Defence

Intelligence Community Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Intelligence Community Generally Subtitle A: Director of Central Intelligence Subtitle B: Deputy Directors of Central Intelligence Subtitle C: The Intelligence Community Subtitle D: Annual Reports Title II: Intelligence Community Management Subtitle A: Intelligence Community Functions Subtitle B: National Foreign Intelligence Program Subtitle C: Personnel Subtitle D: Infrastructure Support Office Subtitle E: Intelligence Community Administration Title III: Intelligence Community Agencies Subtitle A: Central Intelligence Agency Subtitle B: The Clandestine Service Subtitle C: The National Intelligence Evaluation Council Title IV: Department of Defense Functions in the Intelligence Community Subtitle A: Secretary of Defense Subtitle B: Director of Military Intelligence Subtitle C: The Military Departments Subtitle D: Planning and Budgeting Title V: Department of Defense Agencies in the Intelligence Community Subtitle A: Defense Intelligence Agency Subtitle B: Technical Collection Agency Subtitle C: Technology Development Office Title VI: National Security Council and Related Boards and Committees Title VII: Technical and Conforming Amendments Subtitle A: Amendments Related to Creation of Technical Collection Agency Subtitle B: Amendments Related to Creation of Clandestine Service Subtitle C: Amendments Related to Inspector General for the Intelligence Community Subtitle D: Repeals of Provisions Recodified in New Act Subtitle E: Other Amendments Title VIII: Transfer of Functions, Savings Provisions, and Effective Date Subtitle A: Transfers of Functions to Intelligence Community Agencies Other than Agencies in Department of Defense Subtitle B: Transfers of Functions to Intelligence Community Agencies in Department of Defense Subtitle C: General Transfer Provisions Subtitle D: General Savings Provisions Subtitle E: Effective Date Intelligence Community Act - Title I: Intelligence Community Generally - Subtitle A: Director of Central Intelligence - Designates the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) as the: (1) principal advisor to the President and National Security Council (NSC) for intelligence matters related to the national security; and (2) head of the Intelligence Community (IC). Directs the DCI to provide objective and timely intelligence to the President and specified other government officials. (Sec. 103) Requires the DCI to: (1) develop and present to the President an annual budget for the National Foreign Intelligence Program of the United States; (2) establish requirements and priorities for the collection of national intelligence and to manage the collection capabilities of the IC; (3) protect intelligence sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure; (4) promote and evaluate the quality and usefulness of national intelligence to consumers within the U.S. Government; (5) eliminate waste and unnecessary duplication within the IC; (6) have no police, subpoena, or law enforcement powers or internal security functions; (7) have access to all intelligence related to the national security; and (8) coordinate relationships between the IC and the intelligence or security services of foreign governments. Subtitle B: Deputy Directors of Central Intelligence - Establishes a Deputy Director of Central Intelligence to conduct the daily operations of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and a Deputy Director of Central Intelligence for Community Management to direct the operations of the Community Management Staff and the Infrastructure Support Office, as well as other community-wide management functions. (Sec. 124) Provides for the civilian and military status of the DCI and the Deputy Directors. Subtitle C: The Intelligence Community - Provides for the various offices, staffs, councils, agencies, services, and other elements of the IC. Provides for an IC Inspector General who shall coordinate activities with the Inspector General of the Department of Defense. Subtitle D: Annual Reports - Requires the DCI to report annually to the Congress on IC activities. Title II: Intelligence Community Management - Subtitle A: Intelligence Community Functions - Establishes a Community Management Staff (Staff) to provide corporate management of specified IC-wide functions. Subtitle B: National Foreign Intelligence Program - Requires the Deputy Director for Community Management to prepare the annual budgets of the National Foreign Intelligence Program (NFIP), requiring budget approval from the DCI. Provides for accounting and the identification of constituent components with respect to such budget. (Sec. 222) Authorizes budget execution review by the Staff. Requires the Deputy Director for Community Management to establish an automated accounting system and execution review of the NFIP. (Sec. 223) Prohibits funds from being made available for any intelligence or special activity different from that previously justified to the Congress unless the DCI or the Secretary of Defense notifies the congressional intelligence and appropriations committees of such intent. Limits to five percent of the total NFIP budget for that year the amount of funds that may be transferred for such an activity. Prohibits funds available for drug interdiction or counter- drug activities from being so transferred, except as specifically provided in an appropriations law. (Sec. 224) Authorizes the DCI to transfer funds between NFIP programs and personnel between IC elements for up to one year, with conditions and notification of appropriate congressional committees. (Sec. 225) Prohibits funds available under the NFIP from being reprogrammed by any element of the IC without the prior approval of the DCI, except in accordance with procedures issued by the DCI. Subtitle C: Personnel - Requires the DCI to institute policies and programs within the IC for the appropriate use of IC personnel, including the use of personnel rotation and consolidation, performance evaluation systems, and career development programs. (Sec. 232) Authorizes the DCI to terminate the employment of any officer or employee of the CIA, the Clandestine Service, or the Staff when necessary or advisable for U.S. interests. (Sec. 233) Requires the DCI to establish an Intelligence Community Reserve made up of former or retired members of the IC who shall return to active civilian IC status in an emergency. Provides for: (1) monetary incentives for eligible individuals; (2) appropriate training and support; (3) service agreements; and (4) the relationship of such service to employment provisions of the Central Intelligence Agency Voluntary Separation Pay Act. Subtitle D: Infrastructure Support Office - Establishes within the IC the Infrastructure Support Office, headed by a Director appointed by the DCI. Requires such Director to: (1) be responsible for administrative and logistical functions relating to infrastructure and services of common concern to elements of the IC, including personnel management, security, community-level training, communications, and automation; and (2) establish standards and information architectures for automation equipment throughout the IC. Subtitle E: Intelligence Community Administration - Provides for the content of nondisclosure agreements executed by persons, other than U.S. employees or officers, who are connected with the conduct of an intelligence or intelligence-related activity. (Sec. 252) Requires the sharing and reporting of counterintelligence and espionage information between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other executive departments and agencies. Authorizes the President to waive such requirements to meet extraordinary national security interests and to notify the congressional intelligence committees. Requires the FBI Director to report annually to such committees and the House and Senate Judiciary Committees with respect to compliance with the information sharing requirements. (Sec. 253) Requires the DCI to direct that elements of the IC, when compatible with national security interests and fiscally sound, award contracts in a manner that would maximize the procurement of products in the United States. Title III: Intelligence Community Agencies - Subtitle A: Central Intelligence Agency - Establishes the CIA as the principal all-source national intelligence analytical agency, to be headed by the DCI who shall carry out functions through the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence. Requires the DCI to: (1) correlate and evaluate intelligence related to the national security of national intelligence; (2) disseminate such intelligence; (3) coordinate analyses conducted by the IC and establish procedures for collaborative all-source analysis; (4) produce national intelligence estimates; and (5) manage the acquisition and incorporation of all-source intelligence into the community all-source analytical process. Subtitle B: The Clandestine Service - Establishes within the executive branch as an independent entity the Clandestine Service to be headed by the DCI and administered by a Director. Allows for deputy directors of such Service, with one designated as the Deputy Director for Clandestine Military Activities and Support. Requires the Service to collect national intelligence through clandestine means, using elements of the IC. Subtitle C: The National Intelligence Evaluation Council - Establishes within the IC the National Intelligence Evaluation Council to evaluate IC-wide collection and production of intelligence, as well as the requirements and resources for such collection and production. Requires the DCI to provide for necessary Council staffing. Title IV: Department of Defense Functions in the Intelligence Community - Subtitle A: Secretary of Defense - Requires the Secretary of Defense to perform such intelligence functions as may be directed by the President. (Sec. 402) Requires the Secretary to ensure that the budget elements of the IC within the Department of Defense (DOD) for any fiscal year are adequate to satisfy overall DOD intelligence needs. (Sec. 403) Directs the Secretary to eliminate waste and unnecessary duplication among DOD intelligence activities and to ensure: (1) appropriate implementation of the policies and resource decisions of the DCI by elements of the DOD within the NFIP; (2) compatibility of DOD tactical intelligence activities with related activities under the NFIP; (3) that elements of the IC within DOD are responsive and timely in satisfying the needs of operational military forces; and (4) that DOD intelligence activities, when appropriate, are conducted jointly and cooperatively with elements of the IC outside DOD. Authorizes the Secretary to use appropriate DOD elements to perform intelligence functions identified under this Act. Subtitle B: Director of Military Intelligence - Establishes the position of Director of Military Intelligence as the senior military intelligence adviser to the Secretary. Requires such Director to act as the: (1) Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency; (2) program manager for the Joint Military Intelligence Program (JMIP); and (3) program coordinator for activities of DOD known as Tactical Intelligence and Related Activities (TIARA). (Sec. 423) Requires such Director to be accountable in matters relating to the collection and prosecution of national intelligence and responsible for: (1) ensuring that the intelligence requirements of the Secretary and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) are met; (2) the development and submission of the JMIP for any fiscal year; and (3) the development and submission of the TIARA budget, as well as the budget for the NFIP. Subtitle C: The Military Departments - Requires the Secretaries of the military departments to maintain sufficient capabilities to collect and produce intelligence to meet the requirements of the DCI, the Secretary, or the JCS Chairman, as well as the specialized intelligence requirements of the various military departments. Requires such Secretaries to maintain such capabilities jointly as much as possible, in the most cost-effective and efficient form. Subtitle D: Planning and Budgeting - States that the JMIP consists of those DOD programs, projects, and activities that are intended to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities that support multiple defense-wide or joint theater-level consumers. Outlines specific JMIP programs. (Sec. 452) States that TIARA programs, projects, and activities are those which provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities that are unique and organic to one of the military services at the component level or below. (Sec. 453) Prohibits the Secretary from adding to or removing program elements from the JMIP or TIARA for any fiscal year unless the Secretary includes notice of such change within the justification materials submitted to the congressional intelligence committees for the preceding fiscal year. Title V: Department of Defense Agencies in the Intelligence Community - Subtitle A: Defense Intelligence Agency - Establishes within DOD the Defense Intelligence Agency, headed by the Director of Military Intelligence, to produce and disseminate timely, objective military and military-related intelligence based on all sources available to the IC. Subtitle B: Technical Collection Agency - Establishes within DOD the Technical Collections Agency (TCA) to collect and carry out the exploitation of all forms of intelligence other than open source and human intelligence, including signals intelligence, imagery intelligence, and measurement and signatures intelligence. Subtitle C: Technology Development Office - Establishes within DOD a Technology Development Office to be headed by a Director who shall serve as the sole agent within the IC for the conduct of research, development, test, and evaluation for procurement and for the launch of required satellite reconnaissance systems. Requires such Director to acquire and operate related reconnaissance and sensor systems within the NFIP and the JMIP. Title VI: National Security Council and Related Boards and Committees - Includes within the NSC only the President, Vice President, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense. Allows additional officers designated by the President to attend NSC meetings. Requires the NSC to advise the President with respect to the integration of domestic, foreign, and military policies relating to the national security so as to enable the military services and other Federal departments and agencies to cooperate more effectively in national security matters. (Sec. 602) Establishes within the NSC the Committee on Foreign Intelligence to: (1) establish the overall requirements and priorities for the IC; and (2) regularly assess the effectiveness of the IC in performing its responsibilities under the National Security Act of 1947 and the Intelligence Community Act. Requires the Committee to meet at least semiannually with the congressional intelligence committees to conduct a comprehensive, global strategic intelligence review. (Sec. 603) Prohibits any employee or individual assigned to the staff of the NSC from participating directly in the execution of an intelligence operation. Title VII: Technical and Conforming Amendments - Subtitle A: Amendments Related to Creation of Technical Collection Agency - Makes technical and conforming amendments necessitated by the creation of the TCA under this Act, including the renaming of the National Security Agency Act of 1959 as the Technical Collection Agency Act of 1996. Authorizes the TCA Director to establish a Cryptologic Linguist Reserve and to carry out other specified cryptologic functions. Subtitle B: Amendments Related to Creation of Clandestine Service - Makes technical and conforming amendments necessitated by the creation of the Clandestine Service. Subtitle C: Amendments Related to Inspector General for the Intelligence Community - Redesignates the CIA Inspector General as the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community. Increases such Inspector General's scope of authority to include all intelligence agencies. Subtitle D: Repeals of Provisions Recodified in New Act - Repeals specified provisions of prior year intelligence authorization Acts, defense appropriations Acts, the National Security Act of 1947, and other Federal law made inconsistent by changes made under this Act. Subtitle E: Other Amendments - Makes conforming and technical amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 and other Federal law. Title VIII: Transfer of Functions, Savings Provisions, and Effective Date - Subtitle A: Transfers of Functions to Intelligence Community Agencies Other Than Agencies in Department of Defense - Transfers to the Clandestine Service certain clandestine operations functions currently performed within DOD. Abolishes within the CIA: (1) the Directorate of Operations; (2) the Directorate of Science and Technology; and (3) the Directorate of Administration. (Sec. 802) Abolishes the National Intelligence Council. Subtitle B: Transfers of Functions to Intelligence Community Agencies in Department of Defense - Transfers to the TCA functions currently vested in the National Security Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the Central Imagery Office. (Sec. 812) Transfers to the Technical Development Office functions currently performed by the National Reconnaissance Office, the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office, and the Director of Science and Technology of the CIA. (Sec. 813) Abolishes the National Security Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the Central Imagery Office. Subtitle C: General Transfer Provisions - Transfers necessary functions, appropriations, and personnel under subtitles A and B. Subtitle D: General Savings Provisions - Provides general savings provisions for operations, activities, and proceedings undertaken before enactment of this title. Subtitle E: Effective Date - Makes this Act and its amendments effective six months after enactment, unless the President prescribes an earlier date (which must be published in the Federal Register).

More Power for Empowerment Zones Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Tax Treatment of Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities Subtitle A: Designation of Additional Empowerment Zones Subtitle B: Increased Incentives for Empowerments Zones and Enterprise Communities Subtitle C: Brownfields Redevelopment Act Title II: Assistance for Infrastructure Improvements and Development Title III: Additional Benefits for Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities Title IV: Regulatory Flexibility More Power for Empowerment Zones Act of 1996 - Title I: Tax Treatment of Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities - Subtitle A: Designation of Additional Empowerment Zones - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the designation of additional empowerment zones. Subtitle B: Increased Incentives for Empowerments Zones and Enterprise Communities - Modifies requirements regarding: (1) the tax exempt status of enterprize zone facility bonds; and (2) expensing. (Sec. 114) Excludes from gross income capital gains on zone assets. Allows deductions for the purchase of enterprise zone stock. (Sec. 115) Allows a business investment deduction for commercial revitalization. Subtitle C: Brownfields Redevelopment Act - Allows: (1) a business credit for empowerment zones for 50 percent of the costs of environmental remediation; and (2) the use of redevelopment bonds for environmental remediation. Title II: Assistance for Infrastructure Improvements and Development - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to: (1) guarantee debt instruments issued by local governments or their designated agencies to finance infrastructure activities to be carried out in empowerment zones or enterprise communities; and (2) require the local government to provide security. Mandates a revolving fund to make loans to local governments for infrastructure activities in empowerment zones or enterprise communities. Authorizes grants to local governments for infrastructure activities in empowerment zones or enterprise communities. Title III: Additional Benefits for Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities - Give Students the Power to Work Program Act - Authorizes grants to local educational agencies in empowerment zones to provide students with employment skills and technologies necessary to sustain or improve businesses and industries in the zones. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 302) Requires that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, at least 15 percent of U.S. assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the Arms Export Control Act, and the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 be provided in the form of credits that may only be used for the purchase of U.S. goods produced, manufactured, or assembled in empowerment zones, enterprise communities, or enterprise zones in the United States. (Sec. 303) Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 and provisions of Federal law relating to the armed forces to require that at least 15 percent of procurement be obligated for contracts to be carried out by entities in empowerment zones or enterprise communities. (Sec. 304) Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require that certain items be procured from entities in empowerment zones or enterprise communities. (Sec. 305) Authorizes grants to a State or local government for innovative programs for the transportation needs of an empowerment zone. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Regulatory Flexibility - Amends Federal law to include enterprise zone businesses, units of government that nominate empowerment zones or enterprise communities, and nonprofit enterprises carrying out a significant portion of their activities in such a zone or community in the definition of "small entity" for provisions relating to analysis of regulatory functions. Authorizes an agency to waive or modify all or part of any rule the agency has the authority to promulgate concerning activities in such a zone or community.

