Defence

A bill to extend the authority for the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Projects for fiscal years 1997 through 1999, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1996

Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to extend through FY 1999 the authorization of appropriations for, and termination date of, homeless veterans' reintegration projects.

A resolution to express the sense of the Senate concerning Afghanistan.

United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1996

Declares that: (1) resolving the continuing conflict in Afghanistan and alleviating the accompanying humanitarian distress of its people should be a top U.S. priority; (2) outside interference and the provision of arms and military supplies to the warring parties should be halted; (3) the United States should urge the United Nations (UN) to appoint a special envoy to Afghanistan who will act aggressively to assist the Afghans to achieve an acceptable solution to the conflict; and (4) the UN should work to create the conditions for a continuing dialogue among the Afghan factions.

A resolution condemning terror attacks in Saudi Arabia.

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1996

Condemns the attacks of June 25, 1996, and November 13, 1995, in Saudi Arabia. Extends condolences to the families of all U.S. service personnel killed and wounded and to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Honors such personnel for their sacrifice. Expresses gratitude to such Government and people for their heroic rescue efforts at the scene of the attack and their determination to find and punish those responsible. Reaffirms: (1) support for such Government and for continuing good relations; and (2) commitment to provide all necessary support for the men and women of our armed forces. Determines that such terror attacks present a clear threat to U.S. interests in the Persian Gulf. Calls upon the United States to: (1) continue to assist such Government in its efforts to identify those responsible for the attack; and (2) use all reasonable means available to punish the responsible parties.

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Committee on Agriculture Subtitle A: Food Stamp Program Subtitle B: Commodity Distribution Programs Subtitle C: Electronic Benefit Transfer Systems Title II: Committee on Commerce Subtitle A: Restructuring Medicaid Subtitle B: Other Provisions Title III: Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities Subtitle A: Work Requirements Subtitle B: Child and Family Services Block Grant Subtitle C: Child Care Subtitle D: Child Nutrition Programs Subtitle E: Related Provisions Title IV: Committee on Ways and Means: Welfare Reform Subtitle A: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Subtitle B: Supplemental Security Income Subtitle C: Child Support Subtitle D: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens Subtitle E: Reform of Public Housing Subtitle F: Child Protection Block Grant Program and Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, and Independent Living Programs Subtitle G: Child Care Subtitle H: Miscellaneous Title I: Committee on Agriculture - Food Stamp Reform and Commodity Distribution Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Food Stamp Program - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (Act) to establish a maximum 24- month food stamp program (program) authorization period for households whose adult members are elderly or disabled. (Sec. 1012) Expands the definition of "coupon." (Sec. 1013) Treats children who are themselves parents living with their children and married children living with their spouses as part of an existing household rather than as a separate household. (Sec. 1014) Authorizes States to establish additional criteria for separate household determinations. (Sec. 1015) Revises thrifty food plan adjustment requirements. (Sec. 1016) Revises the definition of "homeless individual" to limit the length of time a person may temporarily live in another person's residence. (Sec. 1018) Revises household income exclusion provisions regarding: (1) students; and (2) Federal energy assistance. (Sec. 1020) Revises household income deduction provisions regarding: (1) standard deductions; (2) earned income; (3) dependent care; (4) child support payments; (5) homeless shelter assistance; (6) excess medical expenses; and (7) excess shelter expenses. (Sec. 1021) Eliminates specified excludable auto value increases and establishes the maximum excludable auto value at $4600. (Sec. 1022) Includes as household income third party payments for transitional housing for the homeless. (Sec. 1023) Increases penalties for certain program violations. (Sec. 1024) Disqualifies permanently an individual convicted of specified coupon violations. (Sec. 1025) Revises work requirement and employment and training provisions. Extends employment and training funding authorizations. (Sec. 1028) Authorizes comparable program disqualification based upon means-tested public assistance disqualification. (Sec. 1029) Disqualifies for ten years an individual who participates in the program in two or more States. (Sec. 1030) Disqualifies a fleeing felon from program participation. (Sec. 1031) Requires at State option: (1) cooperation with child support agencies in order to maintain program eligibility; and (2) program disqualification for child support arrears. (Sec. 1033) Defines "work program." Makes nonexempt persons ineligible for program benefits if during the preceding 12-month period they received food stamps for four months or more without working at least 20 hours per week, or participating in a workfare program. Sets forth exempted persons and situations. (Sec. 1034) Directs States to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 1035) Eliminates annual minimum allotment adjustments. (Sec. 1037) Authorizes a combined allotment for expedited households. (Sec. 1038) Authorizes program reductions for failure to comply with a means-tested public assistance reduction requirement. (Sec. 1039) Authorizes program assistance for households residing in a homeless shelter or drug or alcohol treatment center. (Sec. 1040) Provides that no food store or wholesale food concern be approved for program participation without a prior visit by a Department of Agriculture employee, or a designated State or local official. (Sec. 1041) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to establish authorization periods for retail food stores and wholesale food concerns to redeem food stamps or benefits through an electronic benefit transfer system. (Sec. 1042) Includes income and sales tax information among the types of eligibility verification information that may be requested. (Sec. 1043) Establishes a six-month reapplication waiting period for a store that does not meet participation requirements. (Sec. 1044) Revises: (1) food stamp office operating provisions; and (2) expedited coupon service requirements. (Sec. 1045) Eliminates certain certification personnel training requirements. (Sec. 1046) Provides for the exchange of information with law enforcement or Immigration and Naturalization Service personnel. (Sec. 1048) Authorizes a family to withdraw a fair hearing request. (Sec. 1049) Permits States to use income, and immigration eligibility verification systems other than a specified system under the Social Security Act. (Sec. 1050) Provides for disqualification of a store: (1) that knowingly submits a falsified application; and (2) that is disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). (Sec. 1052) Directs program overissuances to be collected by: (1) allotment reduction; (2) unemployment compensation withholding; or (3) Federal pay or Federal income tax refund recovery. (Sec. 1053) Authorizes suspension of a store pending administrative and judicial review. (States that the Secretary shall not be liable for lost sales during such period.) (Sec. 1054) Establishes criminal forfeiture penalties for specified program violations. (Sec. 1055) Terminates Federal matching requirements for program recruitment activities. (Sec. 1057) Authorizes States to use funds otherwise available to a participating household for a work supplementation or support program. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 1058) Authorizes waiver of program requirements as necessary to conduct related pilot projects. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 1060) Authorizes States to carry out private sector employment initiatives. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 1061) Authorizes appropriations for program operations. (Sec. 1062) Authorizes States to carry out a Simplified Food Stamp Program in lieu of existing program requirements. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 1063) Establishes an optional State food assistance block grant program in lieu of the food stamp program. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 1064) Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of the use of food stamps for vitamin and mineral purchases. (Sec. 1066) Authorizes States to consider all or part of the income and financial resources of a person rendered ineligible for program participation in determining the eligibility of such person's household. (Sec. 1068) Expresses the sense of the House Committee on Agriculture that reductions in outlays resulting from this title shall not be considered for certain budget reduction purposes under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Subtitle B: Commodity Distribution Programs - Amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to combine the emergency food assistance program with the soup kitchen-food bank program. Amends the Act to direct the Secretary to purchase commodities for such combined programs. (Sec. 1072) Amends the Charitable Assistance and Food Bank Act of 1987 to repeal the food bank demonstration project. (Sec. 1073) Makes conforming and technical amendments to the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988 and the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990. Subtitle C: Electronic Benefit Transfer Systems - Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to exempt (with exceptions) State and local government electronic benefit transfer systems from specified provisions of such Act. Title II: Committee on Commerce - Subtitle A: Restructuring Medicaid - Medicaid Restructuring Act of 1996 - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new title XV (Program of Medical Assistance for Low-Income Individuals and Families), the stated purpose of which is to provide funds to States to enable them to provide medical assistance to low-income individuals and families in a more effective, efficient, and responsive manner. (Sec. 2003) Outlines program components, including key provisions for: (1) certain guaranteed benefits for select individuals, including certain poor pregnant women, disabled and poor elderly individuals, and children receiving foster care or adoption assistance; (2) guaranteed coverage of Medicare premiums and cost-sharing for certain Medicare beneficiaries; (3) only nominal cost-sharing for children, poor pregnant women, and certain elderly and disabled individuals with respect to covered items and services; (4) prevention of spacial and family impoverishment with regard to long-term and institutional care generally; (5) solvency standards for capitate health care organizations; (6) prohibiting States from denying coverage of any item or service on the basis of a preexisting condition; (7) prohibition of State denial of coverage for any item or service under its Medicaid program on the basis of a preexisting condition; (8) State flexibility in benefits, geographical coverage area, and selection of providers, as well as with regard to managed care; (9) coverage of abortions only for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest or when a woman suffers from a physical disorder, illness, or injury that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed; (10) denial of payment under the State Medicaid plan for any item or service furnished for euthanasia purposes; (11) limitation on payments for Medicaid services to nonlawful aliens, generally allowing treatment only in emergency situations; (12) periodic, independent evaluations of the operation of the State Medicaid plan and annual audits of State expenditures under its Medicaid program; (13) a separate fraud prevention program, as well as, under certain conditions, State fraud control units; (14) an information reporting system with regard to sanctions taken by State licensing authorities against health care practitioners and providers; (15) quality assurance requirements for nursing facilities, as well as requirements relating to residents' rights; and (16) an optional master drug rebate agreement program for covered outpatient drugs of a manufacturer. Directs the Comptroller General to provide for a study and report to the Congress on the methods by which States provide for financing their share of expenditures under Medicaid, including an examination of the use of provider taxes and donations, as well as intergovernmental transfers. (Sec. 2004) Terminates the current Medicaid program as of October 1, 1997. Sets a limitation on Medicaid payments in FY 1997. (Sec. 2005) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to waive such requirements of SSA titles XV and XVIII as may be necessary for States to conduct certain demonstration projects to use funds to develop and implement innovative programs for individuals dually eligible for benefits under both titles, including such individuals who are chronically ill. Subtitle B: Other Provisions - Denies Federal public benefits (except certain emergency medical services and public health assistance) to non-qualified aliens. (Sec. 2212) Provides limited eligibility of qualified aliens for medical assistance. (Sec. 2213) Makes qualified aliens ineligible (with limited exceptions) for Federal means-tested public benefits for the first five years after U.S. entry. (Sec. 2214) Requires each Federal agency administering a program to which such restrictions on alien eligibility apply to post information, directly or through the States, and provide general notification to the public and to program recipients of these eligibility changes. (Sec. 2222) Requires the Attorney General to promulgate regulations requiring verification that an applicant for a restricted Federal public benefit is a qualified alien eligible to receive it. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 2131) Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to repeal certain deeming requirements with respect to home energy assistance payments not considered household income for purposes of the excess shelter expense deduction under the food stamp program. Title III: Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities - Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Work Requirements - Amends SSA title IV part F (Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program) (JOBS) to replace the current JOBS program with a mandatory work program under which States operating Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs shall achieve a certain minimum participation rate for each fiscal year from 1996 to 2002 and thereafter with respect to families on TANF. Requires such families, generally, to engage in certain work activities (including job search activities) and satisfy certain obligations in their individual responsibility plan with the State (such as immunizing their children and attending parenting and money management classes) in order to receive the full amount of TANF assistance, and in order to help the family member become and remain employed in the private sector. Gives States the option of requiring family members to undergo appropriate substance abuse treatment. (Sec. 3101) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) in complying with such mandatory program each State operating a TANF 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) States should require non-custodial, nonsupporting parents who have not attained 18 years of age to fulfill community work obligations and attend appropriate parenting or money management classes after school. Sets up a program allowing eligible States in certain circumstances to receive supplemental grant funds for operation of a mandatory work program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 for such supplemental grants. Subtitle B: Child and Family Services Block Grant - Renames the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act as the Child and Family Services Block Grant Act of 1996. Changes the purposes of the Act to emphasize assistance to each State in improving child protective service systems. Delineates criteria governing State eligibility for Federal block grants for: (1) child and family services; and (2) research, demonstrations, training, and technical assistance. (Sec. 3201) Abolishes the current Federal program, including the Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, community-based family resource programs, temporary child care for children with disabilities, crisis nursery demonstration programs, certain preventive services for children of homeless families or families at risk of homelessness, and requirements for criminal background checks for child care providers. Instructs the Secretary to: (1) establish a national child abuse and neglect data collection and analysis program (in addition to the current national clearinghouse for information relating to child abuse); and (2) provide technical and training assistance to the States for child abuse and neglect programs and for adoption opportunities. Mandates peer review for such grants. Instructs the Secretary to conduct a national random sample study of children at risk of child abuse or neglect. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 2002, including grants for demonstration projects. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States to assist them in developing programs related to the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases. Requires any State requesting such assistance to establish a multidisciplinary task force on children's justice to study administrative, civil, and criminal judicial handling of such cases, and make recommendations which the State must adopt (or equivalent alternatives). Subtitle C: Child Care - Child Care and Development Block Grant Amendments Act of 1996 - Revises and extends through FY 2002 the authorization of appropriations for the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (the Act, for purposes of this title). Sets forth goals for State child care assistance. (Sec. 3303) Amends Part A of title IV (Aid to Families With Dependent Children) (AFDC) of the Social Security Act to entitle each State to payments for providing child care assistance. (Sec. 3304) Authorizes the State lead agency to administer the financial assistance it receives through other governmental or nongovernmental agencies. (Sec. 3305) Revises State application and plan requirements with respect to consumer education information, State licensing compliance, meeting the needs of AFDC or TANF recipients (especially those attempting through work activities to leave the assistance program) and those at risk of becoming dependent on assistance, and assistance for certain low-income working families. (Sec. 3307) Reduces from 20 percent to four percent the minimum amount of certain funds available for State activities to improve the quality of child care, limited to: (1) comprehensive consumer education to parents and the public; (2) activities increasing parental choice; and (3) activities designed to improve child care quality and availability. (Sec. 3308) Repeals a requirement that States expend a specified minimum amount of reserved funds for early childhood development and before- and after-school services. (Sec. 3313) Reduces the allotment reserved for Indian tribes or tribal organizations from three percent to one percent. Prescribes guidelines for the use of such allotment for facility repair and construction. (Sec. 3315) Repeals: (1) the Child Development Associate Scholarship Assistance Act of 1985; (2) the State Dependent Care Development Grants Act; (3) specified programs under title X (Programs of National Significance) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (4) the Native Hawaiian Family-based Education Centers program under the Native Hawaiian Education Act; and (5) the AFDC and Transitional Child Care programs and the At-Risk Child Care program under SSA title IV. Subtitle D: Child Nutrition Programs - Amends the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to repeal specified authorities and requirements for the school lunch and related programs, including: (1) State educational authority to use resources from the nutrition and education (NET) program; (2) prohibition of State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; (3) certain demonstration grants to private nonprofit organizations or educational institutions for elementary school curriculum food and nutrition projects; (4) aspects of summer food service programs, reducing payment rates and daily meals at camps, reducing the National Youth Sports Program, and revising nutritional standards compliance requirements; (5) certain commodity distribution program requirements, including State Advisory Councils; (6) expansion of the child care food program; (7) adult care food aid to adult day care centers and services for persons over 60; (8) certain pilot projects, including one for paperwork reduction; and (9) an information clearinghouse. (Sec. 3401) Includes in the definition of child any individual with one or more mental or physical disabilities, regardless of age, who attends a specified type of institution, or any nonresidential public or nonprofit private school of high school grade or under, in order to participate in a school program for such individuals. (Sec. 3402) Revises nutritional and other program requirements. (Sec. 3423) Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to revise the school breakfast program: (1) eliminating Federal assistance for food preparation training and program expansion and start-up costs; (2) repealing certain authorities and requirements relating to State administrative expenses (SAE); (3) repealing the prohibition against State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; and (4) repealing the program of cash grants for nutrition education. (Sec. 3429) Revises the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC), among other things repealing specified requirements and changing from mandatory to optional: (1) drug abuse education; and (2) provision of WIC information in languages other than English. (Sec. 3431) Makes the Nutrition and Education program discretionary rather than mandatory. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle E: Related Provisions - Requires the HHS Secretary to produce and publish specified types of data relating to the incidence of poverty in the United States at least every two years. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 3502) Expresses the sense of the Congress that this title, and the amendments it makes, should not result in an increase in the number of children who are hungry, homeless, poor, or medically uninsured. (Sec. 3503) Requires the Congress, in the event that the above-mentioned increase results by the end of the FY 1997, to: (1) revisit this title, or the amendments it has made, which caused such increase; and (2) as soon as practicable thereafter, pass legislation that stops the continuation of such increase. Title IV: Committee on Ways and Means: Welfare Reform - Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (sic) - Subtitle A: Block Grants For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - Expresses the sense of the Congress that prevention of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and reduction in out-of-wedlock births are important Government interests. (Sec. 4103) Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with a single program of block grants to the States for operating statewide temporary assistance (TANF) programs with certain mandatory work, education, and job preparation requirements for needy families either already with or expecting a child, which are designed to assist such families in becoming self-sufficient. Limits such families generally to no more than five years of TANF cash assistance, with certain exceptions for minor children, battered family members, and hardship situations. Requires that families include either a minor child who resides with a custodial parent or other adult caretaker relative or a pregnant individual in order to receive TANF assistance. Prohibits additional cash TANF assistance for children born into families already on TANF assistance (with certain exceptions for: (1) children born into families with no other children; (2) vouchers provided in lieu of cash benefits that are only good for particular goods and services suitable for child care; and (3) children born as a result of rape or incest), unless the particular State exempts itself from such prohibition. Denies TANF assistance in cases where an individual family member is a fugitive felon or a probation or parole violator, and in certain other specified situations as well. Requires States receiving TANF grants to ensure: (1) that each TANF recipient is eligible for Medicaid or other specified medical assistance, if applicable, to the extent that the recipient's health care costs are not covered by other health insurance; and (2) that certain other families becoming TEA-ineligible due to increased earnings from employment or collection of child support receive similar medical assistance during the immediately succeeding 12-month period. Allows States receiving TANF grants used to provide assistance for any individual who is receiving benefits, or on behalf of whom benefits are paid, under a State old-age, foster care, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) plan to disregard such assistance payment in determining the amount of TANF assistance to be provided under the State TANF program to the family of which the individuals a member. Requires, in addition, certain adult-supervised living arrangements for unmarried teenage parents. Provides for the exchange of certain TANF program information with law enforcement agencies under specified conditions. Establishes penalties for States and individual families for specified grant and program violations, respectively, through reduced grants and assistance payments, allowing States to terminate such payments to certain adult family members without small children needing child care who refuse to: (1) engage in work, educational, or job preparation activities (required program activities); or (2) cooperate with the State in establishing paternity or obtaining child support unless the member qualifies for a good cause or other exception. Provides for a separate reduction in State family assistance grant payments for States failing to comply with Federal requirements under SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) pertaining to paternity establishment and child support enforcement. Sets forth the mechanism for State appeal of Federal adverse decisions with respect to State plans or imposition of penalties, providing for advance notification of any program violation and the opportunity for a State to correct it before any such penalty is imposed. Limits the amount of any penalty reduction in the State's quarterly family assistance grant payment. Expresses the sense of the Congress that State TANF programs should: (1) assign the highest priority to requiring adults in two-parent families and in single-parent families with older preschool or school-age children to be engaged in required program activities; and (2) require noncustodial, nonsupporting parents under age 18 to fulfill community work obligations and attend appropriate parenting or money management classes after school. Specifies State TANF plan contents, including provisions for numeric goals for reducing illegitimacy in the State over a specified ten year period beginning in 1996, and certain certifications by the State that it will operate child support enforcement and protection programs, in order for it to be eligible (according to certain other criteria as well) to receive Federal grants for its TANF programs (family assistance grants). Allows the States to decide in their TANF plans: (1) whether or not they intend on providing TANF assistance to aliens; and (2) how to treat families moving interstate. Provides for: (1) the allowable uses of quarterly family assistance grants, family planning services and assistance to low income households in meeting home heating and cooling costs (but prohibiting their use for medical services generally); (2) additional grants to States as rewards for reductions in illegitimate births and for high performance under the TANF program, as well as supplemental grants to certain States for population increases; and (3) a Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs (Contingency Fund) in the Treasury for payments to certain eligible States. Makes appropriations for such grants and the Contingency Fund. Sets up a Federal loan program for State TANF programs for anti-fraud and other specified activities, making necessary appropriations. Outlines specific program data collection and reporting requirements, as well as certain research, evaluation, and study requirements. Makes applicable appropriations. Provides for direct funding, by way of three-year tribal family assistance grants, to Indian tribes (with a special rule for Indian tribes in Alaska) with approved tribal family assistance plans. Authorizes the Secretary of HHS to implement and evaluate demonstrations of innovative and promising strategies which: (1) provide one-time capital funds to establish, expand, or replicate programs; (2) test performance-based grant-to-loan financing in which programs meeting performance targets receive grants while programs not meeting such targets repay funding on a prorated basis; and (3) test strategies in multiple States and types of communities. Directs the Bureau of the Census to expand the Survey of Income and Program Participation to obtain information that will enable interested persons to evaluate the impact of the changes made by this title on a random national sample of recipients of assistance under State programs. Provides for the treatment of existing State AFDC waivers in effect on the date of enactment of this Act and those granted subsequently. Makes the Assistant Secretary of HHS for Family Support the official responsible for administering SSA title IV part A and D programs. Eliminates certain child care programs under SSA title IV part A, including the at-risk child care program. (Sec. 4104) Allows States to contract with charitable, religious, and private organizations to provide services and administer programs established or modified under titles I, II, and VI of this Act. Prohibits the expenditure of financial assistance for sectarian worship, instruction, or proselytization. (Sec. 4105) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to expand census data collection efforts to enable the Bureau of the Census to collect statistically significant data on grandparent caregivers. (Sec. 4106) Requires an HHS report to the Congress on State automated data processing systems used in administering TANF programs to determine what would be required to establish a system for tracking public program participants and checking case records to determine if such participants are participating in public programs of two or more States. (Sec. 4107) Details requirements for a similar report, and study, on alternative outcomes measures for evaluating the success of the States in moving individuals off welfare through employment. (Sec. 4108) Makes conforming amendments to SSA, the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and related provisions of other specified Federal laws. (Sec. 4111) Directs the Commissioner of Social Security (Commissioner) to: (1) develop a prototype counterfeit-resistant social security card; and (2) study and report to the Congress on improving the social security card application process. (Sec. 4112) Requires any organization accepting Federal funds under this title or any amendments made by it (other than funds provided under SSA titles IV, XVI, or XX) to disclose that fact in any communication it makes that in any way intends to promote public support or opposition to any Federal, State, or local government policy through any broadcasting station, periodical, or other specified type of general public advertising. Makes any organization failing to make such a disclosure ineligible to receive Federal funds under this Act. (Sec. 4113) Amends the Family Support Act of 1988 to remove the "demonstration" status of the Job Opportunities for Certain Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) program and give it an increased annual authorization. Subtitle B: Supplemental Security Income - Amends SSA title XVI to deny SSI for ten years to individuals found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain benefits simultaneously in two or more States. Denies SSI for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators. Provides for the exchange of certain SSI information with law enforcement agencies under specified conditions. (Sec. 4203) Revises the treatment afforded prisoners with regard to SSI and (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance)OASDI benefits to: (1) deny SSI benefits for ten years to a person found to have fraudulently obtained SSI benefits while in prison; (2) eliminate the OASDI requirement that confinement stem from a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year; and (3) authorize the Commissioner to contract with any interested State or local institutions used to confine prisoners for monthly reports of certain identifying information in order to enforce SSI and OASDI benefit limitations, and pay such institution a specified fee with regard to each SSI- or OASDI-eligible inmate identified who becomes ineligible for such benefit as a result of such reporting. Requires the Commissioner to study and report to the Congress on other specified potential improvements in the collection of information respecting public inmates. (Sec. 4204) Makes certain changes respecting the effective date of applications for SSI benefits. (Sec. 4211) Revises the rules with respect to childhood eligibility, with corresponding changes to childhood SSI regulations modifying the medical criteria for evaluation of mental and emotional disorders, and discontinuing the use of individualized functional assessments for children. Modifies medical improvement review standards, specifically dividing their applicability to, and creating separate criteria for individuals aged 18 or older, and individuals under age 18, respectively. Provides that once an eligible child meets the definition of disability, the amount of the individual's cash benefit will be based on whether or not the child meets criteria for needing personal assistance enabling the child to stay at home with his or her family. Authorizes additional appropriations for continuing disability reviews and redeterminations under SSA title XVI. (Sec. 4212) Provides that at least once every three years the Commissioner shall review the continued SSI eligibility of each individual who has not attained age 18 and is eligible for such benefits by reason of an impairment (or combination of impairments) which is likely to improve (or, at the Commissioner's option, is unlikely to improve). Requires a representative payee of a recipient whose case is so reviewed to present, at the time of review, evidence demonstrating that the recipient is, and has been, receiving treatment, to the extent considered medically necessary and available, for the condition which was the basis for providing benefits under the SSI program. Provides that if the representative payee refuses to comply without good cause with such requirement, the Commissioner shall, if in the individual's best interest, promptly suspend payment of benefits to the representative payee, and provide for payment of benefits to an alternative representative payee or, if the interest of the individual would be served thereby, to the individual. Provides that if an individual is eligible for SSI benefits by reason of disability for the month preceding the month in which the individual attains age 18, the Commissioner shall redetermine such eligibility: (1) during the one-year period beginning on the individual's 18th birthday; and (2) by applying the criteria used in determining the initial eligibility for applicants who have attained age 18. Specifies requirements governing continuing disability reviews for low-birth-weight babies. (Sec. 4213) Revises provisions regarding the disposal of resources for less than fair market value by certain individuals and appropriate notification of Medicaid. Provides for the treatment of assets held in trust by individuals who have not attained age 18 and any earnings resulting from such trust. Requires representative payees of eligible individuals below age 18 to establish financial institution accounts on their behalf into which SSI payments shall be paid. Allows representative payees to use funds in the account to pay for certain allowable expenses. Directs the Commissioner to establish a system for accountability monitoring whereby a representative payee shall report on activities respecting funds in the account. (Sec. 4214) Reduces cash SSI payments to institutionalized children whose medical costs are covered by private insurance. (Sec. 4221) Provides for installment payment of large amounts of past-due SSI benefits, and the recovery of SSI overpayments from social security benefits. (Sec. 4225) Repeals maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SSI benefits. (Sec. 4231) Requires the Commissioner to prepare an annual report for the President and the Congress on the SSI program, and make appropriate arrangements for a study of the disability determination process under SSA titles II and XVI for any needed changes. (Sec. 4233) Outlines the requirements for a General Accounting Office study and report on the impact of this subtitle on the SSI program and on the extra expenses incurred by families of children receiving benefits under such program that are not covered by other Federal, State, or local programs. (Sec. 4241) Establishes the National Commission on the Future of Disability to develop and carry out a comprehensive study of all matters related to the nature, purpose, and adequacy of all Federal programs serving individuals with disabilities in order to develop appropriate recommendations for any needed legislation or administrative action. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Child Support - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to require State plans for child and spacial 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. 4302) Revises payment distribution guidelines for support obligations collected by the State on behalf of a family. (Sec. 4303) Requires State plans to establish procedural guidelines for: (1) privacy safeguards regarding paternity and child support actions; and (2) notification to services applicants or recipients of all proceedings and orders affecting child support obligations. (Sec. 4311) Mandates that single statewide automated data systems include a State case registry containing records of: (1) each case in which services are provided by the State agency; and (2) each support order established on or after a specified date. Permits the linking of local registries. (Sec. 4312) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. Permits the unit to be established by linking local disbursement units through an automated information network if the Secretary agrees that it will not cost more or take more time to establish or operate than a centralized system. Expresses the sense of the Congress that in determining whether to comply with the Social Security Act by either establishing a single, centralized unit for support payment collection and disbursement, or by linking together through automation local units, a State should choose the method of compliance which best meets the needs of parents, employers, and children. (Sec. 4313) Requires State plans to: (1) provide for a State-operated and automated State Directory of New Hires containing prescribed information furnished by employers on new personnel; and (2) transmit such information to the National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 4314) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures: (1) for mandatory income withholding for support payments subject to enforcement; and (2) under which wages of a person with a support obligation imposed by a child support order issued before October 1, 1996, shall become subject to withholding if arrearages occur, without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. Revises the procedural guidelines for income withholding for child support enforcement. (Sec. 4315) Requires 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. 4316) Revises the Federal Parent Locator Service to provide for additional information which may be transmitted to locate individuals and assets for purposes of: (1) establishing parentage; (2) establishing, setting the amount of, modifying, or enforcing child support obligations; and (3) enforcing child custody or visitation orders. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish in the Federal Parent Locator Service an automated Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders and an automated National Directory of New Hires. Requires the Secretaries of Labor and of HHS to jointly develop cost-effective methods of accessing information in the various State directories of new hires and the National Directory of New Hires (established under this Act), taking into account impact and cost to the States, and the need to insure authorized use of wage record information. (Sec. 4317) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring recordation on such documents of the Social Security number of: (1) specified driver's, marriage, and occupational, and professional license applicants; (2) individuals subject to certain domestic relations orders; and (3) deceased persons (on death records). (Sec. 4321) Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1998. Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the procedures for the court to apply when determining which State order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement for child support orders. (Sec. 4323) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring: (1) expedited administrative enforcement in interstate cases and support orders; and (2) expedited administrative and judicial procedures for establishing paternity and enforcing support obligations. (Sec. 4331) Revises the guidelines for State laws governing paternity establishment. Requires State procedures under which the name of the father shall be included on the birth certificate only: (1) if the mother and father have signed a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity; or (2) pursuant to a judicial or administrative order. (Sec. 4333) Requires State plans for child and spacial support to provide that the State agency administering the plan will make a determination as to whether a program recipient is cooperating in good faith with State efforts to establish paternity and secure support. (Sec. 4341) Directs the Secretary to develop a new incentive system to replace the current one. Revises the guidelines for Federal performance-based incentive payments to the States for effective child support enforcement programs. (Sec. 4342) Requires a State plan for child and spacial 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 spacial support, and parent location. (Sec. 4344) Revises the automated data processing requirements for State plans to mandate a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system which can perform specified tasks. (Sec. 4345) Makes funds available to the Secretary for: (1) training of Federal and State staff, research and demonstration programs, and special projects of regional and national significance; and (2) operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service. (Sec. 4351) Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. (Sec. 4352) Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to authorize a consumer agency to furnish a consumer report: (1) in response to a request by a governmental child support enforcement agency; or (2) to the State administrative agency which sets child support awards. (Sec. 4353) Shields a depository institution from Federal or State liability for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency. Prohibits such agency from disclosing such a financial record except for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary in, establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation. Sets forth civil penalties for any person knowingly or negligently violating such prohibition. (Sec. 4361) Amends Internal Revenue Code procedural guidelines for the collection of arrearages to provide that no additional fee may be assessed for adjustments to a previously certified amount. (Sec. 4362) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to revise procedural guidelines for: (1) consent by the United States to income withholding, garnishment, and similar proceedings for enforcement of child support and alimony obligations of current and retired Federal employees; and (2) enforcement of child support obligations of members of the Armed Forces. (Sec. 4364) Requires a State plan for child and spacial support to have in effect the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act of 1981, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act of 1984, or a similar law, as well as certain procedures governing the voiding of fraudulent transfers by a child support debtor. (Sec. 4365) Requires a State plan for child and spacial support to include specified procedures: (1) to ensure that persons owing past-due support participate in appropriate work activities; (2) to report to credit bureaus the name of the parent in arrears for child support; (3) to provide for liens against real and personal property for the support arrearages of a non-custodial parent; and (4) to implement the restriction of driver's, professional, occupational, and recreational licenses of individuals owing support arrearages. (Sec. 4370) Requires the Secretary of State to deny, revoke, or limit a passport upon certification of nonpayment of child support. (Sec. 4371) Authorizes the Secretary of State to negotiate reciprocal agreements with foreign nations: (1) regarding international enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) designating the Department of Health and Human Services as the central authority for such enforcement. (Sec. 4372) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which a State agency shall enter agreements with financial institutions doing business within the State to develop and operate a data match system to provide identifying information for each non-custodial parent targeted by the State who maintains an account at the institution, and to encumber or surrender such parent's assets at the institution pursuant to a lien or levy. (Sec. 4373) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which child support orders relating to the child of minor parents, where the custodial parents are receiving assistance, are enforceable against the child's paternal or maternal grandparents. (Sec. 4374) Amends Federal bankruptcy law and the Social Security Act to declare a debt for child support nondischargeable in bankruptcy. (Sec. 4376) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to include within the definition of medical child support order an order issued through a State administrative process. (Sec. 4377) Amends part D of SSA title IV to mandate statutorily prescribed procedures under which all enforced child support orders shall include a provision for the health care coverage of the child. (Sec. 4381) 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 non-custodial parents' access to their children. Subtitle D: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens - Declares that: (1) it is a compelling government interest to enact new rules for eligibility and sponsorship agreements in order to assure that aliens be self-reliant in accordance with national immigration policy; and (2) it is a compelling government interest to remove the incentive for illegal immigration provided by the availability of public benefits. (Sec. 4401) Prohibits Federal public benefits (as defined by this Act) to aliens who are not qualified aliens (as defined by this Act). Stipulates that such prohibition shall not apply to: (1) emergency medical services; (2) certain emergency disaster relief; (3) public health immunizations and treatment of communicable diseases; (4) housing assistance; (5) certain in-kind community services; and (6) Social Security Act benefits under specified circumstances. (Sec. 4402) Makes qualified aliens ineligible (with limited exceptions for refugees, asylees, certain permanent residents, veterans and active duty personnel, aliens whose deportation is withheld, and aliens currently receiving benefits) for: (1) supplemental security income (SSI); (2) food stamps; (3) temporary assistance for needy families; (4) social services block grants; and (5) Medicaid. (Sec. 4403) Makes qualified aliens ineligible (with limited exceptions for refugees, asylees, and veterans and active duty personnel) for Federal means-tested public benefits (as defined by this Act) for the first five years after U.S. entry. (Sec. 4404) Requires each Federal agency administering a program covered by this title to post information and provide general notification to the public and program recipients, either directly or through the States, of the requirements concerning alien eligibility for any such program pursuant to this title. Amends the Social Security Act and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide for State reporting of certain illegal alien information to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). (Sec. 4411) Makes an alien who is not a qualified alien, a nonimmigrant, or a parolee ineligible for State or local benefits (as defined by this Act). Stipulates that such prohibition shall not apply to: (1) emergency medical services; (2) certain emergency disaster relief; (3) public health immunizations and treatment of communicable diseases; and (4) certain in-kind community services. (Sec. 4412) Authorizes States to determine eligibility for State public means-tested benefits for qualified aliens, nonimmigrants, or parolees. States that refugees, asylees, certain permanent residents, and veterans and active duty personnel shall be eligible for all State public benefits. (Sec. 4421) Provides that in determining the eligibility and the amount of benefits of any alien for Federal any means-tested public benefits program the income and resources of the alien shall be deemed to include: (1) the income and resources of any person who executed an affidavit of support on the alien's behalf; and (2) the income and resources of the person's spouse (if any). Applies such requirement with respect to an alien until such time as the alien achieves U.S. citizenship through naturalization or has worked without public assistance for a specified time. (Sec. 4422) Authorizes States to make similar attributions with respect to State programs (with specified exceptions). (Sec. 4423) Sets forth requirements for sponsor's affidavit of support. (Sec. 4424) Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require sponsor cosignature of certain alien student loans. (Sec. 4431) Defines qualified alien to be: (1) a lawful permanent resident; (2) an asylee; (3) a refugee; (4) a parolee; (5) an alien under withheld deportation; and (6) an alien granted conditional entry. (Sec. 4432) Requires the Attorney General to promulgate regulations regarding alien eligibility for Federal public benefits. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 4441) Makes conforming amendments related to assisted housing under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 and the Housing Act of 1949. (Sec. 4451) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require a taxpayer to provide his or her social security number in order to qualify for the earned income credit. Subtitle E: Reform of Public Housing - Prohibits an individual from receiving an increased benefit under a means-tested welfare or public assistance program due to fraud-reduced income under another such program. Subtitle F: Child Protection Block Grant Programs and Foster Care, Adoption Assistance and Independent Living Programs - Replaces SSA title IV-B (Child Welfare Services) with a program of block grants to the States to implement: (1) child protection programs with respect to child abuse and neglect; and (2) child protection. (Sec. 4701) Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) shall: (1) establish a national data collection and analysis program to coordinate existing State child abuse and neglect reports; and (2) implement a data collection system regarding adoption and foster care. Authorizes appropriations for child welfare studies and for assessment of State courts improvement of foster care and adoption proceedings. (Sec. 4711) Makes conforming amendments to Title IV-E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance). Delineates requirements for State eligibility for Federal payments for foster care maintenance and adoption assistance. Sets forth guidelines for payments and allotments to the States for adoption assistance, foster care, and independent living programs (designed to assist children who have attained age 16 to make the transition from foster care to independent living). (Sec. 4722) Expresses the sense of the Congress that States should: (1) allocate sufficient funds for adoption and medical assistance to encourage child adoption; (2) offer incentives to make adoption of special needs children more affordable for middle-class families; (3) provide a child that must be removed from its biological parents with a single foster care placement and single coordinated case team, including conclusion of adoption within one year of such child's foster care placement; and (4) participate in programs to enable maximum visibility of waiting children to potential parents. (Sec. 4751) (This section is almost identical to Title III, Subtitle B.) Renames the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act as the Child and Family Services Block Grant Act of 1996. Changes the purposes of the Act to emphasize assistance to each State in improving child protective service systems. Delineates criteria governing State eligibility for Federal block grants for: (1) child and family services; and (2) research, demonstrations, training, and technical assistance. Abolishes the current Federal program, including the Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, community-based family resource programs, temporary child care for children with disabilities, crisis nursery demonstration programs, certain preventive services for children of homeless families or families at risk of homelessness, and requirements for criminal background checks for child care providers. Instructs the Secretary to: (1) establish a national child abuse and neglect data collection and analysis program (in addition to the current national clearinghouse for information relating to child abuse); and (2) provide technical and training assistance to the States for child abuse and neglect programs and for adoption opportunities. Mandates peer review for such grants. Instructs the Secretary to conduct a national random sample study of children at risk of child abuse or neglect. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 2002, including grants for demonstration projects. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States to assist them in developing programs related to the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases. Requires any State requesting such assistance to establish a multidisciplinary task force on children's justice to study administrative, civil, and criminal judicial handling of such cases, and make recommendations which the State must adopt (or equivalent alternatives). Subtitle G: Child Care (Almost identical to Title III, Subtitle C.) - Child Care and Development Block Grant Amendments Act of 1996 - Revises and extends through FY 2002 the authorization of appropriations for the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (the Act, for purposes of this title). Sets forth goals for State child care assistance. (Sec. 4803) Amends Part A of title IV (TANF) of the Social Security Act to entitle each State to payments for providing child care assistance. (Sec. 4804) Authorizes the State lead agency to administer the financial assistance it receives through other governmental or nongovernmental agencies. (Sec. 4805) Revises State application and plan requirements with respect to consumer education information, State licensing compliance, meeting the needs of AFDC or TANF recipients (especially those attempting through work activities to leave the assistance program) and those at risk of becoming dependent on assistance, and assistance for certain low-income working families. (Sec. 4807) Reduces from 20 percent to three percent the minimum amount of certain funds available for State activities to improve the quality of child care, limited to: (1) comprehensive consumer education to parents and the public; (2) activities increasing parental choice; and (3) activities designed to improve child care quality and availability. (Sec. 4808) Repeals a requirement that States expend a specified minimum amount of reserved funds for early childhood development and before- and after-school services. (Sec. 4813) Reduces the allotment reserved for Indian tribes or tribal organizations from three percent to one percent. Prescribes guidelines for the use of such allotment for facility repair and construction. (Sec. 4815) Repeals: (1) the Child Development Associate Scholarship Assistance Act of 1985; (2) the State Dependent Care Development Grants Act; (3) specified programs under title X (Programs of National Significance) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and (4) the Native Hawaiian Family-based Education Centers program under the Native Hawaiian Education Act. Subtitle H: Miscellaneous - Subjects any funds received by a State under provisions of law relating to block grants for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) under part A of SSA title IV, optional State food assistance block grant under the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and block grants for child care under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to appropriation by the State legislature, consistent with the terms and conditions required under such provisions of law. (Sec. 4902) Provides that States shall not be prohibited by the Federal Government from testing welfare recipients for use of controlled substances nor from sanctioning welfare recipients who test positive for use of controlled substances. (Sec. 4903) Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to provide for a reduction in funding for block grants under such program. (Sec. 4904) Amends Internal Revenue Code rules relating to denial of earned income credit for individuals having excessive investment income to: (1) reduce from $2,350 to $2,250 the disqualified income threshold; (2) revise the adjustment for inflation; (3) make disqualified income any capital gain net income and aggregate gains from all passive activities; (4) modify adjusted gross income for the earned income credit to exclude specified losses;; and (5) revise the formula for the earned income credit amount and initial credit phaseout.

Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Domestic Preparedness Title II: Interdiction of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Related Materials Title III: Control and Disposition of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Related Materials Threatening the United States Title IV: Coordination of Policy and Countermeasures Against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Title V: Miscellaneous Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996 - Title I: Domestic Preparedness - Directs the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to carry out a civilian training program regarding emergency responses to a use or threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) or related materials. Authorizes the President to designate another agency head to assume responsibility for such program on or after October 1, 1999. Provides funding and earmarks a specified amount of such funds to assist the U.S. Surgeon General in the establishment of metropolitan emergency medical response teams. (Sec. 102) Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy to designate a department official to coordinate assistance to Federal, State, and local officials in response to threats involving biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons or related materials or technologies. (Sec. 103) Authorizes the Secretary, upon request of the Attorney General, to provide assistance in support of Department of Justice activities during an emergency situation involving a biological or chemical WMD. Directs the President to take reasonable measures to reduce the reliance of civilian law enforcement officials on Department of Defense (DOD) resources to counter the threat posed by the use or potential use of biological and chemical WMDs within the United States. Requires reports from the President to the Congress on the policy functions and operational roles of Federal agencies in countering such a threat. (Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary to develop and carry out a program for testing and improving the response of Federal, State, and local agencies to emergencies involving biological and chemical weapons and related materials. Directs the Secretary of Energy to develop and carry out an identical program with respect to nuclear and radiological weapons and related materials. Title II: Interdiction of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Related Materials - Earmarks funds for the procurement of equipment capable of detecting and interdicting the movement of WMDs and related materials into the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to make such equipment available to the Commissioner of Customs for such use. (Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary to be the lead Government official for coordinating the Federal research and development (R&D) on technical means for detecting the presence, or illegal transportation, production, or use, of materials and technologies that may be used to make a biological or chemical weapon as well as materials and technologies that are suitable for use in making such a weapon. Directs the Secretary of Energy to be the lead official in the same capacity with respect to nuclear or radiological weapons and related materials and technologies. Requires specified consultation. Provides funding for each R&D program. (Sec. 203) Amends the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to state that the President does not have the power to investigate, regulate, or prohibit the attempted importation from any country, or exportation, of: (1) property in which any foreign country or national has an interest; or (2) specified information or informational materials. (Sec. 204) Urges the United States Sentencing Commission to increase the penalties for offenses relating to the importation and exportation of nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons or related materials or technologies. (Sec. 205) Directs the Secretary to carry out programs for assisting customs and border guard officials in the independent states of the former Soviet Union, the Baltic states, and other Eastern European countries in preventing the unauthorized transfer and transportation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons and related materials. Provides funding. Title III: Control and Disposition of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Related Materials Threatening the United States - Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to provide assistance for securing from theft or other unauthorized disposition nuclear materials that are located at any site within the former Soviet Union where effective security controls are not in place. Authorizes the Secretary to provide specified assistance under the DOD Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program for securing from theft or other unauthorized disposition, or for destroying, nuclear, radiological, biological, or chemical weapons that are located within the former Soviet Union and are not secure. Provides funding for each program. (Sec. 302) Earmarks funds for cooperative activities with Russia for the development of nuclear weapons dismantlement, conversion, and verification technology. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to include the elimination, and safe transportation and storage, of fissile materials suitable for use in nuclear weapons as an authorized purpose under the CTR program. (Sec. 303) Directs the Secretary to develop a cooperative program with Russia to eliminate the production of weapons grade plutonium through the replacement of certain reactors. (Sec. 304) Directs the Secretary of Energy to expand the Industrial Partnership Program of the Department of Energy (DOE) to include coverage of all of the independent states of the former Soviet Union. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a program to support the dismantlement, or conversion to nondefense purposes, of the biological and chemical weapons facilities in such states. Provides funding. (Sec. 305) Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to expand the DOE Lab-to-Lab program to improve the safety and security of nuclear materials in those states of the former Soviet Union where such program is not currently being carried out. Provides funding. (Sec. 306) Makes the Secretary of Energy responsible for carrying out U.S. cooperative activities with Russia on improving the security of highly enriched uranium used for propulsion of Russian military and civilian ships. (Sec. 307) Earmarks funds for expanding military-to-military programs of the United States that focus on countering the threats of proliferation of WMDs so as to include the security forces of independent states of the former Soviet Union. (Sec. 308) Provides funds transfer authority for the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy with respect to programs authorized under title I. Title IV: Coordination of Policy and Countermeasures Against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction - Directs the President to designate an individual in the Executive Office of the President to serve as the National Coordinator for Nonproliferation Matters. Requires the senior directors of the National Security Council (NSC) to report to the Coordinator regarding specified nonproliferation matters. Earmarks funds for nonproliferation research efforts. (Sec. 402) Establishes within the NSC the Committee on Nonproliferation to review and coordinate, and make recommendations to the President regarding, Federal programs, policies, and directives relating to the proliferation of WMDs and related materials and technologies, including matters relating to terrorism and international organized crime. (Sec. 403) Directs the President to develop, and report to the Congress on, a comprehensive program for carrying out this Act. (Sec. 404) Provides that, after September 30, 1999, the President: (1) is not required to maintain a Coordinator; and (2) may terminate the Committee. Title V: Miscellaneous - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretaries of Defense, Energy, the Treasury, and State should contract directly with suppliers in the independent states of the former Soviet Union to facilitate the purchase of goods and services necessary to carry out programs for the control and disposition of WMDs and related materials threatening the United States. (Sec. 502) Allows funds authorized under a prior-year defense authorization Act for CTR programs to be used for any such purposes without regard to program allocation requirements set forth in such Act. (Sec. 503) Authorizes assistance from CTR and other programs to additional states of the former Soviet Union other than Russia, Ukraine, Kazakstan, and Belarus, as long as the President certifies to the Congress that it is in the U.S. national security interest to do so. (Sec. 504) Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. allies and other nations should participate in efforts to ensure that stockpiles of weapons-grade nuclear material are reduced. Urges the Secretary of State to encourage other countries to purchase low-enriched uranium that is derived from highly-enriched uranium extracted from Russian nuclear weapons. (Sec. 505) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretaries of Defense, Energy, the Treasury, and State should purchase, package, and transport to secure locations weapons-grade nuclear materials from a stockpile when there is a significant risk of the theft of such materials. (Sec. 506) Reduces by: (1) $150 million the total amount authorized to be appropriated to the Navy for FY 1997 for research, development, test, and evaluation; and (2) $85 million the amount authorized to be appropriated to DOE for FY 1997 for national defense programs.

