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Bill· SS. 1271 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1995
Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to revise and rename it the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1995. Instructs the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to: (1) develop and operate a repository for the permanent geologic disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; (2) accept spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste by no later than January 31, 1998, at facilities designated pursuant to certain interim storage facility contracts; (3) provide for the transportation of such wastes (including procuring all systems and components necessary to transport such fuel and waste among facilities comprising the Integrated Management System established by this Act); and (4) pursue expeditiously the development of each component of the integrated management system. Establishes an integrated management system for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, including its storage, transportation, and disposal. Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary is charged with the development and operation of a rail spur originating in Lincoln County, Nevada, and terminating at the interim storage facility site. Provides for intermodal transfer pending direct rail access. Sets a deadline by which the Secretary must develop the capability to commence rail to truck intermodal transfer at Caliente, Nevada. Requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Caliente and Lincoln County, Nevada, to advise the Commission regarding intermodal transfer and to facilitate on-site representation. Prescribes procedural guidelines for the availability by January 31, 1998 of: (1) railroads; (2) transportation planning and requirements; (3) interim storage facilities; (4) permanent disposal; and (5) land withdrawal. Prescribes guidelines for consultation, financial, and technical assistance between the Secretary and the State of Nevada. Instructs the Secretary to: (1) offer the State of Nevada and the affected local governmental entity an opportunity to designate an on-site oversight representative; and (2) offer to enter into separate benefits agreements with the State of Nevada and certain affected Counties concerning the integrated management system. Establishes a Review Panel to advise the Secretary on the integrated management system. Prescribes a fee schedule for electricity generated by civilian nuclear power reactors and spent nuclear fuel used to generate electricity in a civilian nuclear power reactor. Provides that payment of a one-time fee on either spent nuclear fuel used to generate electricity in a civilian nuclear power reactor, or the high- level radioactive waste derived from it, relieves the responsible party from further financial obligation to the Federal Government for its long-term storage or permanent disposal. Sets forth advance contract prerequisites for utilization or production facility license renewals under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Continues the Nuclear Waste Fund and the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. Directs the Secretary to: (1) 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 foreign research reactors; and (2) advise the Congress annually of the amount of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from atomic energy defense activities requiring management in the integrated spent nuclear fuel management system. Prescribes a prioritization scheme for the allocation of funds: (1) to components of the integrated management system; and (2) from the Nuclear Waste Fund. States that actions authorized by this Act shall be governed solely in accordance with the provisions of specified statutes. Grants the United States courts of appeals original and exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions under this Act. Prescribes guidelines for NRC licensing hearings. 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 power plant personnel. Delineates an acceptance schedule for contract holders' spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Proscribes: (1) subseabed or ocean water disposal of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste; and (2) any obligation of funds for any such related activity. Continues the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to take action as necessary to improve the management of the civilian radioactive waste management program to ensure that it is operated to the maximum extent like a private business. States that the program is not subject to civil service regulations. Abolishes the Interim Storage Fund, the Monitored Retrievable Storage Commission, the Office of Subseabed Disposal Research, and the Office of Nuclear Waste Negotiator. Requires the Secretary to present annual schedule and timeline status reports to the Congress. Directs the Secretary to: (1) create a value engineering function within the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management; (2) employ, on an on-going basis, integrated performance modeling regarding site characterization; and (3) report an action plan (and annual updates) to the Congress regarding implementation of this Act and development of the Integrated Waste Management System.
Law· HRH.R. 2394 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1995
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 1995, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date. Requires the Secretary to publish such increases in the Federal Register at the same time that the social security increases are required to be published.
Bill· HRH.R. 2370 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1995
Extends through March 30, 1996, the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a demonstration project of guaranteeing 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.
Bill· HRH.R. 2375 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1995
Federal Employee Base Closure Retirement Act - Amends Federal civil service law to modify the early-retirement reduction requirements with respect to certain Federal employees who are law enforcement officers or air traffic controllers and who are separated from service due to a closure or realignment of a military installation under the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act.
Law· HRH.R. 2353 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1995
Extends through December 31, 1998, the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide: (1) hospital care and medical services to Persian Gulf veterans exposed to toxic substances or environmental hazards during such service; and (2) outpatient services to such veterans. Extends through December 31, 1997: (1) the authority to contract with community-based treatment facilities for the care of eligible veterans suffering from alcohol or drug dependence or abuse disabilities; (2) the authority of a pilot program for furnishing veterans with noninstitutional alternatives to nursing home care (requires a report); (3) the Department's health professionals scholarship program (requires a report); (4) the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into enhanced-use leases of Department real property (requires a report); (5) the authority under the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988 for a pilot program providing community-based residential care for homeless chronically mentally ill veterans; and (6) the Department's compensated work therapy and therapeutic transitional housing program. Extends through December 31, 1998, the authority under the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 for a pilot program to expand and improve Department benefits and services to homeless veterans. Extends through FY 1998 the authorization of appropriations for such pilot program. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on the advantages and disadvantages of consolidating specified veterans' programs. Directs the Secretary to review and report to the veterans' committees on the scientific evidence concerning military service during the Persian Gulf War and any disease associated with such service. Repeals the authority of the Secretary to make contracts and grants for providing care and treatment for veterans at the Department's Veterans Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to authorize the display of the POW-MIA flag on the grounds of Department medical centers on any day in which the U.S. flag is displayed. Authorizes the Secretary to contract for the provision of utilities to the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington, as the Jonathan M. Wainwright Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Bill· HRH.R. 2352 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1995
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 1995- Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 1995, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date. Requires the Secretary to publish such increases in the Federal Register at the same time that the social security increases are required to be published.
Bill· HRH.R. 2364 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1995
Endangered Species Recovery and Conservation Incentive Act of 1995 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior, within two years after the listing of an animal or plant as endangered under this Act, to develop a plan for the conservation or recovery of the endangered species, or upon finding that such a plan will not promote the conservation or recovery of such species, to develop a conservation or recovery statement. Requires the Secretary: (1) in developing and implementing the plans, to give priority to those endangered species that are most likely to benefit; and to those endangered species that are more genetically complex, taxonomically unique or ecologically, medicinally, or economically valuable; and (2) to give priority to the latter with respect to developing statements. Requires each such plan or statement to include: (1) site-specific conservation or recovery actions; (2) criteria for removal from the endangered species list; (3) time estimates for carrying out measures; (4) species population goals and current population estimates; (5) social and economic benefits of species conservation; and (6) a description and the status of animals of the same species or sub-genus. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) procedures for making the draft of a plan or statement available for public comment; (2) approval of the plan or statement; (3) public notification of such approval; (4) amendment of the plan; (5) outside assistance for the development of a plan or statement; and (6) applicability of the Federal Advisory Committee Act to recovery teams. Allows the Secretary, upon determining that it will contribute to the conservation or recovery of an endangered species, to provide scientific, technical, administrative, or financial assistance to private, State, or lesser government entities to: (1) establish voluntary agreements with non-Federal land owners for up to 25 years to improve, maintain, or create habitat for endangered species; (2) promote conservation through commerce by providing assistance to, entering into agreements with, or otherwise encouraging for-profit and not-for-profit companies, organizations, and individuals involved in such activities; (3) acquire property from willing sellers; and (4) take other nonregulatory conservation or recovery measures. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a system of awards and rewards for participation in voluntary and cooperative programs that further the conservation or recovery of endangered species; and (2) maintain a public database of information valuable to the conservation of endangered species. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with any State that is designed to directly further the management of endangered species or their habitat and thereby promote the conservation or recovery of such endangered species through the provision of scientific, technical, or managerial assistance or through the provision of contracts. Allows the Secretary to provide scientific, technical, or administrative assistance to other Federal agencies to promote the conservation or recovery of endangered species. Requires the Secretary to: (1) assess whether major Federal projects will directly and significantly reduce the likelihood that an endangered species may be conserved or recovered; and (2) transmit such findings to the Federal agencies conducting the projects and to the Congress. Defines, for purposes of this Act, "major Federal project" to mean any individual Federal undertaking, permit, or license directly resulting in a Federal expenditure of more than $2 million. Authorizes the Secretary to bring an action to enjoin any activity which the Secretary can reasonably demonstrate to destroy an endangered species or its habitat and to bring one additional action to enjoin such activity if attempts, during the injunction, to negotiate a voluntary conservation agreement with the property owner are unsuccessful. Sets forth provisions governing: (1) limitations on such injunctions; (2) orders to enter a property to capture or collect and remove endangered species that otherwise face imminent damage or destruction; (3) U.S. liability for all damages and losses incurred by a property owner resulting from such entry; (4) acquisition of property pursuant to this Act; and (5) a requirement for the Secretary to monitor the success of voluntary agreements and other voluntary efforts under this Act in conserving and recovering endangered species. (Sec. 5) Requires the Secretary to determine whether any animal or plant is endangered based on: (1) the present or imminent destruction, adverse modification, or curtailment of a significant portion of its habitat or range; (2) disease or predation; (3) an extremely limited range or population; (4) other adequate and verifiable scientifically valid data indicating natural or manmade factors adversely affecting the species' continued existence. Allows the Secretary of Commerce to recommend to the Secretary of the Interior that an animal or plant is endangered and that it should be enumerated in, or removed from, the list of endangered species published under this Act. Requires such action to be implemented if the Secretary of the Interior concurs. Prohibits inclusion of an animal or plant in such list or its removal from the list without a prior favorable determination made by the Secretary of Commerce. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the procedures and requirements for determining whether an animal or plant should be included in, or removed from, the list; (2) an emergency listing of animals or plants determined to be in danger of imminent extinction; (3) the effectiveness of such determination for up to one year; (4) a one time renewal of such emergency listing; (5) termination of the effectiveness of such emergency determination after the date of its publication in the Federal Register; and (6) the establishment of an emergency listing. Requires the Secretary of the Interior, within one year of determining that an animal or plant is endangered, to determine whether recovery is a feasible goal for the endangered species and to publish such determination and the basis for it in the Federal Register. Requires the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register and make available to the public through electronic means a list of every animal and plant for which there is in effect a determination by the Secretary or the Secretary of Commerce that the animal or plant is endangered. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) petitions for judicial review by persons who may be directly and substantially affected by actions taken or determination or finding pursuant to this Act; (2) court standards in reviewing such petitions; and (3) the definition of "substantial evidence" when applicable to any act or determination under this Act which is reviewable under the Administrative Procedure Act. Requires the Secretary to implement a system, in cooperation with the States, to monitor effectively for at least five years the status of all animals and plants which: (1) have recovered to the point at which the measures provided pursuant to this Act are no longer necessary; and (2) have been removed from the list. Requires the Secretary to report biennially to the President and to the Congress on efforts to conserve and recover endangered species. (Sec. 6) Sets forth civil or criminal penalties for: (1) directly and intentionally killing or physically injuring a member of any vertebrate species which is properly included in the list, except that uses of endangered species such as hunting, fishing, captive propagation, and harvesting that contribute to the endangered animal's survival or conservation shall be allowed; (2) knowingly and intentionally violating an injunction or order issued pursuant to this Act; (3) in knowing violation of this Act, maliciously and in the pursuit of personal gain as a direct result thereof, intentionally killing or directly and intentionally physically injuring a member of a vertebrate species which is properly included in the published list or a member of an endangered species while trespassing on private property or while in a National Park or National Wildlife Refuge. Sets forth civil penalties for intentionally capturing, collecting, or trapping, and for directly and intentionally killing or directly and intentionally physically insuring, any listed vertebrate animal or plant on any property subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, while trespassing on private property, or while on federally owned lands within a National Park and National Wildlife Refuge. Sets forth provisions: (1) prohibiting penalties from being imposed upon a defendant, under certain conditions, who was acting to protect himself or herself or other individuals from bodily harm or to protect private property from significant damage; and (2) specifying as a defense against charges brought under this Act that the defendant had the owner's consent and the animal or plant was owned before the date of inclusion of its taxonomic unit on the list or that it was the progeny of such animal or plant or was otherwise lawfully acquired. Allows the Secretary to waive the violations in this Act to protect public health and safety or for national security or a national, regional, or local emergency. Directs the Secretary, under certain conditions, to permit persons or States to commit actions to contribute to furthering the conservation of an endangered species. (Sec. 7) Directs Federal departments and agencies to conserve or recover endangered species on Federal lands and, with the owner's consent, on State and private lands and to utilize their authorities in furtherance of the purposes of this Act. Requires Federal agencies to cooperate with State and local agencies to resolve water resource issues in concert with conservation or recovery of endangered animals and plants in a manner consistent with, and governed by, State water law. Prohibits water rights protected under State law from being injured or adversely affected in carrying out this Act without just compensation. Provides that this Act shall not be construed so as to modify the allocation of water among or between States pursuant to either interstate compacts or decisions of the United States Supreme Court. Requires the Secretary to make the following information available by electronic means such as Internet and to seek to make access to such information available at minimal cost and inconvenience to those seeking the information: (1) notices issued by the Secretary under this Act that would appear in the Federal Register or other forums of public notice; (2) recovery or conservation plans and statements; (3) the list; (4) the biennial report to the President and to the Congress; and (5) other materials received regarding or produced in implementing this Act. (Sec. 8) Establishes the Endangered Species Recovery Fund in the Treasury to be made available to the Secretary to carry out this Act. Provides that nothing in this Act authorizes the Secretary, except with respect to federally designated wilderness areas, to: (1) establish or impose any user or admission fees for lands for which such a fee is not in effect on this Act's enactment; (2) increase that portion of any user or admission fee which shall be directed to the Fund by more than one dollar; or (3) direct any more than that amount from such fee to the Fund. Requires the Secretary to establish and issue to individuals a Lifetime User Pass for a fee not to exceed $500 which shall permit such individual to enter National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, National Recreation Areas, National Seashores, National Lakeshores, or National Monuments. Allows the Secretary to accept donations from the public to carry out this Act, with the exception of donations from persons having business with, or matters pending before, the Secretary's department. (Sec. 9) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) a 100 percent property tax credit for private property or a portion thereof that is managed to promote the conservation or recovery of an endangered species by providing habitat which is used or occupied by an endangered species; and (2) a credit of up to 100 percent for expenditures for furthering the conservation or recovery of an endangered species pursuant to an agreement entered into with the Secretary under this Act. (Sec. 10) Authorizes the Secretary to undertake activities to further the conservation or recovery of endangered species by the collection, storing, and use of: (1) genetic materials, eggs, sperm, or tissue of endangered animals; and (2) genetic material, seeds, or tissue of endangered plants. (Sec. 11) Amends the Endangered Species Act (the Act) to define "harm" for purposes of such Act to mean an intentional and direct action that injures or kills any member of an endangered or threatened species of fish or wildlife other than as an unintended consequence of otherwise lawful activity. Prohibits an action permitting activity on private property from being subject to the requirements or procedures outlined in such Act. Prohibits the Secretary from taking actions under the Act to determine endangered and threatened species and to designate critical habitat. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) inclusion of, or removal from, the list of species determined to be endangered or threatened pursuant to the Act; and (2) compensation to a owner of property whose use of any portion of that property has been limited by an action taken after this Act's enactment that diminishes the fair market value of such portion by 20 percent or more. Authorizes appropriations.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 223 (104th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1995
Waives points of order against the consideration of the conference report on H.R. 1817 (military construction appropriations).
Bill· SS. 1250 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1995
Federal Employee Compensation Protection Act of 1995 - Amends Federal civil service and armed forces law to provide for the temporary continuance of basic civilian and military pay and associated benefits and allowances of Federal and District of Columbia personnel during any period of lapsed appropriations in which they perform service or are furloughed due to the failure to timely enact appropriations legislation for the employee's agency. Appropriates funds for such purposes, which shall be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever the regular appropriation bill becomes law.
Bill· HRH.R. 2347 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Seeking Sanctions Against the Castro Government Title II: Assistance to a Free and Independent Cuba Title III: Protection of Property Rights of United States Nationals Against Confiscatory Takings By the Castro Regime Title IV: Exclusion of Certain Aliens Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1995 - Title I: Seeking Sanctions Against the Castro Government - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should instruct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to seek within the Security Council a mandatory international embargo against the Cuban Government; and (2) efforts by any state to make the nuclear facility at Cienfuegos operational will have a detrimental impact on U.S. assistance to and relations with such state. (Sec. 102) Reaffirms a provision of the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 that states that the President should encourage foreign countries to restrict trade and credit relations with Cuba. Urges the President to take steps to apply sanctions described by such Act against countries assisting Cuba. Declares that the President should instruct the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General to enforce the Cuban Assets Control Regulations. Amends the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, with respect to sanctions against a country that provides assistance to Cuba, to include as such assistance any exchange, reduction, or forgiveness of Cuban debt owed to a country in return for a grant of an equity interest in a property, investment, or operation of the Government of Cuba or of a Cuban national (debt-for-equity swap). (Sec. 103) Prohibits any U.S. national, permanent resident alien, or U.S. agency from knowingly extending any loan or other financing to a foreign national, U.S. national, or permanent resident alien, in order to finance transactions involving property confiscated by the Cuban Government the claim to which is owned by a U.S. national. Terminates such prohibition upon termination of the economic embargo of Cuba. Sets forth penalties for violation of such prohibition. (Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. executive directors of the international financial institutions to oppose the admission of Cuba as a member of such institutions until the President submits a determination that a democratically-elected government is in power in Cuba. Urges the President to support Cuba's membership in such institutions during the period that a transition government is in power, subject to the membership's taking effect after a democratically-elected government is in power. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to withhold U.S. payments from institutions that approve assistance to Cuba over the opposition of the United States. (Sec. 105) Urges the President to instruct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) to vote to oppose ending the suspension of Cuba from the OAS until the President determines that a democratically-elected government is in power there. (Sec. 106) Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees on progress towards the withdrawal of personnel of any independent state of the former Soviet Union from the Cienfuegos nuclear facility. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to make ineligible for assistance any independent state of the former Soviet Union that is providing assistance for, or engaging in nonmarket based trade with, Cuba. Withholds from assistance provided for an independent state an amount equal to the assistance and credits provided by such state in support of intelligence facilities in Cuba. Authorizes the President to waive the requirement to withhold such assistance if specified conditions are met. (Sec. 107) Requires the Director of the U.S. Information Agency to convert television broadcasting to Cuba under the Television Marti Service to ultra high frequency broadcasting. Repeals the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act and the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act upon the determination that there is a democratically-elected government in Cuba. (Sec. 108) Directs the President to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on assistance and commerce received by Cuba from other foreign countries. (Sec. 109) Authorizes the President to furnish assistance to individuals and independent nongovernmental organizations to support democracy-building efforts for Cuba. Directs the President to take steps to encourage the OAS to create a special emergency fund for the purpose of deploying human rights observers, election support, and election observation in Cuba. Urges the President to instruct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the OAS to encourage other OAS member states to join in calling for the Cuban Government to allow the immediate deployment of independent OAS human rights monitors throughout Cuba and on-site visits to Cuba by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Urges the President to provide not less than $5 million of the U.S. voluntary contribution to the OAS for the purposes of the special fund. (Sec. 110) Directs the President to withhold the allocation of assistance, with specified exceptions, for any country in an amount equal to the sum of assistance and credits, if any, provided by such country in support of the completion of the Cuban nuclear facility at Juragua, near Cienfuegos, Cuba. (Sec. 111) Directs the President to instruct all U.S. Government officials who engage in official conduct with the Cuban Government to raise on a regular basis the extradition of or rendering to the United States of all persons residing in Cuba who are sought by the U.S. Department of Justice for crimes committed in the United States. Title II: Assistance to a Free and Independent Cuba - Requires the President to develop a plan for providing economic assistance to Cuba at such time that a transition or a democratically-elected government is in power. Limits assistance for a transition government to humanitarian assistance necessary for the successful completion of the transition to democracy, remittances by individuals to their relatives of cash or goods, and military adjustment assistance. Expands assistance to include development and agricultural assistance and export financing (as well as other specified assistance) when a democratically-elected government is in power. (Sec. 202) Requires the President to take steps to obtain the agreement of other countries, international financial institutions, and multilateral organizations to provide comparable assistance to Cuba. Requires the President, upon transmittal to the Congress of a determination that a democratically-elected government is in power, to report to appropriate congressional committees on: (1) acts, policies, and practices that constitute significant barriers to, or distortions of, U.S. trade in goods or services or foreign direct investment with respect to Cuba; and (2) U.S. policy objectives regarding trade relations with a democratically-elected government in Cuba, including possible reciprocal extension of nondiscriminatory trade treatment (most-favored-nation treatment), designation of Cuba as a beneficiary developing country under the Generalized System of Preferences under the Trade Act of 1974 or as a beneficiary country under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, and negotiations regarding free trade such as Cuba's accession to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). (Sec. 203) Requires the President, upon determining that a democratically-elected government is in power in Cuba, to designate a United States-Cuba Council to: (1) ensure coordination between the U.S. Government and private sector in responding to change and promoting market-based development in Cuba; and (2) establish periodic meetings between the U.S. and Cuban private sectors for the purpose of facilitating bilateral trade. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the President to suspend the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba upon determining to the appropriate congressional committees that a democratically-elected government is in power in Cuba. Requires the President to notify the Congress of any action taken to suspend the economic embargo against Cuba. Declares that such suspension shall cease to be effective upon enactment of a joint resolution disapproving such action. (Sec. 205) Sets forth conditions under which a government in Cuba will be considered transitional or democratic. Title III: Protection of Property Rights of United States Nationals Against Confiscatory Takings By the Castro Regime - Makes any person, including any agency or instrumentality of a foreign state, that traffics in confiscated property liable for money damages to any U.S. national who owns the claim to such property. Grants U.S. district courts exclusive jurisdiction over such actions. (Sec. 303) Requires district courts to accept as conclusive proof of ownership a certification of a claim to ownership that has been made by the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission pursuant to the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949. Amends such Act to authorize district courts, for fact-finding purposes, to refer to the Commission questions of the amount and ownership of a claim by a U.S. national resulting from the confiscation of property by Cuba, whether or not the U.S. national qualifies as such at the time of the confiscation. (Sec. 304) Bars certain ineligible U.S. nationals, or Cuban nationals, from having a claim in the compensation paid to a U.S. national by virtue of a claim certified by the Commission. Title IV: Exclusion of Certain Aliens - Directs the Secretary of State to exclude from the United States aliens (or their spouses, minor children, or agents) involved in the confiscation of property, or the trafficking in confiscated property, owned by a U.S. national. Provides for case-by-case waiver of this exclusion in the national interest of the United States.
Bill· SS. 1246 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1995
Furlough Protection Act of 1995 - Amends Federal civil service and armed forces law to provide for the temporary continuance of basic civilian and military pay and associated benefits and allowances of Federal and District of Columbia personnel during any period of lapsed appropriations in which they perform service or are furloughed due to the failure to timely enact appropriations legislation for the employee's agency.
Bill· SS. 1239 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: General Provisions Title II: Federal Aviation Administration Streamlining Programs Title III: System to Fund Certain Federal Aviation Administration Functions Air Traffic Management System Performance Improvement Act of 1995 - Title I: General Provisions - Amends Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to delineate the powers and duties of the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the FAA. (Sec. 104) 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. Excepts emergency regulations from such prohibition, but subjects them to rescission if the Secretary fails to ratify them. 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. 105) Authorizes the Administrator to utilize personnel of other Federal agencies. (Sec. 107) Amends Federal transportation law to revise FAA budget provisions to require the Administrator, after the first fiscal year in which the FAA is funded entirely by user fees, to prepare a budget for the FAA for each fiscal year. Directs the Secretary to review such budget, recommending modifications to it to ensure consistency with the needs of the national transportation system. (Sec. 110) Directs the Administrator to establish a select panel to review and report to the Congress regarding a limited innovative program to fund specific facilities and equipment projects, and to provide limited additional funding alternatives for airport capacity development. (Sec. 112) 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. 113) 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. Title II: Federal Aviation Administration Streamlining Programs - Directs the Administrator to develop an innovative program for air traffic control modernization using an acquisition management system for FAA procurement of goods and services. (Sec. 202) Requires the Administrator to terminate programs funded under the Facilities and Equipment account, and to consider the termination of substantial acquisitions, that fail meet specified established project criteria. (Sec. 203) Directs the Administrator to develop an innovative personnel management system for the management, compensation, and advancement of FAA employees. Title III: System to Fund Certain Federal Aviation Administration Functions - Directs the FAA to submit to the Congress a performance-based fee system for various FAA services. (Sec. 303) Directs the FAA to enter into an agreement with the Department of Defense (DOD) for the reimbursement to the FAA of the net cost of air traffic control services provided to DOD. (Sec. 304) Directs the FAA to submit to the Congress a proposed fee system for air traffic control services. (Sec. 306) Increases for FY 1998 and 1999 Airport and Airway Trust Fund spending caps for certain direct costs for air navigation facilities and joint air navigation services. (Sec. 307) Requires the multiyear appropriation of funds (not less than three years) for Trust Fund activities.
