Budget

Employee Partnership Reward Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Refundable Income Tax Credit for Nondeferred Distributions from Performance-Based Reward Plans Title II: Establishment of Program to Promote Performance- Based Reward Plans and Employee Decisionmaking Participation Programs Employee Partnership Reward Act of 1995 - Title I: Refundable Income Tax Credit for Nondeferred Distributions from Performance-Based Reward Plans - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow eligible employees a refundable income tax credit for nondeferred distributions from performance-based rewards. Allows employers an additional deduction for performance-based rewards. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to study and report to the Congress on the effect of such credit in stimulating productivity and full employment. Directs the Secretary of Labor and the Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service each to: (1) collect statistics on the extent of performance-based reward plans in the United States; and (2) prepare studies describing the nature and terms of these plans. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to publish annual estimates of annual tax expenditures for deferred profit-sharing plans and employee stock ownership plans. Title II: Establishment of Program to Promote Performance-Based Reward Plans and Employee Decisionmaking Participation Programs - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish and carry out an Employee Partnership Pilot Program. Directs the Administrator to make five-year program grants to up to five eligible entities to promote implementation of performance-based reward plans and employee decisionmaking participation programs. Requires a matching non-Federal share. Requires the Administrator to report to the Congress on an evaluation of such grant program, together with recommendations.

Providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 17) relating to the treatment of Social Security under any Constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget and providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 1) proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1995

Sets forth the modified closed rule for the consideration of H. Con. Res. 17 (relating to the treatment of Social Security under any constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget) and H.J. Res. 1 (proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution).

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1995

Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress, prior to each fiscal year, to adopt a statement in which total Federal outlays do not exceed total receipts, unless a three-fifths vote of both Houses authorizes a specific excess. Declares that actual outlays include the cost to a State of any requirement imposed upon a State by Federal law that is not paid for by the Federal Government, and the cost to a State of complying with any condition imposed by Federal law on the receipt by a State of appropriated funds, other than a condition directly and substantially related to the purpose of the appropriation. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget. Waives the provisions of this amendment for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect or when the United States by law faces an imminent and serious military threat to national security. Sets a permanent limit on the amount of Federal public debt, prohibiting any increase unless legislation enacted by a three-fifths majority of both Houses becomes law. Requires roll call votes in the House and Senate under this amendment.

Relating to the treatment of Social Security under any constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget.

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1995

Declares that, for the purposes of any constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget, the appropriate committees of the House and the Senate shall report to their respective Houses implementing legislation to achieve a balanced budget without increasing the receipts or reducing the disbursements of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund to achieve that goal.

To amend section 13031 of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (relating to fees for certain customs services) to create an exemption from fees for certain small aircraft travelling short distances.

United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1995

Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to prohibit the charging of customs user fees in connection with the arrival of passengers aboard aircraft that carry no more than 11 passengers, if: (1) the aircraft provides transportation only between places that are no more than 50 miles apart; (2) it is in competition with a ferry; and (3) the transportation fee is less than $35.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 - Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 to: (1) extend its purview to educational and nonprofit institutions, Federal contractors, and tribal governments; (2) revise the authority and functions of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), specifying information dissemination and related agency oversight responsibilities; and (3) require OMB to conduct pilot projects to test alternative policies and procedures, and to develop a government wide strategic information resources management plan. Requires the OIRA Director to establish an Interagency Council on Statistical Policy. Requires each Federal agency to: (1) establish a process, independent of program responsibility, to evaluate proposed collections of information; (2) establish a permanent information resources management steering committee; and (3) ensure that the public has timely and equitable access to information products and services. Prohibits agencies, except where specifically authorized by statute, from: (1) establishing exclusive, restricted, or other distribution arrangements that interfere with timely and equitable public availability; (2) restricting or regulating the use, resale, or redissemination of public information by the public; (3) charging fees or royalties for resale or redissemination of public information; or (4) establishing user fees that exceed the cost of dissemination. Specifies actions agencies must take with respect to information technology. Replaces the Federal Information Locator System with an agency-based electronic Government Information Locator Service to identify the major information systems, holdings, and dissemination products of each agency. Reauthorizes appropriations for OIRA.

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a balanced budget.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995

Constitutional Amendment - Requires a balanced Federal budget, unless a three-fifths roll call vote of both Houses of Congress provides for a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Prohibits an increase in the public debt limit except by a three-fifths roll call vote by both Houses of Congress. Requires the President to submit a balanced budget to the Congress. Prohibits any bill increasing revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority roll call vote of both Houses.

To require that the President transmit to Congress, that the congressional Budget Committees report, and that the Congress consider a balanced budget for each fiscal year.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Amendment to Title 31, United States Code Title II: Amendment to Congressional Budget Act of 1974 Title III: Effective Date Title I: Amendment to Title 31, United States Code - Amends Federal law to require that any budget submitted by the President not be in deficit. Provides that if the President determines that a balanced budget is not feasible, and submits written reasons in support of such determination, then the President may submit two budgets, one in compliance and one in deficit. Title II: Amendment to Congressional Budget Act of 1974 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require that any budget submitted by the congressional Budget Committees not be in deficit. Provides that if either committee determines that it is infeasible to submit a balanced budget, then such committee may submit two budgets, one of which is in deficit, together with written reasons for such determination. Requires each concurrent resolution on the budget to contain reconciliation directives necessary to implement the resolution. Sets forth requirements for the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives, if it reports any rule or order providing for the consideration of any concurrent resolution on the budget. Makes it always in order in the Senate to consider a budget resolution consisting of the text of a budget submitted by the President. Title III: Effective Date - Makes this Act effective for the concurrent resolution on the budget for FY 1997.

Privatization of Humanities Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995

Privatization of Humanities Act - Amends the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 to abolish the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Council on the Humanities (NCH). Renames such Act the National Foundation on the Arts Act of 1965. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to provide for the termination of the affairs of the NEH and the NCH.

Nevada Forest Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995

Nevada Forest Protection Act - Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to: (1) identify and clear of forest fuels high-fire-risk Federal forest lands in Nevada; and (2) submit to the Congress a fire prevention plan and budget. Authorizes appropriations.

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits the Congress from increasing the limit on the public debt of the United States without the approval of three-fifths of each House of Congress. Prohibits any bill to increase tax revenue from becoming law unless approved by three-fifths of each House. Waives these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or when the United States by law is engaged in military conflict.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to a Federal balanced budget.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits total outlays from exceeding total receipts, unless a three-fifths vote of both Houses authorizes a specific excess. Declares that total receipts include all receipts of the United States except those derived from borrowing or retirement trust funds. Declares that total outlays include all outlays except those for retirement trust funds or repayment of debt principal. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget. Waives these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect. Requires roll call votes in the House and Senate under this amendment. Makes this amendment effective the second fiscal year after its ratification. Declares that if there is a Federal budget deficit for the first fiscal year beginning after its ratification, then during the next five fiscal years, the annual budget deficit may not exceed specified percentums of that budget deficit for each of those years.

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1995

Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress, prior to each fiscal year, to adopt a statement in which total Federal outlays do not exceed total receipts, unless a three-fifths vote of both Houses authorizes a specific excess. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget. Waives these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or when the United States by law is engaged in military conflict. Declares that total receipts do not include receipts (including attributable interest) of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Supplemental Medical Insurance Trust Fund, or any successor funds. Declares that total outlays do not include outlays for disbursements of such trust funds. Sets a permanent limit on the amount of Federal public debt, prohibiting any increase unless legislation enacted by a three-fifths majority of both Houses becomes law. Requires roll call votes in the House and Senate under this amendment.

Reporting Requirements Sunset Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1995

Reporting Requirements Sunset Act of 1995 - Declares that each provision of law requiring submittal to the Congress of any report specified on a certain list prepared by the Clerk of the House of Representatives for the first session of the 103d Congress shall cease to be effective, with respect to that requirement, five years after enactment of this Act. Excepts from this declaration any report required under the Inspector General Act of 1978 or the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990. Requires the President to include in the first annual budget submitted after enactment of this Act a list of reports he has determined are unnecessary or wasteful.

Infrastructure Protection Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1995

Infrastructure Protection Act of 1995 - Prohibits the receipts and disbursements of the Highway Trust Fund (for both the Federal aid highway program and the Mass Transit Account), the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, and the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund which are allocable to the transportation-related operations of such Funds from being included in either the Federal budget as submitted by the President or in the congressional budget. Exempts such Trust Funds from any general statutory budget limitation.

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1995

Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress, prior to each fiscal year, to adopt a statement in which total Federal outlays do not exceed total receipts, unless a three-fifths vote of both Houses authorizes a specific excess. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget. Waives these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or when the United States by law is engaged in military conflict. Declares that total receipts do not include receipts (including attributable interest) of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, or any successor funds. Declares that total outlays do not include outlays for disbursements of such trust funds. Sets a permanent limit on the amount of Federal public debt, prohibiting any increase unless legislation enacted by a three-fifths majority of both Houses becomes law. Requires roll call votes in the House and Senate under this amendment.