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997

United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Procurement Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Other Matters Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Title III: Operation and Maintenance Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Other Matters Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations Subtitle A: Active Forces Subtitle B: Reserve Forces Title V: Military Personnel Policy Subtitle A: Matters Relating to Reserve Components Subtitle B: Officer Education Programs Subtitle C: Other Matters Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances Subtitle B: Extension of Bonus and Incentive Pays Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances Subtitle D: Retired Pay, Survivor Benefits, and Related Matters Subtitle E: Other Matters Title VII: Health Care Provisions Title VIII: Acquisition and Related Matters Title IX: Organization and Management Subtitle A: General Matters Subtitle B: Financial Management Title X: General Provisions Subtitle A: Financial Matters Subtitle B: Civilian Personnel Subtitle C: Reporting Requirements Subtitle D: Matters Relating to Other Nations Subtitle E: Other Matters Title XXI(sic): Army Title XXII: Navy Title XXIII: Air Force Title XXIV: Defense Agencies Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations Title XXVIII: General Provisions Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes Subtitle B: Base Closure and Realignment and Environment Subtitle C: Land Conveyance Subtitle D: Other Matters National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for procurement to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for: (1) defense-wide procurement; (2) the Defense Inspector General; (3) the Defense Health Program; and (4) the chemical demilitarization program. Subtitle B: Other Matters - States that a current prohibition under a prior defense authorization Act against the new production of F-15E aircraft shall not apply to the obligation of funds authorized and appropriated for FY 1996 or to any appropriation or authorization for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY 1997. (Sec. 111) Increases the research and development and total procurement thresholds for a system to be considered a "major system" for DOD procurement purposes. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to adjust such amounts on the basis of DOD escalation rates, after notifying the Senate Armed Services and House National Security Committees. (Sec. 112) Strikes certain information concerning the completion status of major defense acquisition programs from information required to be contained in Selected Acquisition Reports for such programs. Requires such Reports to include procurement unit cost (currently, program acquisition unit cost). Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for the armed forces for research, development, test, and evaluation. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the Secretary to waive the live-fire survivability testing requirements with respect to V-22 aircraft. Provides for an alternative live-fire test program. Provides funding. (Sec. 203) Authorizes such live-fire test waiver with respect to the F-22 aircraft, requiring an alternative live-fire test program if the Secretary certifies that normal testing would be unreasonably expensive and impractical. Provides funding. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to conduct basic and applied research and advanced technology development on chemical and biological warfare defense technologies and systems, independent of any other DOD component. Title III: Operation and Maintenance - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for operation and maintenance for the armed forces and specified activities and agencies of DOD. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 to DOD for working capital and revolving funds. Subtitle B: Other Matters - Provides additional remedies for employees of defense contractors who disclose information regarding a substantial violation of law (whistle blowers). (Sec. 311) Repeals the requirement of a physical examination for members of the National Guard called into Federal service. (Sec. 312) Defines "capital assets" for purposes of assets in the Defense Business Operations Fund as those having a development or acquisition cost of not less than $100,000 (currently, $50,000). Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations - Subtitle A: Active Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths for active-duty forces as of the end of FY 1997. (Sec. 402) Excludes from active-duty end strength limits those members of the reserve serving on active duty for 181 days or more to perform special work in support of peacetime requirements of the active components and combatant commands. Subtitle B: Reserve Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths as of the end of FY 1997 for members of the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel on active duty in support of the reserves. Title V: Military Personnel Policy - Subtitle A: Matters Relating to Reserve Components - Provides that reserve officers in an inactive status who are required to be removed from such status: (1) shall be transferred to the Retired Reserve; or (2) may be discharged from their appointment. (Sec. 502) Provides an exception from the requirement of a baccalaureate degree for appointment to a grade above O-2 in the Naval Reserve in the case of persons appointed for service under either the Naval Aviation Cadet (current law) or Seaman to Admiral Program. (Sec. 503) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out in the United States a test program under which those reserve members eligible for commissary use will be permitted to use such stores on the same basis as members on active duty. Requires the Secretary to report test program results to the Congress. (Sec. 504) Provides an exception from the prohibition against the involuntary release or discharge of reserve personnel within two years of eligibility for retirement in the case of members who serve on active duty (other than for training) for a period of less than 180 days, as long as such member is informed of and consents to such exception prior to commencing such active duty. (Sec. 505) Requires an individual to have received his or her baccalaureate degree within eight (currently, three) years of appointment to a reserve officer position in order to meet the Selected Reserve officer education requirement. (Sec. 507) Increases the authorized activities of members of the reserve called to active duty for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the reserve components. Subtitle B: Officer Education Programs - Extends from under 25 to under 27 years old the age limit for initial appointment as a cadet or midshipman in the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and the military service academies. (Sec. 511) Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide financial assistance to a student enrolled in an advanced educational program beyond the baccalaureate degree level, as long as such student is also a cadet or midshipman in an advanced training program. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Reduces from three to two years the minimum time in grade required before a chief warrant officer may be considered for promotion. Authorizes warrant officers below the promotion zone to be selected for promotion to the grade of chief warrant officer, W-3. (Sec. 517) Repeals Federal provisions allowing for judicial review of a determination of death of a person previously in a missing status during service in the armed forces, as well as special interest cases eligible for review. Requires the Secretary of the military department concerned (currently, the theater component commander) to transmit within ten days (currently, 48 hours) after a preliminary status assessment a recommendation that a person be placed in a missing status. Requires the Secretary concerned to perform all duties currently required of the theater component commander with respect to such persons and their status. Repeals: (1) the requirement of appointment of counsel to represent a missing person during an inquiry into the status of such person; (2) the requirement that subsequent reviews of a person's status as missing occur at least every three years (instead requiring such review upon receipt of information that may result in a change of status of the missing person); (3) a provision providing civil and criminal penalties for the wrongful withholding of information concerning a person's status; (4) the requirement that certain information be submitted by a board of inquiry making a recommendation that a missing person be declared dead; and (5) the inclusion of DOD civilian and defense contractor employees as covered persons under such provisions. (Sec. 518) Makes permanent (currently ends September 30, 1996) the authority for the temporary promotion of certain Navy lieutenants. (Sec. 519) Authorizes the Secretary concerned, when considered expeditious, to extend for up to 180 days beyond the current limit of 365 days after enlistment in a reserve component the active-duty entry date under the delayed entry program. Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits - Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances - Waives any FY 1997 military pay increases tied to increases in the General Schedule of Compensation for Government employees. Increases by 3.0 percent, effective on January 1, 1997, the rates of basic pay, basic allowance for subsistence, and basic allowance for quarters (BAQ). (Sec. 602) Prohibits the payment of a BAQ to a member of the Ready Reserve who is serving on active duty for 15 days or less and provided government quarters, unless such member is accompanied by his or her dependents. (Sec. 603) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay a BAQ for a member who is without dependents, serving in pay grade E-5, and assigned to sea duty. Authorizes the payment of a BAQ to two members in pay grades below E-6 who are married to each other without dependents and simultaneously assigned to sea duty on ships. (Sec. 604) Repeals a provision which requires the rate of monthly cadet or midshipman pay to be adjusted in the same manner and time as the adjustment of pay to military personnel in connection with General Schedule increases. Subtitle B: Extension of Bonus and Incentive Pays - Extends through FY 1999 specified authorities currently scheduled to expire at the end of FY 1997 with respect to certain special pay and bonus programs within the regular and reserve armed forces. Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances - Allows, as part of the transportation allowance for the transport of a motor vehicle in connection with a permanent change of duty station, a monetary allowance to be paid for: (1) return travel to the old duty station; or (2) travel from the new duty station to the port of debarkation to pick up the vehicle. (Sec. 611) Authorizes the Secretary to reimburse board members of the DOD domestic dependent school system for travel and transportation expenses which include program and activity fees, when the Secretary determines that such programs and activities are reasonable and necessary for the performance of school board duties. (Sec. 612) Provides that, when a member of the armed forces is ordered to a foreign country and the laws of such country prohibit or restrict the entry of a motor vehicle, such member may elect to receive paid storage of such vehicle in lieu of the normal transportation allowance for such vehicle. (Sec. 613) Repeals a Federal provision prohibiting the payment of lodging expenses of a DOD civilian employee on official business away from home when adequate Government quarters are available. Subtitle D: Retired Pay, Survivor Benefits, and Related Matters - Makes March 1996 the effective date of an increase in military retired pay which became effective on December 1, 1995. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to repeal a provision which provides a contingent alternative effective date for the military pay increase for FY 1998. (Sec. 616) States that the dependents of members of the Selected Reserve, like the members themselves, shall be permitted the use of certain morale, welfare, and recreation facilities of DOD on the same basis as members on active duty. Makes an identical allowance for dependents of members of the armed forces who would otherwise be eligible for military retired pay but for the fact that they are under 60 years of age. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Authorizes the payment of retirement benefits, eligibility for placement on the temporary disability retirement list, or eligibility for separation with severance pay for active-duty personnel who are: (1) not entitled to basic pay due to participation in an educational program; and (2) unfit to perform their duties because of a disability incurred while participating in such program. (Sec. 621) Amends Federal provisions concerning the payment of military retired or retainer pay to survivors and dependents of military personnel to: (1) include facsimile or other electronic transmission as a valid service of process; (2) require a finding of proper jurisdiction before a court of one state can modify or alter an original court order from another state; and (3) provide that the effective date of the termination of retirement benefits for a person who has been sentenced by a court-martial shall be the date of discharge from the uniformed services. (Sec. 622) Allows a member whose travel to a new duty station is delayed by participation in a critical operational mission to defer such travel (for which a travel or transportation allowance is authorized) for up to one year after assignment to such mission. Title VII: Health Care Provisions - Amends the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to authorize the Secretary to pay amounts for covered services which are higher than prescribed limits when enrollees in managed care programs obtain covered services (currently, covered emergency services) from nonparticipating providers. (Sec. 702) Repeals statutory restrictions on the use of DOD funds or facilities to perform abortions. (Sec. 703) Provides CHAMPUS medical and dental care benefits for reserve personnel who incur or aggravate an injury, illness, or disease: (1) in the line of duty while performing active duty, active or inactive duty training, or full-time National Guard duty; (2) while traveling to or from such duty or training; or (3) in the line of duty while remaining overnight, between successive periods of inactive duty training, in a site beyond reasonable commuting distance from the member's residence. Authorizes the following for members described under (3), above: (1) the recovery, care, and disposition of remains; (2) eligibility for retirement pay upon separation due to disability after 30 days or less of active-duty service; (3) entitlement to basic pay; and (4) compensation for inactive-duty training. Title VIII: Acquisition and Related Matters - Repeals the defense procurement technical assistance cooperative agreement program. (Sec. 802) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act: (1) for Fiscal Year 1991 to extend through FY 1998 the pilot Mentor-Protege Program; and (2) for Fiscal Year 1994 to extend through FY 1999 the authority of the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to carry out prototype activities directly relevant to weapons or weapon systems proposed to be acquired or developed by DOD. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct a follow-on acquisition of any prototype or technology demonstrator developed in connection with such activities. (Sec. 803) Provides that any subdivision of appropriations made in this Act and hereafter under the heading "Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy" shall be considered to be for the same purpose as any subdivision under such heading in any prior year. (Sec. 805) Directs the Secretary to rely on the private sector for commercial or industrial type supplies and services for or beneficial to the accomplishment of authorized DOD functions, except when the Secretary determines that the function should be performed by government personnel. Empowers the Secretary to contract with private or non-government entities for the provision of such functions. Title IX: Organization and Management - Subtitle A: General Matters - Redesignates the North American Air Defense Command as the United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command. (Sec. 902) Authorizes civilian DOD employees to be included on ammunition storage boards. Subtitle B: Financial Management - Establishes in DOD and each of the military departments an Environmental Restoration Account. (Currently, there is established in DOD only the Defense Environmental Restoration Account.) (Sec. 911) Authorizes up to $2 million of DOD funds annually to be used for small meals and snacks during specified military recruiting functions. Title X: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Financial Matters - Repeals the requirement that amounts requested for the procurement of reserve equipment be set forth in a separate budget request. (Sec. 1002) Authorizes the Secretary to accept services as contributions for defense programs, projects, and activities. Directs the Secretary to establish written rules to be used as criteria for the acceptance of money, real or personal property, or services for such programs, projects, and activities. (Sec. 1003) Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act and the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (base closure laws) to provide for the disposition of funds arising from the disposal of real property or facilities acquired, constructed, or improved with commissary store or nonappropriated funds in connection with the closure or realignment of a military installation under a base closure law. Subtitle B: Civilian Personnel - Authorizes the Secretary to employ necessary civilian faculty personnel at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. (Sec. 1012) Excepts from the competitive service non-attorney positions established in a judge's chambers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. (Sec. 1013) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to repeal a provision which requires the Secretary to convert at least 10,000 military positions to civilian positions by the end of FY 1997. Subtitle C: Reporting Requirements - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to strike certain information currently required in an annual report concerning the ballistic missile defense program. (Sec. 1022) Repeals a requirement for an annual report from the Secretary to the Congress on defense contractor reimbursement costs. (Sec. 1023) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to repeal provisions requiring certain notification to parties substantially or seriously affected by military budget reductions, the closure or realignment of military installations, or the cancellation or curtailment of major defense contracts. Subtitle D: Matters Relating to Other Nations - Includes within the provision of international demining activities the payment of travel and subsistence expenses of persons participating in such program and the costs of equipment, supplies, and services acquired to carry out such program. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Repeals the requirement that the National Defense Technology and Industrial Base Council (Council) prepare specified periodic assessments and plans. Directs the Secretary to establish a program for analysis of national technology and industrial base (NTIB) issues, policies, and programs. Repeals specified provisions concerning administration, contracting, coordination and supervision with regard to such program. Directs the Secretary (currently, the Council) to prepare annually through FY 1998 (currently, 1997) selected assessments of the NTIB in attaining national security requirements. Outlines assessment requirements, requiring its integration with DOD's overall budget, acquisition, and logistics decision-making processes. Directs the Secretary to prescribe departmental guidance appropriate to implement the national security objectives of the President. Requires a report from the Secretary to the Congress concerning such guidance. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress in 1997 and 1998 on such guidance and the addressing of technological and industrial concerns. Repeals a provision requiring the Secretary to coordinate the encouragement of technology transfer with the Council. Empowers the Secretary (currently, the Council) with the authority to appoint members for the Military-Civilian Integration and Technology Transfer Advisory Board, as well as related authority. Repeals the requirement that the National Defense Manufacturing Technology Program be coordinated with the NTIB. (Sec. 1031) Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1988 to authorize the Secretary to transfer real property located at military installations to be closed to a military department or other entity within DOD or the Coast Guard. (Sec. 1032) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act: (1) for Fiscal Year 1993 to require the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development, and Acquisition (currently, for Installations, Logistics and Environment) to participate in functions and meetings of State chemical demilitarization citizens advisory commissions; and (2) for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to repeal a provision which terminates at the end of FY 1997 the authority of the Secretary to transfer DOD excess personal property to Federal and State agencies. (Sec. 1034) Transfers to the Secretary (currently, the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force) the authority to control U.S. transportation systems in time of war. (Sec. 1035) Redesignates the: (1) Naval Records and History Gift Fund as the Naval Historical Center Fund; and (2) Office of Naval Records and History as the Naval Historical Center. (Sec. 1036) Repeals a Federal provision directing the Secretary to authorize commissary and exchange officials to negotiate directly with private carriers for the most cost-effective transportation of commissary and exchange supplies by sea without relying on the Military Sealift Command or the Military Traffic Management Command. (Sec. 1037) Authorizes the Secretary or the Secretary of a military department to enter into cooperative agreements for the preservation, management, maintenance, research, and improvement of cultural resources on military installations. (Sec. 1038) Authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to certain named individuals for extraordinary service in the Army during World War II. (Sec. 1039) Revises generally provisions authorizing the Secretary to lend material, supplies, and personnel services to the Inaugural Committee. Title XXI(sic): Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to construct or acquire family housing units, to carry out architectural planning and design activities, and to improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after 1996 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Army. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXII: Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army under the previous title. Title XXIII: Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army. Title XXIV: Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out architectural planning and design activities and to improve existing military family housing units, in specified amounts. (Sec. 2404) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund for appropriate uses. (Sec. 2405) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out certain energy conservation projects. (Sec. 2406) Authorizes appropriations to DOD for fiscal years after 1996 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of DOD. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program and authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1996 for such contributions. Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1996 for the Guard and Reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. (Sec. 2602) Authorizes specified Army National Guard military construction projects and architectural and engineering services and construction design, using prior year appropriations. Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in the titles XXI through XXVI of this Act on October 1, 1999, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for FY 2000, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain prior-year military construction projects. Title XXVIII: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes - Increases: (1) from $300,000 to $350,000 the active and reserve component minor construction threshold for a project the Secretary may carry out using operation and maintenance funds without prior approval from the appropriate congressional committees; and (2) from $400,000 to $1.5 million the reserve component minor construction project threshold beyond which congressional notification and a 21-day waiting period are required. (Sec. 2802) Includes major maintenance and the repair of drives within the definition of an "improvement" for purposes of authorized improvements to military family housing. Subtitle B: Base Closure and Realignment and Environment - Amends the base closure laws to authorize the Secretary to contract with local governments for the provision of certain community services at facilities on installations closed pursuant to such laws. (Sec. 2806) Authorizes the Secretary to pay from the Department of Defense Base Closure Account (Part II) up to $50,000 for stipulated environmental damages assessed against Loring Air Force Base, Maine. Subtitle C: Land Conveyance - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey to: (1) Richmond or Madison County, Kentucky, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky; (2) the Dublin San Ramon Services District, California, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Camp Parks, California; (3) Leavenworth, Kansas, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; (4) Pierce County, Washington, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at Fort Lewis, Washington; (5) Odenton, Maryland, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Meade, Maryland; (6) Monmouth County, New Jersey, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; and (7) Hinesville, Georgia, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at the Hunter Army Air Field, Fort Stewart, Georgia. (Sec. 2814) Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to grant an easement for rights-of-way for electric power or communication poles and lines. Subtitle D: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into an agreement with a local electric utility or private company to have such utility or company install, operate, and maintain a new electrical distribution system at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. Provides agreement conditions. Provides funds for such system from funds authorized and appropriated for FY 1996.

Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997

United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title XXI(SIC): Army Title XXII: Navy Title XXIII: Air Force Title XXIV: Defense Agencies Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations Title XXVIII: General Provisions Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes Subtitle B: Base Closure and Realignment and Environment Subtitle C: Land Conveyance Subtitle D: Other Matters Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 - Title XXI(sic): Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to construct or acquire family housing units, to carry out architectural planning and design activities, and to improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after 1996 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Army. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXII: Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army under the previous title. Title XXIII: Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army. Title XXIV: Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out architectural planning and design activities and to improve existing military family housing units, in specified amounts. (Sec. 2404) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for the Department of Defense (DOD) Family Housing Improvement Fund. (Sec. 2405) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified energy conservation projects. (Sec. 2406) Authorizes appropriations to DOD for fiscal years after 1996 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions. Limits the total cost of authorized construction projects. Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1996. Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1996 for the Guard and Reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. (Sec. 2602) Authorizes specified Army National Guard military construction projects and architectural and engineering services and construction design, using prior year appropriations. Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in the preceding titles of this Act on October 1, 1999, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for FY 2000, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain prior-year military construction projects. Title XXVIII: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes - Increases: (1) from $300,000 to $350,000 the active and reserve component minor construction threshold for a project the Secretary may carry out using operation and maintenance funds without prior approval from the appropriate congressional committees; and (2) from $400,000 to $1.5 million the reserve component minor construction project threshold beyond which congressional notification and a 21-day waiting period are required. (Sec. 2802) Includes major maintenance and the repair of drives within the definition of an "improvement" for purposes of authorized improvements to military family housing. Subtitle B: Base Closure and Realignment and Environment - Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act and the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to authorize the Secretary to contract with local governments for the provision of certain community services at facilities on installations closed pursuant to such laws. (Sec. 2806) Authorizes the Secretary to pay from the Department of Defense Base Closure Account (Part II) up to $50,000 for stipulated environmental damages assessed against Loring Air Force Base, Maine. Subtitle C: Land Conveyance - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey to: (1) Richmond or Madison County, Kentucky, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at Bluegrass Army Depot, Kentucky; (2) the Dublin San Ramon Services District, California, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Camp Parks, California; (3) Leavenworth, Kansas, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; (4) Pierce County, Washington, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at Fort Lewis, Washington; (5) Odenton, Maryland, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Meade, Maryland; (6) Monmouth County, New Jersey, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; and (7) Hinesville, Georgia, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at the Hunter Army Air Field, Fort Stewart, Georgia. (Sec. 2814) Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to grant an easement for rights-of-way for electric power or communication poles and lines. Subtitle D: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into an agreement with a local electric utility or private company to install, operate, and maintain a new electrical distribution system at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. Provides agreement conditions. Provides funds for such system from funds authorized and appropriated for FY 1996.

