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Bill· HRH.R. 4046 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Title II: General Provisions Emergency Disaster Assistance Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1996 - Title I: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations for FY 1996 to provide relief from the damages caused by Hurricane Fran and other natural disasters of 1996. Chapter 1: Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies - Makes such FY 1996 emergency supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Department of Agriculture, for the Farm Service Agency's emergency conservation program; (2) the Natural Resources Conservation Service, for watershed and flood prevention operations; (3) the Rural Housing Service, for Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account direct loans, and for very low-income housing repair grants; (4) the Rural Utilities Service, for the rural utilities assistance program; and (5) the Commodity Credit Corporation, for covering 1996 crop losses. Chapter 2: Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies - Makes such FY 1996 emergency supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Department of Commerce, for the Economic Development Administration's economic development assistance programs; and (2) the Small Business Administration, for the Disaster Loans Program Account. Chapter 3: Energy and Water Development - Makes such FY 1996 emergency appropriations to the Department of Defense-Civil, Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers-Civil, for: (1) general operation and maintenance; and (2) flood control and coastal emergencies. Chapter 4: Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies - Makes such FY 1996 emergency appropriations to: (1) the Department of Housing and Urban Development for community development grants; and (2) the Federal Emergency Management Agencies for disaster relief. Title II: General Provisions - Designates each amount provided for a program or activity in title I as an emergency requirement for all purposes of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Makes such amount available only to the extent of a specific dollar amount for such program or activity that is: (1) included in an official budget request submitted by the President to the Congress; and (2) designated as an emergency requirement for all purposes of that Act. (Sec. 202) Authorizes Federal department or agency heads to waive certain restrictions in administering funds provided under title I.
Bill· SS. 2056 (104th)failed
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1996
Employment Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 - Defines "employee" to exclude uncompensated volunteers. Defines "employer" to: (1) mean an employer with 15 or more employees; and (2) exclude a bona fide private club. Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities, including an employing authority to which specified provisions of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 or the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 apply. Declares that: (1) this Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's partner; and (2) a disparate impact does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. Prohibits quotas and preferential treatment. Declares that this Act does not apply to: (1) religious organizations (except in their for-profit activities); (2) the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Provides for enforcement. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States liable for all remedies (except punitive damages) to the same extent as a private person. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Prohibits retaliation and coercion. Requires posting notices for employees and applicants.
Bill· SS. 2057 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1996
Makes permanent the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to guarantee veterans' housing loans in a manner similar to that in which adjustable rate mortgages are insured by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under the National Housing Act. (Currently, the authority of the Secretary to carry out a demonstration project guaranteeing such loans in such manner terminated at the end of FY 1995.)
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 288 (104th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1996
Commends the military actions taken by, and the performance of, the U.S. armed forces, under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief, for carrying out the military mission of destroying Iraqi air defense installations on September 3, 1996, in a highly professional, efficient, and effective manner.
Law· HRH.R. 4036 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Foreign Relations Provisions Title II: Foreign Assistance Provisions Human Rights Restoration Act of 1996 - Title I: Foreign Relations Provisions - Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 to revise provisions authorizing the charging of fees for processing machine readable nonimmigrant visas and machine readable combined border crossing identification cards and nonimmigrant visas. Changes the use of such fees, for FY 1996 and 1997, from recovering the costs of consular services to recovering the costs of the Department of State's border security program. Repeals the prohibition against charging such fees to a citizen of a country signatory to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). (Sec. 102) Directs the President to report semiannually to the appropriate congressional committees on: (1) methods employed by Cuba to enforce the United States-Cuba agreement of September 1994 to restrict Cuban immigration to the United States; and (2) the treatment of such people by Cuba who have returned there pursuant to the United States-Cuba agreement of 1995. (Sec. 103) Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1990 to extend through FY 1997 the special allocation of 1,000 admissions into the United States per year of refugees from the independent states of the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania who have been persecuted for participation in the Ukrainian Catholic or Orthodox churches. Extends through FY 1997 the period for specified aliens from the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to be paroled into the United States after denial of refugee status for purposes of qualifying for adjustment of status to permanent resident. (Sec. 104) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise the definition of "refugee" to declare that a person who has been forced to have an abortion or undergo involuntary sterilization, or who has been persecuted for refusing to do so, or for other resistance to a coercive population control program, shall be deemed to have been persecuted on account of political opinion. States that anyone with a well-founded fear that he or she will be forced to undergo such a procedure, or be subjected to persecution for such failure, refusal, or resistance, shall be deemed to have a well-founded fear of persecution on account of political opinion. (Sec. 105) Requires the Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) to take steps to provide opportunities for participation in educational and cultural exchange programs to human rights and democracy leaders of countries whose people do not enjoy freedom and democracy, including but not limited to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tibet, and Burma. (Sec. 106) Directs the USIA Director to establish educational and cultural exchange programs between the United States and Tibet. Specifies the number of scholarships to be made available during FY 1997 to Tibetan and Burmese students and professionals who are outside their respective countries. (Sec. 107) Amends Federal law to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to make improvements to the Rio Grande Canalization Project, especially in the reach between the Percha Diversion Dam in New Mexico and the American Diversion Dam in El Paso, Texas. Title II: Foreign Assistance Provisions - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require a certain human rights report to include: (1) the votes of each member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on all country-specific and thematic resolutions voted on at the Commission's annual session; and (2) the extent to which each country has extended protection to refugees, including the provision of first asylum and resettlement. (Sec. 202) Prohibits the President from providing economic or military assistance or arms transfers to the Government of Mauritania unless he certifies to the Congress that such government has taken action to eliminate chattel slavery, including the enactment and enforcement of anti-slavery laws that provide appropriate punishment for violators.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 517 (104th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 4 September 1996
Sets forth the rule for the consideration of H.R. 3308 (United Nations control of U.S. armed forces).
Bill· HRH.R. 4001 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1996
Liberian Peace and Democracy Act - Declares that the governments of Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have, through the provision of assistance to Liberian factions, contributed to the violence in Liberia since the civil war erupted there in 1989. Imposes certain visa, economic, and defense export sanctions against such countries. Authorizes the President to waive such sanctions if such countries halt their assistance to Liberian factions, or such measures would not be in the U.S. national interest. Urges the President to take certain measures to bring Liberian war criminals to justice. Directs the President to instruct all U.S. Government officials engaged in official contacts with the governments of Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Guinea to raise on a regular basis the issue of extraditing to the United States all persons in such countries sought by the Department of Justice for crimes committed in the United States. Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to the institution of democracy in Liberia.
Bill· HRH.R. 4000 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1996
Restores Federal armed forces provisions relating to the status of missing persons as in effect before amendments made by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997.
Bill· HRH.R. 3975 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1996
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay specified sums to a named individual for services (while in a retired military status) as Program Manager of the Private Office Independent Outreach Program in Brussels, Belgium, during a specified period and for moving and interest expenses incurred in conjunction with holding such position. Extinguishes any liability of the individual to the United States for his children's school tuition during his performance of such service.
Bill· HRH.R. 4007 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1996
Veterans Cold Weather Injury Compensation Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and maintain a registry of veterans who, while in active military service, were exposed for a significant period of time to sustained periods of extremely cold weather (15 days or more of average temperatures of 32 degrees or lower). Requires such registry to be used to determine the association, if any, between the disabilities of such veterans and the exposure to such weather. Presumes cold-weather injuries in such veterans to be service- connected and therefore compensable through veterans' disability compensation. Directs the Secretary, within 90 days, to prescribe initial regulations on injuries determined to have a positive association with sustained exposure to cold weather.
Bill· HRH.R. 3972 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1996
Women Veterans' Health Act of 1996 - Specifies the services to be included as women's health services in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Allows those services provided on an ambulatory or outpatient basis to be procured by contract when Department facilities are not capable of furnishing economical hospital care or medical services because of geographical inaccessibility or otherwise. (Sec. 3) Makes permanent (currently terminates on December 31, 1998) a Department program providing sexual trauma counseling and treatment to women veterans. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report to the veterans' committees on the provision of health care services and the conduct of research carried out by the Department relating to women veterans. Requires such report to be prepared through the Center for Women Veterans. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the Secretary to waive a requirement that women and other minority veterans be included as subjects in Department clinical health research. Directs the Secretary to foster and encourage research on specified gender-specific matters relating to women (breast cancer, gynecological and reproductive health, and sexual trauma), as well as non-gender-specific matters (HIV and AIDS, substance abuse, aging, and cardiac care). Requires certain Department personnel to be involved in such research. (Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to study and report to the veterans' committees concerning the needs of women veterans for health care services. Requires a representative sampling of all categories of women veterans in such study. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to ensure that: (1) homeless women veterans are included in homeless veterans' outreach programs and services; and (2) women veterans who receive Department psychiatric treatment, especially for sexual trauma, receive such treatment in a safe and effective manner that recognizes their privacy needs. (Sec. 9) Makes applicable to Department mammography services and facilities the mammography quality standards promulgated under the Public Health Service Act. Extends the deadline for meeting such requirements. (Sec. 10) Requires, with respect to the Center for Women Veterans: (1) adequate clerical support to carry out the functions of the Director of the Center; and (2) an Associate Director.
Bill· HRH.R. 3950 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1996
GI Bill of Health - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary, when not otherwise specified) to establish a process for the enrollment into Veterans Health Plans (VHPs) of: (1) entitled and eligible veterans (as defined under this Act) and their dependents; and (2) individuals who are eligible for benefits under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services. Requires the Secretary to provide for a continuous VHP open enrollment period of 18 months following the enactment of this Act, an annual enrollment period of at least 30 days, and special enrollment periods for veterans with changed circumstances. Authorizes the Secretary to terminate VHP coverage for the nonpayment of premiums. Includes as an "entitled" veteran any veteran: (1) with a service-connected disability; (2) whose discharge or release from active duty was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty; (3) who is in receipt of veterans' disability compensation due to a disability received by treatment or vocational rehabilitation; (4) who is a former prisoner of war; (5) of the Mexican border period or World War I; (6) who is unable to defray the expenses of necessary care; (7) who served on active duty in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era and who the Secretary finds may have been exposed to a toxic substance during such service; (8) who the Secretary finds was exposed to ionizing radiation during certain nuclear testing during World War II; (9) who served on active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War and who the Secretary finds has an illness or disability which may be associated with exposure to a toxic substance or environmental hazard during such service; (10) who, while on active duty, was exposed to mustard gas during certain testing during World War II; (11) who suffers from a catastrophic illness or injury, payment for which would render such veteran destitute; or (12) who is proven to be uninsurable in the private health insurance market. Includes as an "eligible" veteran those veterans who do not otherwise qualify under this paragraph. Requires entitled veterans to receive any medically necessary and appropriate care and services: (1) associated with a service-connected disability; and (2) for an established disability or illness determined to be proximately due to or the result of such disability or illness. Provides special benefits for entitled veterans having a disability rating of 50 percent or more. Provides for enrollment under a basic, comprehensive, or supplemental health benefits package for entitled veterans and their dependents, with benefits under each package depending upon degrees of disability and related factors. Outlines services provided under each of the benefits packages. Prohibits the Secretary from imposing any premium charges upon an entitled veteran for any medically necessary and appropriate care or services when such veteran has a service-connected disability rated at 50 percent or more. Outlines premium payment requirements for: (1) entitled veterans with disabilities rated at less than 50 percent; (2) other veterans (and their dependents) enrolled in a VHP; (3) veterans eligible for federally-administered health care programs; (4) eligible veterans and veterans' dependents with Medicare Supplemental health insurance coverage; and (5) fee-for-service benefits. Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Plan Fund consisting of specified deposits, including premiums paid for VHP coverage. Requires Fund proceeds to be used for the delivery of veterans' health care services. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit quarterly into the Fund the amount certified to such Secretary as an amount representing (and determined according to a specified formula) the full Federal cost of veterans' health care delivery services for such quarter. Directs such Secretary to allocate at least 75 percent of amounts deposited into the Fund to the VHP or Department facility that provided the care or services for which payment was made. Requires the remaining 25 percent to be used to operate and maintain the veterans health system and to ensure that Department resources and health care services are allocated in a reasonable, efficient, and equitable manner throughout the United States. Requires the Secretary to: (1) administer the veterans health system through the use of a medical practice model known as "managed care"; (2) organize veterans' hospitals and medical facilities and services into VHPs; (3) establish standards for the operation of VHPs; (4) ensure that payment schedules are uniform throughout the veterans health system (with exceptions permitted under the Secretary's discretion); (5) establish procedures and guidance for VHPs with respect to agreements with non-Department entities for the furnishing of necessary and appropriate medical care to veterans and their dependents; and (6) maintain full responsibility for treatment outcomes and quality of contracted care. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into such contracts and agreements. Authorizes the Secretary and VHP directors to contract with outside employers to provide health care services to their employees who are otherwise eligible for care through a VHP. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements for the provision of administrative services to VHPs. Directs the Secretary to establish criteria and application procedures for veterans and dependents covered by this Act. Provides appropriate responsibilities of VHPs and their directors with respect to the enrollment of eligible individuals and their care and treatment. States that a VHP shall be considered a qualified health care provider or carrier under any State health care reform plan, law, or regulation. Supersedes and preempts conflicting State or local laws, but allows the Secretary to require VHPs to follow any State or local law or regulation that: (1) is in the best interests of individuals enrolled in the VHP; or (2) will assist the VHP in achieving or maintaining a competitive position with the State or locality. Directs the Secretary to report annually to the Congress on costs incurred, premiums received, and payments made under this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 3998 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1996
Citizen Debt Reduction Contribution Act - Provides that individuals otherwise entitled to receive payments from the Federal Government may specify that a portion of those payments be used for deficit reduction. Expresses the sense of the Congress that any budget savings resulting from this Act should be used solely to reduce net Government spending. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to designate a specified portion (not less than $1) of their income tax overpayments to be used to reduce U.S. public debt. Amends the Social Security Act to direct the Commissioner of Social Security to establish a program to allow recipient donation, by way of designation for transfer to the general fund of the Treasury, of certain social security benefit payments to reduce the public debt. Amends Federal law relating to military personnel to provide for a program of allowing members or former members of the armed forces to donate designated portions of their military retirement benefits to reduce the public debt. Amends Federal law relating to veterans to provide for a program of allowing veterans to donate designated portions of their veterans' disability compensation to reduce the public debt. Provides that savings resulting from the enactment of this Act shall not be considered for purposes of estimates made for this Act under specified provisions of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings).
Bill· HRH.R. 3966 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1996
Authorizes the President to award the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously to Theodore Roosevelt for his actions in the attack of San Juan Heights, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War on July 1, 1898.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 209 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1996
Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to preserve the territorial integrity, unity, sovereignty, and full independence of Lebanon. Urges the President to take the necessary steps to activate the Consultative Group for Lebanon's Reconstruction, which was established by the April 26, 1996, Understanding between Lebanon and Israel. Calls for the withdrawal of all non-Lebanese forces from Lebanon. Calls upon: (1) the President to negotiate directly with officials of the Government of Lebanon on issues pertaining to Lebanon; (2) Lebanon to assert more independence to assure the international community that it has the political will and military capability to guarantee security along its borders for itself and its neighbors and disarm all militias upon the withdrawal of non-Lebanese forces from Lebanon; and (3) Lebanon's parliamentary elections to proceed unimpeded in a fair, open, and equitable manner. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should use such guidelines in formulating U.S. policy toward Lebanon and consider resolving the presence of non-Lebanese forces in Lebanon without relying exclusively upon a comprehensive peace in the region to resolve this issue; and (2) insofar as Lebanon's neighbors require security from Lebanon, Lebanon must be secure from interference from its neighbors.
Bill· SS. 2009 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Oil Pollution Act Amendments Title II: Marine Science Enhancement for Oil Spill Prevention and Response Title III: Deepwater Port Modernization Oil Pollution Act Amendments of 1996 - Title I: Oil Pollution Act Amendments - Requires the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue not later than September 30, 1996, a final rule under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) regarding operational requirements applicable to tank vessels over 5,000 gross tons without double hulls that the Secretary determines will provide environmental protection as substantial as is economically and technologically feasible. (Sec. 102) Amends OPA to add provisions for rules regarding operational safety of single-hull barges. Requires captains of ports in which tank vessels operate to establish minimum under-keel clearances for entering or departing port. Amends Federal law to allow the Secretary to require the installation, maintenance, and use of a fire suppression system or other equipment on board towing vessels. (Sec. 103) Requires the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) review existing requirements regarding oil lighterage in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, considering economic burdens of regulation and international standards; (2) coordinate with the National Research Council a study into how the designation of shipping lanes and waters through which tankers transport oil affects the risk of an oil spill; and (3) report to the Congress a plan to increase reporting of vessel accidents to appropriate State law enforcement officials. Imposes monetary penalties for failing to report a casualty under a State marine casualty reporting system. (Sec. 105) Amends OPA to exclude from the definition of a vessel owner or operator: (1) persons with security interests in or security titles to vessels; and (2) lessors or charterers unless they have actual possession or control, or participate in the management, of the vessel at the time of oil discharge. Restricts to single hull tank vessels and double-hull tank vessels over 20 years old application of the exception to the limit on liability of a responsible party where the incident was caused by violation of an applicable Federal safety, construction, or operating regulation. (Sec. 106) Revises litigation procedures to allow a responsible party or guarantor, after the filing of a claim for costs or damages, to petition a district court for limitation of or exoneration from liability under defenses and limitation provisions of OPA, after which such court shall retain jurisdiction over the actions and enjoin prosecution of proceedings against the vessel, responsible party, guarantor, or their property in any other court. (Sec. 107) Deems removal costs and damages resulting from a vessel's discharge (or substantial threat of discharge) of oil to be a maritime lien and recoverable in an action in rem in the district court for the district in which the vessel is found. (Sec. 108) Exempts from the tank vessel double-hull construction requirements: (1) documented vessels equipped with a double hull before August 12, 1992; (2) certain barges operating in or adjacent to the Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea, and Arctic Ocean and in the waters of the Aleutian Islands and the Alaskan Peninsula of specified longitude; and (3) certain vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet. Permits operation of barges in other waters on such conditions as the Secretary of Transportation may require. (Sec. 109) Amends Federal shipping law to define "oil spill response vessel" and provide for regulation of such vessels separately with respect to liquid bulk dangerous cargo carriage, manning, presence of licensed individuals, merchant mariner documentation, and towing vessel requirements. Subjects such vessels to inspection. Title II: Marine Science Enhancement for Oil Spill Prevention and Response - Amends the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act to revise procedures by which emergency regulations changing fishery management plans, in response to a public health emergency or an oil spill, may remain in effect. (Sec. 202) Amends OPA to require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to establish and maintain a scientific support team to respond to oil spills. (Sec. 203) Requires the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research to disseminate and compile information on previous spills. Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require the Under Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior to maintain and update a body of information on the environmental effects of various types of spills and how best to mitigate them. (Sec. 204) Requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a non-regulatory program to: (1) reduce risk of oil spills through navigation safety improvements; (2) promote prompt and effective response and remediation when oil spills occur; (3) enhance recovery and restoration efforts; and (4) advance other purposes of this Act. Requires local or regional elements of the program to be developed in consultation with local maritime commerce and coastal management communities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 205) Authorizes the Administrator to withdraw from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund up to $15 million per year for each of ten fiscal years to use to modernize commercial marine navigation activities. Imposes requirements of maximum private sector procurement of charting survey ship support. Transfers from NOAA to the Federal Aviation Administration certain aeronautical chart surveying, data dissemination, and pricing functions. Title III: Deepwater Port Modernization - Deepwater Port Modernization Act - Amends the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 to add specified statements concerning the promotion of safe oil, including that of outer continental shelf (OCS) oil, to the congressionally declared purposes of the Act. Revises the definition of "deepwater port" to, among other things, include references to transportation of OCS oil. (Sec. 304) Makes revisions to deepwater port licensing procedures regarding: (1) utilization restrictions; (2) anticompetitive effects determinations; (3) addressing of conditions required to carry out the Act; (4) statements of port operating procedures; (5) changes from plans, methods, and procedures by a licensee or transferee; (6) amendment, transfer, or reinstatement consistency requirements; and (7) exemption from information filing requirements. (Sec. 306) Eliminates the requirement of antitrust review of license issuance by the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission. (Sec. 307) Requires deepwater ports and storage facilities to accept and convey without discrimination all oil delivered with respect to which their licenses are issued. (Sec. 308) Adds requirements of public involvement and enforcement by a licensee's operations manual to procedures for protecting the marine environment and minimizing the adverse impact of deepwater port construction and operation.
Bill· SS. 2011 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1996
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that no funds appropriated by the Congress are used to maintain and operate golf courses on real property under control of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the maintenance and operation of such golf courses by entering into: (1) 20-year leases with Department employee associations, other non-Federal nonprofit organizations, or private entities; or (2) enhanced use leases. Requires golfing revenues generated from such property use to be retained by the Department for uses deemed appropriate by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary, before leasing a Department golf course, to consider the option of excessing the golf course to the General Services Administration so that such property may be screened for redeployment by another executive agency.
Bill· SS. 2012 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1996
Redesignates the: (1) National Cemetery System of the Department of Veterans Affairs as the National Cemetery Administration; and (2) position of Director of the System as the Assistant Secretary for Memorial Affairs.
Bill· HRH.R. 3938 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1996
Veterans' Training and Employment Bill of Rights Act of 1996 - Entitles the following covered persons to priority of services under any federally-funded workforce preparation, development, or delivery program or service, as long as such person otherwise meets participation eligibility requirements: (1) veterans who have a service-connected disability or who served on active duty in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized; (2) the spouse of any person who died of a service-connected disability or who has a total permanent disability resulting from a service-connected disability; (3) the spouse of any member serving on active duty who is listed as missing in action, captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, or forcibly detained or interned by a foreign government or power; and (4) the spouse of a veteran who died while a permanent service-connected disability was in existence. Requires State and local entities performing such programs or services to inform covered individuals of the availability of such services. Directs the Secretary of Labor to report annually to the congressional veterans' committees concerning an evaluation of such priority program and its level of services. (Sec. 3) Requires Federal contracts or grants of $100,000 or more for the procurement of personal property and non-personal services to contain a provision under which the party receiving the contract or grant agrees to take affirmative action to employ and advance qualified veterans who: (1) are disabled; (2) served on active duty in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized; or (3) while serving on active duty, participated in a U.S. military operation for which an armed forces service medal was awarded. Directs the President to implement promulgating regulations which require the contractee or grantee to list employment openings with local employment agencies and to give priority to qualifying veterans. (Sec. 4) Requires veterans qualifying under this Act to be given appropriate recruitment (currently, readjustment) appointments within the Federal Government. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to provide specified veterans' employment rights and benefits assistance to veterans qualifying under this Act. Provides for the filing, investigation, and determination of claims by qualifying individuals that an entity has failed to comply with the hiring requirements provided under this Act. (Sec. 6) Authorizes the Secretary to allocate an additional ten full-time equivalent positions from the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor to the Veterans' Employment and Training Service to carry out work training and employment services for qualifying individuals.
Bill· HRH.R. 3939 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1996
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to quarantee veterans loans for adjustable rate mortgages in a manner similar to the manner in which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development insures adjustable rate mortgages under provisions of the National Housing Act.
Bill· SS. 2008 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1996
Agent Orange Benefits Act of 1996 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide needed health care to a child of a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from spina bifida, for any associated disability. Authorizes the Secretary to provide such health care directly or by contract or other arrangement with a health care provider. Includes within such care home, hospital, nursing home, outpatient, preventive, and rehabilitative care, case management, respite care, the training of family members in the provision of necessary home care, and necessary pharmaceuticals, supplies, and equipment. Authorizes the Secretary to provide vocational training to such a child if the Secretary determines that the achievement of a vocational goal by such child is reasonably feasible. Limits such training to 24 months, unless the Secretary determines that an extension is necessary (up to 24 additional months). Requires a child eligible for more than one assistance program through the Department of Veterans Affairs to elect one program for participation. Directs the Secretary to pay a monetary allowance to any such child for any disability resulting from spina bifida based on the degree of disability. Requires an increase in such disability benefit whenever there is an increase in benefits payable under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Provides veterans' disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation for the additional disability or death of a veteran which: (1) was not the result of the veteran's own willful misconduct; (2) was caused by care, treatment, or examination furnished to the veteran through the Department; and (3) was incurred as a proximate result of such care, treatment, or examination.
Bill· HRH.R. 3927 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1996
Agent Orange Benefits Act of 1996 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide needed health care to a child of a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from spina bifida, for any associated disability. Authorizes the Secretary to provide such health care directly or by contract or other arrangement with a health care provider. Includes within such care home, hospital, nursing home, outpatient, preventive, and rehabilitative care, case management, respite care, the training of family members in the provision of necessary home care, and necessary pharmaceuticals, supplies, and equipment. Authorizes the Secretary to provide vocational training to such a child if the Secretary determines that the achievement of a vocational goal by such child is reasonably feasible. Limits such training to 24 months, unless the Secretary determines that an extension is necessary (up to 24 additional months). Requires a child eligible for more than one assistance program through the Department of Veterans Affairs to elect one program for participation. Directs the Secretary to pay a monetary allowance to any such child for any disability resulting from spina bifida based on the degree of disability. Requires an increase in such disability benefit whenever there is an increase in benefits payable under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Provides veterans' disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation for the additional disability or death of a veteran which was: (1) not the result of the veteran's own willful misconduct; (2) caused by care, treatment, or examination furnished to the veteran through the Department; and (3) incurred as a proximate result of such care, treatment, or examination.
Bill· HRH.R. 3925 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1996
Rescinds specified executive branch memorandums, documents, and directive revisions relating to administrative policy and guidelines concerning homosexual conduct in the armed forces. Directs the Secretaries of Defense and the military departments to reinstate regulations regarding service of homosexuals in the armed forces that were in effect on January 19, 1993. Prohibits the revision of such reinstated regulations except as specifically provided by law enacted after the date of enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary of Defense to issue instructions for the resumption of questioning of potential new entrants into the armed forces as to homosexuality. Repeals an inconsistent provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994.