Student Loan Evaluation and Stabilization Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 17 January 1995

Student Loan Evaluation and Stabilization Act of 1995 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to student loan programs. (Sec. 3) Revises the Federal Direct Student Loan program to limit the proportion of loans made under such program: (1) for academic year 1994-1995, to five percent of the new student loan volume for such year; and (2) for academic year 1995-1996 and any succeeding fiscal year, to loans to students and parents of students attending eligible institutions which have applied and been accepted for institutional participation in such program on or before December 31, 1994. Eliminates provisions for selecting additional institutions to participate in such pilot program. Reduces the maximum amount of funds for administrative expenses of such program allowed for certain periods. Revises the items which such funds must cover, including the costs of annually assessing such program and payment of an administrative cost allowance for the expenses of guaranty agencies in servicing outstanding loans in their portfolios and in guaranteeing new loans. Revises provisions for congressional oversight of program administration, by providing for funding triggers which allow administrative funds to be obligated only in such amounts and according to such schedule as specified in the appropriations Act for the Department of Education after submission by the Department of a detailed proposal for such expenditures. Requires a guaranty agency to: (1) submit a specified application before obtaining an administrative cost allowance from such funds; (2) expend such allowance only for specified purposes; and (3) elect a payment rate on the basis of one of two specified formulas. Provides for ratable reductions of such allowances when total payments exceed a specified level. Directs the Secretary of Education to provide a detailed quarterly report of all such expenditures to specified congressional committee chairs. Requires such report to specifically identify all contracts entered into by the Department for services supporting the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program and the Federal Perkins Loan Program, as well as the current and projected costs of such contracts. Eliminates the transition to the Federal Direct Loan Program. (Sec. 4) Sets forth conditions under which: (1) Federal Perkins Loan borrowers can obtain FFEL consolidation loans; and (2) FFEL borrowers can obtain Federal direct consolidation loans. (Sec. 5) Revises provisions relating to reserve fund programs. (Sec. 6) Sets institutional default rate limitations on direct lending. (Sec. 7) Provides for applications for FFEL loans using the free Federal application form, which is already in use for other types of student aid. Allows such form to be in an electronic or any other format, subject to certain conditions, in order to facilitate use by borrowers and institutions. Provides for authorized guaranty agencies to receive such form. (Sec. 8) Amends the Congressional Budget Act to prescribe a formula for determining the cost of a direct loan on the basis of the net present value, at the time the direct loan is disbursed, of specified types of cash flows for the estimated life of the loan.

Welfare-to-Work and Strong Families Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 12 January 1995

Welfare-to-Work and Strong Families Act of 1995 - Prescribes guidelines under which a State may apply to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for a grant to operate a State welfare to work and stronger families program. Amends title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to terminate after FY 1995 the: (1) Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) Program; and (2) Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Training Program. Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to limit the Food Stamp program to providing benefits to the elderly and the disabled. Instructs the Secretary to submit to the Congress eligibility criteria for medical assistance under a State plan under SSA title XIX (Medicaid) in lieu of the eligibility criteria related to the plans terminated by this Act. Requires any savings resulting from this Act to be dedicated to reduction of the Federal budget deficit.

An original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee on the Budget.

United States · United States Congress · 12 January 1995

Authorizes expenditures by the Senate Committee on the Budget for the 104th Congress.

Spending Reduction Enforcement Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1995

Spending Reduction Enforcement Act - Establishes the Spending Reduction Commission to propose cost savings and changes in law to achieve at least $45 billion of budget outlay reductions for the budget year and each outyear until a balanced budget is reached. Subjects such reductions to the following guidelines: (1) elimination of redundant and outdated programs, including those whose missions can be accomplished by the private sector; (2) reduction of programs with excessive administrative costs or that can be consolidated with other programs; (3) elimination of programs that provide subsidies that benefit narrow special interest groups at the expense of the national interest; and (4) reduction or elimination of programs that have low priority in meeting a national interest criterion. Sets forth the procedure for implementation of the Commission's recommendations by the Office of Management and Budget, the President, and the Congress. Makes budget outlay reductions permanent. Establishes sequester provisions if the full amount of savings required by this Act is not achieved in a session of the Congress.

Spending Reduction Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1995

Spending Reduction Act - Establishes the Spending Reduction Commission to propose cost savings and changes in law to achieve at least $45 billion of budget outlay reductions for the budget year and each outyear until a balanced budget is reached. Subjects such reductions to the following guidelines: (1) elimination of redundant and outdated programs, including those whose missions can be accomplished by the private sector; (2) reduction of programs with excessive administrative costs or that can be consolidated with other programs; (3) elimination of programs that provide subsidies that benefit narrow special interest groups at the expense of the national interest; and (4) reduction or elimination of programs that have low priority in meeting a national interest criterion. Sets forth the procedure for implementation of the Commission's recommendations by the Office of Management and Budget, the President, and the Congress. Makes budget outlay reductions permanent. Requires the Comptroller General to make a compliance report on this Act at the end of each congressional session.

Right to Know Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1995

Right to Know Act - Prohibits an article proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution from being submitted to the States for ratification in the 104th Congress until the adoption of a concurrent resolution containing specified enforcement procedures.

A bill to amend section 257(e) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to modify the treatment of losses from asset sales.

United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1995

Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to allow the proceeds from the sale of an asset to be applied to offset the loss of any revenue or receipts resulting from such sale.

Federal Buildings Reform Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1995

Federal Buildings Reform Act of 1995 - Amends the Public Buildings Act of 1959 to require the Administrator of General Services to submit to the Congress a biennial public buildings plan, including: (1) a five-year plan for accommodating the public building needs of the Government; (2) lists (in order of priority) of construction, alteration, purchase, and acquisition projects and of leases for which authorizations of appropriations are requested for specified fiscal years; (3) the estimated annual and total cost of each project and lease; and (4) any final environmental impact statement prepared for a project. Requires the Administrator to provide for a public hearing in the locality of each major project included in the biennial plan to consider the project's economic and social effects, environmental impact, and consistency with urban planning goals and objectives of the community. Repeals a provision of the Act prohibiting the employment of architectural or engineering services on a permanent basis. Directs the Administrator to use the results of the continuing investigation and survey of public buildings to establish a central repository for the asset management information of the Government. Directs each Federal agency to: (1) identify unneeded, obsolete, and underutilized public buildings; and (2) annually report specified information to the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to conduct research and post-occupancy evaluations to determine and improve the effectiveness of existing and planned public buildings. Requires the Administrator to ensure that: (1) the headquarters of each executive department and establishment is located within the National Capital region unless otherwise specified by Act of Congress; (2) the regional, district, area, or local offices of Federal agencies are centrally located with respect to residential populations served or other governmental and private offices with which the agencies must maintain communication; and (3) the Federal agency offices are located throughout the United States generally in proportion to the geographic distribution of the U.S. population, with exceptions. Establishes a Building Design Advisory Board for conducting design competitions and reviewing the architectural design of Federal buildings. Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (such Act) to require the Administrator to: (1) submit to the Board and to the Congress a list of projects for which architectural and engineering services for building design or site planning shall first be procured during the fiscal year; (2) designate a substantial number as projects for which such services shall be acquired through design competitions conducted under such Act; (3) issue model rules for conducting such projects; and (4) conduct each competition provided for under such Act. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) criteria for selection of designs; (2) recommendations concerning negotiations; (3) final selections; and (4) jury and adviser personnel matters. Requires the Administrator to require, as a condition of entering into any lease or other contract that would obligate funds in excess of $10,000 authorized pursuant to such Act, a certification consisting of declarations that the owner of the space to be leased or the contractor and any officer or principal employee of the contractor has: (1) no conflict of interest with the capacity of the person as a lessor or contractor with the Government; (2) not offered or promised anything of value to a public official for performing an official act; (3) not had a public contract terminated for default; and (4) not been convicted, indicted, or charged with specified offenses within ten years prior to the date of the solicitation for the lease or contract award. Requires the head of each Federal agency defined in the Act to review and report to the Congress on the long-term housing needs of the agency. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to report to the Congress on the feasibility and desirability of ending the monopoly of the General Services Administration with respect to providing office and storage space for Federal agencies.

Line Item Veto Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1995

Line Item Veto Act - Grants the President legislative line item veto rescission authority. Authorizes the President to rescind all or part of any discretionary budget authority or veto any targeted tax benefit if the President determines that such rescission: (1) would help reduce the Federal budget deficit; (2) will not impair any essential Government functions; and (3) will not harm the national interest. Requires the President to notify the Congress of such a rescission or veto by special message after enactment of appropriations legislation providing such budget authority or a revenue Act containing a targeted tax benefit. Makes such a rescission effective unless the Congress enacts a rescission disapproval bill. Describes: (1) information to be included in the President's message; and (2) procedures to govern consideration of rescission disapproval legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit medicare select policies to be offered in all States, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1995

Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to: (1) make permanent the Medicare select policy program; and (2) allow access to Medicare select policies in all States. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the Medicare select policy program and provide for a civil penalty for misrepresentations made in connection with a Medicare select policy.