Bill· HRH.R. 2322 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1995
Designates the Walla Walla Veterans Medical Center located at 77 Wainwright Drive, Walla Walla, Washington, as the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center.
Bill· HRH.R. 2314 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1995
Encourages the Secretary of Defense to provide for the commencement of a demonstration project to determine the feasibility or desirability of proposals for improving the personnel management policies or procedures applicable to the acquisition workforce of the Department of Defense.
Bill· HRH.R. 2313 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1995
Adds to the medical care authorized to be provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans in vet centers: (1) counseling to combat veterans of World War II or the Korean conflict; (2) preventive health care services; (3) medical services reasonably necessary in preparation for hospital admission; and (4) referral services to assist veterans in obtaining specialized care. Requires a report from the Secretary on the implementation of such additional care.
Bill· SS. 1224 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1995
Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1995 - Amends the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act (ADRA) and other Federal law with regard to alternative means of dispute resolution (ADR) in the administrative process. (Sec. 2) Excludes settlement negotiations from the list of ADR procedures. Repeals the current exclusion and permits parties to use ADR to resolve certain Federal employee-related disputes involving such matters as retirement, life or health insurance, and suspension or removal from duty, as well as prohibited personnel practices. (Sec. 3) Repeals the availability exemption to confidentiality, thus subjecting dispute resolution communications to the disclosure prohibition, even though they would be provided or available to all parties to the dispute resolution proceeding. Limits applicability of confidentiality requirements only to communications involved in the proceeding, and no longer, also, to any information concerning such communications. Exempts all dispute resolution communications from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. (Sec. 4) Directs the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States to report to the Congress on alternative means of dispute resolution implemented by Federal agencies. (Sec. 5) Allows a Federal agency to use the support services of State, local, and tribal governments. (Sec. 6) Amends the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 to: (1) require contractors using ADR procedures to resolve a claim against the Federal Government to comply with the same certification procedures applicable to any other claim subject to such Act; and (2) repeal its termination date. (Sec. 7) Provides for expedited hiring of neutrals in civilian and defense agency contracts for use in any part of an ADR process. (Sec. 8) Amends the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act to repeal its termination date and provide for a permanent authorization.
Bill· SS. 1228 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1995
Iran Foreign Oil Sanctions Act of 1995 - Directs the President to impose certain twelve-month economic sanctions against foreign persons who, with requisite knowledge, export goods or technology that would contribute to Iran's ability to extract, refine, produce, store, or transport petroleum or natural gas products. Waives the requirements of this Act if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that Iran has: (1) substantially improved its adherence to internationally recognized standards of human rights; (2) ceased its efforts to develop or acquire a nuclear explosive device, chemical or biological weapons, or missiles or related delivery systems; and (3) ceased support for acts of international terrorism. Sets forth additional criteria for such a waiver. Directs the President to establish a List of Petroleum and Natural Gas-Related Goods and Technology which shall be subject to the export control restrictions of this Act. Requires the President to report periodically to the appropriate congressional committees on Iran's: (1) nuclear and other military capabilities; and (2) support, if any, for acts of international terrorism.
Bill· HRH.R. 2289 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Veterans' Housing Programs Title II: Veterans' Employment and Training Title III: Employment and Reemployment Rights of Members of the Uniformed Services Veterans Housing, Employment Programs, and Employment Rights Benefits Act of 1995 - Title I: Veterans' Housing Programs - Extends permanently the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) negotiate interest rates charged to veterans on housing loans which are guaranteed or insured by the Department of Veterans Affairs; (2) carry out a demonstration project for guaranteeing veterans' housing loans in a manner similar to that in which adjustable rate mortgages are insured under the National Housing Act; (3) guarantee loans made to veterans for the purchase or construction of homes; (4) allow lenders of guaranteed loans to review home appraisals; and (5) enter into specified agreements with States, their political subdivisions, and nonprofit organizations for the provision of housing assistance for homeless veterans. Authorizes the Secretary to approve the issuance of, and guarantee timely payment of principal and interest on, certificates or other securities evidencing an interest in a pool of mortgage loans representing Department of Veterans Affairs-guaranteed housing loans, as long as such securities are issued on or before December 31, 2000 (currently, December 31, 1995). (Sec. 102) Requires specified veterans' housing loan information to be included in a current annual Department budget report required to be submitted to the Congress. Repeals superseded reporting requirements under the Veterans Home Loan Program Amendments of 1992. (Sec. 103) Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to: (1) extend through FY 1998 the authorization of appropriations for homeless veterans' reintegration projects; (2) revise the amount of appropriations authorized for FY 1997 and 1998; and (3) extend through FY 1998 the general authorization of appropriations and the authority under such Act. Title II: Veterans' Employment and Training - Directs the Secretary of Labor to assign regional administrators for the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (Service) in at least five geographic regions of the United States. (Currently, such representatives are required for each region for which the Secretary operates a regional office.) (Sec. 202) Authorizes the hiring of other support personnel for Directors and Assistant Directors for the Service. Revises eligibility requirements for persons appointed as Directors and Assistant Directors in any State for at least two years. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to conduct a pilot program under which the primary responsibilities of local veterans' employment representatives will be case management and the provision and facilitation of direct employment and training services to veterans. Limits the pilot program to no more than five States. Requires reports to the Congress and the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees. Terminates pilot program authority on October 1, 1998. Title III: Employment and Reemployment Rights of Members of the Uniformed Services - Requests the prompt reemployment of persons upon completion of any military service. (Currently, such request is limited to those who completed such service under honorable conditions.) Revises generally: (1) provisions prohibiting discrimination or acts of reprisal against persons who exercise certain employment or reemployment rights provided under current law, whether or not such person has performed military service; and (2) provisions guaranteeing reemployment rights to persons who serve in the armed forces. (Sec. 306) Prohibits an employer from requiring a person engaged in military service to use vacation, annual, or similar leave during such period of service. (Sec. 309) Allows a person to submit a complaint against the Office of Personnel Management for the enforcement of any employment or reemployment right. (Sec. 313) Empowers the Secretary, in conducting investigations concerning employment and reemployment rights of former military personnel, to interview persons with information relevant to such investigation. (Sec. 314) Provides transition rules and effective dates.
Bill· HRH.R. 2278 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 1995
Import Control and Safe Handling of Spent Nuclear Fuel Act of 1995 - Prohibits the importation of spent nuclear fuel unless: (1) the Congress has approved a repository with storage or disposal capacity for all the spent nuclear fuel from commercial nuclear reactors and atomic energy defense activities; and (2) such repositories are federally licensed and operating. Exempts from such proscription: (1) samples of spent nuclear fuel imported for testing and evaluation for national security reasons; and (2) imports from countries not authorized to possess nuclear weapons under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, but which are known or suspected to be producing or developing nuclear weapons. Provides guidelines which a port authority may use to ensure the safe unloading, transfer, and shipment of spent nuclear fuel through its port.
Bill· SS. 1206 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: General Adoption Assistance Title II: Adoption Assistance for Federal Employees Title III: Exclusion of Adoption Assistance Adoption Assistance Act - Title I: General Adoption Assistance - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual a refundable tax credit of up to $5,000 for qualified adoption expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year. Provides a limitation based on modified adjusted gross income. Title II: Adoption Assistance for Federal Employees - Requires the head of each agency to establish a program under which any employee of such agency (including a Postal Service employee) who adopts a child shall be provided a limited reimbursement for adoption expenses. Prohibits denial of an application for reimbursement on the basis of the marital status of the individual. Title III: Exclusion of Adoption Assistance - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income employee or military adoption assistance benefits received by an employee for adoption assistance.
Bill· SS. 1202 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
Role Models Academy Demonstration Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to carry out a demonstration program under which a four-year, residential, military-style academy (the Role Models Academy) is established which: (1) offers at-risk youth secondary school coursework and vocational training (and may offer precollegiate coursework); (2) focuses on the education and vocational training of youth at risk of delinquency or dropping out of secondary school; (3) has a teaching staff primarily composed of former members of the armed forces or participants in the Troops to Teachers Program, if they are qualified and trained to teach at the Academy; (4) operates a mentoring program involving role models from all sectors of society; (5) may contain a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps unit; (6) is housed on the site of any military installation closed pursuant to a base closure law; and (7) if effective, serves as a model for similar military-style academies throughout the United States. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2264 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
Amends Federal civil service law to declare that civilian employees of the National Guard may not be required to wear military uniforms while performing civilian service.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 100 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President and the Congress should adopt a Peace Through Strength Strategy for the post-Cold War era, based on the following general principles and goals: (1) the United States must accept and maintain global leadership through a clear and consistent articulation of vital U.S. national interests and goals; (2) the United States must maintain highly trained, well-equipped, combat-ready military forces and the national will to prevail in any conflict; (3) U.S. interests are promoted through participation in global and regional political, military, and economic organizations, treaties, and alliances, but the United States must retain its sovereignty and reserve the right to act unilaterally; (4) national wealth and economic strength are the foundation of all forms of power; (5) the economic vitality of the United States rests not only on free market competitiveness but also on responsible financial management; (6) the United States must expand effective human and technical intelligence capabilities to anticipate, detect, and respond to emerging threats; (7) the United States will act to lessen, prevent, and eliminate security threats, including those posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and of high technology conventional arms, terrorism, drug trafficking, and disruption of access to vital resources; (8) national security policy must be explained to the public in the clear context of national interests and a realistic strategy for protecting those interests; (9) the United States must maintain a strong technological and industrial base with a skilled workforce to support superior U.S. global economic competitiveness and military preparedness; and (10) the United States must systematically and sharply reduce its dependence on imported oil.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 166 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1995
Urges the Government of Croatia and the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to: (1) continue their military cooperation for the purpose of defending the territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and (2) continue and strengthen their political and economic support for the Bosniac-Croat Federation. Calls on the U.S. Government to: (1) provide full support to such Federation; (2) uphold as a top policy objective preserving the self-government and territorial integrity of such Republics; and (3) oppose any peace settlement that would undermine this objective.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 164 (104th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1995
Expresses the respect and appreciation of the Senate to the men and women who served in World War II and their families. Remembers and pays tribute to those Americans who gave their life for their country during such War.
Bill· SS. 1147 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
Defense Production Act Amendments of 1995 - Amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to: (1) extend provisions of titles I, III, and VII of such Act through FY 1998 (with exceptions); and (2) extend through FY 1998 the authorization of appropriations for certain projects and activities contained under title III of such Act.
Bill· SS. 1157 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
Multilateral Bosnia and Herzegovina Self-Defense Fund Act - Authorizes the President to enter into an international agreement with eligible countries to establish the Multilateral Bosnia and Herzegovina Self-Defense Fund as an international mechanism for the procurement of military equipment and training for transfer to the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the exercise of its right of self-defense. Sets forth requirements with respect to the administration of such Fund. Makes specified funds available for the U.S. contribution to the Fund. Authorizes the President, subject to notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations, to drawdown and transfer to the custody of the international board having responsibility for the Fund, without reimbursement, defense articles from Department of Defense (DOD) stocks and DOD services of up to a specified aggregate value in FY 1996. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1148 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Laws Title II: Adjustment to Import Competition Title III: International Unfair Trade Practices Title IV: Provisions Relating to Imports Title V: Negotiating Authority Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions Economic Revitalization Act - Establishes the Economic Security Council in the Executive Office of the President. Directs the Council to advise the President with respect to the integration of national and international policies relating to economics and trade. Title I: Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Laws - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to revise the authority of the administering authority and the International Trade Commission (ITC) to make proprietary information available to interested parties to antidumping duty or countervailing duty investigations under a protective order. (Sec. 102) Declares that "downstream dumping" means a course of conduct in which a product is routinely used as a significant part in the manufacture of merchandise subject to an antidumping duty investigation and such product is purchased at a price: (1) lower than the generally available price in the country of manufacture or production; or (2) lower than such price but for the artificial depression of the generally available price by reason of any subsidy or other sales at below foreign market value. Requires the administering authority to include the amount attributable to the downstream dumping in calculating the amount of any antidumping duty on such merchandise. Requires the administering authority to consider, when deciding whether to impose an antidumping duty on imported merchandise, any determination that an industry producing a product used in the manufacture of such merchandise has been materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the establishment of such an industry in the United States has been materially retarded. (Sec. 103) Provides for treatment of counteravailable subsidies to enterprises or industries in nonmarket economy countries. (Sec. 104) Revises factors to be considered by the ITC with respect to imports subject to an antidumping duty or countervailing duty investigation. (Sec. 105) Revises provisions regarding merchandise subject to an antidumping or countervailing duty order that is assembled with foreign imported parts in the United States or another foreign country than the foreign country to which the order applies. (Sec. 106) Amends the antidumping provision of the Unfair Competition Act of 1916 to revise the predicate of a private cause of action to remove intent to injure or monopolize as a necessary element. Restricts remedies to injunctive relief, or simple damages if injunctive relief cannot be timely provided. Eliminates treble damage awards and criminal penalties. Provides for private enforcement actions. (Sec. 107) Requires the Secretary of Commerce to report annually to the Congress on the antidumping and countervailing duty program. Title II: Adjustment to Import Competition - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to transfer to the Secretary the responsibilities of the ITC with respect to relief from injury caused by import competition. (Sec. 201) Authorizes a petitioner for import relief to consult with the Secretary (currently, the United States Trade Representative (USTR)) before submitting to him or her a plan to facilitate positive adjustment to import competition. Revises: (1) the method for making "substantial cause" and "affected domestic injury" determinations; and (2) factors the Secretary must take into account when recommending action to relieve a domestic industry from such injury, and help it make a positive adjustment to import competition. Prohibits an investigation for import relief with respect to articles that have been the subject of certain actions with respect to an orderly marketing agreement. Title III: Unfair International Trade Practices - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the USTR to identify U.S. trade liberalization priorities no later than September 30 of each calendar year. Adds specified congressional committees to the list of those to which the USTR must report about such priorities. Makes any of such committees eligible to file a petition with respect to import barriers and market distorting practices of foreign countries whenever it determines (by resolution) that an investigation should be initiated. (Sec. 301) Requires the ITC to take specified trade relief action if it determines that a priority practice constitutes an act, policy, or practice of a foreign country that is unreasonable or discriminatory and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce. (Sec. 302) Authorizes an interested person to request a USTR review to determine whether a foreign country is in compliance with any trade agreement it has with the United States. Requires the USTR to take specified actions with respect to a foreign country's noncompliance with an agreement. (Sec. 303) Requires the National Trade Estimate to include an enumeration of the ten most significant trade deficits between the United States and other countries on an industry-by-industry basis. Title IV: Provisions Relating to Imports - Urges the President to propose to the United Nations Economic and Social Rights Committee that the Convention for the Rights of the Child, which is to be submitted to the General Assembly of the United Nations, include a worldwide ban on trade in products of child labor (employment of children under 15). (Sec. 401) Directs the Secretary of Labor to undertake periodic reviews to identify countries: (1) which have not adopted or are not enforcing prohibitions against child labor in the production of products; and (2) which have exported products of child labor continually to the United States. Authorizes any person to file a petition with the Secretary requesting that a particular foreign country be identified as such a country. Prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from permitting the entry of any product from such a country, with certain exceptions, during the effective identification period. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for attempting to enter into the United States a prohibited product. (Sec. 402) Prohibits: (1) the importation or transportation in interstate commerce of products of forced labor in foreign countries (except those vital to national security); and (2) U.S. nationals from investing in, or making loans to, a foreign joint venture involving the use of forced labor. Sets forth civil penalties for violations of such prohibitions. Provides for private enforcement actions, including awards of treble damages to injured domestic competitors. Title V: Negotiating Authority - Amends the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 to repeal provisions authorizing the President to proclaim modification or continuance of existing duties, continuance of existing duty-free or excise treatment, or such additional duties to carry out trade agreements regarding unfair trade barriers by foreign countries. (Sec. 502) Amends the Trade Act of 1974 and the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 to repeal provisions relating to: (1) congressional "fast track" procedures for implementation of trade agreements on tariff and nontariff barriers; (2) bilateral trade agreements on such barriers; and (3) resolutions approving commercial agreements with Communist countries. (Sec. 503) Amends the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to require Federal agencies to include an environmental impact statement in every recommendation or report on proposals for legislation and other major Federal actions significantly affecting bilateral and multilateral negotiations with other countries on trade or other matters. (Sec. 504) Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the inclusion of representatives of environmental, consumer, and health and safety interests on the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, specified general policy advisory committees, and certain sectoral or functional advisory committees. Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prohibit for three years any multiple customs law offender from: (1) introducing or attempting to introduce foreign goods into U.S. commerce; or (2) engaging or attempting to engage any other person to introduce, on such offender's behalf, foreign goods into U.S. commerce. (Sec. 602) Amends the Foreign Trade Zones Act to prohibit the Foreign Trade Zone Board from establishing manufacturing subzones unless it finds that certain U.S. trade benefits will result. (Sec. 603) Amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to repeal a provision of procedures for congressional disapproval of presidential action to adjust imports of petroleum that threaten to impair national security. (Sec. 604) Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to provide that a foreign principal shall be considered to control a person in major part if such principal holds at least 50 percent equitable ownership in such person. Replaces references to: (1) "agent" with "representative"; and (2) "propaganda" with "promotional material." Requires representatives of foreign principals engaging in private and nonpolitical activities who are relying on exemptions to registration requirements to notify the Attorney General. Establishes within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice a section to enforce the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, provisions of the Federal criminal code added by this Act, and all other laws relating to lobbying activities in the United States. Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit the President, Vice President, specified Federal officials, members of the uniformed services, and Members of Congress, for specified time periods after their service has ceased, from acting as agents or attorneys for compensation in matters (with specified exceptions) in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest for: (1) a foreign government or political party; (2) a person outside of the United States, unless such person is a U.S. citizen; or (3) a combination of persons organized under the laws of, or having its principal place of business in, a foreign country. (Sec. 605) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to specify additional factors to be considered in determining the "transaction value" and "computed value" of imported merchandise with regard to the imposition of customs duties. (Sec. 606) Directs the Attorney General to take appropriate action to initiate export foreclosure antitrust cases under the Sherman Act and any other appropriate antitrust law. Requires the Attorney General to develop a list of practices that are to be the subject of such actions and the countries in which such practices occur, organized in order of priority based upon their economic impact. (Sec. 607) Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to eliminate certain quarterly reports that issuers of registered securities must file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (Sec. 608) Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the Secretary of Labor to publish a quarterly report of notices U.S. firms should provide before relocating to a foreign country (runaway plants). (Sec. 609) Amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to require the President to investigate (conduct an Exon-Florio review) to determine the effects on national security in any instance in which a person seeks to engage in a merger, acquisition, or takeover which could result in control of a person doing business in critical technologies in interstate commerce in the United States. (Sec. 610) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to increase the number of Internal Revenue Service officers and employees whose primary responsibility is determining taxable income substantially affected by transfer pricing between related entities. (Sec. 611) Transfers ITC functions to the Department of Commerce. Terminates the ITC. (Sec. 612) Transfers the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States to the Department of Commerce. (Sec. 613) Establishes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) as an independent Federal agency. (Sec. 614) Imposes a ten percent surcharge on imported goods. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase, and make permanent, the allowable credit for businesses for increasing research activities.
Bill· SS. 1139 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 9 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Maritime Security Title II: Operating Flexibility and Regulatory Relief Title III: Loan Guarantees and Ship Repair Title IV: Miscellaneous Maritime Reform and Security Act of 1995 - Title I: Maritime Security - Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to mandate establishment of a fleet of active, militarily useful, privately-owned vessels to meet national defense and other security requirements and maintain a U.S. presence in international commercial shipping. Requires that fleet vessels have an operating-differential subsidy agreement and be 25 years old or less (for lighter aboard ship vessels) or 15 years old or less (for other types of vessels). Mandates an operating agreement requiring that vessels be operated in the foreign trade (without restriction, notwithstanding specified existing requirements) or in mixed foreign and domestic trade as allowed under specified registry endorsement provisions. Prohibits otherwise operating them in the coastwise trade. Declares that participation in the Fleet shall not subject a contractor to any requirement under specified provisions. Makes the renewable term of the agreement one year and requires renewal if sufficient funds are available. Mandates, subject to the availability of appropriations, annual payments for each vessel. Establishes an Emergency Preparedness Program under which a fleet vessel, during time of war or national emergency, must make available commercial transportation resources, including vessels or capacity in vessels, intermodal systems and equipment, terminal facilities, intermodal and management services, and other related services as necessary. Requires compensation for resources provided for the commercial diversion period. Allows operation or employment in foreign commerce of a foreign-flag vessel as a temporary replacement for an activated vessel. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 102) Prohibits operating-differential subsidy (ODS) payments for a vessel 25 years old or older, unless in the public interest. Prohibits new ODS contracts after enactment of this Act. Continues existing contracts until they terminate by their terms. Makes essential services requirements inapplicable to the ODS program in certain circumstances. Allows a vessel, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to be transferred and registered under a foreign registry in specified circumstances. (Sec. 103) Prohibits, subject to exception, any contractor or related party from receiving payments while it participates in a noncontiguous domestic trade, except with written permission of the Secretary of Transportation. Requires such permission for changes in sailing frequency, capacity, or domestic ports called. Authorizes permission unless the Secretary finds existing service is adequate or the proposed service would result in unfair competition or would be contrary to the objects and policy of the Act. Requires denial of operating agreement payments while unauthorized noncontiguous domestic trade service is provided. Title II: Operating Flexibility and Regulatory Relief - Declares that provisions prohibiting ODS contractors from operating competing foreign-flag vessels do not preclude owning, chartering, or operating (or some combination thereof) a foreign-flag vessel in specified circumstances. (Sec. 202) Amends the Shipping Act, 1916 to modify the circumstances under which, notwithstanding certain provisions of law, a vessel may be placed under a foreign registry with the approval of the Secretary of Transportation. (Sec. 203) Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to require that, notwithstanding any other provision of law or contract, all restrictions and requirements (under specified provisions) applicable to a liner vessel constructed, reconstructed, or reconditioned with the aid of a construction-differential subsidy terminate 25 years after vessel delivery from the shipyard. (Sec. 204) Makes a liner vessel which is not documented under specified provisions and which meets specified requirements eligible for a certificate of inspection. Declares that a vessel documented as a U.S.-flag vessel under these provisions continues to be eligible for such a certificate by complying with international agreements and associated guidelines. Allows the Secretary of Transportation to rely on a certification from a classification society accepted by the Secretary to establish that a vessel is in compliance with certain requirements. Title III: Loan Guarantees and Ship Repair - Amends Federal ship mortgage insurance provisions to mandate: (1) establishment of a system of risk categories, for obligations guaranteed under the provisions, reflecting specified risk factors; and (2) determination for each category of a subsidy rate equivalent to the average annual cost of obligations in the category. Prohibits guaranteeing obligations when the amount guaranteed, multiplied by the subsidy rate, equals or exceeds appropriated funds. Mandates a fee, determined according to a specified formula, for the guarantee of an obligation. Deems the Secretary of Transportation, for Federal ship mortgage insurance provisions and notwithstanding any other provision of law, to be the "Secretary" with respect to loan guarantee applications to finance the construction, reconstruction, or reconditioning of fishing vessels intended for the export commerce. Prohibits any fishing vessel financed with a Department of Transportation export loan guarantee from engaging in any fishery within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. (Sec. 303) Mandates a pilot program to evaluate the feasibility of using long-term contracts for the maintenance and repair of outported vessels in the Ready Reserve Force to enhance the readiness of those vessels. Requires, subject to appropriations, the award of nine contracts. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Amends Federal law relating to merchant seamen protection and relief to extend veterans' benefits to an individual who served as a member of the U.S. merchant marine between August 16, 1945, and December 31, 1946, and who, during that period, was licensed or documented as a crewmember of a vessel that at the time of service was: (1) operated by the War Shipping Administration or the Office of Defense Transportation, or an agent thereof; (2) operated in waters other than inland waters, the Great Lakes, other lakes, bays, and harbors of the United States; (3) under contract, charter to, or property of, the U.S. Government; and (4) serving the armed forces. (Sec. 402) Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to entitle a merchant mariner who serves during a war, armed conflict, national emergency, or mobilization need to the same reemployment rights as are guaranteed to a member of a Reserve component of the armed forces who is ordered to active duty. (Sec. 403) Extends the termination date of the authority of the Secretary of Commerce to provide insurance and reinsurance under provisions relating to war risk insurance. (Sec. 404) Amends the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946 to modify one of the circumstances under which a vessel in the National Defense Reserve Fleet may be used, requiring that the Secretary of Defense (currently, the Secretary of the Navy) request the use. (Sec. 405) Amends Federal law relating to the general duties and powers of the Secretary of Transportation to direct the Secretary to report to the Congress each even-numbered year (currently, each year) on the conditions of U.S. public ports.