Bill· HRH.R. 3926 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1996
Requires a member of the armed forces who is HIV-positive to be separated under specified separation requirements. Defers such separation for members within five years of military retirement eligibility. Considers all such separations involuntary. Requires such separated members to be provided information concerning available medical care to treat such member's condition.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 498 (104th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1996
Waives points of order against the consideration of the conference report on H.R. 3230 (national defense authorization).
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 497 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1996
Waives points of order against the consideration of the conference report on H.R. 3517 (military construction appropriations).
Bill· SS. 1999 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1996
Defense of Marriage Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to provide that no State, territory, or possession of the United States or Indian tribe shall be required to give effect to any marriage between persons of the same sex under the laws of any other such jurisdiction or to any right or claim arising from such relationship. Establishes a Federal definition of: (1) "marriage" as only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife; and (2) "spouse" as only a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife.
Bill· SS. 1994 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Reauthorization of FAA Programs Title II: Airport Improvement Program Modifications Title III: Extension of Airport and Airway Trust Fund Expenditure Authority Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions Title V: Commercial Space Transportation Title VI: Air Traffic Management System Performance Improvement Act Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Federal Aviation Administration Streamlining Programs Subtitle C: System to Fund Certain Federal Aviation Administration Functions Title VII: Pilot Records Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996 - Title I: Reauthorization of FAA Programs - Amends the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982 to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through FY 1997. (Sec. 101) Makes permanent the limitation on funds that may be appropriated out of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for airport improvement projects. (Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for: (1) improvements to air navigation facilities; (2) research and development; and (3) airport planning and development programs. Decreases the FY 1996 appropriation for airport planning and development programs. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the Administrator of the FAA to transfer budget authority derived from trust funds among appropriations authorized for air navigation facilities and research and development. Title II: Airport Improvement Program Modifications - Amends Federal aviation law to direct the Administrator to prescribe regulations to carry out up to ten pavement maintenance pilot projects to preserve and extend the useful life of airport runways, taxiways, and aprons. (Sec. 202) Sets forth on a sliding scale specified maximum percentages of airport planning and development grants that may be made available for projects at primary airports that have not less than .25 percent of the total passenger boardings in the United States. (Sec. 204) Reduces from 15 to ten at any time the number of current or former military airports that may receive airport improvement grant funds. Extends the authority for such grants through FY 1997. (Sec. 206) Makes it a condition for approval of a grant application for an airport development project that the airport owner or operator makes assurances that it will permit, to the maximum extent practicable, intercity buses or other modes of transportation to have access to the airport. Title III: Extension of Airport and Airway Trust Fund Expenditure Authority - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund through FY 1997. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes the Administrator, in carrying out various aviation programs, to purchase housing units outside the United States. (Sec. 403) Prohibits both the Administrator, and any agency receiving information from the Administrator, from disclosing voluntarily provided safety or security related information in certain circumstances. (Sec. 404) Authorizes the Administrator to require by regulation an employment investigation (including criminal history record check in certain circumstances) for employees who will be responsible for screening airline passengers and property. (Sec. 405) Requires the FAA Administrator, in amending title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, in a manner affecting intrastate aviation in Alaska, to: (1) consider the extent to which Alaska is not served by transportation modes other than aviation; and (2) establish appropriate regulatory distinctions. (Sec. 406) Expresses the sense of the Senate that there should be an immediate 18-month reinstatement of the aviation excise taxes to provide short-term funding for the FAA. (Sec. 407) Authorizes appropriations to the FAA for the purpose of addressing State-specific aviation safety problems identified by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). (Sec. 408) Expresses the sense of the Senate that the exemption from certain excise taxes for emergency medical air transportation by helicopter should include emergency medical air transportation by fixed-wing aircraft. Title V: Commercial Space Transportation - Amends Federal law to include reentry vehicles and launch and reentry operations within the scope of commercial space launch activities. Title VI: Air Traffic Management System Performance Improvement Act - Air Traffic Management System Performance Improvement Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to delineate the powers and duties of the Administrator and the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the FAA. (Sec. 624) Authorizes the Administrator to issue, rescind, and revise regulations as necessary to carry out the FAA functions. Prohibits the Administrator, without prior approval of the Secretary, from issuing a proposed or final regulation that is significant or is likely to result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $50 million or more in any year. Requires the Administrator to review any unusually burdensome regulations, which would result in the annual expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $25 million or more (adjusted annually for inflation) in any year. (Sec. 625) Authorizes the Administrator to utilize personnel of other Federal agencies. (Sec. 630) Directs the Administrator to establish the Federal Aviation Management Advisory Council which shall: (1) provide advice and counsel to the Administrator on issues which affect or are affected by the Administrator's operations; and (2) function as an oversight resource for management, policy, spending, and regulatory matters. (Sec. 631) Requires the Administrator, in order to protect the public health and welfare from aircraft engine emissions, to prescribe air pollutant emission standards for aircraft engines. (Sec. 632) Directs the Secretary to conduct, and submit to a specified congressional committee, a rural air fare study. Subtitle B: Federal Aviation Administration Streamlining Programs - Directs the FAA to employ outside experts to provide an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of its acquisition management system. (Sec. 652) Requires the Administrator to terminate air traffic control modernization programs funded under the Facilities and Equipment account, and to consider the termination of substantial acquisitions, that fail to meet specified established project criteria. (Sec. 653) Requires the Administrator to negotiate with the bargaining representatives of FAA employees in developing and making changes to the FAA personnel management system. Subtitle C: System to Fund Certain Federal Aviation Administration Functions - Directs the Administrator to establish a schedule of new fees, and a collection process for such fees, for various FAA services. (Sec. 674) Directs the Administrator to provide for an independent assessment of the financial requirements of the FAA through 2002. Requires the Secretary to establish a task force to report on: (1) the FAA's budgetary requirements through FY 2002; and (2) recommendations to the Congress on ways the FAA can reduce costs, raise revenue, and accelerate modernization efforts. (Sec. 675) Sets forth congressional procedures for consideration of FAA funding proposals. (Sec. 677) Requires the multiyear appropriation (for not less than three years) of funds for Trust Fund activities. (Sec. 678) Rural Air Service Survival Act - Authorizes the availability of a specified amount of user fees collected under this Act for each fiscal year to carry out the essential air service program. Authorizes the Secretary to require an eligible public agency that controls a commercial service airport to provide for basic essential (small community) air service matching funds of up to ten percent for any payments it receives under this Act. Transfers the essential air service program from the Secretary to the FAA Administrator. Title VII: Pilot Records - Pilot Records Improvement Act of 1996 - Amends Federal aviation law to require air carriers to request and receive a pilot applicant's record for the previous five years with respect to: (1) current airman certificate, including any summaries of legal enforcement actions; (2) employment; and (3) motor vehicle driving record. (Sec. 702) Prohibits any Federal or State court action for defamation or invasion of privacy against any carrier or person with respect to the furnishing or use of such records according to the requirements of this Act. (Sec. 703) Directs the Administrator to appoint a task force to study the development of standards and criteria for: (1) preemployment screening of pilots; and (2) pilot training facilities.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 200 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1996
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the 19 men and women who died in the bombing in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, should be accorded all honor due to heroes; and (2) those who continue to serve in the United States armed forces anywhere in the world should be assured that their well-being and interests will at all times be safeguarded and given the highest priority.
Bill· HRH.R. 3882 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1996
Directs the Secretary of the Navy to transfer to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs two parcels of real property at the Cecil Field Naval Air Station, Florida, to be used for: (1) a national cemetery; and (2) a long-term care or nursing home care facility for veterans.
Bill· HRH.R. 3857 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Workplace Fairness Subtitle A: Part-Time and Temporary Workers Protection Subtitle B: Federal Employee Fairness Subtitle C: Legislative Pay Equity Study Subtitle D: Sexual Harassment Prevention Subtitle E: Sexual Harassment Information Subtitle F: Sexual Harassment Tax Equity Subtitle G: Equal Remedies Subtitle H: Federal Temporary Workers Protection Subtitle I: Contingent Work Force Equity Title II: Economic Opportunity Subtitle A: Microenterprise Opportunity Expansion Subtitle B: Commission on the Advancement of Women in the Science and Engineering Work Forces Subtitle C: Equal Surety Bond Opportunity Subtitle D: Self-Sufficiency Standard Subtitle E: Community Reinvestment Subtitle F: Telecommunications Economic Opportunity Subtitle G: HHS Women Scientist Employment Opportunity Subtitle H: Women in Enterprise Development Title III: Work and Family Subtitle A: Child Care Consolidation and Investment Subtitle B: Child Care Public-Private Partnership Subtitle C: Dependent Care Tax Credit Refundability Subtitle D: IRA Deductions for Homemakers Subtitle E: Federal Parental Leave for Education Activities Subtitle F: Tax Incentives for Family-Friendly Workplaces Subtitle G: Parental Equity Leave Title IV: Economic Self-Sufficiency Subtitle A: Child Support Responsibility Subtitle B: Interstate Child Support Subtitle C: Child Support Enforcement Improvements Subtitle D: Single Parent Protection Subtitle E: Women's Pension Equity Subtitle F: Pension Reform Subtitle G: Social Security Caregiver Title V: Economic Impact of Domestic Violence Subtitle A: Workplace Violence Prevention Tax Credit Subtitle B: Insurance Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence Subtitle C: Fairness to Minority Women Health Subtitle D: Battered Women's Employment Protection Subtitle E: Domestic Violence Legal Services Eligibility Economic Equity Act of 1996 - Title I: Workplace Fairness - Subtitle A: Part-Time and Temporary Workers Protection - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) with respect to requirements for approval of State unemployment compensation laws to provide for eligibility for unemployment compensation of certain individuals seeking part-time employment. (Sec. 11102) Directs the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to establish and carry out an annual survey relating to temporary workers. (Sec. 11103) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide protection of part-time and temporary workers with respect to their treatment under participation, vesting, and accrual rules governing pension plans. (Sec. 11201) Amends the IRC to provide for waiver of an employer's liability for certain employment taxes for a reasonable good faith misclassification based on common law rules. Amends the Revenue Act of 1978 to revise provisions relating to controversies involving whether individuals are employees for purposes of the employment taxes to modify safe harbor rules and authority for classifications of individuals as nonemployees. (Sec. 11202) Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to set forth requirements regarding classification of persons as employees and independent contractors under certain Federal procurement contracts. (Sec. 11203) Amends Federal law relating to defense contracts to set forth requirements regarding classification of persons as employees and independent contractors under Federal defense contracts. Subtitle B: Federal Employee Fairness - Amends title VII (Equal Employment Opportunities) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to revise provisions relating to administrative determination of Federal employee discrimination claims, including Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) determination of such claims. (Sec. 12002) Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to provide for EEOC enforcement regarding specified claims, with certain exceptions with respect to employment in the Library of Congress. Provides for opportunity to commence civil action in the case of certain claims pending before EEOC. (Sec. 12003) Amends Federal law relating to civil service employment to revise provisions for grievance procedures, actions involving discrimination, disciplinary action, personnel recordkeeping, and right to intervene in certain discrimination cases. (Sec. 12005) Directs EEOC to issue certain guidelines and rules, including: (1) standards for alternative dispute resolution processes and identification of approved examples; (2) establishment of a voluntary settlement program; and (3) rules regarding classified information. (Sec. 12008) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) it should increase appropriations to EEOC to carry out additional EEOC responsibilities imposed by this Act; and (2) Federal agencies should not use their funds for salaries and expenses to pay any relief awarded under Civil Rights Act of 1964 title VII provisions against discrimination in Federal employment. Subtitle C: Legislative Pay Equity Study - Declares the congressional policy of nondiscrimination and pay equity for employees of the legislative branch. (Sec. 13002) Establishes the Commission on Employment Discrimination in the Legislative Branch to evaluate and report to the Congress on the compensation system and personnel policies and practices of the Library of Congress. Subtitle D: Sexual Harassment Prevention - Establishes a right of civil action by the injured person to seek relief for specified sexual harassment offenses or retaliation in relationships between: (1) a patient and a physician, psychotherapist, or dentist; (2) a client and an attorney, marriage, family, or child counselor, social worker, or accountant; (3) a beneficiary and an executor, trustee, or administrator of a trust or estate; (4) an employee and an employer with fewer than 15 employees for each working day in each of 33 or more calendar weeks in the current and preceding calendar year; or (5) the parties to a contract, or persons negotiating a contract or seeking to enforce claimed rights under a contract. (Sec. 14002) Authorizes additional appropriations for the EEOC. Subtitle E: Sexual Harassment Information - Requires employers to provide EEOC-approved information on sexual harassment violations and claims, through: (1) posting of notices at the workplace; and (2) annual notices to individual employees. Sets forth civil penalties for violation of such information requirements. (Sec. 15003) Directs EEOC to provide: (1) technical assistance materials to employers, including model notices and voluntary guidelines for employer policies and procedures to address allegations of discrimination, including sexual harassment, in employment; and (2) a toll-free telephone number for employees and employers to obtain information regarding compliance with this subtitle and such model notices and guidelines. (Sec. 15004) Requires EEOC enforcement of employer information requirements (except in the case of congressional employees, where the Board of the Office of Compliance is the enforcer). Subtitle F: Sexual Harassment Tax Equity - Amends IRC to allow an income tax deduction for legal expenses of individuals bringing sexual harassment suits against their employers. Subtitle G: Equal Remedies - Amends certain provisions of the Revised Statutes, as added by the Civil Rights Act of 1991, to provide for equalization of remedies. Subtitle H: Federal Temporary Workers Protection - Amends Federal civil service law to provide eligibility for health benefits for certain Federal temporary workers. Subtitle I: Contingent Work Force Equity - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require that contingent (part-time or temporary) workers receive the same wages as full-time workers for the same work (with exceptions for differential payments pursuant to seniority, merit, or production quantity-or-quality systems or based on factors other than employment status). (Sec. 19002) Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to require employers to protect all workers (not only their own employees) from hazards within the employers' control. Directs the Secretary of Labor to study whether the health and safety of part-time or temporary employees are being adequately monitored and, if not, to determine how such monitoring can be made adequate. (Sec. 19003) Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act to lower the threshold for employee coverage to 125 hours of service with an employer during the previous three-month period. (Sec. 19004) Directs the Secretary of Labor, through the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to carry out an annual survey identifying the characteristics of temporary workers and their relationships with the establishments at which they are temporarily employed and, where appropriate, with their permanent employers. (Sec. 19005) Amends the National Labor Relations Act to include in collective bargaining units part-time or temporary workers with reasonable expectations of continued employment. (Sec. 19006) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1970 (ERISA) to provide for: (1) treatment of employees working at less than full-time (500 or more hours but less than 1,000 hours service per year) under participation, vesting, and accrual rules governing pension plans; (2) treatment of part-time workers (less than 30 hours service per week) under group health plans; and (3) inclusion of certain individuals whose services are leased or contracted for under the definition of employee. (Sec. 19007) Amends IRC to require States to provide unemployment compensation to part-time workers unavailable for full-time work. Title II: Economic Opportunity - Subtitle A: Microenterprise Opportunity Expansion - Provides various means of promoting and assisting microenterprises (commercial enterprises with five or fewer employees, one or more of whom own the enterprise). (Sec. 21001) Amends the Social Security Act to exclude certain business assets from resources and income for purposes of eligibility under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Extends public assistance benefits under AFDC and Medicaid and under SSI and Medicaid for persons with income from or resources in a microenterprise. (Sec. 21002) Amends IRC provisions relating to State law requirements for unemployment compensation to provide for payment of unemployment compensation, under certain conditions, to individuals starting microenterprises. Allows State unemployment compensation funds to be used to provide microenterprise startup assistance to eligible individuals. (Sec. 21003) Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to provide for treatment of microenterprise loans and grants by insured depository institutions as community reinvestment. (Sec. 21004) Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to provide for treatment of microenterprise loans by savings associations as qualified thrift investments. (Sec. 21005) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to allow the use of community development block grant assistance for administrative costs of entities assisting microenterprises. (Sec. 21006) Requires each Federal banking agency to establish a Microenterprise Technical and Operations Office as a division to offer technical assistance, training, outreach, and other support to: (1) groups and individuals engaged in, or desiring to establish, a microenterprise; and (2) institutions which offer credit or financial services to microenterprises. (Sec. 21007) Directs the Financial Institutions Examination Council to study and report, with recommendations, to the Congress on the best means to make credit available to small businesses which: (1) do not qualify for microenterprise loans or need credit in larger amounts than such loans make available; and (2) need credit in smaller amounts than is generally available from financial institutions or the Small Business Administration. Subtitle B: Commission on the Advancement of Women in the Science and Engineering Work Forces - Establishes the Commission on the Advancement of Women in the Science and Engineering Work Forces to study and report to the Congress on the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the science and engineering work forces. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Equal Surety Bond Opportunity - Sets forth equal surety bond requirements. Lists activities constituting unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or age, as well as those not constituting such discrimination. Requires statements of reasons for adverse actions on surety bond applications. (Sec. 23002) Provides for civil liability for violations of this subtitle. (Sec. 23003) Prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from approving as a surety a company which does not maintain full compliance with the requirements of this subtitle. Sets forth administrative enforcement procedures. Subtitle D: Self-Sufficiency Standard - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to define economic self-sufficiency. (Sec. 24003) Establishes economic self-sufficiency standards for adult training programs under JTPA. (Sec. 24004) Prohibits State Governors from awarding incentive grants to service delivery areas that do not have an approved local economic self-sufficiency standards table in effect. (Sec. 24005) Requires inclusion of the local economic self-sufficiency standards table and related reports in: (1) the job training plan; and (2) the Governor's coordination and special services plan. (Sec. 24007) Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Labor for grants to States for economic self-sufficiency demonstration programs. Subtitle E: Community Reinvestment - Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to direct the appropriate Federal financial supervisory agencies to jointly develop a format for collecting (and reporting to the public) specified types of data from regulated financial institutions concerning their record of meeting the credit needs of their local communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Subtitle F: Telecommunications Economic Opportunity - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to: (1) require each provider of telecommunications services to submit annual plans, and implementation reports, for increasing its procurement, in underrepresented categories, from business enterprises that are owned by minorities or women; (2) report annually to the Congress on such matters; and (3) establish regulations and criteria for determining eligibility of minority-or woman-owned businesses for such procurement contracts. Sets forth sanctions and remedies relating to specified violations. Subtitle G: HHS Women Scientist Employment Opportunity - Amends the Public Health Service Act to add a new title XXVII, Women's Scientific Employment with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), relating to the employment of women as scientists in specified agencies of HHS, specified aspects of such employment, and inclusion of women in intramural and extramural conferences and other groups. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle H: Women in Enterprise Development - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) to establish and implement a Women in Enterprise Development Program, including provisions for financial, educational, and informational assistance. Urges the Administrator to use a specified portion of funds for microenterprise development. Title III: Work and Family - Subtitle A: Child Care Consolidation and Investment - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to appropriate funds for FY 1997 through 2001 for child care services for eligible children through the awarding of grants to States. (Sec. 31003) Changes from discretionary to mandatory the existing program of child care and development block grants for States. Decreases from 25 to 20 percent the amount of funds a State shall reserve per fiscal year for activities to improve the quality of child care and to provide before- and after-school and early childhood development services. Directs States to reserve at least 50 percent of grant amounts for child care activities to support low-income working families. Requires State plans to assure that the availability of child care will be coordinated with AFDC requirements, and to ensure that the parent of a dependent child is not required to undertake an education, job training or search, or employment requirement unless child care assistance is available. Directs the Secretary to establish a child care quality improvement incentive initiative to make funds available to States that demonstrate progress in the implementation of: (1) innovative teacher training programs; or (2) enhanced child care quality standards and licensing and monitoring procedures. (Sec. 31004) Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act to repeal the AFDC, Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Training program, and transitional child care programs, as well as the at-risk child care program. Repeals the Child Development Assistance Associate Scholarship Assistance Act of 1985, and the authority for State dependent care grants under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981. Subtitle B: Child Care Public-Private Partnership - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a business-incentive grant program to provide child care through public-private partnerships. (Sec. 32001) Provides program grants to cover not more than one-third of the costs for: (1) businesses or consortia (two or more businesses acting jointly, which may also include a nonprofit private organization) to start up, or provide additional, employee child care services; and (2) nonprofit business organizations to provide technical information and assistance to enable businesses to provide employee child care services. (Sec. 32004) Gives priority in grant selection to businesses with fewer than 100 full-time employees and to business and consortia applications. Requires equitable geographic distribution. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Dependent Care Tax Credit Refundability - Repeals the Internal Revenue Code's nonrefundable income tax credit for employment-related dependent care expenses, replacing it with a corresponding refundable 50 percent credit, reduced (but not below 20 percent) as the taxpayer's adjusted gross income exceeds $15,000 (adjusted for inflation). Includes within the scope of the new credit up to $1,200 ($2,400 in the case of more than one qualifying individual) of respite care expenses incurred in the care of: (1) a dependent of the taxpayer who is at least 13 years old; or (2) a spouse or other dependent who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care. Subtitle D: IRA Deductions for Homemakers - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain spouses a full deduction for contributions to an individual retirement account. Subtitle E: Federal Parental Leave for Education Activities - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to extend coverage to employees at worksites where the employer employs at least 25 (currently 50) employees at the worksite and within 75 miles of that worksite. (Sec. 35002) Allows covered employees to take up to four hours during any 30-day period, and up to 24 hours during any 12-month period, of parental involvement leave to participate in or attend their children's educational and extracurricular activities. (Sec. 35003) Amends Federal civil service law to apply the same parental involvement leave allowance to Federal employees. Subtitle F: Tax Incentives for Family-Friendly Workplaces - Amends the IRC with respect to business related credits to establish: (1) a small business family and medical leave credit; and (2) a credit for wages paid to an employee who is allowed to shift hours of employment or to work at home in order to reduce child care needs. Subtitle G: Parental Equity Leave - Requires an employer to provide an employee who is a parent of an adopted child or a foster child with the same leave the employer provides (in addition to leave required by the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993) an employee who is on parent leave for the birth of a child. Title IV: Economic Self-Sufficiency - Subtitle A: Child Support Responsibility - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require States to have statutorily prescribed procedures to: (1) record child support orders in a central case registry; and (2) collect child support payments through a centralized collections unit. Permits parties to a child support order to opt for an alternative payment procedure. (Sec. 41102) Revises the guidelines for: (1) State plans for child and spousal support; and (2) payments distribution. (Sec. 41103) Requires State plans to establish procedural guidelines for: (1) notification of all proceedings and orders affecting child support obligations; and (2) privacy safeguards regarding paternity and child support actions. (Sec. 41201) Revises the formula for: (1) Federal matching payments to the States; and (2) incentive adjustments to the Federal matching rate. (Sec. 41203) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include prescribed procedures for State reviews and audits. Revises the guidelines for Federal evaluation and audit of State programs governing paternity, child and spousal support, and parent location. (Sec. 41205) Revises the automated data processing requirements for State plans to mandate a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system which can perform specified tasks. (Sec. 41206) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct staffing studies of each State child support enforcement program and to report the results to the Congress. (Sec. 41207) Makes funds available to the Secretary for: (1) training of Federal and State staff, research and demonstration programs, and special projects of regional and national significance; and (2) operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service. (Sec. 41301) Mandates that the single statewide automated data system function as a single central case registry of State-provided services and support orders. Delineates contents of case records and data matching activities, including data exchange with sister States. (Sec. 41301) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. (Sec. 41303) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures: (1) for mandatory income withholding for support payments subject to enforcement; and (2) under which child support orders issued before October 1, 1996, shall become subject to withholding from wages if arrearages occur, without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. Revises the procedural guidelines for income withholding for child support enforcement. (Sec. 41305) Revises the Federal Parent Locator Service to add kinds of information which may be transmitted to locate individuals and assets for purposes of establishing parentage and executing child support obligations. Requires the Secretary to establish in the Service a Data Bank of Child Support Orders and an automated Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 41306) Requires State plans to include procedures for recording social security numbers on certain family legal documents and records. (Sec. 41401) Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1997. (Sec. 41402) Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the procedures for a court to apply when determining which State order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement for child support orders. (Sec. 41403) Amends SSA title IV part D to revise State plan guidelines for mandatory expedited administrative and judicial procedures to include: (1) authorized genetic testing to establish paternity; and (2) the securing of assets and increasing of monthly payments to satisfy a support arrearage. (Sec. 41502) Revises the guidelines for statutorily prescribed procedures governing genetic testing and outreach for voluntary paternity acknowledgment. (Sec. 41601) Establishes the National Child Support Guidelines Commission to develop a national child support guideline for consideration by the Congress that is based on a study of various guideline models, the benefits and deficiencies of such models, and any needed improvement. (Sec. 41602) Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. (Sec. 41701) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the order of refund distribution with respect to past-due support owed to individuals. (Sec. 41703) Amends SSA title IV part D to revise procedural guidelines for: (1) consent by the United States to income withholding, garnishment, and similar proceedings for enforcement of child support and alimony obligations of current and retired Federal employees; and (2) enforcement of child support obligations of current and retired members of the armed forces. (Sec. 41705) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures for: (1) placing liens for child support arrearages on motor vehicle titles of the debtor; (2) voiding fraudulent transfers by a child support debtor; (3) suspending any driver's, business, or occupational license issued to any person who owes past-due child support; (4) reporting to credit bureaus the name of the parent in arrears for child support; (5) extending the statute of limitations for collection of child support arrearages; and (6) calculating interest or penalties on such arrearages. (Sec. 41711) Prescribes procedural guidelines for passport denial (including revocation) upon certification of nonpayment of child support. (Sec. 41712) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should ratify the United Nations Convention of 1956. Requires State plans to provide that the State must treat international child support cases as interstate cases. (Sec. 41801) Amends ERISA to include within the definition of medical child support order an order issued through a State administrative process. Subtitle B: Interstate Child Support - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to allow the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) to be used along with appropriate disclosure safeguards for parentage establishment and child support and visitation enforcement. (Sec. 42101) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) denial of visitation rights under a child support order should be treated as irrelevant in any action to enforce its support provisions; and (2) failure to pay child support pursuant to such an order should be treated likewise in any action to enforce visitation rights. (Sec. 42102) Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into an agreement to provide the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) (Secretary) with access to quarterly estimated Federal income tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Requires that: (1) State agencies charged with child support enforcement maintain child support order registries and be allowed access to medical, financial, employment, and other specified data base information on absent parents; (2) registry information from each State be sent to the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) (designated under title VI of this Act) within HHS for a national registry of all State child support orders. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should investigate accessing certain Federal data banks not linked with FPLS. (Sec. 42103) Requires the Secretary to expand FPLS to provide State agencies and courts with a national locate and case tracking network. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the network should be used to access State records only through the agency administering the State's part D plan. (Sec. 42104) Requires that private attorneys and pro se obligees be given access, in accordance with appropriate safeguards, to State locate resources and through enforcement techniques with respect to child support, visitation, and parentage orders. (Sec. 42105) Amends the IRC to require employers to withhold from employee wages amounts owed for child support. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to modify the W-4 form completed by new employees in order to enable employers to obtain employee child support and other information for the appropriate State employment security agency. (Sec. 42106) Requires the heads of national and regional individual tracking systems to allow child support enforcement agencies access to their information for paternity or child support purposes. (Sec. 42107) Requires that States: (1) broadcast warrants issued in child support proceedings over their crime information systems; (2) remit, in a criminal case, to any individual owed child support any security posted by or on behalf of the individual owing the support and then forfeited, to the extent of any arrearage in support owed; and (3) have procedures to obtain access to financial records for purposes of child support establishment and enforcement. (Sec. 42201) Amends SSA title IV part D to provide for service of process on Federal employees and members of the armed forces in connection with parentage and child support proceedings. (Sec. 42202) Requires that: (1) parents' identification and locate information be filed with the appropriate adjudicating entity in parentage and child support actions; (2) there be appropriate safeguards on such information where a court has ordered that the custodial parent or child receive physical protection from the noncustodial parent; (3) appropriate administrative agencies make reasonable attempts to timely notify any individual owed child support of any proceeding to establish, modify, or enforce the support obligation; (4) States allow parties seeking both parentage and child support establishment in a judicial proceeding to bring a joint action in a single cause of action; (5) States provide for uniform procedures regarding jurisdiction and venue in parentage and child support cases; (6) States provide for continuation of parental child support obligations until they terminate in specified ways; (7) States allow parties to participate in interstate parentage and child support proceedings by telephonic means; (8) marriage licenses, birth certificates, and divorce and parentage decrees contain social security numbers; and (9) appropriate State agencies be allowed subpoena power in connection with child support hearings. (Sec. 42205) Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) to allow appropriate State agencies to obtain from credit reporting agencies information for establishing and modifying child support awards. (Sec. 42206) Creates a National Child Support Guidelines Commission to study and report to the President and the Congress on national child support guidelines, and to develop such guidelines for congressional consideration should it be advisable. (Sec. 42207) Amends SSA title IV part D to specify certain principles to be used in accordance with the application of State child support guidelines. (Sec. 42208) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, if children receive child support while obtaining postsecondary education, they will attain higher levels of education affording them a greater chance to break the welfare cycle. (Sec. 42209) Requires the new OCSE Assistant Secretary to develop: (1) a national subpoena duces tecum for distribution to child support agencies and others to use to reach income information; and (2) a uniform abstract of a child support order for State court use. (Sec. 42214) Requires the Legal Services Corporation to ensure the use of a specified amount of funding for child support cases. (Sec. 42215) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) children on Indian reservations be accorded the same right of support currently afforded to off-reservation children; (2) State and tribal governments should, to the greatest extent possible, ensure that jurisdictional issues do not prevent any Indian child from receiving the support to which the child is entitled; and (3) States should work with community-based organizations with ties to underserved populations to develop better methods to reach and work with such populations to encourage the filing of more support orders. Amends the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 to require Indian tribes to give full faith and credit to child support orders of other Indian tribes, to the extent such entities already give full faith and credit to the acts, records, and proceedings of the other entity. (Sec. 42216) Amends SSA title IV part D to set forth specific measures, including grants for certain demonstration projects, designed to secure child support services in underserved areas and combat domestic violence. (Sec. 42301) Amends SSA title IV part D to: (1) require States to adopt various specified procedures for voluntary paternity acknowledgment; and (2) provide for 90 percent Federal matching for such programs. Expresses the sense of the Congress that, in a proceeding to establish paternity, once paternity is alleged, the burden of proof should shift to the alleged father. (Sec. 42401) Amends SSA title IV part D to: (1) require States to mandate that an employer comply with wage withholding orders issued by any State court or administrative agency; (2) specify the priority for applying amounts withheld from income for child support and child health insurance; (3) subject to withholding for child support income from workers' compensation and other specified Federal sources; (4) prohibit State court application of the election of remedies doctrine to prevent collection of child support; (5) deny State occupational, professional, and business licenses, and driver's licenses and vehicle registrations to delinquent noncustodial parents; (6) authorize liens on vehicle titles, seizure of bank accounts, and holds on lottery winnings, settlements, payouts, bequests, and proceeds from the sale of forfeited property to satisfy child support arrearages; (7) require States to make a rebuttable presumption that any transfer of property by an individual who owes a child support arrearage is made with the intent to avoid payment of the arrearage; (8) revise the mechanism for collection of past-due child support from Federal tax refunds to cover post-minor children who do not receive AFDC; (9) authorize attachment of retirement plan interests without a separate court order to satisfy child support arrearages; (10) permit enforcement of any child support order until the child is at least 30; (11) require interest on all child support judgments; (12) require States to adopt the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act adopted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform Laws in August 1992; (13) allow State courts to order the assignment of life insurance benefits and interests in jointly held property to satisfy child support arrearages; and (14) require States to treat international child support cases in the same manner as interstate child support cases. (Sec. 42404) Amends CCPA with respect to State laws and garnishments for securing child support. Gives Federal debts a lower priority than child support debts when the obligor's disposable income cannot satisfy both debts through withholding. Prohibits employers from discharging any employee whose earnings are subject to garnishment for additional indebtedness arising from a child support order. (Sec. 42406) Denies Federal occupational, professional, and business licenses for delinquent individuals until the license hold is released. (Sec. 42412) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the IRS Commissioner should instruct IRS field officers and agents to give a high priority to requests for the use of full collection in delinquent child support cases. Requires the Secretary of Treasury to simplify the full collection process and reduce the amount of child support arrearage needed before an individual may apply for full collection. (Sec. 42417) Sets forth requirements pertaining to parentage establishment and child support payments in the armed forces. (Sec. 42419) Directs the Comptroller General and Secretary of the Treasury to study the feasibility of an annual reconciliation process for paying child support arrearages as part of the Federal income tax process. (Sec. 42420) Authorizes the Secretary of State to refuse, revoke, or restrict passports in cases where the applicant or holder is a noncustodial parent subject to a State arrest warrant for nonpayment of a substantial child support arrearage. (Sec. 42421) Prohibits Federal benefits, loans, guarantees, and employment for individuals owing certain child support arrearages. (Sec. 42424) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should ratify the United Nations Convention of 1956. (Sec. 42501) Amends SSA title IV part D to: (1) set priorities for State distribution of child support collections; (2) require States to limit claims against noncustodial parents for reimbursement of a child's portion of AFDC to the amount in the child support order; (3) revise part D plan provisions concerning fees; and (4) require States to provide for collection and disbursement points for child support cases. Requires the Comptroller General to conduct studies and pilot projects with respect to requiring State systems to pay the child support collected under a State plan to the individuals to whom the support is owed before making any payment to reimburse any State for AFDC provided with respect to the child in question. Amends IRC to revise the Federal income tax refund offset mechanism. (Sec. 42505) Expresses the sense of the Congress that States should encourage parents to use the State child support agency to process and distribute child support payments in order to establish an official payment record. (Sec. 42601) Amends SSA title IV part D to: (1) designate the separate organizational unit currently charged with various parentage and child support responsibilities as the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE); and (2) change OCSE's organizational structure. (Sec. 42602) Requires: (1) the new OCSE Assistant Secretary to provide training assistance to the States; (2) States to provide for training of child support personnel; and (3) the Secretary to study staffing at State child support enforcement programs and reduce payments to States that have not implemented recommended staffing levels. (Sec. 42604) Requires the Secretary to: (1) authorize demonstration projects to test alternative approaches to incentive funding for State child support programs; and (2) reduce payments to States which have not reinvested incentive payments in their child support programs. Provides that "support" under SSA title IV part D with respect to incentive payments to States includes premiums paid for health insurance coverage pursuant to a support order. Expresses the sense of the Congress that States should not use amounts paid to them pursuant to SSA title IV part D, which are reinvested in child support activities, to supplant State funding of such activities. (Sec. 42606) Requires the Secretary to: (1) contract for a study of OCSE's audit process to develop criteria and methodology for auditing activities of State child support enforcement agencies; and (2) provide for State demonstration projects for the purpose of ensuring that custodial parents owed child support have a consistent source of income for the support of their children. (Sec. 42607) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) children should have a consistent source of income to meet their education and medical needs; (2) the provision of public assistance to a custodial parent for the support of a child with respect to whom the noncustodial parent owes child support does not absolve the latter of the obligation to provide such support; (3) the States must continue to vigorously pursue efforts to establish parentage, and establish and enforce child support obligations; and (4) OCSE should develop a mechanism to publicize the best State practices in child support. (Sec. 42608) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish in the Treasury a Children's Trust Fund to hold the contributions designated by individuals on their tax returns for funding child support programs. (Sec. 42609) Requires: (1) the Comptroller General to study and report to the Congress on delinquent child support payments and the effectiveness of administrative as compared with judicial adjudication of parentage and child support cases; and (2) OCSE to produce and update a certain compendium of State child support laws published by the National Conference of State Legislatures, and establish a permanent child support advisory committee. (Sec. 42701) Amends SSA title IV part D to require States to: (1) promote the greatest economic security possible for children, within the obligor's ability to pay; (2) provide custodial parents with certain information on child support cases and the services available under their part D plans; and (3) require no more than administrative procedures for any changes in child support payees. (Sec. 42703) Expresses the sense of the Congress that States should: (1) work closely with parents to improve the quality of child support services; (2) have offices in areas accessible to public transportation with convenient hours that allow parents to meet privately with attorneys and caseworkers; and (3) establish administrative procedures to process child support cases and a child support council to recommend improvements in State paternity and child support programs. (Sec. 42801) Expresses the sense of the Congress that any Federal program to provide jobs for noncustodial parents should be administered so as not to adversely affect any Federal program for custodial parents. Requires the Secretary to transmit evaluations of certain projects under SSA title IV part F (Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program) (JOBS) to the Secretary of Labor for study and possible action, including authorizing States to provide services of greater scope and duration to unemployed noncustodial parents under such program. Subtitle C: Child Support Enforcement Improvements - Shields a depository institution from Federal or State liability to a person for disclosing individual financial records to a State child support enforcement agency attempting to establish, modify, or enforce a child support obligation. Establishes civil damages for unauthorized disclosure. (Sec. 43002) Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to grant a State child support enforcement agency access to and use of consumer reports. (Sec. 43003) Amends the SSA title IV part D to mandate certain State-prescribed procedures which require any child support order to include coverage of the health care costs of the child. Directs the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on incentives that should be provided to encourage State enforcement of non-custodial parents' obligations to pay the medical and dental expenses of their children. (Sec. 43004) Requires an annual report to the Congress on State compliance with the time limits within which State agencies must respond to requests for certain child support assistance. (Sec. 43005) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures imposing a late payment penalty for an employer's failure to remit to the State within ten days wages withheld to pay child support obligations to the State. (Sec. 43006) Instructs the Secretary to expand the Parent Locator Service to establish a national network based on the comprehensive statewide child support enforcement systems developed by the States. Subtitle D: Single Parent Protection - Amends the IRC to allow an income tax credit for any unpaid child support to which the taxpayer is entitled. Mandates a corresponding increase in the income tax owed by the individual obligated to make such child support payment. Subtitle E: Women's Pension Equity - Amends the IRC and ERISA to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to develop a model spousal consent form for the waiver of a qualified joint and survivor annuity or a qualified preretirement survivor annuity. (Sec. 45002) Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to extend tier II railroad retirement benefits to surviving former spouses pursuant to divorce agreements. (Sec. 45003) Amends the Federal civil service code to provide for survivor annuities for widows, widowers, and former spouses of Federal employees who die before attaining the age for a deferred annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). (Sec. 45004) Includes payments to a former spouse of a Federal employee, Member of Congress, or Federal annuitant under CSRS and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirement payments that may be made under a court decree, court order, property settlement, or similar process. (Sec. 45005) Requires deduction of court-ordered payments to former spouses from any retirement benefits under CSRS or FERS, regardless of any waiver of retired pay made to enhance a civil service retirement annuity. Subtitle F: Pension Reform - Extends the applicability of the pension nondiscrimination rules to integrated pension plans under the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to benefits attributable to plan years beginning on or before December 31, 1988. Repeals the provision allowing integration for simplified employee pensions. (Sec. 46002) Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to require an employer operating a single line of business to designate a qualified trust as part of a plan benefiting all the employer's employees. (Sec. 46003) Amends the IRC and ERISA to repeal the special vesting rule for multiemployer plans. (Sec. 46004) Provides for the division of pension benefits upon divorce. Subtitle G: Social Security Caregiver - Amends title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to provide for an increase in the number of years disregarded in determining the benefit computation years for an individual living with a child under age 12 or with a chronically dependent child, parent, or spouse. (Sec. 47003) Repeals the seven-year restriction on eligibility for widow's and widower's insurance benefits based on disability. (Sec. 47004) Provides for an increase in widow's and widower's insurance benefits by reason of delayed retirement. (Sec. 47006) Exempts from the two-year waiting period following a divorce for divorced spouse's benefits in cases of prior receipt of spouse's benefits. (Sec. 47008) Provides for full benefits for disabled widows and widowers without regard to age. (Sec. 47009) Prohibits any reduction in widow's or widower's insurance benefits for disabled individual. Title V: Economic Impact of Domestic Violence - Subtitle A: Workplace Violence Prevention Tax Credit - Amends the IRC to allow a workplace safety program credit to an employer for 40 percent of the safety and education costs paid or incurred by such employer to implement workplace safety programs to combat violence against women. Subtitle B: Insurance Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence - Amends the Public Health Service Act to create a new title prohibiting health insurers from: (1) discriminating against an individual or group because the individual or a family member is the subject of domestic violence; or (2) disclosing or being compelled (subject to exception) to disclose information concerning the status of an individual as a victim of domestic violence. (Sec. 52001) Mandates development of model standards. Requires each State to report on its implementation actions and, where States fail to act, provides for Federal enforcement involving civil fines against insurers and a Federal private right of action. Subtitle C: Fairness to Minority Women Health - Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of SSA title IV and the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to exempt aliens and their children from provisions attributing to the alien the income and resources of the sponsor and the sponsor's spouse if the alien is battered by, or the subject of extreme cruelty by, the person who executed the affidavit of support or similar agreement regarding the alien. (Sec. 53003) Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to prohibit payments to States for obstetrical or gynecological services unless the hospital, clinic, or provider has available at least one individual who is able to communicate in the predominant language used by residents of the area. Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow grants for family planning projects only if the service providers under the grant have at least one such individual. Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to prohibit making funds available under the Act unless providers of shelter or related assistance have at least one such individual. (Sec. 53004) Mandates a study and report to the Congress regarding domestic violence in which Latina women are the victims. Subtitle D: Battered Women's Employment Protection - Amends the IRC with respect to unemployment tax to require appropriate State laws to provide for unemployment compensation for an individual separated from employment due to circumstances directly resulting from the individual's experience of domestic violence. (Sec. 54002) Amends the Social Security Act to require State laws approved under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act to provide for training for claims reviewers and hearing personnel in the nature of domestic violence, and in methods of ascertaining its existence, so that employment separations stemming from domestic violence are reliably screened, identified, and adjudicated. (Sec. 54003) Requires employers subject to the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act or similar State law, employment benefits program, or collective bargaining agreement to provide leave to employees seeking temporary absences to deal with domestic violence and its aftermath. Entitles employees to use such leave to deal with domestic violence. Subtitle E: Domestic Violence Legal Services Eligibility - Amends the Legal Services Corporation Act to require the Legal Services Corporation, in establishing income levels to determine if a client who is the victim of domestic violence is eligible for assistance, to prescribe that only that client's income will be considered in making such determination.
Bill· HRH.R. 3855 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1996
Authorizes and directs the Secretary of Defense to cause to be brought from a national cemetery for reburial in the Memorial Amphitheater of Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, the remains of an unknown Union soldier who served and died during the Civil War. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 3854 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1996
Authorizes and directs the Secretary of Defense to cause to be brought from a national cemetery for reburial in the Memorial Amphitheater of Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, the remains of one unknown Union soldier and one unknown Confederate soldier who served and died during the Civil War. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1967 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1996
Treats Somalia as a "hazardous duty area" to entitle U.S. military personnel who performed U.S. peacekeeping services in Somalia between December 2, 1992, and April 1, 1994, to the same tax benefits under the Internal Revenue Code that are provided to U.S. military personnel serving in an area designated by the President as a combat zone.
Bill· HRH.R. 3841 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Demonstration Projects Title II: Simplifying Appeals Title III: Performance Management Enhancement Title IV: Enhancement of Thrift Savings Plan and Certain Other Benefits Subtitle A: Additional Investment Funds for the Thrift Savings Plan Subtitle B: Thrift Savings Accounts Liquidity Subtitle C: Other Provisions Relating to the Thrift Savings Subtitle D: Resumption of Certain Survivor Annuities That Terminate by Reason of Marriage Subtitle E: Life Insurance Benefits Title V: Reorganization Flexibility Title VI: Soft Landing Provisions Title VII: Miscellaneous Omnibus Civil Service Reform Act of 1996 - Title I: Demonstration Projects - Amends Federal law provisions concerning Government organization to modify certain provisions concerning demonstration projects. Title II: Simplifying Appeals - Eliminates mixed-case procedures involving an action or complaint of discrimination. (Sec. 202) Provides that an appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board be the exclusive administrative remedy for any action by an employee or applicant under certain circumstances. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the development of an internal procedure to encourage each agency to use alternative dispute resolution techniques to resolve discrimination complaints. Establishes a task force to study and evaluate the use of alternative dispute resolution techniques and issue a report to the Congress. Title III: Performance Management Enhancement - Requires that increased weight be given to an employee's performance rating for order-of-retention purposes in a reduction in force. (Sec. 302) Prohibits an appeal with respect to a denial of a periodic step-increase. Modifies requirements regarding performance ratings. (Sec. 303) Modifies performance appraisal requirements. (Sec. 304) Amends provisions respecting cash awards honoring invention or superior accomplishment. (Sec. 305) Revises labor management and employee relations grievance procedures. (Sec. 306) Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to collect information on training programs within and outside of Government and submit a report to the Congress on an annual basis. Title IV: Enhancement of Thrift Savings Plan and Certain Other Benefits - Subtitle A: Additional Investment Funds for the Thrift Savings Plan -Thrift Savings Investment Funds Act of 1996 - Adds two new funds, the International Stock Index Investment Fund and the Small Capitalization Stock Index Fund, to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) under the Federal Employees' Retirement System. Subtitle B: Thrift Savings Accounts Liquidity - Thrift Savings Plan Act of 1996 - Increases withdrawal options for TSP participants upon separation from employment. Eliminates the purpose requirements for taking a TSP loan. Permits a TSP participant, before separation, to make a one-time withdrawal from the account upon: (1) attaining age 59 and one-half; or (2) financial hardship. (Sec. 414) Revises provisions concerning notification of an employee's or Member's spouse upon making or changing a withdrawal election. (Sec. 416) Eliminates the definition of basic pay with respect to the TSP. (Sec. 417) Allows eligible rollover distributions from a qualified plan to the Thrift Savings Fund. Subtitle C: Other Provisions Relating to the Thrift Savings Plan - Eliminates percentage limitations on contributions made to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). (Sec. 422) Provides for loans under the Thrift Savings Plan for furloughed employees. (Sec. 423) Allows immediate participation in the Thrift Savings Plan. Subtitle D: Resumption of Certain Survivor Annuities That Terminate by Reason of Marriage - Allows resumption of certain survivor annuities that terminate because of marriage. Subtitle E: Life Insurance Benefits - Revises provisions concerning the payment of Federal employee life insurance benefits pursuant to a domestic relations court order. (Sec. 442) Requires that additional optional life insurance be excepted from provisions requiring reduction under specified circumstances for a permanently disabled individual. (Sec. 443) Permits an involuntarily separated employee to make payments which will continue his or her Federal life insurance coverage for up to 18 months following the separation. Title V: Reorganization Flexibility - Authorizes the head of an Executive agency or military department, until September 30, 2001, to: (1) separate any employee volunteering to separate (except for an employee with critical skills) whether or not such employee is subject to separation due to a reduction in force; and (2) retain an employee, for each such employee voluntarily separated, in a similar position who would otherwise be separated due to a reduction in force. (Sec. 502) Authorizes nonreimbursable details within Executive agencies and military departments before a reduction in force. Title VI: Soft-Landing Provisions - Makes provisions for the continued eligibility of involuntarily separated Federal employees for life and health insurance. (Sec. 603) Authorizes each Executive agency to establish an agencywide priority placement program for employees affected by a reduction in force. (Sec. 604) Authorizes the establishment of a program to provide job placement and counseling services to current and former employees. (Sec. 605) Authorizes non-Federal employment incentive payments for education and retraining. Title VII: Miscellaneous - Authorizes the use of appropriated funds to reimburse qualified Federal employees for professional liability insurance. (Sec. 702) Requires a contractor to offer the right of first refusal of employment to the former Federal employee whose position was abolished because of the conversion of his or her duties to contract. (Sec. 703) Sets forth provisions regarding the debarment of any health care provider found to have engaged in fraudulent practices. (Sec. 704) Prohibits the extension of certain procedural and appeal rights to certain personnel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation against whom such agency is taking an adverse action. (Sec. 705) Provides for the conversion of certain excepted service positions in the United States Fire Administration to competitive service positions. (Sec. 706) Sets forth the eligibility requirements for survivor annuity benefits for a former spouse.
Bill· HRH.R. 3843 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1996
Sweatshop Product Ban Act of 1996 - Prohibits the Defense Commissary Agency (DCA) or any nonappropriated fund instrumentality (NFI) which operates a military commissary or exchange store from purchasing for resale at such store any consumer item imported into the United States if the DCA or NFI has reason to believe that such item was not procured in conformity with minimum labor standards. Directs the Secretary of Labor to: (1) develop the minimum labor standards to be applied; and (2) annually develop and submit to the Secretary of Defense a list of companies and manufacturers that are not in compliance with such standards. Requires the Secretary of Defense to annually certify to the Congress that the DCA and NFI have not purchased any consumer items from companies and manufacturers so listed.