A bill to repeal the Medicare and Medicaid Coverage Data Bank, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1995

Abolishes the Medicare and Medicaid Coverage Data Bank established under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to the Congress on how to achieve the former objectives of such entity in the most cost-effective manner.

An Act to amend the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to permit medicare select policies to be offered in all States.

United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1995

Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to: (1) make permanent the Medicare select policy program; and (2) allow access to Medicare select policies in all States. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the Medicare select policy program and provide for a civil penalty for misrepresentations made in connection with a Medicare select policy.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government.

United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1995

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits total outlays of the operating fund of the United States for any fiscal year from exceeding total receipts to those funds for that fiscal year plus any operating fund balances carried over from previous years. Allows the Congress to waive provisions of this amendment by a declaration of national urgency by the President that is approved by a majority vote of both Houses of the Congress. Requires the President, by the first Monday in February each year, to transmit to Congress a proposed budget in which the total outlays of the operating funds do not exceed total receipts. Declares that total receipts exclude those derived from net borrowing. Declares that total outlays exclude those for repayment of debt principal and for capital and developmental investments that provide demonstrable long-term economic returns but includes an annual debt servicing charge. Declares that the receipts (including attributable interest) and outlays of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund together with outlays for benefits earned by veterans of military service shall not be counted as receipts or outlays.

Providing for consideration of a joint resolution (H.J. Res. 1) proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1995

Sets forth the rule for the consideration of H.J. Res. 1 (balanced budget amendment).

A bill to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide that any concurrent resolution on the budget that contains reconciliation directives shall include a directive with respect to the statutory limit on the public debt, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 10 January 1995

Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require any concurrent resolution on the budget that contains reconciliation directives relating to required changes in total budget authority amounts and revenue amounts to specify the amounts by which the statutory limit on the public debt is to be changed and to include this directive in the reconciliation legislation reported for the particular fiscal year. Declares it out of order in the Senate, with limited exception, to consider legislation that increases the public debt limit during a fiscal year above the level set forth in the concurrent resolution on the budget for that fiscal year.

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution relating to Federal budget procedures.

United States · United States Congress · 10 January 1995

Constitutional Amendment - Proposes an amendment to the Constitution relating to Federal budget procedures.

Congressional Fiscal Responsibility Incentive Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1995

Congressional Fiscal Responsibility Incentive Act - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to reduce the annual salary of a Member of Congress by ten percent if the total expenditures of the Federal Government exceed its total receipts for a fiscal year. Requires such reductions in salary to be disregarded the first pay period beginning on or after the date the Congress receives a report indicating that total receipts of the Federal Government are greater than or equal to its total expenditures for a fiscal year. Requires restoration of the Member's salary for such position to the level which would then be in effect without enactment of this Act. Mandates such pay adjustments before any other adjustment scheduled to take effect on the same day for the same position. Makes it out of order for the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill or resolution increasing the salary for Members of Congress, with specified exceptions, unless the bill or resolution deals with no subject matter other than a pay increase for members. Requires a recorded vote by the House or Senate in the passage or adoption of such bill or resolution. Provides that this Act shall have no force or effect after passage of a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced Federal budget.

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.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government.

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1995

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits Federal outlays of operating funds from exceeding receipts to such funds for any fiscal year plus any operating fund balances carried over from previous fiscal years. Waives such prohibition: (1) when a declaration of war is in effect; (2) when the United States by law is engaged in military conflict; or (3) if economic growth has been or will be negative for two consecutive quarters. Requires the President to propose a budget in accordance with this Act. Declares that total receipts exclude those derived from net borrowing. Declares that total outlays excludes those for repayment of debt principal and for capital investments in physical infrastructure that provide long-term economic returns but includes an annual debt servicing charge. Provides that the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund shall not be counted as receipts or outlays.

A resolution making majority party appointments to Senate committees for the 104th Congress.

United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1995

Designates the majority party membership on the following Senate committees: (1) Budget; (2) Rules and Administration; and (3) Veterans' Affairs.

A resolution amending paragraphs 3(a), 3(b), and 3(c) of Rule XXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1995

Amends rule XXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate to change the number of Members on the following Senate Committees: (1) Budget; (2) Small Business; (3) Aging; (4) Intelligence; and (5) Indian Affairs.

A resolution to make minority party appointments to Senate Committees under paragraph 3 (a) and (b) of Rule XXV for the One Hundred Fourth Congress.

United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1995

Designates the minority party membership on the following Senate committees: (1) Budget; (2) Rules and Administration; (3) Small Business; (4) Veterans' Affairs; and (5) Aging.

G. Edward DeSeve, of Pennsylvania, to be Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget, vice Edward Joseph Mazur, resigned.

United States · United States Senate · 5 January 1995

Unfunded Mandate Reform Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Legislative Accountability and Reform Title II: Regulatory Accountability and Reform Title III: Review of Unfunded Federal Mandates Title IV: Judicial Review Unfunded Mandate Reform Act of 1995 - Prohibits the application of this Act to any proposed Federal legislation or proposed or final Federal regulation that: (1) enforces the constitutional rights of individuals; (2) establishes or enforces any statutory rights that prohibit various specified types of discrimination; (3) requires compliance with accounting and auditing procedures with respect to grants or other money or property provided by the Federal Government; (4) provides for emergency assistance or relief at the request of any State, local, or tribal government (small government); or (5) is designed as emergency legislation or is necessary for national security or international treaty purposes. Requires each Federal agency to provide to the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) such information and assistance as the Director may reasonably request to assist him or her in carrying out this Act. Title I: Legislative Accountability and Reform - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 and the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 with respect to unfunded Federal mandates. (Sec. 101) Includes tribal governments and the private sector within the purview of mandate analysis by CBO and congressional committees. Requires authorization committees to identify to CBO any Federal mandates in legislation ordered to be reported. Requires the report accompanying any reported legislation with a Federal mandate to contain statements on whether the legislation is intended to preempt any State, local, or tribal law (and the reasons for such intention), as well as individual mandate descriptions, cost-benefit analyses, and statements regarding Federal financial assistance to State, local, and tribal governments for meeting mandate costs. Requires the CBO Director, for each piece of legislation, to prepare and submit the authorizing committee certain statements estimating the direct costs of mandate compliance and the amount of new or increased Federal financial assistance needed to meet such costs, if the estimates indicate at least a $50 million per fiscal year direct cost of all intergovernmental mandates in the legislation, or a $200 million per fiscal year direct cost of private sector mandates. Makes it out of order for the Senate to consider: (1) any reported nonappropriations legislation unless it has a CBO Director report; or (2) any reported nonappropriations legislation containing a Federal intergovernmental mandate with direct costs exceeding the thresholds specified by this Act, unless it provides for new or increased budget, entitlement, or direct spending authority or makes other specified arrangements for each fiscal year to ensure that Federal funds equal or exceed the estimated direct costs of the mandate, or that State, local, and tribal programmatic and financial responsibilities are reduced so they do not exceed the amount of Federal funding. Gives the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight and the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs final authority to determine questions on the applicability of this Act to pending bills, joint resolutions, amendments, motions, or conference reports. Requires the direct costs of a Federal mandate for a fiscal year to be determined based on estimates by congressional budget committees. Provides that it shall not be in order in the House of Representatives to consider a rule or order waiving application of these provisions to a bill or joint resolution reported by an authorization committee. (Sec. 102) Amends House rules with regard to the Committee of the Whole and Committee on Rules: (1) to make it always in order in the former to strike from the portion of any bill open to amendment any Federal mandate whose direct costs exceed the prescribed threshold; and (2) to require the latter to include in its reports on waived points of order a separate item identifying all waivers of points of order relating to Federal mandates. (Sec. 103) Provides that, at the request of any congressional committee, the CBO Director shall: (1) consult with and assist it in analyzing the budgetary or financial impact of any proposed legislation that may have a significant impact on the State, local, or tribal government involved or on the private sector; and (2) study any legislative proposal containing a Federal mandate. Requires the CBO Director to conduct continuing studies to enhance comparisons of budget outlays, credit authority, and tax expenditures. Requires any congressional committee that anticipates considering any legislative proposal establishing, amending, or reauthorizing any Federal program likely to have a significant impact on any State, local, or tribal government or on the private sector to include its views and estimates on that proposal to the applicable budget committee. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations to CBO to carry out this Act. (Sec. 106) Repeals the State and Local Government Cost Estimate Act of 1981. Title II: Regulatory Accountability and Reform - Requires each Federal agency to: (1) assess the effects of Federal regulations on State, local, and tribal governments (other than to the extent that such regulations incorporate requirements specifically set forth in legislation) and the private sector, including specifically the availability of resources to carry out any Federal mandates in those regulations; and (2) seek to minimize those burdens that uniquely or significantly affect such governmental entities, consistent with achieving statutory and regulatory objectives. (Sec. 201) Directs each agency to permit elected officials and other representatives of State, local, and tribal governments to provide meaningful and timely input in the development of regulatory proposals containing significant Federal mandates. Requires each agency: (1) before establishing regulatory requirements, to develop plans for notifying small governments of such requirements; and (2) before promulgating any final rule that includes any Federal intergovernmental mandate that may result in State, local, or tribal government and private sector expenditures, in the aggregate, of $100 million or more in any one year, to prepare a written statement of specified estimates and analyses for forwarding to the CBO Director. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 204) Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to establish pilot programs in at least two agencies to test innovative approaches to reducing reporting and compliance burdens on small governments. Title III: Review of Unfunded Federal Mandates - Establishes the Commission on Unfunded Federal Mandates to investigate and review the role of unfunded Federal mandates in intergovernmental relations and their impact on local, State, and Federal government objectives and responsibilities. Requires the Commission to make recommendations to the President and the Congress with regard to: (1) consolidating or simplifying unfunded Federal mandates in order to facilitate compliance by State, local, and tribal governments, especially with respect to specific mandates for which the terms of compliance are unnecessarily rigid or complex; (2) terminating unfunded mandates which are duplicative, obsolete, or lacking in practical utility; and (3) temporarily suspending those unfunded mandates which are not vital to public health and safety and which compound the fiscal difficulties of State, local, and tribal governments. (Sec. 307) Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Judicial Review - Disallows judicial review under this Act.