Veterans Nursing Care Availability Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1996

Veterans Nursing Care Availability Act of 1996 - Revises the manner by which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to rank applicants for grants under the State home construction grant program (a program providing grants to States for the construction of veterans' nursing homes). Prohibits any State from being awarded more than one such grant during any fiscal year.

Defend America Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1996

Defend America Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996 - Amends Federal law to direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a research and development program to enhance U.S. capabilities relating to the threat of an attack inside the United States by unconventional means involving weapons of mass destruction. Specifies that the activities to be carried out by the Secretary under the program shall include: (1) research, development, test, and evaluation of technologies relating to detection of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, interception of and protection against such weapons, assistance to other Federal departments and agencies and State and local agencies in responding to an attack, including casualty treatment, and decontamination of areas affected by an attack; (2) training of personnel for such activities; and (3) identification of Federal equipment and technologies that can be transferred, and training that can be provided, from one Federal agency to another or to State and local agencies consistent with the purposes of the program. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize Federal technical assistance to the States in developing comprehensive plans and practicable programs for preparation against major disasters involving weapons of mass destruction. Sets forth reporting requirements.

Landmine Removal Assistance Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1996

Landmine Removal Assistance Act - Directs the President to carry out a humanitarian program (including technical and financial assistance to foreign governments, the United Nations, and specified kinds of humanitarian and international organizations) to improve awareness, detection, and clearance of antipersonnel landmines and explosive ordnance. Requires an annual joint report of the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development to the Congress with respect to such program. Prohibits the use of U.S. armed forces in: (1) the detection, lifting, or destruction of antipersonnel landmines or explosive ordnance (unless it is done to support a U.S. military operation); or (2) providing such assistance as part of a military operation that does not involve U.S. armed forces. Authorizes appropriations.

Project for American Renewal Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Effective Compassion Subtitle A: Charity Tax Credit Subtitle B: Other Provisions Title II: Community Empowerment Subtitle A: Education Subtitle B: Restitution and Responsibility Subtitle C: Independence Subtitle D: Housing Title III: Other American Renewal Incentives Subtitle A: Housing Subtitle B: Responsible Parenting Subtitle C: Character Development Subtitle D: Family Reconciliation Subtitle E: Mentor Schools Subtitle F: Role Models Academy Subtitle G: Kinship Care Project for American Renewal Act - Title I: Effective Compassion - Subtitle A: Charity Tax Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to create a credit for charitable contributions, which shall be in lieu of any deduction for such contributions, equal to the sum of: (1) 100 percent of contributions not exceeding $100; and (2) 90 percent of contributions in excess of $100 up to a maximum dollar amount of $500. Provides for a study of such credit. (Sec. 111) Repeals the earned income credit for individuals without children. (Sec. 112) Requires reports from the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance on changes in laws which would reduce corporate tax subsidies sufficient to raise specified amounts of revenues. (Sec. 121) Provides for the authorization of appropriations under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 regardless of whether payments to the States provisions of part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act are repealed. (Sec. 131) Provides for reductions in amounts paid to each State under the AFDC program. (Sec. 132) Repeals title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 141) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to reduce community development block grants. (Sec. 142) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to repeal title II (HOME Investment Partnerships Act). Subtitle B: Other Provisions - Creates a tax credit of $500 for each eligible individual for the home care of: (1) unmarried pregnant women; (2) hospice care patients, including AIDS and cancer patients; (3) homeless individuals; and (4) battered women and battered women with children. (Sec. 152) Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) deem specified free clinic health professionals providing qualifying health services as employees of the Public Health Service; and (2) provide such health professionals with specified limited legal liability. Authorizes appropriations for making payment for judgments against the United States pursuant to this section for the acts or omissions of such professionals. Requires a report to the Congress concerning such judgments. (Sec. 153) Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and carry out a competitive grant program to provide funding to States and communities to: (1) establish an information network to enhance coordination of matches between various nonprofit organizations and electing AFDC families or nonviolent criminal offenders; (2) hire staff to coordinate such matches; and (3) disseminate information about such program. Authorizes appropriations. Provides for the establishment of a national information clearinghouse concerning such program. Title II: Community Empowerment - Subtitle A: Education - Educational Choice and Equity Act of 1995 - Authorizes appropriations for the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities for at least 100 demonstration projects under which low-income parents receive education certificates for the costs of enrolling their eligible children in a choice school. Reserves funds for the Comptroller General to evaluate such projects. Requires each participating school to comply with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. (Sec. 206) Requires such projects to involve: (1) at least one local educational agency (LEA) that receives a concentration grant under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and meets other specified criteria; and (2) a sufficient number of public and private choice schools, in the Secretary's judgment, to allow for a valid demonstration project. Requires priority be given to projects: (1) in which choice schools offer an enrollment opportunity to the broadest range of eligible children; (2) that involve diverse types of choice schools; and (3) that will contribute to geographic diversity of grant awards. Subtitle B: Restitution and Responsibility - Authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants to enable the States to: (1) collect data on victim restitution over a specified period; (2) create or expand automated data systems to track restitution payments; (3) make improvements in the manner in which restitution is ordered and collected; and (4) enhance and expand methods of enforcement of restitution orders. (Sec. 211) Requires a State, to be eligible, to certify that it has a victim advocacy program that provides assistance to crime victims throughout the judicial process and provides courts with a victim impact statement prior to sentencing. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Independence - Provides for the establishment of demonstration projects designed to determine: (1) the social, civic, psychological, and economic effects of providing to individuals and families with limited means an incentive to accumulate assets; (2) the extent to which an asset-based welfare policy that promotes saving for education, home ownership, and microenterprises may be used to enable individuals and families with low income to achieve economic self-sufficiency; and (3) the extent to which an asset-based welfare policy improves the community in which participating individuals and families live. (Sec. 222) Requires each qualified not-for-profit organization or State or local government agency receiving a grant to establish a Reserve Fund. Specifies income and net worth tests for individuals eligible for assistance under a demonstration project. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 223) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for contributions to an individual development account by or on behalf of a qualified individual. Limits such contributions to $2,000 per year, and qualified expenses to: (1) postsecondary educational expenses; (2) a first-home purchase; and (3) business capitalization. Excludes distributions for such purposes from gross income. Exempts such accounts from taxation, except the tax on unrelated business income. Disregards funds in an individual development account of a demonstration project participant for purposes of all means-tested Federal programs. Subtitle D: Housing - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Secretary) to transfer ownership (after satisfying any indebtedness) of unoccupied and substandard public housing units to the appropriate local governmental entities. Grants the appropriate community development corporations a six-month right of subsequent first purchase. (Sec. 233) Directs the Secretary to establish a program to provide maternal health certificates to eligible pregnant women for maternity home expenses. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 237) Authorizes the Secretary to make demonstration grants for State maternity care programs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 241) Directs the Secretary to make grants to eligible nonprofit organizations for rehabilitation of structures for use as maternity housing and services facilities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 248) Directs the Secretary to evaluate and report on programs under this part. Prohibits funds under this part from being used to promote or perform abortions or abortion counseling. Title III: Other American Renewal Incentives - Subtitle A: Housing - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to reserve a specified percentage of public housing units for legally married families. Subtitle B: Responsible Parenting - Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act to provide for various specified program changes, including: (1) an increase in funding, as well as a corresponding increase in Federal set-asides; (2) provision and promotion of sexual abstinence and adoption-related services; (3) prohibitions on the use of funds for family planning services in schools and for programs or projects that provide abortions or abortion counseling or referral; (4) additional application requirements related to maximizing the role of families and religious and charitable organizations in solving problems relating to parenthood or adolescent pregnancies; and (5) new reporting requirements for the State and the Secretary of Health and Human Services involving State activities in connection with program services relating to abstinence and adoption. (Sec. 318) Amends the Public Health Service Act to repeal certain programs and demonstration projects related to population research and voluntary family planning as well as adolescent family life. Subtitle C: Character Development - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award: (1) mentor program grants to eligible local educational agencies to establish mentoring programs designed to link individual at-risk youth with responsible, individual adults who serve as mentors; and (2) implementation and evaluation grants to national organizations or agencies serving youth to conduct a multisite demonstration project, involving five to ten project sites, develop and evaluate screening standards for school-linked mentoring programs, and develop and evaluate volunteer recruitment activities for school-linked mentoring programs. (Sec. 325) Sets forth permitted and prohibited uses of grant funds awarded under this Act. (Sec. 326) Directs the Secretary to develop and distribute to eligible local educational agencies receiving a mentor program grant specific model guidelines for the screening of mentors. (Sec. 330) Authorizes appropriations for Mentoring Program Grants and Implementation and Evaluation Grants. Subtitle D: Family Reconciliation - Amends part B (Child-Welfare Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act with regard to family preservation and support services to create certain set-asides for States with approved family reconciliation plans which require a minimum 60-day waiting period and participation in counseling programs before final dissolution of a marriage involving one or more children under age 12. (Sec. 332) Amends the Legal Services Corporation Act to prohibit the use of funds under that Act for legal assistance in certain actions relating to divorces or separations except where there is court-determined spousal abuse. Subtitle E: Mentor Schools - Mentor Schools Act - Amends the Education Amendments Act of 1972 to provide that nothing in specified provisions of such Act shall be construed to prohibit the establishment or operation of a same gender public elementary or secondary school if: (1) comparable courses, services and facilities are available to students of each sex; and (2) the same policies and criteria for admission to such schools are used for both sexes. Subtitle F: Role Models Academy - 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) shall offer 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. (Sec. 354) Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle G: Kinship Care - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States for demonstration projects to develop or implement procedures to use adult relatives as the preferred placement for children removed from their parents. Sets forth grant eligibility and program evaluation requirements. (Sec. 362) Requires States that receive grants under this Act to develop procedures to ensure that reasonable efforts will be made, prior to the placement of a child in foster care, to provide notice to a relative who might be available to care for the child. (Sec. 363) Authorizes appropriations.

Women Veterans Health Equity Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1996

Women Veterans Health Equity Act of 1996 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that each Department of Veterans Affairs health-care facility is able to provide timely and appropriate women's health services. Requires such services to be provided directly (rather than by contract or other agreement) when cost-effective. Requires the Secretary to ensure that each such facility is provided appropriate equipment, facilities, and staff for such services and that the quality of such care meets professional standards. (Sec. 4) Specifies the services to be included as women's health services in the Department. Allows such services provided on an ambulatory or outpatient basis to be procured by contract when Department facilities are not capable of furnishing economical hospital care or medical services because of geographical inaccessibility or are not capable of furnishing the care or services required. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to ensure that Department primary care physicians are trained and prepared to appropriately question a woman patient who may have experienced sexual assault or trauma while in active military service. Requires pregnancy care to be provided to any pregnant veteran who has a service-connected disability. (Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to ensure that homeless women veterans are included in homeless veterans' outreach programs, and that such programs include specified counseling and outreach assistance and follow-up and after-care treatment. (Sec. 7) Requires women veterans to receive safe Department psychiatric treatment which recognizes their privacy needs. Requires strict confidentiality concerning such treatment. Requires such services to include private counseling and a comprehensive medical examination and evaluation. Directs the Secretary to establish partnerships with nonprofit entities to provide temporary housing for homeless women veterans until their mental condition is stabilized. (Sec. 8) Prohibits a mammogram from being performed at a Department facility unless such facility is accredited for such purpose by a private nonprofit organization designated by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to prescribe quality assurance standards for such mammograms as well as for mammogram equipment and facilities. Requires an annual inspection of such equipment and facilities. Requires contracted mammogram services to conform to such standards. Requires: (1) the standards to be prescribed within 120 days after the enactment of this Act; and (2) a report from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees on the implementation of this section. (Sec. 9) Amends the Women Veterans Health Programs Act of 1992 to require each coordinator of women's services established under such Act to serve in such capacity on a full-time basis. Directs the Secretary to ensure that sufficient resources are provided to coordinators to carry out their functions. (Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary to conduct a survey of, and report to the veterans' committees in each of 1997 through 2000 on, each Department medical center to identify deficiencies relating to patient privacy afforded to women patients which may interfere with appropriate treatment. Requires the correction of any deficiencies discovered. (Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of advertising in mass media to inform women veterans of the health services available through the Department.

Women Veterans Research Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1996

Women Veterans Research Act of 1996 - Requires the inclusion of women veterans in research conducted by the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be ongoing and continuous, with monitoring strategies and evaluations to ensure a sufficient number of such veterans to establish statistical significance. Directs the Secretary to foster and encourage research in the following matters as they relate to women: (1) breast and other gender-specific cancers; (2) gynecological and reproductive health; (3) HIV and AIDS; (4) mental health; (5) diseases related to aging; (6) substance abuse and spousal abuse; (7) sexual violence and related trauma; (8) exposure to toxic chemicals and environmental hazards; (9) cardiac care and heart disease; (10) the comparative prevalence of hysterectomies and other surgeries performed on women who have served in the military; and (11) the physical and psychological causes and effects of homelessness among women veterans. Requires specified Department personnel to be engaged in such research.

Women Veterans Health Assessment Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1996

Women Veterans Health Assessment Act of 1996 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report to the congressional veterans' committees on the provision of health care services to, and the conduct of research carried out by the Secretary for, women veterans. Directs the Secretary to study and report to such committees on the needs of women veterans for health care services.

Project for American Renewal Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Effective Compassion Subtitle A: Charity Tax Credit Subtitle B: Other Provisions Title II: Community Empowerment Subtitle A: Education Subtitle B: Restitution and Responsibility Subtitle C: Independence Subtitle D: Housing Title III: Other American Renewal Incentives Subtitle A: Housing Subtitle B: Responsible Parenting Subtitle C: Character Development Subtitle D: Family Reconciliation Subtitle E: Mentor Schools Subtitle F: Role Models Academy Subtitle G: Kinship Care Project for American Renewal Act - Title I: Effective Compassion - Subtitle A: Charity Tax Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to create a credit for charitable contributions, which shall be in lieu of any deduction for such contributions, equal to the sum of: (1) 100 percent of contributions not exceeding $100; and (2) 90 percent of contributions in excess of $100 up to a maximum dollar amount of $500. Provides for a study of such credit. (Sec. 111) Repeals the earned income credit for individuals without children. (Sec. 112) Requires reports from the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance on changes in laws which would reduce corporate tax subsidies sufficient to raise specified amounts of revenues. (Sec. 121) Provides for the authorization of appropriations under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 regardless of whether payments to the States provisions of part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act are repealed. (Sec. 131) Provides for reductions in amounts paid to each State under the AFDC program. (Sec. 132) Repeals title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 141) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to reduce community development block grants. (Sec. 142) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to repeal title II (HOME Investment Partnerships Act). Subtitle B: Other Provisions - Creates a tax credit of $500 for each eligible individual for the home care of: (1) unmarried pregnant women; (2) hospice care patients, including AIDS and cancer patients; (3) homeless individuals; and (4) battered women and battered women with children. (Sec. 152) Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) deem specified free clinic health professionals providing qualifying health services as employees of the Public Health Service; and (2) provide such health professionals with specified limited legal liability. Authorizes appropriations for making payment for judgments against the United States pursuant to this section for the acts or omissions of such professionals. Requires a report to the Congress concerning such judgments. (Sec. 153) Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and carry out a competitive grant program to provide funding to States and communities to: (1) establish an information network to enhance coordination of matches between various nonprofit organizations and electing AFDC families or nonviolent criminal offenders; (2) hire staff to coordinate such matches; and (3) disseminate information about such program. Authorizes appropriations. Provides for the establishment of a national information clearinghouse concerning such program. Title II: Community Empowerment - Subtitle A: Education - Educational Choice and Equity Act of 1995 - Authorizes appropriations for the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities for at least 100 demonstration projects under which low-income parents receive education certificates for the costs of enrolling their eligible children in a choice school. Reserves funds for the Comptroller General to evaluate such projects. Requires each participating school to comply with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. (Sec. 206) Requires such projects to involve: (1) at least one local educational agency (LEA) that receives a concentration grant under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and meets other specified criteria; and (2) a sufficient number of public and private choice schools, in the Secretary's judgment, to allow for a valid demonstration project. Requires priority be given to projects: (1) in which choice schools offer an enrollment opportunity to the broadest range of eligible children; (2) that involve diverse types of choice schools; and (3) that will contribute to geographic diversity of grant awards. Subtitle B: Restitution and Responsibility - Authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants to enable the States to: (1) collect data on victim restitution over a specified period; (2) create or expand automated data systems to track restitution payments; (3) make improvements in the manner in which restitution is ordered and collected; and (4) enhance and expand methods of enforcement of restitution orders. (Sec. 211) Requires a State, to be eligible, to certify that it has a victim advocacy program that provides assistance to crime victims throughout the judicial process and provides courts with a victim impact statement prior to sentencing. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Independence - Provides for the establishment of demonstration projects designed to determine: (1) the social, civic, psychological, and economic effects of providing to individuals and families with limited means an incentive to accumulate assets; (2) the extent to which an asset-based welfare policy that promotes saving for education, home ownership, and microenterprises may be used to enable individuals and families with low income to achieve economic self-sufficiency; and (3) the extent to which an asset-based welfare policy improves the community in which participating individuals and families live. (Sec. 222) Requires each qualified not-for-profit organization or State or local government agency receiving a grant to establish a Reserve Fund. Specifies income and net worth tests for individuals eligible for assistance under a demonstration project. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 223) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for contributions to an individual development account by or on behalf of a qualified individual. Limits such contributions to $2,000 per year, and qualified expenses to: (1) postsecondary educational expenses; (2) a first-home purchase; and (3) business capitalization. Excludes distributions for such purposes from gross income. Exempts such accounts from taxation, except the tax on unrelated business income. Disregards funds in an individual development account of a demonstration project participant for purposes of all means-tested Federal programs. Subtitle D: Housing - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Secretary) to transfer ownership (after satisfying any indebtedness) of unoccupied and substandard public housing units to the appropriate local governmental entities. Grants the appropriate community development corporations a six-month right of subsequent first purchase. (Sec. 233) Directs the Secretary to establish a program to provide maternal health certificates to eligible pregnant women for maternity home expenses. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 237) Authorizes the Secretary to make demonstration grants for State maternity care programs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 241) Directs the Secretary to make grants to eligible nonprofit organizations for rehabilitation of structures for use as maternity housing and services facilities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 248) Directs the Secretary to evaluate and report on programs under this part. Prohibits funds under this part from being used to promote or perform abortions or abortion counseling. Title III: Other American Renewal Incentives - Subtitle A: Housing - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to reserve a specified percentage of public housing units for legally married families. Subtitle B: Responsible Parenting - Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act to provide for various specified program changes, including: (1) an increase in funding, as well as a corresponding increase in Federal set-asides; (2) provision and promotion of sexual abstinence and adoption-related services; (3) prohibitions on the use of funds for family planning services in schools and for programs or projects that provide abortions or abortion counseling or referral; (4) additional application requirements related to maximizing the role of families and religious and charitable organizations in solving problems relating to parenthood or adolescent pregnancies; and (5) new reporting requirements for the State and the Secretary of Health and Human Services involving State activities in connection with program services relating to abstinence and adoption. (Sec. 318) Amends the Public Health Service Act to repeal certain programs and demonstration projects related to population research and voluntary family planning as well as adolescent family life. Subtitle C: Character Development - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award: (1) mentor program grants to eligible local educational agencies to establish mentoring programs designed to link individual at-risk youth with responsible, individual adults who serve as mentors; and (2) implementation and evaluation grants to national organizations or agencies serving youth to conduct a multisite demonstration project, involving five to ten project sites, develop and evaluate screening standards for school-linked mentoring programs, and develop and evaluate volunteer recruitment activities for school-linked mentoring programs. (Sec. 325) Sets forth permitted and prohibited uses of grant funds awarded under this Act. (Sec. 326) Directs the Secretary to develop and distribute to eligible local educational agencies receiving a mentor program grant specific model guidelines for the screening of mentors. (Sec. 330) Authorizes appropriations for Mentoring Program Grants and Implementation and Evaluation Grants. Subtitle D: Family Reconciliation - Amends part B (Child-Welfare Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act with regard to family preservation and support services to create certain set-asides for States with approved family reconciliation plans which require a minimum 60-day waiting period and participation in counseling programs before final dissolution of a marriage involving one or more children under age 12. (Sec. 332) Amends the Legal Services Corporation Act to prohibit the use of funds under that Act for legal assistance in certain actions relating to divorces or separations except where there is court-determined spousal abuse. Subtitle E: Mentor Schools - Mentor Schools Act - Amends the Education Amendments Act of 1972 to provide that nothing in specified provisions of such Act shall be construed to prohibit the establishment or operation of a same gender public elementary or secondary school if: (1) comparable courses, services and facilities are available to students of each sex; and (2) the same policies and criteria for admission to such schools are used for both sexes. Subtitle F: Role Models Academy - 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) shall offer 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. (Sec. 354) Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle G: Kinship Care - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States for demonstration projects to develop or implement procedures to use adult relatives as the preferred placement for children removed from their parents. Sets forth grant eligibility and program evaluation requirements. (Sec. 362) Requires States that receive grants under this Act to develop procedures to ensure that reasonable efforts will be made, prior to the placement of a child in foster care, to provide notice to a relative who might be available to care for the child. (Sec. 363) Authorizes appropriations.

Providing for consideration of a joint resolution and a resolution relating to the People's Republic of China.

United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1996

Sets forth the rule for the consideration of H.J. Res. 182 (most-favored-nation treatment for the People's Republic of China) and H. Res. 461 (human rights abuse, nuclear and chemical weapons proliferation, illegal weapons trading, military intimidation of Taiwan, and trade violations by the People's Republic of China).

Regarding U.S. concerns with human rights abuse, nuclear and chemical weapons proliferation, illegal weapons trading, military intimidation of Taiwan, and trade violations by the People's Republic of China and the People's Liberation Army, and directing the committees of jurisdiction to commence hearings and report appropriate legislation.

United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1996

Directs specified congressional committees to hold hearings on U.S. concerns with respect to human rights abuses, proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapons, and unfair trade practices by China. Urges that legislation addressing these matters be reported by September 30, 1996.

Genetic Confidentiality and Nondiscrimination Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Collection, Storage, and Analysis of DNA Samples Title II: Disclosure of Genetic information Title III: Discrimination Prohibited Title IV: Exceptions for Identification and Court-Ordered Genetic Analysis Title V: Research Activities Title VI: Minors Title VII: Miscellaneous Provisions Title VIII: Enforcement Title IX: Effective Dates; Applicability; and Relationship to Other Laws Genetic Confidentiality and Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 - Title I: Collection, Storage, and Analysis of DNA Samples - Prohibits, except as allowed under title IV, collection or analysis of DNA samples without the consent of the individual. Regulates written consent. Makes a DNA sample the property of the individual and gives the individual the right (subject to title IV provisions) to order sample destruction. Mandates certain notice. Title II: Disclosure of Genetic information - Prohibits disclosure or redisclosure of genetic information except in accordance with a written authorization meeting certain requirements. Provides for information inspection, copying, and amendment. Prohibits compelling disclosure in any judicial, legislative, or administrative proceeding unless: (1) the request for compulsory disclosure is in accordance with title IV; (2) the individual is a party; or (3) the information is for use in a law enforcement matter in which the individual is the subject or party. Title III: Discrimination Prohibited - Prohibits employment and insurance discrimination regarding genetic information, specifying prohibited acts. Applies enforcement provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to violations by employers and provides for insurance enforcement. Title IV: Exceptions for Identification and Court-Ordered Genetic Analysis - Allows use of DNA samples to identify a dead body. Allows sample collection and use for identification of active duty armed forces members. Declares that this Act does not prohibit certain information use in law enforcement and paternity matters. Title V: Research Activities - Prohibits research analysis of DNA samples unless an Institutional Review Board (IRB) has made certain determinations. Prohibits disclosure for research purposes unless an IRB has approved the study and the individual has consented, but allows limited access for statistical use. Title VI: Minors - Prohibits collection, storage, or analysis of samples of individuals under 18 years old to determine the risk that does not produce signs of disease before the age of 18 unless: (1) there is an effective intervention; (2) the intervention is initiated before the individual reaches 18; and (3) the individual's parent or guardian has consented. Provides for sample destruction. Prohibits newborn screening except as authorized by State law or regulation. Title VII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires every person who maintains genetic information to annually notify their employees of responsibilities and penalties under this Act. Provides for the transfer of ownership and the discontinuance of a program, business, enterprise, or services involving DNA samples. Title VIII: Enforcement - Authorizes any person whose rights under this Act have been violated to bring a civil action for damages or equitable relief in Federal or State court. Mandates, for negligent violations: (1) the greater of actual damages or $50,000; (2) treble damages if the violation resulted in monetary gain; and (3) costs and attorney's fees. Mandates, for wilful violations: (1) the greater of actual damages or $100,000; (2) punitive damages; and (3) costs and attorney's fees. Allows the Attorney General to bring an action for a restraining order or injunction, with the court allowed to order a civil monetary penalty, costs, and attorney's fees. Title IX: Effective Dates; Applicability; and Relationship to Other Laws - Prohibits State laws or regulations except as they prohibit or further restrict the DNA sample collection, storage, analysis, or disclosure or provide additional privacy protections to the individual.