Bill· SS. 1131 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 August 1995
Authorizes the United States Court of Veterans Appeals to provide funds to nonprofit organizations to permit such organizations to provide financial assistance to legal assistance entities, which will in turn provide legal advice or representation to veterans before the Court who cannot afford the costs of such advice and representation. Outlines the legal services to be included as part of such advice and representation. Prohibits the legal assistance entity from also charging the individual a fee for such advice or representation. Provides administrative authority for nonprofit organizations to accept funds for the purposes of this Act. Directs the Court to report annually to the Congress on the funds and financial assistance provided under this Act.
Law· SS. 1124 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Procurement Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Army Programs Subtitle C: Navy Programs Subtitle D: Other Programs Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations Subtitle C: Missile Defense Title III: Operation and Maintenance Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Depot-Level Maintenance and Repair Subtitle C: Environmental Provisions Subtitle D: Civilian Employees Subtitle E: Defense Financial Management Subtitle F: Assistance for Civilian Activities Subtitle G: Operation of Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Activities Subtitle H: Other Matters Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations Subtitle A: Active Forces Subtitle B: Reserve Forces Subtitle C: Military Training Student Loads Subtitle D: Authorization of Appropriations Title V: Military Personnel Policy Subtitle A: Officer Personnel Policy Subtitle B: Matters Relating to Reserve Components Subtitle C: Uniform Code of Military Justice Subtitle D: Decorations and Awards Subtitle E: Other Matters Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances Subtitle B: Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances Subtitle D: Commissaries and Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities Subtitle E: Other Matters Title VII: Health Care Subtitle A: Health Care Services Subtitle B: TRICARE Program Subtitle C: Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities Subtitle D: Other Changes to Existing Laws Regarding Health Care Management Subtitle E: Other Matters Title VIII: Acquisition Policy, Acquisition Management, and Related Matters Subtitle A: Acquisition Reform Subtitle B: Other Matters Title IX: Department of Defense Organization and Management Title X: General Provisions Subtitle A: Financial Matters Subtitle B: Naval Vessels Subtitle C: Counter-Drug Activities Subtitle D: Department of Defense Education Programs Subtitle E: Cooperative Threat Reduction With States of the Former Soviet Union Subtitle F: Matters Relating to Other Nations Subtitle G: Repeal of Certain Reporting Requirements Subtitle H: Other Matters Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 to the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force for the procurement of aircraft, missiles, weapons, tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and for other procurement. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 for: (1) defense-wide procurement; (2) reserve procurements; (3) the Defense Inspector General; (4) the chemical demilitarization program; and (5) the defense health program. Subtitle B: Army Programs - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to enter into multiyear procurement contracts for AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopters. (Sec. 112) States that a prohibition under a prior defense authorization Act against the procurement of military helicopters shall not apply to the obligation of funds for procurement of up to 20 AHIP Scout aircraft from funds appropriated under this title. (Sec. 113) Prohibits any funds available to the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY 1996 from being obligated to procure Hydra 70 rockets until the Secretary of the Army submits to the Congress certain certifications with respect to technical corrections in such rocket, the costs of such corrections, and related information. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to waive such certification requirement in the national security interest. Subtitle C: Navy Programs - Earmarks funds appropriated under this Act for the final Seawolf attack submarine and the first two submarines under the New Attack Submarine (NAS) program. Earmarks funds under the FY 1997 defense authorization Act for design, advance procurement, and research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) under the NAS program. Requires competition in the procurement of the Seawolf and the NAS. Prohibits certain actions in order to ensure that Electric Boat Division and Newport News Shipbuilding retain the technical competencies to construct the NAS. Limits the FY 1996-1999 expenditure of funds for the Seawolf and the NAS. Requires certain reports. (Sec. 122) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to repeal a prohibition on the backfitting of Trident submarines. (Sec. 123) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for the initial and final increment funding for two Arleigh Burke class destroyers. (Sec. 124) Authorizes the Secretary to provide in the future-years defense program for split funding of construction of new naval vessels satisfying specified requirements. Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to contract for the construction of a new naval vessel upon appropriation of a first increment of funding for construction of the vessel. Subtitle D: Other Programs - Prohibits FY 1996 DOD RDT&E funds from being obligated or expended for the Tier II Predator unmanned aerial vehicle program. (Sec. 132) Allows the obligation of only one-sixth of the funding for the unmanned aerial vehicle joint program office before the Secretary of the Navy must certify to the House Armed Services and Senate National Security Committees (defense committees) that such systems have been equipped with the common automatic landing and recovery system. Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 for the armed forces for RDT&E and for basic research and exploratory development. Subtitle B: Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations - Earmarks funds authorized under this title for specified phases of the AF117X long-range, medium attack aircraft. (Sec. 212) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to empower the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology with the responsibility for developing and testing naval mine countermeasures systems during FY 1997 through 1999. (Currently, the Director, Defense Research and Engineering has such responsibility during FY 1995 through 1999.) (Sec. 213) Allows the obligation of no more than 50 percent of the funds authorized under this title for the Tomahawk Baseline Improvement Program before the Secretary of the Navy must certify to the defense committees with respect to certain testing under the Program. (Sec. 214) Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to structure the development schedule for the Space and Missile Tracking System so as to achieve a first launch of a System satellite in FY 2001, and to attain initial operational capability of a full constellation of such satellites in FY 2003. Requires the concurrence of the Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization with respect to certain decisions made under the System. Authorizes FY 1996 appropriations. (Sec. 215) Directs the Secretary to perform an analysis of the full range of precision guided munitions in production and in RDT&E. Requires a report to the Congress on the Secretary's findings. Provides funding limitations until such report is received. (Sec. 216) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for: (1) Defense Nuclear Agency funding; (2) the tunnel characterization and neutralization program; and (3) the long-term radiation tolerant microelectronics program (with a required report). (Sec. 217) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for the Counterproliferation Support Program. Authorizes the Secretary, in the national interest, to transfer to the Program funds otherwise made available to DOD in this Division for FY 1996. Limits to $50 million the total authorized amount of such transfers. (Sec. 218) Directs the Secretary to establish in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology a Program Office for Nonlethal Systems and Technologies to conduct RDT&E of nonlethal weapons applicable to forces engaged in both traditional and nontraditional military operations. Provides funding. (Sec. 219) Authorizes the obligation of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to DOD for FY 1996 to procure work from a federally funded research and development center named in a report from the Secretary to the defense committees. Prohibits any funding for such procurement until the report is received. Earmarks funds authorized under this title for such purpose. Authorizes the Secretary to waive the funding limitation as long as notice of, and the reasons for, such waiver are sent to the defense committees. Reduces by $90 million the total amount authorized under this title for RDT&E. (Sec. 220) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to revise the determination of States eligible for the awarding of grants under the Defense Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. (Sec. 221) Repeals, with respect to the national defense technology and industrial base, defense reinvestment, and defense conversion programs: (1) certain definitions; (2) specified policy objectives; (3) the commercial-military integration partnerships program; (4) the regional technology alliances assistance program; (5) the Military-Civilian Integration and Technology Transfer Advisory Board; (6) the Navy Reinvestment Program; (7) the manufacturing extension programs; and (8) the defense dual-use assistance extension program. (Sec. 222) Directs the Secretary to: (1) use the manufacturing science and technology joint planning process of the directors of DOD laboratories in establishing the DOD manufacturing science and technology program; and (2) seek the participation of equipment manufacturers in the projects under such program. (Sec. 223) Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Energy to jointly submit to the Congress a report on DOD plans and programs to prepare for and respond to military and civil defense emergencies resulting from a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack on the United States. Subtitle C: Missile Defense - Missile Defense Act of 1995 - States the missile defense policy of the United States. Directs the Secretary to establish a top priority core theater missile defense (CTMD) program consisting of specified systems. Requires the Secretary to ensure that CTMD systems are interoperable and fully capable of external sensor and battle management support from defense systems of the various armed forces. Directs the Secretary to terminate the Corps Surface to Air Missile System and the Boost Phase Interceptor. Directs the Secretary to develop an affordable development plan for follow-on theater missile defense systems which: (1) leverages existing systems, technologies, and programs; and (2) focuses investments to satisfy military requirements not met by the CTMD program. Requires specified reports from the Secretary to the congressional defense (armed forces and appropriations) committees. (Sec. 235) Directs the Secretary to develop an affordable and operationally effective national missile defense (NMD) system which will attain initial operational capability by the end of 2003. Outlines NMD system requirements. Requires the: (1) development of an interim operational capability until the NMD system is in place and operational; (2) use of streamlined acquisition procedures in meeting the development and operational capability requirements of the NMD system; (3) employment of cost saving measures which do not decrease the operational effectiveness of the system or pose unacceptable technical risks; and (4) submission of a report from the Secretary to the congressional defense committees on the plan for NMD deployment. (Sec. 236) Directs the Secretary to undertake an initiative to coordinate and strengthen the cruise missile defense programs, projects, and activities of the military departments and defense agencies and organizations to ensure the development and deployment of highly effective defenses against existing and future cruise missile threats. Outlines provisions concerning: (1) actions to be taken by the Secretary with respect to such initiative; and (2) submission by the Secretary to the congressional defense committees of a detailed implementation plan for carrying out the initiative. (Sec. 237) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Senate should undertake a comprehensive review of the continuing value and validity of the ABM Treaty, and recommend additional policy guidance on the future application of such Treaty; and (2) the President should cease all efforts to modify, clarify, or otherwise alter U.S. obligations under such Treaty pending the outcome of the review. Directs the Secretary to provide the Senate with a complete, unclassified version of the ABM Treaty negotiating record, authorizing the Secretary to waive the declassification requirements on a document-by-document basis. (Sec. 238) States that, until a missile or air defense system is flight- tested in an ABM-qualifying flight test, such system, upgrade, or component: (1) has not been tested in an ABM mode, for Treaty purposes; and (2) is therefore not subject to Treaty application, limitation, or obligation. Prohibits appropriated funds from being expended or obligated by any government official to apply such Treaty to RDT&E or deployment of such non-qualifying air or missile defense systems. Ceases the application of such prohibition when a system is flight tested in an ABM-qualifying manner. Requires the Secretary to annually certify to the Congress that no U.S. air or missile defense system is being constrained by the ABM Treaty in a manner inconsistent with this section. Finds that ballistic missile range and velocity parameters should be subject to the Senate's review under section 237. (Sec. 239) Requires amounts requested for activities of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in annual budget justification materials submitted to the Congress to be set forth in accordance with specified program elements. Provides the origin of funding for non-core TMD, core TMD, and battle management, control, communications, and intelligence programs. Requires each program element to include requests for amounts necessary for management and support of the programs. (Sec. 241) Repeals various missile defense provisions of specified Acts made inconsistent by this Subtitle. Title III: Operation and Maintenance - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 for the armed forces and specified agencies and activities of DOD for operation and maintenance (O&M). Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 for: (1) DOD working capital and revolving funds; and (2) operation of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. (Sec. 304) Transfers a specified amount from the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund to O&M accounts for FY 1996. Subtitle B: Depot-Level Maintenance and Repair - Directs the Secretary to develop and report to the defense committees a comprehensive policy on the performance of depot-level maintenance and repair (DLMR) for DOD, with a primary objective of a ready and controlled source of technical competence and repair and maintenance capabilities necessary for national security across a full range of current and projected training and operational requirements. Repeals: (1) a current requirement that no more than 40 percent of the DOD DLMR be performed by non-Government personnel; and (2) a provision prohibiting the contracting out of DOD DLMR activities of at least $3 million without using competitive selection procedures. (Sec. 312) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to extend through FY 1996 the authority for aviation depots and naval shipyards to engage in defense-related production and services. Subtitle C: Environmental Provisions - Allows agreements for environmental restoration services performed by another Federal or State agency to provide for reimbursement to such agency only of the technical and scientific services obtained, with an FY 1996 reimbursement limitation of $5 million. Allows the Secretary to pay reimbursement expenses in excess of such amount after certifying to the Congress that such payment is essential for the management of the Defense Environmental Restoration Program, and 60 days have expired since such certification. Directs the Secretary to include in required annual reports the services obtained from such agencies on a reimbursable basis. (Sec. 322) Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to apply its vessel discharge requirements to discharges incidental to the normal operations of a military vessel, other than sewage, unless the Secretary finds that compliance would not be in the best interests of national security. Directs the Secretary and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to jointly determine the discharge incidental to the normal operation of a military vessel for which it is reasonable and practicable to require the use of a marine pollution control device in order to mitigate adverse impacts on the marine environment, and to promulgate Federal standards of performance for such devices with respect to the discharge. Provides time limits for initial determinations and final standards. Preempts a State or political jurisdiction from adopting or enforcing such standards for a military vessel after final Federal regulations are in effect, but allows a State to completely prohibit any discharge from a vessel into waters of the State when its water quality requires greater environmental protection than that afforded by the Federal standards. Requires the EPA Administrator to then take specified enforcement action with respect to such prohibition. Requires a State to specifically explain why a prohibition would apply only to military vessels and not other types. Limits the application of such regulations with respect to design, construction, manning, or equipment standards on foreign flagged vessels engaged in passage. Provides for interagency cooperation in the development of appropriate standards under the marine vessel discharge requirements of such Act. (Sec. 323) Revises Federal provisions concerning: (1) the establishment of restoration advisory boards; (2) funding for the administrative expenses of such boards; and (3) the provision of technical assistance grants for determining the nature of environmental hazards at a military installation to be closed under a base closure law and the restoration activities proposed or conducted there. Provides funding for such activities to the extent provided in appropriation Acts, with an FY 1996 limit of $4 million. Requires reports from technical review committees or restoration advisory boards formed for such purpose to be included in an annual DOD report on environmental restoration activities. Subtitle D: Civilian Employees - Provides the minimum FY 1996 and 1997 number of personnel to be employed as military reserve technicians. (Sec. 332) Exempts DOD from personnel ceilings for civilian personnel. (Sec. 333) Requires military reserve technicians to wear the uniform appropriate for the member's grade and component while performing technician duties. Provides a uniform or clothing allowance for such technicians. (Sec. 334) Extends through January 31, 1996, the temporary authority to pay evacuation pay to civilian DOD employees and their dependents and immediate family members evacuated from Guantanamo, Cuba, pursuant to an order issued by the Secretary. Requires a monthly report from the Secretary of the Navy regarding the employees being so paid. (Sec. 335) Authorizes the transfer of civilian employees between the DOD domestic dependent schools and the overseas defense dependents' education system. (Sec. 336) Revises the authority of the Secretary to appoint involuntarily separated military reserve technicians who have served for a specified minimum period to positions within DOD for which such individual is qualified. (Sec. 337) Includes employees voluntarily separated under reduction-in- force procedures among those eligible for continued health insurance coverage for a temporary period. (Sec. 338) Makes inapplicable to DOD: (1) the 120-day limitation on the detail of certain Federal employees; and (2) required biannual reports concerning progress made in meeting part-time career employment goals. (Sec. 340) Authorizes the Secretary or the Secretary of a military department to release from employment those individuals who volunteer under a reduction in force. Terminates such authority at the end of FY 1996. (Sec. 341) Authorizes DOD to make lump-sum severance payments to its employees, requiring a refund of the pro rata share of such pay if such individual is reemployed. Terminates such authority as of the end of FY 1999. (Sec. 342) Adjusts the holiday observance day for DOD employees whose basic workweek is other than Monday through Friday. (Sec. 343) Includes DOD nonappropriated fund instrumentality employees within a Federal provision authorizing flexible and compressed work schedules. Subtitle E: Defense Financial Management - Prohibits funds authorized to be appropriated to DOD by this Act from being obligated for a capital lease for the establishment of a DOD financial management training center until 90 days after the Secretary submits to the defense committees a certification of the need for such a center as well as a report on financial management training for DOD personnel. (Sec. 352) Prohibits the Secretary during FY 1996 from establishing any center for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service not operating on the date of enactment of this Act unless the Secretary reports to the Congress a need for such new center and 30 days have elapsed since the receipt of such report. Requires the Secretary, before submitting such report, to reexamine the need for any new center. Subtitle F: Miscellaneous Assistance - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army or Air Force to provide for participation of its National Guard in joint disaster and emergency assistance exercises. (Sec. 362) Prohibits funds authorized in this or any other Act from being obligated or expended for: (1) the Office of Civil-Military Programs within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs; or (2) the Office of Humanitarian and Refugee Affairs within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. (Sec. 363) Revises Federal provisions establishing the Civil-Military Cooperative Action Program to: (1) allow only the reserve components (currently, all of the armed forces) to participate in the Program; (2) revise the Program objectives; and (3) eliminate the establishment of Federal or regional advisory councils for the Program. Subtitle G: Operation of Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Activities - Makes inapplicable to the Coast Guard a Federal provision limiting the authorized amount of funds to be retained in the morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) account of an armed force. (Sec. 372) Authorizes the MWR retail facilities to sell items according to regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Prohibits certain sale restrictions from being included in such regulations. Directs the Secretary to report to the defense committees identifying each restriction in effect with respect to exchange stores and other revenue-generating facilities operated by nonappropriated fund activities of DOD for the MWR of its members. (Sec. 373) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 to repeal the requirement to convert naval ships' stores to nonappropriated fund instrumentalities. Subtitle H: Other Matters - Makes funds from the National Defense Sealift Fund available for expenses of the Ready Reserve component of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. (Sec. 382) Prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from contracting for the construction of any additional sealift ship by a contractor unless such Secretary has submitted to the Congress, at least 60 days before entering into a contract, a certification: (1) with respect to the history of such contractor in meeting cost requirements under any former sealift construction contract; or (2) that such contractor is financially capable of constructing such additional sealift ship without financial assistance from the Government. (Sec. 383) Requires a specified conditional portion of the amount recovered by the government in a fiscal year for losses and expenses incurred by DOD as a result of contractor fraud at military installations to be credited to appropriations accounts of DOD on the basis of the losses actually suffered at each installation as a result of such fraud. Provides appropriate uses of such amounts by the military departments. (Sec. 384) Authorizes lost, abandoned, or unclaimed property found on a military installation to be sold (after reasonable efforts to find the property's owner) and the proceeds credited to the O&M account of such installation to be used to reimburse the installation for sale costs, and, if amounts still remain, to support MWR activities at the installation. Repeals a demonstration program concerning the use of such proceeds under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993. (Sec. 385) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to sell certain designated articles and items of clothing to members of the Navy and Marine Corps, under specified conditions. Directs such Secretary to sell subsistence supplies to members of other armed forces at prices charged to Navy and Marine Corps personnel (equivalent prices). Authorizes such Secretary to sell serviceable supplies other than subsistence supplies to members of other armed forces for the buyers' use in the service. Authorizes persons who have been honorably discharged from any military department and are receiving medical care through the Public Health Service or the Department of Veterans Affairs to buy subsistence supplies at equivalent prices. Authorizes such Secretary to sell to honorably discharged individuals exterior articles of uniform at equivalent prices. Authorizes such Secretary to sell ships' stores to appropriate civilian officers and employees of the United States at military installations: (1) outside the United States; and (2) inside the United States if it is impractical for such officers and employees to obtain such stores from commercial enterprises without impairing the efficient operation of military activities. Requires sales to civilian officers and employees inside the United States to be made only to those residing within military installations. (Sec. 386) Requires, on and after October 1, 1995, the Civilian Marksmanship Program to be operated as a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the United States within DOD for the benefit of military personnel and for the promotion of rifle practice and firearms safety among civilians. Requires the Program to be under the general supervision of the Advisory Committee for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety, which replaces the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice. Outlines funding provisions for the Advisory Committee. Provides authorized Program activities, including the operation and maintenance of rifle ranges, firearms marksmanship instruction and safety, and firearms competitions. Authorizes the Program to issue arms, ammunition, targets, and related equipment and supplies to gun clubs providing training to various youth organizations. Authorizes the sale of such items to other gun clubs and citizens for Program purposes. Requires the Program Director, before conveying any weapon or ammunition to a person, to provide for a criminal records check of the person with appropriate Federal and State law enforcement agencies. Authorizes the Director to impose reasonable fees for persons and gun clubs participating in any Program activity. Directs the Secretary of the Army to reserve for the Program all remaining M-1 Garand rifles and related accessories still held by the Army. Outlines participation conditions for military personnel participating in rifle instruction and competitions. (Sec. 387) Directs the Secretary of Defense to report to the Congress describing the advantages and disadvantages of using contractor personnel, rather than civilian DOD employees, to perform DOD functions that are not essential to the military warfighting mission. (Sec. 388) Prohibits the Secretary of Education from considering any payment made to a local educational agency (LEA) by DOD that is available for current expenditures and used for capital expenses as funds available to the Department of Education for Federal impact aid purposes. Outlines conditions under which an LEA shall be eligible to receive additional assistance as a heavily impacted LEA (an LEA having a high proportion of Federally connected children in its schools). Revises provisions concerning the determination of the amount of such aid to LEAs, with a special rule in the case of a heavily impacted LEA. Revises generally provisions concerning the requirement of the use of current year data for providing appropriate assistance to heavily impacted LEAs. Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations - Subtitle A: Active Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths for active-duty forces as of the end of FY 1996. Authorizes a temporary variation in the end strengths for active-duty Navy and Air Force officers in specified grades. (Sec. 403) Prohibits from being counted against officer personnel end strength limits an officer continuing to hold a general or admiral grade after serving as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the head of a military department. Subtitle B: Reserve Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths as of the end of FY 1996 for Selected Reserve personnel, authorizing the Secretary to vary such end strengths by up to two percent. Provides the end strengths for members of the reserve serving on active duty in support of the reserve. Increases the number of officers of certain grades authorized to serve on such duty. (Sec. 414) Excludes from inclusion in military personnel end strength limitations: (1) members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve on active duty for more than 180 days in support of cooperative threat reduction programs; and (2) members of the reserve on active duty for 180 days or more for military-to-military contacts and other similar activities. Subtitle C: Military Training Student Loads - Sets forth the authorized FY 1996 military training student loads, allowing for certain adjustments consistent with authorized end strengths. Subtitle D: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations to DOD for FY 1996 for military personnel. Title V: Military Personnel Policy - Subtitle A: Officer Personnel Policy - Reduces from 1,000 to 500 the number of officers to be designated by the Secretary for critical joint duty assignment positions. Authorizes the Secretary to credit an officer for additional joint duty for service in an assignment any portion of which was performed on or after the date of enactment of this Act and which provided significant experience in joint matters, as long as the officer is recommended for such credit by the head of his or her military department. Grants such credit on a case-by-case basis, requiring the Secretary to prescribe uniform criteria for such credit. Requires information on officers receiving such credit to be included by the Secretary in a required annual report. Exempts general and flag officers from a provision limiting the number of officers receiving such credit in a fiscal year to ten percent of the total number of officers in that pay grade selected for the joint specialty in that fiscal year. Considers an officer to have completed a full tour of joint duty upon completion of a second joint duty assignment that is less than the period required for a first joint duty assignment, but not less than two years, whether or not a minimum joint tour duty length waiver was granted for such officer. (Sec. 502) Reduces from six to five years the minimum service obligation for graduates of the various military service academies. Requires the Secretary to: (1) review the effects that such service periods will have on the number and quality of eligible applicants seeking appointment; and (2) report findings and recommendations to the defense committees. (Sec. 503) Requires any officer appointed Surgeon General of an armed force to be educationally and professionally qualified to furnish health care to other persons, including doctors of medicine, dentistry, and osteopathy, nurses, and clinical psychologists. (Sec. 504) Requires an officer appointed as Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Air Force: (1) to be appointed for a four-year tenure (currently two); and (2) who holds a lower regular grade to be appointed in the regular grade of major general. (Sec. 505) Includes all officers above the major or lieutenant commander grades (currently, above such grades but below lieutenant general or vice admiral) within current eligibility requirements for voluntary retirement. Allows certain general and flag officers to be retired in the highest grade held by such officer only after the Secretary certifies to the President and the Senate that such officer served satisfactorily on active duty in that grade. (Sec. 506) Extends through FY 1996 certain reserve officer management authorities. (Sec. 507) Prohibits an officer from being frocked (authorized to wear the insignia of a higher grade before being promoted to such grade) unless: (1) the Senate has confirmed such officer's nomination for promotion to such grade; and (2) the officer is serving in, or has been ordered to, a position for which that grade is authorized. Prohibits pay, seniority, and time in service benefits from being accrued by frocked officers. Limits the total number of frocked officers in specified grades on the active-duty list. Authorizes a variation for FY 1996 and 1997 in the number of such officers. (Sec. 508) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to retire any Director of Admissions of the United States Military Academy who has more than 30 years of service as a commissioned officer. Subtitle B: Matters Relating to Reserve Components - Establishes the Department of Defense Ready Reserve Income Insurance Program, administered by the Secretary, to insure Ready Reserve members against the risk of being ordered into covered service. Provides 30 days' automatic enrollment in the Program, with an exception, upon first becoming a member. Requires a member to enroll within such period. Provides as the basic benefit of such insurance $1,000 per month during the period of covered service, allowing a member to elect to reduce or enhance such benefit in specified increments. Defines "covered service" as active duty for more than 30 days in support of involuntary operational missions or during a period of war or national emergency. Requires the Secretary to prescribe the premium rates for such insurance, to be deducted and withheld from the member's basic pay. Authorizes the Secretary to advance to an insured member the amount equal to the first insurance premium payment due. Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Defense Ready Reserve Income Insurance Fund, into which shall be deposited the collected premiums, any amounts appropriated to the Fund, and investment returns. Requires: (1) investing of Fund assets by the Secretary; and (2) a required annual accounting of the Fund. Requires the DOD Education Benefits Board of Actuaries to have actuarial responsibility for the Program. Requires the Board to carry out periodic actuarial valuation of benefits, determine appropriate premium rate methodology, and recommend to the Secretary a premium rate schedule in the event of actuarial gains or losses to the Fund due to changes in actuarial assumptions. Directs the Secretary to request the President to request from the Congress a special appropriation in the event of insufficient Fund assets. Provides for the payment of benefits to designated recipients. Authorizes the Secretary to purchase insurance from eligible insurers in order to provide the benefits required under the Program, allowing the Secretary to terminate such insurance policy at any time. Requires termination of insurance coverage for a member for the nonpayment of premiums, as well as insurance forfeiture upon conviction of certain crimes against the country or refusal to perform service or wear the uniform. (Sec. 512) Includes dentists in critical specialties (currently, only physicians) within a program providing financial assistance for health care professionals in the reserve components. (Sec. 513) Allows reserve personnel performing public safety duty to charge such period of absence to accrued annual leave or compensatory time available. Subtitle C: Uniform Code of Military Justice - Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to provide that if evidence adduced during a military investigation indicates that an accused committed an uncharged offense, then the investigating officer may investigate such additional matter without the accused having first been charged with that offense. (Sec. 524) Requires the imposition of a fine, imprisonment, or both, for an individual who refuses to testify before a court-martial. (Sec. 525) Requires individuals found to be incompetent to stand trial under the UCMJ to be committed to the custody of the Attorney General for hospitalization, examination, and treatment. Provides, depending on hospitalization and examination results, for either continued hospitalization of such individual or release to the convening authority of the court-martial. Requires a person found not guilty by reason of lack of mental responsibility to be committed to a suitable facility until the person is eligible for release after examination and an appropriate hearing. (Sec. 526) Requires any forfeiture of pay or allowances or reduction in grade included in a court-martial sentence to take effect on the earlier of: (1) 20 days after the sentence is adjudged; or (2) the date on which the sentence is approved by the convening authority (current law). Authorizes the convening authority to defer such forfeitures or reduction until the date on which the sentence is approved. Requires court-martial sentences that include confinement for one year or more, death, dishonorable discharge, or dismissal to result in the forfeiture of all pay and allowances due to such member during the confinement or parole. Authorizes the waiver of such forfeitures for up to six months in the case of dependents of such individual. Requires the repayment of all such pay and allowances if the sentence is set aside or disapproved. Revises provisions concerning the deferment of a sentence of confinement in the case of an individual in the custody of a State or foreign country. (Sec. 528) Requires all matters submitted to the convening authority for consideration after a trial by court-martial to be in writing. (Sec. 529) Authorizes a proceeding in revision to correct clerical mistakes in a judgment, order, or other part of the record or any error arising from oversight or omission. (Sec. 530) Provides for appeal by the United States from certain orders or rulings made by a military judge in a court-martial in which a punitive discharge may be adjudged. (Sec. 531) Includes flight from arrest as a punishable action under the UCMJ. (Sec. 532) Removes a gender reference with respect to the UCMJ offense of carnal knowledge with a person under 16 years of age. Provides that, in such a prosecution, it is a defense that the other person was at least 12 years of age and the accused reasonably believed such person to be at least 16. (Sec. 533) Requires newly enlisted personnel to be instructed in the UCMJ within 14 (currently six) days after entrance into active or reserve duty. (Sec. 535) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to repeal the September 30, 1995, delimiting date on the authority of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to appoint Federal or district court judges to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. (Sec. 536) Directs the Secretary and the Attorney General to jointly establish an advisory panel to review and make recommendations on jurisdiction over civilians accompanying military personnel in time of armed conflict. Requires reports. Subtitle D: Decorations and Awards - Authorizes the President to award the Purple Heart to certain persons who were taken prisoner or held captive while serving in the U.S. armed forces before April 25, 1962, and were wounded while being taken prisoner or held captive. Excepts from such awards persons convicted of rendering assistance to the enemy. (Sec. 542) Authorizes the Secretary or the Secretary of a military department to award a decoration to any person for an act, achievement, or service performed while serving on active duty during the Vietnam era. Directs the Secretary of each military department to review all recommendations received for such decorations, and to report findings concerning such review and awards to the defense committees. (Sec. 543) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretaries of the military departments should review the service records of military personnel who performed military intelligence duties between January 1, 1940, and December 31, 1990, in order to determine whether, by reason of mission secrecy, any such personnel were not properly considered for decorations and awards, and if so, to so consider such personnel for such awards. Exempts such consideration from certain time limitation provisions. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Directs the Secretary to establish within his Office an office responsible for the policy, control, and oversight of the entire process for the investigation and recovery of missing persons, as well as the coordination of DOD efforts on such matters with other Federal departments and agencies. Requires search and rescue responsibilities to be established by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. Requires the establishment of uniform procedures for the: (1) determination of the status of such persons; and (2) collection, analysis, review, dissemination, and periodic update of related information. Requires the commander of the unit or facility where a person was assigned to make an initial report to the Secretary after receiving information that the whereabouts of a person are uncertain and that the absence may be involuntary. Requires the Secretary to appoint a board to conduct an inquiry as to the whereabouts of a missing person. Directs the board to make a recommendation to the Secretary as to the whereabouts or status of such persons. Prohibits such board from declaring a person dead unless the evidence before it establishes conclusive proof of such person's death. Requires board proceedings to be closed to the public (including the next of kin). Directs the Secretary, after receiving a board recommendation, to determine whether such person shall continue to have a missing status, be declared to have deserted or be absent without leave, or be declared dead. Requires a report to family members and other interested persons. Requires the appointment of an additional board if further information becomes available. Allows the next of kin and other family members to attend inquiries held by the subsequent board. Requires a recommendation by the subsequent board, as well as a report to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to review such report (together with any objections to board findings filed by family members and other interested persons attending the subsequent board inquiry), and to take appropriate action with respect to a person's status, including notification to family members and other interested persons. Requires, with specified exceptions concerning classified or privileged information or privacy, the Secretary having jurisdiction over a missing person to ensure that the person's personnel file contains all available information relating to the person's disappearance, whereabouts, or status. Prohibits any board from declaring a person dead unless: (1) credible evidence exists; (2) the United States possesses no credible evidence to suggest that such person is alive; and (3) representatives of the United States have made a complete search of the area where the person was last seen and have examined the records of the government or entity having control over such area. Provides additional information to be included in a report when a person is declared dead. Allows military pay for the full time of absence for any person in a missing or dead status under the Missing Persons Act of 1942 who is found alive and is returned to the control of the United States. Directs the Secretary concerned, upon the enlistment or appointment of a person into the armed forces, to require such person to specify the individual to receive information as to the member's whereabouts or status if necessary. Directs the Secretary of State to carry out a comprehensive study of the Missing Persons Act of 1942 and related laws and regulations with respect to accounting for civilian employees or contractors of the United States who serve with or accompany military personnel in the field to determine the means, if any, by which such procedures may be improved. Directs such Secretary to report study results, together with appropriate recommendations for change, to the defense committees. (Sec. 552) Amends the UCMJ to state that the period during which an officer deserts, is absent from duty, is confined by military or civilian authority for more than one day for a trial, or is unable for more than one day to perform his or her duties shall not be counted in computing such officer's length of military service. Provides that the time required to be made up by either an enlisted member or an officer due to such reasons may not be counted in computing years of service. (Sec. 553) Provides for separation from service in cases involving persons sentenced to confinement for one year or more. (Sec. 554) Removes the six-month limit on the duration of field training or practice cruise required under the Senior ROTC Program. (Sec. 555) Authorizes the Secretary of each military department to: (1) review the military record compilation process for potential improvements in the correction of such records; and (2) report study findings and recommendations to the Secretary, who in turn shall transmit such reports to the defense committees. (Sec. 556) Prohibits the Secretary from reducing below a specified amount for FY 1996 and thereafter the total number of DOD medical personnel unless he certifies to the Congress that: (1) the number being reduced is excess to current and projected needs; and (2) such reduction will not result in an increase in the cost of health care services provided under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS). Requires the Assistant Secretary of Defense responsible for health affairs to submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for the reduction in the number of such personnel over a five-year period beginning on October 1, 1996. (Sec. 557) Repeals, with respect to the military service academies, the requirement that the: (1) position of athletic director shall be a position in the civil service; and (2) Superintendent of such academy shall administer a nonappropriated fund account for the athletics program at such academy. (Sec. 558) Prohibits any funds available to DOD from being obligated to carry out a test program for determining the cost effectiveness of transferring to the private sector the operations of one or more military academy preparatory schools. (Sec. 559) Directs the Secretary and the Attorney General to jointly establish an advisory panel on centralized review of DOD administrative personnel actions. Requires a report from the panel to the Secretary and the Attorney General, to be transmitted, together with comments, to the Congress. Terminates the panel 30 days after submission of its report. Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits - Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances - Waives any FY 1996 military pay increases tied to increases in the General Schedule of Compensation for Government employees. Increases the rates of basic pay and basic allowance for subsistence (BAS) by 2.4 percent and the basic allowance for quarters (BAQ) by 5.2 percent, on January 1, 1996. (Sec. 602) Authorizes a member without dependents who is in pay grade E-6 and who is assigned to U.S. quarters that do not meet minimum adequacy standards established by DOD for such pay grade to elect not to occupy such quarters and instead receive the BAQ prescribed for his or her pay grade. (Sec. 603) Authorizes as of July 1, 1996, the payment of a BAQ for enlisted personnel in the pay grade of E-6. (Sec. 604) Prohibits the reduction of the minimum monthly variable housing allowance (VHA) for members living in high cost areas as long as such member maintains uninterrupted eligibility to receive the VHA within that area and his or her certified housing costs are not reduced. Increases the total amount available for the VHA to cover additional payments permitted under this section. Requires an implementation report from the Secretary to the Congress. Subtitle B: Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays - Extends through FY 1997: (1) certain enlistment and reenlistment bonuses for the reserves; (2) the nurse officer candidate accession program; (3) the accession bonus for registered nurses; (4) incentive special pay for nurse anesthetists; (5) the authority relating to the payment of other bonuses and special pay for active duty officer and enlisted personnel; and (6) the authority of the Secretary concerned to repay education loans for certain health professionals who serve in the Selected Reserve of a military department. (Sec. 614) Provides to both warrant officers (current law) and enlisted members of specified grades hazardous duty incentive pay for service as air weapons controllers. (Sec. 615) Reduces from nine to eight of the first 12 years of aviation service the period during which an officer must perform operational flying duties in order to receive aviation career incentive pay. (Sec. 617) Provides continuous entitlement to career sea pay for crew members of a ship designated as a tender-class ship. (Sec. 618) Authorizes the Secretary concerned, effective as of January 1, 1996, to increase to a maximum of $375 monthly the rate of special duty assignment pay for enlisted personnel serving as military recruiters. Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances - Repeals a requirement that DOD travel allowances must be based on distances established over the shortest normally traveled route, and under mileage tables prepared under the direction of the Secretary. (Sec. 622) Provides a departure allowance when dependents of military personnel are authorized (currently, only when ordered) by competent authority to depart from an area. (Sec. 623) Provides a dislocation allowance for those directed to move as a result of a base closure or realignment. (Sec. 624) Includes students who cease to be enrolled in a foreign institution of higher education within a provision authorizing the Secretary concerned to return to the United States formerly dependent children of military personnel who attain a nondependent age while overseas. Subtitle D: Commissaries and Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities - Authorizes certain members of the Ready Reserve to use DOD commissary stores for a period of one year on the same basis as members on active duty. (Currently, such members are permitted such use for 12 days of any calendar year during which the members are eligible.) (Sec. 632) Authorizes full commissary use (currently limited to 12 days a year) for members of the Retired Reserve (and their survivors) who are under 60 years of age and would be eligible for retired pay except that they are under such age. (Sec. 633) Authorizes the use of MWR facilities on the same basis as members on active duty for: (1) members of the Selected Reserve in good standing; (2) members of the Ready Reserve other than members of the Selected Reserve; and (3) members of the reserve under age 60 who would be eligible for retired pay except that they are under such age. Allows such use for the dependents of (1) and (3), above. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Makes first payable in March (currently, September) of the following year cost-of-living increases for military retired pay that become effective in 1994 or 1995 (currently, 1994 through 1997). (Sec. 642) Makes ineligible for retired pay a person who is convicted of an offense under the UCMJ and whose executed sentence includes death, a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge, or dismissal (in the case of an officer). (Sec. 643) Allows to be deducted from the pay of: (1) a Federal employee the administrative costs of executing legal process in a garnishment action; and (2) members of the armed forces the administrative costs of establishing and maintaining an involuntary allotment from military pay. Provides for the disposition of amounts withheld for such administrative costs. (Sec. 644) Increases from $100,000 to $200,000 the maximum amount of life insurance coverage under the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance (SGLI). Repeals a provision authorizing a member to increase such coverage amounts in increments of $10,000 to a maximum of $200,000. (Sec. 645) Terminates SGLI coverage for members of the Ready Reserve who fail to pay the required premiums 120 days after the Secretary concerned transmits to such member a termination notification. (Sec. 646) Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on the possible extension to junior noncommissioned officers (pay grades E-5 and 6) the same privileges provided for senior noncommissioned officers (those above E-6), including the privileges to mess (eat) separately and to receive a BAS. (Sec. 647) Authorizes the payment to survivors of deceased military personnel of all leave accrued but unused. (Sec. 648) Directs the Secretary concerned to pay an annuity to the qualified surviving spouse of each member of the armed forces who: (1) died before March 21, 1974, and was entitled to retired or retainer pay on the date of death; and (2) was a member of a reserve component during the period beginning on September 21, 1972, and ending on October 1, 1978, and at the time of death would have been eligible for retired or retainer pay except that the person was under 60 years of age. Defines a qualified spouse as one who has not remarried and is not eligible for an annuity under the Survivor Benefit Plan. Provides an annuity amount of $165 monthly, adjusted periodically with cost-of-living increases. (Sec. 649) Provides transitional compensation for dependents of all members (currently, active-duty personnel) separated from service for dependent abuse. Title VII: Health Care - Subtitle A: Health Care Services - Authorizes the provision of authorized medical care and services under CHAMPUS for surviving dependents of Retired Reserve personnel who die before age 60. (Sec. 702) Authorizes the Secretary to establish a dental insurance plan for members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve. Requires within such plan voluntary enrollment and premium sharing between DOD and the members enrolled, with a member premium limit of $25 monthly. Outlines provisions concerning plan benefits and termination. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 703) Provides under CHAMPUS: (1) for military dependents under six years old, health promotion and disease prevention visits, as well as immunizations; and (2) for those six years old or older, health promotion and disease prevention visits in connection with immunizations or with diagnostic or preventive pap smears and mammograms. (Sec. 704) Makes permanent (currently ends September 30, 1995) the authority of the Secretary to carry out a specialized treatment facility program. (Sec. 705) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make special provisions for the enrollment under Medicare Part B of retired military personnel (and their dependents) who are eligible as covered beneficiaries for CHAMPUS medical and dental care and who are adversely affected by the closure of a military medical treatment facility of DOD pursuant to the closure or realignment of a military installation. Waives the Medicare Part B late enrollment penalty for such individuals. Subtitle B: TRICARE Program - Requires a military medical facility to provide to the covered beneficiaries enrolled in a health care plan of such facility the same health care benefits as are available to covered beneficiaries in that catchment area under the DOD managed health care program (TRICARE Program). Provides transitional provisions. (Sec. 713) Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary should take steps to ensure that covered CHAMPUS beneficiaries who are also eligible for Medicare and reside in a TRICARE region have adequate access to health care services after the implementation of the TRICARE Program in that region. (Sec. 714) Directs the Secretary during FY 1996 to carry out a pilot program, in a region in which the TRICARE Program has been implemented, for the provision of wraparound services (individualized mental health services provided in return for payment on a case-by-case basis) to covered beneficiaries who are children in need of such services. Requires a pilot program: (1) agreement, with specified requirements, between the Secretary and a mental health services provider; and (2) report from the Secretary to the defense committees. Subtitle C: Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities - Amends the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1984, to extend through September 30, 1997, the authority of specified Secretaries to terminate the status of certain medical facilities as uniformed services treatment facilities (USTFs). (Sec. 722) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to subject USTFs and any participation agreement between USTFs and the Secretary to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). (Sec. 723) Makes a USTF responsible for paying charges imposed by a private facility or health care provider for providing care outside the catchment area of the USTF to a member of the armed forces enrolled in a USTF health care plan. Directs the Secretary to require a CHAMPUS health care provider to provide such care in accordance with the same payment rules. Subtitle D: Other Changes to Existing Laws Regarding Health Care Management - Makes available for two fiscal years three percent of the funds authorized to be appropriated for a fiscal year for programs and activities carried out under CHAMPUS. (Sec. 732) Provides the maximum allowable payment to individual health care providers under CHAMPUS, with an exception when necessary to ensure that covered beneficiaries retain adequate access to health care services. Provides transition provisions. (Sec. 733) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (currently, only the Secretary of Defense) to enter into personal services contracts to carry out health care responsibilities with respect to medical treatment facilities of the Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy. Ratifies any such contract entered into before the effective date of this Act. (Sec. 734) Amends title XI (General Provisions and Peer Review) of the Social Security Act to authorize the use of information contained in the Medicare and Medicaid Data Bank to assist in the identification of, and collection from, third parties responsible for the reimbursement of costs incurred by the United States for health care services furnished to CHAMPUS beneficiaries. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Authorizes the Board of Regents of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences to establish at the University a program of research on the furnishing of care and services by nurses in the armed forces, to be known as the TriService Nursing Research Program. Requires Program administration by a TriService Nursing Research Group composed of military nurses who are involved in military nursing research and designated by the Secretary concerned. Provides research topics. (Sec. 742) Establishes a Fisher House Trust Fund in both the Army and the Air Force, funds of which are to be used for the operation of Fisher houses, which are housing facilities located in proximity to military medical treatment facilities and available for residential use on a temporary basis by patients at such facilities, as well as their family members or others providing the equivalent of familial support for such patients. Requires expenditures from such trust funds to be made only under annual appropriations and only if specifically authorized by law. (Sec. 743) Includes the Coast Guard within a Federal provision limiting the prices that may be charged to certain Federal departments and agencies by manufacturers of pharmaceuticals when purchased for use in medical facilities of such departments and agencies. Title VIII: Acquisition Policy, Acquisition Management, and Related Matters - Subtitle A: Acquisition Reform - Requires funds appropriated for any fiscal year after 1995 that are administratively reserved or committed for satellite on-orbit incentive fees to remain available for obligation until the fee is earned, but only if and to the extent that applicable Federal law is complied with in the reservation and commitment of funds for such purpose. (Sec. 802) Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to require an executive agency to publish for at least ten days in advance a notification of the intent to solicit bids or proposals for a contract for property or services for a price expected to exceed $10,000, but not to exceed $25,000. (Current law has no price limits on such required notification.) (Sec. 803) Amends the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 to require the head of a Federal agency to make management decisions on all findings and recommendations set forth in an audit report of the inspector general of such agency within a maximum of six months after the issuance of the report, and to make such decisions on findings and recommendations of an audit report from outside the Federal Government within six months after the date on which the head of the agency receives the report. Requires completed actions with respect to an inspector general's findings and recommendations within 12 months after the date of the inspector general's report. (Sec. 804) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to direct the Secretary to establish a test program under which contracting activities in the military departments and defense agencies are authorized to undertake one or more demonstration projects to determine whether the negotiation and administration of comprehensive subcontracting plans will reduce administrative burdens on contractors while enhancing opportunities provided under DOD contracts for small businesses as well as small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Requires a broad range of the supplies and services acquired by DOD to be included in the test program. Includes as covered contractors under the test program those which furnished DOD with supplies or services pursuant to at least three contracts having an aggregate value of at least $5 million. (Sec. 805) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to contract or otherwise provide for necessary salvage facilities for public and private vessels if: (1) available commercial salvage facilities are inadequate to meet the Navy's requirements; and (2) such Secretary provides public notice of the intent to enter into such contracts. Authorizes such Secretary to acquire or transfer such vessels and equipment for operation by private salvage companies as necessary. Provides for: (1) the settlement of salvage claims; and (2) the disposition of receipts. (Sec. 806) Repeals a Federal provision authorizing the Secretary of a military department to delegate certain contracting authority. (Sec. 807) Requires any defense research paper issued or technological assessment made by a defense research facility with respect to a major weapon system to be made part of the record for the purpose of making acquisition program (currently, milestone 0, I, and II) decisions. (Sec. 808) Applies defense procurement requirements to the purchase of supplies used for experimental or test purposes only when such purchases are made in quantity. (Sec. 809) Repeals a provision requiring certain quality control in the procurement of critical aircraft and ship spare parts. (Sec. 810) Authorizes funds appropriated to a military department to be used for the acquisition of design and process data. (Sec. 811) Revises provisions concerning the content of regulations required for independent cost estimates with respect to various phases of major defense acquisition programs. (Sec. 812) Allows the United States to recoup indirect (currently, only direct) fees associated with the use of DOD laboratories and other facilities for the testing of materials and equipment. (Sec. 813) Subjects to the Walsh-Healey Act each contract for the construction, alteration, furnishing, or equipping of a naval vessel, unless the President determines that such requirement is not in the interest of national defense. (Sec. 814) Requires any contractor agreeing to allow the inclusion or incorporation of defense features on aircraft owned by such contractor for possible use with the Civil Reserve Air Fleet to operate such aircraft for DOD as needed during any activation of the Fleet (currently, only permitted during activation of the full Fleet). Subtitle B: Other Matters - Earmarks specified O&M funds authorized under this Act for DOD procurement technical assistance programs, further earmarking such funds for technical assistance in certain distressed areas. (Sec. 822) Considers a DOD cable television franchise agreement as a contract for telecommunications services for purposes of part 49 of the FAR. Title IX: Department of Defense Organization and Management - Redesignates the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy as the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs, with appropriate responsibilities. Title X: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Financial Matters - Authorizes the Secretary, in the national interest, to transfer authorizations made available to DOD in this Division for FY 1996 between any such authorizations for such fiscal year. Limits to $2 billion the total authorized transfers. Directs the Secretary to promptly notify the Congress of each such transfer. (Sec. 1002) Removes a requirement prohibiting the Secretary from designating DOD personnel as disbursing officials for departmental pay and expenses of the District of Columbia. Revises disbursing authority with respect to DOD and its individual military departments. Authorizes military personnel under the Secretary's jurisdiction to certify vouchers when authorized, in writing, by the Secretary. (Sec. 1003) Establishes in the Treasury the Defense Modernization Account. Provides for credits to the Account. Requires