Immigration Control and Financial Responsibility Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Immigration Control Subtitle A: Law Enforcement Subtitle B: Other Control Measures Subtitle C: Effective Dates Title II: Financial Responsibility Subtitle A: Receipt of Certain Government Benefits Subtitle B: Miscellaneous Provisions Subtitle C: Effective Dates Immigration Control and Financial Responsibility Act of 1996 - Title I: Immigration Control - Subtitle A: Law Enforcement - Part 1: Additional Enforcement Personnel and Facilities - Directs the Attorney General to increase the number of Border Patrol agents. Authorizes the increase of Border Patrol support personnel. (Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations to increase the number of Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) investigators. (Sec. 103) Provides for an increase in the number of land border inspectors. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations to increase the number of visa overstayer investigators and support personnel. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to increase the number of wage and hour law investigators, with preference for bilingual personnel. (Sec. 106) Provides for an increase in INS detention facilities. (Sec. 107) Provides for a review of INS hiring and training standards. (Sec. 108) Directs the Attorney General to provide for fence construction and road improvements in the San Diego, California, border area. Authorizes appropriations. Part 2: Verification of Eligibility to Work and Receive Public Assistance - Subpart A: Development of New Verification System - Directs the President to develop a system to verify: (1) work eligibility; and (2) immigration status for public assistance eligibility. Sets forth: (1) system requirements; (2) remedies and penalties for unlawful disclosure; (3) employer safeguards; (4) document use restrictions; and (5) liability protections. (Sec. 112) Provides for related demonstration projects, including monitoring and reporting by the Comptroller General. Subpart B: Strengthening Existing Verification Procedures - Sets forth changes in employment-verification document provisions, including: (1) social security account information; (2) types of acceptable documents; (3) birth certificates; and (4) driver's licenses. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a National Center for Health Statistics grant fund to encourage States to develop birth and death certificate matching and related capabilities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 119) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to increase certain employer penalties if specified labor standards violations exist. (Sec. 120) Authorizes the Attorney General to hire additional Assistant United States Attorneys to prosecute cases of unlawful employment of aliens or document fraud. Grants the Secretary of Labor and INS officers related subpoena authority. (Sec. 120B) Directs the Attorney General to establish a task force to improve public education regarding unlawful employment of aliens and unfair immigration-related employment practices. (Sec. 120C) Authorizes additional appropriations for the INS "IDENT" program (fingerprinting of apprehended aliens). Part 3: Alien Smuggling; Document Fraud - Amends Federal criminal law to: (1) authorize INS wiretaps for alien smuggling investigations; and (2) include alien smuggling and certain fraudulent document use provisions within the parameters of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute (RICO). (Sec. 123) Amends the Act to increase criminal penalties for alien smuggling. (Sec. 124) Permits deportation-related videotaped witness testimony under specified circumstances. (Sec. 125) Expands seizure and forfeiture authority for alien smuggling, document fraud violations, and unlawful employment of aliens. (Sec. 127) Revises and establishes penalty provisions for specified document-related violations. (Sec. 133) Amends Federal criminal law to increase penalties for involuntary servitude. Requires the United States Sentencing Commission to review related sentencing guidelines. Part 4: Exclusion and Deportation - Amends the Act to authorize the return of an alien arriving from a foreign territory contiguous to the United States to such territory pending further inquiry of admissibility. Authorizes the Attorney General to order the exclusion or deportation of an alien with or without referral to or from a special inquiry officer under specified circumstances, including vessel-related encounters or extraordinary migration situations (arrival of aliens in numbers of circumstances that exceed inspection capacities). Sets forth such special orders' operational and administrative provisions. (Sec. 142) Revises judicial review of orders of exclusion or deportation. (Sec. 143) Establishes civil penalties for failure to depart. Makes visa overstayers (with exceptions) ineligible for additional visas for specified time periods. (Sec. 144) Authorizes deportation proceedings by electronic means. (Sec. 145) Grants subpoena authority in exclusion or deportation proceedings. (Sec. 147) Denies visas to nationals of a country that refuses (or unduly delays) acceptance of its U.S.-deported nationals. (Sec. 148) Authorizes additional appropriations to the INS for deportation and related detention costs. (Sec. 149) Directs the Attorney General to conduct one or more pilot programs to increase deportation and exclusion efficiency. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 150) Revises suspension of deportation, status adjustment, and voluntary departure provisions. (Sec. 151) Defines "stowaway." Makes such persons excludable but with appealable rights to request asylum or withholding of deportation. Sets forth related carrier cost liability and detention requirements. (Sec. 152) Directs the Attorney General to establish pilot programs for: (1) deterrence of multiple unauthorized entries by aliens into the United States, including the use of interior or third country repatriation; and (2) use of closed military bases as deportable or excludable alien detention centers. (Sec. 154) Requires aliens seeking permanent residence to be immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases. (Sec. 155) Establishes certification requirements for aliens seeking U.S. health care employment (other than physicians). (Sec. 156) Lengthens the period of reentry ineligibility for deported or removed aliens. (Sec. 157) Eliminates "consular shopping" for visa overstayers. (Sec. 158) Makes "incitement" a basis for U.S. exclusion. Part 5: Criminal Aliens - Amends the Act to revise the definition of "aggravated felony." (Sec. 162) Makes an aggravated felon ineligible for status adjustment. Sets forth related provisions regarding: (1) deportation and enforceable rights; (2) custody release; and (3) an additional criminal penalty for unlawful U.S. reentry. (Sec. 165) Revises the categories of convicted aliens and the related procedures for U.S. district court judicial deportations. Permits State court findings of deportability under specified circumstances. Makes conforming amendments to: (1) the Immigration Act of 1990; and (2) the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. (Sec. 166) Provides for a stipulated order of exclusion or deportation. (Sec. 167) Amends Federal criminal law to authorize deportation as a condition to probation under specified circumstances. (Sec. 168) Directs the Attorney General to submit an annual report on criminal aliens. (Sec. 169) Authorizes INS to conduct undercover investigations. (Sec. 170) Provides for the President to negotiate or renegotiate bilateral (alien) prisoner transfer treaties, including provision of compensation. (Sec. 170A) Directs the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to conduct a prisoner transfer treaties study. (Sec. 170D) Authorizes the Attorney General to conduct a demonstration project for identification of illegal aliens in local prisons, including the detailing of an INS specialist to Anaheim, California, to help in such training. Part 6: Miscellaneous - Amends the Act to make Federal agencies eligible for immigration emergency fund reimbursement. Amends Federal law to provide for Federal vessel movement controls in instances of anticipated or actual mass migration of aliens to the United States. Amends the Act to authorize the Attorney General to delegate immigration enforcement authority to State and local officials under such circumstances. (Sec. 173) Provides for: (1) a joint study of automated data collection at ports of entry; and (2) development of an automated (alien) entry-exit control system. (Sec. 178) Authorizes INS: (1) use of volunteers; and (2) acquisition of Federal equipment for border use. (Sec. 180) Amends the Act to place specified limitations on: (1) court jurisdiction in legalization litigation; and (2) status adjustment. (Sec. 182) Requires the Attorney General to report on alien detention space, including an estimate of the number of released deportable or excludable aliens. (Sec. 183) Sets forth special inquiry officer (immigration judge) compensation provisions. (Sec. 184) Amends the Act to authorize the Attorney General to accept State services to carry out immigration enforcement activities. (Sec. 185) Increases the number of "witness cooperation" visas. Subtitle B: Other Control Measures - Part 1: Parole Authority - Amends the Act to make parole authority useable on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. (Sec. 191) Includes parolees in world-wide level of family-sponsored immigrants. Part 2: Asylum - Restricts asylum provisions, including work authorization. (Sec. 196) Authorizes the Attorney General, in order to reduce the asylum backlog, to temporarily: (1) use additional funds for property acquisition; and (2) hire Federal retirees. Part 3: Cuban Adjustment Act - Repeals the Cuban Adjustment Act. Subtitle C: Effective Dates - Sets forth specified effective dates. Title II: Financial Responsibility - Subtitle A: Receipt of Certain Government Benefits - Prohibits public assistance and benefits, with specified exceptions, to an alien who is not a permanent resident, a refugee, a parolee, an asylee, or an alien under withheld deportation. Prohibits unemployment benefits and benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to an alien who does not have work authorization. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to report with respect to enforcement of specified alien housing assistance restrictions. (Sec. 202) Defines "public charge" for deportation purposes. (Sec. 203) Sets forth sponsor affidavit of support requirements. (Sec. 204) Attributes a sponsor's income and resources to the sponsored alien for purposes of (such alien's) public assistance eligibility. Permits similar State and local attribution. (Sec. 205) Requires the Secretary of Education and the Commissioner of Social Security to jointly report on the Department of Education's higher education assistance eligibility matching program. (Sec. 206) Authorizes States and localities to limit assistance to aliens and distinguish among classes of aliens in providing general public assistance. (Sec. 207) Denies the earned income tax credit to individuals who are not citizens or lawful permanent resident aliens. (Sec. 208) Amends Federal criminal law to increase penalties for forging or counterfeiting a Federal agency or department seal to facilitate alien benefit fraud. (Sec. 209) Amends the Social Security Act to authorizes States to place Medicaid anti-fraud investigators in hospitals. Subtitle B: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Attorney General to reimburse States and localities for emergency medical services for specified aliens. (Sec. 213) Authorizes pilot projects for: (1) additional border crossing fees; and (2) expanded U.S.-Canadian port of entry hours and automated permit machines. Subtitle C: Effective Dates - Sets forth effective dates for provisions of this Act.

United States Peace Tax Fund Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996

United States Peace Tax Fund Act - Establishes the United States Peace Tax Fund to receive payments designated by qualified individuals to be used for nonmilitary purposes. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report annually to the Congress on amounts transferred into the Fund. Requires the information to be printed in the Congressional Record. Permits conscientious objectors to designate on their income tax returns that any tax liability be paid into the Fund. Makes this designation procedure available to any individual who has demonstrated himself or herself, by reason of religious training and belief, to be opposed to participation in war in any form. Requires every taxpayer who makes such a designation for any taxable year to file a questionnaire return for the purpose of determining eligibility for such status. Permits the setting aside of criminal or civil penalties imposed upon a taxpayer for nonpayment of tax prior to enactment of this Act if the taxpayer pays the tax due (with interest) and establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Treasury that the nonpayment was due to religious beliefs. Authorizes corresponding procedures in connection with estate and gift tax payments, under conditions prescribed by the Secretary. Directs the Comptroller General to determine the percentage of actual appropriations made by the United States from the Federal budget during the preceding year for military purposes. Requires publication of this information in the Congressional Record. Authorizes a portion of the Fund (corresponding to amounts expended for military purposes) to be appropriated each fiscal year for the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Head Start.

Sensible Military Spending Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996

Sensible Military Spending Act of 1996 - Limits the fiscal year budget for activities within budget function 050 (military spending) to $245 billion for FY 1997, with annual $10 billion reductions in such amounts through FY 2000. Limits such budget to $210 billion in FY 2001. Prohibits the Secretary of Defense, beginning in FY 1997, from spending more than $1.25 billion during a fiscal year for ballistic missile defense research and development. Prohibits the Secretary from: (1) procuring more than 20 bombers under the B-2 aircraft program; (2) obligating any funds to subsidize the marketing or financing of the sale of conventional arms to another nation; (3) procuring any additional vessels in the Seawolf attack submarine class; or (4) procuring any additional Trident II D-5 nuclear submarines. Prohibits the amount of funds expended during FY 1997 and each fiscal year thereafter on: (1) the new attack submarine from exceeding ten percent of its FY 1996 amount; (2) the F-22 advanced tactical fighter program from exceeding 25 percent of its FY 1996 amount; and (3) foreign intelligence activities from exceeding 90 percent of its FY 1996 amount. Directs the Secretary to cancel or terminate the: (1) Navy's new aircraft carrier program; (2) procurement of new MILSTAR satellites; (3) procurement of C-17 cargo aircraft; and (4) anti-satellite weapons program. Directs the Secretary to achieve any additional savings necessary to reach the military spending limits required under this Act by reducing the active duty force structure and by the consolidation of bases and laboratories, with conditions. States that the Secretary of Energy: (1) shall cancel the tritium production program; (2) may not obligate funds after the date of enactment of this Act for technologies used to separate fissile components; (3) beginning with FY 1997, may not spend more than $50 million during a fiscal year for nuclear test site readiness; (4) in carrying out weapons activities for national security programs under the stockpile stewardship program, may not, during FY 1997 and thereafter, exceed 50 percent of its FY 1996 amount; (5) shall terminate construction of the National Ignition Facility; and (6) shall provide adequate funds for environmental restoration and waste management activities at Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear facilities in order to meet all compliance requirements. Directs each Secretary, after taking into account any reductions in force structure under this Act, to achieve any required additional savings by consolidating bases and laboratories of the Department of Defense, DOE, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the promotion of democracy and civil society in Zaire.

United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996

Expresses support for Zairian nongovernmental organizations seeking to promote the protection of fundamental human rights and the transition to democracy in Zaire. Encourages all Zairian political parties to include representatives of civil society in every stage of the electoral process. Condemns: (1) the continuing intimidation of those groups by Zairian military authorities and the practice of torture, arbitrary arrest, extrajudicial execution, and extortion by elements of the Zairian armed forces; and (2) the human rights violations and the intimidation of local civil society groups by such armed forces, with President Mobutu's implicit approval. Urges: (1) President Clinton to continue indefinitely the sanctions already imposed upon Zaire; (2) the United States to work through the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Zaire and pressure the Zairian Government to allow him to open an office in Kinshasa and to facilitate this process; (3) the President to pressure President Mobutu to respect his commitments to prevent the use of Zairian territory for military incursions into Rwanda or for military or militia training and to halt the flow of arms to Hutu extremists living in Eastern Zaire; and (4) the President to assist the United Nations Arms Investigators in removing from the refugee camps intimidators who compel refugees to follow a political agenda of the Zairian Government, to combat extremist propaganda in the refugee camps that is designed to undermine voluntary repatriation efforts of the Commission, and to cooperate with the International Tribunal's efforts to bring the perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide to justice. Recommends that the United States, in collaboration with its allies, investigate and implement other means of continuing and reinforcing international pressure on President Mobutu, his family, and his associates.

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the heroism of the brave and gallant Puerto Ricans in the 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army who fought in the Korean conflict should be commemorated.

United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996

Urges the: (1) Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to plan and host a special event to commemorate the heroism of the Puerto Ricans in the 65th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army who fought in the Korean conflict and rescued the 1st Marine Division at Hugaru-ri and the 3d Army Infantry Division; and (2) American Battle Monuments Commission to provide a plaque at the Korean War Veterans Memorial to commemorate such Regiment.

A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit covered beneficiaries under the military health care system who are also entitled to medicare to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program.

United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1996

Amends Federal provisions concerning the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to direct the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under which covered CHAMPUS beneficiaries who are also entitled to hospital insurance benefits under Part A of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act will be permitted to enroll in a health benefits plan offered through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program in lieu of receiving care under CHAMPUS or the TRICARE program. Outlines provisions concerning: (1) required contributions for such coverage; and (2) the management of participants in the plan. Requires: (1) the Secretary to begin to offer such health benefits option no later than January 1, 1997; and (2) the Secretary and the OPM Director to report annually to the Congress describing the provision of health care services to covered beneficiaries under the plan during the preceding fiscal year.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to limit the amount of recoupment from veterans' disability compensation that is required in the case of veterans who have received certain separation payments from the Department of Defense.

United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1996

Limits the amount of a veteran's disability compensation that may be deducted by reason of the receipt of military separation pay or a Department of Defense separation benefit to 75 percent of that pay or benefit. Makes such provision effective for compensation payments made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for months beginning on or after October 1, 1996.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to taxes.

United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1996

Constitutional Amendment - Requires, in either House, the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present for final adoption of any bill, resolution, or other legislative measure changing the internal revenue laws unless that bill, resolution, or measure is determined at the time of adoption, not to increase the internal revenue by more than a de minimis amount. Allows the Congress to waive that requirement during war or certain military conflict. Requires all votes under this Amendment to be by yeas and nays and the names of persons voting for and against to be entered in the Journal of each House.

To limit the procurement of aircraft landing gear by the Secretary of Defense to landing gear that is manufactured and assembled in the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1996

Requires aircraft landing gear procured by the Department of Defense to be part of the national technology and industrial base (manufactured and assembled in the United States).

To exempt defense nuclear facilities from the Metric System Conversion Act of 1975.

United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1996

Exempts any former or current Defense nuclear production facility owned or managed by the Department of Energy from the requirements of the Metric System Conversion Act of 1975.

Defend America Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996

Defend America Act of 1996 - Expresses U.S. policy to deploy by the end of 2003 a National Missile Defense (NMD) system that: (1) is capable of providing a highly effective defense of U.S. territory against limited, unauthorized, or accidental ballistic missile attack; (2) will be augmented over time to provide a layered defense against larger and more sophisticated ballistic missile threats; and (3) does not feature an offensive-only form of deterrence. Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop for deployment an affordable and operationally effective NMD system which shall achieve an initial operational capability by the end of 2003. Outlines system elements, including the use of missile interceptors on the ground, at sea, and in space. Directs the Secretary to take specified actions to implement the NMD system development upon enactment of this Act, including the conduct of an integrated systems test by the end of 1998. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress the Secretary's plans for the development and deployment of the NMD system. Urges the President to pursue high-level discussions with the Russian Federation to achieve an agreement to amend the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty to allow deployment of the NMD system. Requires the President to present any such agreement to the Senate for its advice and consent. Requires the President and the Congress, if such an agreement is not achieved within one year after enactment of this Act, to consider exercising the option of withdrawing the United States from the ABM Treaty.

A bill to require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a demonstration project to provide the Department of Defense with reimbursement from the medicare program for health care services provided to medicare-eligible beneficiaries under TRICARE.

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996

Requires the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary) to enter into an agreement to carry out a demonstration project under which the HHS Secretary reimburses the Secretary on a capitated basis, from the Medicare Program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, for certain health care services provided by the Secretary to Medicare-eligible military beneficiaries through the TRICARE Program (a managed health care program of the Department of Defense). Outlines project requirements. Requires annual joint reports from the Secretaries to the Congress on the demonstration project. Directs the Comptroller General, at the end of each year in which the project is carried out, to determine and submit to the Congress a report on the extent, if any, to which the costs of the Secretary under the TRICARE Program and the HHS Secretary under the Medicare Program have increased as a result of the project.

A bill to promote peace and security in South Asia.

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996

Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to read as if certain exceptions to its nuclear non-proliferation provisions made by the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1996 (Public Law 104-107), which permit the transfer of certain military equipment or technology to Pakistan, had not been made.

Uniformed Services Medicare Subvention Demonstration Project Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996

Uniformed Services Medicare Subvention Demonstration Project Act - Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Health and Human Services (HHS) to jointly establish a demonstration project (project) to provide the Department of Defense (DOD) with reimbursement, under provisions of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, for health services provided through DOD to certain Medicare-eligible covered military beneficiaries. Requires the project to be conducted in one or more regions in which the TRICARE program (a DOD managed health care program) has been implemented. Allows such project to be conducted for up to two years. Requires such Secretaries to jointly submit to the Congress a first annual report and a final report containing specified information concerning project participants and such project's effects on military medical care access, readiness, and training. Directs the HHS Secretary to make monthly payments to DOD from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund (HHS trust funds) representing appropriate reimbursement amounts. Provides for the determination of such amounts. Directs such Secretaries to jointly: (1) establish a base level of TRICARE coverage required in a geographic region for eligibility under the project; (2) determine baseline costs of such care and coverage; and (3) establish upper reimbursement limits. Directs the Secretary of Defense to waive the enrollment fee for individuals enrolled in a TRICARE program participating in the project. Establishes in the Treasury the Medicare Subvention Fund (Fund) for providing payments to the HHS Secretary for reimbursement of the HHS trust funds and for the payment of all expenses related to the participation of Medicare-eligible covered military beneficiaries in excess of the base level established under this Act, as well as administrative expenses. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 and 1998 for deposit into the Fund to carry out the purposes of this Act.

Defend America Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996

Defend America Act of 1996 - Expresses U.S. policy to deploy by the end of 2003 a National Missile Defense (NMD) system that: (1) is capable of providing a highly effective defense of U.S. territory against limited, unauthorized, or accidental ballistic missile attack; (2) will be augmented over time to provide a layered defense against larger and more sophisticated ballistic missile threats; and (3) does not feature an offensive-only form of deterrence. Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop for deployment an affordable and operationally effective NMD system which shall achieve an initial operational capability by the end of 2003. Outlines system elements, including the use of missile interceptors on the ground, at sea, and in space. Directs the Secretary to take specified actions to implement the NMD system development upon enactment of this Act, including the conduct of an integrated systems test by the end of 1998. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress the Secretary's plans for the development and deployment of the NMD system. Urges the President to pursue high-level discussions with the Russian Federation to achieve an agreement to amend the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty to allow deployment of the NMD system. Requires the President to present any such agreement to the Senate for its advice and consent. Requires the President and the Congress, if such an agreement is not achieved within one year after enactment of this Act, to consider exercising the option of withdrawing the United States from the ABM Treaty.

Medicare Subvention Fairness Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996

Medicare Subvention Fairness Act - Requires the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary) to enter into an agreement to carry out a demonstration project under which the HHS Secretary reimburses the Secretary on a capitated basis, from the Medicare Program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, for certain health care services provided by the Secretary to Medicare-eligible military beneficiaries through the TRICARE Program (a managed health care program of the Department of Defense). Outlines project requirements. Requires annual joint reports from the Secretaries to the Congress on the demonstration project. Directs the Comptroller General, at the end of each year in which the project is carried out, to determine and submit to the Congress a report on the extent, if any, to which the costs of the Secretary under the TRICARE Program and the HHS Secretary under the Medicare Program have increased as a result of the project.

Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996

Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide hospital care and medical services to, among others, any veteran: (1) with a compensable service-connected disability (currently, for any service-connected disability, regardless of compensation); or (2) who is unable to defray the expenses of necessary medical care and services. Authorizes the Secretary, with respect to veterans not otherwise eligible for such care and services, to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care which the Secretary determines is needed. (Sec. 3) Repeals the requirement that veterans be eligible to receive hospital care through the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to receive surgical, dental, optometric, and podiatric services, but requires such eligibility before receiving certain prosthetic appliances as well as special clothing necessitated by the wearing of such appliances. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary, in managing the provision of hospital care and medical services, to establish and operate a system of annual patient enrollment, with specified priorities relating to the degree of disability of a veteran and related factors. Requires the Secretary to design, establish, and manage Department health care programs so as to promote cost-effective delivery of health care services in the most clinically appropriate setting. Authorizes the Secretary to contract out when Department medical facilities are not capable of economically furnishing such care and services. Requires the Department to maintain its capacity to provide for the specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans, with at least the same capacity to provide such services as in existence on the date of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 5) Repeals a provision of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 which terminates on October 1, 1996, the authority of the Secretary to enter into agreements with the Secretary of Defense for the sharing of medical facilities and resources. Empowers the United States to collect from primary health providers of covered beneficiaries the charges for care or services covered under the primary health-plan contract which are provided through the Department. (Sec. 6) Repeals a statement of congressional purpose with respect to entering into health care resources sharing agreements with medical schools, health-care facilities, and medical research centers. Makes eligible as additional parties to such agreements health-care plans and providers, insurers, and other entities or individuals. Repeals a requirement of reciprocal reimbursement under such agreements. Allows the provision of services under such agreements to non-veterans only if the Secretary determines that such an arrangement will not result in the denial of or delay in the provision of care to any veteran in that facility and either: (1) is necessary to maintain an acceptable level and quality of service to veterans at that facility; or (2) will result in the improvement of services to eligible veterans there. (Sec. 7) Exempts from inclusion under full-time equivalent position limitations in the Department the number of positions held by persons providing health-care resources under resource sharing agreements.

To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions under those Acts, to authorize the transfer of naval vessels to certain foreign countries, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Defense and Security Assistance Chapter 1: Military and Related Assistance Chapter 2: International Military Education and Training Chapter 3: Antiterrorism Assistance Chapter 4: Narcotics Control Assistance Chapter 5: Other Provisions Title II: Transfer of Naval Vessels to Certain Foreign Countries Title I: Defense and Security Assistance - Chapter 1: Military and Related Assistance - Amends the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) to: (1) require loans made under the Foreign Military Financing Program to be provided at interest rates that are not less than the current average market yield of outstanding U.S. marketable obligations of comparable maturities; (2) authorize the President, with respect to the Government of Israel (currently, only to member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), to provide quality assurance, inspection, and contract audit services under contracts for defense articles entered into with such nation; (3) direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct audits of private firms that have contracted with foreign governments for the procurement of defense articles or services or design and construction services; (4) require notification to specified congressional committees for each country and international organization that has been approved for cash flow financing for the procurement of such articles or services valued in excess of $100 million that is to be financed under AECA or the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA); (5) limit to $100 million the fiscal year funds to be made available to countries other than Israel and Egypt for financing such articles or services that are not sold by the U.S. Government under AECA; and (6) include in a required annual arms sales estimate and justification made by the President to the Congress a detailed accounting of all articles, services, credits, guarantees, or other assistance furnished to each country and international organization during the preceding fiscal year for the detection and clearing of landmines, as well as an analysis of de- mining activities. (Sec. 103) Amends FAA to authorize the President, under certain emergency conditions, to direct the drawdown of defense articles and services from the inventory and resources of any Federal agency (currently, only from the Department of Defense (DOD)). Provides additional authorized purposes for the use of such authority. Increases from $75 million to $150 million the fiscal year limit on such drawdown authority, with a limit of $75 million from DOD and $75 million from other Federal agencies. Requires notification to specified congressional committees at least 15 days in advance of the use of such authority. (Sec. 104) Authorizes the President to transfer excess defense articles to any country (currently, limited to certain NATO countries) for which receipt of such articles is justified under certain military assistance programs or for which receipt was separately justified to the Congress for such fiscal year. Provides transfer limitations and terms. Waives the requirement that DOD be reimbursed by recipient countries for its transfer costs. Prohibits DOD funds from being expended for transfer transportation costs, with a waiver by the President for national interest reasons (with certain other limitations). Requires the President to notify specified congressional committees at least 15 days in advance of the transfer of excess defense articles that are significant military equipment or valued at $7 million or more. Limits to $350 million the aggregate value of excess defense articles that may be transferred in a fiscal year. Requires documents justifying such transfers to include specified information as to transfer value and costs. (Sec. 105) Authorizes DOD, during FY 1996 and 1997, to expend funds for crating, packing, handling, and transportation of excess defense articles for transfer to countries that are eligible: (1) to participate in the Partnership for Peace; and (2) for assistance under the Support for East European Democracy Act of 1989. Chapter 2: International Military Education and Training - Allows funds made available for FY 1996 and 1997 for military training and education purposes to be obligated for Indonesia only for expanded military and education training that meets specified requirements under FAA. (Sec. 112) Allows individuals who are not members of the government of a foreign country to receive military education and training assistance under FAA. Authorizes the President to provide for the attendance of foreign military and civilian defense personnel at flight training schools and programs in the United States without charge under such training and education program, with specified conditions. Prohibits the availability of such funds on a grant basis for high-income foreign countries (Austria, Finland, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Spain) for the military education and training of military and related civilian personnel of such countries. Chapter 3: Antiterrorism Assistance - Repeals a provision of FAA which: (1) authorizes antiterrorism assistance to eligible foreign countries, subject to reimbursement for the value of such assistance; (2) limits the provision of training services outside the United States; and (3) requires U.S. personnel providing antiterrorism assistance to carry out such activities within the United States. Prohibits the use of funds for the procurement of weapons and ammunition, with an exception for arms and ammunition integrally and directly related to antiterrorism training. Repeals the requirement of a report from the President to specified congressional leaders whenever such assistance is provided to a country. (Sec. 122) Authorizes funds made available in FY 1996 and 1997 under FAA for antiterrorism assistance to be made available to the Technical Support Working Group of the Department of State for research and development expenses related to contraband detection technologies or for field demonstration of such technologies. Chapter 4: Narcotics Control Assistance - Adds to the authorized uses of narcotics control assistance under FAA the policing of international criminal activities that endanger political and economic stability and democratic development. Authorizes the President to accept contributions from foreign governments to carry out narcotics control programs for the benefit of such countries. Requires a detailed report from the President to specified congressional committees on contributions received and used. Authorizes the President to provide such assistance on a reimbursable basis. Authorizes the Secretary of State to receive nonlethal excess property from any Federal agency and, in turn, provide such property to a foreign government for narcotics control law enforcement assistance activities. (Sec. 132) Provides that certain national drug control authority described under the National Narcotics Control Leadership Act of 1988 may be exercised with respect to funds authorized under FAA and with respect to State Department personnel only to the extent that the appropriate congressional committees have been notified 15 days in advance of the use of such authority. (Sec. 133) Authorizes during FY 1996 and 1997 narcotics-related economic assistance to be provided under FAA to foreign countries notwithstanding any provision of law that otherwise restricts assistance to foreign countries (with exceptions), as long as the President, at least 15 days before obligating funds for such purpose, notifies the appropriate congressional committees in accordance with procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications. Chapter 5: Other Provisions - Amends AECA to direct the President, if he states in a certification for the transfer of certain defense articles or services that an emergency exists which requires that congressional consent to such transfer become effective immediately due to national security, to set forth in such certification a detailed justification for the national security determination. Provides for the consideration of congressional joint resolutions prohibiting the transfer of defense articles and services. Requires certification to be submitted to the Congress: (1) at least 15 days before consent is given for the transfer of any major defense equipment valued at $14 million or more or any defense article or service valued at $50 million or more to NATO countries, Australia, Japan, or New Zealand; and (2) at least 30 days before such consent is given in the case of a transfer to any other country. Provides an exception in both cases for emergency conditions of national security interests. Provides the same certification requirements, with respect to such equipment, articles, or services, for: (1) export licenses; and (2) commercial technical assistance or manufacturing licensing agreements. Provides joint resolution procedures in each case for the prohibition of such licenses or agreements. Requires the President to include a detailed justification of the existence of emergency national security circumstances for immediate congressional consent to the leasing to a foreign government or organization of defense articles under provisions of FAA. Provides the same time limits with respect to certifications for such leases as provided for major defense equipment, articles, and services, above. (Sec. 142) States that the consent of the President shall not be required for the transfer by a foreign country or international organization to another country of defense articles sold by the United States under AECA, as long as specified conditions are met, including that the recipient government is a NATO country, Australia, Japan, or New Zealand. (Sec. 143) Authorizes the President to assign U.S. military personnel to any foreign country (currently, only to NATO countries and the armed forces of Japan, Australia, and New Zealand) to promote rationalization, standardization, interoperability, and other defense cooperation measures. (Sec. 144) Defines "significant military equipment" for purposes of AECA as articles: (1) for which special export controls are warranted because of their substantial military utility or capability; and (2) identified on the U.S. Munitions List. (Sec. 145) Eliminates an annual reporting requirement relating to the acquisition of defense articles and services. (Sec. 146) Revises the replacement cost requirements placed on foreign countries or international organizations in the leasing of defense articles from the stocks of DOD. (Sec. 147) Directs the President to notify the Congress at least 30 days in advance of: (1) designating a country as a major non-NATO ally for purposes of FAA; or (2) terminating such a designation. Designates the following countries as such allies: Australia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and New Zealand (waiving the need of congressional notification for such countries). (Sec. 148) Increases the dollar thresholds, on or after which certification shall be required from the President to the Congress before the transfer to a foreign country, of: (1) major defense equipment, from $14 million to $25 million; (2) defense articles or services, from $50 million to $75 million; and (3) design and construction services, from $200 million to $300 million. (Sec. 149) Prohibits the use of funds under FAA or any other Act to facilitate in any way the sale of M-833 antitank shells or any comparable antitank shells containing a depleted uranium penetrating component to any country other than NATO countries, major non-NATO allies, or Taiwan. Provides a national security exception. (Sec. 150) Directs the President to establish a program for the end-use monitoring of defense articles sold, leased, or exported under AECA or FAA. Outlines program requirements. Requires annual implementation reports from the President to the Congress. (Sec. 151) Requires every person (other than an officer or employee of the United States acting in official capacity) who engages in the United States in the business of brokering activities with respect to the manufacture, export, import, or transfer of domestic or foreign defense articles or services to register with the Government and to pay a registration fee. Prohibits any person from engaging in such activities without a license (with an exception for certain activities undertaken by a Federal agency). (Sec. 152) Authorizes the President to acquire a repairable defense article from a foreign country or international organization if such article: (1) was previously transferred to such country under AECA; (2) is not an end item; and (3) will be exchanged for a defense article of the same type that is in the stocks of DOD. Outlines further acquisition limitations. Requires the government or organization receiving a new or repaired defense article in place of the repairable defense article to be charged all costs associated with such repair and replacement. Authorizes the President to accept the return of a defense article from a foreign country or organization if such article: (1) was previously transferred to such country or organization under AECA; (2) is not significant military equipment; and (3) is in fully functioning condition without need of repair or rehabilitation. Provides further limitations and provides a credit to the country or organization returning such article. (Sec. 153) Authorizes the President, in the interest of national security, to waive the reimbursement of depreciation for any defense article which has passed three-quarters of its normal service life. Title II: Transfer of Naval Vessels to Certain Foreign Countries - Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to transfer designated frigates, surveillance ships, or landing ships to: (1) Egypt; (2) Mexico; (3) New Zealand; (4) Portugal; (5) the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States; and (6) Thailand. Requires vessel recipients to pay any transfer costs. Terminates such transfer authority two years after the enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to require, as a condition of such transfers, that any necessary repair or refurbishment of such vessels be performed at a U.S. shipyard.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to enable the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve service-delivery of health care to veterans, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996

Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in carrying out responsibilities with respect to the delivery of health care for veterans and their beneficiaries, to establish and operate managed health care plans through a Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility or group of such facilities or through arrangements with public or private entities. Directs the Secretary to prescribe the minimum health care benefits to be provided to veterans enrolled in the plan, which shall include at least those benefits covered under parts A and B of the Medicare Program (title XVIII of the Social Security Act). Authorizes the Secretary to establish cost-sharing requirements for veterans enrolled in such a plan, including premiums, copayments, and deductibles. Requires the director of a Department health care facility to certify, before the operation of a plan at such facility, that sufficient medical care funds have been allotted to such facility to provide the needed services. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary) to make payments during a year to a Department managed health care plan on behalf of veterans who are Medicare-eligible individuals and are enrolled in the managed health care plan, under similar terms as the HHS Secretary makes payments under Medicare to other eligible managed health care plans. Directs the Secretary to certify to the HHS Secretary each year a list of all Department managed health care plans which conform to the standards required for such payments.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise and improve eligibility for medical care and services under that title, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996

Revises Federal veterans' benefits provisions to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care, and to allow the Secretary to furnish nursing home care, to a veteran who is catastrophically disabled (a veteran whose expenditures for such care exceeded 7.5 percent of his or her gross adjusted income for the preceding year). (Sec. 2) Makes eligible for medical services on an ambulatory or outpatient basis, notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such disability may be associated with the described exposure, any disabled veteran who the Secretary finds: (1) may have been exposed to dioxin or was exposed to a toxic substance found in a herbicide or defoliant used for military purposes during the Vietnam era while serving on active duty in Vietnam; (2) was exposed while serving on active duty to ionizing radiation from the detonation of a nuclear device in connection with such veteran's participation in the test of such a device or with the American occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, from September 11, 1945, through July 1, 1946; or (3) may have been exposed to a toxic substance or environmental hazard while serving on active duty in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War. Prohibits the provision of such medical services: (1) for any disability that is found to have resulted from a cause other than the exposure described; or (2) after December 31, 1996. Repeals a provision regarding the order of priority for furnishing ambulatory or outpatient medical services for veterans. (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary to furnish nursing home, domiciliary, or long-term care to qualifying disabled veterans where necessary for medical purposes or to obviate the need for hospital care. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary to furnish hospital and nursing home care to any adult dependent of a veteran which the Secretary determines is needed for a disability if such dependent agrees to pay a specified amount representing a portion of the costs of care. Makes such amounts collected or received by the United States for hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care available to the Secretary for payment of the costs of such care, without fiscal year limitation. (Sec. 5) Revises the definition of covered "medical services" for purposes of veterans' benefits provisions to include: (1) primary health care services which include initial diagnostic services, treatment services, referral to specialized care or services, and long-term followup care or services for certain chronic conditions, and routine services regarding disabilities that are provided by physicians who specialize in such disabilities; and (2) medical equipment and prosthetic appliances that are prescribed by a physician based on specific medical needs. (Sec. 7) Repeals a requirement that the Secretary include in the budget documents submitted to the Congress for any fiscal year a detailed report on contract care and services furnished. Authorizes the Secretary to furnish primary health care or preventive health services to veterans who reside in locations that are more than 50 miles or one hour traveling time from a Department of Veterans Affairs facility by or through contract with non-Department facilities under specified circumstances. (Sec. 8) Modifies provisions regarding prosthetic appliances and seeing eye dogs. Directs the Secretary to furnish medical equipment or a prosthetic appliance (equipment) as well as necessary fitting and training to any veteran who is entitled to such equipment. Authorizes the Secretary to repair or replace any reasonably necessary equipment belonging to the veteran which is damaged or destroyed by an accident caused by a service-connected disability for which the veteran is in receipt of, or would, but for the receipt of retirement pay, be entitled to, disability compensation. Authorizes the Secretary to provide eligible veterans: (1) training in a Department facility or by contract, including certain travel and incidental expenses; (2) special clothing made necessary by the wearing of equipment; (3) seeing-eye or guide dogs trained to aid the blind and devices for aiding individuals in overcoming blindness, plus training, including travel expenses; and (4) devices for assisting in overcoming deafness, including telecaptioning decoding devices for television receivers. (Sec. 9) Revises provisions regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical-Care Cost Recovery Fund to make specified amounts available to the Secretary for payment of the costs of furnishing hospital care and medical services, including the costs of Department personnel salaries. (Sec. 10) Grants authority for reimbursement by Medicare of certain health care services provided by Department facilities. (Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary to ensure that the Department maintains its capacity to provide for the specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans, including veterans with spinal cord dysfunction, blindness, and mental illness, in a manner that: (1) affords reasonable access to care and services for those specialized needs; and (2) ensures that overall Department capacity to provide such services is not reduced below its capacity to provide such services as of the date of enactment of this Act.

Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1996

Iran Oil Sanctions Act of 1996 - Directs the President to impose certain economic sanctions against persons who with actual knowledge or reason to know: (1) export certain petroleum and natural gas-related goods or technology that would significantly and materially enhance Iran's ability to develop its petroleum resources; or (2) make an investment of $40 million or more in any 12-month period that directly contributes to Iran's development of such resources. Specifies exceptions to trade sanctions, among other things for certain defense-related articles or services essential to U.S. national security. Prohibits with respect to any sanctioned person: (1) extension of Export-Import Bank assistance; (2) licenses or permits for the exportation of goods or technology; (3) importation into the United States of products produced by such person; and (4) loans from U.S. financial institutions. Specifies sanctions against financial institutions. Authorizes the Secretary of State upon request to issue an advisory opinion to any person as to whether a proposed activity would be subject to sanctions. Waives the requirements of this Act if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that Iran has: (1) ceased its efforts to develop or acquire a nuclear explosive device, chemical or biological weapons, or ballistic missiles and missile launch technology; and (2) been removed from the list of countries determined, under the Export Administration Act of 1979, to have repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism. Sets forth additional criteria for such waiver. Directs the President to establish a List of Petroleum and Natural Gas-Related Goods and Technology which shall be subject to the export control restrictions of this Act. Requires the President to report periodically to the appropriate congressional committees on efforts to persuade other countries to: (1) pressure Iran to cease its weapons of mass destruction programs and support of international terrorism; and (2) ask Iran to reduce the presence of Iranian diplomats and other personnel and withdraw any of them who participated in the takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979. Requires the President to ensure continued reports to the Congress on Iran's: (1) nuclear and other military capabilities; and (2) support for acts of international terrorism. Applies the sanctions required under this Act to persons making investments for the development of petroleum resources in Libya. Declares that determinations to impose sanctions under this Act are not reviewable in any court.

To amend the Export Administration Act of 1979 with respect to exports to terrorist countries.

United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1996

Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to prohibit the export or reexport of certain controlled goods or technology (other than food, medicine, or medical supplies) to countries whose governments have repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism. Specifies goods or technology controlled under the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978, multilateral export control regimes in which the United States participates, as well as any goods or technology which could make a significant contribution to the military potential of a country. Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition if: (1) the export transaction is essential to the national interests of the United States; and (2) the President consults with the Congress according to a certain procedure.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide special rules relating to veteran's reemployment rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994.

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1996

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth rules concerning the treatment of certain veterans' reemployment rights for veterans who return to civilian service following military service, including exempting such veterans from certain employer-sponsored pension contribution limits.

Former Civilian Prisoners of War Benefits Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1996

Former Civilian Prisoners of War Benefits Act of 1996 - Entitles a former civilian prisoner of war (CPOW) to receive necessary medical care and disability benefits for any injury or disability resulting from the period of internment or hiding. Requires any presumptive medical or dental condition related to a period of internment provided for former military POWs to be extended to CPOWs and requires such condition to be considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by the period of internment or hiding regardless of the absence of any record of the injury. Requires the Secretary of Labor to facilitate the payment of any expenditures for medical treatment under this Act. Establishes the Former Civilian Prisoner of War Advisory Committee. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on Department of Labor programs and activities pertaining to CPOWs. Directs the Secretary to seek out and inform eligible individuals of the benefits available under this Act.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding sanctions on nations that assist in the development of nuclear weapon programs of nonnuclear weapon states.

United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1996

Calls for the President: (1) in response to the transfers from the People's Republic of China to Pakistan of equipment important to the development of a nuclear weapons program, to impose the strongest possible sanctions available under Federal law on all Chinese official and commercial entities associated with the research, development, sale, transportation, or financing of any nuclear or military industrial product or service made available for export since March 9, 1992; and (2) to not exercise his authority to waive sanctions in this instance.