Andrew S. Effron, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces for the term of fifteen years to expire on the date prescribed by law, vice Robert E. Wiss.

United States · United States Senate · 21 June 1996

Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1997

United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Military Personnel Title II: Operation and Maintenance Title III: Procurement Title IV: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Title V: Revolving and Management Funds Title VI: Other Department of Defense Programs Title VII: Related Agencies Title VIII: General Provisions Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1997 - Title I: Military Personnel - Appropriates funds for FY 1997 for active-duty and reserve personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force and for National Guard personnel in the Army and Air Force. Title II: Operation and Maintenance - Appropriates funds for FY 1997 for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the Army, Navy, and Air Force (including a transfer of funds in each case), the Marine Corps, the defense agencies, the reserve components, and the Army and Air National Guards. Appropriates funds for: (1) overseas contingency operations (including a transfer of funds); (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces; (3) environmental restoration for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and defense-wide (including a transfer of funds in each case); (4) environmental restoration at former defense sites (including a transfer of funds); (5) overseas humanitarian, disaster, and civic aid; and (6) nuclear threat reduction programs with respect to republics of the former Soviet Union. Title III: Procurement - Appropriates funds for FY 1997 for procurement by the armed forces and its reserve components of aircraft, missiles, weapons, tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and for other procurement. Appropriates funds for defense-wide procurement and for National Guard and reserve equipment. Title IV: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation - Appropriates funds for FY 1997 for research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) by the armed forces and defense agencies. Appropriates funds for the Directors of Test and Evaluation and Operational Test and Evaluation. Title V: Revolving and Management Funds - Appropriates funds for: (1) the Defense Business Operations Fund; and (2) programs under the National Defense Sealift Fund. Title VI: Other Department of Defense Programs - Appropriates funds for: (1) the Department of Defense (DOD) medical and health care programs; (2) the destruction of lethal chemical agents and munitions; (3) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities, defense (including a transfer of funds); and (4) expenses and activities of the Office of the Inspector General in carrying out the Inspector General Act of 1978. Title VII: Related Agencies - Appropriates funds for: (1) the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System Fund; (2) expenses of the Intelligence Community Management Account; (3) authorized payments to the Kaho'olawe Island Conveyance, Remediation, and Environmental Restoration Trust Fund; and (4) national security scholarships, fellowships, and grants (using funds derived from the National Security Education Trust Fund). Title VIII: General Provisions - Specifies authorized, restricted, and prohibited uses of appropriated funds. (Sec. 8010) Authorizes procurement funds appropriated under this Act to be used for multiyear procurement contracts for Javelin missiles, Arleigh Burke class destroyers, and certain machine guns, rifles, and automatic weapons. (Sec. 8011) Prohibits during FY 1997 the management by end strengths of DOD civilian personnel. (Sec. 8020) Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to establish with host governments of NATO-member countries an account for the deposit of residual value amounts negotiated in the return of U.S. military installations to such countries. (Sec. 8033) Authorizes DOD to incur up to $350 million in obligations for DOD personnel compensation, military construction projects, and supplies and services in anticipation of receipts of contributions from the government of Kuwait. (Sec. 8034) Earmarks funds from this Act for the Civil Air Patrol. (Sec. 8041) Authorizes the payment of voluntary separation incentive payments to military personnel. (Sec. 8044) Authorizes funds available for defense drug interdiction and counter-drug activities to be used for the Young Marines program. (Sec. 8051) Prohibits the use of funds: (1) for the modification of an aircraft, weapon, ship, or other equipment that the military department concerned plans to retire or otherwise dispose of within five years after completion of the modification; (2) to transport chemical munitions to the Johnston Atoll for storage or demilitarization (with an exception and an authorized wartime waiver by the President); (3) by a DOD entity without compliance with the Buy American Act; (4) for assistance to or programs in the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea unless specifically appropriated for such purpose; and (5) to reduce the civilian medical and medical support personnel assigned to military treatment facilities below the September 30, 1996 level. (Sec. 8054) Earmarks funds appropriated under this Act for the mitigation of adverse environmental impacts on Indian lands resulting from DOD activities. (Sec. 8059) Earmarks $40 million from the funds authorized for chemical agents and munitions destruction, defense, to initiate a pilot program to identify alternatives to the current incineration process for demilitarized chemical munitions (requiring an evaluation and annual report to the defense committees with respect to such program). (Sec. 8061) Authorizes DOD to enter into interim leasing arrangements for the Adak Naval Air Facility. (Sec. 8062) Rescinds specified funds from various accounts under prior defense appropriations Acts. (Sec. 8075) Appropriates funds to DOD for transfer to the Coast Guard. (Sec. 8078) Directs the Secretary to report quarterly to specified congressional committees setting forth all costs incurred by DOD in implementing or supporting United Nations Security Council resolutions. (Sec. 8079) Directs the Secretary, to the extent authorized by law, to issue loan guarantees in support of U.S. defense exports not otherwise provided for, with a contingent liability limit of $15 billion. Requires quarterly reports to specified congressional committees on such loan guarantees. (Sec. 8083) Authorizes the use of DOD O&M funds for a pilot program to increase the use of Reserve personnel in support of U.S. missions and with eligible organizations and activities outside of DOD. (Sec. 8086) Authorizes specified amounts for Air Force aircraft procurement from prior-year defense appropriations Acts to remain available for expenditure until the end of FY 2002. (Sec. 8088) Directs the Secretary, upon the enactment of this Act, to make specified transfers between various DOD appropriation accounts.(Sec. 8089) Requires, no later than June 30, 1997, that DOD disbursements in excess of $3 million be matched to a particular obligation before the disbursement is made. (Sec. 8090) Directs the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) to submit to the defense committees a detailed report identifying any activity for which the FY 1998 budget was reduced because the Congress appropriated funds above the President's budget request for such activity for FY 1997. (Sec. 8092) Makes certain prior-year Air Force missile procurement funds available, until paid, for the payment of satellite on-orbit incentive fees. (Sec. 8095) Restricts the purchase of security locks used to protect critical national security information or other classified material. (Sec. 8096) Restricts the use of FY 1997 DOD funds for the modification of established reprogramming procedures. (Sec. 8097) Earmarks specified RDT&E funds appropriated under this Act for prostate cancer research through the Department of the Army. (Sec. 8098) Repeals a provision of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1996, which prohibits the use of Navy funds to develop or procure an emergency generator set for the New Attack Submarine unless such equipment is powered by a diesel engine manufactured in the United States by a U.S. entity.

To establish a demonstration project to authorize certain covered beneficiaries under the military health care system (including the dependents of active duty military personnel and retired members and their dependents) to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and to ensure their future health security through the use of medical savings accounts.

United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1996

Directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a demonstration project in at least one region of the TRICARE program (a DOD managed health care program) to provide beneficiaries covered under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) with the option to receive health care through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, in addition to other health care options available to such covered beneficiaries. Outlines participation eligibility requirements, with a special rule for Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) participants. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to permit a project participant to take a tax credit of 25 percent of the amount paid on behalf of such participant to a medical savings account. Requires a report from the Secretary of Defense to the Congress containing a plan to implement the demonstration project and to permit participants to maintain and use medical savings accounts.

To prohibit the importation into the United States of goods produced, manufactured, or exported by the People's Liberation Army of China or any Chinese defense industrial trading company.

United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1996

Prohibits the importation into the United States of goods manufactured or exported by the People's Liberation Army or Chinese defense industrial trading company.

To recognize and honor the Filipino World War II veterans for their defense of democratic ideals and their important contribution to the outcome of World War II.

United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1996

Recognizes and honors the Filipino World War II veterans for their defense of democratic ideals and their important contributions to the outcome of World War II.

Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Amendments Title II: Judicial Process Improvements Title III: Judiciary Personnel Administration, Benefits, and Protections Title IV: Judicial Financial Administration Title V: Federal Courts Study Committee Recommendations Title VI: Miscellaneous Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1996 - Title I: Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Amendments - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize probation and pretrial services officers, if approved by the district court, to carry firearms under such rules as the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts may prescribe. (Sec. 102) Amends the Federal judicial code to make the Federal Tort Claims Act inapplicable to certain claims arising from malpractice or negligence of a Federal Public Defender organization in furnishing representational services. Title II: Judicial Process Improvements - Amends the Federal judicial code to expand the duties of a magistrate on an emergency assignment. (Sec. 202) Authorizes: (1) only a person charged with a misdemeanor that is not a petty offense to elect to be tried before a judge of the district court for the district in which the offense was committed; and (2) the magistrate judge, in a petty offense case involving a juvenile, to exercise powers granted to the district court. Prohibits a magistrate judge from proceeding to try a case unless specified conditions are met. (Sec. 203) Repeals provisions authorizing: (1) civil actions, not of a local nature, against defendants residing in different districts in the same State to be brought in any of such districts; and (2) payment of compensation of a deceased Supreme Court clerk to his personal representatives until his successor is appointed and qualifies. (Sec. 204) Specifies that a judgment in an action for the recovery of money or property entered in any court of appeals, bankruptcy court, or in the Court of International Trade, as well as any district court, may be registered by filing a certified copy of the judgment, subject to specified requirements. (Sec. 205) Provides that when: (1) the office of clerk of court is vacant, the deputy clerks shall perform the duties of the clerk in the name of the last person who held that office; and (2) the clerk is incapacitated, absent, or otherwise unavailable to perform official duties, the deputy clerks shall perform such duties. (Sec. 206) Increases the threshold amount in controversy (from $50,000 to $75,000) to qualify for diversity of citizenship jurisdiction. (Sec. 207) Provides that, until specified amendments made by the Bankruptcy Judges, United States Trustees, and Family Farmer Bankruptcy Act of 1986 become effective in a judicial district and apply to a case, a bankruptcy administrator appointed to serve in the district shall appoint the trustees, examiners, and standing trustees. (Sec. 208) Modifies the Federal judicial code to: (1) authorize the removal of a civil action or criminal prosecution commenced in State court against the United States or any agency or officer thereof, sued in an official or individual capacity for any act under color of such office; and (2) repeal a provision authorizing the parties to consent to appeals of decisions by magistrate judges in civil cases to a judge of the district court in the same manner as on an appeal from a judgment of the district court to a court of appeals. (Sec. 210) Requires each judicial council, by January 31 of each year, to submit a report to the Administrative Office on orders entered during the preceding calendar year relating to judicial misconduct or disability. Title III: Judiciary Personnel Administration, Benefits, and Protections - Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize retroactive credit for resumption of a significant workload by a judge under specified circumstances and aggregation by a justice or judge for partial years worked. (Sec. 302) Revises provisions regarding: (1) the refund of contribution for deceased deferred annuitants under the judicial survivors' annuities system; (2) creditable service for judicial administrative officials' retirement; and (3) the contribution rate for senior judges under the judicial survivors' annuities system. (Sec. 304) Amends the Bankruptcy Amendments and Federal Judgeship Act of 1984 to provide that when filling vacancies: (1) the court of appeals may consider reappointing incumbent bankruptcy judges; and (2) all incumbent nominees seeking reappointment may be considered for such a reappointment pursuant to a majority vote of the judges of the appointing court of appeals, under specified procedures. (Sec. 305) Authorizes a judicial officer of the United States to carry firearms under regulations promulgated by the Judicial Conference of the United States. Grants immunity to any such officer from civil liability when possessing or using a firearm, for the purpose of self-defense, under the authority of this section and in accordance with Judicial Conference regulation. (Sec. 307) Deems a court reporter to be a full-time employee during any pay period for which the reporter receives a salary at the annual salary rate fixed for a full-time reporter. (Sec. 308) Authorizes the presiding judicial officer to appoint a certified or otherwise qualified sign language interpreter to provide services to a participant in a judicial proceeding upon determining that such participant suffers from a hearing impairment. Title IV: Judicial Financial Administration - Amends the Federal judicial code to increase the civil action filing fee in U.S. district court from $120 to $150. Modifies the allocation of filing fees to the special fund of the Treasury. (Sec. 402) Authorizes the Director of the Administrative Office to: (1) prescribe a uniform fee for applicants to take examinations for the selection of qualified interpreters, taking into consideration the fees charged by other organizations for examinations that are similar in scope or nature; and (2) include in any contract for the development or administration of such examinations a provision permitting the contractor to collect and retain fees in payment for contractual services. (Sec. 403) Directs the Judicial Conference to periodically prescribe the fees and costs to be charged and collected by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. (Sec. 404) Sets forth provisions regarding the disposition of attorney admission fees and bankruptcy complaint filing fees. Title V: Federal Courts Study Committee Recommendations - Amends the Federal judicial code to revise bankruptcy provisions to allow a bankruptcy judge to hear a proceeding that is not a core proceeding but that is otherwise related to a case under title 11, subject to specified requirements. (Sec. 502) Requires the chief judge of the Court of International Trade to be the judge of the court in regular active service who is senior in commission of those judges who: (1) are age 64 or younger; (2) have served for one year or more as a judge of the court; and (3) have not served previously as chief judge. Sets forth provisions regarding the precedence of judges in acting as chief judge. (Sec. 503) Repeals a provision prohibiting the obligation or expenditure of funds to increase the salary of any Federal judge or U.S. Supreme Court justice, except as specifically authorized by Act of Congress. Title VI: Miscellaneous - Modifies the Federal judicial code to authorize a member of: (1) the Judicial Conference to be a district judge retired from regular active service; and (2) the Board of the Federal Judicial Center to be a circuit or district judge retired from regular active service. (Sec. 602) Makes technical amendments relating to: (1) the Director and Deputy Director of the Administrative Office as Federal officers; (2) the filing of notice of removal of a criminal proceeding from a State court; and (3) Federal Judicial Center retirement provisions. (Sec. 605) Modifies the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to abolish the judicial panel established under such Act. Transfers such panel's jurisdiction and future rail reorganization proceedings to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. (Sec. 606) Revises the Federal judicial code regarding: (1) the place of holding court in the District Court of Utah; and (2) an exception to the residency requirement for district judges appointed to the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. (Sec. 608) Extends by: (1) six months the due date of reports under the Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990 on demonstration and pilot programs; and (2) one year the authorization of appropriations for the use of arbitration by district courts under the Judicial Improvements and Access to Justice Act.

Veterans' Compensation and Readjustment Benefits Amendments of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Veterans Compensation Benefits Title II: Education and Other Readjustment Benefits Title III: Other Matters Veterans' Compensation and Readjustment Benefits Amendments of 1996 - Title I: Veterans Compensation Benefits - Adds bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma to the list of diseases that will be considered service-connected (and therefore compensable) when occurring in a radiation-exposed veteran. (Sec. 102) Considers any veteran age 65 or older and a patient in a nursing home as totally and permanently disabled for purposes of eligibility for veterans' disability compensation. (Sec. 103) Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot program under which veterans' medical disability evaluation examinations may be made under contract by persons other than employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Sec. 104) Reduces the annual clothing allowance for veterans who are incarcerated and furnished clothing by the penal institution. (Sec. 105) Amends the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 1994 to extend the due date for a final report from the Veterans' Claims Adjudication Commission concerning the disposition of claims for veterans' benefits. Provides funding. Title II: Education and Other Readjustment Benefits - Repeals provisions prohibiting the Secretary from approving the enrollment of an eligible veteran or other person in a course offered at an educational institution when such institution has been in operation for less than two years. Prohibits the Secretary from approving enrollment in a course not leading to a standard college degree when: (1) the institution or branch thereof offering the course has been operating for less than two years; or (2) following either a change in ownership or a move, the institution does not retain substantially the same faculty, student body, and courses. Provides for the approval or disapproval of courses offered by an institution under contract. Revises approval requirements concerning the adequacy of student records. (Sec. 202) Eliminates the distinction between the pursuit of education by open circuit television and independent study for purposes of the computation of the educational assistance allowance provided. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Secretary to approve the pursuit of flight training if, among other requirements, the individual possesses a valid private pilot's license and meets the medical requirements for a commercial pilot's license on the first day of such training and within 60 days after successfully completing such training. (Sec. 204) Repeals a provision limiting the monthly educational assistance allowance payable to an individual pursuing a cooperative program. Increases the monthly educational allowance provided to individuals pursuing training in a business or industrial establishment as part of a full-time education program. (Sec. 205) Extends the authority of the Secretary to issue certificates or other securities evidencing an interest in a pool of veterans' mortgage loans guaranteed by the Department. (Sec. 206) Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to extend the authority for veterans' reintegration projects. Title III: Other Matters - Authorizes the American Battle Monuments Commission to enter into arrangements for the repair and long-term maintenance of war memorials. Establishes in the Treasury a fund for such repair and maintenance expenses. (Sec. 302) Provides burial benefits when a veteran dies at an institution at which such veteran was receiving Department-authorized hospital or nursing home care.

Veterans' Education and Compensation Benefits Amendments of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Veterans' Education Programs Title II: Veterans' Benefits Programs Veterans' Education and Compensation Benefits Amendments of 1996 - Title I: Veterans' Education Programs - Makes a veteran eligible for training and rehabilitation services and assistance due to an employment handicap caused by a service-connected disability whether or not such person is in receipt of retired pay. Excludes from the scope of such services and assistance job-readiness skills development and counseling under the Veterans' Job Training Act. Repeals a provision allowing a program of independent living services and assistance to include services and assistance as described in title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to determine whether a veteran is capable of participating in a program of independent living services and assistance when the Secretary determines that a veteran has a serious employment handicap for which the achievement of a vocational goal currently is not reasonably feasible. Authorizes the provision of a subsistence allowance to a veteran while satisfactorily pursuing a program of employment services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Currently, such allowance is only permitted after the conclusion of such program.) Provides employment assistance through the Department for certain veterans with a service-connected disability rating of ten percent or more (currently, with any disability). (Sec. 102) Increases the monthly rates of veterans' basic educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill, effective on October 1, 1996. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary of Defense to allow certain individuals currently enrolled in the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance program to instead enroll in the Montgomery GI Bill program of veterans' educational assistance. Provides for deductions from pay for program participants, while allowing refunds to such individuals for any amount paid into the former program but unused in educational benefits. (Sec. 104) Makes eligible for assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill program members of the Army and Air National Guard who performed certain duty after June 30, 1985 (currently November 29, 1989). Reduces the pay of such individuals for such participation. (Sec. 105) Makes permanent (currently terminates September 30, 1996) the authority for such assistance to include alternative teacher certification programs. Title II: Veterans' Benefits Programs - Revises the effective date for the discontinuance of certain veterans' benefits by reason of death of the recipient. Provides the effective date of an award for dependency and indemnity compensation for which application is received within one year from the date of death of the veteran. (Sec. 202) Increases: (1) from one to two years the authorized period for the payment of certain accrued benefits upon the death of a beneficiary; and (2) from $5,500 to $6,500 the allowance for automobiles and adaptive equipment for certain disabled veterans. (Sec. 204) Directs the Court of Veterans Appeals to provide funds to legal assistance entities to be used to provide legal assistance to financially needy veterans in proceedings before such Court. Directs the Court to seek to provide such funds through a selected nonprofit organization. Outlines types of assistance, services, and activities to be provided using such funds. Directs the Secretary to transfer funds appropriated to the Department for FY 1997 through 2003 for funding the legal assistance program. Directs the Court to report annually to the Congress on the use of such funds.

War Crimes Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1996

War Crimes Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that anyone, whether inside or outside the United States, who commits a grave breach of the Geneva conventions, where the person who commits such breach or the victim of such breach is a member of the U.S. armed forces or a U.S. national, shall be fined or imprisoned for life or any term of years, or both, or, if death results to the victim, be subject to the death penalty.

Part-Time and Temporary Workers Protection Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Protection of Part-Time and Temporary Workers Title II: Misclassification of Employees as Independent Contractors Part-Time and Temporary Workers Protection Act of 1996 - Title I: Protection of Part-Time and Temporary Workers - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise requirements for approval of State unemployment compensation laws to provide for for unemployment compensation eligibility for certain individuals seeking part-time employment. (Sec. 102) Directs the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to conduct an annual survey identifying characteristics of temporary workers and their relationships with their employers. (Sec. 103) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for protection and treatment of part-time and temporary workers under: (1) participation, vesting, and accrual rules governing pension plans; and (2) group health plans. Expands the definition of employee to include certain individuals whose services are leased or contracted. Title II: Misclassification of Employees as Independent Contractors - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the waiver of employment tax liability for employers if: (1) the employer did not treat an individual as an employee for purposes of employment taxes; (2) the treatment of such individual was based on a reasonable good faith misapplication of the common law rules for determining the employer-employee relationship; (3) Federal tax returns were filed on a basis consistent with the treatment of such individual as not being an employee; (4) the employer (and any predecessor) did not treat any other individual holding a substantially similar position as an employee for employment tax purposes after December 31, 1977; and (5) the employer enters into a closing agreement with the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to treating such individual as an employee. (Sec. 202) Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to: (1) make persons who willfully misclassify an individual for employment tax purposes ineligible for any Government contract; (2) require a person who submits a bid or proposal for a Government contract to certify that the bid or proposal amount is adequate to pay all employment taxes; and (3) allow a person who submits a bid or proposal for a Government contract, and who suffers damages as a result of the contract award to a person who knowingly and willfully submits a false certification to bring an action for damages against such person. (Sec. 203) Amends Federal law to apply the same requirements and right of action to defense contracts.

Urging the Government of Syria to withdraw its armed forces from Lebanon.

United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1996

Demands that Syria: (1) declare its commitment to completely withdraw its armed forces from Lebanon and to set a firm timetable for such withdrawal to be completed by December 31, 1997; and (2) prevent Hizbollah and other terrorist groups from launching attacks on Israel from Lebanese areas under its occupation. Recognizes the public Israeli commitment to withdraw its armed forces from the "security zone" in southern Lebanon once security conditions permit. Declares that the Congress will not accept Syria's continued hegemony over Lebanon and rejects linking the Syrian presence there to Israeli-Syrian negotiations or to an Israeli-Syrian peace agreement. Urges the President to withhold U.S. assistance to Syria and to direct U.S. executive directors of all international financial institutions to oppose loans or assistance to Syria until Syria withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon. Calls for Syria to cooperate with ongoing international efforts to curb terrorism and holds it responsible for all terrorist acts planned, trained for, financed, or initiated in Syrian or Lebanese territories under its occupation. Calls on Lebanon to: (1) initiate negotiations with Syria for the withdrawal of Syrian armed forces from Lebanon, the disarming of all remaining nongovernment paramilitary groups, and the redeployment of Lebanese armed forces to all Lebanese areas in order to assert the sovereignty of the Lebanese state over all of its territory; (2) enter into bilateral negotiations with Israel in order to agree on mutual security arrangements and realize a full and permanent peace; (3) prosecute all individuals responsible for crimes against U.S. or foreign diplomats and citizens; and (4) hold the parliamentary elections on time and take specified measures to ensure that such elections are conducted in a free and fair manner. Requires the Secretary of State to report to congressional committees on the results of the Lebanese elections and, every six months thereafter, on Syrian efforts to withdraw its forces from Lebanon.

Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997

United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of Veterans Affairs Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development Title III: Independent Agencies Title IV: General Provisions Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 - Title I: Department of Veterans Affairs - Makes appropriations for FY 1997 to the Department of Veterans Affairs, setting forth uses and limitations for them. Establishes in the Treasury a franchise fund pilot for capitalizing and operating central administrative services. Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development - Makes appropriations for FY 1997 for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), setting forth uses and limitations for them. (Sec. 201) Directs public housing agencies to require families to pay a minimum monthly rent of up to $25, and reduce monthly assistance payments accordingly. (Sec. 203) Extends the single family assignment program through FY 1997. (Sec. 204) Authorizes HUD to restructure multifamily apartment mortgages subsidized with section 8 project-based rental assistance contracts that expire in FY 1997. Limits such restructuring to property insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) whose rents are higher than comparable market rents for the area. Authorizes HUD to use arrangements, by delegation, contract, or otherwise, with one or more State housing finance agencies, selected competitively and qualified to act as liability managers, under which such liability managers shall: (1) assume and manage the HUD's insurance risk; (2) discharge specified public purpose objectives; and (3) restructure and recapitalize certain housing projects. Requires protection of tenants against displacement, as well as the provision of tenant-based assistance by HUD or the liability manager. (Sec. 205) Authorizes HUD to renew any expiring section 8 contracts at rent levels no higher than market levels. Title III: Independent Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1997 to the: (1) American Battle Monuments Commission; (2) Department of the Treasury for community development financial institutions; (3) Consumer Product Safety Commission; (4) Corporation for National and Community Service; (5) Court of Veterans Appeals; (6) Department of Defense-Civil for cemeterial expenses, Army; (7) Environmental Protection Agency; (8) Executive Office of the President for the Office of Science and Technology Policy; (9) Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality; (10) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); (11) General Services Administration for the Consumer Information Center; (12) National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (13) National Credit Union Administration for the obligations of the Central Liquidity Facility; (14) National Science Foundation; (15) Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation; and (16) Selective Service System. Title IV: General Provisions - Specifies certain uses, limitations, and prohibitions on uses of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 415) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and products purchased with funds made available under this Act should be American made. (Sec. 417) Requires FY 1997 pay raises to be absorbed within the levels appropriated in this Act. (Sec. 419) Requires that certain FY 1997 Department of Health and Human Services appropriations be made available to carry out the orderly termination of the Office of Consumer Affairs. (Sec. 420) Authorizes certain corporations and agencies of HUD to make commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as necessary to carry out provisions under the Government Corporation Control Act. Allows any collections by such corporations and agencies to be used for new loan or mortgage purchase commitments to the extent provided under this Act, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 421) Prohibits the use of funds to pay the salaries of personnel who approve a contract for the purchase, lease, or acquisition in any manner of supercomputing equipment or services after a preliminary or final determination by the Department of Commerce that an organization providing such equipment or services has offered them at other than fair value.

To require the Secretary of Defense to provide back pay to the Vietnamese commandos who were employed by the United States during the Vietnam conflict to conduct covert operations in North Vietnam so as to compensate the commandos for the years in which they were imprisoned and persecuted in Vietnam.

United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1996

Directs the Secretary of Defense to pay specified back pay to each Vietnamese commando living in the United States who submits a timely claim. Defines a Vietnamese commando as a Vietnamese national employed by the United States during the Vietnam conflict to conduct covert operations to infiltrate North Vietnam who was captured and imprisoned during the course of such operations. Directs the Secretary to endeavor to notify each eligible commando of the right to such back pay. States that such payment shall be in full satisfaction of any claim against the United States arising out of such service.

A concurrent resolution to recognize and honor the Filipino World War II veterans for their defense of democratic ideals and their important contribution to the outcome of World War II.

United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1996

Calls on the President to issue a proclamation which recognizes and honors the Filipino World War II veterans for their defense of democratic ideals and their important contribution to the outcome of World War II.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend through December 31, 1998, the period during which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to provide priority health care to certain veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or who served in the Persian Gulf War and to make such authority permanent in the case of certain veterans exposed to ionizing radiation, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1996

Makes herbicide-exposed veterans eligible for hospital and nursing home care for any disease among those for which the National Academy of Sciences has determined: (1) there is sufficient evidence to conclude a positive association between occurrence of the disease and exposure to a herbicide agent; (2) there is evidence which suggests such an association, though such evidence is limited in nature; or (3) available studies are insufficient to permit a conclusion about the presence or absence of such an association. Makes such veterans eligible for such care for a disease for which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines there is credible evidence suggestive of such an association. Makes radiation-exposed veterans eligible for such care for any disease currently listed among covered diseases or any other disease for which the Secretary determines there is credible evidence of a positive association between occurrence of the disease and exposure to such radiation. Extends through 1998 the authority to provide such care. Extends: (1) through 1998 the authority to provide outpatient care to herbicide-exposed veterans; and (2) permanently the authority to provide such care to radiation-exposed veterans. Authorizes the Secretary to establish in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs a Committee on Care of Severely Chronically Mentally Ill Veterans which shall continually assess the capability of VHA to meet the treatment and rehabilitation needs of mentally ill veterans whose mental illnesses are severe and chronic and who are eligible for health care furnished by the Department. Requires various reports with respect to such Committee and its assessments. Directs the Secretary to establish and operate centers for mental illness research, education and clinical activities to represent various U.S. geographic regions. Allows the designation of no more than five centers. Outlines requirements for proposals submitted for designation as a center. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 through 2001 for basic support of center activities. Directs the Under Secretary of Health for VHA to allocate other Department funds for such centers. Requires annual reports. Requires at least one center to be designated by January 1, 1998. Authorizes the use of disbursement agreements for the administration of pay, benefits, and records of medical residents and interns serving in Department facilities furnishing hospital care or medical services (currently, only Department hospitals). Authorizes the Secretary to suspend special pay agreements in the case of Department physicians and dentists who enter residency training programs, such suspension to last for the duration of the program.

Bipartisan Welfare Reform Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Title II: Supplemental Security Income Subtitle A: Eligibility Restrictions Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children Subtitle C: State Supplementation Programs Subtitle D: Studies Regarding Supplemental Security Income Program Subtitle E: National Commission on the Future of Disability Title III: Child Support Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders Subtitle H: Medical Support Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Non-Residential Parents Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment Title IV: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits Subtitle B: Eligibility for State and Local Public Benefits Programs Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support Subtitle D: General Provisions Subtitle E: Conforming Amendments Title V: Reductions in Federal Government Positions Title VI: Reform of Public Housing Title VII: Child Care Title VIII: Child Nutrition Programs Subtitle A: National School Lunch Act Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Act of 1966 Title IX: Food Stamp and Related Programs Title X: Miscellaneous Subtitle A: General Provisions Bipartisan Welfare Reform Act of 1996 - Title I: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - Expresses the sense of the Congress that prevention of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and reduction in out-of-wedlock births are very important Government interests. (Sec. 103) Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program and Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program (JOBS) under, respectively, 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 already with or expecting children (TEA program). Gives such program the stated purpose of increasing the flexibility of States in operating approved statewide programs, with: (1) certain mandatory work and education requirements (as well as penalties against adult family members on TEA who refuse to engage in various specified work activities); and (2) adult- supervised living arrangements for unmarried teenage parents to enable such families to leave the program and become self-sufficient. Includes participation in community service programs and subsidized public sector employment as TEA program work activities. Requires TEA programs to provide certain time-limited cash assistance (and thereafter vouchers) to eligible families entering into an individual responsibility plan with the State (with certain exceptions involving minor children and hardship situations), outlining their obligations in receiving TEA assistance (such as immunizing their children or finishing high school), as well as the specific services the State will provide (such as job preparation and family planning services and, at the State's option, substance abuse treatment services) to enable them to move into private sector employment. Requires State TEA programs also to: (1) establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies, with special emphasis on teenage pregnancies, over a specified ten-year period; and (2) encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. Denies TEA for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators and minor children absent from the home for a significant period. Suspends it for ten years for persons who have fraudulently misrepresented residence to obtain assistance in two or more States. Denies additional cash assistance, as a general rule, for additional children born to families already on TEA (except in cases of rape and incest), unless State law specifically exempts the State TEA program from such denial. Reduces or denies TEA for noncooperation in child support. Outlines State TEA plan contents. Provides for the State's choice of treatment of aliens and families moving interstate, and for the exchange of certain plan information about TEA applicants or recipients with law enforcement officers under prescribed conditions. Sets forth requirements for State plan approval by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), which include certifications that the State will operate a child protection and child support enforcement program under SSA title IV parts B and D (Child-Welfare Services Program and Child Support and Establishment of Paternity Program), respectively. Details TEA program grant administrative provisions: (1) determining the amounts of State grants for family assistance for FY 1996 through 2001; (2) outlining grant uses, including assistance to families in meeting home heating and cooling costs, and a State program under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990; (3) rewarding States with additional grant amounts for reductions in illegitimate births, as well as for population increases and TEA program work activities; and (4) establishing in the Treasury (and providing deposits for) a Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs for payments to certain eligible participating States. Makes necessary appropriations. Sets up a Federal loan program for certain State TEA programs for anti-fraud and other specified activities. Makes necessary appropriations. Establishes penalties for States and individual families for specified grant and program violations, respectively, through reduced grants and assistance payments. Allows States to terminate assistance payments, but prohibits assistance reduction or termination based on a refusal of an adult to work if the adult is a single custodial parent caring for a child under age six and unable to obtain needed child care for one or more specified reasons. Provides for State appeal of Federal adverse decisions with respect to State plans or imposition of penalties. Outlines specific program data collection and reporting requirements, as well as certain research, evaluation, and study requirements. Makes necessary appropriations. Provides for TEA grants to Indian tribes (with a special rule for Alaskan Native tribes). Makes necessary appropriations. Directs the Bureau of the Census to expand the Survey of Income and Program Participation to obtain information enabling interested persons to evaluate the impact of this title on a random national sample of State TEA recipients and other appropriate low-income families. Makes necessary appropriations. Provides for the treatment of current and previously granted State AFDC (welfare reform) waiver projects. Retains the HHS Assistant Secretary for Family Support as the official responsible for administering SSA title IV part A and D programs. Expresses the sense of the Congress encouraging each State operating a TEA program to: (1) assign the highest priority to requiring adults in two-parent families and in single-parent families with older preschool or school-age children to engage in work activities; and (2) require non-custodial, nonsupporting parents under age 18 to fulfill community work obligations and attend appropriate parenting or money management classes after school. (Sec. 104) Allows States to contract with charitable, religious, or private organizations to provide services and administer programs established or modified by this Act, or to provide program beneficiaries with certificates, vouchers, or other forms of disbursement redeemable with such organizations. Prohibits the expenditure of financial assistance under such programs for sectarian worship, instruction, or proselytization. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to expand the data collection efforts of the Bureau of the Census to enable it to collect certain data on grandparent caregivers. (Sec. 106) Directs the HHS Secretary to report to the Congress on the status of State automated data processing systems used in administering State programs under SSA title IV part A. (Sec. 107) Requires the HHS Secretary to report to the Congress on outcomes measures for evaluating the success of the States in moving individuals out of the welfare system through employment as an alternative to the minimum participation rates under mandatory TEA work requirements. (Sec. 108) Makes conforming amendments to SSA, the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and related provisions of other specified Federal laws. (Sec. 111) Directs the Commissioner of Social Security (Commissioner) to develop a prototype of a counterfeit-resistant social security card and study and report to the Congress on different methods of improving the social security card application process. (Sec. 112) Requires any organization accepting Federal funds under this Act to disclose that fact in any communication it makes that intends to promote public support or opposition to any Federal, State, or local government policy through any broadcasting station, periodical, or other specified type of general public advertising. Makes any organization failing to make such a disclosure ineligible to receive Federal funds under this Act. (Sec. 113) Amends the Family Support Act of 1988 to remove the "demonstration" status of the Job Opportunities for Certain Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) program and give it an increased annual authorization for any fiscal year. 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 for whom addiction or alcoholism would be a contributing factor material to the disability determination; (2) revise representative payee and treatment requirements; (3) 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; (4) deny SSI benefits for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators; and (5) outline the process for periodic review with respect to the continuing eligibility of an individual 18 years of age or older to receive certain SSI disability benefits. Provides certain supplemental funding for alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs. Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children - Revises the rules with respect to childhood eligibility, with corresponding changes to childhood SSI regulations modifying the medical criteria for evaluation of mental and emotional disorders, and discontinuing the use of individualized functional assessments for children. Requires the Commissioner to redetermine the eligibility of any individual under age 18 receiving SSI benefits based on a disability as of the enactment of this Act, and whose eligibility for such benefits may terminate by reason of this Act. (Sec. 212) Provides that at least once every three years the Commissioner shall review the continued SSI eligibility of each individual who has not attained age 18 and is eligible for such benefits by reason of an impairment (or combination of impairments) which may improve (or, which is unlikely to improve, at the option of the Commissioner). Requires a parent or guardian of a recipient whose case is so reviewed to present evidence that the recipient is and has been receiving treatment of the condition which was the basis for the SSI benefits. Provides that if an individual is eligible for SSI disability benefits for the month preceding the month in which the individual attains age 18, the Commissioner shall redetermine such eligibility: (1) during the one year period beginning on the individual's 18th birthday; and (2) by applying the criteria used in determining the initial eligibility for applicants who have attained age 18. Outlines specific requirements governing: (1) continuing disability reviews for low birth weight babies; and (2) benefit payments through representative payees to eligible individuals and their spouses. (Sec. 214) Provides for a reduction in cash SSI benefits payable to institutionalized individuals whose medical costs are covered by private insurance. (Sec. 215) Reduces by specified basic needs and earned income disregard allocations the amount of parental income attributed to disabled children. Subtitle C: State Supplementation Programs - Repeals maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SSI benefits. Subtitle D: Studies Regarding Supplemental Security Income Program - Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to report annually to the President and the Congress regarding the SSI program and 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 similar reports. (Sec. 233) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report on the: (1) impact of this title on the SSI program; and (2) extra expenses incurred by families of children receiving SSI benefits that are not covered by other Federal, State, or local programs. Subtitle E: National Commission on the Future of Disability - Establishes the National Commission on the Future of Disability to develop and report to the President and the Congress: (1) 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 (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) and XVI; and (2) recommendations for appropriate action. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Child Support - Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to require State plans for child and spousal support to provide: (1) certain services relating to paternity establishment or enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) continuation of services for families ceasing to receive assistance under Aid to Families with Dependent Children. (Sec. 302) Revises payment distribution guidelines for support obligations collected by the State on behalf of a family. (Sec. 303) Requires State plans to establish procedural guidelines for: (1) privacy safeguards regarding paternity and child support actions; and (2) notification of State plan services applicants or recipients about all proceedings and orders affecting child support obligations. Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking - Mandates that single statewide automated data systems include a State case registry containing records of: (1) each case in which services are provided by the State agency; and (2) each support order established on or after a specified date. Permits the linking of local registries. (Sec. 312) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. Permits the unit to be established by linking local disbursement units through an automated information network if the Secretary agrees that it will not cost more or take more time to establish or operate than a centralized system. (Sec. 313) Requires State plans to: (1) provide for a State-operated and automated State Directory of New Hires containing prescribed information furnished by employers on new personnel; and (2) transmit such information to the National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 314) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures: (1) for mandatory income withholding for support payments subject to enforcement; and (2) under which wages of a person with a support obligation imposed by a child support order issued before October 1, 1996, shall become subject to withholding if arrearages occur, without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. Revises the procedural guidelines for income withholding for child support enforcement. (Sec. 315) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures to ensure that Federal and State agencies conducting income-withholding activities have access to State locator systems for motor vehicle or law enforcement purposes. (Sec. 316) Revises the Federal Parent Locator Service to provide for additional information which may be transmitted to locate individuals and assets for purposes of: (1) establishing parentage; (2) establishing, setting the amount of, modifying, or enforcing child support obligations; and (3) enforcing child custody or visitation orders. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish in the Federal Parent Locator Service an automated Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders and an automated National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 317) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring recordation on such documents of the Social Security number of: (1) specified driver's, marriage, and occupational, and professional license applicants; (2) individuals subject to certain domestic relations orders; and (3) deceased individuals (on death records). Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures - Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1998. Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the procedures for the court to apply when determining which State order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement for child support orders. (Sec. 323) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring: (1) expedited administrative enforcement in interstate cases and support orders; and (2) expedited administrative and judicial procedures for establishing paternity and enforcing support obligations. Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment - Revises the guidelines for State laws governing paternity establishment. Requires State procedures under which the name of the father shall be included on the birth certificate only: (1) if the mother and father have signed a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity; or (2) pursuant to a judicial or administrative order. (Sec. 333) Requires State plans for child and spousal support to provide that the State agency administering the plan will make a determination as to whether a program recipient is cooperating in good faith with State efforts to establish paternity and secure support. Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding - Directs the Secretary to develop a new incentive system to replace the current one. Revises the guidelines for Federal performance-based incentive payments to the States for effective child support enforcement programs. (Sec. 342) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include prescribed procedures for State reviews and audits. Revises the guidelines for Federal evaluation and audit of State programs governing paternity, child and spousal support, and parent location. (Sec. 344) Revises the automated data processing requirements for State plans to mandate a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system which can perform specified tasks. (Sec. 345) Makes funds available to the Secretary for: (1) training of Federal and State staff, research and demonstration programs, and special projects of regional and national significance; and (2) operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service. Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders - Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. (Sec. 352) Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to authorize a consumer agency to furnish a consumer report: (1) in response to a request by a governmental child support enforcement agency; or (2) to the State administrative agency which sets child support awards. (Sec. 353) Shields a depository institution from Federal or State liability for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency. Prohibits such agency from disclosing such a financial record except for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary in, establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation. Sets forth civil penalties for any person knowingly or negligently violating such prohibition. Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders - Amends Internal Revenue Code procedural guidelines for the collection of arrearages to provide that no additional fee may be assessed for adjustments to a previously certified amount. (Sec. 362) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to revise procedural guidelines for: (1) consent by the United States to income withholding, garnishment, and similar proceedings for enforcement of child support and alimony obligations of current and retired Federal employees; and (2) enforcement of child support obligations of members of the Armed Forces. (Sec. 364) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to have in effect the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act of 1981, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act of 1984, or a similar law, as well as certain procedures governing the voiding of fraudulent transfers by a child support debtor. (Sec. 365) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include specified procedures: (1) to ensure that persons owing past-due support work or participate in work activities the court deems appropriate; (2) to report to credit bureaus the name of the parent in arrears for child support; (3) to provide for liens against real and personal property for the support arrearages of an absent parent; and (4) to implement the restriction of driver's, professional, occupational, and recreational licenses of individuals owing support arrearages. (Sec. 370) Instructs the Secretary of State to deny a passport to any individual certified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to be in arrears of more than $5,000 for child support payments. Authorizes revocation, restriction or limitation of a previously issued passport in connection with such individuals. (Sec. 371) Authorizes the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the HHS Secretary, to declare any foreign country a reciprocating country if it has established, or undertakes to establish, procedures for the establishment and enforcement of child support obligations whose obligees are U.S. citizens. Provides for revocation of such declaration in certain circumstances. Designates the HHS Secretary as the central authority for such enforcement. (Sec. 372) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which a State agency shall enter agreements with financial institutions doing business within the State to develop and operate a data match system to provide identifying information for each noncustodial parent targeted by the State who maintains an account at the institution, and to encumber or surrender such parent's assets at the institution pursuant to a lien or levy. (Sec. 373) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which child support orders relating to the child of minor parents, where the custodial parents are receiving assistance, are enforceable against the child's paternal or maternal grandparents. (Sec. 374) Amends Federal bankruptcy law to make nondischargeable in bankruptcy any debts owed to a State or municipality for child support. Subtitle H: Medical Support - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to include within the definition of medical child support order an order issued through a State administrative process. (Sec. 377) Amends 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 Non- Residential Parents - Amends part D of SSA title IV to prescribe guidelines under which the Administration for Children and Families shall make grants to enable States to establish and administer access and visitation programs to facilitate noncustodial parents' access to their children. Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment - Sets forth effective dates for this title. Title IV: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens - Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits - Denies Federal public benefits (except certain emergency disaster relief, public health, housing, and child nutrition benefits) to non-qualified aliens. (Sec. 402) Denies SSI and food stamp eligibility to all but certain qualified aliens, who may receive only limited benefits. (Sec. 403) Makes qualified aliens ineligible (with limited exceptions) for Federal means-tested public benefits for the first five years after U.S. entry. Amends SSA and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide for reporting of certain illegal alien information to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Subtitle B: Eligibility for State and Local Public Benefits Programs - Makes an alien who is not a qualified alien, a nonimmigrant, or a parolee for less than one year ineligible for State or local benefits (except certain emergency disaster relief, public health, housing, and child nutrition benefits). (Sec. 412) Authorizes States, with certain exceptions, to determine eligibility for State means-tested public benefits for qualified aliens, nonimmigrants, or certain parolees. Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support - Deems the income and resources of any alien over age 18 (who is not pregnant) applying for Medicaid and SSA title XXI benefits to include: (1) the income and resources of any person who executed an affidavit of support on the alien's behalf; and (2) the income and resources of the person's spouse (if any). (Sec. 422) Authorizes States to make similar attributions with respect to State programs (except certain emergency disaster relief, public health, housing, and child nutrition benefits). Subtitle D: General Provisions - Sets forth definitions and requires appropriate regulations by the Attorney General for State use. Subtitle E: Conforming Amendments - Makes conforming amendments to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 and the Housing Act of 1949. Title V: Reductions in Federal Government Positions - Outlines the mechanism for various specified Federal executive agency workforce reductions, requiring submission to specified congressional committees of determinations about the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions of their respective departments by the Secretaries of Agriculture, of Education, of Labor, of Housing and Urban Development, and of HHS. Requires the Secretaries to make FTE reductions, including reductions-in-force, over the ensuing 14 months. Requires the Comptroller General to analyze and report to such committees on such determinations, with recommendations for further FTE reductions, if appropriate. (Sec. 502) Requires the HHS Secretary to reduce the Federal workforce within HHS: (1) by 75 percent of the FTE positions relating to any direct or indirect discretionary spending program converted into a block grant program by this Act (including 245 FTE positions related to the program converted into TEA block grants); and (2) by 75 percent of a proportionate number of the total FTE departmental management positions (including 60 FTE managerial positions related to the program converted into TEA block grants). (Sec. 503) Encourages the HHS Secretary to reduce personnel in the Washington, D.C., area office (agency headquarters) before reducing field personnel. Title VI: Reform of Public Housing - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to prohibit increased housing assistance (except instances of limited-time frame benefits) to a family whose benefits under other public assistance programs have been reduced because of noncompliance. (Sec. 602) States that a person whose benefits under a means-tested welfare or public assistance program have been reduced because of fraud shall not, during such reduction period, receive an income-based increase in any other means-tested assistance program. Title VII: Child Care - Child Care and Development Block Grant Amendments of 1995 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations for FY 1996 through 2002. (Sec. 703) Amends part A (TEA) of title IV of the Social Security Act to establish a general child care assistance entitlement program funded by Federal grants to the States. Authorizes appropriations. Prescribes program parameters. (Sec. 708) Repeals the program requirement for early childhood development and before- and after-school services. Revises enforcement guidelines to require a State to reimburse the Secretary for funds improperly expended on prohibited or non-authorized purposes. (Sec. 712) Revises the Secretary's congressional reporting requirements to mandate biannual reports to the House Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities. (Sec. 713) Authorizes an Indian tribe or tribal organization to use Federal funds for the construction or renovation of child care facilities. (Sec. 715) Repeals the Child Development Associate Scholarship Assistance Act of 1985 and the State Dependent Care Development Grants Act. Repeals funding authority for certain programs of national significance, involving: (1) child care for children of at-risk students; (2) alternative programs for bilingual and special education students; and (3) rural child care centers for student parents and their children. Repeals funding authority for Native Hawaiian Family-based Education Centers. Title VIII: Child Nutrition Programs - Subtitle A: National School Lunch Act - Amends the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to repeal specified authorities and requirements for the school lunch and related programs, including: (1) State educational authority to use resources from the nutrition and education (NET) program; (2) prohibition of State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; (3) certain demonstration grants to private nonprofit organizations or educational institutions for elementary school curriculum food and nutrition projects; (4) aspects of summer food service programs, reducing payment rates and daily meals at camps, reducing the National Youth Sports Program, and revising nutritional standards compliance requirements; (5) certain commodity distribution program requirements, including State Advisory Councils; (6) expansion of the child care food program; (7) adult care food aid to adult day care centers and services for persons over 60; (8) certain pilot projects, including one for paperwork reduction; and (9) an information clearinghouse. (Sec. 807) Prohibits, in general, any waiver that will increase Federal costs. (Sec. 810) Provides for grants for State assistance to family or group day care homes. Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services to study and report to specified congressional committees on the impact of this title on adult food care program participation and family day care licensing. Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Act of 1966 - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to revise the school breakfast program: (1) eliminating Federal assistance for food preparation training and program expansion and start-up costs; (2) repealing certain authorities and requirements relating to State administrative expenses; (3) repealing the prohibition against State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; (4) repealing the program of cash grants for nutrition education. (Sec. 830) Revises the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC), among other things repealing specified requirements and changing from mandatory to optional: (1) drug abuse education; and (2) provision of WIC information in languages other than English. (Sec. 832) Makes the Nutrition and Education program discretionary rather than mandatory. Authorizes appropriations. Title IX: Food Stamp Program and Related Programs - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to: (1) increase the standard deduction from income resources for eligibility purposes; (2) treat electronic benefit transfer cards and personal identification (PIN) numbers as coupons; (3) count vendor payments for transitional housing as income; (4) increase penalties for specified program violations; (5) revise disqualification penalties and periods, and their applications to entire households, for persons refusing to comply with work requirements; (6) revise general exemptions from employment and training requirements and funding for related programs; and (7) mandate disqualification of individuals for multiple receipt of food stamp benefits, of fleeing felons, and of individuals delinquent in child support payments. (Sec. 915) Authorizes State food stamp disqualification of a household member also disqualified from another means-tested public assistance program for failure to perform an action required for such program under Federal, State, or local law. (Sec. 918) Makes it an eligibility requirement for custodial parents to cooperate with child support agencies. (Sec. 920) Prescribes additional work requirements for able-bodied food stamp recipients. Requires State agencies to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 924) Provides for: (1) optional combined value allotments for expedited households; and (2) allotments to individuals residing in drug or alcohol abuse treatment centers. (Sec. 925) Authorizes reduction in State food stamp benefits of a household for whom benefits are also reduced in another means-tested public assistance program for a similar failure. (Sec. 927) Authorizes regulations to establish specific authorization periods, and specific periods for prohibiting participation of stores based on lack of business integrity. (Sec. 931) Revises requirements for State agency procedures for food stamp office operation. Augments the kinds of information (including retailer information) that may be exchanged among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. Authorizes the suspension of stores violating program requirements pending administrative and judicial review. (Sec. 939) Mandates regulations for: (1) food stamp program disqualification of retailers disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and (2) the permanent debarment of retailers who intentionally submit falsified applications. Subjects food stamp benefits to civil and criminal forfeiture for benefit violations. (Sec. 948) Authorizes States to operate simplified food stamp programs according to specified requirements. Repeals the authority to conduct specified pilot projects and the Food Bank Demonstration Project. (Sec. 949) Revises State plan requirements for the emergency food assistance program. Title X: Miscellaneous - Provides, among other things, for: (1) the expenditure of Federal funds received by a State under TEA and certain other Federal programs only in accordance with laws and procedures applicable to expenditure of the State's own revenues; (2) elimination of housing assistance with respect to fugitive felons and probation and parole violators; (3) certain options for State consideration of the resources of an ineligible household member when determining the food stamp eligibility and allotment of such individual's household; and (4) an increase in funding for abstinence education under SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services). (Sec. 1003) Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should adopt enterprise zone legislation in the 104th Congress providing for various specified incentives, regulatory reforms, and pilot projects. (Sec. 1004) Expresses the sense of the Senate that States: (1) should diligently continue their efforts to enforce child support payments by the non-custodial parent; and (2) should pursue pilot programs in which the parents of a non-adult, non-custodial parent who refuses to or is unable to pay child support must pay or contribute to the child support owed by the non-custodial parent or otherwise fulfill all financial obligations and meet all conditions imposed on the non-custodial parent, such as participation in a work program or other related activity. (Sec. 1006) Directs the HHS Secretary to: (1) implement a certain strategy for preventing out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancies and assuring that at least 25 percent of U.S. communities have teenage pregnancy prevention programs; and (2) report to the Congress on the State programs so implemented to determine their progress. (Sec. 1007) Expresses the sense of the Senate that States and local jurisdictions should aggressively enforce statutory rape laws. (Sec. 1008) Declares that States shall not be prohibited by the Federal Government from sanctioning welfare recipients who test positive for use of controlled substances. (Sec. 1010) Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to generally exempt from the required disclosures, protections, responsibilities, and authorized remedies of such Act, and any implementing regulation prescribed by the Federal Reserve Board, any electronic benefit transfer program established under State or local law or administered by a State or local government that distributes needs-tested benefits. (Sec. 1011) Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to reduce the authorization of appropriations for social services block grants. (Sec. 1012) Encourages the HHS Secretary to work in coordination with State agencies to ensure the efficient use of Federal transportation funds by recipients of public assistance under this Act.

