safety answering points, and (2) establish penalties and fines for autodialing (robocalls) and related violations. Requires that federal entities operating federal government stations within certain frequencies be paid for specified relocation or sharing costs incurred in planning for an auction or relocating from federal to exclusive nonfederal or shared use. (Current law requires payments only for certain relocations to exclusive nonfederal use.) Requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to give priority to exclusive nonfederal use. Conditions any sharing on feasibility and cost constraints. Revises the composition of the Telecommunications Development Fund (TDF) (provides capital to small businesses in the telecommunications industry) board of directors to establish an independent board. (Current law requires that the board include representatives from the FCC, the Small Business Administration [SBA], and the Department of the Treasury.) Requires that interest from an auction escrow account be dedicated to deficit reduction, thereby eliminating the deposit of such interest in the TDF. Title V: Offsets - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to require the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to require each government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) (the Federal National Mortgage Association [Fannie Mae] and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation [Freddie Mac]) to charge a guarantee fee in connection with any guarantee of the timely payment of principal and interests on securities, notes, and other obligations based on or backed by mortgages on residential real properties designed principally for the occupancy of from one to four families. Requires the FHFA Director to prohibit a GSE from consummating any offer for a guarantee to a lender for mortgage-backed securities if: (1) the guarantee is inconsistent with the requirements of this Act; or (2) the risk of loss is allowed to increase, through the lowering of the underwriting standards or other means, for the primary purpose of meeting the requirements of this Act. Requires direct deposit into the Treasury of any amounts received from fee increases imposed by this Act that are necessary to comply with the minimum increase required by this Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Secretary of the Treasury, in the case of any employer deferred compensation plan of a state or local government or of any of their agencies or instrumentalities, to require identification of any designated distribution paid to any plan participant or beneficiary based in whole or in part upon an individual's earnings for service in the employ of that governmental entity. Requires disclosure of any such designated distribution to the Social Security Administration for purposes of its administration of the Social Security Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) require taxpayers to provide their social security number on their tax return in order to claim the refundable portion of the child tax credit; and (2) impose a 100% tax on excess unemployment compensation, as defined by this Act, received by certain high-income taxpayers in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2011. Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to render ineligible for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) any household in which a member receives income or assets with a fair market value of at least $1 million. Securing Annuities for Federal Employees Act of 2011 - Increases the employee contribution to the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) for calendar years 2013, 2014, and 2015. Establishes new annuity computation rules for federal employees hired after December 31, 2012, with less than five years of civilian service creditable under CSRS or any other federal employee retirement system. Eliminates the FERS annuity supplement for federal employees whose entitlement to an annuity is based on separation from service after December 31, 2012. Amends the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 to extend through 2013 the cost of living freeze on the pay of federal employees, including Members of Congress and legislative branch employees. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to reduce limits of discretionary spending, and revised limits, for FY2013-FY2021. Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to revise requirements for the reduction in premium subsidy, and consequent increase in premium, based on income, for Medicare parts B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) and part D (Prescription Drugs) premiums for high-income Medicare beneficiaries. Increases on a graduated basis the applicable percentage used to calculate such premiums. Modifies the temporary adjustment in income thresholds for the calculation of such premiums which currently extends the 2010 thresholds through December 31, 2019. Terminates such adjustment, instead, on December 31 of the first year after the year in which at least 25% of part B and part D enrollees are subject to a premium subsidy reduction. Makes a conforming amendment to the inflation adjustment to such premiums. Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Repeals certain provisions requiring an acceleration in installments of corporate estimated tax. Amends the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011 to repeal a requirement for prepayment of merchandise processing fees. Provides that it shall not be in order in the Senate to: (1) consider any measure extending the payroll tax holiday period in the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010; and (2) allow an emergency designation in any bill, resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report. Allows such restrictions to be waived by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate. Provides that the budgetary effects of this Act shall not be included on the scorecards maintained by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 if such budgetary effects do not increase the deficit during FY2012-FY2021.

Einrichtung einer neuen Planstelle (B4) im Haushalt 2012 für den Sachverständigenrat für Umweltfragen zu Lasten des Umweltbundesamtes

Germany · German Bundestag · 9 December 2011

Originaltext der Frage(n):<br /> <br /> Wie beurteilt die Bundesregierung die Einrichtung der neuen Planstelle (B 4) im Haushalt 2012 für den Sachverständigenrat für Umweltfragen (SRU), die laut SRU zu Lasten des Umweltbundesamtes geht und vom SRU nicht benötigt wird, und teilt die Bundesregierung die Auffassung, dass durch die ungewöhnliche Vorgehensweise die im Einrichtungserlass des SRU verbriefte fachliche Unabhängigkeit des Rates gefährdet ist?

Absicherung der im Rahmen des Green Climate Fund auf der Weltklimakonferenz in Durban zugesagten 40 Millionen Euro im Bundeshaushalt

Germany · German Bundestag · 9 December 2011

Originaltext der Frage(n):<br /> <br /> An welcher Stelle im Haushalt gibt es eine Absicherung für die Zusage des Bundesministers für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit, Dr. Norbert Röttgen, auf der Weltklimakonferenz in Durban, wonach Deutschland im Rahmen des Green Climate Fund weitere 40 Mio. Euro für Maßnahmen in Entwicklungsländern zur Verfügung stellt, und werden diese Mittel zusätzlich zu bereits bestehenden Projekten bereitgestellt?

Auswirkungen des Scheitern des Gesetzentwurfs zur Demonstration und Anwendung von Technologien zur Abscheidung, zum Transport und zur dauerhaften Speicherung von Kohlendioxid (CCS-Gesetz) auf CCS-Forschungsvorhaben im Bundeshaushalt 2012

Germany · German Bundestag · 9 December 2011

Originaltext der Frage(n):<br /> <br /> Welche Konsequenzen hat das Scheitern des Gesetzentwurfs zur Demonstration und Anwendung von Technologien zur Abscheidung, zum Transport und zur dauerhaften Speicherung von Kohlendioxid (sog. Carbon Captore Storage &ndash; CCS) im Bundesrat am 23. September 2011 auf die im Bundeshaushalt 2012 u. a. im Einzelplan 30 im &bdquo;Titel 894 40, Klimaforschung und Lebensraum Erde, Energie &ndash; Investitionen, Nummer 5&ldquo; vorgesehenen CCS-Forschungsvorhaben, und wie beabsichtigt die Bundesregierung, die von der Koalition im Rahmen der Haushaltsberatungen 2012 beschlossene Kürzung von 6 Mio. Euro in dem genannten Titel auf die einzelnen Erläuterungsnummern aufzuteilen?

Beleidsdoorlichting artikel 42: arbeidsparticipatie van de begroting van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid

Netherlands · House of Representatives · 9 December 2011

Beleidsdoorlichting artikel 42: arbeidsparticipatie van de begroting van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid

Draft amending budget No 6 of the European Union for the financial year 2011 — Council Position

European Union · Council of the European Union · 9 December 2011

Draft amending budget No 7 of the European Union for the financial year 2011 — Council Position

European Union · Council of the European Union · 9 December 2011