Energy Policy and Conservation Act Amendment Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1996

Energy Policy and Conservation Act Amendment Act - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to: (1) restate its purpose so as to grant the President authority to fulfill Federal obligations under the international energy program (currently, standby authority, subject to congressional review, to impose rationing and implement energy conservation plans); (2) repeal the loan guarantee program for the development of underground coal mines; and (3) limit only to instances when the Secretary determines before any lease sale that such bidding would adversely affect competition or the receipt of fair market value the current prohibition on certain lease bidding with respect to Outer Continental Shelf lands by persons partly but significantly owned by more than one major oil company or affiliate. Repeals requirements for oil or gas production at the maximum efficient rate and temporary emergency production rate. (Sec. 3) Repeals the mandate for: (1) a Strategic Petroleum Reserve Plan; (2) an Early Storage Reserve; and (3) a Regional Petroleum Reserve. Revises the guidelines for the maintenance of the SPR. Authorizes the Secretary to use underutilized facilities to store petroleum product owned by a foreign government. Repeals guidelines for the use of interim storage facilities, and environmental considerations for existing facilities. Mandates submission of an expansion plan to the Congress when the Secretary determines that a 750 million barrel inventory can reasonably be expected in the Reserve within five years. Makes the Secretary of Energy's authority to acquire petroleum products for the SPR contingent on the availability of funds. Repeals guidelines governing storage, transport, or exchange of petroleum products with respect to: (1) prescriptions for fill operations by the President (minimum fill rates); (2) withdrawals from Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1; (3) fill operations suspensions during emergencies; and (4) a test program of refined petroleum products storage. Instructs the Secretary to sell SPR petroleum at public sale to the highest qualified bidder without regard to Federal, State or local regulations. Makes SPR status reports annual instead of quarterly. Authorizes appropriations for the SPR. Extends the authorities relating to the SPR through FY 2001. (Sec. 4) Repeals general emergency authorities, including energy emergency preparedness authority. Revises guidelines governing: (1) international voluntary agreements affecting emergency responses (including the applicability of the Defense Production Act of 1950); and (2) antitrust defenses applicable to international voluntary agreements (only if the International Energy Agency's Emergency Sharing System has been activated). Extends the authorization of appropriations for interagency working groups to promote exports of renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services through FY 2001. Extends other emergency energy authorities through FY 2001. (Sec. 5) Extends authorizations of appropriations through FY 2001 for: (1) State energy conservation programs; (2) the energy conservation program for schools and hospitals; and (3) the alternative fuels truck commercial application program. (Sec. 6) Modifies the statutory mandate that the President collect certain petroleum product information.

Effective Counterterrorism Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Criminal Acts Title II: Increased Penalties Title III: Investigative Tools Title IV: Nuclear Materials Title V: Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives Title VI: Removal Procedures for Alien Terrorists Title VII: Authorization and Funding Title VIII: Miscellaneous Effective Counterterrorism Act of 1996 - Title I: Criminal Acts - Amends the Federal criminal code to set penalties for: (1) killing or attempting to kill any U.S. officer engaged in, or on account of, the performance of official duties or any person assisting such an officer or employee; and (2) threats to assault, kidnap, or murder former Federal officers and employees. (Sec. 102) Sets penalties for providing material support to terrorist organizations. Defines "terrorist organization" as a foreign organization designated in the Federal Register as a terrorist organization by the Secretary of State based upon a finding that the organization engages in, or has engaged in, terrorist activity that threatens U.S. national security. Establishes a process for making such designation. Sets forth provisions regarding judicial review, congressional and other authority to remove such designation, and sunset provisions. (Sec. 103) Modifies a provision setting penalties for providing material support to terrorists, including by: (1) eliminating language that excludes from the definition of "material support or resources" humanitarian assistance to persons not directly involved in violations; and (2) adding language to exclude from such definition medicine or religious materials. (Sec. 104) Sets penalties for: (1) receiving material support from terrorist organizations or countries supporting terrorism; (2) acts of terrorism against children; and (3) conspiring to kill kidnap, maim, or injure people in (currently, limited to injuring property of) a foreign government. (Sec. 107) Makes penalties for an individual committing an offense on an aircraft in flight outside the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States applicable regardless of whether such individual is later found in the United States. Grants jurisdiction over such an offense if: (1) a U.S. national was or would have been on board the aircraft; (2) an offender is a U.S. national; or (3) an offender is found in the United States. Provides that if the victim of specified offenses is an internationally protected person outside the United States, the United States may exercise jurisdiction if: (1) the victim is a representative, officer, employee, or agent of the United States; (2) an offender is a U.S. national; or (3) an offender is found in the United States. (Sec. 108) Modifies provisions regarding the use of weapons of mass destruction to include threats to use such weapons and to specify that: (1) to violate such provisions, such use must be without lawful authority; and (2) the results of such use must affect interstate or foreign commerce. Includes within the definition of "weapon of mass destruction" any weapon designed to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors. Sets penalties (of up to life imprisonment) for any U.S. national who, without lawful authority and outside the United States, uses or threatens, attempts, or conspires to use a weapon of mass destruction. (Sec. 109) Adds terrorism offenses to the money laundering statute. (Sec. 110) Expands Federal jurisdiction over bomb threats. (Sec. 111) Provides that there is U.S. jurisdiction over specified maritime violence: (1) regardless of whether the activity is prohibited by the State in which it takes place; and (2) committed by a U.S. national or by a stateless person whose habitual residence is in the United States, regardless of whether the activity takes place on a ship flying the flag of a foreign country or outside the United States. (Sec. 112) Prohibits the possession, or pledge or acceptance as security for a loan, of stolen explosive materials moving in interstate or foreign commerce. Title II: Increased Penalties - Revises provisions of the Federal criminal code regarding mandatory minimum sentences for certain explosives offenses to eliminate the malice requirement and increase penalties. Extends the statute of limitations to seven years for specified arson and explosives offenses. (Sec. 202) Increases penalties for explosives conspiracies. (Sec. 203) Sets penalties for conspiring to commit various terrorism-related offenses. (Sec. 204) Subjects whoever knowingly transfers explosive materials, knowing that such materials will be used to commit a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime, to the same penalties as may be imposed for a first conviction for the use or carrying of the explosive materials. Title III: Investigative Tools - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to conduct a study concerning: (1) the tagging of explosive materials for purposes of detection and identification; (2) technology for devices to improve the detection of explosives materials; (3) whether common chemicals used to manufacture explosive materials can be rendered inert and whether it is feasible to require it; and (4) whether controls can be imposed on certain precursor chemicals used to manufacture explosive materials and whether it is feasible to require it. Prohibits such study from including black powder or smokeless powder among the materials it concerns. (Sec. 302) Amends the Federal criminal code to require providers of wire or electronic communication services to preserve record evidence. (Sec. 303) Provides that, except for good cause, a continuance on motion of: (1) the person in a detention hearing may not exceed five days; and (2) the attorney for the Government may not exceed three days (as under current law), excluding any intermediate Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. (Sec. 304) Repeals Federal criminal code provisions regarding rewards. Authorizes the Attorney General to pay rewards and receive from any department or agency funds for the payment of rewards to any individual who provides any information unknown to the Government leading to the arrest or prosecution of any individual for Federal felony offenses. Requires the Attorney General to give notice to the Senate and House of Representatives if the reward exceeds $100,000. Specifies that the Attorney General's decision whether to authorize an award shall not be subject to judicial review. Sets forth provisions regarding protection of the identity of the recipient of a reward or of the members of the recipient's immediate family. Bars any officer or employee of any governmental entity from receiving a reward for conduct in performance of official duties. Permits the participation of any individual (and his or her immediate family) who furnishes information which would justify a reward, at the Attorney General's discretion, in the witness security program. (Sec. 305) Authorizes the Attorney General to prohibit: (1) vehicles from parking or standing on any street or roadway adjacent to any building in the District of Columbia which is wholly or partly owned, possessed, used by, or leased to the Federal Government, and used by Federal law enforcement authorities; and (2) any person or entity from conducting business on any property immediately adjacent to any such building. (Sec. 306) Directs the Attorney General to study and report to the Congress on the extent of thefts from military arsenals of firearms, explosives, and other materials that are potentially useful to terrorists. Title IV: Nuclear Materials - Amends the Federal criminal code to expand the scope of provisions regarding prohibited transactions involving nuclear materials (for example, to include nuclear byproduct material) and the jurisdictional bases (such as to cover a situation where an offender or a victim is a U.S. national or a U.S. corporation or other legal entity). Title V: Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit (with exceptions) the manufacture, importation, exportation, shipment, transport, transfer, receipt, or possession of any plastic explosive which does not contain a detection agent. Prohibits any person (other than a U.S. agency or the National Guard of any State) possessing any plastic explosive on the effective date of this title from failing to report to the Secretary the quantity of such explosives possessed, the manufacturer or importer, any identification marks, and such other information as the Secretary may prescribe. (Sec. 503) Sets forth: (1) penalties for violations of this title; and (2) affirmative defenses. Title VI: Removal Procedures for Alien Terrorists - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to establish procedures for the removal of alien terrorists. Requires the Chief Justice of the United States to publicly designate five district court judges to constitute a court with jurisdiction to conduct all special removal proceedings. Makes provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 applicable to proceedings under this title. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) applications for initiation of a special removal proceeding; (2) consideration of the applications; (3) the conduct of special removal hearings, including provision for a public hearing, the right of aliens to counsel, and rules of evidence; (4) treatment of classified information; and (5) appeals. Title VII: Authorization and Funding - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to provide specialized training or equipment to enhance the capability of metropolitan fire and emergency service departments to respond to terrorist attacks. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996. (Sec. 702) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 to the President to provide to foreign countries facing an imminent danger of terrorist attack that threatens the U.S. national interest or puts U.S. nationals at risk assistance in: (1) obtaining explosive detection devices and other counter-terrorism technology; and (2) conducting research and development projects on such technology. (Sec. 703) Authorizes appropriations to the National Institute of Justice Science and Technology Office to: (1) develop technologies that can be used to combat terrorism and standards to ensure the adequacy of products produced and compatibility with relevant national systems; and (2) identify and assess requirements for technologies to assist State and local law enforcement in the national program to combat terrorism. (Sec. 704) Authorizes appropriations for each of FY 1996 through 2000 to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to: (1) hire additional personnel and procure equipment to support expanded investigations of domestic and international terrorism activities; (2) establish a Domestic Counterterrorism Center to coordinate and centralize Federal, State, and local law enforcement efforts in response to major terrorist incidents and to serve as a clearinghouse for all domestic and international terrorism information and intelligence; and (3) cover costs associated with providing law enforcement coverage of public events offering the potential of being targeted by domestic or international terrorists. Title VIII: Miscellaneous - Directs the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on State licensing requirements for the purchase and use of commercial high explosives. (Sec. 802) Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to provide for the compensation of victims of terrorism. (Sec. 803) Amends the Federal judicial code to make an exception to foreign sovereign immunity in certain cases in which money damages are sought against a foreign state for personal injury or death caused by an act of torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, hostage taking, or the provision of material support or resources for such an act, where undertaken by an official, employee, or agent of a foreign country while acting within the scope of his office, employment, or agency. Makes an exception to immunity from attachment where the judgement relates to a claim for which the foreign state is not immune under such provision, regardless of whether the property is or was involved with the act upon which the claim is based. (Sec. 804) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) acquire data, for the calendar year 1990 and each succeeding calendar year, about crimes and incidents of threats and acts of violence against Federal, State, and local government employees in performance of their lawful duties; (2) establish guidelines for the collection of such data; and (3) publish an annual summary of the data, which shall otherwise be used only for research and statistical purposes. Specifies that the United States Secret Service is not required to participate in any statistical reporting activity regarding any threats made against any individual for whom the Service is authorized to provide protection. (Sec. 805) Amends the Federal criminal code to require (current law authorizes) the court to order restitution of the victim when a convicted defendant is being sentenced for specified offenses. Specifies that such requirement does not affect the power of the court to impose any other penalty authorized by law. Permits the court, in the case of a misdemeanor, to impose restitution in lieu of any other penalty authorized by law. Authorizes a court to order restitution of any person who, as shown by a preponderance of the evidence, was harmed physically, emotionally, or pecuniarily by unlawful conduct of the defendant during the offense or during the course of a scheme, conspiracy, or pattern of unlawful activity related to the offense. Mandates that a restitution order require the defendant to reimburse the victim for necessary child care, transportation, and other expenses related to participation in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attendance at related proceedings. Directs the court: (1) to order restitution in the full amount of the victim's losses without consideration of the economic circumstances of the offender or the fact that a victim is entitled to receive compensation from insurance or any other source; and (2) upon determination of the amount owed to each victim, to specify in the restitution order the manner of, and schedule for, restitution in consideration of the financial resources and other assets, projected earnings and other income, and financial obligations of the offender. Specifies that: (1) a restoration order may direct the offender to make a single, lump-sum payment, partial payments at specified intervals, or such in-kind payments as may be agreeable to the victim and the offender and shall direct the offender to give appropriate notice to victims and other persons in cases where there are multiple victims or other persons who may receive restitution and where the identity of such victims and other persons can be reasonably determined; and (2) such in-kind payments may be in the form of the return or replacement of property or the provision of services to the victim or another person or organization. Provides that when the court finds that: (1) more than one offender has contributed to the loss of a victim, the court may make each offender liable for payment of the full amount or may apportion liability among the offenders to reflect the level of contribution and economic circumstances of each offender; and (2) more than one victim has sustained a loss requiring restitution by an offender, the court shall order full restitution of each victim but provide for different payment schedules to reflect the economic circumstances of each victim. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) compensation with respect to losses from insurance or other sources; (2) set-offs against amounts later recovered as compensatory damages by the victim in Federal and State civil proceedings; and (3) payment by the offender to an entity designated by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts for accounting and payment in accordance with this section. Specifies that a restitution order shall constitute a lien against all property of the offender. Makes compliance with a restitution order a condition of any probation, parole, or other form of release of an offender. Specifies actions the court may take, including revocation of probation or supervised release, if a defendant fails to comply. Provides for enforcement of restitution orders. Authorizes: (1) a victim or the offender to petition the court to modify a restitution order in view of a change in the economic circumstances of the offender; and (2) the court to refer any issue arising in connection with a proposed restitution order to a magistrate or special master for proposed findings of fact and recommendations as to disposition, subject to a de novo determination of the issue by the court.

A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding missile tests and military exercises by the People's Republic of China.

United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1996

Expresses the sense of the Congress that the People's Republic of China should: (1) reaffirm its commitment to conduct relations with Taiwan by peaceful means; (2) engage in diplomatic negotiations to discuss any disagreement with Taiwan without any threat of military or economic coercion against Taiwan; and (3) immediately live up to its commitment to work for a peaceful resolution of any disagreements with Taiwan and desist from military actions designed to intimidate Taiwan. Calls on Taiwan to adhere to its commitment to negotiate its future relations with the mainland by mutual, not unilateral, decision. Calls for the United States: (1) to maintain its commitment to resist any resort to force or use other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan, consistent with its undertakings in the Taiwan Relations Act; (2) to maintain a naval presence sufficient to keep open the sea lanes in and near the Taiwan Straits; (3) in the face of the several overt military threats by the People's Republic of China against Taiwan, and consistent with the commitment of the United States under the Taiwan Relations Act, to supply Taiwan with defensive weapons systems; and (4) to assist in defending the people of Taiwan against invasion, missile attack, or blockade by the People's Republic of China.

Intelligence Organization Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 Title II: Temporary Authority to Eliminate Certain Positions Title III: Intelligence Community Senior Executive Service Intelligence Organization Act of 1996 - Title I: Amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 - Amends the National Security Act of 1947 (the Act) to establish the positions of Deputy Director of Central Intelligence for the Intelligence Community and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence for the Central Intelligence Agency. Outlines appointment provisions with respect to each position. (Sec. 102) Requires the concurrence of the Director of Central Intelligence with respect to the appointment of the heads of the National Security Agency, the Central Imagery Office, and the National Reconnaissance Office by the Secretary of Defense (current law), or requires such concurrence to accompany the recommendation of the Secretary when such appointments are made by the President. Requires the Director to provide annually to the Secretary an evaluation of the performance of the heads of such agencies in fulfilling their responsibilities with respect to the National Foreign Intelligence Program. (Sec. 103) Redesignates the National Intelligence Council as the National Assessments Center and requires the Center to: (1) be accessible to policy making officials and persons who are not otherwise associated with the intelligence community; (2) produce classified and unclassified assessments of long-term issues of major importance to U.S. national security interests; and (3) obtain the services of substantive private-sector experts in the preparation of particular estimates or assessments. (Sec. 104) Redesignates the Central Imagery Office as the National Imagery and Mapping Agency. Title II: Temporary Authority to Eliminate Certain Positions - Authorizes the Director and the Secretary, for one year after enactment of this title, to eliminate positions under their authority in order to achieve more effectively and efficiently the missions of the agencies concerned, but allows such authority only when the Director or the Secretary determines that reductions in the workforce of particular agencies of ten percent or more above the personnel levels previously mandated by the Congress or the President are needed. Requires the Director or the Secretary, if such authority is exercised, to issue regulations governing such authority which contain specified employee retirement protections and alternative employment placement assistance. Requires the Director or Secretary, if such authority is exercised, to: (1) inform the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; (2) provide a copy of the regulations issued; and (3) provide a detailed report to such committees of the results of the exercise of such authority within 30 days after such authority is terminated. Title III: Intelligence Community Senior Executive Service - Amends the Act to require the Director to establish a personnel system for senior civilian personnel within the Intelligence Community to be known as the Intelligence Community Senior Executive Service. Specifies the various intelligence agencies and offices that shall be included in the Service. Requires the Director to delegate to the heads of the various intelligence agencies and offices the authority to appoint, promote, and assign individuals to the Service. Provides transition provisions. Provides that once the Service has been established, no individual may be selected for membership unless he or she is a career employee of the Intelligence Community and has served at least one assignment outside his or her employing agency. Authorizes the President to award ranks to Service members. Authorizes the Director to detail or assign Service members to positions outside their parent organization, including elsewhere in the Intelligence Community, another Government agency, or outside the Federal Government. Protects Service entitlement and status of any reassigned members during such alternative service. Requires the Director to submit to the Congress an annual report concerning the Service.