Tax Fairness and Accountability Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1995

Tax Fairness and Accountability Act of 1995 - Requires an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate to approve any bill or amendment which increases the tax rate. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to declare that any bill, resolution, or amendment that reduces revenues may be approved by a simple majority of the Senate.

Spending Reduction and Budget Control Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1995

Spending Reduction and Budget Control Act of 1995 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require each House of the Congress to agree to a joint resolution on the allocation of budget authority and outlays made by the Committees on Appropriations. Requires amendments that reduce appropriations to also reduce relevant subcommittee allocations and discretionary spending limits.

Affordable Health Care for All Americans Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Health Care Security Subtitle A: Universal Coverage and Individual Responsibility Subtitle B: Benefits Subtitle C: State Role in Reform Subtitle D: Expanded Access to Health Plans Subtitle E: Standards for Reform Subtitle F: Federal Responsibilities Subtitle G: Miscellaneous Employer Requirements Subtitle H: General Definitions; Miscellaneous Provisions Title II: New Benefits Subtitle A: Home and Community-Based Services Subtitle B: Life Care Subtitle C: Sense of the Committee with Regard to Prescription Drugs Title III: Public Health Initiatives Subtitle A: Workforce Priorities Under Federal Payments Subtitle B: Health Research Initiatives Subtitle C: Health Services for Medically Underserved Populations Subtitle D: Assistance for State Managed Mental Health and Substance Abuse Programs Subtitle E: Comprehensive School Health Education; School-Related Health Services Subtitle F: Public Health Service Initiative Title IV: Medical Malpractice Subtitle A: Liability Reform Subtitle B: Other Provisions Relating to Medical Malpractice Liability Title V: Fall-Back Premium Limits in Cases of Ineffective Competition; Premium-Based Financing; Assistance to Low Income Individuals and to Businesses Subtitle A: Fall-Back Premium Limits Subtitle B: Premium-Related Financings Subtitle C: Payments to Health Plans and Miscellaneous Provisions Subtitle D: Cost-Sharing Assistance, Application for Assistance and Premium Discounts, and Income Reconciliation Title VI: Aggregate Government Payments Subtitle A: Aggregate Federal Payments to Participating State Subtitle B: Borrowing Authority to Cover Cash-Flow Shortfalls Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Provisions Affordable Health Care for All Americans Act - Title I: Health Care Security - Subtitle A: Universal Coverage and Individual Responsibility - Entitles each U.S. citizen or national, resident alien, and long-term nonimmigrant (except for individuals exempt from paying Social Security taxes and except for individuals eligible under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act)) to the benefits required under subtitle B. (Sec. 1004) Declares that: (1) subject to exception, the applicable health plan for a family is a community-rated plan for the community-rating area in which the family resides; and (2) the applicable health plan for a family member eligible to enroll in an experienced-rated (sic) plan is such an experienced-rated (sic) plan. Allows eligible individuals who are permitted to elect coverage under more than one plan to elect which will be the applicable plan. (Sec. 1005) Prohibits aliens who are not eligible individuals from obtaining benefits through enrollment under this Act. Allows benefits to lawful nonimmigrants (who are not long-term nonimmigrants) only in accordance with any reciprocal agreements between the United States and foreign States. (Sec. 1011) Requires, subject to exception, all members of the same family to be enrolled in the same applicable plan. Authorizes national rules regarding who will be treated as children under this Act. (Sec. 1012) Provides for the treatment of certain families that include: (1) Medicare-eligible individuals; (2) recipients under part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)) of the Social Security Act; and (3) disabled and nondisabled recipients under title XVI (Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (SSI)) of the Social Security Act. Allows qualifying students to enroll in a community-rate plan for the area in which the school is located. (Sec. 1013) Requires individuals (and their spouses) who are eligible as an employee for more than one plan to elect the applicable plan. Subtitle B: Benefits - Requires a certified health plan to provide benefits actuarially equivalent to the BlueCross-Blue Shield standard option plan provided under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) on January 1, 1995. Includes in minimum services: (1) hospital services; (2) health professionals' services; (3) emergency and ambulatory medical and surgical services; (4) clinical preventive services; (5) mental illness and substance abuse services; (6) family planning services and services for pregnant women; (7) hospice care, home health care, extended care services, outpatient rehabilitation services, and ambulance services; (8) outpatient laboratory, radiology and diagnostic services; (9) outpatient prescription drugs and biologicals; (10) durable medical equipment; (11) vision care and dental care for children; and (12) patient care costs of qualified investigational treatments. Prohibits scope or duration limits on certain services. Declares that certain services are not medically necessary or appropriate. Prohibits cost-sharing for preventive and prenatal services. Mandates establishment of three model certified plans having cost-sharing and scope and duration limits appropriate for fee-for-service plans, preferred provider plans, and health maintenance organization (HMO) plans. Requires a study on the provision and enrollment patterns of certified plans. (Sec. 1102) Declares that a health professional or a health facility may not be required to provide an item or service under a certified plan if the professional or facility objects on the basis of a religious belief or moral conviction. (Sec. 1103) Prohibits balance billing. Subtitle C: State Role in Reform - Requires each State to establish a State market reform program (SMRP) meeting the requirements of this title. (Sec. 1202) Mandates certain SMRP actions, including regarding certification of insured health plans, establishment of community rating areas, certification of purchasing cooperatives, establishment of purchasing cooperative coordination rules, development of standardized comparative certified plan information and information on accessing plans and cooperatives, providing for risk adjustment programs for community-rated and association health plans, and enrollment periods. (Sec. 1209) Authorizes a SMRP to certify a network plan to operate in a service area different from the borders of a community rating area if certain requirements are met. (Sec. 1210) Allows a State, on approval by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and notwithstanding specified provisions of this Act, to tighten premium rate bands beyond the variation permitted, establish association plan rules more restrictive than provided for, and establish financial solvency requirements exceeding requirements. (Sec. 1211) Mandates establishment (by grant or contract) and oversight of a National Center of Consumer Advocacy to provide technical assistance, training, and support to States and Offices of Consumer Advocacy in each State. (Sec. 1212) Requires each participating State to establish a procedure for exempt employers to elect to be treated as a community- rated employer. (Sec. 1222) Sets forth requirements for single-payer systems, including: (1) operation by the State or a designated agency of the State; (2) enrollment of all individuals in the State, subject to exception; (3) payments made by the State (directly or through fiscal intermediaries) to providers; (4) coverage of all items and services as required by subtitle B of this title (allowing reduced but not increased cost-sharing); (5) limiting the health care spending increase rate; and (6) meeting the requirements applicable to certified plans. Subtitle D: Expanded Access to Health Plans - Requires that each employer make available to each employee the opportunity to enroll in one of at least three certified plans, including either a fee-for-service plan or a point-of-service option. Allows a small employer (defined as having fewer than 100 employees) to meet this requirement through a purchasing cooperative; requires a large employer (defined as having 100 or more employees) to meet this requirement only through offering experience-rated health plans. Provides for payroll withholding of any required employee premiums. (Sec. 1302) Allows small employer employees who are community- rated individuals to elect to enroll in any certified plan in the community rating area in which the employees work or live. (Sec. 1311) Allows a State to establish or charter purchasing cooperatives. Prohibits any individual or entity engaged in the sale of health insurance from forming or underwriting a purchasing cooperative (PC) or holding or controlling any right to vote regarding a PC. (Sec. 1313) Requires PCs to: (1) accept all small employers and individuals eligible for coverage in the community-rated market and residing in the area served by the cooperative; and (2) enter into agreements with at least three certified plans providing the benefits described in subtitle B, including at least one fee-for-service plan or point-of-service plan. Prohibits PCs from: (1) being involved in approval or enforcement of payment rates for providers; (2) being involved in the compliance of certified plans; or (3) assuming financial risk relating to a plan. (Sec. 1321) Requires certified association plans (APs), except as otherwise provided, to meet all requirements of this Act for certified plans offered by large employers. Requires, for APs meeting those requirements, treating: (1) the AP as a plan established and maintained by a large employer; and (2) individuals enrolled in the AP as experience-rated individuals. Requires an AP to cover at least 500 lives. Declares that the certifying authority for APs is: (1) the Secretary of Labor for a certified AP that is a multistate self- insured plan; (2) the State for a certified AP that is a single State self-insured plan. Applies risk adjustment provisions of this Act to APs. Mandates solvency standards for APs. (Sec. 1324) Repeals specified provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) relating to multiple employer welfare arrangements. (Sec. 1325) Requires church plans and multiemployer plans, except as otherwise provided, to meet all requirements of this Act for certified plans offered by large employers. Requires, for plans meeting those requirements, treating: (1) the plan as a plan established and maintained by a large employer; and (2) individuals enrolled in the plan as experience-rated individuals. Declares that the certifying authority for such plans is the Secretary of Labor. Sets forth risk adjustment and solvency requirements. (Sec. 1331) Requires any health plan participating under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program to offer the plan to community-rated individuals and small employers in community rating areas served by the plan at a premium established in accordance with specified provisions of this Act. Subtitle E: Standards for Reform - Sets forth requirements regarding