Bill· HRH.R. 3832 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Title II: Supplemental Security Income Subtitle A: Eligibility Restrictions Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children Subtitle C: State Supplementation Programs Subtitle D: Studies Regarding Supplemental Security Income Program Subtitle E: National Commission on the Future of Disability Title III: Child Support Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders Subtitle H: Medical Support Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Non-Residential Parents Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment Title IV: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits Subtitle B: Eligibility for State and Local Public Benefits Programs Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support Subtitle D: General Provisions Subtitle E: Conforming Amendments Title V: Reductions in Federal Government Positions Title VI: Reform of Public Housing Title VII: Child Care Title VIII: Child Nutrition Programs Subtitle A: National School Lunch Act Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Act of 1966 Title IX: Food Stamp and Related Programs Title X: Miscellaneous Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Earned Income Tax Credit Bipartisan Welfare Reform Act of 1996 - Title I: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - Expresses the sense of the Congress that prevention of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and reduction in out-of-wedlock births are important Government interests. (Sec. 103) Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) programs under parts A and F, respectively, of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with a single, combined program of block grants to the States for operating statewide temporary assistance (TANF) programs with certain mandatory work (subsidized or unsubsidized, public or private), employment-related education, and job training, search, and other job-related activities (required program activities) for eligible families, which are designed to prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and assist such families in forming, staying together, and ultimately becoming self-sufficient in private sector employment. Limits such families generally to no more than five years of TANF cash assistance, with certain exceptions for minor children, battered family members, and hardship situations. Requires participating States to provide vouchers to families denied cash assistance due to any other State-imposed time limits. Mandates that families include either a minor child who resides with a custodial parent or other adult caretaker relative or a pregnant individual in order to be eligible for TANF assistance. Requires, in addition, certain adult-supervised living arrangements for unmarried teenage parents and the attainment of a high school diploma or its equivalent if they did not complete a high school education. Prohibits (unless a State opts otherwise) additional TANF cash assistance for children born into families already on TANF, with certain exceptions for: (1) children born into families with no other children; (2) vouchers provided in lieu of cash benefits that are only good for State-specified goods and services suitable for child care in the particular case; and (3) children born as a result of rape or incest. Denies TANF in cases where an individual family member is a fugitive felon or a probation or parole violator, and suspends it for ten years for individuals found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain TANF assistance in two or more States. Requires States not disregard benefits an individual receives under a State old-age, foster care, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) plan under SSA title XVI when determining the amount of TANF for the family of which the individual is a member. Specifies State TANF plan contents, including provisions for numeric goals for reducing illegitimacy in the State over a specified period beginning in 1996, and certain certifications by the State that it will operate child support enforcement and protection programs. Includes among criteria for Federal approval of a State program under TANF requirements for a parent or caretaker receiving TANF to engage in State-defined work once the State determines the parent or caretaker is ready to engage in work, or once the parent or caretaker has received assistance under TANF for 24 months (whether or not consecutive), whichever is earlier. Allows the States to decide in their TANF plans: (1) whether or not they intend on providing TANF to aliens; and (2) how to treat families moving interstate, while allowing them to treat such families under the rules of their former State of residence only under certain conditions. Requires a plan to contain an estimate of the number of individuals (if any) who will become ineligible for State Medicaid assistance as a result of eligibility rules changes for the new TANF-funded State program, and requires the plan to indicate the extent to which the State will provide medical assistance to such individuals. Provides for the allowable uses of quarterly family assistance grants, among other purposes, for family planning services, child care under certain State block grant programs, and meeting home heating and cooling costs of certain low income households; but prohibits their use for medical services generally. Provides for: (1) additional grants to States for reductions in illegitimate births, population increases, and State work, education, and job preparation programs; and (2) a Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs in the Treasury for payments to eligible States. Makes applicable appropriations. Sets up a Federal loan program for State TANF programs for anti-fraud and other specified activities, making necessary appropriations. Provides for the exchange of certain TANF program information with law enforcement agencies under specified conditions. Details the required activities under State TANF programs for assisting participant families in achieving self-sufficiency, including participation in community service programs and vocational educational training, along with certain special rules such as those limiting the number of families which may engage in vocational educational activities. Requires the applicable State agency responsible for administering the TANF program to make an initial assessment of the TANF recipient's skills, prior work experience, and employability and develop an individual responsibility plan based on such assessment in which the recipient agrees to satisfy certain obligations in return for the State's provision of certain services to enable the recipient to obtain and keep employment in the private sector. Establishes penalties for States and individual families for specified grant and program violations through reduced grants and assistance payments, respectively, even allowing States to terminate such payments to certain adult family members who refuse to: (1) engage in required program activities; or (2) cooperate with the State in establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support order. Provides for a separate reduction in State family assistance grant payments for States failing to comply with Federal requirements under SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) pertaining to paternity establishment and child support enforcement. Expresses the sense of the Congress that State TANF programs should: (1) assign the highest priority to requiring adults in two-parent families and in single-parent families with older preschool or school-age children to be engaged in required program activities; and (2) require noncustodial, nonsupporting parents under age 18 to fulfill community work obligations and attend appropriate parenting or money management classes after school. Sets forth the mechanism for State appeal of Federal adverse decisions with respect to State TANF plans or imposition of penalties, providing for advance notification of any program violation and the opportunity for a State to correct it before any such penalty is imposed. Limits the amount of any penalty reduction in the State's quarterly family assistance grant payment. Provides for direct funding, by way of three-year tribal family assistance grants, to Indian tribes (with a special rule for Indian tribes in Alaska) with approved plans for administering their own welfare programs with similar work requirements and time limits for receipt of assistance. Makes necessary appropriations. Directs the Bureau of the Census to expand the Survey of Income and Program Participation to obtain information that will enable interested persons to evaluate the impact of the changes made by this title on a random national sample of recipients of assistance under State TANF programs and, as appropriate, on other low income families. Provides for the treatment of existing State AFDC (welfare reform) waiver projects in effect when this Act is enacted and those granted subsequently. Retains the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Family Support as the official responsible for administering TANF programs. Outlines various specified program data collection and reporting requirements, as well as certain research, evaluation, and study requirements. Allows for demonstrations of innovative approaches for reducing welfare dependency and increasing the well-being of minor children. Requires certain annual State rankings by the HHS Secretary according their successes in placing TANF recipients into long-term private sector jobs and reducing out-of-wedlock births. Makes applicable appropriations. (Sec. 104) Allows States to contract with charitable, religious, and private organizations to provide services and administer programs established or modified under titles I, II, and VI of this Act. Prohibits the expenditure of financial assistance for sectarian worship, instruction, or proselytization. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to expand census data collection efforts to enable the Bureau of the Census to collect statistically significant data on grandparent caregivers. (Sec. 106) Requires an HHS report to the Congress on State automated data processing systems used in administering TANF programs to determine what would be required to establish a system for tracking public program participants and checking case records to determine if they are participating in public programs of two or more States. (Sec. 107) Details requirements for a similar report, and study, on alternative outcomes measures for evaluating the success of the States in moving individuals off welfare through employment. (Sec. 108) Makes applicable conforming amendments to SSA (including SSA title XI with regard to additional grants for Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa), the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and related provisions of other specified Federal laws, as well as to the Internal Revenue Code with regard to the collection of overpayments under the TANF program. (Sec. 111) Directs the Commissioner of Social Security (Commissioner) to: (1) develop a prototype counterfeit-resistant social security card; and (2) study and report to the Congress on improving the social security card application process. (Sec. 112) Requires any organization accepting Federal funds under this title or any amendments made by it to disclose that fact in any communication it makes that in any way intends to promote public support or opposition to any Federal, State, or local government policy through any broadcasting station, periodical, or other specified type of general public advertising. Makes any organization failing to make such a disclosure ineligible to receive Federal funds under this Act. (Sec. 113) Amends the Family Support Act of 1988 to remove the "demonstration" status of the Job Opportunities for Certain Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) program and give it an increased annual authorization. (Sec. 115) Provides for the application of certain former AFDC standards and methodologies under the Medicaid program, such as those for determining income and resources, as well as those under TANF which are current. Title II: Supplemental Security Income - Subtitle A: Eligibility Restrictions - Amends SSA title XVI to: (1) deny SSI by reason of disability to drug addicts and alcoholics for whom addiction or alcoholism would be a contributing factor material to the disability determination; (2) revise representative payee and treatment requirements; (3) suspend SSI benefits for ten years to individuals found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain SSI or other benefits simultaneously in two or more States; (4) deny SSI benefits for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators; and (5) outline the process for periodic review with respect to the continuing eligibility of an individual 18 years of age or older to receive certain SSI disability benefits. (Sec. 204) Revises the treatment afforded prisoners with regard to SSI and Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits to: (1) deny SSI benefits for ten years to a person found to have fraudulently obtained SSI benefits while in prison; (2) eliminate the OASDI requirement that confinement stem from a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year; and (3) authorize the Commissioner to contract with any interested State or local institutions used to confine prisoners for monthly reports of certain identifying information in order to enforce SSI and OASDI benefit limitations, and pay such institution a specified fee with regard to each SSI- or OASDI-eligible inmate identified who becomes ineligible for such benefit as a result of such reporting. Requires the Commissioner to study and report to the Congress on other specified potential improvements in the collection of information respecting public inmates. (Sec. 205) Makes certain changes respecting the effective date of applications for SSI benefits. (Sec. 206) Sets out rules governing the installment payment of large past-due amounts of SSI benefits and for the recovery of SSI overpayments from OASDI benefits. Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children - Revises the rules with respect to childhood eligibility, with corresponding changes to childhood SSI regulations modifying the medical criteria for evaluation of mental and emotional disorders, and discontinuing the use of individualized functional assessments for children. Requires the Commissioner to redetermine the eligibility of any individual under age 18 receiving SSI benefits based on a disability as of the enactment of this Act, and whose eligibility for such benefits may terminate by reason of this Act. (Sec. 212) Provides that at least once every three years the Commissioner shall review the continued SSI eligibility of each individual who has not attained age 18 and is eligible for such benefits by reason of an impairment (or combination of impairments) which may improve (or, which is unlikely to improve, at the option of the Commissioner). Requires a parent or guardian of a recipient whose case is so reviewed to present evidence that the recipient is and has been receiving treatment of the condition which was the basis for the SSI benefits. Provides that if an individual is eligible for SSI disability benefits for the month preceding the month in which the individual attains age 18, the Commissioner shall redetermine such eligibility: (1) during the one year period beginning on the individual's 18th birthday; and (2) by applying the criteria used in determining the initial eligibility for applicants who have attained age 18. Outlines specific requirements governing: (1) continuing disability reviews for low birth weight babies; and (2) benefit payments through representative payees to eligible individuals and their spouses. Makes certain appropriations to the HHS Secretary for the conduct of continuing disability reviews. (Sec. 214) Provides for a reduction in cash SSI benefits payable to institutionalized individuals whose medical costs are covered by private insurance. (Sec. 215) Reduces by specified basic needs and earned income disregard allocations the amount of parental income attributed to disabled children while preserving their Medicaid eligibility. (Sec. 216) Outlines a schedule for computing the SSI benefits on a graduated basis depending upon the size of the affected household for each additional eligible blind or disabled child of the same household where one or more eligible blind or disabled children are living, as long as such household is not a group or foster home. Bases the applicable household size upon the number of eligible blind and disabled children in it whose countable income and resources do not exceed applicable limits. Describes the preservation of Medicaid eligibility for affected children. Subtitle C: State Supplementation Programs - Repeals maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SSI benefits. Subtitle D: Studies Regarding Supplemental Security Income Program - Requires the Commissioner to report annually to the President and the Congress on the SSI program, and make appropriate arrangements for a study of the OASDI and SSI disability determination processes for any needed changes. (Sec. 233) Outlines the requirements for a General Accounting Office study and report on the impact of this subtitle on the SSI program and on the extra expenses incurred by families of children receiving benefits under such program that are not covered by other Federal, State, or local programs. Subtitle E: National Commission on the Future of Disability - Establishes the National Commission on the Future of Disability to develop and carry out a comprehensive study of all matters related to the nature, purpose, and adequacy of all Federal programs serving individuals with disabilities in order to develop appropriate recommendations for any needed legislation or administrative action. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Child Support - Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to require State plans for child and spousal support to provide: (1) certain services relating to paternity establishment or enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) continuation of services for families ceasing to receive AFDC. (Sec. 302) Revises payment distribution guidelines for support obligations collected by the State on behalf of a family. (Sec. 303) Requires State plans to establish procedural guidelines for: (1) privacy safeguards regarding paternity and child support actions; and (2) notification of State plan services applicants or recipients about all proceedings and orders affecting child support obligations. Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking - Mandates that single statewide automated data systems include a State case registry containing records of: (1) each case in which services are provided by the State agency; and (2) each support order established on or after a specified date. Permits the linking of local registries. (Sec. 312) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. Permits the unit to be established by linking local disbursement units through an automated information network if the Secretary agrees that it will not cost more or take more time to establish or operate than a centralized system. (Sec. 313) Requires State plans to: (1) provide for a State-operated and automated State Directory of New Hires containing prescribed information furnished by employers on new personnel; and (2) transmit such information to the National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 314) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures: (1) for mandatory income withholding for support payments subject to enforcement; and (2) under which wages of a person with a support obligation imposed by a child support order issued before October 1, 1996, shall become subject to withholding if arrearages occur, without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. Revises the procedural guidelines for income withholding for child support enforcement. (Sec. 315) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures to ensure that Federal and State agencies conducting income-withholding activities have access to State locator systems for motor vehicle or law enforcement purposes. (Sec. 316) Revises the Federal Parent Locator Service to provide for additional information which may be transmitted to locate individuals and assets for purposes of: (1) establishing parentage; (2) establishing, setting the amount of, modifying, or enforcing child support obligations; and (3) enforcing child custody or visitation orders. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish in the Federal Parent Locator Service an automated Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders and an automated National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 317) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring recordation on such documents of the Social Security number of: (1) specified driver's, marriage, and occupational, and professional license applicants; (2) individuals subject to certain domestic relations orders; and (3) deceased individuals (on death records). Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures - Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1998. Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the procedures for the court to apply when determining which State order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement for child support orders. (Sec. 323) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring: (1) expedited administrative enforcement in interstate cases and support orders; and (2) expedited administrative and judicial procedures for establishing paternity and enforcing support obligations. Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment - Revises the guidelines for State laws governing paternity establishment. Requires State procedures under which the name of the father shall be included on the birth certificate only: (1) if the mother and father have signed a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity; or (2) pursuant to a judicial or administrative order. (Sec. 333) Requires State plans for child and spousal support to provide that the State agency administering the plan will make a determination as to whether a program recipient is cooperating in good faith with State efforts to establish paternity and secure support. Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding - Directs the Secretary to develop a new incentive system to replace the current one. Revises the guidelines for Federal performance-based incentive payments to the States for effective child support enforcement programs. (Sec. 342) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include prescribed procedures for State reviews and audits. Revises the guidelines for Federal evaluation and audit of State programs governing paternity, child and spousal support, and parent location. (Sec. 344) Revises the automated data processing requirements for State plans to mandate a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system which can perform specified tasks. (Sec. 345) Makes funds available to the Secretary for: (1) training of Federal and State staff, research and demonstration programs, and special projects of regional and national significance; and (2) operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service. Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders - Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. (Sec. 352) Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to authorize a consumer agency to furnish a consumer report: (1) in response to a request by a governmental child support enforcement agency; or (2) to the State administrative agency which sets child support awards. (Sec. 353) Shields a depository institution from Federal or State liability for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency. Prohibits such agency from disclosing such a financial record except for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary in, establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation. Sets forth civil penalties for any person knowingly or negligently violating such prohibition. Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders - Amends Internal Revenue Code procedural guidelines for the collection of arrearages to provide that no additional fee may be assessed for adjustments to a previously certified amount. (Sec. 362) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to revise procedural guidelines for: (1) consent by the United States to income withholding, garnishment, and similar proceedings for enforcement of child support and alimony obligations of current and retired Federal employees; and (2) enforcement of child support obligations of members of the Armed Forces. (Sec. 364) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to have in effect the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act of 1981, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act of 1984, or a similar law, as well as certain procedures governing the voiding of fraudulent transfers by a child support debtor. (Sec. 365) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include specified procedures: (1) to ensure that persons owing past-due support work or participate in work activities the court deems appropriate; (2) to report to credit bureaus the name of the parent in arrears for child support; (3) to provide for liens against real and personal property for the support arrearages of an absent parent; and (4) to implement the restriction of driver's, professional, occupational, and recreational licenses of individuals owing support arrearages. (Sec. 370) Instructs the Secretary of State to deny a passport to any individual certified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to be in arrears of more than $5,000 for child support payments. Authorizes revocation, restriction or limitation of a previously issued passport in connection with such individuals. (Sec. 371) Authorizes the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the HHS Secretary, to declare any foreign country a reciprocating country if it has established, or undertakes to establish, procedures for the establishment and enforcement of child support obligations whose obligees are U.S. citizens. Provides for revocation of such declaration in certain circumstances. Designates the HHS Secretary as the central authority for such enforcement. (Sec. 372) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which a State agency shall enter agreements with financial institutions doing business within the State to develop and operate a data match system to provide identifying information for each noncustodial parent targeted by the State who maintains an account at the institution, and to encumber or surrender such parent's assets at the institution pursuant to a lien or levy. (Sec. 373) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which child support orders relating to the child of minor parents, where the custodial parents are receiving assistance, are enforceable against the child's paternal or maternal grandparents. (Sec. 374) Amends Federal bankruptcy law to make nondischargeable in bankruptcy any debts owed to a State or municipality for child support. Subtitle H: Medical Support - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to include within the definition of medical child support order an order issued through a State administrative process. (Sec. 377) Amends SSA title IV part D to mandate statutorily prescribed procedures under which all enforced child support orders shall include a provision for the health care coverage of the child. Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for NonResidential Parents - Amends part D of SSA title IV to prescribe guidelines under which the Administration for Children and Families shall make grants to enable States to establish and administer access and visitation programs to facilitate noncustodial parents' access to their children. Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment - Sets forth effective dates for this title. Title IV: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens - Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits - Denies Federal public benefits (except certain emergency disaster relief, public health, housing, and child nutrition benefits) to non-qualified aliens. (Sec. 402) Denies SSI and stamp eligibility to all but certain qualified aliens, who may receive only limited benefits. (Sec. 403) Makes qualified aliens ineligible (with limited exceptions) for Federal means-tested public benefits for the first five years after U.S. entry. Amends SSA and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide for reporting of certain illegal alien information to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Subtitle B: Eligibility for State and Local Public Benefits Programs - Makes an alien who is not a qualified alien, a nonimmigrant, or a parolee for less than one year ineligible for State or local benefits (except certain emergency disaster relief, public health, housing, and child nutrition benefits). (Sec. 412) Authorizes States, with certain exceptions, to determine eligibility for State means-tested public benefits for qualified aliens, nonimmigrants, or certain parolees. Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support - Deems the income and resources of any alien over age 18 (who is not pregnant) applying for Medicaid and SSA title XXI benefits to include: (1) the income and resources of any person who executed an affidavit of support on the alien's behalf; and (2) the income and resources of the person's spouse (if any). (Sec. 422) Authorizes States to make similar attributions with respect to State programs (except certain emergency disaster relief, public health, housing, and child nutrition benefits). (Sec. 423) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prescribe requirements for a sponsor's affidavit of support. Requires a sponsor to reimburse the appropriate Federal, State, or local agency for any means-tested public benefits a sponsored alien receives. (Sec. 424) Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require a sponsor's endorsement of and cosignature on any student loan for a permanent resident alien. Subtitle D: General Provisions - Sets forth definitions and requires appropriate regulations by the Attorney General for State use. Subtitle E: Conforming Amendments - Makes conforming amendments to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 and the Housing Act of 1949. Title V: Reductions in Federal Government Positions - Outlines the mechanism for various specified Federal executive agency workforce reductions, requiring submission to specified congressional committees of determinations about the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions of their respective departments by the Secretaries of Agriculture, of Education, of Labor, of Housing and Urban Development, and of HHS. Requires the Secretaries to make FTE reductions, including reductions-in-force, over the ensuing 14 months. Requires the Comptroller General to analyze and report to such committees on such determinations, with recommendations for further FTE reductions, if appropriate. (Sec. 502) Requires the HHS Secretary to reduce the Federal workforce within HHS: (1) by 75 percent of the FTE positions relating to any direct or indirect discretionary spending program converted into a block grant program by this Act (including 245 FTE positions related to the program converted into TEA block grants); and (2) by 75 percent of a proportionate number of the total FTE departmental management positions (including 60 FTE managerial positions related to the program converted into TEA block grants). (Sec. 503) Encourages the HHS Secretary to reduce personnel in the Washington, D.C., area office (agency headquarters) before reducing field personnel. Title VI: Reform of Public Housing - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to prohibit increased housing assistance (except instances of limited-time frame benefits) to a family whose benefits under other public assistance programs have been reduced because of noncompliance. (Sec. 602) States that a person whose benefits under a means-tested welfare or public assistance program have been reduced because of fraud shall not, during such reduction period, receive an income-based increase in any other means-tested assistance program. Title VII: Child Care - Child Care and Development Block Grant Amendments of 1995 (sic) - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations for FY 1996 through 2002. (Sec. 703) Amends SSA title IV part A (TANF) to establish a general child care assistance entitlement program funded by Federal grants to the States. Authorizes appropriations. Prescribes program parameters. (Sec. 708) Repeals the program requirement for early childhood development and before- and after-school services. Revises enforcement guidelines to require a State to reimburse the Secretary for funds improperly expended on prohibited or non-authorized purposes. (Sec. 712) Revises the Secretary's congressional reporting requirements to mandate biannual reports to the House Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities. (Sec. 713) Authorizes an Indian tribe or tribal organization to use Federal funds for the construction or renovation of child care facilities. (Sec. 715) Repeals the Child Development Associate Scholarship Assistance Act of 1985 and the State Dependent Care Development Grants Act. Repeals funding authority for certain programs of national significance, involving: (1) child care for children of at-risk students; (2) alternative programs for bilingual and special education students; and (3) rural child care centers for student parents and their children. Repeals funding authority for Native Hawaiian Family-based Education Centers. Title VIII: Child Nutrition Programs - Subtitle A: National School Lunch Act - Amends the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to repeal specified authorities and requirements for the school lunch and related programs, including: (1) State educational authority to use resources from the nutrition and education (NET) program; (2) prohibition of State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; (3) certain demonstration grants to private nonprofit organizations or educational institutions for elementary school curriculum food and nutrition projects; (4) aspects of summer food service programs, reducing payment rates and daily meals at camps, reducing the National Youth Sports Program, and revising nutritional standards compliance requirements; (5) certain commodity distribution program requirements, including State Advisory Councils; (6) expansion of the child care food program; (7) adult care food aid to adult day care centers and services for persons over 60; (8) certain pilot projects, including one for paperwork reduction; and (9) an information clearinghouse. (Sec. 807) Prohibits, in general, any waiver that will increase Federal costs. (Sec. 810) Provides for grants for State assistance to family or group day care homes. Repeals the requirement that an institution participating in the child care program receive compensation for at least 25 percent of its enrolled children or 25 percent of its licensed capacity, whichever is less. Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services to study and report to specified congressional committees on the impact of this title on adult food care program participation and family day care licensing. Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Act of 1966 - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to revise the school breakfast program: (1) eliminating Federal assistance for food preparation training and program expansion and start-up costs; (2) repealing certain authorities and requirements relating to State administrative expenses; (3) repealing the prohibition against State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; and (4) repealing the program of cash grants for nutrition education. (Sec. 830) Revises the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC), among other things repealing specified requirements and changing from mandatory to optional: (1) drug abuse education; and (2) provision of WIC information in languages other than English. Makes the Nutrition and Education program discretionary rather than mandatory. Authorizes appropriations. Title IX: Food Stamp Program and Related Programs - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (Act) to establish a maximum 24-month food stamp program (program) authorization period for households whose adult members are elderly or disabled. (Sec. 902) Expands the definition of "coupon." (Sec. 903) Treats children who are themselves parents living with their children and married children living with their spouses as part of an existing household rather than as a separate household. (Sec. 904) Revises thrifty food plan adjustment requirements. (Sec. 905) Revises the definition of "homeless individual" to limit the length of time a person may temporarily live in another person's residence. (Sec. 906) Excludes from household income or resources: (1) certain job training income; (2) life insurance cash value; and (3) excluded AFDC income. Increases standard deductions. (Sec. 908) Eliminates specified excludable auto value increases and establishes the maximum excludable auto value at $4600. (Sec. 909) Includes as household income third party payments for transitional housing for the homeless. (Sec. 910) Increases penalties for certain program violations. (Sec. 911) Disqualifies permanently an individual convicted of specified coupon violations. (Sec. 912) Revises work requirement and employment and training provisions. Extends employment and training funding authorizations. (Sec. 915) Authorizes comparable program disqualification based upon means-tested public assistance disqualification. (Sec. 916) Disqualifies for ten years an individual who participates in the program in two or more States. (Sec. 917) Disqualifies a fleeing felon from program participation. (Sec. 918) Requires at State option: (1) cooperation with child support agencies in order to maintain program eligibility; and (2) program disqualification for child support arrears. (Sec. 920) Defines "work program." Makes nonexempt persons ineligible for program benefits if during the preceding 12-month period they received food stamps for not less than six months without working at least 20 hours per week, or participating in a workfare program. Sets forth exempted persons and situations. (Sec. 921) Directs States to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 922) Eliminates annual minimum allotment adjustments. (Sec. 924) Authorizes a combined allotment for expedited households. (Sec. 925) Authorizes program reductions for failure to comply with a means-tested public assistance reduction requirement. (Sec. 926) Authorizes program assistance for households residing in a homeless shelter or drug or alcohol treatment center. (Sec. 927) Authorizes the Secretary to establish authorization periods for retail food stores and wholesale food concerns (stores) to redeem food stamps. (Sec. 928) Authorizes the Secretary to establish a ineligibility period for a store's lack of business integrity. (Sec. 929) Includes income and sales tax information among the types of eligibility verification information that may be requested. (Sec. 930) Establishes a six-month reapplication waiting period for a store that does not meet participation requirements. (Sec. 931) Revises: (1) food stamp office operating provisions; and (2) expedited coupon service requirements. (Sec. 933) Provides for the exchange of information with law enforcement or Immigration and Naturalization Service personnel. (Sec. 935) Authorizes a family to withdraw a fair hearing request. (Sec. 938) Authorizes suspension of a store pending administrative and judicial review. (States that the Secretary shall not be liable for lost sales during such period.) (Sec. 939) Provides for disqualification of a store: (1) that knowingly submits a falsified application; and (2) that is disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). (Sec. 941) Establishes criminal forfeiture penalties for specified program violations. (Sec. 942) Amends the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand authority for sharing retailer-provided information with State entities. (Sec. 943) Terminates Federal matching requirements for program recruitment activities. (Sec. 944) Revises overissuance collection provisions. (Sec. 947) Authorizes appropriations for program operations. (Sec. 948) Authorizes States to carry out a Simplified Food Stamp Program in lieu of existing program requirements. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 949) Amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to combine the emergency food assistance program with the soup kitchen- food bank program. (Sec. 950) Amends the Charitable Assistance and Food Bank Act of 1987 to repeal the food bank demonstration project. Title X: Miscellaneous - Requires that any funds received by a State under the TANF, food stamp, or child care block grant program be expended consistent with the laws and procedures applicable to expenditures of the State's own revenues and program terms and conditions. (Sec. 1002) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to eliminate housing assistance for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators, and provide for the exchange, upon request, of certain housing information about such individuals with law enforcement agencies. (Sec. 1003) Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the Congress should adopt enterprise zone legislation in the 104th Congress that provides for specified incentives and reforms; (2) States should diligently continue their efforts to enforce child support payments by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent, regardless of the former's employment status or location; (3) States are encouraged to pursue pilot programs in which the parents of a non-adult, non-custodial parent who refuses to or is unable to pay child support must pay or contribute to the child support owed by the non-custodial parent or otherwise fulfill all financial obligations and meet all conditions imposed on the non-custodial parent, such as participation in a work program or other related activity; and (4) States and local jurisdictions should aggressively enforce statutory rape laws. (Sec. 1005) Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to modify the eligibility disqualifications for aliens to give State agencies the option of considering either all income and financial resources of the individual rendered ineligible to participate in the food stamp program, or such income, less a pro rata share, and the financial resources of the ineligible individual, to determine the eligibility and the value of the allotment of the household of which such individual is a member. (Sec. 1006) Directs the HHS Secretary to establish a strategy for: (1) preventing out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancies; and (2) assuring that at least 25 percent of U.S. communities have teenage pregnancy prevention programs in place. (Sec. 1008) Provides that States shall not be prohibited by the Federal Government from sanctioning welfare recipients who test positive for the use of controlled substances. (Sec. 1009) Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) to authorize appropriations for grants, contracts, and other assistance for sexual abstinence education. (Sec. 1010) Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act with respect to encouraging electronic benefit transfer systems for the distribution of needs-tested benefits by government agencies to recipients' electronic accounts. (Sec. 1011) Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to provide for a reduction in block grants to States for social services. (Sec. 1012) Encourages the HHS Secretary to work in coordination with State agencies to ensure that Federal transportation funds that may be used for TANF recipients are most efficiently used for such purpose. (Sec. 1013) Provides for an enhanced Federal match for child welfare automation expenses under SSA title IV part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance). Subtitle B: Earned Income Tax Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny the earned income tax credit, personal exemptions, and other benefits to individuals who fail to provide their taxpayer identification numbers (i.e. social security numbers) on their tax returns. (Sec. 1022) Amends Internal Revenue Code rules for denial of earned income credit for individuals having excessive investment income to: (1) reduce from $2,350 to $2,200 the disqualified income threshold; (2) revise the adjustment for inflation; (3) make disqualified income (and therefore a basis for denial of credit) any capital gain net income and any aggregate gains from all passive activities; and (4) modify adjusted gross income for the earned income credit to exclude specified capital, trust and estate, and business net losses. (Sec. 1024) Requires notice of availability of the earned income tax credit to applicants and former recipients of TANF, food stamp, and Medicaid assistance. (Sec. 1025) Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to require inclusion on W-4 forms of a notice of the availability of the earned income tax credit and dependent care tax credit. (Sec. 1026) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the advance payment to a participating resident of the earned income tax credit by a responsible State agency, in lieu of advance payments from an employer, through a State Advance Payment Program. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 3829 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Committee on Agriculture Subtitle A: Food Stamp Program Subtitle B: Commodity Distribution Programs Subtitle C: Electronic Benefit Transfer Systems Title II: Committee on Commerce Subtitle A: Involvement of Commerce Committee in Federal Government Position Reductions Subtitle B: Restricting Public Benefits for Aliens Subtitle C: Energy Assistance Subtitle D: Abstinence Education Title III: Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities Subtitle A: Child Care Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Programs Subtitle C: Related Provisions Title IV: Committee on Ways and Means Subtitle A: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Subtitle B: Supplemental Security Income Subtitle C: Child Support Subtitle D: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens Subtitle E: Reform of Public Housing Subtitle F: Child Protection Block Grant Program and Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, and Independent Living Programs Subtitle G: Reductions in Federal Government Positions Subtitle H: Miscellaneous Welfare Reform Reconciliation Act of 1996 - Title I: Committee on Agriculture - Food Stamp Reform and Commodity Distribution Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Food Stamp Program - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (Act) to establish a maximum 24-month food stamp program (program) authorization period for households whose adult members are elderly or disabled. (Sec. 1012) Expands the definition of "coupon." (Sec. 1013) Treats children who are themselves parents living with their children and married children living with their spouses as part of an existing household rather than as a separate household. (Sec. 1014) Authorizes States to establish additional criteria for separate household determinations. (Sec. 1015) Revises thrifty food plan adjustment requirements. (Sec. 1016) Revises the definition of "homeless individual" to limit the length of time a person may temporarily live in another person's residence. (Sec. 1018) Revises household income exclusion provisions regarding: (1) students; and (2) Federal energy assistance. (Sec. 1020) Revises household income deduction provisions regarding: (1) standard deductions; (2) earned income; (3) dependent care; (4) child support payments; (5) homeless shelter assistance; (6) excess medical expenses; and (7) excess shelter expenses. (Sec. 1021) Eliminates specified excludable auto value increases and establishes the maximum excludable auto value at $4600. (Sec. 1022) Includes as household income third party payments for transitional housing for the homeless. (Sec. 1023) Increases penalties for certain program violations. (Sec. 1024) Disqualifies permanently an individual convicted of specified coupon violations. (Sec. 1025) Revises work requirement and employment and training provisions. Extends employment and training funding authorizations. (Sec. 1028) Authorizes comparable program disqualification based upon means-tested public assistance disqualification. (Sec. 1029) Disqualifies for ten years an individual who participates in the program in two or more States. (Sec. 1030) Disqualifies a fleeing felon from program participation. (Sec. 1031) Requires at State option: (1) cooperation with child support agencies in order to maintain program eligibility; and (2) program disqualification for child support arrears. (Sec. 1033) Defines "work program." Makes nonexempt persons ineligible for program benefits if during the preceding 12-month period they received food stamps for four months or more without working at least 20 hours per week, or participating in a workfare program. Sets forth exempted persons and situations. (Sec. 1034) Directs States to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 1035) Eliminates annual minimum allotment adjustments. (Sec. 1037) Authorizes a combined allotment for expedited households. (Sec. 1038) Authorizes program reductions for failure to comply with a means-tested public assistance reduction requirement. (Sec. 1039) Authorizes program assistance for households residing in a homeless shelter or drug or alcohol treatment center. (Sec. 1040) Provides that no food store or wholesale food concern be approved for program participation without a prior visit by a Department of Agriculture employee or designated State or local official. (Sec. 1041) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to establish authorization periods for retail food stores and wholesale food concerns to redeem food stamps or benefits through an electronic benefit transfer system. (Sec. 1042) Includes income and sales tax information among the types of eligibility verification information that may be requested. (Sec. 1043) Establishes a six-month reapplication waiting period for a store that does not meet participation requirements. (Sec. 1044) Revises: (1) food stamp office operating provisions; and (2) expedited coupon service requirements. (Sec. 1045) Eliminates certain certification personnel training requirements. (Sec. 1046) Provides for the exchange of information with law enforcement or Immigration and Naturalization Service personnel. (Sec. 1048) Authorizes a family to withdraw a fair hearing request. (Sec. 1049) Permits States to use income, and immigration eligibility verification systems other than a specified system under the Social Security Act (SSA). (Sec. 1050) Provides for disqualification of a store: (1) that knowingly submits a falsified application; and (2) that is disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). (Sec. 1052) Directs program overissuances to be collected by: (1) allotment reduction; (2) unemployment compensation withholding; or (3) Federal pay or Federal income tax refund recovery. (Sec. 1053) Authorizes suspension of a store pending administrative and judicial review. (States that the Secretary shall not be liable for lost sales during such period.) (Sec. 1054) Establishes criminal forfeiture penalties for specified program violations. (Sec. 1055) Terminates Federal matching requirements for program recruitment activities. (Sec. 1057) Authorizes States to use funds otherwise available to a participating household for a work supplementation or support program. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 1058) Authorizes waiver of program requirements as necessary to conduct related pilot projects. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 1060) Authorizes States to carry out private sector employment initiatives. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 1061) Authorizes appropriations for program operations. (Sec. 1062) Authorizes States to carry out a Simplified Food Stamp Program in lieu of existing program requirements. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 1063) Establishes an optional State food assistance block grant program in lieu of the food stamp program. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 1064) Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of the use of food stamps for vitamin and mineral purchases. (Sec. 1066) Authorizes States to consider all or part of the income and financial resources of a person rendered ineligible for program participation in determining the eligibility of such person's household. (Sec. 1068) Expresses the sense of the House Committee on Agriculture that reductions in outlays resulting from this title shall not be considered for certain budget reduction purposes under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Subtitle B: Commodity Distribution Programs - Amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to combine the emergency food assistance program with the soup kitchen-food bank program. Amends the Act to direct the Secretary to purchase commodities for such combined programs. (Sec. 1072) Amends the Charitable Assistance and Food Bank Act of 1987 to repeal the food bank demonstration project. (Sec. 1073) Makes conforming and technical amendments to the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988 and the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990. Subtitle C: Electronic Benefit Transfer Systems - Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to exempt (with exceptions) State and local government electronic benefit transfer systems from specified provisions of such Act. Title II: Committee on Commerce - Subtitle A: Involvement of Commerce Committee in Federal Government Position Reductions - Deems that any provision of law with respect to consultation with a relevant committee of Congress on reductions in Federal Government positions refers to the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives, to the extent that the matter falls within such Committee's jurisdiction. Subtitle B: Restricting Public Benefits for Aliens - Denies Federal public benefits (except certain emergency medical services and public health assistance) to non-qualified aliens. (Sec. 2102) Makes qualified aliens ineligible (with limited exceptions) for Federal means-tested public benefits for the first five years after U.S. entry. (Sec. 2112) Requires the Attorney General to promulgate regulations requiring verification that an applicant for a restricted Federal public benefit is a qualified alien eligible to receive it. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Energy Assistance - Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to repeal certain deeming requirements with respect to home energy assistance payments not considered household income for purposes of the excess shelter expense deduction under the food stamp program. Subtitle D: Abstinence Education - Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant) to increase the authorization of appropriations to enable each State to provide sexual abstinence education focused on those groups most likely to bear children out-of- wedlock. Title III: Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities - Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Child Care - Child Care and Development Block Grant Amendments of 1996 - Revises and extends through FY 2002 the authorization of appropriations for the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (the Act, for purposes of this title). Sets forth goals for State child care assistance. (Sec. 3103) Amends SSA title IV part A (formerly Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC), but replaced by this Act with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)) to entitle each State to payments for providing child care assistance. (Sec. 3105) Revises State application and plan requirements with respect to consumer education information, State licensing compliance, meeting the needs of TANF recipients (especially those attempting through work activities to leave the assistance program) and those at risk of becoming dependent on assistance, and assistance for certain low-income working families. (Sec. 3107) Reduces from 20 percent to four percent the minimum amount of certain funds available for State activities to improve the quality of child care, limited to: (1) comprehensive consumer education to parents and the public; (2) activities increasing parental choice; and (3) activities designed to improve child care quality and availability. (Sec. 3108) Repeals a requirement that States expend a specified minimum amount of reserved funds for early childhood development and before- and after-school services. (Sec. 3113) Reduces the allotment reserved for Indian tribes or tribal organizations from three percent to one percent. Prescribes guidelines for the use of such allotment for facility repair and construction. (Sec. 3115) Repeals: (1) the Child Development Associate Scholarship Assistance Act of 1985; (2) the State Dependent Care Development Grants Act; (3) specified programs under title X (Programs of National Significance) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (4) the Native Hawaiian Family-based Education Centers program under the Native Hawaiian Education Act; and (5) the AFDC and Transitional Child Care programs and the At-Risk Child Care program under SSA title IV. Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Programs - Amends the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to repeal specified authorities and requirements for the school lunch and related programs, including: (1) State educational authority to use resources from the nutrition and education (NET) program; (2) prohibition of State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; (3) certain demonstration grants to private nonprofit organizations or educational institutions for elementary school curriculum food and nutrition projects; (4) aspects of summer food service programs, reducing payment rates and daily meals at camps, reducing the National Youth Sports Program, and revising nutritional standards compliance requirements; (5) certain commodity distribution program requirements, including State Advisory Councils; (6) expansion of the child care food program; (7) adult care food aid to adult day care centers and services for persons over 60; (8) certain pilot projects, including one for paperwork reduction; and (9) an information clearinghouse. (Sec. 3201) Includes in the definition of child any individual with one or more mental or physical disabilities, regardless of age, who attends a specified type of institution, or any nonresidential public or nonprofit private school of high school grade or under, in order to participate in a school program for such individuals. (Sec. 3202) Revises nutritional and other program requirements. (Sec. 3205) Prohibits, in general, any waiver that will increase Federal costs. (Sec. 3221) Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to revise the school breakfast program: (1) eliminating Federal assistance for food preparation training and program expansion and start-up costs; (2) repealing certain authorities and requirements relating to State administrative expenses (SAE); (3) repealing the prohibition against State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; and (4) repealing the program of cash grants for nutrition education. (Sec. 3229) Revises the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC), among other things repealing specified requirements and changing from mandatory to optional: (1) drug abuse education; and (2) provision of WIC information in languages other than English. (Sec. 3231) Makes the Nutrition and Education program discretionary rather than mandatory. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 3241) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to develop proposed changes to the regulations under the school lunch program and the summer food service program under NSLA and the school breakfast program under CNA, to simplify and coordinate those programs into a comprehensive meal program. Subtitle C: Related Provisions - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to produce and publish specified types of data relating to the incidence of poverty in the United States at least every two years. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 3302) Expresses the sense of the Congress that this title, and the amendments it makes, should not result in an increase in the number of children who are hungry, homeless, poor, or medically uninsured. (Sec. 3303) Requires the Congress, in the event that an increase does result by the end of the FY 1997, to: (1) revisit the provisions and amendments of this title which caused such increase; and (2) as soon as practicable thereafter, pass legislation that stops the continuation of such increase. Title IV: Committee on Ways and Means - Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (sic) - Subtitle A: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - Expresses the sense of the Congress that prevention of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and reduction in out-of-wedlock births are important Government interests. (Sec. 4103) Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA), as well as the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) Program under part F of that title, with a single, combined program of block grants to the States for operating statewide temporary assistance (TANF) programs with certain mandatory work, education, and job preparation requirements for needy families either already with or expecting a child, which are designed to assist such families in becoming self-sufficient. Limits such families generally to no more than five years of TANF cash assistance, with certain exceptions for minor children, battered family members, and hardship situations. Requires that families include either a minor child who resides with a custodial parent or other adult caretaker relative or a pregnant individual in order to receive TANF assistance. Prohibits additional cash TANF assistance for children born into families already on TANF assistance (with certain exceptions for: (1) children born into families with no other children; (2) vouchers provided in lieu of cash benefits that are only good for particular goods and services suitable for child care; and (3) children born as a result of rape or incest), unless the particular State exempts itself from such prohibition. Denies TANF assistance in cases where an individual family member is a fugitive felon or a probation or parole violator, and in certain other specified situations as well. Requires States receiving TANF grants to ensure that, if any individual or family becomes ineligible to receive TANF cash assistance as a result of the collection or increased collection of child or spousal support under SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity), having received such assistance in at least three of the six months immediately preceding the month in which such ineligibility begins, the individual or each individual family member shall be eligible for Medicaid assistance for a four month period. Requires States receiving TANF grants to ensure that: (1) certain other families becoming ineligible for TANF cash assistance due to increased earnings from employment receive Medicaid assistance during the immediately succeeding 12-month period; and (2) individuals who would be eligible for cash assistance under the State's SSA title IV part A (AFDC) plan if such plan were still in effect are eligible for medical assistance under the State's Medicaid program. Requires the State agency responsible for administering the State's TANF program to make an initial assessment of the skills, prior work experience, and employability of each TANF recipient who has attained 18 years of age or not completed high school. Authorizes the State agency to develop an individual responsibility plan in consultation with the individual outlining his or her obligations and the services the State intends to provide for the individual to attain self-sufficiency. Allows States receiving TANF grants used to provide assistance for any individual who is receiving benefits, or on behalf of whom benefits are paid, under a State old-age, foster care, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) plan to disregard such assistance payment in determining the amount of TANF assistance to be provided under the State TANF program to the family of which the individual is a member. Requires, in addition, certain adult-supervised living arrangements for unmarried teenage parents. Provides for the exchange of certain TANF program information with law enforcement agencies under specified conditions. Establishes penalties for States and individual families for specified grant and program violations, through reduced grants and assistance payments, respectively, allowing States to terminate such payments to certain adult family members who refuse to: (1) engage in work, educational, or job preparation activities (required program activities); or (2) cooperate with the State in establishing paternity or obtaining child support unless the member qualifies for a good cause or other exception. Provides for a separate reduction in State family assistance grant payments for States failing to comply with Federal requirements under SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) pertaining to paternity establishment and child support enforcement. Sets forth the mechanism for State appeal of Federal adverse decisions with respect to State plans or imposition of penalties, providing for advance notification of any program violation and the opportunity for a State to correct it before any such penalty is imposed. Limits the amount of any penalty reduction in the State's quarterly family assistance grant payment. Expresses the sense of the Congress that State TANF programs should: (1) assign the highest priority to requiring adults in two-parent families and in single-parent families with older preschool or school-age children to be engaged in required program activities; and (2) require noncustodial, nonsupporting parents under age 18 to fulfill community work obligations and attend appropriate parenting or money management classes after school. Specifies State TANF plan contents, including certain certifications by the State that it will operate child support enforcement and protection programs, in order for it to be eligible (according to certain other criteria as well) to receive Federal grants for its TANF programs (family assistance grants). Allows the States to decide in their TANF plans: (1) whether or not they intend on providing TANF assistance to aliens; and (2) how to treat families moving interstate. Provides for: (1) the allowable uses of quarterly family assistance grants, including for family planning services and assistance to low income households in meeting home heating and cooling costs (but prohibits grant use for medical services generally); (2) additional grants to States as rewards for reductions in illegitimate births and for high performance under the TANF program, as well as supplemental grants to certain States for population increases; and (3) a Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs (Contingency Fund) in the Treasury for payments to certain eligible States. Provides for supplemental grants for required program activities. Makes applicable appropriations for such grants and the Contingency Fund. Sets up a Federal loan program for State TANF programs for anti-fraud and other specified activities, making necessary appropriations. Outlines specific program data collection and reporting requirements, as well as certain research, evaluation, and study requirements. Makes applicable appropriations. Provides for direct funding, by way of three-year tribal family assistance grants, to Indian tribes (with a special rule for Indian tribes in Alaska) with approved tribal family assistance plans. Authorizes the Secretary of HHS to implement and evaluate demonstrations of innovative and promising strategies which: (1) provide one-time capital funds to establish, expand, or replicate programs; (2) test performance-based grant-to-loan financing in which programs meeting performance targets receive grants while programs not meeting such targets repay funding on a prorated basis; and (3) test strategies in multiple States and types of communities. Directs the Bureau of the Census to expand the Survey of Income and Program Participation to obtain information that will enable interested persons to evaluate the impact of the changes made by this title on a random national sample of recipients of assistance under State programs. Provides for the treatment of existing State AFDC (welfare reform) waivers in effect on the enactment of this Act and those granted subsequently. Retains the HHS Assistant Secretary for Family Support as the official responsible for administering TANF programs. Eliminates certain child care programs under SSA title IV part A, including the at-risk child care program. (Sec. 4104) Allows States to contract with charitable, religious, and private organizations to provide services and administer programs established or modified under titles I, II, and VI of this Act. Prohibits the expenditure of financial assistance for sectarian worship, instruction, or proselytization. (Sec. 4105) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to expand census data collection efforts to enable the Bureau of the Census to collect statistically significant data on grandparent caregivers. (Sec. 4106) Requires an HHS report to the Congress on State automated data processing systems used in administering TANF programs to determine what would be required to establish a system for tracking public program participants and checking case records to determine if such participants are participating in public programs of two or more States. (Sec. 4107) Details requirements for a similar report on alternative outcomes measures for evaluating the success of the States in moving individuals off welfare through employment. (Sec. 4108) Makes conforming amendments to SSA, the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and related provisions of other specified Federal laws. (Sec. 4111) Directs the Commissioner of Social Security (Commissioner) to: (1) develop a prototype counterfeit-resistant social security card; and (2) study and report to the Congress on improving the social security card application process. (Sec. 4112) Requires any organization accepting Federal funds under this title or any amendments made by it (other than funds provided under SSA titles IV, XVI, or XX) to disclose that fact in any communication it makes that in any way intends to promote public support or opposition to any Federal, State, or local government policy through any broadcasting station, periodical, or other specified type of general public advertising. Makes any organization failing to make such a disclosure ineligible to receive Federal funds under this Act. (Sec. 4113) Amends the Family Support Act of 1988 to remove the "demonstration" status of the Job Opportunities for Certain Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) program and give it an increased annual authorization. (Sec. 4115) Makes certain conforming amendments to Medicaid to provide for the continued application of standards and methodologies under TANF for certain individuals. Subtitle B: Supplemental Security Income - Amends SSA title XVI to deny SSI for ten years to individuals found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain benefits simultaneously in two or more States. Denies SSI for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators. Provides for the exchange of certain SSI information with law enforcement agencies under specified conditions. (Sec. 4203) Revises the treatment afforded prisoners with regard to SSI and OASDI (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) benefits, among other changes: (1) eliminating the OASDI requirement that confinement stem from a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year; and (2) authorizing the Commissioner to enter into an agreement with any interested State or local correctional institutions for monthly identification reports in order to enforce respective benefit limitations, and pay them a specified fee with regard to each SSI- or OASDI-eligible inmate identified who becomes ineligible for respective benefits as a result of such reporting. Requires the Commissioner to study and report to the Congress on other specified potential improvements in the collection of information respecting public inmates. Requires an additional report to the Congress on the institutions not providing certain information to the Commissioner. (Sec. 4204) Makes certain changes respecting the effective date of applications for SSI benefits. (Sec. 4211) Revises the rules with respect to childhood eligibility, with corresponding changes to childhood SSI regulations modifying the medical criteria for evaluation of mental and emotional disorders, and discontinuing the use of individualized functional assessments for children. Modifies medical improvement review standards, specifically dividing their applicability to, and creating separate criteria for, individuals aged 18 or older, and individuals under age 18, respectively. Provides that no individual under the age of 18 who engages in substantial gainful activity may be considered to be disabled. (Sec. 4212) Provides that at least once every three years the Commissioner shall review the continued SSI eligibility of each individual who has not attained age 18 and is eligible for such benefits by reason of an impairment (or combination of impairments) which is likely to improve (or, at the Commissioner's option, is unlikely to improve). Requires a representative payee of a recipient whose case is so reviewed to present, at the time of review, evidence demonstrating that the recipient is, and has been, receiving treatment, to the extent considered medically necessary and available, for the condition which was the basis for providing benefits under the SSI program. Provides that if the representative payee refuses to comply without good cause with such requirement, the Commissioner shall, if in the individual's best interest, promptly suspend payment of benefits to the representative payee, and provide for payment of benefits to an alternative representative payee or, if the interest of the individual would be served thereby, to the individual. Provides that if an individual is eligible for SSI benefits by reason of disability for the month preceding the month in which the individual attains age 18, the Commissioner shall redetermine such eligibility: (1) during the one-year period beginning on the individual's 18th birthday; and (2) by applying the criteria used in determining the initial eligibility for applicants who have attained age 18. Specifies requirements governing continuing disability reviews for low-birth-weight babies. (Sec. 4213) Revises provisions regarding the disposal of resources for less than fair market value by certain individuals and appropriate notification of Medicaid. Provides for the treatment of assets held in trust by individuals who have not attained age 18 and any earnings resulting from such trust. Requires representative payees of eligible individuals below age 18 to establish financial institution accounts on their behalf into which SSI payments shall be paid. Allows representative payees to use funds in the account to pay for certain allowable expenses. Directs the Commissioner to establish a system for accountability monitoring whereby a representative payee shall report on activities respecting funds in the account. (Sec. 4214) Reduces cash SSI payments to institutionalized children whose medical costs are covered by private insurance. (Sec. 4221) Provides for installment payment of large amounts of past-due SSI benefits, and the recovery of SSI overpayments from social security benefits. (Sec. 4225) Repeals maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SSI benefits. (Sec. 4231) Requires the Commissioner to prepare an annual report for the President and the Congress on the SSI program, and make appropriate arrangements for a study of the disability determination process under SSA titles II and XVI for any needed changes. (Sec. 4233) Outlines the requirements for a General Accounting Office study and report on the impact of this subtitle on the SSI program and on the extra expenses incurred by families of children receiving benefits under such program that are not covered by other Federal, State, or local programs. (Sec. 4241) Establishes the National Commission on the Future of Disability to develop and carry out a comprehensive study of all matters related to the nature, purpose, and adequacy of all Federal programs serving individuals with disabilities in order to develop appropriate recommendations for any needed legislation or administrative action. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Child Support - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to require State plans for child and spousal support to provide: (1) certain services relating to paternity establishment or enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) continuation of services for families ceasing to receive AFDC. (Sec. 4302) Revises payment distribution guidelines for support obligations collected by the State on behalf of a family. (Sec. 4303) Requires State plans to establish procedural guidelines for: (1) privacy safeguards regarding paternity and child support actions; and (2) notification to services applicants or recipients of all proceedings and orders affecting child support obligations. (Sec. 4311) Mandates that single statewide automated data systems include a State case registry containing records of: (1) each case in which services are provided by the State agency; and (2) each support order established on or after a specified date. Permits the linking of local registries. (Sec. 4312) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. Permits the unit to be established by linking local disbursement units through an automated information network if the Secretary agrees that it will not cost more or take more time to establish or operate than a centralized system. Expresses the sense of the Congress that in determining whether to comply with the Social Security Act by either establishing a single, centralized unit for support payment collection and disbursement, or by linking together automation local units, a State should choose the method of compliance which best meets the needs of parents, employers, and children. (Sec. 4313) Requires State plans to: (1) provide for a State-operated and automated State Directory of New Hires containing prescribed information furnished by employers on new personnel; and (2) transmit such information to the National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 4314) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures: (1) for mandatory income withholding for support payments subject to enforcement; and (2) under which wages of a person with a support obligation imposed by a child support order issued before October 1, 1996, shall become subject to withholding if arrearages occur, without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. Revises the procedural guidelines for income withholding for child support enforcement. (Sec. 4315) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures to ensure that Federal and State agencies conducting income-withholding activities have access to State locator systems for motor vehicle or law enforcement purposes. (Sec. 4316) Revises the Federal Parent Locator Service to provide for additional information which may be transmitted to locate individuals and assets for purposes of: (1) establishing parentage; (2) establishing, setting the amount of, modifying, or enforcing child support obligations; and (3) enforcing child custody or visitation orders. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish in the Federal Parent Locator Service an automated Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders and an automated National Directory of New Hires. Requires the Secretaries of Labor and of HHS to jointly develop cost-effective methods of accessing information in the various State directories of new hires and the National Directory of New Hires (established under this Act). (Sec. 4317) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring recordation on such documents of the Social Security number of: (1) specified driver's, marriage, occupational, and professional license applicants; (2) individuals subject to certain domestic relations orders; and (3) deceased persons (on death records). (Sec. 4321) Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1998. Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the procedures for the court to apply when determining which State order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement for child support orders. (Sec. 4323) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring: (1) expedited administrative enforcement in interstate cases and support orders; and (2) expedited administrative and judicial procedures for establishing paternity and enforcing support obligations. (Sec. 4331) Revises the guidelines for State laws governing paternity establishment. Requires State procedures under which the name of the father shall be included on the birth certificate only: (1) if the mother and father have signed a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity; or (2) pursuant to a judicial or administrative order. (Sec. 4333) Requires State plans for child and spousal support to provide that the State agency administering the plan will make a determination as to whether a program recipient is cooperating in good faith with State efforts to establish paternity and secure support. (Sec. 4341) Directs the Secretary to develop a new incentive system to replace the current one. Revises the guidelines for Federal performance-based incentive payments to the States for effective child support enforcement programs. (Sec. 4342) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include prescribed procedures for State reviews and audits. Revises the guidelines for Federal evaluation and audit of State programs governing paternity, child and spousal support, and parent location. (Sec. 4344) Revises the automated data processing requirements for State plans to mandate a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system which can perform specified tasks. (Sec. 4345) Makes funds available to the Secretary for: (1) training of Federal and State staff, research and demonstration programs, and special projects of regional and national significance; and (2) operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service. (Sec. 4347) Requires State plans for child and spousal support to require procedures to ensure that any person delinquent in child support payments is liable to the State for a penalty of ten percent of the amount in arrears. (Sec. 4351) Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. (Sec. 4352) Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to authorize a consumer agency to furnish a consumer report: (1) in response to a request by a governmental child support enforcement agency; or (2) to the State administrative agency which sets child support awards. (Sec. 4353) Shields a depository institution from Federal or State liability for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency. Prohibits such agency from disclosing such a financial record except for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary in, establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation. Sets forth civil penalties for any person knowingly or negligently violating such prohibition. (Sec. 4361) Amends Internal Revenue Code procedural guidelines for the collection of arrearages to provide that no additional fee may be assessed for adjustments to a previously certified amount. (Sec. 4362) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to revise procedural guidelines for: (1) consent by the United States to income withholding, garnishment, and similar proceedings for enforcement of child support and alimony obligations of current and retired Federal employees; and (2) enforcement of child support obligations of members of the Armed Forces. (Sec. 4364) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to have in effect the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act of 1981, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act of 1984, or a similar law, as well as certain procedures governing the voiding of fraudulent transfers by a child support debtor. (Sec. 4365) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include specified procedures: (1) to ensure that persons owing past-due support work or participate in work activities the court deems appropriate; (2) to report to credit bureaus the name of the parent in arrears for child support; (3) to provide for liens against real and personal property for the support arrearages of a non-custodial parent; and (4) to implement the restriction of driver's, professional, occupational, and recreational licenses of individuals owing support arrearages. (Sec. 4370) Requires the Secretary of State to deny, revoke, or limit a passport upon certification of nonpayment of child support. (Sec. 4371) Authorizes the Secretary of State to negotiate reciprocal agreements with foreign nations: (1) regarding international enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) designating the Department of Health and Human Services as the central authority for such enforcement. (Sec. 4372) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which a State agency shall enter into agreements with financial institutions doing business within the State to develop and operate a data match system to provide identifying information for each non-custodial parent targeted by the State who maintains an account at the institution, and to encumber or surrender such parent's assets at the institution pursuant to a lien or levy. (Sec. 4373) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which child support orders relating to the child of minor parents, where the custodial parents are receiving assistance, are enforceable against the child's paternal or maternal grandparents. (Sec. 4374) Amends Federal bankruptcy law and the Social Security Act to declare a debt for child support nondischargeable in bankruptcy. (Sec. 4376) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to include within the definition of medical child support order an order issued through a State administrative process. (Sec. 4377) Amends SSA title IV part D to mandate statutorily prescribed procedures under which all enforced child support orders shall include a provision for the health care coverage of the child. (Sec. 4381) Amends SSA title IV part D to prescribe guidelines under which the Administration for Children and Families shall make grants to enable States to establish and administer access and visitation programs to facilitate non-custodial parents' access to their children. Subtitle D: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens - Prohibits Federal public benefits to aliens who are not qualified aliens. Excludes from such prohibition: (1) emergency medical services; (2) certain emergency disaster relief; (3) public health immunizations and treatment of communicable diseases; (4) housing assistance; (5) certain in-kind community services; and (6) SSA benefits under specified circumstances. (Sec. 4402) Makes qualified aliens ineligible (with limited exceptions for refugees, asylees, certain permanent residents, veterans and active duty personnel, aliens whose deportation is withheld, and aliens currently receiving benefits) for: (1) SSI; (2) food stamps; (3) TANF; (4) social services block grants; and (5) Medicaid. (Sec. 4403) Makes qualified aliens ineligible (with limited exceptions for refugees, asylees, and veterans and active duty personnel) for Federal means-tested public benefits for the first five years after U.S. entry. (Sec. 4404) Requires each Federal agency administering a program covered by this title to notify the public and program recipients, either directly or through the States, of alien eligibility requirements. Amends the SSA and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide for State reporting of certain illegal alien information to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). (Sec. 4411) Makes an alien who is not a qualified alien, a nonimmigrant, or a parolee ineligible for all State or local benefits except: (1) emergency medical services; (2) certain emergency disaster relief; (3) public health immunizations and treatment of communicable diseases; and (4) certain in-kind community services. (Sec. 4412) Authorizes States to determine eligibility for State public means-tested benefits for qualified aliens, nonimmigrants, or parolees. Makes refugees, asylees, certain permanent residents, and veterans and active duty personnel eligible for all State public benefits. (Sec. 4421) Provides that in determining the eligibility and the amount of benefits of any alien for any Federal means-tested public benefits program the income and resources of the alien shall be deemed to include: (1) the income and resources of any person who executed an affidavit of support on the alien's behalf; and (2) the income and resources of the person's spouse (if any). Applies such requirement with respect to an alien until such time as the alien achieves U.S. citizenship through naturalization or has worked without public assistance for a specified time. (Sec. 4422) Authorizes States to make similar attributions with respect to State programs, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 4423) Sets forth requirements for sponsor's affidavit of support. (Sec. 4424) Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require sponsor cosignature of certain alien student loans. (Sec. 4431) Defines qualified alien as: (1) a lawful permanent resident; (2) an asylee; (3) a refugee; (4) a parolee; (5) an alien under withheld deportation; and (6) an alien granted conditional entry. (Sec. 4432) Requires the Attorney General to promulgate regulations regarding alien eligibility for Federal public benefits. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 4441) Makes conforming amendments related to assisted housing under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 and the Housing Act of 1949. (Sec. 4451) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require a taxpayer to provide his or her social security number in order to qualify for the earned income credit. Subtitle E: Reform of Public Housing - Prohibits an individual from receiving an increased benefit under a means-tested welfare or public assistance program because of a decrease in income owing to reduced benefits under another such program for which Federal funds are appropriated as a penalty for fraud. Subtitle F: Child Protection Block Grant Programs and Foster Care, Adoption Assistance and Independent Living Programs - Replaces SSA title IV part B (Child Welfare Services) with a program of block grants to the States to implement: (1) child protection programs regarding child abuse and neglect; and (2) child protection. (Sec. 4701) Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) shall: (1) establish a national data collection and analysis program to coordinate existing State child abuse and neglect reports; and (2) implement a data collection system regarding adoption and foster care. Appropriates funds for child welfare studies and for assessment of State courts improvement of foster care and adoption proceedings. (Sec. 4711) Makes conforming amendments to Title IV-E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance). Delineates requirements for State eligibility for Federal payments for foster care maintenance and adoption assistance. Sets forth guidelines for payments and allotments to the States for adoption assistance, foster care, and independent living programs (designed to assist children who have attained age 16 to make the transition from foster care to independent living). (Sec. 4722) Expresses the sense of the Congress that States should: (1) allocate sufficient funds for adoption and medical assistance to encourage child adoption; (2) offer incentives to make adoption of special needs children more affordable for middle-class families; (3) provide a child who must be removed from its biological parents with a single foster care placement and single coordinated case team, including conclusion of adoption within one year of such child's foster care placement; and (4) participate in programs to enable maximum visibility of waiting children to potential parents. (Sec. 4723) Makes a prerequisite for Federal block grants State certification that it has laws and procedures in effect to ensure the removal of barriers to interethnic adoption. Requires reduction of Federal block grant payments to States failing to remove such barriers. Establishes a private cause of action for persons aggrieved by a denial of interethnic adoption opportunity. Deems such denial a violation of civil rights. States that these requirements shall not affect application of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. Makes a conforming repeal to the Howard M. Metzenbaum Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994. (Sec. 4751) Renames the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act as the Child and Family Services Block Grant Act of 1996. Changes the purposes of the Act to emphasize assistance to each State in improving child protective service systems. Delineates criteria governing State eligibility for Federal block grants for: (1) child and family services; and (2) research, demonstrations, training, and technical assistance. Abolishes the current Federal program, including the Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, community-based family resource programs, temporary child care for children with disabilities, crisis nursery demonstration programs, certain preventive services for children of homeless families or families at risk of homelessness, and requirements for criminal background checks of child care providers. Instructs the Secretary to: (1) establish a national child abuse and neglect data collection and analysis program (in addition to the current national clearinghouse for information relating to child abuse); and (2) provide technical and training assistance to the States for child abuse and neglect programs and for adoption opportunities. Mandates peer review for such grants. Instructs the Secretary to conduct a national random sample study of children at risk of child abuse or neglect. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 2002, including grants for demonstration projects. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States to assist them in developing programs related to the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases. Requires any State requesting such assistance to establish a multidisciplinary task force on children's justice to study administrative, civil, and criminal judicial handling of such cases, and make recommendations which the State must adopt (or equivalent alternatives). Subtitle G: Reductions in Federal Government Positions - Outlines the mechanism for various specified Federal executive agency workforce reductions, requiring submission to specified congressional committees of certain determinations about the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions of their respective departments by the Secretaries of Agriculture, of Education, of Labor, of Housing and Urban Development, and of HHS. (Sec. 4801) Requires the Secretaries to make FTE reductions, including reductions-in-force, resulting from such determinations over the ensuing 14 months. Requires the Comptroller General to analyze and report to such committees on such determinations, with recommendations for further FTE reductions, if appropriate. (Sec. 4802) Requires the HHS Secretary to reduce the Federal workforce within HHS by: (1) 75 percent of the FTE positions relating to any direct spending program, or any program funded through discretionary spending, that has been converted into a block grant program by this Act; and (2) 75 percent of a proportionate number of the total FTE departmental management positions. Requires reduction of FTE positions in HHS by: (1) 245 FTE positions related to the program converted by this Act into TANF block grants; and (2) 60 FTE managerial positions. (Sec. 4803) Encourages the HHS Secretary to reduce personnel in the Washington, D.C., area office (agency headquarters) before reducing field personnel. Subtitle H: Miscellaneous - Subjects any funds received by a State under TANF or under the optional State food assistance or child care block grant programs to appropriation by the State legislature consistent with the terms and conditions required under such programs. (Sec. 4902) Provides that States shall not be prohibited by the Federal Government from testing welfare recipients for use of controlled substances nor from sanctioning welfare recipients who test positive for use of controlled substances. (Sec. 4903) Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to provide for a reduction in funding under such program.
Bill· SS. 1961 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: United States Intellectual Property Organization Subtitle A: Establishment of the United States Intellectual Property Organization Subtitle B: Effective Date; Technical Amendments Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Provisions Title II: Early Publication of Patent Applications Title III: Patent Term Restoration Title IV: Prior Domestic Commercial Use Title V: Patent Reexamination Reform Title VI: Miscellaneous Patent Provisions Omnibus Patent Act of 1996 - Title I: United States Intellectual Property Organization - United States Intellectual Property Organization Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Establishment of the United States Intellectual Property Organization - Establishes the United States Intellectual Property Organization as a wholly owned Government corporation. Requires the Organization to maintain an office in the District of Columbia metropolitan area. Makes the Organization responsible for authorizing the transfer of up to $100,000 in any year to the State Department for special payments to international intergovernmental organizations for studies and programs to advance international cooperation concerning patents, trademarks, copyrights, and related matters. Authorizes the Organization to retain and use all of its revenues and receipts. Repeals specified Patent and Trademark Office surcharge restrictions under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. (Sec. 113) Vests management of the Organization in a Commissioner of Intellectual Property (Commissioner) who shall be appointed by the President. Directs the Commissioner to take specified actions, including: (1) advising the President of all activities of the office undertaken in response to U.S. obligations under treaties and executive agreements or which relate to cooperative programs with foreign governmental authorities responsible for granting patents, registering trademarks or copyrights, or other intellectual property rights; (2) representing the United States, at the President's direction, in international negotiations on intellectual property matters; (3) maintaining a program for identifying national security positions and providing for appropriate security clearances; (4) ensuring that the United States Patent, Trademark, and Copyright offices each prepare appropriation requests, adjust fees to provide sufficient revenues to cover expenses, and expend funds derived from such fees for only the functions of such offices; and (5) appointing Commissioners of Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights, respectively. Exempts the Organization from any administratively or statutorily imposed limitation on positions or personnel. Subjects Organization employees to provisions governing Federal employees, with exceptions. (Sec. 114) Revises Federal provisions to establish as separate administrative units of the Organization the United States Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Offices. Provides for the establishment of Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Office Management Advisory Boards to review the policies, goals, performance, budget, and user fees of their respective Offices and a Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences within the Patent Office. Sets forth provisions regarding annual reporting requirements to the Congress by, and funding of, such Offices. Modifies Federal provisions regarding copyright arbitration royalty panels to: (1) authorize the Commissioner to employ administrative law judges (ALJs) to conduct proceedings and make determinations for copyright royalty disputes; and (2) repeal provisions regarding membership and proceedings of such panels. Sets forth provisions regarding the conduct of proceedings by ALJs, appeals, and judicial review. Establishes the Copyright Appeals Board within the Copyright Office. (Sec. 117) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) suits by and against the Organization; (2) funding of Organization activities; (3) management reports; (4) audits; and (5) transfer of functions, funds, and property. Subtitle B: Effective Date; Technical Amendments - Makes this title effective four months after its enactment. Sets forth technical and conforming amendments to Federal intellectual property law and the Satellite Home Viewer Act. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Provisions - Makes existing appropriations and funds for the performance of functions, programs, and activities terminated pursuant to this title available for termination expenses. Title II: Early Publication of Patent Applications - Patent Application Publication Act of 1996 - Requires each patent application, except applications for design patents and provisional applications, to be published as soon as possible after 18 months from the earliest filing date for which a benefit is sought, except for an application that is no longer pending or one subject to a secrecy order. Permits earlier publication at the applicant's request. Prohibits disclosure of information concerning published applications except as determined by the Commissioner. Prohibits, upon request by certain independent inventors at the time of filing, the publication of rejected applications, with exceptions, until three months after the Commissioner notifies the applicant. Requires the applicant to certify that no application was or will be filed for the invention in a foreign country. Directs the Commissioner to establish appropriate procedures to ensure that this title does not create new opportunities for pre-issuance opposition that did not exist before its adoption. (Sec. 203) Entitles a patent application to claim the benefit of an earlier filing date in a foreign country if a claim, identifying the original foreign application by specifying its application number, country, and the day, month, and year of its filing, is filed in the Patent Office at any such time during the pendency of the application as is required by the Commissioner. Allows the Commissioner to: (1) consider the failure of the applicant to file a timely claim for priority as a waiver of any such claim; (2) require the payment of a surcharge as a condition of accepting an untimely claim during such pendency; and (3) require a certified copy of the original foreign application, specification, and drawings upon which it is based, a translation if not in the English language, and such other information as necessary. Authorizes the Commissioner to determine the time period within which an amendment containing the specific reference to an earlier filed application shall be submitted. (Sec. 204) Sets forth provisions regarding provisional rights with respect to royalties, including rights based on substantially identical inventions, time limits on obtaining a reasonable royalty, and requirements for international applications (including directing the Commissioner to require the applicant to provide a copy of such application and a translation thereof). (Sec. 205) Revises Federal patent law to provide that a person shall not be entitled to a patent if the invention was described in a published patent application filed earlier by another person in the United States, with exceptions. (Sec. 208) Provides that, if the day that is 12 months after the filing date of a provisional application falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period of pendency shall be extended to the next succeeding business day. Title III: Patent Term Restoration - Modifies Federal patent law to restore to the patent holder any part of the term that is lost because of undue administrative delay caused by specified factors, such as an unusual administrative delay by the Patent Office in issuing the patent, subject to specified limitations. Defines "unusual administrative delay" as the failure to take specified actions, such as the failure to issue a patent within four months after the date on which the issue fee was paid and all outstanding requirements were satisfied. Title IV: Prior Domestic Commercial Use - Prior Domestic Commercial Use Act of 1996 - Amends Federal patent law to create a defense to patent infringement with respect to any subject matter that would otherwise infringe one or more claims in the patent being asserted, if a person had, acting in good faith, commercially used the subject matter before the effective filing date of such patent. Specifies that the sale or other disposition of the subject matter of a patent by a person entitled to assert the defense shall exhaust the patent owner's rights to the extent they would have been exhausted had such disposition been made by the patent owner. Subjects the defense to specified limitations and qualifications regarding: (1) the scope of the defense; (2) effective and serious preparation; (3) burden of proof; (4) abandonment of use; (5) who may assert the defense; (6) a one-year limitation; (7) unsuccessful assertion of the defense; and (8) invalidity of a patent. Title V: Patent Reexamination Reform - Patent Reexamination Reform Act of 1996 - Amends Federal patent law to expand reexamination request authority to authorize the filing of such requests by any person on the basis of patent specification requirements except for the best mode requirement. (Current law permits reexamination requests only on the basis of prior art.) Establishes procedures for reexamination proceedings based upon third-party (persons who are not the patent owner) requests. Requires documents filed in such proceedings, other than the request, to be served on all parties. Grants third-party requesters: (1) one opportunity to file written comments not less than one month after the date of service of the patent owner's response to any Patent Office action on the merits of reexamination; and (2) the right to appeal final reexamination decisions on the same basis such right is available to patent owners. Estops a third-party requester who files a notice of appeal or who participates as a party to an appeal from asserting at a later time the invalidity of any claim determined to be patentable on appeal on any ground which was or could have been raised during reexamination. Prohibits: (1) patent owners and third-party requesters, once an order for reexamination has been issued, from filing a subsequent reexamination request until a reexamination certificate is published; and (2) a party, once a final decision has been entered in a civil action that the party has not sustained the burden of proving the invalidity of a patent claim, from requesting reexamination on issues that were or could have been raised in the civil action. Requires the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences to review adverse decisions of examiners in reexamination proceedings and authorizes appeals to the Board by patent owners and third-party requesters with respect to reexamination decisions. Permits appeals of Board decisions to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Title VI: Miscellaneous Patent Provisions - Revises provisions regarding abandonment of provisional applications to allow, notwithstanding the absence of a claim, a provisional application to be treated as a patent application, under specified conditions. (Sec. 602) Grants: (1) benefits of an earlier filing date to an invention patent application filed in this country that has previously and regularly been filed for the same invention in a foreign country which affords similar privileges in the case of applications filed in a foreign WTO member country under specified conditions; and (2) applications for plant breeder's rights filed in such country or in a foreign UPOV Contracting Party the right of priority as a patent application, subject to the same conditions and requirements. (Sec. 603) Allows a patent to be issued for a tuber propagated plant. Provides that, in the case of a plant patent, the grant to the patentee shall have the right to exclude others from offering the reproduced plant or any of its parts for sale throughout, or importing the plant so reproduced into, the United States. (Sec. 604) Amends: (1) the Federal judicial code regarding just compensation for U.S. Government use of patents; and (2) Federal patent provisions to authorize electronic filing of patent and trademark documents.
Bill· SS. 1959 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of Defense-Civil Title II: Department of the Interior Title III: Department of Energy Title IV: Independent Agencies Title V: General Provisions Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 1997 - Title I: Department of Defense-Civil - Makes appropriations to the Department of the Army and its Corps of Engineers for FY 1997 for: (1) authorized civil functions of the Department of the Army relating to rivers and harbors, flood control, beach erosion, and related purposes; (2) expenses necessary for the collection and study of information related to such purposes; (3) the prosecution of authorized water development and related projects; (4) certain flood control projects on the Mississippi River and its tributaries; (5) water development projects operation and maintenance; (6) regulatory programs; (7) flood control and coastal emergencies; and (8) general expenses. (Sec. 101) Requires that certain projects for Arkansas City, Kansas, the Elk Creek Dam, Oregon, Moorefield, West Virginia, and Grays Landing Lock and Dam, Monongahela River, Pennsylvania, be modified in specified ways. (Sec. 105) Requires that certain flood control measures provide protection at specified levels. (Sec. 108) Directs the Corps of Engineers to complete the Charleston Riverfront (Haddad) Park Project, West Virginia, sharing costs equally with the City of Charleston. Title II: Department of the Interior - Makes FY 1997 appropriations to the Department of the Interior for: (1) the Central Utah Project; (2) the Bureau of Reclamation; (3) general investigation of proposed Federal reclamation projects; (4) project construction and rehabilitation; (5) project operation and maintenance; (6) Bureau of Reclamation Loan Program Account; (7) the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund; and (8) general administrative expenses and special funds. Title III: Department of Energy - Makes appropriations to the Department of Energy (DOE) for FY 1997 for: (1) energy supply, research, and development activities; (2) uranium supply and enrichment activities; (3) the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund; (4) general DOE science and research activities; (5) the Nuclear Waste Disposal Fund; (6) atomic energy defense weapons activities; (7) defense environmental restoration and waste management; (8) other DOE defense activities; (9) defense nuclear waste disposal; (10) DOE administration expenses; (11) Office of the Inspector General; (12) the various geographical power marketing administrations of DOE (including specified costs for the hydroelectric facilities at the Falcon and Amistad Dams); and (13) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Title IV: Independent Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1997 for: (1) the Appalachian Regional Commission; (2) the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board; (3) the Delaware River Basin Commission; (4) the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin; (5) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); (6) the NRC Office of the Inspector General; (7) the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board; (8) the Susquehanna River Basin Commission; and (9) the Tennessee Valley Authority. Title V: General Provisions - Declares the sense of the Congress that all equipment and products bought with funds under this Act should be American-made. Requires each Federal agency to give notice of this policy to any entity to which it provides financial assistance or contracts. (Sec. 502) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to extend for one year beyond their current expiration dates the construction repayment and water service contracts for the following Missouri River Basin projects, which are components of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program: (1) the Bostwick District (Kansas portion), in Republic County, Jewell County, and Cloud County, Kansas; (2) the Bostwick District (Nebraska portion), in Harlan County, Franklin County, Webster County, and Nuckolls County, Nebraska; and (3) the Frenchman-Cambridge District, in Chase County, Frontier County, Hitchcock County, Furnas County, and Harlan County, Nebraska. (Sec. 504) Amends the Northwest Power Planning and Conservation Act to direct the Northwest Power Planning Council to appoint an Independent Scientific Review Panel to review projects proposed to be funded through that portion of the Bonneville Power Administration's annual fish and wildlife budget that implements the Council's annual fish and wildlife program.