An original bill making omnibus consolidated rescissions and appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Omnibus Appropriations Title I (sic): Department of Justice Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Title III: The Judiciary Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies Title V: Related Agencies Title VI: General Provisions Title VII: Rescissions Title VIII: Prison Litigation Reform Title I (sic): Fiscal Year 1996 Appropriations Title II: District of Columbia School Reform Subtitle A: District of Columbia Reform Plan Subtitle B: Public Charter Schools Subtitle C: Even Start Subtitle D: World Class Schools Task Force, Core Curriculum, Content Standards, Assessments and Promotion Gates Subtitle E: Per Capita District of Columbia Public School and Public Charter School Funding Subtitle F: School Facilities Repair and Improvement Subtitle G: Residential School Subtitle H: Progress Reports and Accountability Subtitle I: Partnerships with Business Subtitle J: Management and Fiscal Accountability Subtitle K: Personal Accountability and Preservation of School-Based Resources Subtitle L: Establishment and Organization of the Commission on Consensus Reform in the District of Columbia Public Schools Subtitle M: Parent Attendance at Parent-Teacher Conferences Title I (sic): Department of the Interior Title II: Related Agencies Title III: General Provisions Title I (sic): Department of Labor Title II: Department of Health and Human Services Title III: Department of Education Title IV: Related Agencies Title V: General Provisions Title I (sic): Department of Veterans Affairs Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development Title III: Independent Agencies Title IV: Corporations Title V: General Provisions Title II (sic): Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1996 Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions Title IV: Contingency Appropriations Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996 - Title I (sic): Omnibus Appropriations - Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Department of Justice - Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes FY 1996 appropriations to the Department of Justice, including funding for the Community Relations Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Federal Prison System. (Sec. 114) Revises provisions of subtitle A (Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth in Sentencing Incentive Grants) of title II (Prisons) of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Directs the Attorney General to provide grants to eligible States to build or expand: (1) correctional facilities to increase the prison bed capacity for the confinement of persons convicted of a "part 1 violent crime" (murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) or adjudicated delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would be a part 1 violent crime; (2) temporary or permanent correctional facilities, including facilities on military bases, prison barges, and boot camps, for the confinement of convicted nonviolent offenders and criminal aliens for the purpose of freeing suitable existing prison space for the confinement of persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime; and (3) jails. Authorizes States to enter into regional compacts to carry out such provisions, subject to specified limitations. Specifies that an eligible State may receive either a general grant or a truth-in- sentencing incentive grant, with an exception. Sets forth general eligibility requirements. Requires a State, to be eligible for a general grant, to submit an application to the Attorney General that provides assurances that such State has, since 1993, increased the percentage of persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime sentenced to prison, the average prison time actually to be served in prison by such persons, and the average percentage of time of the sentence to be actually served in prison by persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime and sentenced to prison (with an indeterminant sentencing exception). Requires a State, to be eligible for a truth-in-sentencing incentive grant, to submit such an application providing assurances that: (1) such State has implemented truth-in-sentencing laws that require (or has enacted but has not yet implemented such laws that, within three years, will require) persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime to serve not less than 85 percent of the sentence imposed; or (2) if the State practices indeterminate sentencing, such State demonstrates that the average time served equals at least 85 percent of the sentences established for such crimes under the State's sentencing and release guidelines (with exceptions for geriatric prisoners or those whose medical condition precludes them from posing a threat to the public after a public hearing in which representatives of the public and the prisoner's victims have had an opportunity to be heard regarding a proposed release). Sets forth special rules regarding State: (1) sharing of funds with counties and other units of local government; (2) policies providing for the recognition of the rights and needs of crime victims; (3) use of funds to build or expand juvenile correctional facilities or pretrial detention facilities for juvenile offenders; and (4) use of funds for the privatization of correctional facilities. Sets forth: (1) formulas for the Attorney General to apply in determining the amount of funds that may be granted to each eligible State; and (2) accountability requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth provisions regarding the distribution, limitations on the use of, and matching requirements with respect to, grant funds. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) payments for incarceration on tribal lands; (2) payments to eligible States for incarceration of criminal aliens (and authorizes appropriations); (3) support of Federal prisoners in non-Federal institutions (and authorizes appropriations); and (4) reports by the Attorney General to the Congress. Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies - Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the Department of Commerce (Department) and related agencies and activities, including: (1) the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; (2) the International Trade Commission and international trade activities; (3) export administration; (4) the Economic Development Administration; (5) minority business development; (6) economic and statistical analysis and administration; (7) the Bureau of the Census and related activities; (8) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; (9) public broadcasting facilities, planning, and construction; (10) the Patent and Trademark Office; (11) the National Institute of Standards and Technology and related services and activities; (12) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (including a transfer of funds); (13) various government trust funds related to ocean and water resources development and activities; (14) technology policy and administration; and (15) the Office of the Inspector General. Rescinds $75 million of amounts available to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for the construction of research facilities. (Sec. 201) Allows advance payments to be made for authorized Department activities only upon certification by Department officials that such payments are in the public interest. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary or other appropriate agency head, if legislation is enacted to dismantle or reorganize the Department, to report to the appropriations committees within 90 days thereafter a plan for transferring funds provided to the Department in this Act to the appropriate successor organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to use any available funds to carry out the legislation, including voluntary separation incentives if duly authorized. (Sec. 207) Prohibits the use of funds appropriated under this title to implement specified provisions of the Endangered Species Act relating to the determination of endangered or threatened species, except to delist or reclassify species. (Sec. 208) States that the transfer of title of the Rutland City Industrial Complex to Hilinex, Vermont, shall not require compensation to the Government for its share of such property. (Sec. 209) Directs the Secretary to: (1) commence and complete a demolition of existing structures and an environmental cleanup of the Central Foundry Property in Holt, Alabama; and (2) transfer such property to the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority. (Sec. 210) Requires any costs incurred by a department or agency funded under this title resulting from personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions included in this title to be absorbed within the total budgetary resources available to such department or agency. Title III: The Judiciary - Judiciary Appropriations Act, 1996 - Appropriates FY 1996 funds for activities of the Judiciary, including: (1) the Supreme Court; (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; (3) the U.S. Court of International Trade; (4) the Courts of Appeals, district courts, and other judicial services; (5) the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (Administrative Office); (6) the Federal Judicial Center; (7) Judicial Retirement Funds; and (8) the United States Sentencing Commission. (Sec. 305) Revises provisions regarding judicial conferences of the circuits to allow (current law requires) the chief judge to summon judges to and preside at, and every judge to attend and remain throughout, such conferences. Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies - Department of State and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Appropriates funds for FY 1996 for the Department of State and related agencies, activities, and programs, including: (1) diplomatic and consular programs; (2) the Capital Investment Fund; (3) the Office of the Inspector General; (4) payments to the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (5) contributions to international organizations, peacekeeping activities, conferences and commissions; (6) a grant to the Asia Foundation; (7) the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA); (8) the United States Information Agency (USIA); (9) the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program Trust Fund; (10) the Israeli Arab Scholarship Program; (11) the American Studies Collections Endowment Fund; (12) international broadcasting operations, including broadcasting to Cuba; and (13) the National Endowment for Democracy. (Sec. 401) Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated under this Act. (Sec. 404) Requires the Secretary of State and the Directors of USIA and ACDA, within 90 days after the enactment of legislation consolidating, reorganizing, or downsizing the functions of such department and agencies, to submit to the appropriations committees a proposal for transferring or rescinding funds appropriated herein for such consolidated functions. Authorizes such officials to use any available funds to cover the consolidation costs required by such legislation, including voluntary separation incentives duly authorized. (Sec. 407) Amends the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Act to extend its Au Pair programs through FY 1999. (Sec. 408) Repeals Federal provisions limiting the use of endowment trust income under the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Act. (Sec. 409) Expresses the sense of the Senate that no funds made available under this Act should be used for the deployment of combat- equipped U.S. military personnel for any ground operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, except in specific limited circumstances. Title V: Related Agencies - Appropriates funds for FY 1996 for: (1) the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation; (2) the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; (3) the Commission on Civil Rights; (4) the Commission on Immigration Reform; (5) the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; (6) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; (7) the Federal Communications Commission; (8) the Federal Maritime Commission; (9) the Federal Trade Commission; (10) the Japan- United States Friendship Commission; (11) the Legal Services Corporation; (12) the Marine Mammal Commission; (13) the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission; (14) the Securities and Exchange Commission; (15) the Small Business Administration; (16) certain accounts and revolving funds; and (17) the State Justice Institute. (Sec. 501) Places limitations on the use of funds by the Legal Services Corporation. Directs the Corporation to: (1) implement a system of competitive awards of grants and contracts that will apply to all contracts for the delivery of legal assistance awarded by the Corporation after March 31, 1996; and (2) promulgate regulations to implement a competitive selection process for the recipients of such grants and contracts. Prohibits the Corporation from: (1) engaging in litigation that is in any way intended to or has the effect of altering or revising any legislative, judicial, or elective district; (2) attempting in any way to influence the issuance of any executive order or regulation or the passage or defeat of any legislation; (3) bringing a class action suit against the Federal Government or any State; (4) providing assistance to any alien unless the alien is lawfully present in this country or meets other specified requirements; (5) supporting or conducting programs to advocate particular public policies or encourage political activities; or (6) participating in any litigation with respect to abortion or any prisoner. Sets forth prohibited uses of funds appropriated to the Corporation. Directs the Corporation to report every 60 days to the appropriations committees setting forth the status of certain legal assistance cases and matters brought through the Corporation. Requires an audit (containing specified information) to be conducted of each person or entity receiving financial assistance from the Corporation. Allows the Corporation access to appropriate legal and financial documents for purposes of such audits, while requiring appropriate confidentiality. Requires such audits for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 1996. (Sec. 510) Provides authorized funds transfers, and transfer limits, for appropriations made to the Small Business Administration. Title VI: General Provisions - Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 607) Expresses the sense of the Congress that equipment and products purchased with funds from this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 611) Prohibits the use of funds from this Act to provide specified amenities or personal comforts in the Federal prison system. (Sec. 614) Amends the Federal criminal code to terminate the Advisory Corrections Council. (Sec. 615) Requires costs incurred by a department or agency funded under this title resulting from personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions included in this title to be absorbed within the total budgetary resources available to such department or agency. (Sec. 616) Repeals provisions of the Balanced Budget Downpayment Act, I which, among other things: (1) appropriate necessary amounts at a rate of operations provided for in the conference report on the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996, subject to exceptions; and (2) stipulate that, notwithstanding any other provision of such Act, the rate of operations only for program administration and the continuation of grants awarded in FY 1995 and prior years may be increased up to a level of 75 percent of the final FY 1995 appropriated amount for the Advanced Technology Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Ounce of Prevention Council, Drug Courts, Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, and Cops on the Beat Program. Title VII: Rescissions - Rescinds specified funds from unobligated balances within certain accounts of: (1) the Department of Justice; (2) the State Department; and (3) USIA. Title VIII: Prison Litigation Reform - Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 - Revises Federal criminal code provisions regarding remedies for prison crowding to substitute provisions regarding remedies for prison conditions. Prohibits: (1) prospective relief in any civil action regarding prison conditions from extending further than necessary to correct the violation of the Federal right of particular plaintiffs; and (2) the court from granting or approving any such relief unless that relief is narrowly drawn, extends no further than necessary to correct the violation of the Federal right, and is the least intrusive means necessary to correct the violation. Directs the court to give substantial weight to any adverse impact on public safety or the operation of a criminal justice system caused by the relief. Prohibits the court from ordering prospective relief that requires or permits a government official to exceed his or her authority under, or that otherwise violates, State or local law, unless: (1) Federal law permits such relief to be ordered in violation of State or local law; (2) the relief is necessary to correct the violation of a Federal right; and (3) no other relief will correct the violation of the Federal right. Authorizes the court to enter a temporary restraining order or an order for preliminary injunctive relief, which shall automatically expire 90 days after its entry, with exceptions. Directs the court to give substantial weight to any adverse impact on public safety or operation of a criminal justice system caused by the preliminary relief, and to respect principles of comity in tailoring any such relief. Prohibits a prisoner release order from being entered unless: (1) a court has previously entered an order for less intrusive relief that has failed to remedy the deprivation of the Federal right and the defendant has had a reasonable amount of time to comply with the previous court orders; and (2) it is entered by a three-judge court, which finds by clear and convincing evidence that crowding is the primary cause of the violation and no other relief will remedy it. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) termination or modification of relief; (2) settlements; (3) State law remedies; (4) procedure for motions affecting prospective relief; and (5) the use of special masters. (Sec. 803) Amends the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act to require the Attorney General to personally sign any complaint filed, or any certification or motion to intervene made, to initiate a civil action under the Act. Revises provisions of the Act to prohibit any action from being brought by a prisoner with respect to prison conditions until available administrative remedies are exhausted. Specifies that the failure of a State to adopt or adhere to an administrative grievance procedure shall not constitute the basis for an action. Directs the court to dismiss any such action if satisfied that the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief (and authorizes the court, in such instances, to dismiss the underlying claim without first requiring exhaustion of administrative remedies). Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) limits on the award of attorney's fees; (2) limits on recovery; (3) hearings; and (4) waiver of reply. (Sec. 804) Amends the Federal judicial code to require a prisoner: (1) of a Federal, State, or local institution seeking to bring a civil action or appeal a judgment in a civil action or proceeding without prepayment of fees or security to submit a certified copy of the prisoner's trust fund account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint or notice of appeal, obtained from the appropriate official of each institution at which the prisoner is or was confined; and (2) who brings a civil action or files an appeal in forma pauperis to pay the full amount of a filing fee (and directs the court to assess and, when funds exist, to collect, as a partial payment of any court fees required by law, an initial partial filing fee of 20 percent of the greater of the average monthly deposits to the prisoner's account or the average monthly balance in the prisoner's account for such six-month period). Sets forth similar provisions regarding the payment of costs by the prisoner. Revises provisions regarding the appointment of counsel in forma pauperis proceedings to require the court to dismiss the case at any time if the allegation of poverty is untrue or if the action or appeal is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. Makes an exception to the discharge of debt in a bankruptcy proceeding for a fee imposed by a court for the filing of a case, motion, complaint, or appeal, or for other costs and expenses assessed with respect to such filing, regardless of an assertion of poverty by the debtor or the debtor's status as a prisoner. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) successive claims; (2) judicial screening of complaints in civil actions brought by prisoners against governmental entities; and (3) limits of Federal tort claims by prisoners. (Sec. 807) Requires any compensatory damages award to a prisoner in connection with a civil action brought against any Federal, State, or local correctional facility or official or agent thereof to be paid directly to satisfy any outstanding restitution orders pending against the prisoner, with the remainder forwarded to the prisoner. (Sec. 808) Provides for notice to crime victims of pending damage awards. (Sec. 809) Authorizes the court to revoke earned release credit under specified circumstances. Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) direct the Bureau of Prisons, in awarding credit towards service of sentence for satisfactory behavior, to consider whether the prisoner has earned or is making satisfactory progress toward earning a high school diploma or an equivalent degree; and (2) provide that credit awarded after the date of enactment of this Act shall vest on the date the prisoner is released from custody. Title I (sic): Fiscal Year 1996 Appropriations - District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for the District of Columbia Government for FY 1996, including funds for: (1) the Federal payment ($660 million); (2) the Federal contribution to the Police Officers and Fire Fighters', Teachers', and Judges' Retirement Funds ($52.07 million); and (3) the Federal contribution to education reform ($14.93 million). Appropriates specified sums for the District of Columbia out of the District of Columbia general fund for the current fiscal year for: (1) governmental direction and support; (2) economic development and regulation; (3) public safety and justice; (4) the public education system; (5) education reform; (6) human support services; (7) public works; (8) repayment of specified loans and interest; (9) repayment of the general fund recovery debt; (10) repayment of interest on short-term borrowing; (11) the Rainy Day Fund; (12) the incentive buyout program; (13) outplacement services; (14) capital outlay (including rescissions); (15) the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund and construction projects; (16) the Lottery and Charitable Games Enterprise Fund; (17) the Cable Television Enterprise Fund; (18) the Starplex Fund; (19) D.C. General Hospital; (20) the D.C. Retirement Board; (21) the Correctional Industries Fund; (22) the Washington Convention Center Enterprise Fund; and (23) the D.C. Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority (Authority). Prohibits the use of revenues from Federal sources to support the Statehood Commission and Statehood Compact Commission. Requires the District to operate a free, 24-hour telephone information service where residents of the area surrounding Lorton prison can obtain information about all prison disturbances. Requires the Mayor of the District to reduce appropriations and expenditures in specified amounts for: (1) nonpersonal services and personal services, including by decreasing rates of compensation for District government employees through the renegotiation of existing collective bargaining agreements and otherwise, if necessary; and (2) boards and commissions. Requires the Chief Financial Officer of the District, on behalf of the Mayor, to adjust appropriations and expenditures for personal and nonpersonal services, together with the related full-time equivalent positions, in accordance with the direction of the Authority to obtain a specified net reduction within or among one or several of the various appropriation headings in this Act. (Sec. 101) Sets forth certain uses of and restrictions on the expenditure of appropriations made by this Act. (Sec. 110) Requires that the annual budget for the District of Columbia government for FY 1997 be transmitted to the Congress by April 15, 1996, or as provided under the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995. (Sec. 123) Directs the Mayor to submit to the D.C. Council, within 30 days after the end of the first quarter of FY 1996, the FY 1996 revenue estimates. (Sec. 130) Prohibits: (1) Federal funds provided under this Act from being used by the District to provide for salaries, expenses, or other costs associated with the offices of U.S. Senator or U.S. Representatives under the District of Columbia Statehood Constitutional Convention Initiatives of 1979; (2) any funds appropriated under this from being expended for any abortion unless it is necessary to save the life of the mother or if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest; or (3) any funds made available pursuant to this Act from being used to implement or enforce the District Domestic Partner Act (also called the District of Columbia Health Care Benefits Expansion Act of 1992) or any registration system for unmarried, cohabitating couples whether they are homosexual, lesbian, or heterosexual, including registration for the extension of employment, health, or governmental benefits to such couples on the same basis that such benefits are extended to legally married couples. (Sec. 135) Amends the District of Columbia Real Property Tax Revision Act of 1974 to require the D.C. Council, if it extends the time to establish rates of taxation on real property for a tax year, to establish such rates by permanent legislation. Changes the date by which the Council should establish the rates from July 15 to October 15. Applies, during a tax year, the rates of taxation for the prior year if the rates are not established and the Council does not extend the time. Makes the real property tax rates for taxable real property in the District for FY 1996 the same rates in effect for FY 1994. Repeals provisions of the Act which require such rates to be those submitted by the Mayor or the D.C. Council. (Sec. 137) Specifies reporting requirements for: (1) the Mayor (with respect to actions to effect the directives of the Council in this Act with respect to certain spending reductions); (2) the Board of Education; and (3) the University of the District of Columbia. (Sec. 144) Prohibits an agency from filling a position wholly funded by appropriations authorized by this Act which is vacant on October 1, 1995, or which becomes vacant during FY 1996, unless the Mayor or the independent agency submits a proposed resolution of intent to fill the vacant position to the D.C. Council for approval or disapproval. Prohibits any reduction in the number of full-time equivalent positions or any reduction-in-force due to privatization or contracting out if the Authority disallows the full-time equivalent position reduction provided in this Act in meeting the specified ceiling of 35,984 for FY 1996. Allows the appropriate personnel authority to fill a vacant position with a District government employee currently occupying a position that is funded with appropriated funds. Exempts local school-based teachers, officers, teachers' aides, or certain D.C. court personnel. (Sec. 147) Precludes the use of the funds provided in this Act for the renovation of property at 227 7th Street Southeast, Washington, D.C. (commonly known as Eastern Market), except for the regular maintenance and upkeep of its current structure and grounds. (Sec. 149) Modifies D.C. reductions-in-force procedures to allow a personnel authority to establish lesser competitive areas within an agency on the basis of all or a clearly identifiable segment of an agency's mission or a division or major subdivision of an agency. Authorizes each agency head to identify positions for abolishment. Outlines procedures for abolishment of such positions for FY 1996. (Sec. 150) Prohibits the total amount appropriated in this Act under the caption "Division of Expenses" for District operating expenses for FY 1996 from exceeding $4.994 billion, of which $165.339 million shall be from intra-District funds. Allows the Mayor to accept, obligate, and expend Federal, private, and other grants received by the District government that are not reflected in the amounts appropriated in this Act. Prohibits acceptance, obligation, and expenditure of such grants until: (1) the Chief Financial Officer submits to the Authority a report setting forth detailed information regarding such grant; and (2) the Authority reviews and approves such action. Prohibits obligation or expenditure from the general fund or other funds of the District government in anticipation of approval or receipt of such grants not subject to this Act. Requires the Chief Financial Officer to report monthly to the D.C. Council and specified congressional committees on detailed information regarding all of such grants subject to this Act. (Sec. 151) Requires the District, by March 15, 1996, to develop a series of alternative plans for the use and operation of the Lorton Correctional Complex, including plans under which the Complex will be closed, will remain in operation under the District's management, or will be operated under Federal or private management (Sec. 152) Prohibits a person from joining in a petition to a District court for a decree of adoption unless the person is the petitioner's spouse. Allows an unmarried person to file a petition for adoption when no other person joins in the petition or where the co-petitioner is the natural parent of the child. (Sec. 154) Establishes in the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund: (1) the Operation and Maintenance Account to be used solely for funding the operation and maintenance of the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Facility and related waste water treatment works; and (2) an Environmental Protection Agency Grant Account to be used solely for purposes specified under the terms of the grants and appropriations involved. Title II: District of Columbia School Reform - District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995 - Subtitle A: District of Columbia Reform Plan - Requires the Superintendent of the District of Columbia public schools, with the approval of the Board of Education, to submit a long-term reform plan for the District's school system to the Mayor, the D.C. Council, the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority, the Commission on Consensus Reform in the District of Columbia public schools (established under subtitle L), and the appropriate congressional committees within 90 days after this Act's enactment and each February 15 thereafter. Requires each plan to be consistent with the financial plan and budget for the District for FY 1996 and each subsequent fiscal year, as the case may be, required under the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995. Specifies areas to be addressed, measurement and deadline requirements, and goals for the plans, including: (1) improving the health and safety of students; and (2) providing after-school programs offering such activities as arts classes, physical fitness programs, and community service. Subtitle B: Public Charter Schools - Prescribes the process for filing charter petitions with respect to an eligible applicant seeking to: (1) convert an existing District public, private, or independent school into a public charter school; or (2) establish a public charter school in the District. (Sec. 2202) Lists the contents of public charter school petitions, including a description of the proposed scope and size of the school's program, any special area of focus for the school, the employment relationship between the school and its employees, and assurances that the school will seek and maintain accreditation and licensing. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the process for approving or denying petitions (permits approval of up to ten petitions for the 1996-1997 academic year and up to five for each year thereafter); (2) duties, powers, and other requirements of such schools (prohibits the schools from charging tuition, fees, or other mandatory payments, except to nonresident students or for field trips or similar activities and requires the schools to be nonsectarian and unaffiliated with a sectarian school or religious institution); (3) the Boards of Trustees of such schools; (4) student admission, enrollment, and withdrawal; (5) transfers, creditable service, and retirement concerns of District public school employees who work for public charter schools; (6) reduced fares on public transportation for the schools' students; and (7) the provision of services, such as facilities maintenance, to public charter schools by the Superintendent of D.C. schools. (Sec. 2210) Considers a public charter school, for any fiscal year, to be a local educational agency (LEA) for purposes of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and makes the school eligible for assistance under ESEA if the ratio of low-income students to all students in the school equals or exceeds the lowest of such ratio for an eligible public school. Provides for the allocation of ESEA assistance between eligible District public charter schools and public schools for FY 1996 through 1998. Requires the Secretary of Education to calculate such allocations for FY 1999 and there after according to a specified formula based on the numbers of low-income students served. Prohibits the Board of Education from directing a public charter school in the school's use of such funds. Exempts the public charter schools from specified ESEA provisions and from District property and sales taxes. Directs each public charter school to elect to be treated as an LEA or a District public school for purposes of specified provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. (Sec. 2211) Outlines the powers and duties of eligible chartering authorities. (Sec. 2212) Requires a charter granted to a public charter school to be in force for a five-year period. Allows renewal of such charter for an unlimited number of times (each for a five-year period). (Sec. 2213) Permits an eligible chartering authority that has granted a charter to a public charter school to revoke the charter if the authority determines that the school has committed a violation of applicable laws or a material violation of the conditions, terms, standards, or procedures set forth in the charter. (Sec. 2214) Establishes a Public Charter School Board within the District government. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 2000. (Sec. 2215) Encourages the following Federal agencies and federally established entities to explore whether it is feasible for the agency or entity to establish one or more public charter schools and to report such determination on the feasibility to the appropriate congressional committees: (1) the Library of Congress; (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Museum; (3) the Drug Enforcement Administration; (4) the National Science Foundation; (5) the Department of Justice; (6) the Department of Defense; (7) the Department of Education; and (8) the Smithsonian Institution, including the National Zoological Park, the National Museum of American History, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the National Gallery of Art. Subtitle C: Even Start - Amends ESEA to authorize appropriations for FY 1996 through 2000 for the purpose of carrying out Even Start programs in the District. Requires the Secretary to provide grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable them to carry out District Even Start programs that build on the findings of the National Evaluation of the Even Start Family Literacy Program, such as providing intensive services in early childhood education, parent training, and adult literacy or education. Limits such grants to eight for FY 1996, 14 for FY 1997, 20 for each of FY 1998 and 1999, and 20 or such number as the Secretary determines appropriate for FY 2000, taking into account the results of evaluations described in ESEA. Defines "eligible entity" as a partnership composed of at least: (1) a District public school: (2) the LEA in existence on September 1, 1995, for the District, any other public organization, or an institution of higher education as defined in the Higher Education Act of 1965; and (3) a private nonprofit community-based organization. Directs the Secretary to allocate specified amounts of authorized appropriations for District Even Start programs to: (1) enter into a contract with the National Center for Family Literacy for the provision of technical assistance to eligible entities; and (2) provide for evaluations to determine the effectiveness of such programs in providing high quality family literacy services. Subtitle D: World Class Schools Task Force, Core Curriculum, Content Standards, Assessments, and Promotion Gates - Part 1: World Class Schools Task Force, Core Curriculum, Content Standards, and Assessments - Authorizes the Superintendent to award a grant to a World Class Schools Task Force to enable the Task Force to recommend to the Superintendent, the Board of Education, and the District of Columbia Goals Panel: (1) content standards in the core academic subjects that are developed by working with the District community (requires such standards to be developed within 12 months after this Act's enactment); (2) a core curriculum (which includes the teaching of computer skills) developed by working with the D.C. community; (3) district-wide assessments for measuring student achievement in accordance with such content standards; and (4) model professional development programs for teachers using the standards and curriculum. Encourages the Task Force, to the extent practicable, to develop district-wide assessments that permit comparison among: (1) individual D.C. public schools and public charter schools and individual students attending such schools; and (2) students of other nations. (Sec. 2415) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996. Part 2: Promotion Gates - Requires the Superintendent, within one year of the adoption of the assessments, to establish and implement promotion gates: (1) for mathematics, reading, and writing for at least one grade level from kindergarten through grade four, including at least grade four, and to establish dates for establishing such other promotion gates for other subject areas; (2) with respect to at least one grade level from grades five through eight, including at least grade eight; and (3) with respect to at least one grade level from grades nine through 12, including grade 12. Subtitle E: Per Capita District of Columbia Public School and Public Charter School Funding - Requires the Mayor, for FY 1997 and each fiscal year thereafter, to make annual payments to the Board of Education for the operating expenses of the District public schools and charter schools from the general fund of the District in accordance with a specified formula based on the number of students in public schools and public charter schools. (Sec. 2502) Sets forth provisions which require reports by: (1) each public school and charter school to the Mayor and the Board of Education of the calculation of the number of students enrolled in each grade from kindergarten through grade 12; (2) the Board of Education to the Authority, the Mayor, the D.C. Council, the Consensus Commission, the Comptroller General of the United States, and appropriate congressional committees which summarize the most recent calculations; and (3) the Authority on an independent audit of such initial calculations. (Sec. 2503) Sets forth provisions providing for transition funding for District public charter schools. Subtitle F: School Facilities Repair and Improvement - Part 1: School Facilities - Requires the Administrator of the General Services Administration to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement or Understanding with the Superintendent regarding the terms under which the Administrator will provide technical assistance and related services with respect to District public schools facilities management. Authorizes the Administrator to accept and use a conditioned gift made for the express purpose of repairing or improving the District public schools, except that the Administrator shall not be required to carry out such repairs or improvements unless he or she accepts a donation sufficient to cover the costs of the repairs or improvements. (Sec. 2552) Requires the Mayor and the D.C. Council, within 24 months after the Agreement is signed and in consultation with the Administrator, the Authority, the Board of Education, and the Superintendent to: (1) design and implement a comprehensive long-term program for the repair and improvement, and maintenance and management, of the District public school facilities; and (2) designate a new or existing agency or authority within the District government to administer the program. (Sec. 2553) Authorizes appropriations to the Administrator for FY 1996 for the costs of engineering plans. Part 2: Waivers - Allows voluntary donation of materials and services for the repair and improvement of District school facilities. Waives, with respect to any contractor, subcontractor, and any other group, entity, or individual who donates materials and services for the repair or improvement of a District public school facility, all District fees and all requirements contained in the document entitled "District of Columbia Public Schools Standard Contract Provisions" published by the District public schools for use with construction or maintenance projects for purposes of repair and improvement of such facilities for a period beginning on this Act's enactment date and ending 24 months after such date. Part 3: Gifts, Donations, Bequests, and Devises - Allows a District public school or public charter school to accept directly from any person a gift, donation, bequest, or devise of any property, real or personal, without regard to any District law or regulation. Subtitle G: Residential School - Authorizes the Superintendent to develop a plan that meets specified requirements to establish for the District a residential school for academic year 1997-1998 and to assist in the startup of such school. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 to develop the plan and for 1997 for capital costs associated with the startup of the school, including the purchase of real and personal property and the renovation or construction of facilities. Makes the school an eligible institution for the purposes of scholarships awarded under this Act. Subtitle H: Progress Reports and Accountability - Requires the Superintendent to report to the appropriate congressional committees, the Board of Education, the Mayor, the Consensus Commission, and the D.C. Council on the progress of the District public schools toward achieving the goals of the long-term reform plan. (Sec. 2652) Requires the Chairperson of the D.C. Council to report to such committees on legislative and other actions the Council has taken or will take to facilitate the implementation of the goals of such plan. Subtitle I: Partnerships with Business - Requires the Superintendent to provide a grant to a private, nonprofit corporation which shall: (1) establish the District Education and Learning Technologies Advancement Council; (2) in conjunction with the Superintendent, students, parents, and teachers, implement strategies to ensure access to state-of-the-art educational technology within the District public schools and public charter schools; (3) assist the Superintendent in acquiring the necessary equipment, including computer hardware and software, to establish an electronic data transfer system and in training District public school employees in using such equipment; (4) establish the District Employment and Learning Center to serve as a regional institute providing job training and employment assistance; (5) establish initiatives with the District public schools and public charter schools, appropriate governmental agencies, and businesses and other private entities to facilitate the integration of rigorous academic studies with workforce preparation programs in District public schools and public charter schools; (6) establish a consortium for the purpose of establishing a program for the professional development of teachers and school administrators employed by the District public schools and public charter schools; (7) provide matching funds, or in-kind contributions, or a combination thereof, for the purposes of carrying out such duties; and (8) establish the Jobs for District of Columbia Graduates Program to assist District public schools and public charter schools in organizing and implementing a school-to-work transition system to give priority to providing assistance to at-risk and disadvantaged youths. (Sec. 2705) Requires the corporation, to the extent practicable, to provide matching funds, or in-kind contributions, or a combination thereof, for the purposes of carrying out such duties. (Sec. 2708) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 1998. (Sec. 2709) Terminates on October 1, 1998, the authority to provide assistance to the corporation or any other entity established by it. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the corporation's activities under this Act should continue to be carried out after such date with resources made available from the private sector; and (2) the corporation should provide oversight and coordination for such activities after such date. Subtitle J: Management and Fiscal Accountability - Requires the Board of Education: (1) to enter into a contract for academic year 1995 through 1996 and each succeeding academic year for the provision of all food services operations and security services for District public schools, unless the Superintendent determines that it is not feasible and provides such reasons in writing to the Board and to the Authority; and (2) for academic year 1995 through 1996, to consult with the Authority on the development of new management and data systems, as well as training of personnel to use and manage the systems in areas of budget, finance, personnel and human resources, management information services, procurement, supply management, and other systems recommended by the Authority. (Sec. 2752) Sets forth provisions with respect to the Board of Education regarding: (1) annual reporting requirements on positions and employees of the D.C. public school system; (2) annual budgets and budget revisions; (3) read-only access to its internal financial management systems and all other data bases to designated staff of the Mayor, the Council, the Authority, and appropriate congressional committees; and (4) development of its FY 1997 budget request. Subtitle K: Personal Accountability and Preservation of School- Based Resources - Prohibits a reduction in the full-time equivalent positions for school-based teachers, principals, counselors, librarians, or other school-based educational positions that were established as of the end of FY 1995, unless the Authority determines, based on student enrollment that: (1) fewer school-based positions are needed to maintain established pupil-to-staff ratios; or (2) reductions in positions for other than school-based employees are not practicable. Defines "school-based educational position" as a position located at a District public school or other position providing direct support to students at such a school such as a position for a clerical, stenographic, or secretarial employee, but not any part-time educational aide position. (Sec. 2802) Amends the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to modify the Board of Education's reduction-in-force procedures to prohibit the Board from requiring or permitting nonschool-based personnel or school administrators to be assigned or reassigned to the same competitive level as classroom teachers. (Sec. 2803) Makes the evaluation process and instruments for evaluating District public school employees a nonnegotiable item for collective bargaining purposes. (Sec. 2804) Provides that such an employee shall be: (1) classified as an educational service employee; (2) placed under the Board's personnel authority; and (3) subject to all Board rules. Subtitle L: Establishment and Organization of the Commission on Consensus Reform in the District of Columbia Public Schools - Establishes within the District government a Commission on Consensus Reform in the District of Columbia Public Schools to: (1) identify and suggest ways to remove obstacles to implementation of the long- term reform plan; (2) assist in developing programs that lower the dropout rate and that ensure that public school students achieve basic literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills; (3) assist in developing district-wide skills assessments; (4) make recommendations to improve community, parent, and business involvement in public schools; (5) recommend ways to increase student involvement and attention; and (6) assist in establishing procedures that ensure that every student is provided necessary employment skills, including the development of individual career paths. (Sec. 2854) Requires any student who is required to serve a suspension from classes at a District public school outside the school, to perform community service. (Sec. 2855) Allows the Commission to examine and request the Inspector General of the District of Columbia or the Authority to audit: (1) Board of Education records to ensure, monitor, and evaluate the Board's performance with respect to compliance with the long-term reform plan and such plan's overall educational achievement; and (2) records of any public charter school to assure, monitor and evaluate the performance of the school with respect to the content standards and district-wide assessment. Subtitle M: Parent Attendance at Parent-Teacher Conferences - Authorizes the Mayor to implement a policy which encourages all District residents with children attending a District public school to attend and participate in at least one parent-teacher conference every 90 days during the academic year. Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I (sic): Department of the Interior - Makes appropriations for the FY 1996 operation of the Department of the Interior. Prohibits this Act's funds being spent by the National Park Service for activities in direct response to the United Nations Biodiversity Initiative in the United States. Authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to transfer NPS funds to State, local, and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations to carry out NPS programs. Directs the National Park Service to conduct a Feasibility Study for a northern access route into Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Restricts or regulates: (1) the use of this Act's research resources funds regarding the Endangered Species Act; and (2) activities and funding relating to the National Biological Survey. Provides funding for the closure of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, transferring specified functions to the Secretary of Energy. Sets forth the uses and limitations for such appropriations, including use of Bureau of Indian Affairs school system funds. Provides for a report concerning Indian tribes and their compliance with provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. (Sec. 109) Repeals the Outer Banks Protection Act. (Sec. 118) Sets forth provisions affecting the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands concerning infrastructure assistance. Title II: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service. Prohibits the use of funds to implement any reorganization or "reinvention" of the Forest Service. Makes appropriations for the Department of Energy for, among other things, fossil energy research and development, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), and the SPR Account. Makes appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Indian Health Service for Indian health services and facilities. Appropriates funds to: (1) the Department of Education for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education for Indian Education; (2) the Office of Navajo and Hopi Relocation; (3) the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development; (4) the Smithsonian Institution; (5) construction and improvements at the National Zoological Park; (6) restoration and repair of buildings owned or occupied by the Smithsonian Institution; (7) the National Gallery of Art; (8) the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and (9) the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Makes appropriations for: (1) the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities; (2) the Institute of Museum Services; (3) the Commission of Fine Arts; (4) National Capital arts and cultural affairs; (5) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; (6) the National Capital Planning Commission; (7) the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission; and (8) the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. Requires that funds made available in previous years for the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation be available for operating and administrative expenses and for the orderly closure of the Corporation. Rescinds $2.172 million. Sets forth uses and prohibitions on such funds. Title III: General Provisions - Sets forth uses and limitations of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 307) Requires expenditures under this Act to comply with the Buy American Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress that entities receiving Federal assistance should purchase only American-made equipment and products. Prohibits Federal contracts with persons found to have falsely labeled a product with a "Made in America" inscription. (Sec. 312) Prohibits any funds from this Act from being used for the AmeriCorps program. (Sec. 313) Mandates dissolution of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation. (Sec. 314) Regulates use of any Act's funds for the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project. (Sec. 315) Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a fee program to demonstrate the feasibility of user-generated cost recovery for the operation and maintenance of recreation areas or sites and habitat enhancement projects on Federal lands. (Sec. 322) Prohibits, with exceptions, use of this Act's funds to accept or process applications for a patent for any mining or mill site claim located under the general mining laws. (Sec. 324) Prohibits funding the Office of Forestry and Economic Development after December 31, 1995. (Sec. 326) Provides for a land exchange in Washington State. Authorizes appropriations as necessary to carry out this Act. (Sec. 327) Provides for the establishment of the Timber Sales Pipeline Restoration Fund. (Sec. 328) Places limitations on the type of grant awards that can be made by the National Endowment for the Arts. (Sec. 329) Delays the implementation of regulations concerning livestock grazing on lands administered by the Forest Service. (Sec. 330) Increases penalties for the use of a hazardous or injurious device on Federal or Indian lands. (Sec. 331) Prohibits, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the use of funds available to the National Endowment for the Arts pursuant to this Act to promote, disseminate, sponsor, or produce any material or performance that: (1) denigrates the religious objects or religious beliefs of the adherents of a particular religion; or (2) depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual or excretory activities or organs. Requires that this prohibition be strictly applied without regard to the content or viewpoint of the material or performance. (Sec. 333) Prohibits using this Act's funds to review or modify sourcing areas previously approved under specified provisions of the Forest Resources Conservation and Shortage Relief Act of 1990 or to enforce or implement specified Federal regulations. Prohibits adoption of policies that would restrain domestic transportation or processing of timber from private lands or impose additional accountability requirements on any timber. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I (sic): Department of Labor - Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies within the Department of Labor. Rescinds unobligated advances to the Employment Security Administration account of the Unemployment Trust Fund. Title II: Department of Health and Human Services - Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services. Rescinds existing and makes new appropriations for low income home energy assistance, designating certain of the new appropriations as emergency requirements under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and making those funds available only on a formal presidential budget request that designates the request as an emergency requirement under that Act. Provides limitations on the use of appropriated funds. (Sec. 207) Requires a transfer of funds for the security protection of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (Sec. 209) Rescinds amounts for Disease Control, Research, and Training under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Title III: Department of Education - Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies and programs within the Department of Education. Sets forth general provisions relating to the use of appropriated funds. (Sec. 301) Prohibits appropriated funds from being used to transport teachers or students in order to: (1) overcome racial imbalance in any school or school system; or (2) carry out a racial desegregation plan. (Sec. 303) Prohibits the use of funds to prevent the implementation of programs of voluntary prayer and meditation in the public schools. Title IV: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the following agencies or programs: (1) Armed Forces Retirement Home; (2) Corporation for National and Community Service; (3) Corporation for Public Broadcasting; (4) Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; (5) Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission; (6) National Commission on Libraries and Information Science; (7) National Council on Disability; (8) National Education Goals Panel; (9) National Labor Relations Board; (10) National Mediation Board; (11) Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission; (12) Physician Payment Review Commission; (13) Prospective Payment Assessment Commission; (14) Social Security Administration; (15) Railroad Retirement Board; and (16) United States Institute of Peace. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth provisions on the use of the appropriated funds. (Sec. 505) Prohibits the use of funds to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug unless the Surgeon General determines that such programs are effective in preventing the spread of HIV and do not encourage the use of illegal drugs. (Sec. 506) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and funds purchased under this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 507) Imposes a disclosure requirement on grantees receiving Federal funds. (Sec. 508) Prohibits the use of funds to perform abortions except to save the life of the mother or where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. (Sec. 509) Permits States to not perform abortions, except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term. (Sec. 510) Sets forth limitations on the use of appropriated funds. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I (sic): Department of Veterans Affairs - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Provides for the use of such appropriations. Sets forth various administrative provisions, including specified limitations, with respect to availability, transfers, and use of such appropriations. (Sec. 103) Prohibits availability of such appropriations for: (1) purchase of any site for or toward the construction of any new hospital or home (except the appropriations for construction of major or minor projects or the parking revolving fund); and (2) hospitalization or examination of any persons except beneficiaries entitled under the laws bestowing such benefits to veterans, unless reimbursement is made to the appropriation at rates fixed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (Sec. 108) Authorizes the Secretary to transfer jurisdiction and control of certain land in Wichita, Kansas, to the Secretary of Transportation. Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Provides for the use of such appropriations. (Sec. 201) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 (USHA), as amended by the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Additional Disaster Assistance, for Anti-terrorism Initiatives, for Assistance in the Recovery from the Tragedy that Occurred at Oklahoma City, and Rescissions Act, 1995, to authorize public housing agencies to provide modernization assistance to mixed-income developments. (Sec. 203) Provides for conversion of certain public housing to vouchers. Requires each PHA to: (1) identify any distressed public housing developments that meet specified criteria; and (2) develop and carry out a plan in conjunction with the Secretary for their removal from the PHA inventory and the annual contributions contract, over a period of up to five years (with possible extensions for up to another five years in certain circumstances). Directs the Secretary to make authority available to a PHA to provide section 8 tenant-based assistance to families residing in any development that is removed from the PHA inventory and the annual contributions contract. Requires each conversion plan to require the PHA to notify and counsel families residing in such a development, and ensure that they are offered tenant-based or project-based assistance and relocated, as necessary, to other decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing which is, to the maximum extent practicable, housing of their choice. (Sec. 204) Repeals a "take one-take all" requirement under USHA that a housing owner who accepts a Section 8 voucher holder as a tenant must accept all others. Exempts housing unit owners participating in the certificate and voucher programs from certain notice requirements relating to rent increases or termination of their assistance payment contracts with a PHA. Limits certain requirements to the duration of a lease. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary to conduct a demonstration program under which up to 30 selected PHAs (including Indian housing authorities) may administer the public or Indian housing program and the section 8 housing assistance payments program in ways which are designed to reduce costs and achieve greater cost-effectiveness in Federal expenditures, provide incentives for heads of households to become economically self-sufficient, and increase housing choices for lower-income families. (Sec. 208) Amends the Multifamily Housing Finance Improvement Act, under the housing and Community Development Act of 1992, to extend the risk-sharing and housing finance agency pilot demonstration programs but reduce the number of units involved in such programs during FY 1996. (Sec. 209) Authorizes the Secretary of HUD to delegate, during FY 1996, to one or more entities the authority to carry out some or all of the Secretary's responsibilities and functions in connection with the foreclosure of HUD-held mortgages under the National Housing Act (NHA). (Sec. 210) Authorizes the Secretary, during FY 1996, to sell or otherwise transfer multifamily mortgages held by the Secretary under the National Housing Act to State housing finance agencies, in connection with the risk-sharing or the housing finance agency pilot demonstration program under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, without regard to certain unit limitations. (Sec. 211) Amends section 8 of the USHA to provide for the transfer of budget authority. Directs the Secretary, if a section 8 assistance contract, other than a contract for tenant-based assistance, is terminated, not renewed, or expires, to transfer any budget authority remaining in that contract to another contract, in order to provide continued assistance to eligible families, including those receiving the benefit of the project-based assistance at the time of the termination. (Sec. 212) Makes certain amendments (made by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1995) relating to documentation of multifamily refinancings under the National Housing Act effective during FY 1996 and thereafter. (Sec. 213) Directs the Secretary, in FY 1996 and 1997, to initiate a demonstration program with respect to multifamily projects: (1) whose owners agree to participate; (2) whose mortgages are insured under the NHA and assisted under section 8 of the USHA; and (3) whose present section 8 rents are, in the aggregate, exceed the fair market rent of the locality in which the project is located. Requires these programs to be designed to test the feasibility and desirability of the goal of ensuring, to the maximum extent practicable, that the debt service and operating expenses, including adequate reserves, attributable to such multifamily projects can be supported with or without mortgage insurance under the NHA and with or without above-market rents and utilizing project-based assistance or, with the consent of the property owner, tenant-based assistance, while taking into account the need for assistance of low and very low-income families in such projects. Authorizes the Secretary to use arrangements with third parties, under which the Secretary may provide for their assumption of some or all of the Secretary's functions, obligations, and benefits. Sets forth goals and demonstration approaches for such programs. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) manage and dispose of multifamily properties and multifamily mortgages for properties assisted under section 8 with rents above 110 percent of fair market rents; and (2) delegate to one or more entities the authority to carry out some or all of the Secretary's functions and responsibilities in connection with the foreclosure of mortgages held under the NHA. Authorizes the Secretary, subject to the consent of specified parties, to: (1) remove, relinquish, extinguish, modify, or agree to the removal of any mortgage, regulatory agreement, project-based assistance contract, use agreement, or restriction that had been imposed or required by the Secretary, including restrictions on distributions of income which would interfere with the ability of the project to operate without above market rents; (2) require an owner of a property assisted under the section 8 new construction-substantial rehabilitation program to apply any accumulated residual receipts toward effecting program purposes; (3) enter into contracts to purchase reinsurance, or enter into participations or otherwise transfer economic interest in contracts of insurance or in the premiums paid, or due to be paid, on such insurance to third parties; (4) offer project-based assistance with rents at or below fair market rents for the locality and negotiate other terms acceptable to the Secretary and the project owner; (5) offer to pay all or a portion of the project's debt service, including payments monthly from the appropriate Insurance Fund, for the full remaining term of the insured mortgage; (6) forgive and cancel any mortgage debt insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that a demonstration program property cannot carry at market rents while bearing full operating costs; and (7) for demonstration program properties that cannot carry full operating costs (excluding debt service) at market rents, approve project-based rents sufficient to carry such full operating costs (and offer to pay the full debt service in the specified manner). Directs the Secretary to develop procedures to provide appropriate and timely notice to local government officials, the community, and the tenants of the project. Limits such demonstration program authority with respect to mortgages to not more than 15,000 units. Prohibits the expansion of such demonstration until specified reports are submitted to the Congress. Appropriates funds for the cost of modifying loans held or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). (Sec. 217) Requires all remaining obligated and unobligated balances in the Renewal of Expiring Section 8 Subsidy Contracts account on September 30, 1995, to be transferred to and merged with the obligated and unobligated balances, respectively, of the Annual Contributions for Assisted Housing account. (Sec. 218) Directs the Secretary to cancel the indebtedness of the Hubbard Hospital Authority of Hubbard, Texas, of the Groveton Texas Hospital Authority, and of the Hepzibah Public Service District of Hepzibah, West Virginia, relating to specified public facilities loans under title II of the Housing Amendments of 1955. (Sec. 219) Determines the Paul Mirabile Center, San Diego, California, to satisfy HUD continuum care requirements. Treats such Center as entirely residential rental property consisting solely of residential units used exclusively to facilitate the transition of homeless individuals to independent living within 24 months. (Sec. 220) Limits to no more than seven Assistant Secretaries and 77 schedule C and 20 non-career senior executive service employees the number of such Assistant Secretaries and employees in HUD by the end of FY 1996. (Sec. 221) Requires specified funds to be made available to: (1) the County of San Bernardino in California to assist with the expansion of the Los Padrinos Gang Intervention Program and the Unity Home Domestic Violence Shelter (from remaining funds made available to Bethlehem House in Highland, California, for site planning and loan acquisition); and (2) the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio, for the renovation and rehabilitation of an industrial building (from specified funds for removal of asbestos from an abandoned public school building in that city). (Sec. 222) Amends the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 to revise eligibility criteria to determine which housing qualifies for lead-based paint abatement grants. (Sec. 223) Amends USHA to repeal the six-year limitation on the extension period for Federal sharing of utility cost savings with PHAs under the program of annual contributions for operation of low-income housing. (Sec. 223A) Amends NHA, with respect to the housing program for moderate income and displaced families, to extend through FY 1996 the period for mortgage note sales. (Sec. 223B) Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1988 to repeal the prohibition (Frost-Leland) against the use of funds for demolishing certain historic buildings in Dallas and Houston, Texas. (Sec. 223D) Prohibits the use of any funds in this Act: from being used: (1) by the Secretary to impose any sanction or penalty because of the enactment of any State or local law or regulation declaring English as the official language; or (2) for lobbying activities as prohibited by law. (Sec. 223E) Transfers to the Department of Justice all HUD functions, activities, and responsibilities relating to title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, and the Fair Housing Act, including any rights guaranteed under the Fair Housing Act and any functions relating to the Fair Housing Initiatives program under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, along with adequate personnel and resources allocated to any such activity. (Sec. 224) Prohibits the use of any funds provided in this Act during FY 1996 to investigate or prosecute under the Fair Housing Act any otherwise lawful activity engaged in by one or more persons, including the filing or maintaining of non-frivolous legal action, that is engaged in solely for the purposes of achieving or preventing action by a Government official, entity, or court of competent jurisdiction. (Sec. 225) Prohibits the use of any funds provided in this Act to take any enforcement action with respect to a complaint of discrimination under the Fair Housing Act on the basis of familial status and which involves an occupancy standard established by the housing provider, except to the extent that it is found that there has been discrimination in contravention of the standards provided a specified HUD Memorandum, or until such time that HUD issues a final rule. (Sec. 226) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 with respect to the eligibility of housing reconstruction costs for expenditure of Community Development Block Grant funds. Title III: Independent Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the: (1) American Battle Monuments Commission; (2) Community development Financial Institutions Fund; (3) Consumer Product Safety Commission; (4) Corporation for National and Community Service (including transfer of funds); (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. Authorizes exemption from categorical pretreatment standards under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, if specified conditions are met, of an industrial discharger that is a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility which discharged to the Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant (an advanced wastewater treatment plant with activated carbon) before enactment of this Act. Requires the Director of FEMA to promulgate a methodology, based on specified criteria, for assessment and collection of fees applicable to persons subject to the FEMA radiological emergency preparedness regulations. Authorizes such fee assessment and collection only during FY 1996. (Sec. 301) Prohibits EPA use of any funds provided in this Act to: (1) carry out any final action by the EPA Administrator or delegate for promulgation of a rule concerning any new standard for radon in drinking water; (2) sign, promulgate, implement or enforce a proposed regulation relating to individual foreign refinery baseline requirements for reformulated gasoline; (3) implement a provision of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (or any pending EPA action to implement such provision) for denial or restriction of the use of defined areas as disposal sites for dredged or fill material; or (4) implement specified requirements of the Clean Air Act with respect to any moderate nonattainment area in which the average daily winter temperature is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Declares that this last prohibition does not preclude EPA assistance to the State of Alaska to make progress toward meeting the carbon monoxide standard in such areas and to resolve remaining issues regarding the use of oxygenated fuels in such areas. (Sec. 305) Provides for the transfer of property and the making of a grant for the creation of the Center for Ecology, Research, and Training in Bay City, Michigan. Title IV: Corporations - 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. Makes funds available for the Office of Inspector General of the Resolution Trust Corporation. Title V: General Provisions - Specifies certain uses, limitations, and prohibitions on uses of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 514) Requires FY 1996 pay raises to be absorbed within the levels appropriated in this Act. (Sec. 516) 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. 517) Prohibits the use of funds to implement any cap on reimbursements to grantees for indirect costs, except as published in a specified Office of Management and Budget Circular. (Sec. 519) Requires the Director of FEMA to sell the disaster housing inventory of mobile homes and trailers, and deposit the proceeds in the Treasury. (Sec. 520) Requires that funds necessary to terminate the Office of Consumer Affairs be made available from funds appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services for FY 1996. Title II (sic): Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1996 - Makes supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Department of Agriculture for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Consolidated Farm Service Agency, the Rural Housing and Community Development Service, and the Rural Utilities Service; (2) the Department of Commerce for the Economic Development Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (3) the Small Business Administration; (4) the Department of the Army for the Corps of Engineers-Civil; (5) the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Service, and the Bureau of indian Affairs; (6) the Department of Agriculture for the National Forest System; (7) the Department of Transportation for the Office of the Secretary, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration; (8) the Department of Housing and Urban Development for Community development grants; (9) the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster relief; (10) the President for assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States and for foreign military financing for grants for Jordan; (11) the Department of Defense for military personnel, operation and maintenance, procurement, and for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization security investment program. Rescinds specified funds for: (1) missile procurement, other procurement, and research, development, test and evaluation, Air Force. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Permits the President to make available funds for population planning programs under titles II and IV of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1996, under specified circumstances. (Sec. 3002) Amends the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 to revise provisions relating to Department of Commerce grants to commercial fishermen for losses resulting from Hurricanes, Hugo, Andrew, or Iniki. (Sec. 3003) Sets forth provisions concerning Bonneville Power Administration refinancing. (Sec. 3005) Sets forth provisions concerning funds apportioned to the State of Vermont for a specified surface transportation program. Title IV: Contingency Appropriations - Makes appropriations, in addition to funds provided elsewhere in this Act to: (1) the Department of Commerce for the National Institute of Standards and Technology; (2) the Department of State for administration of foreign affairs, contributions to international organizations, and contributions for international peacekeeping activities; (3) the Legal Services Corporation; (4) the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs; (5) the Department of Energy for energy conservation; (6) the Department of Labor under specified headings found elsewhere in this Act; (7) the department of Veterans Affairs; (8) the Department of Housing and Urban Development; (9) the Environmental Protection Agency; (10) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and (11) the National Science Foundation.