certified health plans. Requires a plan sponsor offering a community-rated plan to offer the plan to any community-rated individual and a plan sponsor offering an experience-rated plan to offer the plan to any experience-rated individual. Declares that a network plan may be made available only in a service area not identical to a community rating area if specified requirements are met. Mandates renewability, subject to exception. (Sec. 1413) Requires standard premiums within each community rating area to be the same for each plan. Requires the premium charged to be the product of the standard premium, an adjustment for the class of enrollment (individual, couple only, single parent, or dual parent), and an age adjustment factor. (Sec. 1414) Prohibits denial, limitation, or conditioning of coverage on any reason, including health status, except as provided in this Act. (Sec. 1416) Allows a plan to offer: (1) additional coverage only if offered and priced separately, if the purchase of the plan is not conditioned on purchase of additional coverage, and if the additional coverage is also offered to individuals not in the plan; and (2) a reduction in cost-sharing only to enrollees for a price that includes any use increase expected to result from the cost-sharing reduction. (Sec. 1417) Requires each community-rated plan to: (1) participate in a risk adjustment program; (2) meet financial solvency requirements; (3) provide information to the State; and (4) provide for quality improvement and quality assurance. Prohibits: (1) utilization management from creating financial incentives for reviewers to reduce or limit medically necessary or appropriate services; and (2) physician incentive plans unless in accordance with specified provisions of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 1421) Applies to each plan Medicare provisions relating to procedures to notify a patient of the patient's right to accept or refuse treatment and to execute an advance directive. Limits plan gatekeepers in complex or chronic health conditions so as to avoid undue enrollee burdens. Mandates procedures to protect confidentiality. Prohibits: (1) selective marketing; (2) patient lability for unpaid plan obligations; and (3) discrimination in selecting providers for a provider network based on the actual or anticipated health status of the provider's patients. Mandates: (1) physician participation in matters affecting patient care; and (2) patient ability to choose any primary care physician from among participating providers. (Sec. 1422) Requires certification of specified types of providers as essential community providers, including: (1) covered entities under provisions of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA); (2) Medicare-dependent small rural hospitals; (3) children's hospitals; (4) mental health and substance abuse providers receiving funds under specified provisions of the PHSA; (5) runaway homeless youth centers or homeless youth transitional living programs; (6) maternal and child health providers receiving funds under specified provisions of the Social Security Act; (7) rural health clinics; (8) school health services centers; and (9) nonprofit hospitals providing a specified percentage of services to individuals entitled to or eligible for benefits under Medicare or under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act. Requires each plan, if such providers so elect, to have a written provider participation agreement with such providers or have an agreement to make payment to the provider. (Sec. 1423) Requires each plan to have in its network (or through other arrangements) a sufficient number, distribution, and variety of specialists to assure service availability to adults, infants, children, and persons with disabilities. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish criteria for designating, and to designate, centers of specialized care. (Sec. 1424) Requires each plan to: (1) have the capacity, within its network or through arrangements with providers, to deliver the benefits required in subtitle B throughout the community rating area; and (2) provide emergency out-of-area and out-of-plan coverage for enrollees and urgent out-of-area coverage. (Sec. 1431) Specifies which certified health plan requirements apply to certified self-insured health plans. Applies certain fiduciary requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to self-insured plans and imposes financial management and record keeping requirements. (Sec. 1441) Prohibits States from requiring: (1) the offering, as part of a certified plan, of any services different from the benefit categories of this Act; or (2) a right of conversion from a group certified plan to an individual certified plan. (Sec. 1442) Prohibits State limits, regulations, or prohibitions regarding: (1) incentives for certified plan enrollees to use participating providers; (2) limiting coverage to services provided by a participating provider; (3) rate and payment form negotiations; (4) limitations on the number of participating providers; (5) requiring that services be provided or authorized by a participating provider; (6) the corporate practice of medicine; (7) utilization management and review programs; (8) single-source suppliers; and (9) point-of-service options. (Sec. 1451) Sets forth plan standards for the interim period between January 1, 1996, and when the State becomes a participating State. Subtitle F: Federal Responsibilities - Directs the Secretary of Labor to develop and publish standards for certified self-insured plans and to provide for the certification of the plans. (Sec. 1502) Mandates procedures for corrective actions when a self-insured plan has failed to meet requirements. Provides for termination of self-insured plans. (Sec. 1503) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to authorize special rules for the application of portions of ERISA to group health plans. (Sec. 1521) Requires sanctions and corrective action orders if a participating State fails to meet requirements of this Act. Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out activities in the same manner as a participating State would. (Sec. 1522) Requires treating related employers as a single employer if a reason for their separation relates to their employees' health risk characteristics. (Sec. 1523) Mandates development of certification criteria for workplace wellness programs. (Sec. 1532) Repeals these provisions relating to collective bargaining dispute resolution on a specified date. Authorizes a health care entity or a labor organization certified or recognized as representing a health care entity's employees to request that the Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service appoint an impartial Health Care Board of Inquiry to investigate a collective bargaining dispute between the entity and the labor organization. Subtitle G: Miscellaneous Employer Requirements - Prohibits discrimination against employees on the basis of family status or class of family enrollment selected. (Sec. 1603) Makes it unlawful to take adverse action against an employee if a purpose of the action is to interfere with the employee's attainment of status as a qualifying employee, full time employee, or part-time employee, or if a purpose is to evade or avoid any obligation under this Act. (Sec. 1604) Allows a community-rated employer (and an experience- rated employer with respect to employees who are community-rated eligible individuals) to provide benefits to employees that consist of benefits in a cost-sharing policy only through a contribution toward the purchase of a cost-sharing policy that is funded primarily through insurance. Makes the responsibilities of individuals and employers in single payer States supersede their obligations under this subtitle. (Sec. 1605) Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to impose a civil money penalty for violations of this subtitle. Subtitle H: General Definitions; Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth definitions for purposes of this Act. (Sec. 1714) Amends the Davis-Bacon Act to modify the definitions of "wages" and related terms by adding references to this Act. Amends the Service Contract Act of 1965 to add references to this Act in provisions relating to required contract provisions. (Sec. 1715) Declares that it is the sense of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate that, when this Act is enacted, it should include these sources of financing not within the jurisdiction of the Committee: (1) the net savings and revenues included in the Health Security Act; (2) a specified increase in the cigarette tax; (3) a phased-in premium assessment; (4) other savings or revenues as necessary to provide budget neutrality; and (5) a payroll assessment on exempt employers with specified numbers of workers. Title II: New Benefits - Subtitle A: Home and Community-Based Services - Sets forth requirements in order to approve a State plan for home and community-based services for individuals with disabilities, including: (1) State maintenance of effort (with a base amount set with regard to expenditures under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act); (2) eligibility (including initial screenings, restrictions, and continuation of services during transition from Medicaid to the State plan); (3) types of providers and requirements for participation; (4) provider reimbursement; (5) State matching funds; and (6) health care worker redeployment. Mandates annual compliance monitoring. (Sec. 2103) Requires the State plan to specify the services available and any limitations on those services. Mandates a needs assessment, an individualized plan of care, care management services, coverage of personal assistance services. Sets forth a list of other services the plan may cover. Prohibits coverage of room and board or services in institutional settings. Declares that service recipients shall retain the right to independently select, terminate, and direct the work of a home care provider. (Sec. 2104) Prohibits cost-sharing for individuals with an income under a specified level. Mandates coinsurance and an annual deductible in graduated steps above that level. (Sec. 2105) Requires the plan to ensure and monitor service quality. Mandates State plan adherence to federal standards in: (1) case review; (2) mandatory reporting of abuse, neglect, and exploitation; (3) a registry of providers against whom complaints have been sustained; (4) sanctions on States or providers; (5) surveys of client satisfaction; and (6) State optional training programs for informal care givers. Requires client advocacy services. (Sec. 2106) Mandates a Federal advisory group and an advisory group in each State. (Sec. 2107) Sets forth formulas for payments to States. (Sec. 2108) Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Life Care - Life Care Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to create a new title establishing a voluntary insurance program for individuals 35 years old and over to cover nursing home stays. Covers the nursing facility services to inpatients of: (1) nursing care; (2) physical, occupational, or speech therapy; (3) medical social work; (4) drug, biological, supply, appliance, and equipment; (5) other services as necessary to the functioning of a patient, including personal care and assistance with activities of daily living; and (6) the portion of the first six months of room and board not covered by copayments. Limits the dollar amount of coverage to three levels electable by the individual. Mandates a report on the feasibility of making payments for services delivered in residential care facilities. Declares an individual eligible if the individual is a