Bill· SS. 1956 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Agriculture and Related Provisions Subtitle A: Food Stamps and Commodity Distribution Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Programs Title II: Committee on Finance Subtitle A: Welfare Reform Subtitle B: Restructuring Medicaid Personal Responsibility, Work Opportunity, and Medicaide Restructuring Act of 1996 - Title I: Agriculture and Related Provisions - Agricultural Reconciliation Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Food Stamps and Commodity Disposition - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (Act) to establish a maximum 24-month food stamp program (program) authorization period for households whose adult members are elderly or disabled. (Sec. 1112) Expands the definition of "coupon." (Sec. 1113) Treats children who are themselves parents living with their children and married children living with their spouses as part of an existing household rather than as a separate household. (Sec. 1114) Revises thrifty food plan adjustment requirements. (Sec. 1115) Revises the definition of "homeless individual" to limit the length of time a person may temporarily live in another person's residence. (Sec. 1117) Revises household income exclusion provisions regarding: (1) students; and (2) Federal energy assistance. (Sec. 1119) Revises household income deduction provisions regarding: (1) standard deductions; (2) earned income; (3) dependent care; (4) child support payments; (5) homeless shelter assistance; (6) excess medical expenses; and (7) excess shelter expenses. (Sec. 1120) Eliminates specified excludable auto value increases and establishes the maximum excludable auto value at $4600. (Sec. 1121) Includes as household income third party payments for transitional housing for the homeless. (Sec. 1122) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to develop a simplified procedure for calculating self-employment income. (Sec. 1123) Increases penalties for certain program violations. (Sec. 1124) Disqualifies permanently an individual convicted of specified coupon violations. (Sec. 1125) Revises work requirement and employment and training provisions. Extends employment and training funding authorizations. (Sec. 1129) Authorizes comparable program disqualification based upon means-tested public assistance disqualification. (Sec. 1130) Disqualifies for ten years an individual who participates in the program in two or more States. (Sec. 1131) Disqualifies a fleeing felon from program participation. (Sec. 1132) Requires at State option: (1) cooperation with child support agencies in order to maintain program eligibility; and (2) program disqualification for child support arrears. (Sec. 1134) Defines "work program." Makes nonexempt persons ineligible for program benefits if during the preceding 12-month period they received food stamps for four months or more without working at least 20 hours per week, or participating in a workfare program. Sets forth exempted persons and situations. (Sec. 1135) Directs States to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 1136) Eliminates annual minimum allotment adjustments. (Sec. 1138) Authorizes a combined allotment for expedited households. (Sec. 1139) Authorizes program reductions for failure to comply with a means-tested public assistance reduction requirement. (Sec. 1140) Authorizes program assistance for households residing in a homeless shelter or drug or alcohol treatment center. (Sec. 1141) Provides that no food store or wholesale food concern be approved for program participation without a prior visit by a Department of Agriculture employee, or a designated State or local official. (Sec. 1142) Directs the Secretary to establish authorization periods for retail food stores and wholesale food concerns to redeem food stamps or benefits through an electronic benefit transfer system. (Sec. 1143) Includes income and sales tax information among the types of eligibility verification information that may be requested. (Sec. 1144) Establishes a six-month reapplication waiting period for a store that does not meet participation requirements. (Sec. 1145) Revises: (1) food stamp office operating provisions; and (2) expedited coupon service requirements. (Sec. 1146) Eliminates certain certification personnel training requirements. (Sec. 1147) Provides for the exchange of information with law enforcement or Immigration and Naturalization Service personnel. (Sec. 1149) Authorizes a family to withdraw a fair hearing request. (Sec. 1150) Permits States to use income, and immigration eligibility verification systems other than a specified system under the Social Security Act. (Sec. 1151) Provides for disqualification of a store: (1) that knowingly submits a falsified application; and (2) that is disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). (Sec. 1153) Directs program overissuances to be collected by: (1) allotment reduction; (2) unemployment compensation withholding; or (3) Federal pay or Federal income tax refund recovery. (Sec. 1154) Authorizes suspension of a store pending administrative and judicial review. (States that the Secretary shall not be liable for lost sales during such period.) (Sec. 1155) Establishes criminal forfeiture penalties for specified program violations. (Sec. 1156) Terminates Federal matching requirements for program recruitment activities. (Sec. 1158) Authorizes States to use funds otherwise available to a participating household for a work supplementation or support program. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 1159) Authorizes waiver of program requirements as necessary to conduct related pilot projects. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 1161) Authorizes States to carry out private sector employment initiatives. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 1162) Authorizes appropriations for program operations. (Sec. 1163) Authorizes States to carry out a Simplified Food Stamp Program in lieu of existing program requirements. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 1164) Establishes an optional State food assistance block grant program in lieu of the food stamp program. Sets forth program provisions. Chapter 2: Commodity Distribution Programs - Amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to combine the emergency food assistance program with the soup kitchen-food bank program. Amends the Act to direct the Secretary to purchase commodities for such combined programs. (Sec. 1172) Amends the Charitable Assistance and Food Bank Act of 1987 to repeal the food bank demonstration project. (Sec. 1173) Makes conforming and technical amendments to the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988 and the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990. Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Programs - Amends the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to repeal specified authorities and requirements for the school lunch and related programs, including: (1) State educational authority to use resources from the nutrition and education (NET) program; (2) prohibition of State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; (3) certain demonstration grants to private nonprofit organizations or educational institutions for elementary school curriculum food and nutrition projects; (4) aspects of summer food service programs, reducing payment rates and daily meals at camps, reducing the National Youth Sports Program, and revising nutritional standards compliance requirements; (5) certain commodity distribution program requirements, including State Advisory Councils; (6) expansion of the child care food program; (7) adult care food aid to adult day care centers and services for persons over 60; and (8) certain pilot projects, including one for paperwork reduction. (Sec. 1201) Includes in the definition of child any individual with one or more mental or physical disabilities, regardless of age, who attends a specified type of institution, or any nonresidential public or nonprofit private school of high school grade or under, in order to participate in a school program for such individuals. (Sec. 1202) Revises nutritional requirements. (Sec. 1205) Prohibits, in general, any waiver that will increase Federal costs. Requires that assistance or benefits under programs under the following Federal laws (relating to school meals and other nutrition programs) not be contingent on the citizenship or immigration status of any applicant or recipient: (1) the NSLA; (2) the Child Nutrition Act of 1966; (3) specified provisions of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973; (4) the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983; and (5) the food distribution program on Indian reservations established under specified provisions of Federal law. Chapter 2: Amendments to the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to revise the school breakfast program: (1) eliminating Federal assistance for food preparation training and program expansion and start-up costs; (2) repealing certain authorities and requirements relating to State administrative expenses (SAE); (3) repealing the prohibition against State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; and (4) repealing the program of cash grants for nutrition education. (Sec. 1259) Revises the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC), among other things repealing specified requirements and changing from mandatory to optional: (1) drug abuse education; and (2) provision of WIC information in languages other than English. (Sec. 1261) Revises provisions relating to the Nutrition and Education program. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 1262) Sets forth rounding rules for specified rates for special milk price and reduced price breakfast programs under CNA, and for commodity and lunch, breakfast, and supplement programs under NSLA. Title II: Committee on Finance - Subtitle A: Welfare Reform - Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that prevention of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and reduction in out-of-wedlock births are important Government interests. (Sec. 2103) Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with a single program of block grants to the States for operating statewide temporary assistance (TEA) programs with certain mandatory work, education, and job preparation requirements for needy families either already with or expecting a child, which are designed to assist such families in becoming self-sufficient. Limits such families generally to no more than five years of TEA cash assistance, with certain exceptions for minor children, battered family members, and hardship situations. Requires that families include either a minor child who resides with a custodial parent or other adult caretaker relative, or a pregnant individual, in order to receive TEA assistance. Prohibits additional cash TEA assistance for children born into families already on TEA assistance, with certain exceptions for children born into families with no other children, and for children born as a result of rape or incest, unless the particular State exempts itself from such prohibition. Denies TEA assistance in cases where an individual family member is a fugitive felon or a probation or parole violator, and in certain other specified situations as well. Requires States receiving TEA grants to ensure that certain other families becoming TEA-ineligible due to increased earnings from employment or collection of child support receive similar medical assistance during the immediately succeeding 12-month period, with certain exceptions. Requires, in addition, certain adult-supervised living arrangements for unmarried teenage parents. Provides for the exchange of certain TEA program information with law enforcement agencies under specified conditions. Establishes penalties for States and individual families for specified grant and program violations, respectively, through reduced grants and assistance payments, allowing States to terminate such payments to certain adult family members without small children needing child care who refuse to: (1) engage in work, educational, or job preparation activities (required program activities); or (2) cooperate with the State in establishing paternity or obtaining child support unless the member qualifies for a good cause or other exception. Provides for a separate reduction in State family assistance grant payments for States failing to comply with Federal requirements pertaining to paternity establishment and child support enforcement. Sets forth the mechanism for State appeal of Federal adverse decisions with respect to State plans or imposition of penalties, providing for advance notification of any program violation and the opportunity for a State to correct it before any such penalty is imposed. Limits the amount of any penalty reduction in the State's quarterly family assistance grant payment. Expresses the sense of the Congress that State TEA programs should: (1) assign the highest priority to requiring adults in two-parent families and in single-parent families with older preschool or school-age children to be engaged in required program activities; and (2) require noncustodial, nonsupporting parents under age 18 to fulfill community work obligations and attend appropriate parenting or money management classes after school. Specifies State TEA plan contents, including provisions for numerical goals for reducing illegitimacy in the State over a specified ten-year period beginning in 1996, and certain certifications by the State that it will operate child support enforcement and protection programs, in order for it to be eligible (according to certain other criteria as well) to receive Federal grants for its TEA programs (family assistance grants). Allows the States to decide in their TEA plans: (1) whether or not they intend on providing TEA assistance to aliens; and (2) how to treat families moving interstate. Provides for: (1) the allowable uses of quarterly family assistance grants for family planning services and assistance to low- income households in meeting home heating and cooling costs, but denies their use for medical services generally; (2) additional grants to States as rewards for reductions in illegitimate births and for high performance under the TEA program, as well as supplemental grants to certain States for population increases; and (3) a Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs (Contingency Fund) in the Treasury for payments to certain eligible States. Makes appropriations for such grants and the Contingency Fund. Sets up a Federal loan program for State TEA programs for anti-fraud and other specified activities, making necessary appropriations. Outlines specific program data collection and reporting requirements, as well as certain research, evaluation, and study requirements. Makes applicable appropriations. Provides for direct funding, by way of three-year tribal family assistance grants, to Indian tribes with approved tribal family assistance plans (with a special rule for Indian tribes in Alaska). Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement and evaluate demonstrations of innovative and promising strategies which: (1) provide one-time capital funds to establish, expand, or replicate programs; (2) test performance-based grant-to- loan financing in which programs meeting performance targets receive grants while programs not meeting such targets repay funding on a prorated basis; and (3) test strategies in multiple States and types of communities. Directs the Bureau of the Census to expand the Survey of Income and Program Participation to obtain information that will enable interested persons to evaluate the impact of the changes made by this title on a random national sample of State program recipients. Provides for the treatment of State AFDC waivers in effect on the date of enactment of this Act and of those granted subsequently. Makes the Assistant Secretary of HHS for Family Support the official responsible for administering SSA title IV parts A and D programs, and requires the Secretary to reduce, through reductions in force if necessary, the Federal workforce within HHS by a specified amount. Eliminates certain child care programs under SSA title IV part A, including the at-risk child care program. (Sec. 2104) Allows States to contract with charitable, religious, and private organizations to provide services and administer programs established or modified under titles I, II, and VI of this Act. Prohibits the expenditure of financial assistance under such programs for sectarian worship, instruction, or proselytization. (Sec. 2105) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to expand census data collection efforts to enable the Bureau of the Census to collect statistically significant data on grandparent caregivers. (Sec. 2106) Requires an HHS report to the Congress on State automated data processing systems used in administering SSA title IV part A programs to determine what would be required to establish a system for tracking public program participants and checking case records to determine if such participants are participating in public programs of two or more States. (Sec. 2107) Details requirements for a similar report, and study, on alternative outcomes measures for evaluating the success of the States in moving individuals off welfare through employment. (Sec. 2108) Establishes the Welfare Formula Fairness Commission to study and report to the Congress on the funding formulas applied, the bonus payments provided, and the work requirements established, under the TEA program. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 2109) Makes conforming amendments to SSA, the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and related provisions of other specified Federal laws. (Sec. 2112) Directs the Commissioner of Social Security (Commissioner) to: (1) develop a prototype counterfeit-resistant social security card; and (2) study and issue a report to the Congress with regard to improving the social security card application process. (Sec. 2113) Requires any organization accepting Federal funds under this subtitle to disclose that fact in any communication it makes that in any way intends to promote public support or opposition to any Federal, State, or local government policy through any broadcasting station, periodical, or other specified type of general public advertising. Makes any organization failing to make such a disclosure ineligible to receive Federal funds under this Act. (Sec. 2114) Amends the Family Support Act of 1988 to remove the "demonstration" status of the Job Opportunities for Certain Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) program and give it an increased annual authorization for any fiscal year. (Sec. 2201) Amends SSA title XVI to deny Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (SSI) for ten years to individuals found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain benefits simultaneously in two or more States. Denies SSI for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators. Provides for the exchange of certain SSI information with law enforcement agencies under specified conditions. (Sec. 2203) Revises the treatment afforded prisoners with regard to SSI benefits to deny SSI benefits for ten years to a person found to have fraudulently obtained SSI benefits while in prison. Authorizes the Commissioner to: (1) contract with any interested State or local institutions used to confine prisoners for monthly reports of certain identifying information in order to enforce SSI and Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefit limitations; and (2) pay such institution a specified fee with regard to each SSI- or OASDI-eligible inmate identified who becomes ineligible for such benefit as a result of such reporting. Requires the Commissioner to study and report to the Congress on other specified potential improvements in the collection of information respecting public inmates. (Sec. 2204) Makes certain changes respecting the effective date of applications for SSI benefits. (Sec. 2211) Revises the rules with respect to childhood eligibility, with corresponding changes to childhood SSI regulations modifying the medical criteria for evaluation of mental and emotional disorders, and discontinuing the use of individualized functional assessments for children. Modifies medical improvement review standards, specifically dividing their applicability to, and creating separate criteria for, individuals aged 18 or older, and individuals under age 18, respectively. Requires the Commissioner annually to issue a request for comments in the Federal Register regarding improvements to the disability evaluation and determination procedures for individuals under age 18 to ensure their comprehensive assessment. Provides that once an eligible child meets the definition of disability, the amount of the individual's cash benefit will be based on whether or not the child meets criteria for needing personal assistance enabling the child to stay at home with his or her family. Authorizes additional appropriations for continuing disability reviews and redeterminations under SSA title XVI. (Sec. 2212) Provides that at least once every three years the Commissioner shall review the continued SSI eligibility of each individual who has not attained age 18 and is eligible for such benefits by reason of an impairment (or combination of impairments) which is likely to improve (or, at the Commissioner's option, is unlikely to improve). Requires a representative payee of a recipient whose case is so reviewed to present, at the time of review, evidence that the recipient is, and has been, receiving treatment, to the extent considered medically necessary and available, for the condition which was the basis for providing SSI benefits. Provides that, if the representative payee refuses without good cause to comply with such requirement, the Commissioner shall (if in the individual's best interest) promptly suspend payment of benefits to the representative payee, and provide for their payment to an alternative representative payee, or, if the interest of the individual would be served thereby, to the individual. Provides that, if an individual is eligible for SSI benefits by reason of disability for the month preceding the month in which the individual attains age 18, the Commissioner shall redetermine such eligibility: (1) during the one-year period beginning on the individual's 18th birthday; and (2) by applying the criteria used to determine the initial eligibility of applicants who have attained age 18. Specifies requirements governing continuing disability reviews for low-birth-weight babies. (Sec. 2213) Requires representative payees of eligible individuals under age 18 to establish financial institution accounts on their behalf into which SSI payments shall be paid. Allows representative payees to use account funds to pay for certain allowable expenses. Directs the Commissioner to establish a system for accountability monitoring whereby a representative payee shall report on activities involving account funds. (Sec. 2214) Reduces cash SSI payments to institutionalized children whose medical costs are covered by private insurance. (Sec. 2221) Provides for installment payment of large amounts of past-due SSI benefits. (Sec. 2225) Repeals maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SSI benefits. (Sec. 2231) Requires the Commissioner to report annually to the President and the Congress on the SSI program. (Sec. 2232) Outlines the requirements for a study and report by the General Accounting Office on the impact of these amendments on the SSI program and on the extra expenses incurred by families of children receiving SSI benefits that are not covered by other Federal, State, or local programs. (Sec. 2301) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to require State plans for child and spousal support to provide: (1) certain services relating to paternity establishment or enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) continuation of services for families ceasing to receive TEA assistance. (Sec. 2302) Revises payment distribution guidelines for support obligations collected by the State on behalf of a family. (Sec. 2303) Requires State plans to establish procedural guidelines for: (1) privacy safeguards for paternity and child support actions; and (2) notification to services applicants or recipients of all proceedings and orders affecting child support obligations. (Sec. 2311) Mandates that single statewide automated data systems include a State case registry containing records of: (1) each case in which services are provided by the State agency; and (2) each support order established on or after a specified date. Permits the linking of local registries. (Sec. 2312) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. Permits the unit to be established by linking local disbursement units through an automated information network if the Secretary agrees that it will not cost more or take more time to establish or operate than a centralized system. (Sec. 2313) Requires State plans to: (1) provide for a State-operated and automated State Directory of New Hires containing prescribed information furnished by employers on new personnel; and (2) transmit such information to the National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 2314) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures: (1) for mandatory income withholding for support payments subject to enforcement; and (2) under which wages of a person with a support obligation imposed by a child support order issued before October 1, 1996, shall become subject to withholding if arrearages occur, without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. Revises the procedural guidelines for income withholding for child support enforcement. (Sec. 2315) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures to ensure that Federal and State agencies conducting income-withholding activities have access to State locator systems for motor vehicle or law enforcement purposes. (Sec. 2316) Revises the Federal Parent Locator Service to provide for additional information which may be transmitted to locate individuals and assets for purposes of: (1) establishing parentage; (2) establishing, setting the amount of, modifying, or enforcing child support obligations; and (3) enforcing child custody or visitation orders. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish in the Federal Parent Locator Service an automated Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders and an automated National Directory of New Hires. Requires the Secretaries of Labor and of HHS to jointly develop cost-effective methods of accessing information in the various State directories of new hires and the National Directory of New Hires, taking into account impact and cost to the States, and the need to insure authorized use of wage record information. (Sec. 2317) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring recordation on such documents of the Social Security number of: (1) specified driver's, marriage, and occupational, and professional license applicants; (2) individuals subject to certain domestic relations orders; and (3) deceased persons (on death records). (Sec. 2321) Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1998. Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the procedures for the court to apply when determining which State order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement for child support orders. (Sec. 2323) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring: (1) expedited administrative enforcement in interstate cases and support orders; and (2) expedited administrative and judicial procedures for establishing paternity and enforcing support obligations. (Sec. 2331) Revises the guidelines for State laws governing paternity establishment. Requires State procedures under which the name of the father shall be included on the birth certificate only: (1) if the mother and father have signed a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity; or (2) pursuant to a judicial or administrative order. (Sec. 2333) Requires State plans for child and spousal support to provide that the State agency administering the plan will make a determination as to whether a program recipient is cooperating in good faith with State efforts to establish paternity and secure support. (Sec. 2341) Directs the Secretary to develop a new incentive system to replace the current one. Revises the guidelines for Federal performance-based incentive payments to the States for effective child support enforcement programs. (Sec. 2342) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include prescribed procedures for State reviews and audits. Revises the guidelines for Federal evaluation and audit of State programs governing paternity, child and spousal support, and parent location. (Sec. 2344) Revises the automated data processing requirements for State plans to mandate a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system which can perform specified tasks. (Sec. 2345) Makes funds available to the Secretary for: (1) training of Federal and State staff, research and demonstration programs, and special projects of regional and national significance; and (2) operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service. (Sec. 2351) Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. (Sec. 2352) Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to authorize a consumer agency to furnish a consumer report: (1) in response to a request by a governmental child support enforcement agency; or (2) to the State administrative agency which sets child support awards. (Sec. 2353) Shields a depository institution from Federal or State liability for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency. Prohibits such agency from disclosing such a financial record except for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary in, establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation. Sets forth civil penalties for any person knowingly or negligently violating such prohibition. (Sec. 2361) Amends Internal Revenue Code procedural guidelines for the collection of arrearages to provide that no additional fee may be assessed for adjustments to a previously certified amount. (Sec. 2362) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to revise procedural guidelines for: (1) consent by the United States to income withholding, garnishment, and similar proceedings for enforcement of child support and alimony obligations of current and retired Federal employees; and (2) enforcement of child support obligations of members of the Armed Forces. (Sec. 2364) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to have in effect the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act of 1981, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act of 1984, or a similar law, as well as certain procedures governing the voiding of fraudulent transfers by a child support debtor. (Sec. 2365) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include specified procedures: (1) to ensure that persons owing past-due support work or participate in work activities the court deems appropriate; (2) to report to credit bureaus the name of the parent in arrears for child support; (3) to provide for liens against real and personal property for the support arrearages of an absent parent; and (4) to implement the restriction of driver's, professional, occupational, and recreational licenses of individuals owing support arrearages. (Sec. 2370) Requires the Secretary of State to deny, revoke, or limit a passport upon certification of nonpayment of child support. (Sec. 2371) Authorizes the Secretary of State to negotiate reciprocal agreements with foreign nations: (1) regarding international enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) designating the Department of HHS as the central authority for such enforcement. (Sec. 2372) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which a State agency shall enter agreements with financial institutions doing business within the State to develop and operate a data match system to provide identifying information for each absent parent targeted by the State who maintains an account at the institution, and to encumber or surrender it. (Sec. 2373) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which child support orders relating to the child of minor parents, where the custodial parents are receiving assistance, are enforceable against the child's paternal or maternal grandparents. (Sec. 2374) Amends Federal bankruptcy law and the Social Security Act to declare a debt for child support nondischargeable in bankruptcy. (Sec. 2376) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to include within the definition of medical child support order an order issued through a State administrative process. (Sec. 2377) Amends part D of SSA title IV to mandate statutorily prescribed procedures under which all enforced child support orders shall include a provision for the health care coverage of the child. (Sec. 2381) Amends part D of SSA title IV to prescribe guidelines under which the Administration for Children and Families shall make grants to enable States to establish and administer access and visitation programs to facilitate absent parents' access to their children. (Sec. 2400) Declares that: (1) it is a compelling government interest to enact new rules for eligibility and sponsorship agreements in order to assure that aliens be self-reliant in accordance with national immigration policy; and (2) it is a compelling government interest to remove the incentive for illegal immigration provided by the availability of public benefits. (Sec. 2401) Prohibits Federal public benefits (as defined by this Act) to aliens who are not qualified aliens (as defined by this Act). Stipulates that such prohibition shall not apply to: (1) emergency medical services; (2) certain emergency disaster relief; (3) public health immunizations and treatment of communicable diseases; (4) housing assistance; (5) certain in-kind community services; and (6) Social Security Act benefits under specified circumstances. (Sec. 2402) Makes qualified aliens ineligible (with limited exceptions for refugees, asylees, certain permanent residents, veterans and active duty personnel, aliens whose deportation is withheld, and aliens currently receiving benefits) for: (1) supplemental security income (SSI); (2) food stamps; (3) temporary assistance for needy families; (4) social services block grants; and (5) Medicaid. (Sec. 2403) Makes qualified aliens ineligible (with limited exceptions for refugees, asylees, and veterans and active duty personnel) for Federal means-tested public benefits (as defined by this Act) for the first five years after U.S. entry. (Sec. 2404) Requires each Federal agency administering a program covered by this title to post information and provide general notification to the public and program recipients, either directly or through the States, of the requirements concerning alien eligibility for any such program pursuant to this title. Amends the Social Security Act and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide for State reporting of certain illegal alien information to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). (Sec. 2411) Makes an alien who is not a qualified alien, a nonimmigrant, or a parolee ineligible for State or local benefits (as defined by this Act). Stipulates that such prohibition shall not apply to: (1) emergency medical services; (2) certain emergency disaster relief; (3) public health immunizations and treatment of communicable diseases; and (4) certain in-kind community services. (Sec. 2412) Authorizes States to determine eligibility for State public benefits for qualified aliens, nonimmigrants, or parolees. States that refugees, asylees, certain permanent residents, and veterans and active duty personnel shall be eligible for all State public benefits. Sets forth transition provisions for aliens currently receiving benefits. (Sec. 2421) Provides that in determining the eligibility and the amount of benefits of an alien for any Federal means-tested public benefits program the income and resources of the alien shall be deemed to include: (1) the income and resources of any person who executed an affidavit of support on the alien's behalf; and (2) the income and resources of the person's spouse (if any). Applies such requirement with respect to an alien until such time as the alien achieves U.S. citizenship through naturalization or has worked without public assistance for a specified time. (Sec. 2422) Authorizes States to make similar attributions with respect to State programs (with specified exceptions). (Sec. 2423) Sets forth requirements for sponsor's affidavit of support. (Sec. 2424) Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require sponsor cosignature of certain alien student loans. (Sec. 2431) Defines qualified alien to be: (1) a lawful permanent resident; (2) an asylee; (3) a refugee; (4) a parolee; (5) an alien under withheld deportation; and (6) an alien granted conditional entry. (Sec. 2432) Requires the Attorney General to promulgate regulations regarding alien eligibility for Federal public benefits. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 2441) Makes conforming amendments related to assisted housing under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 and the Housing Act of 1949. (Sec. 2451) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require a taxpayer to provide his or her social security number in order to qualify for the earned income credit. (Sec. 2501) Requires the Secretaries of Agriculture, Education, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services to make specified departmental personnel reductions. Encourages the Secretary of Health and Human Services to reduce personnel in Washington, D.C. before reducing field personnel. (Sec. 2601) Prohibits: (1) a family from receiving an increased benefit under a Federal, State, or local welfare or public assistance program due to noncompliance-reduced income under such program; and (2) an individual from receiving an increased benefit under a means-tested welfare or public assistance program due to fraud-reduced income under another such program. (Sec. 2701) Amends SSA title IV to provide for enhanced funding for the implementation of Statewide automated child welfare information systems. Child Care and Development Block Grant Amendments Act of 1996 - Revises and extends through FY 2002 the authorization of appropriations for the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. Sets forth goals for State child care assistance. (Sec. 2803) Amends Part A of title IV (AFDC) of the Social Security Act to entitle each State to payments for providing child care assistance. (Sec. 2804) Authorizes the State lead agency to administer the financial assistance it receives through other governmental or nongovernmental agencies. (Sec. 2805) Revises State application and plan requirements with respect to consumer education information, State licensing compliance, meeting the needs of AFDC or TEA recipients (especially those attempting through work activities to leave the assistance program) and those at risk of becoming dependent on assistance, and assistance for certain low-income working families. (Sec. 2807) Reduces from 20 percent to three percent the minimum amount of certain funds available for State activities to improve the quality of child care, limited to: (1) comprehensive consumer education to parents and the public; (2) activities increasing parental choice; and (3) activities designed to improve child care quality and availability. (Sec. 2808) Repeals a requirement that States expend a specified minimum amount of reserved funds for early childhood development and before- and after-school services. (Sec. 2813) Reduces the allotment reserved for Indian tribes or tribal organizations from three percent to one percent. Prescribes guidelines for the use of such allotment for facility repair and construction. (Sec. 2815) Repeals: (1) the Child Development Associate Scholarship Assistance Act of 1985; (2) the State Dependent Care Development Grants Act; (3) specified programs under title X (Programs of National Significance) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and (4) the Native Hawaiian Family-based Education Centers program under the Native Hawaiian Education Act. (Sec. 2901) Subjects any funds received by a State under TEA block grants under part A of SSA title IV, optional State food assistance block grant under the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and block grants for child care under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to appropriation by the State legislature, consistent with the terms and conditions required under such provisions of law. (Sec. 2902) Provides that States shall not be prohibited by the Federal Government from testing welfare recipients for use of controlled substances nor from sanctioning welfare recipients who test positive for use of controlled substances. (Sec. 2903) Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to provide for a reduction in funding for such block grants. (Sec. 2904) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to eliminate housing assistance for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators. Provides for the exchange under such Act of certain information with law enforcement agencies under specified conditions. (Sec. 2905) Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the Congress should adopt enterprise zone legislation in the 104th Congress; and (2) such legislation should provide various specified incentives and provisions, including regulatory reforms that allow localities to petition Federal agencies for waivers or modifications of regulations to improve job creation, small business formation and expansion, community development, or economic revitalization objectives. (Sec. 2906) Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) States should diligently continue their efforts to enforce child support payments by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent, regardless of employment status or location of the non-custodial parent; (2) States are encouraged to pursue pilot programs in which the parents of a non-adult, non-custodial parent who refuses or is unable to pay child support must pay or contribute to the child support owed by such non-custodial parent or otherwise fulfill all financial obligations and meet all conditions imposed on such parent, such as participation in a work program or other related activity; and (3) States and local jurisdictions should aggressively enforce statutory rape laws. (Sec. 2907) Directs the HHS Secretary to establish and implement a strategy for: (1) preventing out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancies; and (2) assuring that at least 25 percent of the communities in the United States have teenage pregnancy prevention programs in place. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on progress in meeting such goals. (Sec. 2909) Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) to provide for an increase in funding under such title and authorize provision of abstinence education along with a separate funding set-aside for it. (Sec. 2910) Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to make certain amendments in order to encourage electronic benefit transfer systems for the distribution of needs-tested benefits by a government agency. (Sec. 2911) Amends Internal Revenue Code rules relating to denial of earned income credit for individuals having excessive investment income to: (1) provide for a reduction in the disqualified income threshold; (2) revise the adjustment for inflation; (3) modify the definitions of disqualified income and adjusted gross income for the earned income credit; and (4) suspend inflation adjustments for individuals with no qualifying children. Subtitle B: Restructuring Medicaid - Medicaid Restructuring Act of 1996 - Adds a new SSA title XV (Program of Medical Assistance for Low-Income Individuals and Families), whose purpose is to provide funds to States to enable them to provide medical assistance to low-income individuals and families in a more effective, efficient, and responsive manner. (Sec. 2923) Outlines program components, including: (1) certain guaranteed benefits for select individuals, including certain poor pregnant women, disabled and poor elderly individuals, and children receiving foster care or adoption assistance; (2) guaranteed coverage of Medicare premiums and cost-sharing for certain Medicare beneficiaries; (3) parity for mental health services; (4) limitations on cost-sharing; (5) solvency standards for capitated health care organizations; (6) prevention of spousal and family impoverishment with regard to long-term care; (7) State flexibility in benefits, provider payments, geographical coverage area, and selection of providers, as well as with respect to managed care; (8) limitations on payments for Medicaid services to nonlawful aliens, generally allowing treatment only for emergency situations; (9) coverage of abortions only for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest or when a woman suffers from a physical disorder, illness, or injury that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed; (10) denial of State Medicaid plan payment for any item or service furnished for euthanasia purposes; (11) periodic, independent evaluations of the operation of the State Medicaid plan and annual audits of State Medicaid expenditures; (12) a separate fraud prevention program, as well as State fraud control units; (13) an information reporting system for sanctions taken by State licensing authorities against health care practitioners and providers; (14) quality assurance requirements for nursing facilities, as well as requirements relating to residents' rights; and (15) an optional master drug rebate agreement program for covered outpatient drugs of a manufacturer. (Sec. 2924) Terminates the current Medicaid program as of October 1, 1997. Limits Medicaid payments in FY 1997. (Sec. 2925) Directs the HHS Secretary to waive requirements of SSA titles XV and XVIII as necessary for States to conduct certain demonstration projects to use funds to develop and implement innovative programs for individuals dually eligible for benefits under both titles, including chronically ill individuals. (Sec. 2926) Establishes the National Commission on Medicaid and State-Based Health Care Reform to study and make recommendations to the Congress, the President, and the HHS Secretary with respect to the program under SSA title XIX (or SSA title XV, if applicable). Authorizes appropriations.