Account funds to be used for: (1) increasing the quantity of items and services procured under a procurement program in order to achieve a more efficient production or delivery rate; and (2) RDT&E and procurement necessary for modernization of an existing system or a system being procured under an ongoing procurement program. Provides Account use limitations. Limits to $500 million the funds that may be transferred from the Account in any fiscal year for such procurement modernization purposes, requiring the Secretary to notify the congressional defense committees prior to any such transfers. Requires quarterly reports from the Secretary to such committees concerning Account credits, transfers, and expenditures. Makes such provision inapplicable to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy. (Sec. 1004) Adjusts the amounts authorized for appropriation in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 by the increases and decreases in title I of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions for the Department of Defense to Preserve and Enhance Military Readiness Act of 1995. (Sec. 1005) Limits to $500,000 the funds authorized to be obligated or expended by the Secretary for emergency and extraordinary expenses until the Secretary has notified the congressional defense committees of the intent to obligate such funds and, in the case of an obligation or expenditure in excess of: (1) $1 million, 15 days have elapsed since the notification; or (2) $500,000, but no more than $1 million, 5 days have elapsed since such notification. Removes the time requirements of (1) and (2), above, when the Secretary determines that the national security objectives will be compromised by such delay. Requires the Secretary to notify such committees when such waiver authority is exercised. (Sec. 1006) Authorizes the Secretary, beginning after FY 1994, to transfer funds to military appropriations for a fiscal year out of funds available to DOD from the Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Defense, appropriation. Authorizes the Secretary, after FY 1993, to transfer to such appropriations unobligated amounts of funds appropriated for O&M and military personnel. Provides transfer limits. (Sec. 1007) Directs the Secretary to submit to the congressional defense committees a special report on funding for the reserve components. Subtitle B: Naval Vessels - Directs the Secretary of the Navy to list and maintain on the Naval Vessel Register at least two of the Iowa class battleships that were stricken from the Register in February, 1993. Requires selection of such battleships that are in the best material condition. Requires such Secretary to retain logistical support to maintain the battleships. Terminates this provision when such Secretary notifies the defense committees that the Navy has an operational fire support capability that equals or exceeds that of the Iowa class battleships. (Sec. 1012) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to transfer on either a grant or lease basis specified naval frigates to the governments of Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Waives specified congressional notification requirements with respect to such transfers. Terminates such transfer authority two years after the enactment of this Act, except that a lease entered into during such period may be renewed. Subtitle C: Counter-Drug Activities - Revises generally provisions concerning the authority for Federal support of State drug interdiction and counter-drug activities of the National Guard. Repeals a provision excluding National Guard personnel performing such activities from annual reserve duty end strength limitations. Allows National Guard personnel to be ordered to perform full-time National Guard duty in support of such activities. Authorizes the governor of a State to request such personnel to perform such duty. Requires the Attorney General of a State to certify that the use of such personnel for such purposes is authorized by, and consistent with, State law, and that it serves an appropriate State law enforcement purpose. Limits to 4000 the number of National Guard personnel performing such activities for a State for a period of more than 180 days. Authorizes the Secretary to increase such limits by not more than 20 percent for any fiscal year if determined necessary for national security purposes. (Sec. 1022) Prohibits, with an exception, the use of funds made available to DOD for obligations or expenses of the National Drug Intelligence Center, Johnstown, Pennsylvania. (Sec. 1023) Directs the Secretary to either: (1) procure nonintrusive inspection systems and transfer such systems to the U.S. Customs Service; or (2) transfer funds to the Secretary of the Treasury for such procurement. Earmarks funds authorized under this Act for such purpose. Subtitle D: Department of Defense Education Programs - Reaffirms the congressional commitment towards the continuation of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Prohibits, during the five-year period beginning on October 1, 1995, the personnel staffing levels for the University from being reduced below such levels as of October 1, 1993. (Sec. 1032) Authorizes the Board of Regents at the University to establish a graduate school of nursing and other programs determined necessary in order to operate the University cost-effectively. (Sec. 1033) Earmarks funds authorized under this Act to fund basic adult education programs for military personnel (and their dependents) serving outside the United States. (Sec. 1034) Limits to enlisted members of the Air Force (currently, enlisted members of the armed forces) the scope of educational programs offered at the Community College of the Air Force. (Sec. 1035) Changes from December 15 to March 1 annually the due date of a reporting requirement of the Secretary with respect to the operation of the DOD educational assistance program. Subtitle E: Cooperative Threat Reduction With States of the Former Soviet Union - Prohibits the obligation of cooperative threat reduction (CTR) program funds to assist nuclear weapons scientists in States of the former Soviet Union until 30 days after the Secretary certifies to the Congress that such funds will not be used to contribute to the modernization of the strategic nuclear forces of such States or for R&D or production of weapons of mass destruction. (Sec. 1043) Withholds $50 million of the funds for CTR programs until the President certifies to the Congress that Russia is in compliance with its obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention. Subtitle F: Matters Relating to Other Nations - Authorizes NATO organizations to participate in cooperative R&D projects under the Arms Export Control Act. (Sec. 1052) Expresses the sense of the Congress recognizing the importance to the United States of effective export controls on dual-use (military and commercial) items and technologies that are critical to the military capabilities of U.S. armed forces. Calls for the Government to identify such critical items and technologies and exercise effective export control over them. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on the effect of such export control policy on U.S. national security interests. Directs the Secretary to: (1) review each application submitted to the Secretary of Commerce for a license for the export of a class 2, 3, or 4 biological pathogen to a country known or suspected to have an offensive biological weapons program in order to determine if such an export would be contrary to U.S. national security interests; (2) inform such Secretary of the countries suspected of having such a program; (3) notify such Secretary if the export of a biological pathogen would be contrary to U.S. interests; and (4) have such Secretary deny the application. (Sec. 1053) Directs the Secretary to establish a program under which he may issue guarantees assuring a lender against losses of principal or interest, or both, arising out of the financing of the sale or long-term lease of defense articles or services, or design and construction services, to: (1) NATO countries; (2) countries designated as of March 31, 1995, as major non-NATO allies; (3) a country in Central Europe which has or is changing its form of government to a democracy; and (4) a noncommunist country that was a member nation of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation as of October 31, 1993. Provides for loan limitations, fees, and payment terms. Requires the President to report to the Congress on the loan guarantee program. (Sec. 1054) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 with regard to its landmine clearing assistance program to prohibit FY 1996 funds from being used for military personnel involvement in such activities until 30 days after the Secretary certifies to the Congress that such involvement satisfies military training requirements for such personnel. Terminates the authority to provide such assistance as of the end of FY 1996. Provides FY 1996 funding for such program. (Sec. 1055) States that it shall be the policy of the United States that: (1) the President should ensure that any conventional defense system or technology offered by the United States for sale to NATO nations or major non-NATO allies is concurrently made available to Israel unless the President determines that such would not be in the national security interests; and (2) the President should make available to Israel advanced U.S. technology necessary for achieving continued progress in cooperative U.S.-Israel R&D of theater missile defenses. (Sec. 1056) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of the Navy should take appropriate action to improve the services available to the Navy at the Port of Haifa, Israel, and ensure that increasing commercial activities there does not adversely affect the availability of required services to the Navy there. (Sec. 1057) Prohibits DOD funds from being obligated or expended to provide financial assistance to any country determined to support international terrorism either directly or in granting sanctuary from prosecution to individuals or groups which engage in such activities. Authorizes a waiver by the President for national security purposes, requiring notification to specified congressional committees when exercising such waiver. (Sec. 1058) Expresses the sense of the Congress supporting international military education and training and other forms of cooperation between U.S. armed forces and the armed forces of countries which are allies with or friendly to the United States. Authorizes the Secretary, upon the recommendation of a commander of a combatant command or the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to pay a portion of the costs of providing international military education and training to military and civilian personnel of foreign countries who perform national defense functions. Provides FY 1996 funding for such activities. (Sec. 1059) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 to repeal a limitation with respect to the purchase or construction of American diplomatic facilities in Germany. (Sec. 1060) Earmarks specified funds authorized under this Act for implementing arms control agreements to which the United States is a party, with a limitation. (Sec. 1061) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should consult with the Congress regarding any UN peace operations that could involve U.S. combat forces, and should do so before a UN vote on such action is taken; (2) such forces should participate only when it is clearly in the national security interest to do so; (3) in such situations, U.S. combat forces should be under the operational control of qualified commanders; and (4) none of such forces should be under operational control of foreign nationals except in the most extraordinary circumstances. Subtitle G: Repeal of Certain Reporting Requirements - Repeals miscellaneous reporting requirements under Federal armed forces and military pay provisions, provisions of defense authorization and appropriation Acts, national security laws, and other related laws and Acts. Excuses DOD from certain reporting requirements of the Joint Committee on Printing regarding printing-related matters. Subtitle H: Other Matters - Directs the Secretary to turn off the selective availability feature of the global positioning system by May 1, 1996, unless he submits to the defense committees a specified plan with respect to the development and acquisition of capabilities to deny hostile military forces the ability to interfere with or disrupt the system. (Sec. 1082) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, unless and until the START II Treaty enters into force, the Secretary should not take any action to dismantle or retire specified nuclear delivery systems. Prohibits FY 1996 DOD funds from being used for such purpose. (Sec. 1083) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to extend through FY 1997 the National Guard Civilian Youth Opportunities pilot program. (Sec. 1084) Directs the Secretary to report to the defense committees on the status of current and possible continued support of boards and commissions operating within or for DOD. (Sec. 1085) Amends the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1986, to revise the purposes for the provision of Army support for the National Science Center for Communications and Electronics. Authorizes the Secretary to manage, operate, and maintain facilities at the Center in order to conduct educational outreach programs. Authorizes fundraising activities for the management and operation of the Center and the support of its activities. Directs the Secretary to prescribe criteria for determining whether to accept a donation for such Center. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement with NSC Discovery Center, a nonprofit organization, to develop, manage, and maintain a national science center under this section. (Sec. 1086) Authorizes the Secretary to suspend or terminate an action for collection of a claim against the estate of a person who died while serving on active duty in the armed forces if circumstances make it appropriate to do so. (Sec. 1087) Increases to up to $100,000 (currently, $40,000) the maximum limit for a claim by a member of the armed forces for damage to property during a relocation when such claim arose from an emergency evacuation or from extraordinary circumstances which occurred on or after June 1, 1991. (Sec. 1088) Authorizes, with limitations, dependents of Government employees to utilize check cashing and other exchange transactions through Government disbursing officials. Requires a pay offset from the dependent's sponsor for any deficiencies resulting from a dependent's transactions, including charges for insufficient funds. (Sec. 1089) Entitles veterans with total disability ratings to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired military personnel. (Sec. 1090) Authorizes the Secretary to transport to Hawaii for medical care children under 18 years old who reside in the Pacific Rim region, are crippled and in need of medical care due to such condition, will be admitted to a medical facility in Honolulu which specializes in providing such care, and are unable to afford the cost of such transportation. Authorizes the Secretary to transport one adult attendant accompanying such child. (Sec. 1091) Expresses the sense of the Senate that educational institutions should not have a policy of denying the Secretary from obtaining for military recruiting purposes: (1) entry to any campus or access to students equal to that of other employers; or (2) access to directory information pertaining to such students. Encourages the Secretary to prescribe regulations for determining if and when such an institution has denied such student access. (Sec. 1092) Requires advance medical directives executed by military personnel eligible for legal assistance to be exempt from legal requirements of State law and given the same legal effect as a directive executed in accordance with State law. Provides that such directives shall not be enforceable in a State that does not otherwise recognize and enforce such directives. (Sec. 1093) Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Energy to report to specified congressional committees within 30 days after the enactment of this Act on military manpower requirements necessary to implement export controls on certain weapons transfers. (Sec. 1094) Includes the period between July 1, 1958, and August 4, 1964, within the Vietnam era in the case of veterans who served on active military duty in the Vietnam theater of operations during such period.
Bill· SS. 1125 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title XXI(sic): Army Title XXII: Navy Title XXIII: Air Force Title XXIV: Defense Agencies Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Infrastructure Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations Title XXVIII: General Provisions Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes Subtitle B: Defense Base Closure and Realignment Subtitle C: Land Conveyances Subtitle D: Transfer of Jurisdiction and Establishment of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Subtitle E: Other Matters Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 - Title XXI(sic): Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes such Secretary to construct or acquire family housing units, to carry out architectural planning and design activities, and to improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after 1995 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Army. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXII: Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army under the previous title. (Sec. 2205) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to increase the authorized amount for a military construction project at the Patuxent River Naval Warfare Center, Maryland. (Sec. 2206) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to: (1) decrease the amount authorized for a military construction project relating to Damneck, Fleet Combat Training Center, Virginia; and (2) authorize, with the use of the funds under (1), above, a military construction project at the Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia. Extends through a conditional date the authorization for the Norfolk project. (Sec. 2207) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to acquire all rights and interest to specified property at Henderson Hall, Arlington, Virginia, to demolish a mausoleum there, and to provide for the appropriate disposition of the remains contained therein. Authorizes such Secretary to then obtain architectural engineering and design services for the construction of a Marine Corps office and warehouse facility on such property. Title XXIII: Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army. Title XXIV: Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. (Sec. 2402) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for crediting to the Department of Defense Housing Improvement Fund to carry out appropriate activities. (Sec. 2403) Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) improve existing military family housing in a specified amount; and (2) carry out energy conservation projects. (Sec. 2405) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Department of Defense (DOD). Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized under this title. (Sec. 2406) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to increase the authorized amounts for military construction projects at the Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas, and the Umatilla Army Depot, Oregon. Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Infrastructure - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the NATO Infrastructure Program and authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1995 for such contributions. Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1995 for the Guard and Reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. (Sec. 2602) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 to decrease the amount authorized for FY 1994 for Air National Guard projects. Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in titles XXI through XXVI on October 1, 1998, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for FY 1999, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain FY 1992 and 1993 military construction projects. Title XXVIII: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes - Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned, when carrying out a minor military construction project not otherwise authorized by law to correct a life-, health-, or safety-threatening deficiency, to expend up to $3 million for such project. (Currently, general minor military construction projects are limited to $1.5 million.) Authorizes such Secretary to use O&M funds to carry out such special projects which exceed $1 million. (Sec. 2803) Makes inapplicable to the acquisition of existing family housing in lieu of new construction for military family housing for five years after the enactment of this Act specified Federal provisions which limit by pay grade the net floor area authorized for such housing. Extends permanently (currently expired on September 30, 1994) the authority of the Secretary concerned to waive such net floor area limitations during the acquisition by purchase of military family housing for military personnel in pay grades below O-6. (Sec. 2805) Waives the above net floor area limits with respect to the construction, acquisition, or improvement of family housing units during the five-year period beginning on October 1, 1995. (Sec. 2806) Increases from: (1) 300 to 450 the number of military family housing units that may be leased in foreign countries for no more than $25,000 per unit per year; and (2) 220 to 350 the number of such units for which such maximum lease amount may be waived for incumbents of special positions or in other special circumstances. (Sec. 2807) Extends to all military departments (currently only the Navy) the authority to enter into limited partnerships with private developers for the development of military family housing. Redesignates the Navy Housing Investment Account as the Defense Housing Investment Account. Terminates the Navy Housing Investment Board. Extends through FY 2000 the authority to enter into such partnerships. (Sec. 2808) Revises limitations on cost increases with respect to contracts for the construction of military family housing. (Sec. 2809) Authorizes the Secretary to convey any military family housing facilities that, due to damage or deterioration, is in a condition that is uneconomical to repair. Makes such authority inapplicable to housing facilities on military installations approved for closure under a base closure law or at facilities outside the United States at which the Secretary terminates operations. Limits to $5 million in any fiscal year the aggregate total value of the facilities authorized to be conveyed. Outlines provisions concerning: (1) consideration; (2) a requirement to notify the Congress 21 days in advance; (3) the inapplicability of certain Federal property disposal laws; and (4) the deposit of conveyance proceeds into the Department of Defense Military Housing Improvement Fund to be used for construction of new military family housing. (Sec. 2810) Includes water efficient maintenance within a current DOD energy performance goal and plan. (Sec. 2811) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to exercise any authority to provide for the acquisition, construction, improvement, or rehabilitation by private persons of: (1) family housing units on or near military installations within the United States and its territories and possessions; and (2) unaccompanied housing units on or near such installations. Authorizes such Secretary to make direct loans and loan guarantees to such private persons for such purposes, with loan and guarantee limits. Allows such loans and guarantees to be made only to the extent that appropriations are made in advance or other authority is provided in appropriation Acts. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to: (1) contract for the lease of family or unaccompanied housing units to be constructed, improved, or rehabilitated for such purposes; and (2) invest in nongovernmental entities carrying out such projects, with an investment value limit. Authorizes such Secretary to enter into collateral incentive agreements with nongovernmental entities under which such entities agree to ensure a preference to military personnel in the lease or purchase of a reasonable number of houses covered by the investment. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to enter into rental guarantees which assure the occupancy of units and the appropriate rental income which should be derived from such units, allowing such Secretary to pay more than the rental amount to encourage a lessor to make such housing available to military personnel. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to convey or lease property or facilities to private persons and use the proceeds to carry out such military housing activities. Makes such authority inapplicable to property or facilities at a military installation approved for closure under a base closure law. Provides, with respect to construction of new housing facilities, for: (1) interim leases prior to the completion of an entire project; (2) required conformity in room patterns and floor areas with similar military family housing units in the locale; (3) the inapplicability of current floor space limitations based on pay grade; and (4) the acquisition or construction of appropriate support facilities to accompany such family housing. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to: (1) assign military personnel to housing units acquired under these provisions; and (2) obtain housing lease payments through pay allotments. Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Defense Housing Improvement Fund and provides credits to the Fund. Requires such funds to be used for such military housing activities. Limits to $1 billion the total value in budget authority of all contracts, agreements, and investments undertaken under these provisions for such military housing activities. Requires the Secretary to report: (1) to appropriate congressional committees on each contract or agreement entered into for such military housing activities; and (2) annually in conjunction with the budget submission by the President on the use of authorities provided under these provisions. Terminates five years after the enactment of this Act the authority to enter into any transaction for such military housing activities. Requires a final report from the Secretary to the congressional defense committees no later than March 1, 2000. (Sec. 2812) Makes permanent (currently ends on September 30, 1995) the authority of the Secretary to enter into leases of land for special operations activities. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the defense committees on leasehold interests acquired for such purposes. (Sec. 2813) Authorizes the use of DOD funds for the construction of school facilities under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Subtitle B: Defense Base Closure and Realignment - Authorizes the Secretary concerned to accept the services of a lessee for an entire installation to be closed or realigned under a base closure law, or any part of such installation, without regard to the normal requirement that a substantial portion of the installation be leased. (Sec. 2822) Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act and the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (the base closure laws) to authorize the Secretary to enter into any type of agreement (currently, to contract) for the provision of community services at installations being closed or realigned. (Sec. 2823) Amends the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to authorize the use during FY 1996 of funds in the Defense Environmental Restoration Account for environmental restoration at installations approved for closure or realignment under such Act. (Sec. 2824) Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) to authorize the lease of real property located at an installation approved for closure under a base closure law if: (1) the lessee has agreed to purchase the property; (2) the EPA Administrator has determined the property suitable for leasing; and (3) there are adequate assurances that the United States will take all environmental remediation action still required on such property. Subtitle C: Land Conveyances - Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to acquire a parcel of real property adjacent to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Authorizes a land exchange of equivalent fair market value in order to receive such property. (Sec. 2832) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into an agreement with the Port Authority of Mississippi under which the Port Authority may use up to 50 acres of real property and related facilities at the Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi. Outlines agreement terms, restrictions, and limitations, including the requirement that the use of such property must be consistent with Navy operations at the Center. Requires congressional notification 21 days before entering into such an agreement. Authorizes such Secretary to use proceeds received from the fair rental value of such property for general administrative costs at the Center. (Sec. 2833) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to convey to: (1) Burlington County, New Jersey, the resource recovery facility at Fort Dix, New Jersey; (2) Augusta, Georgia, specified water and wastewater treatment plants at Fort Gordon, Georgia; (3) Blackstone, Virginia, a water treatment plant at Fort Pickett, Virginia; (4) the Southern California Edison Company the electric power distribution system at Fort Irwin, California; and (5) the Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company, Washington, a specified portion of real property at Fort Lewis, Washington (requiring a land exchange from Weyerhaeuser as part of such conveyance). Subtitle D: Transfer of Jurisdiction and Establishment of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie - Illinois Land Conservation Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary, for purposes of this Subtitle) to establish the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (MNP) to consist of portions of the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (Arsenal) in Illinois and to be managed as part of the National Forest System. (Sec. 2853) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) roads, utility rights-of- way, and access within the MNP; (2) agricultural leases and special use authorizations; (3) user fees; (4) salvage of improvements; (5) treatment of user fees and salvage receipts; and (6) cooperation with States, local governments, and other entities. (Sec. 2854) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to transfer the Arsenal property constituting the MNP, without reimbursement, to the Secretary. Permits the transfer of portions only for which no further action is required under environmental laws and that have been eliminated from the areas to be studied further pursuant to the Defense Environmental Restoration Program for the Arsenal. Directs the Secretary of the Army to retain jurisdiction, authority, and control over real property that is used for: (1) water treatment; (2) the treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous substances or petroleum products or derivatives; and (3) response purposes or actions required under environmental laws to remediate contamination or noncompliance. (Sec. 2855) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey certain Arsenal property to: (1) the Department of Veterans Affairs for use as a national cemetery; (2) Will County, Illinois, for use as a landfill; and (3) the village of Elwood and the city of Wilmington, Illinois, for use as industrial parks. Provides that the use of such landfill by Federal agencies or additional acreage added for purposes of accommodating the disposal of materials from the restoration of the Arsenal shall be at no cost to the Federal Government. Requires such property to revert to the Secretary for inclusion in the MNP if the property is not operated as a landfill. Provides for the conveyance of specified other Arsenal property to be added to the MNP subject to the Secretary's acceptance. (Sec. 2856) Directs the Secretary of the Army, with respect to the real property at the Arsenal to be transferred, to complete all remedial, response, or other actions required under any environmental law before carrying out such transfers. Requires the Secretary of the Army to retain any obligation or liability at the Arsenal as required under CERCLA and other environmental laws. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Directs the Secretary of Defense to carry out the Department of Defense Laboratory Revitalization Demonstration Program under which the Secretary may carry out minor military construction projects in order to improve DOD laboratories. Increases the maximum costs of minor construction projects for purposes of the Program. Directs the Secretary to designate the DOD laboratories to be covered by the Program. Requires a report. Prohibits the Secretary from commencing a construction project under the Program after September 30, 1999. (Sec. 2862) Prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from entering into any agreement that provides for or permits civil aircraft to regularly use Miramar Naval Air Station, California. (Sec. 2863) Directs the Secretary of the Army to report to the defense committees on the status of negotiations on an agreement relating to a land conveyance at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as required under the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1990 and 1991.