legal U.S. resident, needs hands-on or standby assistance, supervision, or cueing over at least 90 days, and has elected coverage. Makes individuals in a hospital or nursing home at the time of enrollment ineligible until their next spell of illness. Gives an individual the option to purchase coverage under this title when the individual is within six months of his or her 35th, 45th, 55th, or 65th birthday, with one premium rate for each of the periods between those birthdays or after the 65th birthday. Requires that covered services be provided by nursing homes certified by the State. Sets the monthly reimbursement at 80 percent of the amount reasonable and appropriate to cover costs. Mandates, to extent feasible, a prospective payment mechanism. Makes the benefit recipient responsible for specified percentages of room and board charges. Requires nursing facility services reimbursement, to the extent available, to be made under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, Department of Veterans Affairs' programs, or private insurance policies before reimbursement under this title. Directs the Secretary to contract with entities to act as Long- Term Care Screening Agencies for each designated area of the State to assess the eligibility of individuals for services under this title. Allows Screening Agencies to require payment from individuals only in accordance with standards set by the Secretary. Prohibits requiring payment from individuals with incomes below a specified level. Requires, notwithstanding any other law, that the assets an individual may retain and be eligible for nursing facility benefits under State Medicaid programs be increased by the amount of coverage elected under this title. Prohibits insurers from offering long-term care policies duplicating coverage provided under this title. Directs the Secretary to develop standard long-term care packages insurers may offer that complement this title. Subtitle C: Sense of the Committee with Regard to Prescription Drugs - Declares that it is the sense of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate that, when this Act is enacted, it should include coverage of outpatient prescription drugs as included in the Health Security Act (as introduced in the 103d Congress) and providing for a deductible, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket limits not over specified amounts. Title III: Public Health Initiatives - Subtitle A: Workforce Priorities Under Federal Payments - Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services the National Council on Graduate Medical Education. Repeals provisions of the Health Professions Education Extension Amendments of 1992 establishing the Council on Graduate Medical Education. (Sec. 3011) Allows payments to physician training programs in a medical specialty only if the program will ensure that the number of individuals enrolled in the program in the subsequent academic year is in accordance with these provisions. (Sec. 3012) Requires the National Council to designate, for each medical specialty for each academic year, starting with academic year 2001-2002, the number of individuals nationwide authorized to be enrolled in eligible programs, with at least 55 percent completing programs in primary care. Mandates interim voluntary targets set by the National Council. (Sec. 3013) Requires the National Council, for each academic year and each medical specialty, to make allocations among eligible programs of the number of positions for the year. (Sec. 3031) Mandates payments to qualified entities for the operational costs of an approved physician training program. Requires, in order to be qualified, that entities providing primary care training rotate enrollees to community programs in underserved areas. Specifies the amounts to be available for payments in certain calendar years under these provisions and under provisions relating to transitional payments to institutions. Declares that these amounts constitute the annual health professions workforce account. (Sec. 3041) Mandates payments to medical schools (to be administered as a grant) for the direct costs of academic programs, including the education of medical students, graduate students in biomedical sciences, and otherwise unfunded faculty research. Specifies the amounts to be available for payments in certain academic years. Declares that these amounts constitute the annual medical school fund account. (Sec. 3051) Mandates payments to academic health centers or teaching hospitals (to be administered as a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement) for costs not routinely incurred by other entities providing health services but are incurred by such institutions by virtue of their academic nature, including productivity decreased by teaching responsibilities, uncompensated costs of clinical research, and exceptional costs associated with treatment using the institution's specialized expertise. Specifies the amounts to be available for payments in certain calendar years. Declares that these amounts constitute the annual academic health center account. (Sec. 3061) Requires transitional payments to eligible entities losing specialty positions to assist operational costs. (Sec. 3071) Mandates a program regarding graduate nurse training programs (nurse program) equivalent to the program in previous provisions of this Act relating to physician training programs (physician program). Applies the physician program provisions of this Act to the nurse program provisions of this Act, including calling the council established the National Council on Graduate Nurse Education. (Sec. 3073) Specifies the amounts to be available for payments in certain calendar years. Declares that these amounts constitute the annual graduate nurse training account. (Sec. 3081) Sets forth transitional provisions, terminating them on a specified date and applying them only to health care entities employing more than 25 individuals. Requires hiring preference for displaced employees of those entities and provides for termination of preference eligibility. Requires successor health care entity employers to provide employees of the previous entity continued employment unless their positions no longer exist. Regulates collective bargaining matters during the transition period. Provides for enforcement of these transitional provisions. Subtitle B: Health Research Initiatives - Makes available specified percentages of the premiums required to be paid under this Act. Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to make those amounts available to: (1) the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to be used to carry out the responsibilities of the Office and for construction and acquisition of equipment or facilities; (2) the National Center for Research Resources to carry out provisions of the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993 concerning biomedical and behavioral research facilities; (3) carry out PHSA provisions regarding health information communications; and (4) the NIH institutes. (Sec. 3102) Amends provisions of the PHSA to require the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research to conduct and support U.S. health care reform research. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Health Services for Medically Underserved Populations - Authorizes appropriations to carry out specified provisions of this subtitle. Declares that these authorizations are in addition to any others for the same purposes. (Sec. 3321) Authorizes grants and contracts for: (1) the development of community groups to provide benefits under subtitle B of title I of this Act in health professional shortage areas or to members of a medically underserved population; and (2) the expansion and development of health delivery sites and services. (Sec. 3322) Specifies permitted fund uses, including: (1) recruitment, compensation, and training of professional and administrative staff; (2) purchase and upgrading of equipment, supplies, and information systems; and (3) establishment of reserves for furnishing services on a prepaid or capitated basis. (Sec. 3341) Mandates grants and loans to eligible entities, essential access community hospitals, and rural primary care hospitals for the capital costs of developing community health groups and expanding or developing health delivery sites. (Sec. 3361) Authorizes grants and contracts with eligible entities to provide services to increase the capacity of individuals to use the benefits under title I (including transportation, outreach, patient and family education, translation services, case management, and home visiting) and to provide access to essential supplemental services that are not fully reimbursable under title I before a specified date. Authorizes appropriations in addition to any other authorizations. (Sec. 3371) Authorizes appropriations to carry out provisions of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) relating to the National Health Service Corps and to carry out these provisions on nurse participation in PHSA scholarship and loan repayment programs. Requires reservation of sufficient funds to ensure that a specified percentage of the participants in those programs are being educated in specified nursing fields. (Sec. 3373) Requires reservation of sufficient funds to ensure that a specified percentage of the participants in those programs are being educated or are serving as psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers. (Sec. 3381) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make payments to eligible hospitals. Declares that this: (1) is an entitlement in the Secretary on behalf of the hospitals but not an entitlement in the State in which any hospital is located or in any individual receiving hospital services; and (2) constitutes budget authority in advance of appropriations and the obligation of the Government to provide funding in specified amounts for certain years. (Sec. 3382) Identifies as eligible those hospitals with low income use rates of at least a specified percentage. (Sec. 3383) Regulates the amount of payments. (Sec. 3391) Declares that it is the sense of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources that this Act and later appropriations Acts should recognize the success of community and migrant health centers. Subtitle D: Assistance for State Managed Mental Health and Substance Abuse Programs - Mandates grants to States for the development and operation of comprehensive managed mental health and substance abuse programs integrated with the health delivery system established under this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle E: Comprehensive School Health Education; School- Related Health Services - Mandates grants to State educational agencies to integrate comprehensive school health education. Authorizes requirements waivers for the Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Model Projects for High Risk Youth, the State and Local Comprehensive School Health Programs to Prevent Important Health Problems and Improve Educational Outcomes, and programs carried out under certain provisions of the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 3503) Establishes the Healthy Students-Healthy Schools Interagency Task Force. (Sec. 3504) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and maintain a national clearinghouse and mechanisms for the dissemination of school health education material. (Sec. 3581) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) planning and development grants to local community partnerships (LCPs), both directly and through State health agencies; and (2) operational grants to LCPs, both directly and through States. Requires that LCPs include at