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3610) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1996

Sets forth the rule for the consideration of H.R. 3610 (Department of Defense appropriations).

Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997

United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Military Personnel Title II: Operation and Maintenance Title III: Procurement Title IV: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Title V: Revolving and Management Funds Title VI: Other Department of Defense Programs Title VII: Related Agencies Title VIII: General Provisions Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1997 - Title I: Military Personnel - Appropriates funds for FY 1997 for active-duty and reserve personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force and for National Guard personnel in the Army and Air Force. Title II: Operation and Maintenance - Appropriates funds for FY 1997 for the operation and maintenance of the Army, Navy, and Air Force (including a transfer of funds in each case), the Marine Corps, the defense agencies, the reserve components, and the Army and Air National Guards. Appropriates funds for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, environmental restoration, defense (including a transfer of funds), overseas humanitarian, disaster, and civic aid programs, former Soviet Union threat reduction, and quality of life enhancements, defense (medical programs and the repair and maintenance of real property)(including a transfer of funds). Title III: Procurement - Appropriates funds for FY 1997 for procurement by the armed forces and reserve components of aircraft, missiles, weapons, tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, and shipbuilding and conversion and for other procurement. Appropriates funds for defense-wide procurement and for National Guard and reserve equipment. Title IV: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Appropriates funds for FY 1997 for research, development, test, and evaluation by the armed forces and defense agencies. Appropriates funds for the Directors of Test and Evaluation and Operational Test and Evaluation. Title V: Revolving and Management Funds - Appropriates funds for: (1) the Defense Business Operations Fund; and (2) programs under the National Defense Sealift Fund. Title VI: Other Department of Defense Programs - Appropriates funds for: (1) Department of Defense (DOD) medical and health care programs; (2) the destruction of lethal chemical agents and munitions; (3) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities, defense (including a transfer of funds); and (4) the Office of the Inspector General. Title VII: Related Agencies - Appropriates funds for: (1) the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System Fund; (2) the Intelligence Community Management Account; and (3) payment to the Kaho'olawe Island Conveyance, Remediation, and Environmental Restoration Fund. Title VII: General Provisions - Specifies authorized, restricted, and prohibited uses of appropriated funds. (Sec. 8009) Authorizes appropriated procurement funds to be used for multiyear procurement contracts for Javelin missiles, the Army Tactical Missile System, and specified machine guns, rifles, and automatic weapons. (Sec. 8011) Prohibits during FY 1997 the management by end strengths of DOD civilian personnel. (Sec. 8020) Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish with host governments of NATO-member countries an account for the deposit of residual value amounts negotiated in the return of U.S. military installations to such countries. (Sec. 8033) Authorizes DOD to incur obligations of up to $350 million for DOD personnel compensation, military construction projects, and supplies and services in anticipation of receipts of contributions from the Government of Kuwait. (Sec. 8036) Provides Buy American requirements with respect to the DOD procurement of carbon, alloy, or armor steel plating. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on the amount of DOD purchases from foreign entities in FY 1997. (Sec. 8041) Authorizes the payment of voluntary separation incentive payments to military personnel. (Sec. 8051) Prohibits the use of funds for the modification of an aircraft, weapon, ship, or other equipment that the military department concerned plans to retire or otherwise dispose of within five years after completion of the modification. (Sec. 8054) Earmarks appropriated defense procurement funds for for the procurement of computer hardware and ancillary equipment under the High Performance Computing Modernization Program. (Sec. 8057) Prohibits the use of funds: (1) by a DOD entity without compliance with the Buy American Act; (2) for the design, development, acquisition, or operation of more than 47 Titan IV expendable launch vehicles; (3) to establish additional field operating agencies of DOD elements during FY 1997, except for those funded within the National Foreign Intelligence Program; (4) for assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea unless specifically appropriated; and (5) to reduce the civilian medical and medical support personnel assigned to military treatment facilities below the September 30, 1996, level. (Sec. 8076) Reduces by $500 million the total amount appropriated under this Act to reflect savings from reduced carryover of activities funded through the Defense Business Operations Fund. (Sec. 8078) Directs the Secretary to report quarterly to specified congressional committees on all costs incurred by DOD during the preceding quarter in implementing or supporting United Nations (UN) resolutions. (Sec. 8079) Prohibits the use of FY 1996 funds to transfer to another nation or international organization any defense articles or services (other than intelligence services) for use in international peacekeeping or peace enforcement activities. Prohibits any contribution to the UN for the cost of a UN peacekeeping activity or for the payment of any U.S. arrearage. (Sec. 8082) Reduces Air Force Operation and Maintenance funds to reflect a reduction in the passthrough to the Air Force business areas of the Defense Business Operations Fund. (Sec. 8089) Reduces by $350 million the total amount appropriated under this Act to reflect savings from improved management of spare and repair parts inventories of DOD. (Sec. 8092) Directs the Secretary to: (1) carry out the deep-strike tradeoff study announced by the President to study tradeoffs between bombers, aircraft, and missiles capable of striking targets in an enemy's rear area; and (2) establish an ad hoc review committee to aid in such study. (Sec. 8093) Directs the Secretary and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to carry out a joint study assessing future tactical aircraft requirements across service jurisdictions.

Work First and Personal Responsibility Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Work-Based Assistance Subtitle A: Temporary Employment Assistance Subtitle B: Make Work Pay Subtitle C: Work First Subtitle D: Pregnancy and Family Stability Title II: Child Support Enforcement Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders Subtitle H: Medical Support Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Non-Residential Parents Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment Title III: Food Assistance Subtitle A: Food Stamps Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Title IV: Treatment of Aliens Title V: Supplemental Security Income Reforms Title VI: Social Services Block Grants Work First and Personal Responsibility Act of 1996 - Title I: Work-Based Assistance - Subtitle A: Temporary Employment Assistance - Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) programs under parts A and F, respectively, of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with the newly created Federal Temporary Employment Assistance (TEA) and Work First (WF) welfare programs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 101) Outlines TEA and WF program components, providing for Federal payments to States with approved TEA and WF plans for establishing flexible statewide work-based assistance programs in the State for the following purposes. Provides under TEA for furnishing certain time-limited, conditional benefits based on work to certain eligible families with needy children (or, at the State's option, any expectant family) entering into a personal responsibility agreement with the State setting forth their particular obligations (such as cooperating with the State in the establishment of the paternity of any child born out-of-wedlock for whom assistance is claimed) in order to receive assistance and services under the TEA plan for caring for their children and securing, preferably, a full-time unsubsidized paid job in the private sector, or public sector or volunteer work if necessary, through the WF program. Grants exemptions from such time-limited benefit provision in certain hardship situations. Provides for certain sanctions for refusing to look for work, accept a bona fide offer of employment, or otherwise comply with the personal responsibility agreement. Provides under WF, among other things, for connecting appropriate TEA recipients with the private sector labor market and providing them with the education, training, and other services necessary for them to obtain private sector employment. Gives States the option of: (1) denying TEA to families having additional children while on TEA; and (2) requiring family members to undergo appropriate substance abuse treatment in order to receive TEA. Denies TEA for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators and for ten years for persons found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain assistance in two or more States. Provides for the exchange of certain TEA program information with law enforcement agencies under specified conditions. Lists certain requirements for State TEA plans concerning other programs, including that the State plan require that the State have in effect: (1) a plan approved under SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) together with a child support program in substantial compliance with such plan; as well as (2) plans under SSA title IV parts B (Child-Welfare Services) and E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) operating in substantial compliance with the requirements of such parts. Requires State TEA plans to: (1) describe the State efforts to promote family preservation and stability; and (2) require the State to have in effect a plan under its Child Care Development Block Grant Act of 1990 program. Sets forth rules for the provision of services to Native Americans and refugees. Outlines program audit, quality assurance, data collection, and reporting requirements, as well as certain study requirements. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct research on alternative approaches to operating welfare programs and related issues, such as strategies for moving welfare recipients into the workforce quickly, reducing teen pregnancies and out-of-wedlock births, and providing adequate child care. Authorizes the Secretary to implement and evaluate a variety of innovative demonstrations related to child support and other children's issues with respect to TEA clients under State plans. 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. Provides funding for such study. Makes the HHS Assistant Secretary for Family Support the official responsible for administering these new programs. (Sec. 103) Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to provide for the collection of overpayments under the TEA program from Federal tax refunds. (Sec. 104) Amends SSA title XI to revise the limitations on Federal payments under SSA title IV part A and other specified SSA programs to the Virgin Islands and Guam, and provide for their annual adjustment for inflation according to the consumer price index. Subtitle B: Make Work Pay - Amends SSA titles XIX (Medicaid) and IV part A (TEA), as well as IRC and the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, to make various specified changes with regard to certain program aspects, providing, among other changes, for: (1) a permanent extension of authority for transitional Medicaid benefits for former TEA recipients; and (2) notice of availability of the earned income tax credit to applicants and former recipients of TEA and Medicaid. (Sec. 113) Amends IRC to require participating residents to receive advanced earned income payments from a responsible State agency pursuant to a State Advance Payment Program in lieu of receiving earned income advance amounts from an employer. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to designate up to four State Advance Payment Demonstrations. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Work First - Amends SSA title IV to replace the current JOBS program under part F with a new WF program under which each State that operates a TEA program shall establish a WF program for getting TEA recipients off cash assistance through the use of private placement companies, microenterprise initiatives, and other specified means including subsidized jobs. Allows participating States to establish one of two types of WF programs, with one type similar to the GAIN (welfare reform) Program operated by Riverside County, California, and the other type similar to the JOBS Plus (welfare reform) Program operated by the State of Oregon. Adds a new part G (Workfare Program) (WP) under SSA title IV under which States establishing a WF program shall establish either a workfare program (with separate community service and subsidized job components) or a job placement voucher program under SSA title IV new part H (Job Placement Voucher Program) (JPVP) in order for TEA recipients eventually to secure full-time unsubsidized employment in the private sector. Requires States to provide program participants with the necessary case management services to ensure integrated benefits and services provided under such programs. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) States should target individuals who have not attained 25 years of age for participation in WF programs; and (2) the Congress intends for State activities under the JOBS Plus Program to emphasize the use of the funds that would otherwise be used to provide individuals with TEA to subsidize their wages in temporary jobs. (Sec. 124) Provides for certain increases in WF, WP, and JPVP funding amounts under specified circumstances. Subtitle D: Pregnancy and Family Stability - Amends SSA title IV part A with respect to teenage pregnancy and promoting family stability to require generally certain adult supervised living arrangements for any individual under age 18 who has never married and who has a needy child in his or her care (or is pregnant and is eligible for TEA) in order for such individual to receive such assistance (where possible, from his or her parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative on such individual's behalf). Requires completion of high school or other educational training for certain teenage parents required to participate in WF. Gives States the option to provide additional specified incentives and penalties to encourage teen parents to complete high school and participate in parenting activities. (Sec. 132) Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to direct the HHS Secretary to establish a National Clearinghouse on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Programs for the collection and provision of programmatic information and technical assistance that relates to adolescent pregnancy prevention programs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 134) Allows States to use available Federal funds for the establishment, operation, and support of second chance group homes for custodial parents under age 18 (or age 19, at the option of the State) and their children. Requires that the HHS Secretary, after appropriate consultations, submit recommendations to the Congress with regard to which Federal surplus properties may be used for the establishment of such second chance homes. Title II: Child Support Enforcement - 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 TEA. (Sec. 202) Revises payment distribution guidelines for families receiving TEA and other assistance through State agencies. (Sec. 203) Requires State plans to establish procedural guidelines for: (1) privacy safeguards regarding paternity and child support actions; and (2) notification to applicants or recipients of all proceedings and orders affecting child support obligations. Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking - Mandates that single statewide automated data systems include a State case registry containing records of: (1) each case in which services are provided by the State agency; and (2) each support order established on or after a specified date. Permits the linking of local registries. (Sec. 212) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. Permits the unit to be established by linking local disbursement units through an automated information network if the Secretary agrees that it will not cost more or take more time to establish or operate than a centralized system. (Sec. 213) Requires State plans to: (1) provide for a State-operated and automated State Directory of New Hires containing prescribed information furnished by employers on new personnel; and (2) transmit such information to the National Directory of New Hires established under this title. (Sec. 214) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures: (1) for mandatory income withholding for support payments subject to enforcement; and (2) under which wages of a person with a support obligation imposed by a child support order issued before October 1, 1996, shall become subject to withholding if arrearages occur, without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. Revises the procedural guidelines for income withholding for child support enforcement. (Sec. 215) 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. 216) Revises the Federal Parent Locator Service to provide for additional information which may be transmitted to locate individuals and assets for purposes of: (1) establishing parentage; (2) establishing, setting the amount of, modifying, or enforcing child support obligations; and (3) enforcing child custody or visitation orders. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish in the Federal Parent Locator Service an automated Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders and an automated National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 217) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring recordation on such documents of the Social Security number of: (1) specified driver's, marriage, and occupational, and professional license applicants; (2) individuals subject to certain domestic relations orders; and (3) deceased persons (on death records). Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures - Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1998. Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the procedures for the court to apply when determining which State order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement for child support orders. (Sec. 223) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring: (1) expedited administrative enforcement in interstate cases and support orders; and (2) expedited administrative and judicial procedures for establishing paternity and enforcing support obligations. Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment - Revises the guidelines for State laws governing paternity establishment. Requires State procedures under which the name of the father shall be included on the birth certificate only: (1) if the mother and father have signed a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity; or (2) pursuant to a judicial or administrative order. (Sec. 233) Requires State plans for child and spousal support to provide that the State agency administering the plan will make a determination as to whether a program recipient is cooperating in good faith with State efforts to establish paternity and secure support. Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding - Directs the Secretary to develop a new incentive system to replace the current one. Revises the guidelines for Federal performance-based incentive payments to the States for effective child support enforcement programs. (Sec. 242) 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. 244) 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. 245) Makes funds available to the Secretary for: (1) training of Federal and State staff, research and demonstration programs, and special projects of regional and national significance; and (2) operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service. Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders - Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. (Sec. 252) 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. 253) Shields a depository institution from Federal or State liability for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency. Prohibits such agency from disclosing such a financial record except for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary in, establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation. Sets forth civil penalties for any person knowingly or negligently violating such prohibition. Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders - Amends Internal Revenue Code procedural guidelines for the collection of arrearages to provide that no additional fee may be assessed for adjustments to a previously certified amount. (Sec. 262) 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. 264) 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. 265) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include specified procedures: (1) to ensure that persons owing past-due support work or participate in work activities the court deems appropriate; (2) to report to credit bureaus the name of the parent in arrears for child support; (3) to provide for liens against real and personal property for the support arrearages of a non-custodial parent; and (4) to implement the restriction of driver's, professional, occupational, and recreational licenses of individuals owing support arrearages. (Sec. 270) Requires the Secretary of State to deny, revoke, or limit a passport upon certification of nonpayment of child support. (Sec. 271) Authorizes the Secretary of State to negotiate reciprocal agreements with foreign nations: (1) regarding international enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) designating the Department of Health and Human Services as the central authority for such enforcement. (Sec. 272) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which a State agency shall enter agreements with financial institutions doing business within the State to develop and operate a data match system to provide identifying information for each absent parent targeted by the State who maintains an account at the institution, and to encumber or surrender such parent's assets at the institution pursuant to a lien or levy. (Sec. 273) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which child support orders relating to the child of minor parents, where the custodial parents are receiving assistance, are enforceable against the child's paternal or maternal grandparents. (Sec. 274) Amends Federal bankruptcy law and the Social Security Act to declare a debt for child support nondischargeable in bankruptcy. 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. 277) 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 Non-Residential 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 and conforming amendments. Title III: Food Assistance - Subtitle A: Food Stamps - Food Stamp Act Amendments of 1996 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to repeal the current exclusion and include in an eligible household children under age 22 who are themselves parents living with their children or married and living with their spouses. (Sec. 312) Revises the formula for annual adjustment of the cost of the diet in the thrifty food plan. (Sec. 313) Lowers from 21 to 18 the age of a child whose income is excluded from calculation of household income. (Sec. 314) Replaces the current exclusion from household income of governmental energy assistance payments (thus including them in such income) with exclusion of a one-time payment or allowance for weatherization or emergency repair or replacement of an unsafe or inoperative furnace or other heating or cooling device. (Sec. 315) Revises the standard deduction from household income, applying it to all households, but in different specified amounts for the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Sec. 316) Allows a State agency to make a standard utility allowance mandatory for all households with qualifying utility costs if it develops certain cost standards which will not result in increased program costs. (Sec. 317) Revises the indexation of the vehicle asset limitation. (Sec. 318) Terminates the exclusion from household income (thus including) third-party vendor payments for transitional housing. (Sec. 319) Revises eligibility disqualification penalties for noncompliance with work requirements. (Sec. 320) Authorizes States to require cooperation with child support enforcement agencies as a criterion for food stamp eligibility. (Sec. 321) Mandates a ten-year ineligibility for any individual found to have made a fraudulent statement or representation as to identity or place of residence in order to receive multiple food stamp benefits simultaneously. (Sec. 322) Specifies additional work requirements for able-bodied food stamp recipients. (Sec. 323) Authorizes State food stamp disqualification of a household member also disqualified from another means-tested public assistance program for failure to perform an action required for such program under Federal, State, or local law. (Sec. 324) Repeals annual minimum benefit adjustments and, with respect to the prorating of benefits for the first month after a period of nonparticipation following the end of a previous certification, the limitation to such periods of more than one month. (Sec. 326) Prohibits an increased food stamp allotment for any period for which a household's benefits are reduced under a Federal, State, or local law relating to a welfare or public assistance program because of a penalty or for failure to perform an action required under the law or program. (Sec. 327) Declares that State agencies, in determining household eligibility, shall not be required to use certain income and eligibility or immigration status verification systems established under the Social Security Act. (Sec. 328) Revises requirements for the collection of overissuances of food stamp coupons. (Sec. 329) Authorizes a State to elect to carry out (statewide or in a political subdivision) a Simplified Food Stamp Program, meeting specified requirements, for families receiving assistance under a State TEA program. (Sec. 330) Reauthorizes appropriations for the food stamp program through FY 2002. (Sec. 341) Treats electronic benefit transfer cards and personal identification (PIN) numbers as coupons. (Sec. 344) Increases penalties for specified program violations. (Sec. 345) Allows State agencies the option, with respect to the caretaker exemption from work requirements, to lower the age of the dependent involved from six years to one year if adequate child care is not available. (Sec. 346) Revises requirements for employment and training programs. (Sec. 347) Disqualifies fleeing felons and probation or parole violators from food stamp program participation. (Sec. 348) Requires State agencies to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 349) Requires State agencies to make certain information available, upon request, to Federal, State, or local law enforcement officers with respect to fleeing felons or probation or parole violators. (Sec. 350) Increases from five days to seven the deadline for delivery of coupons after the date of household application. Repeals five-day delivery mandates with respect to homeless households and specified others. (Sec. 361) Sets a 12-month maximum certification period, unless all adult household members are elderly or disabled, in which case it shall be 24 months. Requires State agency contact with each certified household at least once every 12 months. (Sec. 362) Allows a State agency to combine allotments for expedited service households. (Sec. 363) Revises: (1) the provision of allotments for households residing in drug or alcoholic treatment centers; and (2) requirements for the operation of food stamp offices. (Sec. 365) Repeals the requirement for State employee training. (Sec. 366) Permits household oral withdrawals of fair hearing requests. (Sec. 371) Revises requirements for approval of retail food stores and wholesale food concerns to: (1) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish specific authorization periods for coupon or electronic benefit redemption; and (2) permit regulations to require such stores and concerns to authorize the Secretary to verify all relevant tax filings and obtain corroborating documentation from other sources. (Sec. 373) Establishes a minimum six-month waiting period before disqualified stores and food concerns may reapply for program participation. (Sec. 374) Requires HHS regulations providing for disqualification of retailers who: (1) intentionally submit falsified applications; or (2) are disqualified under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC). (Sec. 376) Makes the permanent disqualification of a store or concern effective as of receipt of the notice of disqualification. Shields the Secretary from liability for the value of any sales lost during the disqualification period should the disqualification be reversed through administrative or judicial review. (Sec. 377) Provides for civil and criminal forfeitures for violations of the Food Stamp Act of 1977. (Sec. 378) Amends the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the sharing of information provided by stores and concerns with State law enforcement and investigative officers and employees as well as with State WIC agencies. Subtitle B: Child Nutrition - Amends the National School Lunch Act to set forth separate formulae for the reimbursement rates for two specified tiers of family or group day care homes. Provides for grants to States for such homes and State and Federal data sharing with their sponsoring organizations. (Sec. 392) Revises requirements for annual adjustment of reimbursement rates. (Sec. 393) Repeals the mandate and authority for grants for start-up and expansions costs. (Sec. 394) Authorizes appropriations under the National School Lunch Act for FY 1997 through 2002. (Sec. 395) Reduces from 12 percent to eight percent the minimum amount of food assistance that shall be in the form of commodity assistance, including cash in lieu of commodities and procurement administrative costs. Title IV: Treatment of Aliens - Amends the Social Security Act, as amended by this Act, to restrict TEA, supplemental security income (SSI), and Medicaid eligibility to U.S. citizens or nationals and legal immigrants (qualified aliens). (Sec. 402) Deems the income of a sponsor to be available to a qualified alien, with specified exceptions, until naturalization. (Sec. 403) Continues the liability of a qualified alien and sponsor for overissuances of TEA, SSI, and food stamp assistance beyond naturalization. (Sec. 404) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to grant the Attorney General discretionary authority to admit an excludable alien who has received a guarantee of financial responsibility (affidavit of support) from a sponsor according to specified requirements. Title V: Supplemental Security Income Reforms - Revises the disabled child eligibility rules under the SSA title XVI Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to require marked and severe functional limitations in an eligible individual. (Sec. 501) Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to discontinue the use of individualized functional assessments for children. Requires the Commissioner to redetermine the eligibility of any individual under age 18 who is eligible for 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 title. (Sec. 502) Requires the Commissioner to review, at least once every three years, 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 Commissioner's option). Requires a parent or guardian of a recipient whose case is so reviewed to present evidence demonstrating that the recipient has been receiving treatment, to the extent considered medically necessary and available, of the condition which was the basis for providing SSI benefits. 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 dedicated savings accounts for specified purposes with respect to a child or an individual for whom such an account was established prior to his or her attainment of age 18. (Sec. 504) Amends the SSI program to: (1) deny SSI by reason of disability to drug addicts and alcoholics; (2) 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; (3) deny SSI benefits for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators; (6) provide for exchange of certain SSI information with law enforcement agencies under specified conditions; (7) set forth rules governing the installment payment of large past-due SSI benefits; and (8) provide for a reduction in cash SSI benefits payable to institutionalized individuals whose medical costs are covered by private insurance. Provides certain supplemental funding to specified State and Tribal programs funded under the Public Health Service Act for alcohol and substance abuse treatment. (Sec. 507) Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to provide for an allowance under the discretionary spending limits for increased expenditures for continuing disability reviews and disability eligibility redeterminations, and for administrative expenses to implement the changes to the SSI program by this Act. Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to provide for similar adjustments with respect to such reviews and eligibility redeterminations. (Sec. 508) Provides for installment payment of large past-due SSI benefits. (Sec. 509) Amends SSA title XI to provide for the recovery of SSI overpayments from social security benefits. Title VI: Social Services Block Grants - Amends SSA title XX to provide for a reduction in funding under such title for block grants to States for social services.