Bill· SS. 1126 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title XXXI (sic): Department of Energy National Security Programs Subtitle A: National Security Programs Authorizations Subtitle B: Recurring General Provisions Subtitle C: Program Authorizations, Restrictions, and Limitations Subtitle D: Transfer of Jurisdiction Over Department of Energy National Security Functions Subtitle E: Other Matters Title XXXII: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Title XXXIII: Naval Petroleum Reserves Department of Energy National Security Act for Fiscal Year 1996 - Title XXXI (sic): Department of Energy National Security Programs - Subtitle A: National Security Programs Authorizations - Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Energy (DOE) for FY 1996 for operating expenses, plant projects, and capital equipment necessary in carrying out the following activities for national security programs: (1) weapons activities; (2) environmental restoration and waste management; (3) various other defense activities; (4) defense nuclear waste disposal; and (5) the payment of penalties to the Hazardous Substances Superfund assessed against the Rocky Flats, Colorado, nuclear site. Subtitle B: Recurring General Provisions - Prohibits the use of funds appropriated pursuant to this title for: (1) the cost of a program exceeding 110 percent of the program authorization or $1 million more than the amount authorized, whichever is the lesser; or (2) programs which have not been presented to, or requested of, the Congress, unless the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) transmits to the appropriate congressional committees a full statement of the action proposed and 30 days have since expired. (Sec. 3122) Places certain funding limits (requiring congressional reports when amounts exceed such limits) for general plant and construction projects of DOE. Provides fund transfer authority (requiring congressional notification of any such transfer). (Sec. 3125) Directs the Secretary, before submitting a funding request for a construction project in support of a DOE national security program, to complete a conceptual design for such project. Requires a separate funding request for such designs for which the estimated costs exceed $3 million. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out construction design services in connection with any proposed construction project if the total estimated cost for the design does not exceed $600,000. Requires specific authorization by law for designs exceeding such amount. (Sec. 3126) Authorizes the use of DOE funds for planning, design, and construction activities for any DOE national security program that must proceed expeditiously in order to protect public health and safety, meet the needs of national defense, or protect property. Requires the Secretary to report to the Senate and House Armed Services and Appropriations Committees (congressional defense committees) when funds are so used. Makes funds for management and support activities and for general plant projects under this Subtitle available for all DOE national security programs. Subtitle C: Program Authorizations, Restrictions, and Limitations - Earmarks specified funds authorized under this title for specified three-year programs of research and development with respect to certain tritium production activities, including activities at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, and the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. (Sec. 3132) Earmarks specified funds authorized under this title for certain plutonium disposition activities, including an environmental assessment. (Sec. 3133) Authorizes specified tritium-related activities to be carried out at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, and the Los Alamos National Laboratory. (Sec. 3134) Directs the Secretary to carry out a program for establishing within the Government a manufacturing infrastructure which has the capability to: (1) refabricate and certify the enduring nuclear weapons stockpile; and (2) manufacture new nuclear warheads. Outlines required capabilities. Provides funding. (Sec. 3135) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for hydronuclear experiments at the Nevada Test Site. (Sec. 3136) Directs the Secretary to conduct a fellowship program for the development of skills critical to the ongoing mission of the DOE nuclear weapons complex. Outlines provisions concerning eligible individuals and DOE facilities at which the fellowship program shall be carried out. Provides funding. (Sec. 3137) Provides the effect of the issuance of environmental impact statements upon the use of appropriated funds for certain DOE facilities. (Sec. 3138) Directs the Secretary to: (1) prepare a comprehensive environmental impact statement for the dual-axis radiographic hydrotest facility project; and (2) issue a record of decision on the project pursuant to such statement. (Sec. 3139) Prohibits the use of FY 1996 DOE funds for specified research and education purposes. (Sec. 3140) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for: (1) electrometallurgical processing activities at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory; (2) the processing of spent nuclear fuel rods at the Savannah River Site and the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory; and (3) the DOE Declassification Productivity Initiative. (Sec. 3142) Authorizes the Secretary to reprogram funds available to DOE for FY 1996 for activities related to the disposition of spent nuclear fuel in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Limits to $5 million the total amount authorized to be reprogrammed. (Sec. 3143) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for activities relating to worker protection at DOE nuclear weapons facilities. Subtitle D: Transfer of Jurisdiction Over Department of Energy National Security Functions - Expresses the sense of the Senate: (1) recognizing the critical importance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile; and (2) questioning DOE's ability to continue to manage the stockpile. Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Energy to jointly submit to the Congress, by February 1, 1996, a report setting forth the notional plans which examine the potential transfer to the Department of Defense or an independent establishment of responsibility for the national security programs of DOE. Provides the various DOE organizations to be included in any such transfer, as well as other matters to be included in the plans. Requires each Secretary to ensure that the current mission and functioning of DOE national security programs would not be adversely affected during any transfer of responsibility. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Requires the Office of Military Applications under the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Defense Programs to retain responsibility for DOE's Defense Programs Emergency Response Program. (Sec. 3162) Provides the requirements for DOE weapons activities budgets for fiscal years after 1996. (Sec. 3163) Directs the Secretary to take appropriate actions to maintain the enduring nuclear weapons stockpile in complete readiness for use. (Sec. 3164) Directs the President to submit to the congressional defense committees a report on any presidential plans to purchase tritium from foreign suppliers for nuclear weapons stockpile purposes. (Sec. 3165) Requires the Secretary to direct the joint preparation by the Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories of a report on permitting alternative limits to limits on the explosive yield of hydronuclear tests. Provides funding. (Sec. 3166) Directs the President to report to the Congress a master plan on current and future warheads in the enduring nuclear weapons stockpile. (Sec. 3167) Prohibits the Secretary from allowing an international inspection of a nuclear weapons facility until: (1) the Secretary certifies to the Congress that no restricted data or classified information will be revealed during such inspection; and (2) 30 days have elapsed since such certification. Title XXXII: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. Title XXXIII: Naval Petroleum Reserves - Directs the Secretary to sell all U.S. rights and interest to lands inside Naval Petroleum Reserve Number 1 (Elk Hills unit), Kern County, California. Directs the Secretary, within three months after the effective date of this Act, to finalize the equity interests of the known oil and gas zones in the Elk Hills unit after following the recommendations of an independent petroleum engineer or using other appropriate methods. Provides time limits and administrative procedures for such sale. Directs the United States to hold harmless and indemnify the purchaser of the Elk Hills unit from any liability resulting from its former ownership by the United States. Reserves seven percent of the sale proceeds from the Elk Hills unit for the resolution of all claims against the United States by California with respect to the production of, and proceeds of petroleum sales from, the Elk Hills unit. Requires the continued full production of the Elk Hills unit until completion of the sale. Provides transition provisions with respect to current petroleum contracts at Elk Hills. Prohibits the Secretary from entering into a contract for the sale of the Elk Hills unit until 31 days after notifying the defense committees of the proposed sale. Provides that, if the Secretary receives only one offer for the sale of Elk Hills, then the Secretary may not enter into a sale contract unless: (1) the Secretary notifies the Congress that only one offer was received, together with the offeror's conditions; and (2) a joint resolution approving such sale is enacted within 45 days after such notification. Provides joint resolution procedures. Authorizes appropriations for carrying out the sale of the Elk Hills unit. (Sec. 3302) Directs the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on the most cost-effective option of operating the naval petroleum reserve units other than Elk Hills.
Bill· HRH.R. 2202 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Deterrence of Illegal Immigration Through Improved Border Enforcement, Pilot Programs, and Interior Enforcement Subtitle A: Improved Enforcement at Border Subtitle B: Pilot Programs Subtitle C: Interior Enforcement Title II: Enhanced Enforcement and Penalties Against Alien Smuggling; Document Fraud Subtitle A: Enhanced Enforcement and Penalties Against Alien Smuggling Subtitle B: Deterrence of Document Fraud Subtitle C: Asset Forfeiture for Passport and Visa Offenses Title III: Inspection, Apprehension, Detention, Adjudication, and Removal of Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens Subtitle A: Revision of Procedures for Removal of Aliens Subtitle B: Removal of Alien Terrorists Subtitle C: Deterring Transportation of Unlawful Aliens to the United States Subtitle D: Additional Provisions Title IV: Enforcement of Restrictions Against Employment Title V: Reform of Legal Immigration System Subtitle A: Worldwide Numerical Limits Subtitle B: Changes in Preference System Subtitle C: Refugees, Asylees, Parole, and Humanitarian Admissions Subtitle D: General Effective Date; Transition Provisions Title VI: Restrictions on Benefits for Aliens Subtitle A: Eligibility of Illegal Aliens for Public Benefits Subtitle B: Expansion of Disqualification from Immigration Benefits on the Basis of Public Charge Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support Title VII: Facilitation of Legal Entry Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions Immigration in the National Interest Act of 1995 - Title I: Deterrence of Illegal Immigration Through Improved Border Enforcement, Pilot Programs, and Interior Enforcement - Subtitle A: Improved Border Enforcement - Increases: (1) the Border Patrol; and (2) Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) border enforcement and related personnel. (Sec. 102) Provides for barrier and road improvements at U.S. border areas of high illegal entry, including San Diego, California. Authorizes appropriations for San Diego area improvements. (Sec. 103) Provides for improved border equipment and technology. (Sec. 104) Provides for biometric identifiers to be included in border crossing identification cards. (Sec. 105) Establishes civil penalties for illegal U.S. entry. (Sec. 106) Authorizes appropriations for detention and prosecution of aliens who have unlawfully entered the United States at least twice. (Sec. 107) Provides for inservice Border Patrol training. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Pilot Programs - Establishes pilot programs for: (1) deterrence of multiple unauthorized U.S. entries, which may include interior or third party repatriation; (2) use of closed military bases as INS detention centers; and (3) collection of alien departure records. Subtitle C: Interior Enforcement - Provides for increased INS interior investigative and enforcement personnel. Title II: Enhanced Enforcement and Penalties Against Alien Smuggling; Document Fraud - Subtitle A: Enhanced Enforcement and Penalties Against Alien Smuggling - Amends Federal criminal law to: (1) authorize wiretaps in alien smuggling investigations; and (2) include alien smuggling within racketeering offenses. (Sec. 203) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to revise and increase criminal penalties for alien smuggling. (Sec. 204) Increases the number of Assistant United States Attorneys and provides for their assignment to criminal matters involving illegal aliens. (Sec. 205) Authorizes and provides for INS undercover investigations. Subtitle B: Deterrence of Document Fraud - Amends Federal criminal law and the Act to increase and establish criminal and civil penalties for specified immigration related document fraud offenses, including false citizenship claims. Subtitle C: Asset Forfeiture for Passport and Visa Offenses - Amends Federal criminal law to provide for asset forfeiture for passport and visa offenses. Title III: Inspection, Apprehension, Detention, Adjudication, and Removal of Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens - Subtitle A: Revision of Procedures for Removal of Aliens - Amends the Act to revise alien removal and penalty provisions. (Sec. 309) Sets forth transition provisions with respect to: (1) the Attorney General's option to apply current or revised procedures; (2) judicial review; (3) suspension of deportation; and (4) certain family unity aliens. Subtitle B: Removal of Alien Terrorists - Part 1: Removal Procedures for Alien Terrorists - Amends the Act to establish a special removal procedure for alien terrorists, including establishment of a special removal court and a panel of special attorneys with access to classified information. (Sec. 322) Authorizes additional appropriations for INS detention and removal of alien terrorists. Part 2: Inadmissibility and Denial of Relief for Alien Terrorists - Amends the Act to make membership in a terrorist organization grounds for U.S. exclusion. (Sec. 332) Denies alien terrorists status adjustment and deportation relief. Subtitle C: Deterring Transportation of Unlawful Aliens to the United States - Amends the Act with regard to vessel and aircraft transportation of illegal aliens into the United States. Subtitle D: Additional Provisions - Authorizes Federal retirees to be used in the Institutional Hearing Program. (Sec. 358) Authorizes additional appropriations to the Attorney General for removing inadmissible or deportable aliens. (Sec. 359) Establishes in the Treasury an Immigration Enforcement Account. (Sec. 360) Declares that Congress advises the President to negotiate prisoner transfer treaties, which may include compensation provisions. (Sec. 361) Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to direct INS to operate a criminal alien identification system. (Sec 363) Authorizes special registration of aliens on criminal probation or parole. Title IV: Enforcement of Restrictions Against Employment - Increases full-time employee positions in: (1) the Investigations Division of INS; and (2) the Wage and Hour Division of the Employment Standards Administration of the Department of Labor. (Sec. 403) Amends the Act to revise the employer sanctions program. Provides for an employment eligibility confirmation mechanism. Title V: Reform of Legal Immigration System - Amends the Act to restructure current legal immigration categories and levels into the following: (1) family-sponsored immigrants; (2) employment-based immigrants; and (3) humanitarian immigrants. Subtitle A: Worldwide Numerical Limits - Amends the Act to establish fiscal year worldwide limits for such immigrant categories. (Sec. 504) Requires periodic congressional review and reauthorization of worldwide immigration levels. Subtitle B: Changes in Preference System - Amends the Act to limit immediate relatives to spouses and children of U.S. citizens. (Sec. 512) Limits preference allocation for family-sponsored immigrants to: (1) spouses and children of lawful permanent resident aliens; and (2) qualifying parents of U.S. citizens. Requires parents to have adequate health coverage. (Sec. 513) Revises preference allocations for employment-based immigrants. Establishes: (1) a pilot program for smaller alien job creation investors; and (2) conditional permanent resident status for certain foreign language teachers. (Sec. 515) Revises special immigrant status provisions, including: (1) inclusion of certain NATO civilian employees; and (2) extension of status for religious workers. (Sec. 517) Makes specified family and employment-based amendments. Subtitle C: Refugees, Asylees, Parole, and Humanitarian Admissions - Amends the Act to limit annual refugee admissions to 75,000 in FY 1997 or 50,000 in succeeding years unless the Congress provides for additional entries. (Sec. 523) Authorizes the temporary employment of certain retirees to help reduce asylum application backlogs. (Sec. 524) Limits parole entry to a case-by-case basis for humanitarian or significant public benefit reasons. (Sec. 525) Provides for the admission of humanitarian immigrants. (Sec. 526) Revises asylum provisions. Subtitle D: General Effective Date; Transition Provisions - Sets forth transition provisions for specified classification status petitions. Title VI: Restrictions on Benefits for Aliens - Subtitle A: Eligibility of Illegal Aliens for Public Benefits - Part 1: Public Benefits Generally - Makes illegal aliens ineligible for unemployment benefits and Federal and State assistance, contracts, and licenses, with exceptions for emergency medical services, public health immunizations, and short-term emergency disaster relief. Requires proof of identify for Federal contracts, grants, loans, licenses, and specified public assistance programs. Authorizes States to establish similar requirements. (Sec. 605) Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to report on the disqualification of illegal aliens from housing assistance programs. Part 2: Earned Income Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny the earned income tax credit to individuals not authorized to work in the United States. Subtitle B: Expansion of Disqualification from Immigration Benefits on the Basis of Public Charge - Amends the Act to revise public charge grounds for inadmissibility and deportability. Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support - Attributes a sponsor's income and resources to a family-sponsored immigrant for purposes of eligibility for Federal means-tested public benefits programs. (Sec. 632) Amends the Act to set forth sponsor affidavit of support requirements. Title VII: Facilitation of Legal Entry - Provides for: (1) increased numbers of land border inspectors; and (2) border infrastructure improvements. (Sec. 703) Amends the Act to provide for: (1) preinspection at specified foreign airports; and (2) training of airline personnel in fraudulent document detection. Establishes a carrier consultant program. Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Act, as amended by the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 to revise the definition of "aggravated felony." Amends the Act with regard to: (1) definitions of "child" and "parent"; (2) visa processing procedure; (3) waiver authority concerning notice of visa application denial; (4) Canadian landed immigrants; (5) H-1B nonimmigrants; (6) visa extensions; (7) status adjustment; (8) access to certain confidential INS files; (9) nonimmigrant status for spouses and children of members of the armed forces; (10) fraudulent birth certificates; (11) visa "shopping"; and (12) specified miscellaneous and technical provisions.
Bill· HRH.R. 2235 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Prior Domestic Commercial Use Act of 1995 - Amends the Federal judicial code to create a defense to patent infringement with respect to any subject matter the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale, or importation of which in the United States 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 (the defense is not a general license under all claims of the patent at issue but extends only to the subject matter claimed in the patent that the person asserting the defense had commercially used before the effective filing date of the patent, with exceptions); (2) effective and serious preparation; (3) burden of proof (on the person asserting the defense); (4) abandonment of use; (5) who may assert the defense (it is a personal defense); (6) a one-year limitation (the subject matter on which the defense is based must have been commercially used or reduced to practice more than one year prior to the effective filing date of the patent); (7) unsuccessful assertion of the defense (directs the court to find the case exceptional for purposes of awarding attorney's fees); and (8) invalidity of a patent (a patent shall not be deemed invalid solely because a defense is raised or established under this Act).
Bill· HRH.R. 2227 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Prohibits defense contractors from being reimbursed by the Government for environmental response costs at facilities owned or operated by the contractor or at which the contractor is liable in whole or part for the environmental response action.
Law· HRH.R. 2204 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Defense Production Act Amendments of 1995 - Amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to: (1) extend provisions of titles I, III, and VII of such Act through FY 1998 (with exceptions); and (2) extend through FY 1998 the authorization of appropriations for certain projects and activities contained under title III of such Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 2219 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Extends through December 31, 1998, the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide hospital care and medical services to Persian Gulf veterans exposed to toxic substances or environmental hazards during such service, as long as symptoms become manifest before January 1, 1997. Extends through December 31, 1997: (1) the authority to contract with community-based treatment facilities for the care of eligible veterans suffering from alcohol or drug dependence or abuse disabilities; (2) the authority of a pilot program for furnishing veterans with noninstitutional alternatives to nursing home care (requires a report); (3) the Department's health professionals scholarship program (requires a report); (4) the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into enhanced-use leases of Department real property (requires a report); (5) the authority under the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988 for a pilot program providing community-based residential care for homeless chronically mentally ill veterans; (6) the Department's compensated work therapy and therapeutic transitional housing program; and (7) the authority under the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 for a pilot program to expand and improve Department benefits and services to homeless veterans. Extends through FY 1997 the authorization of appropriations for such pilot program. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on the advantages and disadvantages of consolidating specified veterans' programs. Repeals the authority of the Secretary to make contracts and grants for providing care and treatment for veterans at the Department's Veterans Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines.
Bill· HRH.R. 2228 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Waives the time limitations relating to the posthumous award of a Medal of Honor to Ruben Rivers for acts of heroism during World War II.
Bill· HRH.R. 2222 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Provides for continued retirement benefits under the Civil Service and Federal Employees' Retirement Systems, as well as annual and sick leave credits, for certain former employees of the Department of Defense (DOD) who transferred to a contractor concurrently with the transfer of any functions from a DOD component to such contractor.
Bill· HRH.R. 2214 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Military Survivors Equity Act of 1995 - Repeals the social security offset applicable to certain annuities paid to surviving spouses under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) for retired members of the armed forces, to the extent that such offset is due to integration with social security benefits when the surviving spouse reaches 62 years of age. Directs the Secretary of Defense to recompute the existing annuities of certain individuals under the SBP to reflect the changes made by this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 2215 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Combat Merchant Mariners Benefit Act of 1990 - Provides that: (1) service in the U.S. merchant marine during a period of war for a total period equal to at least 12 months shall be considered active duty in determining eligibility for veterans' benefits; and (2) such service may be verified by entries in a continuous discharge book, a certificate of discharge to merchant seamen, a certificate of substantially continuous service, or other documentation available from the Secretary of Transportation or the head of any other Federal agency. Limits eligibility. Specifies that: (1) the minimum active-duty service requirement of any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs shall apply in determining eligibility for veterans' benefits under this Act; (2) the 12-month requirement under this Act shall not apply to an individual who is permanently disabled in the performance of such service while the vessel is subjected to hostile action; and (3) such service may have been rendered before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act, with a limitation.