least one local health care provider, one local educational agency on behalf of one or more public schools, and one community-based organization. Authorizes the Secretary to make the grants to develop and operate school-based or school-linked health service sites. Limits the Federal share of operational grants. Subtitle F: Public Health Service Initiative - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to pay, under specified provisions of this Act, certain amounts for: (1) health services research activities; (2) the development of community groups to provide benefits in health professional shortage areas or to members of a medically underserved population and the expansion and development of health delivery sites and services; (3) the capital costs of developing community health groups; (4) increasing the capacity of individuals to use benefits; (5) providing access to essential supplemental services not fully reimbursable before a specified date; (6) the National Health Service Corps; (7) comprehensive managed mental health and substance abuse programs; and (8) school-based or school-linked health service sites. Title IV: Medical Malpractice - Subtitle A: Liability Reform - Applies this subtitle to any medical malpractice liability action in State or Federal court except for actions under title XXI (Vaccines) of the Public Health Service Act. (Sec. 4002) Requires parties, before or after beginning a medical malpractice action, to participate in the alternative dispute resolution system (ADR) administered by the State. Requires each State to adopt at least one ADR satisfying specified requirements. (Sec. 4003) Limits attorneys contingent fees. (Sec. 4004) Reduces damages for collateral source recovery. (Sec. 4005) Allows a party to ask the court to award future damages on a periodic basis. Subtitle B: Other Provisions Relating to Medical Malpractice Liability - Mandates grants to States for malpractice reform demonstration projects assessing the fairness and effectiveness of one or more of no-fault liability, enterprise liability, or practice guidelines. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Fall-Back Premium Limits in Cases of Ineffective Competition; Premium-Based Financing; Assistance to Low Income Individuals and to Businesses - Subtitle A: Fall-Back Premium Limits - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) compute and publish annually an area inflation factor for each community rating area; (2) determine baseline premium amounts; and (3) annually determine baseline premiums for each community rating area. (Sec. 5004) Regulates the process for community-rated plan's submitting premium rate bids to States and premium bids to cooperatives. Conditions community and cooperative bids on the plan s agreement to accept any payment reduction that may be imposed under these provisions. (Sec. 5005) Allows any State to assume responsibility for containment of health care expenditures. (Sec. 5011) Directs the Secretary to develop and use a method to reduce payments to each noncomplying plan in a noncomplying community rating area. Defines "noncomplying community rating area" as one in which the weighted average accepted bid exceeds the community rating area baseline premium. Defines "noncomplying plan" as a plan in a noncomplying area if the premium rate exceeds the baseline premiums. (Sec. 5012) Requires community-rated plans to include in their contracts with providers a provision reducing provider payments if the plan is noncomplying. (Sec. 5021) Directs the Secretary to develop a method for calculating an annual per capita expenditure equivalent for amounts paid for benefit package coverage by a large employer. (Sec. 5022) Directs the Secretary of Labor to take corrective action if a large employer has two years in which the rate of increase exceeds the national corporate inflation factor. Requires considering the large employer a small employer and requiring it to make premium payments in accordance with specified provisions of this Act. (Sec. 5031) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, for a statewide single-payer State, to compute a statewide per capita premium target in the same manner as the community rating area per capita premium target. Subtitle B: Premium-Related Financings - Makes each family enrolled in a community- or experience-rated plan responsible for payment of the family share of premium. Allows payment of the premium by an employer or another person. (Sec. 5102) Provides for family credits for community- and experience-rated plans. (Sec. 5103) Provides for a premium discount for families that: (1) are AFDC families or SSI; (2) have a family income below a certain level; or (3) have a family obligation that would otherwise exceed specified percentages of family income. (Sec. 5110) Makes families that are provided a family credit liable for repayment of the base employment monthly premium. Reduces that amount by the amount of: (1) any employer payments made based on the net earnings from self-employment; and (2) employer premiums payable. (Sec. 5112) Limits repayment liability for low income families. (Sec. 5113) Regulates the net liability of families with one or more nonqualifying employees and no full-time qualifying employees. (Sec. 5114) Provides for special treatment for certain individuals eligible for Medicare. (Sec. 5116) Exempts small employers (no more than 10 employees and average annual wages under a specified amount) from these requirements on employer premium payments. (Sec. 5118) Allows an exempt employer to elect to be treated as a community-rated employer. Requires treating an exempt employer as a community-rated employer after an election and makes the employer eligible for discounts. (Sec. 5120) Applies Medicare rules relating to Medicare as a second payer to individuals eligible for premium assistance under this title in relation to any non-electing employer. (Sec. 5121) Requires community-rated employers to pay at least a specified amount of the premium payment for each qualifying employee. (Sec. 5122) Requires each State to provide for the annual computation of a base employment premium for each class of family enrollment. (Sec. 5123) Limits the amount of the employer s required premium payment to a specified percentage of the qualifying employee s wages, with different levels for medium employers (eleven to 75 employees) and small employers. Provides for the treatment of certain self- employed individuals. Requires, for employers that make premium payments in more than one community rating area, application of the reduction in a pro-rated manner to the payments in all areas. (Sec. 5124) Adjusts employee payments of large employers if certain average costs and rate increases exceed limits. (Sec. 5125) Considers a self-employed individual to be an employer of himself or herself and to pay wages to himself or herself equal to the amount of net earnings from self-employment. Limits the payment obligation of certain individuals to a specified amount. (Sec. 5131) Requires each experience-rated large employer to contribute to premiums in specified amounts. Increases the share of large employers for low income employees entitled to a premium discount. Subtitle C: Payments to Health Plans and Miscellaneous Provisions - Makes States responsible for assisting plans and cooperatives in premium collection. (Sec. 5202) Makes the payment amount for a community-rated plan equal to a blended payment amount reflecting the final bid for each plan, the number of enrollees in each class, and the proportion of AFDC and SSI beneficiaries in the area. (Sec. 5203) Requires States to develop and implement adjustments (including risk adjustment, reinsurance, premium discounts, and adjustments to reflect AFDC and SSI beneficiaries) necessary to reconcile the amounts collected by plans with the amounts owed to the plans. (Sec. 5204) Requires each State to compute and publish specified components of the general family share of premiums and the general employer premium payment amount. (Sec. 5205) Declares that the obligations of an employer regarding employees that reside in a single-payer State supersede the obligations of an employer to provide for payments under specified provisions of this Act. (Sec. 5207) Requires, if an employer makes available a voluntary payment on behalf of an employee in a community- or experience-rated plan and except as provided under collective bargaining agreements, that the employer make such a voluntary payment in the same dollar amount available to all qualifying employees of the employer in any community- or experience-rated plan in the same class of enrollment and the same area. Prohibits employers from discriminating in the terms or conditions of employment based on the health plan (or the premium of a plan) in which an employee is enrolled. (Sec. 5208) Requires employers to deduct from the wages of qualifying employees the amount of the family share of the premium. Mandates that States require payment for families that do not include a qualifying employee to be made prospectively. Subtitle D: Cost-Sharing Assistance, Application for Assistance and Premium Discounts, and Income Reconciliation - Entitles AFDC, SSI, and low income families to a reduction in cost-sharing, unless: (1) for community-rated families, there are sufficient at- or below- average cost plans with cost-sharing similar to the model certified preferred provider network plans or model certified health maintenance organization plans established under this Act; or (2) for experience- rated families, the employer offers such a plan. (Sec. 5302) Allows a family to apply for a determination of the family adjusted income or wage adjusted income of the family to establish eligibility for cost-sharing reductions, premium discounts, and reductions in liability. Makes each individual who knowingly understates income or otherwise makes a material misrepresentation liable to the State for triple the excess payments and interest. (Sec. 5303) Requires families with premium discounts or reductions in liability to file an income reconciliation statement for the year. Mandates related payment adjustments. (Sec. 5304) Requires States to make eligibility determinations for premium discounts, liability reductions, and cost-sharing reductions in a way that keeps error rates below a level specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Secretary of Labor. Title VI: Aggregate Government Payments - Subtitle A: Aggregate Federal Payments to Participating State - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for payments to each participating State of the capped Federal payment amount. Declares that this constitutes budget authority in advance of appropriations Acts and represents the obligation of the Government to provide for the payments. Sets forth a formula for determination of amounts, including determination of caps. Provides for the handling of anticipated shortfalls. Subtitle B: Borrowing Authority to Cover Cash-Flow Shortfalls - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make loans available to States to cover temporary cash-flow shortfalls. (Sec. 6102) Provides for the use of funds resulting from estimation discrepancies. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Provisions - Declares that it is the sense of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources that, when this Act is enacted, it should include requirements that States: (1) pay premiums for AFDC and SSI recipients at a level established as described in the Health Security Act; and (2) make maintenance of effort payments to be included in the amounts receivable under certain provisions at a level established as described in the Health Security Act.