To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide that certain individuals who would be eligible for military retired pay for nonregular service but for the fact that they did not serve on active duty during a period of conflict may be paid such retired pay if they served in the United States merchant marine during or immediately after World War II.

United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1996

Entitles to military retired pay certain persons who were members of the U.S. merchant marine during and immediately after World War II. Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned, within 60 days after the enactment of this Act, to make lump-sum payments of such accrued pay to such persons.

To extend the authority for the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Projects for fiscal years 1997 through 1999, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1996

Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to: (1) extend through FY 1999 the authorization of appropriations for homeless veterans' reintegration projects; and (2) repeal a provision which extends until December 31, 1997, the authority to conduct a demonstration program of job training for the homeless, as well as the homeless veterans' reintegration projects.

To amend section 818 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to prohibit additional payments for restructuring costs under defense contracts and to revise certain reporting requirements relating to such costs.

United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1996

Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to: (1) prohibit the Secretary of Defense from making additional payments for restructuring costs incurred under defense contracts on or after August 15, 1994, until the filing of required reports for FY 1995 and 1996 with respect to possible cost savings achieved by such restructuring; (2) eliminate a 1997 reporting requirement concerning such possible savings; (3) include new information for determining such savings; (4) require the Comptroller Generally to report quarterly (currently, periodically) on the implementation of DOD policy regarding defense industry restructuring; and (5) require the final report of the Comptroller General on December 1, 1996 (currently, 1997).

To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure compliance with veterans preference requirements at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1996

Prohibits any Department of Veterans Affairs employee who has authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action from taking or failing to take any such action that would violate any law, rule, or regulation implementing, or directly concerning, veterans' preference with respect to an employee or applicant for employment. Treats a failure to comply with such provision as a prohibited personnel practice.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1997

United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorization of Appropriations Title II: Limitations and General Provisions Title III: Employment Reduction Assistance Title IV: Commercial Space Launch Act Amendments National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1997 - Title I: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes FY 1997 appropriations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for: (1) human space flight; (2) science, aeronautics, and technology; (3) mission support; and (4) the Inspector General. Title II: Limitations and General Provisions - Limits funding for the Space Station. Allocates a specified amount for the experimental program to stimulate competitive research from amounts authorized for science, aeronautics, and technology. (Sec. 203) Directs the Administrator of NASA to initiate and operate a radar satellite program. Requires that all of the data processing functions be performed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Alaska Synthetic Aperture Radar Facility. Provides for funding. (Sec. 204) Prohibits the Administrator from restructuring the Earth Observing System Data and Information System without first fulfilling certain reporting requirements. (Sec. 205) Directs the Administrator to conduct studies of the Upper Missouri River Basin hydrology to develop applications for Mission to Planet Earth data. Provides for funding. (Sec. 206) Direct the Administrator to make acquisitions of space-based and airborne Earth remote sensing data. Provides for funding. (Sec. 207) Directs the Administrator to conduct a study of privatization of the Shuttle. (Sec. 208) Directs the Administrator, to consider the use of existing military installation facilities or any other federally owned facilities when the Administrator considers the purchase, lease, or expansion of a facility to meet the requirements of NASA. (Sec. 209) Authorizes the Administrator to use funds appropriated for purposes other than those appropriated for the construction of facilities, research and program management, and for the Inspector General for the construction of new facilities and additions to, repair of, or modification of existing facilities at any location in support of the purposes for which such funds are appropriated. (Sec. 210) Authorizes the Administrator, if new developments in the national program of aeronautical and space activities have occurred, such developments require additional funds, and other conditions are met, to reprogram amounts authorized for construction of facilities pursuant to this Act or previous NASA authorization Acts. (Sec. 213) Requires that of the funds appropriated for Mission Support, not more than $35,000 may be used for scientific consultations or extraordinary expenses. (Sec. 214) Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to eliminate the presidential report to the Congress. Authorizes the Administrator to delay for up to five years the public disclosure of certain commercially valuable information developed in the course of NASA activities. (Sec. 215) States that the Congress finds it is appropriate for specified contractor costs under a cooperative agreement to be allowed as independent research and development costs for Federal procurement purposes. Directs the Administration to seek a revision of the Federal Acquisition Regulations to reflect such finding. Title III: Employment Reduction Assistance - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Federal Employment Reduction Assistance Act of 1996 - Directs the Administrator to establish a program under which separation pay may be offered to encourage eligible employees to separate from service voluntarily, whether by retirement or resignation. (Sec. 304) Provides that a voluntary separation incentive payment be paid in a lump sum after the employee's separation and shall not exceed $25,000. (Sec. 305) Prescribes that an individual who has received a voluntary separation incentive payment and accepts any subsequent employment with the Government within five years after the date of separation shall be required to repay, prior to the first day of employment, the entire amount of the incentive payment to the agency that paid the incentive payment to NASA. Provides for waiver of repayment if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant for the position. (Sec. 306) Makes an employee who has received an incentive payment ineligible to receive an annuity for reasons of disability, unless the incentive payment is repaid. (Sec. 307) Requires that NASA make a contribution to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund in an amount equal to 15 percent of the final basic pay of each agency employee to whom a voluntary separation incentive has been paid. (Sec. 308) Mandates a reduction of total full time equivalent employment of NASA by one for each employee receiving a voluntary separation incentive payment. Requires that the President take appropriate action to ensure that functions involving more than ten full-time equivalent employees are not converted to contracts, except in cases in which a cost comparison demonstrates that such contracts would be to the advantage of the Government. Provides that the preceding two clauses may be waived upon a determination by the President that there exists a state of war or other national or extraordinary emergency. (Sec. 309) Mandates certain reports. Makes technical amendments to the Federal Workforce Restructuring Act of 1994. Title IV: Commercial Space Launch Act Amendments - Amends Federal law with regard to commercial space activities to include in-space transportation and reentry vehicles and activities within the scope of such provisions. (Sec. 418) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations regarding insurance, licensing, and indemnification. (Sec.419) Prohibits obtrusive space advertising (as defined by this Act). Requests the President to enter into negotiations with foreign launching nations to prohibit such advertising.

Work First and Personal Responsibility Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Work-Based Assistance Subtitle A: Temporary Employment Assistance Subtitle B: Make Work Pay Subtitle C: Work First Subtitle D: Pregnancy and Family Stability Title II: Child Support Enforcement Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders Subtitle H: Medical Support Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Non-Residential Parents Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment Title III: Food Assistance Subtitle A: Food Stamps Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Title IV: Treatment of Aliens Title V: Supplemental Security Income Reforms Title VI: Social Services Block Grants Work First and Personal Responsibility Act of 1996 - Title I: Work-Based Assistance - Subtitle A: Temporary Employment Assistance - Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) programs under parts A and F, respectively, of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with the newly created Federal Temporary Employment Assistance (TEA) and Work First (WF) welfare programs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 101) Outlines TEA and WF program components, providing for Federal payments to States with approved TEA and WF plans for establishing flexible statewide work-based assistance programs in the State for the following purposes. Provides under TEA for furnishing certain time-limited, conditional benefits based on work to certain eligible families with needy children (or, at the State's option, any expectant family) entering into a personal responsibility agreement with the State setting forth their particular obligations (such as cooperating with the State in the establishment of the paternity of any child born out-of-wedlock for whom assistance is claimed) in order to receive assistance and services under the TEA plan for caring for their children and securing, preferably, a full-time unsubsidized paid job in the private sector, or public sector or volunteer work if necessary, through the WF program. Grants exemptions from such time-limited benefit provision in certain hardship situations. Provides for certain sanctions for refusing to look for work, accept a bona fide offer of employment, or otherwise comply with the personal responsibility agreement. Provides under WF, among other things, for connecting appropriate TEA recipients with the private sector labor market and providing them with the education, training, and other services necessary for them to obtain private sector employment. Gives States the option of: (1) denying TEA to families having additional children while on TEA; and (2) requiring family members to undergo appropriate substance abuse treatment in order to receive TEA. Denies TEA for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators and for ten years for persons found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain assistance in two or more States. Provides for the exchange of certain TEA program information with law enforcement agencies under specified conditions. Lists certain requirements for State TEA plans concerning other programs, including that the State plan require that the State have in effect: (1) a plan approved under SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) together with a child support program in substantial compliance with such plan; as well as (2) plans under SSA title IV parts B (Child-Welfare Services) and E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) operating in substantial compliance with the requirements of such parts. Requires State TEA plans to: (1) describe the State efforts to promote family preservation and stability; and (2) require the State to have in effect a plan under its Child Care Development Block Grant Act of 1990 program. Sets forth rules for the provision of services to Native Americans and refugees. Outlines program audit, quality assurance, data collection, and reporting requirements, as well as certain study requirements. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct research on alternative approaches to operating welfare programs and related issues, such as strategies for moving welfare recipients into the workforce quickly, reducing teen pregnancies and out-of-wedlock births, and providing adequate child care. Authorizes the Secretary to implement and evaluate a variety of innovative demonstrations related to child support and other children's issues with respect to TEA clients under State plans. 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. Provides funding for such study. Makes the HHS Assistant Secretary for Family Support the official responsible for administering these new programs (Sec. 103) Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to provide for the collection of overpayments under the TEA program from Federal tax refunds. (Sec. 104) Amends SSA title XI to revise the limitations on Federal payments under SSA title IV part A and other specified SSA programs to the Virgin Islands and Guam, and provide for their annual adjustment for inflation according to the consumer price index. Subtitle B: Make Work Pay - Amends SSA titles XIX (Medicaid) and IV part A (TEA), as well as IRC and the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, to make various specified changes with regard to certain program aspects, providing, among other changes, for: (1) a permanent extension of authority for transitional Medicaid benefits for former TEA recipients; and (2) notice of availability of the earned income tax credit to applicants and former recipients of TEA and Medicaid. (Sec. 113) Amends IRC to require participating residents to receive advanced earned income payments from a responsible State agency pursuant to a State Advance Payment Program in lieu of receiving earned income advance amounts from an employer. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to designate up to four State Advance Payment Demonstrations. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Work First - Amends SSA title IV to replace the current JOBS program under part F with a new WF program under which each State that operates a TEA program shall establish a WF program for getting TEA recipients off cash assistance through the use of private placement companies, microenterprise initiatives, and other specified means including subsidized jobs. Allows participating States to establish one of two types of WF programs, with one type similar to the GAIN (welfare reform) Program operated by Riverside County, California, and the other type similar to the JOBS Plus (welfare reform) Program operated by the State of Oregon. Adds a new part G (Workfare Program) (WP) under SSA title IV under which States establishing a WF program shall establish either a workfare program (with separate community service and subsidized job components) or a job placement voucher program under SSA title IV new part H (Job Placement Voucher Program) (JPVP) in order for TEA recipients eventually to secure full-time unsubsidized employment in the private sector. Requires States to provide program participants with the necessary case management services to ensure integrated benefits and services provided under such programs. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) States should target individuals who have not attained 25 years of age for participation in WF programs; and (2) the Congress intends for State activities under the JOBS Plus Program to emphasize the use of the funds that would otherwise be used to provide individuals with TEA to subsidize their wages in temporary jobs. (Sec. 124) Provides for certain increases in WF, WP, and JPVP funding amounts under specified circumstances. Subtitle D: Pregnancy and Family Stability - Amends SSA title IV part A with respect to teenage pregnancy and promoting family stability to require generally certain adult supervised living arrangements for any individual under age 18 who has never married and who has a needy child in his or her care (or is pregnant and is eligible for TEA) in order for such individual to receive such assistance (where possible, from his or her parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative on such individual's behalf). Requires completion of high school or other educational training for certain teenage parents required to participate in WF. Gives States the option to provide additional specified incentives and penalties to encourage teen parents to complete high school and participate in parenting activities. (Sec. 132) Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to direct the HHS Secretary to establish a National Clearinghouse on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Programs for the collection and provision of programmatic information and technical assistance that relates to adolescent pregnancy prevention programs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 134) Allows States to use available Federal funds for the establishment, operation, and support of second chance group homes for custodial parents under age 18 (or age 19, at the option of the State) and their children. Requires that the HHS Secretary, after appropriate consultations, submit recommendations to the Congress with regard to which Federal surplus properties may be used for the establishment of such second chance homes. Title II: Child Support Enforcement - 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 TEA. (Sec. 202) Revises payment distribution guidelines for families receiving TEA and other assistance through State agencies. (Sec. 203) Requires State plans to establish procedural guidelines for: (1) privacy safeguards regarding paternity and child support actions; and (2) notification to applicants or recipients of all proceedings and orders affecting child support obligations. Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking - Mandates that single statewide automated data systems include a State case registry containing records of: (1) each case in which services are provided by the State agency; and (2) each support order established on or after a specified date. Permits the linking of local registries. (Sec. 212) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. Permits the unit to be established by linking local disbursement units through an automated information network if the Secretary agrees that it will not cost more or take more time to establish or operate than a centralized system. (Sec. 213) Requires State plans to: (1) provide for a State-operated and automated State Directory of New Hires containing prescribed information furnished by employers on new personnel; and (2) transmit such information to the National Directory of New Hires established under this title. (Sec. 214) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures: (1) for mandatory income withholding for support payments subject to enforcement; and (2) under which wages of a person with a support obligation imposed by a child support order issued before October 1, 1996, shall become subject to withholding if arrearages occur, without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. Revises the procedural guidelines for income withholding for child support enforcement. (Sec. 215) 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. 216) Revises the Federal Parent Locator Service to provide for additional information which may be transmitted to locate individuals and assets for purposes of: (1) establishing parentage; (2) establishing, setting the amount of, modifying, or enforcing child support obligations; and (3) enforcing child custody or visitation orders. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish in the Federal Parent Locator Service an automated Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders and an automated National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 217) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring recordation on such documents of the Social Security number of: (1) specified driver's, marriage, and occupational, and professional license applicants; (2) individuals subject to certain domestic relations orders; and (3) deceased persons (on death records). Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures - Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1998. Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the procedures for the court to apply when determining which State order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement for child support orders. (Sec. 223) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring: (1) expedited administrative enforcement in interstate cases and support orders; and (2) expedited administrative and judicial procedures for establishing paternity and enforcing support obligations. Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment - Revises the guidelines for State laws governing paternity establishment. Requires State procedures under which the name of the father shall be included on the birth certificate only: (1) if the mother and father have signed a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity; or (2) pursuant to a judicial or administrative order. (Sec. 233) Requires State plans for child and spousal support to provide that the State agency administering the plan will make a determination as to whether a program recipient is cooperating in good faith with State efforts to establish paternity and secure support. Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding - Directs the Secretary to develop a new incentive system to replace the current one. Revises the guidelines for Federal performance-based incentive payments to the States for effective child support enforcement programs. (Sec. 242) 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. 244) 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. 245) Makes funds available to the Secretary for: (1) training of Federal and State staff, research and demonstration programs, and special projects of regional and national significance; and (2) operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service. Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders - Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. (Sec. 252) 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. 253) Shields a depository institution from Federal or State liability for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency. Prohibits such agency from disclosing such a financial record except for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary in, establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation. Sets forth civil penalties for any person knowingly or negligently violating such prohibition. Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders - Amends Internal Revenue Code procedural guidelines for the collection of arrearages to provide that no additional fee may be assessed for adjustments to a previously certified amount. (Sec. 262) 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. 264) 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. 265) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include specified procedures: (1) to ensure that persons owing past-due support work or participate in work activities the court deems appropriate; (2) to report to credit bureaus the name of the parent in arrears for child support; (3) to provide for liens against real and personal property for the support arrearages of a non-custodial parent; and (4) to implement the restriction of driver's, professional, occupational, and recreational licenses of individuals owing support arrearages. (Sec. 270) Requires the Secretary of State to deny, revoke, or limit a passport upon certification of nonpayment of child support. (Sec. 271) Authorizes the Secretary of State to negotiate reciprocal agreements with foreign nations: (1) regarding international enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) designating the Department of Health and Human Services as the central authority for such enforcement. (Sec. 272) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which a State agency shall enter agreements with financial institutions doing business within the State to develop and operate a data match system to provide identifying information for each absent parent targeted by the State who maintains an account at the institution, and to encumber or surrender such parent's assets at the institution pursuant to a lien or levy. (Sec. 273) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which child support orders relating to the child of minor parents, where the custodial parents are receiving assistance, are enforceable against the child's paternal or maternal grandparents. (Sec. 274) Amends Federal bankruptcy law and the Social Security Act to declare a debt for child support nondischargeable in bankruptcy. 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. 277) 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 Non-Residential 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 and conforming amendments. Title III: Food Assistance - Subtitle A: Food Stamps - Food Stamp Act Amendments of 1996 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to repeal the current exclusion and include in an eligible household children under age 22 who are themselves parents living with their children or married and living with their spouses. (Sec. 312) Revises the formula for annual adjustment of the cost of the diet in the thrifty food plan. (Sec. 313) Lowers from 21 to 18 the age of a child whose income is excluded from calculation of household income. (Sec. 314) Replaces the current exclusion from household income of governmental energy assistance payments (thus including them in such income) with exclusion of a one-time payment or allowance for weatherization or emergency repair or replacement of an unsafe or inoperative furnace or other heating or cooling device. (Sec. 315) Revises the standard deduction from household income, applying it to all households, but in different specified amounts for the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Sec. 316) Allows a State agency to make a standard utility allowance mandatory for all households with qualifying utility costs if it develops certain cost standards which will not result in increased program costs. (Sec. 317) Revises the indexation of the vehicle asset limitation. (Sec. 318) Terminates the exclusion from household income (thus including) third-party vendor payments for transitional housing. (Sec. 319) Revises eligibility disqualification penalties for noncompliance with work requirements. (Sec. 320) Authorizes States to require cooperation with child support enforcement agencies as a criterion for food stamp eligibility. (Sec. 321) Mandates a ten-year ineligibility for any individual found to have made a fraudulent statement or representation as to identity or place of residence in order to receive multiple food stamp benefits simultaneously. (Sec. 322) Specifies additional work requirements for able-bodied food stamp recipients. (Sec. 323) Authorizes State food stamp disqualification of a household member also disqualified from another means-tested public assistance program for failure to perform an action required for such program under Federal, State, or local law. (Sec. 324) Repeals annual minimum benefit adjustments and, with respect to the prorating of benefits for the first month after a period of nonparticipation following the end of a previous certification, the limitation to such periods of more than one month. (Sec. 326) Prohibits an increased food stamp allotment for any period for which a household's benefits are reduced under a Federal, State, or local law relating to a welfare or public assistance program because of a penalty or for failure to perform an action required under the law or program. (Sec. 327) Declares that State agencies, in determining household eligibility, shall not be required to use certain income and eligibility or immigration status verification systems established under the Social Security Act. (Sec. 328) Revises requirements for the collection of overissuances of food stamp coupons. (Sec. 329) Authorizes a State to elect to carry out (statewide or in a political subdivision) a Simplified Food Stamp Program, meeting specified requirements, for families receiving assistance under a State TEA program. (Sec. 330) Reauthorizes appropriations for the food stamp program through FY 2002. (Sec. 341) Treats electronic benefit transfer cards and personal identification (PIN) numbers as coupons. (Sec. 344) Increases penalties for specified program violations. (Sec. 345) Allows State agencies the option, with respect to the caretaker exemption from work requirements, to lower the age of the dependent involved from six years to one year if adequate child care is not available. (Sec. 346) Revises requirements for employment and training programs. (Sec. 347) Disqualifies fleeing felons and probation or parole violators from food stamp program participation. (Sec. 348) Requires State agencies to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 349) Requires State agencies to make certain information available, upon request, to Federal, State, or local law enforcement officers with respect to fleeing felons or probation or parole violators. (Sec. 350) Increases from five days to seven the deadline for delivery of coupons after the date of household application. Repeals five-day delivery mandates with respect to homeless households and specified others. (Sec. 361) Sets a 12-month maximum certification period, unless all adult household members are elderly or disabled, in which case it shall be 24 months. Requires State agency contact with each certified household at least once every 12 months. (Sec. 362) Allows a State agency to combine allotments for expedited service households. (Sec. 363) Revises: (1) the provision of allotments for households residing in drug or alcoholic treatment centers; and (2) requirements for the operation of food stamp offices. (Sec. 365) Repeals the requirement for State employee training. (Sec. 366) Permits household oral withdrawals of fair hearing requests. (Sec. 371) Revises requirements for approval of retail food stores and wholesale food concerns to: (1) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish specific authorization periods for coupon or electronic benefit redemption; and (2) permit regulations to require such stores and concerns to authorize the Secretary to verify all relevant tax filings and obtain corroborating documentation from other sources. (Sec. 373) Establishes a minimum six-month waiting period before disqualified stores and food concerns may reapply for program participation. (Sec. 374) Requires HHS regulations providing for disqualification of retailers who: (1) intentionally submit falsified applications; or (2) are disqualified under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC). (Sec. 376) Makes the permanent disqualification of a store or concern effective as of receipt of the notice of disqualification. Shields the Secretary from liability for the value of any sales lost during the disqualification period should the disqualification be reversed through administrative or judicial review. (Sec. 377) Provides for civil and criminal forfeitures for violations of the Food Stamp Act of 1977. (Sec. 378) Amends the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the sharing of information provided by stores and concerns with State law enforcement and investigative officers and employees as well as with State WIC agencies. Subtitle B: Child Nutrition - Amends the National School Lunch Act to set forth separate formulae for the reimbursement rates for two specified tiers of family or group day care homes. Provides for grants to States for such homes and State and Federal data sharing with their sponsoring organizations. (Sec. 392) Revises requirements for annual adjustment of reimbursement rates. (Sec. 393) Repeals the mandate and authority for grants for start-up and expansions costs. (Sec. 394) Authorizes appropriations under the National School Lunch Act for FY 1997 through 2002. (Sec. 395) Reduces from 12 percent to eight percent the minimum amount of food assistance that shall be in the form of commodity assistance, including cash in lieu of commodities and procurement administrative costs. Title IV: Treatment of Aliens - Amends the Social Security Act, as amended by this Act, to restrict TEA, supplemental security income (SSI), and Medicaid eligibility to U.S. citizens or nationals and legal immigrants (qualified aliens). (Sec. 402) Deems the income of a sponsor to be available to a qualified alien, with specified exceptions, until naturalization. (Sec. 403) Continues the liability of a qualified alien and sponsor for overissuances of TEA, SSI, and food stamp assistance beyond naturalization. (Sec. 404) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to grant the Attorney General discretionary authority to admit an excludable alien who has received a guarantee of financial responsibility (affidavit of support) from a sponsor according to specified requirements. Title V: Supplemental Security Income Reforms - Revises the disabled child eligibility rules under the SSA title XVI Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to require marked and severe functional limitations in an eligible individual. (Sec. 501) Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to discontinue the use of individualized functional assessments for children. Requires the Commissioner to redetermine the eligibility of any individual under age 18 who is eligible for 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 title. (Sec. 502) Requires the Commissioner to review, at least once every three years, 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 Commissioner's option). Requires a parent or guardian of a recipient whose case is so reviewed to present evidence demonstrating that the recipient has been receiving treatment, to the extent considered medically necessary and available, of the condition which was the basis for providing SSI benefits. 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 dedicated savings accounts for specified purposes with respect to a child or an individual for whom such an account was established prior to his or her attainment of age 18. (Sec. 504) Amends the SSI program to: (1) deny SSI by reason of disability to drug addicts and alcoholics; (2) 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; (3) deny SSI benefits for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators; (6) provide for exchange of certain SSI information with law enforcement agencies under specified conditions; (7) set forth rules governing the installment payment of large past-due SSI benefits; and (8) provide for a reduction in cash SSI benefits payable to institutionalized individuals whose medical costs are covered by private insurance. Provides certain supplemental funding to specified State and Tribal programs funded under the Public Health Service Act for alcohol and substance abuse treatment. (Sec. 507) Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to provide for an allowance under the discretionary spending limits for increased expenditures for continuing disability reviews and disability eligibility redeterminations, and for administrative expenses to implement the changes to the SSI program by this Act. Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to provide for similar adjustments with respect to such reviews and eligibility redeterminations. (Sec. 508) Provides for installment payment of large past-due SSI benefits. (Sec. 509) Amends SSA title XI to provide for the recovery of SSI overpayments from social security benefits. Title VI: Social Services Block Grants - Amends SSA title XX to provide for a reduction in funding under such title for block grants to States for social services.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1996