Law· HRH.R. 3816 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of Defense-Civil Title II: Department of the Interior Title III: Department of Energy Title IV: Independent Agencies Title V: General Provisions Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 1997 - Title I: Department of Defense-Civil - Makes appropriations to the Department of the Army and its Corps of Engineers for FY 1997 for: (1) authorized civil functions of the Department of the Army relating to rivers and harbors, flood control, beach erosion, and related purposes; (2) expenses necessary for the collection and study of information related to such purposes; (3) the prosecution of authorized water development and related projects; (4) certain flood control projects on the Mississippi River and its tributaries; (5) water development projects operation and maintenance; (6) regulatory programs; (7) flood control and coastal emergencies; and (8) general expenses. Title II: Department of the Interior - Makes FY 1997 appropriations to the Department of the Interior for: (1) the Central Utah Project; (2) the Bureau of Reclamation; (3) general investigation of proposed Federal reclamation projects; (4) project construction and rehabilitation; (5) project operation and maintenance; (6) Bureau of Reclamation Loan Program Account; (7) the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund; and (8) general administrative expenses and special funds. Title III: Department of Energy - Makes appropriations to the Department of Energy (DOE) for FY 1997 for: (1) energy supply, research, and development activities; (2) uranium supply and enrichment activities; (3) the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund; (4) general DOE science and research activities; (5) the Nuclear Waste Disposal Fund; (6) atomic energy defense weapons activities; (7) defense environmental restoration and waste management; (8) other DOE defense activities; (9) defense nuclear waste disposal; (10) DOE administration expenses; (11) Office of the Inspector General; (12) the various geographical power marketing administrations of DOE (including specified costs for the hydroelectric facilities at the Falcon and Amistad Dams); and (13) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (Sec. 301) Directs the DOE to establish priority placement, job placement, retraining, and counseling programs for DOE employees affected by a reduction in force. Title IV: Independent Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1997 for: (1) the Appalachian Regional Commission; (2) the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board; (3) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); (4) the NRC Office of the Inspector General; (5) the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board; and (6) the Tennessee Valley Authority. Title V: General Provisions - Declares the sense of the Congress that all equipment and products bought with funds under this Act should be American-made. Requires each Federal agency to give notice of this policy to any entity to which it provides financial assistance or contracts. (Sec. 502) Amends specified Appropriations Acts to repeal certain requirements and limitations relating to the use of appropriated funds. (Sec. 505) Prohibits the use of any funds under this Act to determine the final point of discharge for the interceptor drain for the San Luis Unit until development by the Secretary of the Interior and the State of California of a plan, conforming to the water quality standards of the State of California as approved by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to minimize any detrimental effect of the San Luis drainage waters. Requires the costs of the Kesterson Reservoir Cleanup Program and the costs of the San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program to be classified by the Secretary of the Interior as reimbursable or nonreimbursable and collected until fully repaid pursuant to specifed plans prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation. Requires any future obligations of funds by the United States relating to, or providing for, drainage service or drainage studies for the San Luis Unit to be fully reimbursable by San Luis Unit beneficiaries of such service or studies pursuant to Federal Reclamation law.
Bill· HRH.R. 3814 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of Justice Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Title III: The Judiciary Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies Title V: Related Agencies Title VI: General Provisions Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 - Title I: Department of Justice - Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 1997 - Makes FY 1997 appropriations to the Department of Justice. Sets forth requirements and limitations relating to use of such funds. (Sec. 103) Prohibits the use of funds to pay for an abortion, except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or in the case of rape. (Sec. 104) Prohibits the use of funds to require any person to perform, or facilitate the performance of, any abortion. (Sec. 109) Amends the Federal judicial code to revise: (1) quarterly bankruptcy fees; and (2) the formulae for the deposit of portions of such fees in the United States Trustee System Fund. (Sec. 110) Amends specified Federal law to establish in the Treasury the Department of Justice Telecommunications Carrier Compliance Fund, which shall be available to the Attorney General to make specified payments to telecommunications carriers, equipment manufacturers, and providers of telecommunications support services. Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies - Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 - Makes FY 1997 appropriations to the Department of Commerce and related agencies, including the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the International Trade Commission. Sets forth requirements and limitations relating to use of such funds. Rescinds a specified amount of unobligated balances for operations, research, and facilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (Sec. 206) Provides for transfer of appropriations to successor organizations in the event the Department of Commerce is dismantled or reorganized. (Sec. 208) Prohibits the use of any funds appropriated under this or any other Act to develop new fishery management plans, amendments, or regulations which create new individual fishing quota, individual transferable quota, or new individual transferable effort allocation programs, or to implement any such plans, amendments, or regulations approved by a Regional Fishery Management Council or the Secretary of Commerce after January 4, 1995, until offsetting fees to pay for administrative costs are expressly authorized under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act. (Sec. 209) Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to award contracts for hydrographic, geodetic, and photogrammetric surveying and mapping services in accordance with the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949. (Sec. 210) Establishes the Bureau of the Census Working Capital Fund to cover costs of maintenance and operation of services and projects that the Director of the Census Bureau determines may be performed more advantageously when centralized. Title III: The Judiciary - Judiciary Appropriations Act, 1997 - Appropriates FY 1997 funds for activities of the Judiciary, including: (1) the Supreme Court; (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; (3) the U.S. Court of International Trade; (4) the Court of Appeals, district courts, and other judicial services; (5) the Administrative Office of the United States Courts; (6) the Federal Judicial Center; (7) Judicial Retirement Funds; and (8) the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Sets forth requirements and limitations relating to use of such funds. (Sec. 305) Extends the Judiciary Automation Fund and related authorities through FY 1998. Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies - Department of State and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 - Appropriates FY 1997 funds for the Department of State and related agencies (including the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and the U.S. Information Agency). Sets forth requirements and limitations relating to use of such funds. (Sec. 406) Prohibits the availability of funds to support the negotiating activities of the Standing Consultative Commission (SCC) or to implement certain agreements, amendments, or understandings to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty Act of 1972 (ABM Treaty) reached after January 1, 1996, unless the President certifies to the Congress that they will be submitted to the Senate for its advice and consent. Title V: Related Agencies - Appropriates FY 1997 funds for: (1) the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation; (2) the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; (3) the Commission on Civil Rights; (4) the Commission on Immigration Reform; (5) the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; (6) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; (7) the Federal Communications Commission; (8) the Federal Maritime Commission; (9) the Federal Trade Commission; (10) the Legal Services Corporation; (11) the Marine Mammal Commission; (12) National Bankruptcy Review Commission; (13) the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (14) the Small Business Administration. (Sec. 501) Continues certain requirements and restrictions with respect to use of funds by the Legal Services Corporation. Title VI: General Provisions - Sets forth limitations and prohibitions on the use of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 607) Expresses the sense of the Congress that equipment and products purchased under this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 608) Prohibits the use of funds to implement, administer, or enforce any guidelines of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission covering harassment based on religion, when it is made known that such guidelines do not differ from certain proposed guidelines. (Sec. 609) Prohibits funds from this Act from being used to pay for costs incurred for: (1) opening or operating any U.S. diplomatic or consular post in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that was not operating on July 11, 1995; (2) expanding any such post that was in operation on such date; or (3) increasing the number of personnel assigned to such posts above the level existing on such date, unless the President certifies that the Vietnamese Government is fully cooperating with the United States in specified activities relating to the investigation and recovery of missing U.S. military personnel, including: (1) resolution of discrepancies, live-sightings and field activities; (2) recovery and repatriation of American remains; (3) provision of documents on POW-MIAs; and (4) implementation of trilateral investigations with Laos. (Sec. 610) Prohibits the use of funds in this Act for any United Nations peacekeeping mission involving U.S. forces under the command or control of a foreign national, if the President's military advisors have not recommended that such involvement is in the U.S. national security interest, and the President has not submitted such a recommendation to the Congress. (Sec. 611) Prohibits the use of funds in this Act to provide specified amenities or personal comforts in the Federal prison system. (Sec. 612) Prohibits NOAA from using funds in this Act for its fleet replacement and modernization program. (Sec. 613) Prohibits any use of funds in this Act for the USIA Television Marti Program inconsistent with the March 1995 Office of Cuba Broadcasting Reinventing Plan of the U.S. Information Agency.
Bill· HRH.R. 3792 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Congressional Compensation Title II: Lobbying Title III: Congressional Travel R.I.G.H.T. Congress Act - Title I: Congressional Compensation - Applies existing Federal law regarding special accrual rates for Members of Congress and congressional employees under the Civil Service and Federal Employees' Retirement Systems only with respect to congressional service performed before the beginning of the 105th Congress. Eliminates the automatic cost of living adjustment for that portion of an annuity of a Member that is based solely on service as a Member. Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to: (1) eliminate automatic pay adjustments for Members until otherwise provided under the Federal Salary Act of 1967; and (2) require a recorded vote on any pay adjustment for Members. Title II: Lobbying - Modifies the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to: (1) increase from one to two years after leaving office the period of time during which a Member or employee is prohibited from engaging in certain lobbying activities; (2) include employees of a congressional committee on which a Member serves among those persons whom former Member employees may not lobby for such period; and (3) decrease the salary level of congressional employees below which lobbying restrictions do not apply. Amends rule XXXII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to deny admission to the House floor to former Members who are registered lobbyists. Prohibits such a former member from entering any Capitol dining facility or any gymnasium facility that is reserved for Members. Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require registered lobbyists to wear identification badges when in the U.S. Capitol or in a House or Senate office building while engaged in lobbying activities. Title III: Congressional Travel - Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from providing transportation on a military aircraft for a Member unless: (1) the transportation is provided on a space-available basis as part of scheduled operations unrelated to the provision of transportation to the Member; (2) the destination, or an airfield located within a reasonable distance thereof, is inaccessible by regularly scheduled commercial aircraft flights; or (3) the transportation is the least expensive method for the Member to reach the destination by aircraft. Requires prior approval from the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct for Members and staff travelling on military aircraft to a hearing. Prohibits a retiring Member, or such Member's personal staff, from engaging in foreign travel unless such Committee determines such travel is essential to the Member's official responsibilities. Requires that any travel award that accrues by reason of official travel of a House Member, officer, or employee be used only for official travel, or by the spouse or children of that Member for travel between Washington, D.C. and that Member's district.
Bill· HRH.R. 3769 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1996
O&C Forest Transfer Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, subject to a qualifying legislative resolution of assent from the State of Oregon filed on or before December 31, 1999, to transfer to Oregon specified real property constituting the Oregon and California (O&C) Railroad Grant Lands, the Coos Bay Military Wagon Road Grant Lands, all federally owned timberlands within one or more O&C counties currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and certain land and structures utilized as offices or in related administrative capacities. Outlines terms required in the qualifying resolution of assent, including: (1) the requirement that Oregon manage the transferred lands for sustained yield, permanent timber production benefitting the economic stability of local communities; (2) the adoption of a State land management plan; (3) the establishment of an O&C Lands Fund for timber sales deposits and disbursements to O&C counties within the transferred lands, as well as to Oregon to cover land management costs; (4) the administration of a mineral rights program for individuals; (5) a prohibition against the sale of any transferred lands capable of timber production; (6) a reservation from entry for commercial timber production; (7) the continuation of current recreational uses; and (8) the establishment of a program providing an employment preference within the Oregon Department of Forestry in transferred land management positions to persons currently employed by the BLM in such capacity. Provides a U.S. right of reentry onto such transferred lands when the land is not being managed in accordance with the transfer conditions and such noncompliance has not been corrected within two years of such determination. Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture, if a qualifying resolution of assent has been filed in a timely manner, to commence the preparation of amendments to Federal land management plans. Suspends as of January 1, 2004, specified Federal laws rendered obsolete by the land transfers under this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 3775 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1996
ISTEA Integrity Restoration Act - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for FY 1998 through 2002 for: (1) the National Highway System (NHS); (2) the Surface Transportation Program (STP); and (3) the Federal Lands Highway Program (FLHP), including Indian reservation roads, public lands highways, and parkways and park highways. (Sec. 6) Modifies the definition of: (1) "Federal-aid system" to mean the NHS; and (2) NHS to mean the Federal-aid highway system established pursuant to Federal highway provisions. Defines: (1) "highest priority corridor" to mean (with exceptions) any NHS corridor that the Secretary determines has national and international significance, that directly accounts for at least 35 percent of the truck-borne traffic for Canadian and Mexican imports and exports, that has at least 20 percent truck traffic, that directly benefits impoverished areas, that provides multiple intermodal connections, and that connects to military bases; and (2) "highway funds" to mean the funds apportioned to a State for a fiscal year and the funds allocated to a State for the preceding fiscal year for Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction (other than funds made available for the FLHP and for emergency relief). Modifies provisions regarding Federal-aid systems and the formula for apportionments of NHS funds. (Sec. 7) Repeals provisions regarding: (1) apportionments for resurfacing, restoring, rehabilitating, and reconstructing the Interstate System (IS); and (2) the transfer of interstate construction apportionments, the transfer of funds for STP projects, and limits on new capacity. (Sec. 8) Modifies STP provisions regarding the location of projects and allocations of apportioned funds. Authorizes a State, in nonattainment areas for ozone or carbon monoxide, or for PM-10 resulting from transportation activities, or any combination thereof, to obligate STP funds for any congestion mitigation and air quality improvement project or program without regard to any Department of Transportation limitation relating to the type of ambient air quality standard such project or program addresses. (Sec. 9) Directs that, for purposes of STP and IS provisions, population shall be determined based on the most recent decennial census for which data are available. (Sec. 10) Repeals provisions regarding: (1) the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program; and (2) the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program. (Sec. 12) Replaces provisions regarding minimum allocations to States with an apportionment adjustment program to provide that the Secretary shall allocate among the States amounts sufficient to ensure that the ratio of the highway funds of the State to those of all States for the fiscal year is not less than certain listed percentages for the State. Repeals existing apportionment adjustment programs.
Bill· HRH.R. 3767 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1996
Directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a pilot program to identify and demonstrate feasible alternatives to incineration for the demilitarization of assembled chemical munitions. Terminates such program no later than September 30, 2000. Requires the Secretary to: (1) report to the Congress during each year of the program on program activities; and (2) evaluate, and report to the Congress on, each identified alternative. Provides a specified limitation on the purchase of long lead materials for the construction of an incinerator at any site in Kentucky under the program. Earmarks funds for the program.
Bill· SS. 1936 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1996
Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1996 - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to revise it and rename it the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1996. Instructs the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to: (1) develop and operate an integrated management system for the storage and permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; (2) store spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste beginning no later than November 30, 1999, at designated facilities pursuant to certain interim storage facility contracts; (3) provide for the transportation of such wastes (using systems and components procured and manufactured in the United States); and (4) engage private sector participation to the greatest extent possible in the implementation of this Act. Shields the United States from any financial liability for the Secretary's failure to meet acceptance or emplacement deadlines under this Act. Establishes an integrated management system for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, including its storage, transportation, and disposal. Sets a deadline for development of the capability to commence rail to truck intermodal transfer from the mainline rail line at Caliente, Nevada, to the interim storage facility site. Instructs the Secretary to acquire necessary lands and rights-of-way along the "Chalk Mountain Heavy Haul Route." Directs the Secretary to offer to enter into a prescribed benefits agreement with Lincoln County, including a payment schedule. Requires conveyance to such County of specified Federal lands. Prescribes procedural guidelines for the availability beginning by November 30, 1999, of: (1) transportation readiness for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from sites designated by the contract holders to mainline transportation facilities; and (2) public education programs for States, local governments, and Indian tribes through whose jurisdiction the Secretary plans to transport substantial amounts of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste. Requires a transporter of nuclear waste under contract with the Secretary to comply with all governmental and Indian tribal transportation regulations. Instructs the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate employee protection training standards for workers directly involved in nuclear waste transportation, storage and disposal. Sets forth a phased schedule for the Secretary to begin operating an interim nuclear waste storage facility, but prohibiting construction activities before December 31, 1998. Instructs the Secretary to: (1) cease all but termination activities at the Yucca Mountain site if the President determines it is unsuitable for repository development; (2) present a viability assessment of the site to the President and the Congress by a specified deadline; and (3) proceed with all activities necessary to begin acceptance of nuclear waste at an interim storage facility site designated by the President. Precludes construction activities, however, until the site has been approved by law. Prescribes two-tiered design and licensing phases for the site. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on alternatives for the permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Establishes the Office of Nuclear Waste Disposal Research to implement research, development, and demonstration activities on such alternative technologies. Instructs the Secretary to establish a university-based Nuclear Waste Disposal Consortium of academic institutions, national laboratories, the commercial nuclear industry, and other organizations to investigate and report to the Congress on the technical and institutional feasibility of such alternative technologies. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants (including financial and technical assistance) to enable affected Indian tribes or local governmental units to monitor and review the impact of the integrated management system upon residents at the Yucca Mountain site. Directs the Secretary to offer an affected local government unit the opportunity to designate an on-site representative to conduct oversight activities at an interim storage facility or repository site. Provides that acceptance of benefits under this Act by any affected Indian tribe or local government shall not be deemed an expression of consent to the siting of an interim storage facility or repository in Nevada. Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to convey all Federal interest in specified property to Nye County, Nevada. Prescribes contract guidelines for the Secretary to accept title to, and transport, store, and dispose of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste for a fee. Prescribes a schedule of annual fees for electricity generated by civilian nuclear power reactors, and of a one-time fee for spent nuclear fuel used in such generation. States that payment of the latter one-time fee relieves the payer of further financial obligation to the Federal Government for its long-term storage or permanent disposal. Mandates annual fee reviews, and adjustment proposals to the Congress if appropriate. Continues the Nuclear Waste Fund and the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. Directs the Secretary to issue a final rule establishing the appropriate portion of the costs of managing high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel allocable to the interim storage or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste from atomic energy defense activities and spent nuclear fuel from foreign research reactors. Authorizes appropriations. Preempts State and local law in favor of this Act and the Atomic Energy Act. Grants U.S. courts of appeals original and exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions under this Act. Prescribes guidelines for Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing hearings about facility expansions and transshipments. Prohibits the Secretary from conducting site-specific activities for a second repository unless the Congress has specifically authorized and appropriated funds therefor. Requires the NRC to promulgate regulatory guidelines for: (1) financial assurances for low-level radioactive waste site closures; and (2) training and qualification of civilian nuclear powerplant personnel. Delineates an emplacement schedule for contract holders' spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. States that the Secretary's acceptance of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste constitutes a transfer of title to the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) accept all spent nuclear fuel withdrawn from Dairyland Power Cooperative's La Crosse Reactor; and (2) pay for the on-site storage of such fuel until DOE removes it from the site. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a Decommissioning Pilot Program to decommission and decontaminate the sodium-cooled fast breeder experimental test-site reactor located in northwest Arkansas. Prohibits the use of funds from the Nuclear Waste Fund for such Pilot Program. Declares that nothing in this or any other Federal law shall be construed as a reservation of Federal water or water rights for any purpose arising under this Act. Authorizes the United States to acquire and exercise such rights, subject to certain restrictions. Continues the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to take necessary action to improve the management of the civilian radioactive waste management program to ensure to the maximum extent its operation like a private business. Repeals mandates and authorizations for the Interim Storage Fund, the Monitored Retrievable Storage Commission, the Office of Subseabed Disposal Research, and the Office of Nuclear Waste Negotiator. Directs the Secretary to: (1) create a value engineering function within the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management; and (2) employ, on an on-going basis, integrated performance modeling regarding site characterization.
Bill· HRH.R. 3766 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1996
Prohibits the President from providing economic assistance, military assistance, or arms transfers to Sudan (or to any foreign country involved in chattel slavery in Sudan) unless he certifies to the Congress that Sudan has taken action to eliminate chattel slavery, including: (1) enactment of antislavery laws that punish violators; and (2) rigorous enforcement of such laws. Directs the Secretary of State to designate an individual from the diplomatic mission in Khartoum, Sudan, for monitoring slavery there. Requires the President to report to the Congress on all forms of covert and overt forms of slavery in Sudan. Directs the President to instruct: (1) the U.S. representative to each international financial institution to oppose any assistance to Sudan until it has taken action to eliminate chattel slavery; and (2) the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations to pursue passage of any U.N. Security Council resolution that enhances cooperation of other countries in applying sanctions against Sudan. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should work with foreign countries and appropriate international organizations to ensure that humanitarian assistance organizations have access to all parts of Sudan for the purpose of assisting individuals who have been enslaved to resettle in Sudan.
Bill· HRH.R. 3755 (104th)reported
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of Labor Title II: Department of Health and Human Services Title III: Department of Education Title IV: Related Agencies Title V: General Provisions Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 - Title I: Department of Labor - Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 1997 - Makes appropriations for FY 1997 (including certain transfers of funds) for agencies, programs, and various trust funds, within the Department of Labor. Prescribes uses and limitations on the use of funds under this title. (Sec. 106) Provides that, in the administration of the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, 16- and 17-year-old individuals who are not apprentices or student-learners shall be permitted to load, but not operate or unload, materials into scrap paper balers or paper box compactors that: (1) meet the current safety standards of the American National Standards Institute; and (2) meet other specified standards regarding on-off switches and employee notification. (Sec. 107) Prohibits the use of funds to enforce and issue fines under a specified Hazardous Occupation Order with respect to incidental and occasional driving by minors under age 18, unless the Secretary of Labor finds that operation of a motor vehicle is the primary duty of the minor's employment. Title II: Department of Health and Human Services - Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 1997 - Makes appropriations for FY 1997 (including certain transfers of funds) for agencies and programs within the Department of Health and Human Services. Prescribes limitations on the use of appropriated funds under this title. (Sec. 211) Prohibits the use of funds by the National Institutes of Health to provide grants or cooperative agreements under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program for research proposals when the median of the evaluation scores for such proposals in the review cycle is higher than the median for investigator-initiated research (RO1) grant proposals. (Sec. 212) Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, as amended by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, to extend through December 31, 2000, or until the first day of the first quarter on which the Medigrant plan for Michigan is effective, the moratorium on treating Kent and Saginaw Community Hospitals in Michigan as institutions for mental diseases. (Sec. 213) Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide for the relocation of the Gillis W. Long Hansen's Disease Center (located in Louisiana) and its patients, in accordance with specified requirements. Amends the Public Health Service Act with respect to such Center. Title III: Department of Education - Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1997 - Makes appropriations for FY 1997 (including certain transfers of funds) for agencies and programs within the Department of Education, subject to certain requirements for and limitations of their use. (Sec. 301) Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to transport teachers or students in order to: (1) overcome racial imbalance in any school or school system; or (2) carry out a racial desegregation plan. (Sec. 303) Prohibits the use of funds to prevent the implementation of programs of voluntary prayer and meditation in the public schools. (Sec. 304) Limits the amount of funds which may be used for specified student aid programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). Prohibits the Secretary of Education from using HEA funds for subsequent fiscal years for administrative expenses of the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program. Title IV: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1997 for the following agencies or programs: (1) Armed Forces Retirement Home; (2) Corporation for National and Community Service (for domestic volunteer service programs); (3) Corporation for Public Broadcasting; (4) Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; (5) Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission; (6) National Commission on Libraries and Information Science; (7) National Council on Disability; (8) National Education Goals Panel; (9) National Labor Relations Board; (10) National Mediation Board; (11) Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission; (12) Physician Payment Review Commission; (13) Prospective Payment Assessment Commission; (14) Social Security Administration, for various trust funds and programs; (15) Railroad Retirement Board; and (16) United States Institute of Peace. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth provisions and limitations on the use of appropriated funds under this Act. (Sec. 505) Prohibits the use of funds to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug unless the Secretary of HHS determines that such programs are effective in preventing the spread of HIV and do not encourage the use of illegal drugs. (Sec. 506) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and products purchased under this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 508) Prohibits the use of funds to perform abortions except to save the life of the mother or where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. (Sec. 510) Prohibits use of funds in this Act for the expenses of an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) task force. (Sec. 512) Prohibits use of funds in this Act for: (1) the creation of a human embryo or embryos for research purposes; or (2) research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death greater than that allowed for research on fetuses in utero under certain Federal regulations and the Public Health Service Act. (Sec. 513) Prohibits the National Labor Relations Board from using funds in this Act to assert jurisdiction over any labor dispute which does not involve any class or category of employer over which the Board would assert jurisdiction under the standards prevailing on August 1, 1959, with each financial threshold amount adjusted for inflation in a specified manner. (Sec. 514) Prohibits use of funds in this Act to provide any direct benefit or assistance to any individual in the United States when it is made known to the appropriate Federal official that: (1) the individual is not lawfully within the United States; and (2) the benefit or assistance to be provided is other than emergency medical assistance or a State-provided benefit mandated by the Federal courts.