Bill· SS. 1117 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Temporary Employment Assistance Title II: Work First Employment Block Grant Title III: Supporting Work Title IV: Ending the Cycle of Intergenerational Dependency Title V: Interstate Child Support Responsibility Subtitle A: Improvements to the Child Support Collection System Subtitle B: Effect of Enactment Title VI: Supplemental Security Income Reform Subtitle A: Eligibility Restrictions Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children Subtitle C: Study of Disability Determination Process Subtitle D: National Commission on the Future of Disability Title VII: Provisions Relating to Sponsors Title VIII: Food Stamp Program Integrity and Reform Title IX: Effective Date; Miscellaneous Provisions Work First Act of 1995 - Title I: Temporary Employment Assistance - 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 Temporary Employment Assistance (TEA) program for the purpose of providing assistance to families with needy children and assisting parents of such children to obtain and retain private sector work to the extent possible, and public sector or volunteer work if necessary, through the Work First Employment Block Grant (WORK) program. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 101) Sets forth the elements for State TEA plans to be approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, including limits on the length of time for cash assistance, with specified exceptions for teen parents and individuals exempt from certain work requirements under this title because of illness or other specified reasons. Includes among such elements requirements for the State to assess the skills, prior work experience, and employability of each parent applicant and develop a parent empowerment contract setting forth their job search, work-, and education-related obligations (including, at State option, appropriate substance abuse treatment) in order to receive the full amount of program assistance, with assistance denied after the third act of noncompliance with the contract. Requires State WORK plans to: (1) guarantee child care assistance for each TEA family with a needy child requiring such care, to the extent necessary for an individual in the family to participate in job search activities, to work, or to participate in the WORK program; (2) provide for development of programs to reduce the incidence of out-of- wedlock and teen pregnancies; (3) promote family preservation and stability; and (4) develop a quality assurance system for use under the plan along with associated data collection and reporting. Outlines special rules regarding alien eligibility for TEA program assistance. Directs the Secretary to compile data on the effectiveness of the programs under this title for annual reports to the Congress. Provides that upon receiving notice from a State agency administering an approved plan that a named individual has been overpaid under it, the Secretary of the Treasury shall: (1) determine whether any tax refunds are payable to such individual, regardless of whether he or she filed a return as a married or unmarried individual; and (2) withhold from any such refunds an amount equal to the overpayment sought to be collected, and pay it to the State agency. Requires the Secretary to issue regulations allowing a State to submit requests for collection of overpayments only with respect to individuals no longer receiving TEA assistance against whom the State has already taken appropriate action, including notice of its intent to request such withholding of income tax refunds. Specifies rules for the collection of overpayments under SSA title IV part A. Title II: Work First Employment Block Grant - Replaces the current Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Training Program under SSA title IV part F with the WORK program of title I, under which States shall have the option of providing a wide variety of work-related activities to clients in the TEA program. Makes the stated goal of the WORK program the achievement in a cost-effective fashion of full-time unsubsidized paid employment for each adult on TEA assistance. (Sec. 201) Allows States to place in such program clients of TEA assistance pursuant to an approved State plan who have signed a contract described above and absent parents who are unemployed, on the condition that, once employed, such parents meet their child support guidelines, with certain exceptions for clients who are seriously ill or of advanced age. Requires States operating such WORK programs to achieve certain work performance rates over a specified fiscal year period, with reduced Federal payments for States failing twice to achieve the rate required. Makes use of performance-based bonuses under such program for States achieving their specified fiscal year work performance rate. Provides that each client, who is not exempt from work requirements, shall begin the WORK program by participating for two months in job search activities designed by the State. Provides that if, after two years, a client who has signed a parent empowerment contract is not working at least 20 hours a week, then the State shall offer that client a workfare or community service position, with hours per week and tasks to be determined by the State. Outlines job placement assistance for program clients, including the use of vouchers with private placement companies. Provides for various WORK program components, including certain family investment programs, microenterprises, and workfare and community service programs. Sets funding levels for State WORK programs. (Sec. 202) Allows State TEA plans to describe the State's efforts to streamline and consolidate activities to simplify the process of applying for a range of Federal and State assistance programs, including the use of "one-stop offices" to coordinate the application process for individuals and families with low-incomes or limited resources, and to ensure that applicants and recipients receive the information they need with regard to such range of programs. Allows such plans to require the use of incentives to change the culture of each appropriate State agency, to improve employee performance, and to ensure that the objective of each State agency is to find unsubsidized paid employment for each program client as efficiently and as quickly as possible. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to eligible community-based organizations that move clients on TEA or other public assistance into private sector work. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements with nonprofit organizations for the purpose of conducting projects to create employment opportunities for certain low-income individuals. Title III: Supporting Work - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide for an extension of Medicaid enrollment for former temporary employment assistance recipients for one additional year. (Sec. 302) Amends authorization provisions under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (for purposes related to providing child care services for eligible children through the awarding of State block and matching grants) for the stated purpose of: (1) eliminating program fragmentation and creating a seamless system of high quality child care that allows for continuity of care for children as parents move from welfare to work; (2) providing for parental choice among high quality child care programs; and (3) increasing the availability of high quality affordable child care in order to promote self-sufficiency and support working families. Repeals the State Dependent Care Grant program under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, and the Child Development Associate Scholarship Assistance Act of 1985. Title IV: Ending The Cycle of Intergenerational Dependency - Amends new SSA title IV part A to require State TEA plans to require adult-supervised living arrangements for unmarried minors who are pregnant or who have a needy child in their care in order for them to receive assistance under such plans, with certain exceptions where the appropriate State agency determines current living arrangements to be appropriate. (Sec. 402) Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to provide for the establishment of an adult-supervised group home entitlement program for minor custodial parents and their children for the purpose of reinforcing families. (Sec. 403) Requires completion of high school or other training for teenage parents under the new TEA program who are required to participate in the WORK program, including any available substance abuse treatment services for needy individuals whose contract reflects the need for such treatment services. Gives States the option to provide additional incentives and penalties to encourage teen parents to complete high school and participate in parenting activities. (Sec. 405) Requires the State TEA plan to provide for the development of a program to reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies, which may include providing unmarried mothers and unmarried fathers with services which will help them: (1) avoid subsequent pregnancies; and (2) provide adequate care to their children. Requires the plan also to provide that the State agency may, to the extent it determines resources are available, provide for the operation of projects to reduce teenage pregnancy. Requires the Secretary to conduct a study to determine the relative effectiveness of the different approaches for preventing teenage pregnancy utilized in such projects. Adds funding provisions for teen pregnancy projects. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 406) Directs the Secretaries of Education and of Health and Human Services and the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service to establish a National Clearinghouse on Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Programs: (1) for the collection and provision of information relating to adolescent pregnancy prevention programs; and (2) as a material development source for adolescent pregnancy prevention programs. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Interstate Child Support Responsibility - Interstate Child Support Responsibility Act of 1995 - Subtitle A: Improvements to the Child Support Collection System - Part I: Eligibility and Other Matters Concerning Title IV-D Program Clients - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV 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. (Sec. 501) Revises requirements for: (1) State plans for child and spousal support; and (2) payments distribution. (Sec. 503) 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. Part II: Program Administration and Funding - Revises the formulae for: (1) Federal matching payments to the States; and (2) incentive adjustments to the Federal matching rate. (Sec. 513) 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. 515) 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. 516) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to conduct staffing studies of each State child support enforcement program, and report the results to the Congress. (Sec. 517) 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. Part III: Locate and Case Tracking - 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. 522) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. (Sec. 523) 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. 525) 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. 526) Requires State plans to: (1) provide for a State- operated 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. 527) Requires State plans to include procedures for recording Social Security numbers on certain family legal documents and records, and on all applications for motor vehicle and professional licenses. Part IV: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures - Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1997. (Sec. 532) Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the rules 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. 533) 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. Part V: Paternity Establishment - Revises the guidelines for statutorily prescribed procedures governing genetic testing and outreach for voluntary paternity acknowledgment. (Sec. 543) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to require State plans for child and spousal support, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and Medicaid to provide that the State agency administering the plan will determine whether a program recipient is cooperating with efforts to establish paternity and secure support, or has good cause not to cooperate with such efforts. Part VI: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders - Establishes the National Child Support Guidelines Commission to determine the need for consideration by the Congress of national child support guidelines. (Sec. 552) Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. Part VII: Enforcement of Support Orders - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the priority of refund distribution with respect to past-due support owed to individuals. (Sec. 563) 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. 565) 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 on child support arrearages; and (6) calculating interest or penalties on such arrearages. (Sec. 571) Prescribes procedural guidelines for passport denial (or revocation) upon certification of nonpayment of child support. (Sec. 572) 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. Part VIII: 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. Part IX: Visitation and Support Assurance Projects - Authorizes grants to States to establish and administer programs to facilitate absent parents' access and visitation programs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 592) Authorizes the Secretary to permit State demonstration projects in one or more political localities for the purpose of establishing or improving a system of assured minimum child support payments. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Effect of Enactment - Sets forth effective dates for this Act. Title VI: Supplemental Security Income Reform - Subtitle A: Eligibility Restrictions - Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) to provide for the termination of SSI cash benefits for drug addicts and alcoholics whose alcoholism or drug addiction is a contributing factor towards the individual's disability. Revises associated treatment requirements. Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children - Revises the eligibility rules for children, with corresponding changes to childhood SSI regulations: (1) modifying the medical criteria for evaluation of mental and emotional disorders by eliminating references to maladaptive behavior in the domain of personal-behavioral function; and (2) discontinuing the use of individualized functional assessments for children. Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to redetermine the eligibility of any individual under age 18 who is receiving SSI benefits based on a disability as of the date of the enactment of this Act, and whose eligibility for such benefits may terminate by reason of this subtitle. (Sec. 612) Provides that at least every three years the Commissioner shall review the continued SSI eligibility of each individual who has not attained age 18 and is eligible for such benefits by reason of an impairment (or combination of impairments) which may improve (or, if the Commissioner chooses, which is unlikely to improve). Requires a parent or guardian of a recipient whose case is so reviewed to present, at the time of review, evidence demonstrating that the recipient is, and has been, receiving treatment, to the extent considered medically necessary and available, of the condition which was the basis for providing benefits under the SSI program. Provides that if an individual is eligible for SSI benefits by reason of disability for the month preceding the month in which the individual attains age 18, the Commissioner shall redetermine such eligibility: (1) during the one year period beginning on the individual's 18th birthday; and (2) by applying the criteria used in determining the initial eligibility for applicants who have attained age 18. Outlines specific requirements governing: (1) continuing disability reviews for low birth weight babies; and (2) benefit payments through representative payees to eligible individuals and their spouses. Provides for continuing Medicaid eligibility under SSI for certain children showing improvement following a continuing disability review. Subtitle C: Studies Regarding Supplemental Security Income Program - Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to report annually to the President and the Congress regarding the SSI program. (Sec. 622) Requires the Commissioner to issue a request for comments in the Federal Register on improvements to the disability evaluation and determination procedures for individuals under age 18 to ensure the comprehensive assessment of such individuals. Directs the Commissioner to review such comments and issue any regulations implementing any necessary changes not later than 18 months after this Act is enacted. (Sec. 623) Requires the Commissioner to make arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences, or other independent entity, to study and report to the President and the Congress on the disability determination process under SSA titles II and XVI. (Sec. 624) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report on the impact of this title on the SSI program. Subtitle D: National Commission on the Future of Disability - Establishes the National Commission on the Future of Disability to study all matters related to the nature, purpose, and adequacy of all Federal programs serving individuals with disabilities, including the programs under SSA titles II and XVI, with resulting recommendations for appropriate action submitted to the President and the Congress. Title VII: Provisions Relating to Sponsors - Makes uniform the eligibility criteria for qualified aliens under various specified public assistance programs, including the TEA and Medicaid programs. (Sec. 702) Extends, with certain exceptions, the deeming of income and resources of an alien's sponsor or sponsor's spouse under the SSI and food stamp programs through the date on which the alien becomes a U.S. citizen. (Sec. 703) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to specify requirements for an alien's sponsor's affidavit of support, extending such requirements to family-related and diversity immigrants as well. Title VIII: Stamp Program Integrity and Reform - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (Act) to establish a maximum 24-month food stamp program (program) authorization period for certain households. (Sec. 803) Revises the definition of "coupon." (Sec. 805) Revises thrifty food plan adjustment requirements. (Sec. 806) Revises household income provisions regarding: (1) students; (2) Federal energy assistance; (3) job training income; (4) standard deductions; (5) life insurance proceeds; and (6) vendor payments for transitional housing. (Sec. 813) Increases penalties for certain program violations, including coupon trafficking for drugs or firearms. (Sec. 814) Revises work requirements and employment and training provisions. Extends employment and training funding authorizations. (Sec. 816) Establishes a ten-year disqualification period for participating in the program in two or more States. (Sec. 817) Disqualifies an individual in child support arrears from program participation. (Sec. 818) Encourages implementation of a national electronic benefit transfer delivery system. (Sec. 821) Revises State operating plan requirements. (Sec. 822) Reduces program allotments or increases for noncompliance with specified work requirements under the Social Security Act. (Sec. 823) Provides for revised application and benefit procedures. (Sec. 824) Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish specific time periods for: (1) retail food stores and wholesale food concerns (stores) to apply for program participation; and (2) prohibition of program participation based on lack of business integrity. (Sec. 826) Includes tax information among the types of eligibility verification information which may be requested. (Sec. 827) Establishes a six-month reapplication waiting period for a store that does not meet participation requirements. (Sec. 828) Makes the collection of overissuance of coupons from Federal pay or Federal tax refunds (as authorized by this section) mandatory. (Sec. 832) 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. 833) Provides for disqualification of a store that is disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). (Sec. 834) Provides for permanent disqualification of a store that knowingly submits a falsified application. (Sec. 835) Establishes criminal forfeiture penalties for specified program violations. (Sec. 837) Authorizes appropriations for Puerto Rico block grants. (Sec. 838) Amends the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the sharing of certain retail or wholesale food concern information with State enforcement authorities. (Sec. 839) Amends the National School Lunch Act with regard to the child care and adult food program to: (1) revise day care home reimbursement provisions; (2) obligate funds for State assistance to family or group day care homes; and (3) provide census and school data to family or group day care sponsoring organizations. (Sec. 840) Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to replace existing discretionary funding (from moneys not otherwise appropriated) for nutrition education and training programs with an authorization of appropriations for such programs. Title IX: Effective Date; Miscellaneous Provisions - Specifies the effective date of this Act. (Sec. 901) Provides for: (1) a one year extension of the JOBS program's authorization under part F of SSA title IV at specified levels; (2) the allocation of such authorization levels to the States in the same manner specified above for the WORK program, but requiring a 25 percent instead of the current 20 percent State participation rate; (3) continuation of existing waivers granted to States and approved by the Secretary as of the date of the enactment of this Act that relate to the provision of assistance under an approved State plan under SSA title IV; and (4) an expedited approval process for such waivers. (Sec. 904) Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture to jointly enter into negotiations with any county having a population greater than 500,000 for the purpose of establishing appropriate rules to govern the establishment and operation of a five year specified welfare demonstration project. (Sec. 905) Amends SSA title IV part F, with respect to the Work First Employment Block Grant Program for the State of Hawaii, to lower from 20 to 19 the work performance rate component number of deemed hours which individuals must work either in an unsubsidized job while receiving temporary employment assistance, or in a subsidized job through the Work First Program. (Sec. 906) Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to produce and publish every two years for each State, county, and local unit of general purpose government, and for each school district, data relating to the incidence of poverty, with certain reports for the Congress whenever the Secretary is unable to produce and publish such data for a particular entity above. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 907) Directs the Bureau of the Census to expand the Survey of Income and Program Participation as necessary to obtain such information as will enable interested persons to evaluate the impact of the amendments made by title I of this Act on a random national sample of recipients of assistance under State programs funded under SSA title IV part A and other appropriate low-income families. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 908) Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a legislative proposal providing for such technical and conforming amendments in the law as are required by this Act.
Bill· SS. 1120 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Title II: Supplemental Security Income Subtitle A: Eligibility Restrictions Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children Subtitle C: Studies Regarding Supplemental Security Income Program Subtitle D: National Commission on the Future of Disability Subtitle E: State Supplementation Programs Title III: Food Stamp Reform Subtitle A: Food Stamp Reform Subtitle B: Anti-Fraud and Trafficking Title IV: Child Nutrition Programs Subtitle A: Reimbursement Rates Subtitle B: Grant Programs Subtitle C: Other Amendments Subtitle D: Reauthorization Title V: Noncitizens Title VI: Child Care Title VII: Workforce Development and Workforce Preparation Activities Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Statewide Workforce Development Systems Subtitle C: Job Corps and Other Workforce Preparation Activities for At-Risk Youth Subtitle D: Transition Provisions Subtitle E: National Activities Subtitle F: Repeals of Employment and Training and Vocational and Adult Education Programs Title VIII: Workforce Development-Related Activities Subtitle A: Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Subtitle B: Amendments to Immigration and Nationality Act Title IX: Child Support Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders Subtitle H: Medical Support Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Nonresidential Parents Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment Title X: Reform of Public Housing Work Opportunity Act of 1995 - Title I: Block Grants For Temporary Assistance For Needy Families - Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) programs under parts A and F of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with a program of block grants to the States for temporary assistance for needy families with minor children (TEA program). Gives such program the stated purpose of increasing State flexibility in operating a program with mandatory work and education requirements (as well as certain penalties against adult family members on TEA assistance who refuse to work) as well as adult- supervised living arrangements for unmarried teenage parents designe: o: (1) provide certain time-limited assistance to needy families with minor children that enter into a personal responsibility contract with the State, with certain exceptions involving minor children and hardship situations; (2) provide job preparation and opportunities for such families, including opportunities to participate in State-approved job placement agency services; and (3) prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies. Denies TEA assistance for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators. (Sec. 101) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) each State operating a TEA program is encouraged to assign the highest priority to requiring adults in two-parent families and adults in single-parent families that include older preschool or school-age children to be engaged in work activities; and (2) prevention of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and reduction in out-of-wedlock births are very important Government interests and the policy contained in the provisions of this title is intended to address the crisis. Establishes in the Treasury a revolving Federal Loan Fund for State Welfare Programs for loans to any loan-eligible State for conducting welfare anti-fraud and other specified activities. Outlines program audit and data collection and reporting as well as certain study requirements. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct research, evaluations, and national studies with regard to programs funded under this title. Directs the Bureau of the Census to expand the Survey of Income and Program Participation as necessary to obtain such information as will enable interested persons to evaluate the impact of the changes made by this title on a random national sample of recipients of assistance under State programs funded under this title and other appropriate low-income families. Addresses the treatment of existing State AFDC waivers in effect or approved by the Secretary as of October 1, 1995. Provides for the treatment of Indian tribes with regard to grant amounts and other specified program matters affecting Indians. Makes the Assistant Secretary for Family Support within HHS the official responsible for administering SSA title IV part A and D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) programs. (Sec. 102) Allows States to contract with charitable, religious, and private organizations to provide services and administer programs established or modified by this Act. (Sec. 103) Prohibits financial assistance provided under such programs from being expended for any sectarian purpose or activity, including sectarian worship or instruction. (Sec. 104) Provides for continued application of current AFDC standards under the Medicaid program under SSA title XIX. (Sec. 105) Specifies reductions in HHS personnel the Secretary must make with regard to positions relating to an activity previously authorized under the former AFDC and JOBS programs. (Sec. 107) Makes conforming amendments to the Food Stamp Act of 1977 and related provisions of other specified Federal laws. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Supplemental Security Income - Subtitle A: Eligibility Restrictions - Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to: (1) deny SSI by reason of disability to drug addicts and alcoholics; (2) revise representative payee requirements; (3) provide for limited eligibility of certain noncitizens for SSI benefits; (4) deny SSI benefits for ten years to individuals found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain benefits simultaneously in two or more States; (5) deny SSI benefits for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators; and (6) provide for exchange of SSI information with law enforcement agencies. Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children - Revises the rules with respect to childhood eligibility, with corresponding changes to childhood SSI regulations modifying the medical criteria for evaluation of mental and emotional disorders, and discontinuing the use of individualized functional assessments for children. Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to redetermine the eligibility of any individual under age 18 who is receiving SSI benefits based on a disability as of the date of the enactment of this Act and whose eligibility for such benefits may terminate by reason of the above amendments. (Sec. 212) Provides that not less frequently than once every three years the Commissioner shall review the continued SSI eligibility of each individual who has not attained 18 years of age and is eligible for such benefits by reason of an impairment (or combination of impairments) which may improve (or, which is unlikely to improve, at the option of the Commissioner). Requires a parent or guardian of a recipient whose case is so reviewed to present, at the time of review, evidence demonstrating that the recipient is, and has been, receiving treatment, to the extent considered medically necessary and available, of the condition which was the basis for providing benefits under the SSI program. Provides that if an individual is eligible for SSI benefits by reason of disability for the month preceding the month in which the individual attains age 18, the Commissioner shall redetermine such eligibility: (1) during the one year period beginning on the individual's 18th birthday; and (2) by applying the criteria used in determining the initial eligibility for applicants who have attained age 18. Outlines specific requirements governing: (1) continuing disability reviews for low birth weight babies; and (2) benefit payments through representative payees to eligible individuals and their spouses. Subtitle C: Studies Regarding Supplemental Security Income Program - Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to report annually to the President and the Congress regarding the SSI program. (Sec. 222) Requires the Commissioner to issue a request for comments in the Federal Register regarding improvements to the disability evaluation and determination procedures for individuals under age 18 to ensure the comprehensive assessment of such individuals. Directs the Commissioner to review such comments and issue any regulations implementing any necessary changes not later than 18 months after this Act is enacted. (Sec. 223) Requires the Commissioner to make arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences, or other independent entity, to study the disability determination process under SSA titles II and XVI for reports to the President and the Congress. (Sec. 224) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report on the impact of the amendments made by, and the provisions of, this title on the SSI program. Subtitle D: National Commission on the Future of Disability - Establishes the National Commission on the Future of Disability to 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, including the programs under SSA titles II and XVI, with resulting recommendations for appropriate action submitted to the President and the Congress. Subtitle E: State Supplementation Programs - Repeals maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SSI benefits. Title III: Food Stamp Program - Subtitle A: Food Stamp Reform - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (Act) to establish a maximum 24-month food stamp program (program) authorization period for certain households. (Sec. 303) Authorizes States to establish additional criteria for separate household determinations. (Sec. 304) Revises thrifty food plan adjustment requirements. (Sec. 305) Revises the definition of "homeless individual" to limit the length of time a person may temporarily live in another person's residence. (Sec. 307) Revises household income exclusion provisions regarding: (1) students; and (2) Federal energy assistance. (Sec. 309) Revises household income deduction provisions regard: : (1) standard deductions; (2) earned income; (3) dependent care; (4) child support payments; (5) homeless shelter assistance; (6) excess medical expenses; and (7) excess shelter expenses. (Sec. 310) Eliminates specified excludable auto value increases. (Sec. 311) Revises the scope of sponsor-attributed income and resources regarding alien program eligibility. (Sec. 312) Revises work requirement and employment and training provisions. Extends employment and training funding authorizations. (Sec. 315) Authorizes comparable program disqualification based upon welfare or public assistance disqualification. (Sec. 316) Requires at State option: (1) cooperation with child support agencies in order to maintain program eligibility; and (2) program disqualification for child support arrears. (Sec. 318) Disqualifies permanently an individual who participates in the program in two or more States. (Sec. 319) Defines "work program." (Sec. 320) Exempts electronic transfers of program benefits from specified disclosure, protection, and remedy provisions. (Sec. 321) Eliminates annual minimum allotment adjustments. (Sec. 323) Authorizes a combined allotment for expedited households. (Sec. 324) Authorizes program reductions for failure to comply with a public assistance reduction requirement. (Sec. 325) Authorizes program assistance for households residing in a homeless shelter or drug or alcohol treatment center. (Sec. 327) Eliminates certain certification personnel training requirements. (Sec. 328) Provides for the exchange of information with Federal, State, or local law enforcement authorities, including the Immigration and Naturalization Service, under specified circumstances. (Sec. 329) Revises expedited coupon service requirements. (Sec. 330) Authorizes a family to withdraw a fair hearing request. (Sc. 331) Permits States to use income and eligibility verification systems other than the system used in part A (General Provisions) of title XI (General Provisions and Peer Review) of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 130) 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. 333) Terminates Federal matching requirements for program informational activities. (Sec. 335) Authorizes States to use funds otherwise available to a participating household for a work supplementation or support program. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 336) Authorizes waiver of program requirements as necessary to conduct related pilot projects. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 339) Authorizes States to carry out private sector employment initiatives. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 340) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) program operations; and (2) Puerto Rico block grants. (Sec. 342) Authorizes States to carry out a Simplified Food Program in lieu of existing program requirements. Sets forth Program provisions. (Sec. 343) Establishes an optional State food assistance block grant program. Sets forth program provisions. Subtitle B: Anti-Fraud and Trafficking - Amends the Act to expand the definition of "coupon." (Sec. 352) Increases penalties for specified food stamp program (program) violations. (Sec. 353) Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish specific time periods for: (1) retain food stores and wholesale food concerns (stores) to apply for program participation; and (2) prohibition of program participation based on lack of business integrity. (Sec 355) Includes income and sales tax information among the types of eligibility verification information which may be requested. (Sec. 356) Establishes a six-month reapplication waiting period for a store that does not meet participation requirements. (Sec. 358) Authorizes suspension of a store pending administrative and judicial review. (States that the Secretary shall not be liable for lost sales during such period.) (Sec. 359) Provides for disqualification of a store that is disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). (Sec. 360) Provides for permanent disqualification of a store that knowingly submits a falsified application. (Sec. 361) Establishes criminal forfeiture penalties for specified program violations. Title IV: Child Nutrition Programs - Subtitle A: Reimbursement Rates - Amends the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to terminate the additional lunch payment for schools with high percentages of free or reduced price lunches. (Sec. 402) Revises NSLA annual adjustment provisions for: (1) value of food assistance; and (2) lunches, breakfasts, and supplements. (Sec. 404) Revises NSLA service institution payment provisions for the summer food service program for children. (Sec. 405) Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to revise annual adjustment provisions for: (1) the special milk program; and (2) the school breakfast program. (Sec. 407) Conforms reimbursement for CNA school breakfasts with that for NSLA school lunches. Subtitle B: Grant Programs - Amends CNA to: (1) terminate school breakfast startup grants; and (2) reduce annual authorization of appropriations for nutrition education and training programs. Subtitle C: Other Amendments - Amends NSLA and CNA to set forth free and reduced price policy statements for the school lunch program and the school breakfast program. (Sec. 422) Revises NSLA provisions for the summer food service program for children. Allows participating school food authorities to permit a child to refuse not more than one item of a meal that the child does not intend to consume. Provides that a refusal of an offered food shall not affect the amount of payments to a school for the meal. Removes a requirement that States submit a plan or schedule as part of notice to institutions. (Sec. 423) Revises NSLA provisions for the child and adult care food program with respect to payments to certain sponsor employees. Revises provisions regarding day care home reimbursements. Requires reservation of certain funds for grants to States for assistance for family or group day care homes. Requires Federal and State provision of certain data to family or group day care home sponsoring organizations. Disallows certain meal claims. Eliminates certain requirements involving State paperwork and outreach. Requires States to provide training, technical assistance, and monitoring. (Sec. 424) Requires a review of all NSLA and CNA reporting requirements and a report recommending elimination of any that impose a paperwork burden on agencies and schools which cannot be justified by their contribution to program effectiveness. Subtitle D: Reauthorization - Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to reauthorize appropriations for the commodity distribution program. (Sec. 432) Amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 to extend authority and reauthorize appropriations for the emergency food assistance program. (Sec. 433) Amends the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988 to reauthorize appropriations for the soup kitchens program. (Sec. 434) Amends the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 to extend authority for processing of agricultural commodities into food products. (Sec. 435) Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to extend authority for the commodity supplemental food program. Title V: Noncitizens - Gives States the option of prohibiting the use of any grant funds received under SSA title IV part A, or the new optional State food assistance block grant program established under title III of this Act, for the provision of assistance under the related State programs for an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States. (Sec. 502) Provides that, for purposes of determining the eligibility of an individual (whether a citizen or national of the United States or an alien) for assistance, and the amount of assistance, under any Federal program of assistance provided or funded, in whole or in part, by the Federal Government for which eligibility for benefits is based on need, certain described income and resources pertaining to the individual's sponsor shall, in spite of any other provision of law, be deemed to be the income and resources of such individual. Applies such requirement for the period for which the sponsor has agreed, in an affidavit or agreement, to provide support for such individual, or for a period of five years beginning on the date such individual was first lawfully in the United States after the execution of such affidavit or agreement, whichever period is longer. Outlines similar deemed income authority for State and local programs of assistance authorized under Federal law for which eligibility is based on need. Exempts from such restrictions eligibility for emergency medical services under Medicaid, short-term emergency disaster relief, assistance or benefits under the National School Lunch Act, assistance or benefits under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and public health assistance for immunizations with respect to immunizable diseases and for testing and treatment for communicable diseases under certain conditions. (Sec. 503) Details the limited eligibility of noncitizens for SSI benefits. Title VI: Child Care - Child Care and Development Block Grant Amendments Act of 1995 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to consolidate Federal child care programs. (Sec. 602) Extends the authorization of appropriations under the Act. Revises provisions for the lead agency to allow such agency to administer the financial assistance received by the State under the act either directly or through other governmental or nongovernmental agencies. Requires sufficient time and statewide distribution for the notice of the public hearing on child care services provision under the State plan. Revises provisions for the State application and plan. Eliminates a requirement that providers that are not required to be licensed or regulated under State or local law be required to register with the State before payment is made under the Act. Requires the State to implement mechanisms to ensure that appropriate payment mechanisms exist so that proper payments under this subchapter will be made to providers. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop minimum child care standards, appropriately reflective of tribal needs and available resources, applicable to Indian tribes and tribal organization receiving assistance under the Act. Reduces from 25 to 15 percent of annual assistance to a State the set-aside for quality of child care and before- and after-school and early childhood development services. Applies such set-aside, however, only to child care quality improvement activities and no longer to early childhood development and before- and after-school care services. Adds a limitation on administrative costs. Requires the sliding fee scale to ensure a representative distribution of funding among the working poor and recipients of Federal welfare assistance. Expands eligibility criteria to include families earning up to 100 percent (currently 75 percent) of the State median family income. Revises requirements relating to quality improvement activities to include: (1) under resource and referral programs, consumer education, referrals honoring parental choice, and activities to improve quality and availability of child care; and (2) under other activities, increasing availability of care before- and after-school, for infants, and during nontraditional work hours. Repeals a requirement that States expend a specified minimum amount of reserved funds for early childhood development and before- and after-school services. Revises requirements for enforcement and for reports. Authorizes the Secretary to permit an Indian tribe or organization to use certain assistance to construct or renovate facilities that will be used to carry out child care programs. Provides for reallocation of assistance to other Indian tribes or organizations under certain conditions. Allows use of child care certificates as deposits. Includes among eligible child care providers those who care for an eligible great grandchild or sibling (if in the latter case the provider lives in a separate residence). Eliminates certain registration requirements for providers who are relatives. (Sec. 603) Repeals: (1) the State Dependent Care Development Grants Act; and (2) the Child Development Associate Scholarship Assistance Act of 1985. Title VII: Workforce Development and Workforce Preparation Activities - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Workforce Development Act of 1995 - Sets forth congressional findings, purposes of this title, and the definitions of terms used in this title and title VIII. Subtitle B: Statewide Workforce Development Systems - Establishes a program of assistance for Statewide workforce development systems. (Sec. 711) Directs the Governing Board of the Workforce Development Partnership (Federal Partnership, established under this Act) (Governing Board) to make allotments, for program years 1998 and subsequent, to States to help pay costs of establishing and carrying out activities through statewide workforce development systems. (Sec. 712) Sets forth formulae for such State allotments. (Sec. 713) Requires States to apportion such allotment funds by specified percentages among workforce employment activities, workforce education activities, and flexible workforce activities. (Sec. 714) Sets forth requirements relating to State plans describing: (1) the strategic plan for the statewide system, including flexible workforce activities, and, if appropriate, economic development activities; (2) workforce employment activities; and (3) workforce education activities. (Sec. 715) Authorizes Governors of States receiving such allotments to establish State workforce development boards with certain membership requirements and functions. (Sec. 716) Sets forth required and authorized uses of funds under this title. Requires funds for workforce employment activities to be used for: (1) one-stop delivery of specified core services; (2) a statewide comprehensive labor market information system; and (3) a job placement accountability system. Allows such funds to also be used for: (1) specified permissible one-stop delivery activities; (2) other specified permissible activities which may be provided through vouchers, including certain forms of training, supportive, and followup services; (3) staff development and training; and (4) incentive grant awards to substate areas that reach or exceed State benchmarks. Requires State educational agencies to use funds for workforce education activities to carry out, through the statewide system, activities that include: (1) integrating academic and vocational education; (2) linking secondary and postsecondary education (including implementing tech-prep programs); (3) career guidance and counseling at the earliest possible age; (4) literacy and basic education for adults and out-of-school youth, including those in correctional institutions; (5) secondary education completion programs for adults and out-of-school youth; (6) improving vocational education programs; and (7) improving access to quality vocational education programs for at-risk youth. Sets forth certain fiscal requirements for such workplace education activities. Requires States to use a portion of the funds for flexible workforce activities (flex account funds) to carry out school-to-work activities through the statewide system (except that any State that received a grant under specified provisions of the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 must use such portion to support continued development of the statewide School-to-Work Opportunities system through continuing activities in accordance with such grant). Allows States to use a portion of such flex account funds for workforce employment and workforce education activities. Allows States that meet specified requirements to use a portion of flex account funds for specified economic development activities relating to workforce training and skills upgrading. Sets forth limitations on use of funds and on individual participation under this title. (Sec. 717) Outlines provisions for supporting Indian and Native Hawaiian workforce development activities and associated supplemental services for Indian and Native Hawaiian youth and public assistance recipients on or near reservation areas. (Sec. 718) Directs the Governing Board, using certain funds made available below, to make grants to outlying areas to carry out workforce development activities. (Sec. 721) Provides for local uses of funds under this title, including: (1) local apportionment by activity, distributing 75 percent of workforce employment activities funds to local entities and 80 percent of workforce education activities funds to certain educational entities; (2) distributions for secondary school vocational education, for postsecondary and adult vocational education, and for adult education; and (3) minimal allocations and redistribution. Provides for States to enter into local agreements regarding workforce employment activities, school-to-work activities, and economic development activities to be carried out in each substate area with local partnerships (or, where established, workforce development boards). (Sec. 731) Provides for: (1) accountability; and (2) incentives and sanctions. (Sec. 733) Amends the Social Security Act with respect to the Unemployment Trust Fund to make Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) revenues available for statewide workforce development systems to the extent they are used to carry out specified core services relating to job search, placement assistance and labor market information provided through the one-stop career centers. (Sec. 734) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act (other than subtitle C below). Sets forth certain reservations of funds. Subtitle C: Job Corps and Other Workforce Preparation Activities for At-Risk Youth - Requires a State to use a portion of its allotment for workforce preparation activities for at-risk youth to maintain any Job Corps Center located in that State and carry out specified activities for Job Corps enrollees assigned there, if such center received assistance under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) for FY 1996 and was not closed in accordance with specified provisions. (Sec. 744) Limits eligibility for the Job Corps to at-risk youth. (Sec. 745) Provides for Job Corps: (1) screening and selection of applicants; (2) enrollment and assignment; (3) centers' development, character, activities, operators, and inclusion of Civilian Conservation Centers; (4) program activities; (5) support by States of enrollees through personal allowances; (6) State operating plans; (7) standards of conduct; (8) community participation; and (9) counseling and placement. (Sec. 754) Directs the Secretary of Labor to offer leases and sales of Job Corps centers, for nominal consideration, to States with approved State plans. (Sec. 755) Provides for closure of certain Job Corps centers. Directs the Governing Board to conduct a national Job Corps audit, report to the appropriate congressional committees, and report recommendations to the Secretary of Labor, including identification of 25 Job Corps centers to be closed by September 30, 1997. Directs the Secretary, after reviewing such report, to close 25 centers by such date. (Sec. 756) Amends JTPA to set forth requirements for interim operating plans for Job Corps centers. (Sec. 759) Directs the Governing Board, for program years 1998 and subsequent, to make allotments to States to help pay for carrying out specified workforce preparation activities for at-risk youth. Sets forth provisions for core required activities, permissible activities, allotment formulas, State plans, applications, and within-State distribution. (Sec. 241) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this subtitle. Subtitle D: Transition Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary (of Labor or of Education or of Health and Human Services, depending on the covered activity) to waive, during a transition period, any requirement under any provision of law (or regulation under it) relating to a covered activity for States or localities that request such waivers and comply with specified requirements. Requires States to submit interim State plans to the Governing Board in order for a State or locality to use such transition waivers. (Sec. 765) Authorizes interim appropriations under the Older American Community Service Employment Act, the Carl D. Perkins Vocation and Applied Technology Education Act, and other specified Acts. Subtitle E: National Activities - Establishes the Workforce Development Partnership (Federal Partnership) as a Government corporation, with a Governing Board and an Office of Inspector General, to administer activities under this Act. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 772) Directs the Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement to: (1) conduct a national assessment of vocational education programs assisted under this Act, through studies and analyses conducted independently through competitive awards; and (2) appoint an independent advisory board to advise on implementation of such assessment. (Sec. 773) Directs the Governing Board to oversee development and continuous improvement of a nationwide integrated labor market information system. Sets forth Federal, joint Federal-State, and State responsibilities with respect to labor market information. (Sec. 774) Authorizes the Governing Board to a competitive grant to an institution of higher education, a public or private nonprofit organization or agency, or a consortium to establish a National Center for Research in Education and Workforce Development. (Sec. 775) Transfers to the Federal Partnership, as of June 30, 1998, all functions of the Secretaries of Labor and of Education (including those of their Offices of Inspector General) that relate to a covered activity and are minimally necessary to carrying out Federal Partnership functions. Provides for: (1) determinations of functions by the Board, including Board review of a proposed transition workplan of the Secretaries; (2) personnel, delegation and assignment, reorganization, and rulemaking powers; (3) transfer and allocations of appropriations and personnel; (4) incidental transfers, effect on personnel, and savings provisions; (5) a transition period; and (6) Board recommendations for additional legislation. (Sec. 776) Transfers to the appropriate receiving agency all functions that do not relate to a covered activity, but that the Secretaries of Labor and of Education, acting through the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), respectively, exercised before June 30, 1998. Directs the Secretaries to submit, for Board review, a proposed transition workplan that includes determinations of: (1) ETA and OVAE functions that do not relate to a covered activity; and (2) appropriate receiving agencies for such functions. (Sec. 777) Terminates OVAE and ETA on July 1, 1998 (as well as any authority granted them or any of their units by any reorganization plan). Subtitle F: Repeals of Employment and Training and Vocational and Adult Education Programs - Repeals: (1) the State Legalization Impact Assistance Grant program under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; (2) specified Federal law to assist workers displaced by the expansion of the Redwood National Park; (3) the Displaced Homemakers Self-Sufficiency Assistance Act; (4) provisions for Appalachian vocational and other educational facilities and operations under the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965; (5) the Job Training for the Homeless demonstration program under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act; (6) specified Federal transportation law for assistance by the Secretary of Transportation for certain human resource programs relating to mass transportation; and (7) specified Federal transportation law provisions for a program of protection and rehiring of certain dislocated airline employees, and assistance for them from an Airline Employee Protective Account administered by the Department of Labor. Repeals as of July 1, 1998: (1) trade adjustment assistance services under the Trade Act of 1974; (2) the Adult Education Act; (3) the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act; (4) the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994; (5) the Wagner-Peyser Act (employment services); (6) the Job Training Partnership Act; (7) community service employment for older Americans under the Older Americans Act of 1965; and (8) programs of Adult Education for the Homeless and of Education for Homeless Children and Youth under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. (Sec. 782) Makes conforming amendments to various Federal laws, reflecting such immediate and subsequent repeals. Title VIII: Workforce Development-Related Activities - Subtitle A: Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - Amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA) to repeal authorities relating to consolidated rehabilitation plans. (Sec. 805) Authorizes the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Administration to provide assistance to achieve participation by individuals with disabilities in activities carried out through a statewide workforce development system. (Sec. 808) Revises a declaration of policy to include references to linkages between the RA vocational rehabilitation program and other integral components of the statewide workforce development system. (Sec. 810) Revises provisions for individualized written rehabilitation programs, and renames them as individualized employment plans. (Sec. 811) Revises the scope of vocational rehabilitation services to eliminate surgery from the authorized uses of funds. Removes the qualification that small business operators' disabilities must be most severe in order for them to receive certain management services and supervision from State agencies. (Sec. 812) Provides for linkages between members of State Rehabilitation Advisory Councils and State workforce development boards. (Sec. 813) Requires consistency between RA evaluation standards and performance indicators and State benchmarks established under this Act. (Sec. 814) Repeals authority for Innovation and Expansion Grants (part C of title I Vocational Rehabilitation Services under RA). Subtitle B: Amendments to Immigration and Nationality Act - Prohibits State use of certain funds under the Immigration and Nationality Act for workforce employment activities under this Act. Title: X: Child Support - Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to require State plans for child and spousal support to provide: (1) certain services relating to paternity establishment or enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) continuation of services for families ceasing to receive assistance under Aid to Families with Dependent Children. (Sec. 902) Revises payment distribution guidelines for support obligations collected by the State on behalf of a family. (Sec. 903) Requires State plans to establish procedural guidelines for: (1) notification of all proceedings and orders affecting child support obligations; and (2) privacy safeguards regarding paternity and child support actions. Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking - Mandates that the single statewide automated data system 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. 912) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. (Sec. 913) Requires State plans to: (1) provide for a State- operated State Directory of New Hires containing prescribed information furnished by employers on new personnel; and (2) transmit such information to the National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 914) 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. 915) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures to ensure that Federal and State agencies conducting income-withholding activities have access to State locator systems for motor vehicle or law enforcement purposes. (Sec. 916) Revises the Federal Parent Locator Service to provide for additional information which may be transmitted to locate individuals and assets for purposes of: (1) establishing parentage; (2) executing child support obligations; and (3) enforcing visitation orders. (Sec. 917) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring recordation on such documents of the Social Security number of: (1) specified driver's, marriage, and occupational, and professional license applicants; (2) individuals subject to certain domestic relations orders; and (3) death records. Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures - Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1997. Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the procedures for the court to apply when determining which State order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement for child support orders. (Sec. 923) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring: (1) expedited administrative enforcement in interstate cases and support orders; and (2) expedited administrative and judicial procedures for establishing paternity and enforcing support obligations. Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment - Revises the guidelines for State laws governing paternity establishment. (Sec. 933) Requires State plans for child and spousal support to provide that the State agency administering the plan will make a determination as to whether a program recipient is cooperating in good faith with State efforts to establish paternity and secure support. Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding - Revises the guidelines for Federal performance-based incentive payments to the States for effective child support enforcement programs. (Sec. 942) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include prescribed procedures for State reviews and audits. Revises the guidelines for Federal evaluation and audit of State programs governing paternity, child and spousal support, and parent location. (Sec. 944) Revises the automated data processing requirements for State plans to mandate a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system which can perform specified tasks. (Sec. 945) Makes funds available to the Secretary for: (1) training of Federal and State staff, research and demonstration programs, and special projects of regional and national significance; and (2) operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service. Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders - Establishes the National Child Support Guidelines Commission to determine the need for consideration by the Congress of national child support guidelines. (Sec. 952) Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. (Sec. 953) Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to authorize a consumer agency to furnish a consumer report: (1) in response to a request by a governmental child support enforcement agency; or (2) to the State administrative agency which sets child support awards. (Sec. 954) Shields a depository institution from Federal or State liability for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency. Prohibits such agency from disclosing such a financial record except for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary in, establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation. Sets forth civil penalties for any person knowingly or negligently violating such prohibition. Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders - Amends the Internal Revenue Code procedural guidelines for the collection of arrearages to provide that no additional fee may be assessed for adjustments to a previously certified amount. (Sec. 962) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to revise procedural guidelines for: (1) consent by the United States to income withholding, garnishment, and similar proceedings for enforcement of child support and alimony obligations of current and retired Federal employees; and (2) enforcement of child support obligations of members of the armed forces. (Sec. 964) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to have in effect the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act of 1981, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act of 1984, or a similar law, as well as certain procedures governing the voiding of fraudulent transfers by a child support debtor. (Sec. 965) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include specified procedures: (1) to ensure that persons owing past-due support work or participate in work activities the court deems appropriate; (2) to report to credit bureaus the name of the parent in arrears for child support; (3) to provide for liens against real and personal property for the support arrearages of an absent parent; and (4) to implement the restriction of driver's, professional, occupational, and recreational licenses of individuals owing support arrearages. (Sec. 970) Requires the Secretary of State to deny, revoke, or limit a passport upon certification of nonpayment of child support. (Sec. 971) Authorizes the Secretary of State to negotiate reciprocal agreements with foreign nations: (1) regarding international enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) designating the Department of Health and Human Services as the central authority for such enforcement. Subtitle H: Medical Support - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to include within the definition of medical child support order an order issued through a State administrative process. (Sec. 976) Amends part D of SSA title IV to mandate statutorily prescribed procedures under which all enforced child support orders shall include a provision for the health care coverage of the child. Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Nonresidential Parents - Amends part D of SSA title IV to prescribe guidelines under which the Administration for Children and Families shall make grants to enable States to establish and administer access and visitation programs to facilitate absent parents' access to their children. Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment - Sets forth effective dates for the provisions of this Act. Title X: Reform of Public Housing - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 with respect to public housing provisions regarding: (1) ceiling rents; and (2) adjusted and earned income. (Sec. 1003) Exempts tenants from certain labor standards provisions. (Sec. 1004) Prohibits increased housing assistance to a family whose benefits under other public assistance programs have been reduced because of noncompliance. (Sec. 1005) Applies the provisions of this title to Indian housing.
Bill· SS. 1108 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1995
Taxpayer Debt Buy-Down Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals with adjusted income tax liability to designate on their tax returns that a portion of such liability (not to exceed ten percent) be used to reduce the public debt. Establishes a Public Debt Reduction Trust Fund for the deposit of designated amounts. Makes amounts in such Trust Fund available only to pay at maturity, or to redeem or buy before maturity, any obligation of the Federal Government included in the public debt (other than an obligation of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, or the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund). Prohibits the reissuance of any obligation which is paid, redeemed, or bought with amounts from the Trust Fund. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to provide for the sequestration of amounts designated to the Trust Fund. Specifies accounts exempt from such sequestration. Includes aggregated amounts designated to the Trust Fund and amounts sequestered to reduce the public debt in sequestration preview and final reports.
Bill· SS. 1102 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1995
Makes unallowable as defense contractor costs the costs of compensation paid with respect to services of any one individual to the extent that the total amount paid in a fiscal year exceeds $250,000.
Bill· HRH.R. 2159 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1995
Vieques Lands Transfer Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to convey, without consideration, all Federal interest in certain lands located in the western region of the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, to such municipality (subject to the condition that such conveyed property be used for public purposes consistent with the land use plan prepared under this Act). Directs the Secretary to require the municipality to submit a detailed plan of the public purposes for which the conveyed property may be used. Prohibits the Secretary from conveying such property until after the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date the Secretary submits the plan to specified congressional committees. States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect the application of Federal and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico environmental laws and regulations to such conveyed property, before and after such conveyance.
Bill· HRH.R. 2162 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Immigrants and Refugees Title II: Border Control Title III: Interior Enforcement Title IV: Document Reform Title V: State and Local Responsibilities Title VI: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits Program 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 VII: Strengthening Citizenship Title VIII: Immigration and Naturalization Service Immigration Reduction Act of 1995 - Title I: Immigrants and Refugees - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to reduce legal immigration levels and revise descriptive categories. Eliminates: (1) the worldwide level of diversity immigrants; and (2) preference allocation for formerly-sponsored immigrants as of FY 1997. (Sec. 102) Limits refugee admissions to 50,000 annual entrants. (Sec. 103) Revises asylum provisions. (Sec. 104) Repeals temporary protected status. (Sec. 105) Prohibits parole into the United States except on the basis of individual circumstances. Title II: Border Control - Increases, and authorizes appropriations for, border patrol personnel. (Sec. 202) Amends the Act to establish border crossing fees (to be deposited into a Treasury Border Crossing Fee Account). Title III: Interior Enforcement - Increases, and authorizes appropriations for, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) investigative personnel. (Sec. 303) Provides for the identification and use of closed military bases as alien detention facilities. (Sec. 304) Grants immigration appeals jurisdiction to the United States Court of Appeals. (Sec. 305) Provides with respect to aliens subject to deportation for: (1) civil penalties for unlawful U.S. presence; and (2) seizure of certain property for unauthorized employment or improper receipt of Federal benefits. Title IV: Document Reform - Amends the Act with respect to work eligibility documents, including: (1) document examination; and (2) enhancement of alien identity cards and social security cards. (Sec. 402) Provides for social security account electronic verification. Title V: State and Local Responsibilities - Makes a State or local government ineligible for Federal assistance for noncooperation with Federal immigration authorities. (Sec. 502) Requires State or local enforcement authorities to notify the appropriate INS officer upon arrest of an alien. (Sec. 504) Authorizes immigration-related deputization of State and local law enforcement personnel. Title VI: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens - Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits Programs - Prohibits certain Federal public benefits (except for emergency assistance and certain housing assistance) to unlawful or nonimmigrant aliens. (Sec. 603) Limits the eligibility of lawful aliens (with specified exceptions) for: (1) supplemental security income; (2) temporary assistance for needy families; (3) social services block grants; (4) Medicaid; and (5) food stamps. Subtitle B: Eligibility for State and Local Public Benefits Programs - Prohibits State and local public benefits (except for emergency assistance) to unlawful or nonimmigrant aliens. (Sec. 613) Authorizes States to limit alien eligibility for State public benefits programs. Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support - Attributes a sponsor's income and resources to a family-sponsored immigrant for purposes of eligibility for Federal public benefits programs. (Sec. 422) Amends the Act to set forth sponsor affidavit of support requirements. Subtitle D: General Provisions - Defines specified terms. Subtitle E: Conforming Amendments - Makes conforming amendments to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 and the Housing Act of 1949. Subtitle F: Exclusion of Aliens Likely to Become Public Charges - Amends the Act to exclude aliens likely to become public charges from U.S. admission. Title VII: Strengthening Citizenship - Limits the scope of U.S. citizenship by birth. (Sec. 702) Prohibits voting by noncitizens in specified Federal or State elections, referenda, ballots, or other voting procedures. (Sec. 703) Amends the Act to revise certain naturalization provisions. (Sec. 704) Authorizes a State action against a Federal agency based upon immigration law violations. Title VIII: Immigration and Naturalization Services - Establishes the INS as an independent U.S. agency.
Bill· HRH.R. 2174 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1995
Commission on Missing-in-Action and Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia Act - Establishes the Commission on Missing-in-Action and Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia to: (1) conduct a comprehensive study of efforts made by the government of Vietnam to account for any U.S. personnel who remain unaccounted for as a result of military or Federal Government service in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam era; and (2) report to the Congress on the study's findings and recommendations. Terminates the Commission 90 days after submission of such report. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the appropriate congressional committees should: (1) initiate hearings to consider the findings and recommendations of the report; and (2) consider whether to adopt a resolution stating the sense of the Congress on whether diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam should be maintained.
Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 106 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1995
Constitutional Amendment - Requires a three-fifths majority of the whole number of each House of the Congress to pass any bill to levy a new tax or increase the rate or base of any tax. Allows the Congress to waive the requirement when a declaration of war is in effect and when the United States is engaged in military conflict that causes an imminent and serious threat to national security and is so declared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the whole number of each House, that becomes law. Makes a bill passed under waiver effective for no longer than two years. Requires all votes under this amendment to be by roll call.