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government.

United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1995

Constitutional Amendment - Requires a balanced Federal budget, unless a three-fifths roll call vote of both Houses of Congress provides for a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Prohibits an increase in the public debt limit except by a three-fifths roll call vote by both Houses of Congress. Requires the President to submit a balanced budget to the Congress. Prohibits any bill increasing revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority roll call vote of both Houses.

National Dividend Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1995

National Dividend Act of 1995 - Establishes a program for the distribution of certain corporate tax revenues to the registered voters of each State in the form of dividend payments. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to the chief financial officer of each State, in accordance with a prescribed schedule, an amount equal to the National Dividend Payment, as computed under this Act, multiplied by the number of registered voters in the State. Establishes in the Treasury the National Dividend Payment Trust Fund. Authorizes payment into the Fund of specified amounts from revenue received from: (1) the corporate income tax; (2) the tax on the unrelated business income of certain tax-exempt organizations; (3) the capital gains tax; (4) the tax on insurance company income; and (5) the alternative minimum tax on corporations. Establishes a National Dividend Review Board to review the manner in which payments are made from the Fund and to make investments of Fund amounts. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income all dividend income received by a taxpayer from domestic corporations, including dividends received under this Act. Increases the corporate income tax deduction for dividends received by a corporation on the preferred stock of a public utility. Prohibits corporate income tax rates from exceeding 34 percent. Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to declare it out of order in either the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider budget resolutions for FY 1995 and thereafter that would increase the level of total budget outlays beyond those budgeted for FY 1995.

Rural Hospital Survival Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Programs of Health Care Financing Administration Subtitle A: Medicare Program Subtitle B: Other Programs Title II: Programs of Public Health Service Title III: Antitrust Provisions Title IV: Commission on Reducing the Burden of Regulations and Paperwork on Small Rural Hospitals Rural Hospital Survival Act of 1995 - Title I: Programs of Health Care Financing Administration - Subtitle A: Medicare Program - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act regarding guidelines for determining a national adjusted DRG (diagnosis-related group) prospective payment rate to instruct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to compute, for rural hospital discharges, beginning FY 1995, the portion of the average standardized amount attributable to wages and wage-related costs. States that the portion of such amount not attributable to wages and wage-related rural hospital costs shall be equal to such portions of such amount for hospitals in another urban area. Requires the Secretary to adjust the proportion of hospitals' costs taking into account only costs attributable to wages and salaries, employee benefits, and professional fees. (This eliminates payment differentials between urban and rural hospitals.) Expresses the sense of the Congress that payment reductions made to providers under Medicare should be adjusted to reduce their disproportionate impact upon providers in rural areas. Subtitle B: Other Programs - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to increase the authorization of appropriations for rural health transition grants. Title II: Programs of Public Health Service - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary to make grants to public and private entities for demonstration projects for: (1) telecommunications which make medical advice and technologies available to rural area health professionals; and (2) increased access of rural populations to primary health services. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Antitrust Provisions - Provides antitrust exemption guidelines for certain rural hospitals. Title IV: Commission on Reducing the Burden of Regulations and Paperwork on Small Rural Hospitals - Establishes the Advisory Commission on Reducing the Burden of Regulations and Paperwork on Small Rural Hospitals to analyze and report to the Secretary and the Congress on the impact on such hospitals of governmental regulations and paperwork. Authorizes appropriations.

Sustainable Fisheries Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Conservation and Management Title II: Fishery Monitoring and Research Title III: Fisheries Stock Recovery Financing Sustainable Fisheries Act - Title I: Conservation and Management - Amends the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act to include among its purposes the advocacy of fishery habitat protection. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1999 to carry out such Act. (Sec. 107) Revises the guidelines governing permits for foreign fishing vessels. (Sec. 108) Repeals the large-scale driftnet fishing reporting requirements. (Sec. 109) Modifies the national standards for fishery conservation and management to include the mandate that conservation and management measures minimize the incidental catch of non-target living marine resources. (Sec. 110) Expands the number of voting members on the Pacific Fishery Management Council to include one appointed from an Indian tribe with federally recognized fishing rights from a member State. Prescribes selection guidelines for such Indian representative. Authorizes each Regional Fishery Management Council to establish a negotiation panel to assist in the development of specific conservation and management measures for a fishery. (Sec. 111) Modifies the guidelines governing the contents of fishery management plans to include: (1) protection of essential fish habitat; (2) prevention of overfishing; (3) assessment of the level of bycatch; and (4) minimization of mortality caused by discards. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to establish guidelines for individual transferable quotas systems. (Sec. 112) Revises actions by the Secretary after receipt of a fishery management plan. Requires the Secretary to establish the level of fees for fishing vessel permits. (Sec. 113) Requires the Secretary to report annually to the Congress and the Councils on the status of fisheries within each Council's geographical area and identify those fisheries that are approaching a condition of being overfished or are overfished. Requires the appropriate Council to prepare a fishery management plan to prevent or stop overfishing. (Sec. 114) Modifies provisions concerning: (1) State jurisdiction; (2) prohibited acts; (3) civil penalties and permit sanctions; and (4) enforcement. (Sec. 118) Requires the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to include in each fishery management plan conservation and management measures, including fees or other incentives, to reduce bycatch. (Sec. 119) Grants the Secretary discretionary authority to work with interested parties to develop a sustainable development strategy for any fishery classified as overfished or determined to be a commercial fishery failure. Establishes an Ocean Conservation Trust Fund to carry out this section. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1995 through 1999 for fishery resource disasters, if such funds are designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Title II: Fishery Monitoring and Research - Directs the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, the States, the Councils, and Marine Fisheries Commissions, to develop recommendations for implementation of a standardized fishing vessel registration and data management system on a national or regional basis. Requires a report to the Congress on the need to include private recreational fishing vessels used exclusively for pleasure into such system. (Sec. 203) Provides for a Council to implement a data collection program specific to the needs of a fishery management plan. (Sec. 204) Directs the Secretary to issue guidelines for the carrying of observers on fishing vessels. (Sec. 205) Directs the Secretary to publish, every three years after enactment of this Act, a strategic plan for fisheries research for the five years immediately following such publication. (Sec. 206) Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on programs that assess the impact on fishery resources of incidental harvest by shrimp trawl fisheries. Title III: Fisheries Stock Recovery Financing - Fisheries Stock Recovery Financing Act - Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to authorize guarantees for refinancing fishery stock recovery efforts. (Sec. 303) Requires the financing of fishing vessels and fishery facilities through the Federal Financing Bank, unless placement through such bank is not reasonably available or placement elsewhere is available at lower financing. (Sec. 304) Modifies provisions for fees for guaranteeing obligations with respect to fishing vessels and fishing facilities.

A bill to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit the consideration of retroactive tax increases.

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995

Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit the House of Representatives or the Senate from considering any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that increases a tax and applies such increase to taxable years beginning before the date of the enactment of the law. Provides that a point of order raised under any such measure may be waived only by a three-fifths vote in the Senate.

Line Item Veto Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995

Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 1995 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to grant the President legislative line item veto rescission authority. Authorizes the President to rescind all or part of any budget authority, if the President determines that such rescission: (1) would help balance the Federal budget, reduce the Federal budget deficit, or reduce the public debt; (2) will not impair any essential Government functions; and (3) will not harm the national interest. Makes such a rescission effective unless the Congress, during a review period, enacts a rescission disapproval bill.

A bill to phase out Federal funding of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995

Amends the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 to: (1) restrict authorization of appropriations to FY 1996; and (2) prohibit appropriations for the National Fertilizer and Environmental Research Center for FY 1996. Instructs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to submit a plan to the Congress describing: (1) the programs that should continue to be operated by TVA after FY 1996 and how they should be funded; and (2) the programs that TVA should discontinue after FY 1996.