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1996 - Provides that a veterans' preference eligible (PE) or an individual who has been separated from military service under honorable conditions after four or more years of active duty shall not be denied the opportunity to compete for a vacant position within a Federal agency, either in the competitive or excepted service, by reason of: (1) not having acquired competitive status; or (2) not being an employee of such agency. Requires each agency to notify the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. employment offices of each vacant position for which competition is restricted to individuals having competitive service or employees of such agency. Directs OPM to establish and keep current a comprehensive list of all announcements of vacant positions within each agency for which competition is so restricted. Prohibits, during a Federal reduction in force (RIF), a position occupied by a PE from being placed in a single-position competitive level if the PE is qualified to perform the essential functions of any other position at the same grade in the competitive area (defined as being able to perform such functions within 270 days). Entitles a PE whose current or latest performance rating is at least fully successful to be assigned during a RIF to any position for which he or she is qualified that is within: (1) the PE's commuting area and is currently occupied by an individual placed in such position within six months before the RIF; or (2) the PE's competitive area that is not more than three grades below the position from which the PE was released (with an exception). Authorizes a PE to challenge the classification of any position to which the PE asserts assignment rights in an action before the Merit Systems Protection Board. Requires each agency to establish an agencywide priority placement program to facilitate employment placement for PEs who are scheduled to be or who are separated from service due to a RIF. Provides administrative and judicial redress and remedies for any PE or other individual who alleges that an agency has violated such individual's veterans' preference or related rights. Extends the veterans' preference to: (1) employment within the General Accounting Office; (2) appointments made to the Office of the President (with an exception when the President certifies that the position is a confidential, policy-making, or political position); and (3) appointments to the legislative branch (with specified exclusions).

A bill to prohibit foreign travel by outgoing political appointees and Members of Congress, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1996

Prohibits Federal payment for travel by a political appointee outside of the United States during a post presidential election period after which the incumbent President shall not return for another term of office as President. Provides that such prohibition shall not apply to travel by the Secretaries of State and Defense, the U.S. Trade Representative, or political appointees who are accompanying these individuals on affected travel. Allows the President to waive such prohibition with regard to any travel that: (1) cannot reasonably be postponed until after the post presidential election period; and (2) is essential to protect or promote vital national interests. Establishes a similar prohibition against travel by a Member of Congress after 180 days before the end of the term of service or date of retirement of such Member. Authorizes the Speaker of the House or the President pro tempore of the Senate to waive such prohibition if such travel is determined to be in the interest of the House or Senate and the United States. Requires publication of a statement of the waiver in the Congressional Record, including a detailed description of the travel, its purpose, and estimated costs, unless the Speaker of the House or the President pro tempore of the Senate determines that publication would jeopardize national security or otherwise compromise vital national interests.

NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1996

NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996 - Declares that it should be the policy of the United States to: (1) assist the transition to full membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe; and (2) work to construct a political and security relationship between an enlarged NATO and the Russian Federation. Expresses the sense of the Congress that in order to promote security in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine: (1) the United States should support the full and active participation of these countries in activities that will qualify them for NATO membership; (2) the U.S. Government should press the European Union to admit as soon as possible any country qualifying for membership; and (3) the United States and NATO should support military and peacekeeping initiatives between and among such countries, NATO countries, and Russia. Designates Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic as eligible to receive certain assistance for transition to full membership in NATO. Requires the President to designate as eligible for such assistance other emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe that meet specified criteria. Authorizes appropriations for NATO enlargement assistance. Declares that the transfer of excess defense articles to countries intending to participate in NATO (including countries of NATO's southern flank) shall be given priority, to the maximum extent feasible, over the delivery of such articles to other countries, except certain countries specified under the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1995. Amends the NATO Participation Act of 1994 to establish a presidential and congressional procedure for termination of eligibility for assistance for Partnership for Peace countries which: (1) no longer meet certain eligibility criteria; (2) are hostile to the NATO alliance; or (3) pose a national security threat to the United States.

NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1996

NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996 - Declares that it should be the policy of the United States to: (1) assist the transition to full membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe; and (2) work to construct a political and security relationship between an enlarged NATO and the Russian Federation. Expresses the sense of the Congress that in order to promote security in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine: (1) the United States should support the full and active participation of these countries in activities that will qualify them for NATO membership; (2) the U.S. Government should press the European Union to admit as soon as possible any country qualifying for membership; and (3) the United States and NATO should support military and peacekeeping initiatives between and among such countries, NATO countries, and Russia. Designates Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic as eligible to receive certain assistance for transition to full membership in NATO. Requires the President to designate as eligible for such assistance other emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe that meet specified criteria. Authorizes appropriations for NATO enlargement assistance. Declares that the transfer of excess defense articles to countries intending to participate in NATO (including countries of NATO's southern flank) shall be given priority, to the maximum extent feasible, over the delivery of such articles to other countries, except certain countries specified under the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1995. Declares that the Congress endorses U.S. efforts to modernize the defense capability of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and any other countries the President designates under the NATO Participation Act of 1994, by exploring options for the sale or lease to such countries of weapons systems compatible with those used by NATO members, including air defense systems, advanced fighter aircraft, and telecommunications infrastructure. Amends the NATO Participation Act of 1994 to establish a presidential and congressional procedure for termination of eligibility for assistance for Partnership for Peace countries which: (1) no longer meet certain eligibility criteria; (2) are hostile to the NATO alliance; or (3) pose a national security threat to the United States.

Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Expansion Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 30 May 1996

Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Expansion Act of 1996 - Repeals a provision of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 which terminates the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Defense for the sharing of health care. Entitles the United States to recover or collect from a private health care plan charges for care or services furnished by a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility to a primary beneficiary of such plan to the extent that the beneficiary would be eligible under the plan to receive payment if the care or services had not been furnished by a U.S. department or agency. Repeals a statement of congressional purpose regarding the sharing of health care resources of the Department with certain other entities. Authorizes the Secretary to share all health care resources (currently, only specialized medical resources) with medical schools, health-care facilities and research centers (current law), as well as with any health-care provider or plan, insurer, or other entity or individual. Repeals a provision requiring reciprocal reimbursement of the cost of such shared resources, instead providing for payment to the Department under procedures which allow appropriate flexibility to negotiate a payment which is in the best interest of the Government. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an arrangement that authorizes the furnishing of services to non-veterans only if the Secretary determines that such an arrangement: (1) will not result in the denial of or delay in the provision of care to any veteran at that facility; and (2) is necessary to maintain an acceptable level and quality of service to veterans and will result in the improvement of services to eligible veterans at that facility. Excludes from limitations on the number of full-time equivalent positions permitted in the Department those positions held by persons involved in providing health care resources under sharing arrangements.

Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 29 May 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Reauthorization of FAA Programs Title II: Airport Development Financing Title III: Airport Improvement Program Modifications Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions Title V: Metropolitan Washington Airports Title VI: Extension of Airport and Airway Trust Fund Taxes and Expenditure Authority Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 - Title I: Reauthorization of FAA Programs - Amends Federal aviation law to reauthorize the Airport Improvement Program through FY 1999, with specified allocations for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Facilities and Equipment Program. (Sec. 103) Authorizes appropriations for the FAA through FY 1999. Title II: Airport Development Financing - Revises the apportionment of airport improvement fund amounts to sponsors of primary and cargo service airports for each fiscal year. (Sec. 202) Revises the minimum amount of airport improvement funds that shall be credited in a fiscal year to the discretionary fund. (Sec. 203) Increases the apportionment for airport improvement grant funds for: (1) airport noise compatibility programs; and (2) current and former military airports. (Sec. 204) Reduces from 15 to ten at any time the number of current or former military airports that may receive airport improvement grant funds. (Sec. 205) Establishes the Select Panel on Airport and Agency Financing to evaluate and recommend financing mechanisms to ensure adequate funding for airport capital needs and FAA capital and operating needs. Title III: Airport Improvement Program Modifications - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to encourage: (1) airport sponsors and State and local officials to develop airport master plans and airport system plans; and (2) metropolitan planning organizations, particularly in areas with populations greater than 200,000, to establish membership positions for airport operators. (Sec. 301) Sets forth additional requirements for the approval of airport project grant applications. (Sec. 302) Repeals the authority of the Secretary to impose passenger facility fees for the construction, repair, or improvement of airport areas used for aircraft operation or actions to mitigate the environmental effects of any such activity necessary to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Clean Air Act, or the Federal water Pollution Control Act. (Sec. 303) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a pilot program of up to ten projects to extend the useful life of airport runways and taxiways. (Sec. 304) Makes it a condition for approval of a grant application for an airport development project that the airport owner or operator makes assurances that it will permit, to the maximum extent practicable, intercity buses to have access to the airport. (Sec. 305) Eliminates as an allowable project cost for Federal reimbursement certain costs for airport development projects commenced during FY 1994 before the execution of the grant agreement. Allows such reimbursement only for costs incurred after September 30, 1996. Denies priority consideration for the use of discretionary funds for projects incurring costs before execution of the grant agreement. (Sec. 306) Specifies additional factors for the Secretary to consider in selecting a project for a grant to preserve and enhance capacity at primary and reliever airports. (Sec. 307) Increases from seven to ten the number of States the Secretary may designate to assume administrative responsibility for all airport grant amounts (except for amounts for use at primary airports) under the State block grant pilot program. Makes permanent the State block grant pilot program. (Sec. 308) Authorizes an airport sponsor who intends to sell or lease the airport for a long time to a private person to apply for an exemption from the prohibition on the use of airport revenues for non-airport use. Waives the current prohibition on the imposition of passenger facility fees by any airport receiving such an exemption. (Sec. 309) Authorizes the Secretary to make an airport noise compatibility planning grant to a State or local government that is not the owner or operator of an airport for preparation or implementation of an airport land use compatibility plan. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes the Administrator of the FAA, in carrying out various aviation programs, to purchase a housing unit that is located outside the United States if the cost of the unit is $200,000 or less. (Sec. 403) Prohibits both the Administrator of the FAA, and any agency receiving information from the Administrator, from disclosing voluntarily provided safety or security related information in certain circumstances. (Sec. 404) Authorizes the Administrator of the FAA to issue a supplemental type certificate for a change to an aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance. (Sec. 405) Prohibits a person holding an airport operating certificate, with specified exceptions, from expending local aviation fuel taxes or airport-generated revenues for any purpose other than the capital or operating costs of the airport, the local airport system, or other related facilities. (Sec. 406) Authorizes the Administrator of the FAA to require by regulation that an employment investigation (including criminal history record check) be conducted for employees who will be responsible for screening airline passengers and property. (Sec. 407) Authorizes a sponsor of a noncommercial service airport to close it without any obligation to repay airport improvement grants if it is located within three miles of a military base which has been closed or realigned. Title V: Metropolitan Washington Airports - Metropolitan Washington Airports Amendments Act of 1996 - Amends the Metropolitan Washington Airports Act of 1986 to revise the composition of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, among other things, increasing the number of members from 11 to 15. Requires board members appointed by the President to be registered voters of States other than Maryland, Virginia, or the District of Columbia. Revises requirements for length of term and the filling of vacancies. Declares that no more than three members of the board appointed by the President may be of the same political party. Requires nine votes (currently, seven) to approve bond issues and the annual budget. (Sec. 505) Establishes the Federal Advisory Commission of the Airports Authority (thereby effectively replacing the Board of Review of the Airports Authority). (Sec. 507) Revises requirements for congressional review of Airports Authority actions. (Sec. 508) Provides for the removal of Federal Advisory Commission (previously, Board of Review) members by the Secretary of Transportation (currently, by a two-thirds vote of the board of directors). (Sec. 511) Directs the Airports Authority to continue to enforce certain restrictions in the Metropolitan Washington Airports Regulations with respect to the use of the Dulles access highway. (Sec. 513) Prohibits the Secretary from issuing an exemption under specified sections of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations regarding the allocation of slots at high density airports if such exemption would adversely affect safety. Title VI: Extension of Airport and Airway Trust Fund Taxes and Expenditure Authority - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the excise tax imposed on aviation fuel. Extends the excise tax imposed on airline passenger tickets, and the authority for the transfer of aviation fuel taxes to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, through January 1, 2000. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay from the Trust Fund into the general fund of the Treasury any overpayments made with respect to excise taxes imposed on air transportation. (Sec. 602) Extends the expenditure authority of the Trust Fund through October 1, 1999.

Veterans' Job Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 May 1996

Veterans' Job Protection Act - Revises provisions relating to authorized employee actions against a State or private employer for the enforcement of certain veterans' reemployment rights. Authorizes a person who receives from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a notification that efforts to resolve a complaint were unsuccessful to request that the Secretary refer such complaint to the Attorney General (AG) for commencement of an action for relief in the appropriate U.S. district court. Allows a person, in lieu of proceedings through the AG or after being refused representation by the AG, to commence his or her own action against a State employer, requiring such action to be brought in the name of the United States. Outlines procedures with respect to such an action, allowing the United States to intervene and proceed with the action. Provides that the United States shall not be liable for expenses incurred by an individual in bringing such an action.

Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997

United States · United States Congress · 29 May 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Export and Investment Assistance Title II: Bilateral Economic Assistance Title III: Military Assistance Title IV: Multilateral Economic Assistance Title V: General Provisions Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997 - Title I: Export and Investment Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1997 for: (1) Export-Import Bank subsidies; (2) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation; and (3) the Trade and Development Agency. Title II: Bilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1997 for: (1) expenses of the President under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; (2) the Agency for International Development (AID) for child survival and disease programs; (3) specified development assistance; (4) international disaster relief; (5) debt restructuring; (6) micro and small enterprise development programs; (7) guaranteed loans under the worldwide housing guarantees program; (8) the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (9) operating expenses of AID and the AID Office of Inspector General; (10) economic support fund (ESF) assistance (but not for Zaire); (11) the International Fund for Ireland; (12) economic assistance for Eastern Europe, the Baltic States, and the independent states of the former Soviet Union; (13) the African Development Foundation; (14) the Inter-American Foundation; (l5) the Peace Corps (but with a ban on fund use for abortions); and (16) the Department of State for international narcotics control, migration and refugee assistance, and nonproliferation, anti-terrorism and related programs and activities. Title III: Military Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1997 for: (1) international military education and training (with a ban on such assistance to Zaire and Guatemala); (2) foreign military financing and direct loans; and (3) international peacekeeping operations. Prohibits foreign military financing for: (1) any non-NATO country participating in the Partnership for Peace Program except through the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations; and (2) Zaire, Sudan, Liberia, and Guatemala. Title IV: Multilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1997 for the U.S. contribution to the: (1) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank); (2) International Finance Corporation; (3) Inter-American Development Bank; (4)Enterprise for the Americas Multilateral Investment Fund; (5) Asian Development Bank; (6) Asian Development Fund; (7) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; and (8) North American Development Bank. Makes appropriations for FY 1997 for international programs and organizations, with restrictions, including a ban on the use of funds for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for activities in China. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth limits on the use of appropriations identical or very similar to restrictions enacted in the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1996 (P.L. 104-107), notably with respect to: (1) countries supporting the Arab boycott of Israel, Cuba, Iraq, Iran, Liberia, Montenegro, the Palestine Liberation Organization, Serbia, terrorist countries or countries supporting terrorism or giving sanctuary to war criminals; and (2) financial incentives to induce a business to relocate outside the United States or assistance to develop certain kinds of export processing zones in foreign countries. (Sec. 517) Declares it continues to be U.S. policy that funds allocated to Israel from the ESF shall not be less than the annual debt repayment from Israel to the United States. (Sec. 518A) Makes funds appropriated by this Act for population assistance activities available for a foreign private or nongovernmental organization only if it certifies that it will not perform abortions, except where the life of the mother would be endangered or in cases of forcible rape or incest. Prohibits the use of such assistance to: (1) lobby for or against abortion; or (2) be made available for any foreign private or nongovernmental organization until it certifies that it will not violate the laws of a foreign country, or engage in any activity to alter the laws of such country, concerning the circumstances under which abortion is permitted, regulated, or prohibited. (Sec. 520) Prohibits the use of funds for Pakistan, Serbia, South Africa, among other specified countries, except through the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 539) Authorizes the President, subject to notification of the congressional appropriations committees, to direct the transfer of defense articles to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Government, without reimbursement, if he certifies to the Congress that the transfer of such articles would assist that nation in self-defense and promote the security and stability of the region. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 565) Authorizes the President (similarly to authority under P.L. 104-107) to: (1) reduce certain debts owed the United States by eligible countries; and (2) sell, reduce, or cancel certain loans under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 in order to facilitate debt-for-equity, debt-for-development, or debt-for-nature swaps, or debt buybacks.

Federal Oceanography Coordination Improvement Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 29 May 1996

Federal Oceanography Coordination Improvement Act of 1996 - Establishes the National Oceanographic Partnership Program. Sets forth the purposes of the program. Establishes the: (1) National Ocean Research Leadership Council; (2) Ocean Research Partnership Coordinating Group; and (3) Ocean Research Advisory Panel under the program. Sets forth the composition of membership and specified duties of each. Mandates certain annual reports. Authorizes appropriations to the Defense Department for the National Oceanographic Partnership Program. Requires that a certain amount be available for the operations of the partnership program office for FY 1997.