A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress regarding proposed missile tests by the People's Republic of China.

United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1996

Deplores the missile tests that the People's Republic of China (PRC) will conduct from March 8 through 15, 1996, as a threat to the peace, security, and stability of Taiwan and as not being in the spirit of the three U.S.-China Joint Communiques. Calls for the Government of the PRC to cease its bellicose actions directed at Taiwan and enter into meaningful dialogue with the Government of Taiwan at the highest levels with an eye toward decreasing tensions and resolving the issue of the future of Taiwan. Urges the President to consult with the Congress on an appropriate U.S. response to the tests and to reexamine the nature and quantity of defense articles and services that may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability in light of the heightened threat.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require that the offices for management, policy, and other functions associated with the educational assistance programs of the Education Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs be in the District of Columbia.

United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1996

Requires the offices of Education Procedures Systems, Education Operations, and Education Policy and Program Administration of the Education Service of the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be located in the District of Columbia.

A bill to authorize award of a medal to civilians who participated in the defense of Pearl Harbor and other military installations in Hawaii against attack by the Japanese on December 7, 1941.

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1996

Authorizes the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to jointly present, on behalf of the Congress, a bronze medal to civilians who participated in combat operations on December 7, 1941, against Japanese military forces attacking Hawaii. Directs: (1) the Secretary of Defense to certify eligible persons; and (2) the Secretary of the Treasury to strike additional medals necessary for the presentation. Authorizes appropriations. Provides that the authority provided by this Act shall be effective as of November 5, 1990.

Encrypted Communications Privacy Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1996

Encrypted Communications Privacy Act of 1996 - Allows any person within any State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and any U.S. territory or possession and any U.S. person in a foreign country to use any encryption, regardless of encryption algorithm selected, key length chosen, or implementation technique or medium used, with exceptions. Specifies that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) require the use of any form of encryption; or (2) limit or affect the ability of any person to use encryption without a key escrow function or of any person who chooses to use encryption with a key escrow function not to use a key holder. Amends the Federal criminal code to subject to criminal penalties and civil liability any key holder who, without authorization, releases a decryption key or provides decryption assistance. Makes it a complete defense against any such civil or criminal action that the defendant acted in good faith reliance upon a court warrant or order, grand jury or trial subpoena, or statutory authorization. Directs the Attorney General and other specified officials to report to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts on the number of orders and extensions served on key holders to obtain access to decryption keys or decryption assistance. Sets penalties for willfully endeavoring by means of encryption to obstruct, impede, or prevent the communication of information in furtherance of a felony to an investigative or law enforcement officer. Allows any person within any State to sell in interstate commerce any encryption. Grants the Secretary of Commerce exclusive authority to control exports of all computer hardware, software, and technology for information security (including encryption), except computer hardware, software, and technology specifically designed or modified for military use. Prohibits requiring any validated license (with limited exceptions) for the export or reexport of any: (1) software, including software with encryption capabilities, that is generally available as is, that is designed for installation by the purchaser, or that is in the public domain or publicly available because it is generally accessible to the public in any form; or (2) computing device solely because it incorporates or employs in any form software (including software with encryption capabilities) exempted from any such requirement for a validated license. Directs the Secretary to authorize the export or reexport of: (1) software with encryption capabilities for nonmilitary end-uses in any country to which exports of software of similar capability are permitted for use by financial institutions not controlled in fact by U.S. persons, unless there is substantial evidence that such software will be diverted to a military end-use or an end-use supporting international terrorism, modified for military or terrorist end-use, or reexported without requisite U.S. authorization; and (2) computer hardware with encryption capabilities if the Secretary determines that a product offering comparable security is commercially available from a foreign supplier without effective restrictions outside the United States. Declares that nothing in this Act: (1) constitutes authority for the conduct of intelligence activity; and (2) shall affect specified conduct by Federal officers or employees related to communications security and communications by or among foreign powers or agents.

Security and Freedom Through Encryption (SAFE) Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1996

Security and Freedom Through Encryption (SAFE) Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to permit any person within any State, and any U.S. person in a foreign country, to use any encryption regardless of the encryption algorithm selected, encryption key length chosen, or implementation technique or medium used, with an exception for the unlawful use of encryption in furtherance of a criminal act. Allows any person within any State to sell in interstate commerce any encryption. Specifies that no person in lawful possession of a key to encrypted information may be required by Federal or State law to relinquish to another person control of that key, with an exception for access for law enforcement purposes. Sets penalties for the willful use of encryption in furtherance of the commission of a criminal offense. (Sec. 3) Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to grant the Secretary of Commerce exclusive authority to control exports of all hardware, software, and technology for information security (including encryption), except that which is specifically designed or modified for military use. Prohibits requiring any validated license (with limited exceptions pursuant to the Trading With The Enemy Act or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act) for the export or reexport of any: (1) software, including software with encryption capabilities that is generally available as is and that is designed for installation by the purchaser, or that is in the public domain for which copyright or other protection is not available or is available to the public because it is generally accessible to the public in any form; or (2) computing device solely because it incorporates or employs in any form software (including software with encryption capabilities) exempted from any requirement for a validated license under this section. Directs the Secretary to authorize the export or reexport of: (1) software with encryption capabilities for nonmilitary end-uses in any country to which exports of software of similar capability are permitted for use by financial institutions not controlled in fact by U.S. persons, unless there is substantial evidence that such software will be diverted to a military end-use or an end-use supporting international terrorism, modified for military or terrorist end-use, or reexported without any U.S. authorization that may be required under the Act; and (2) computer hardware with encryption capabilities if the Secretary determines that a product offering comparable security is commercially available outside the United States from a foreign supplier without effective restrictions.

Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of Justice Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Title III: The Judiciary Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies Title V: Related Agencies Title VI: General Provisions Title VII: Rescissions Title VIII: Prison Litigation Reform Title I (sic): Department of the Interior Title II: Related Agencies Title III: General Provisions Title I (sic): Department of Labor Title II: Department of Health and Human Services Title III: Department of Education Title IV: Related Agencies Title V: General Provisions Title VI: Additional Appropriations Title I (sic): Department of Veterans Affairs Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development Title III: Independent Agencies Title IV: Corporations Title V: General Provisions Title II (sic): Emergency Peacekeeping Appropriations Title III: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Title IV: Contingent Supplemental Appropriations Balanced Budget Down Payment Act, II - Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Department of Justice - Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes FY 1996 appropriations to the Department of Justice, including funding for the Community Relations Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Federal Prison System. (Sec. 114) Revises provisions of subtitle A (Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth in Sentencing Incentive Grants) of title II (Prisons) of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Directs the Attorney General to provide grants to eligible States to build or expand: (1) correctional facilities to increase the prison bed capacity for the confinement of persons convicted of a "part 1 violent crime" (murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) or adjudicated delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would be a part 1 violent crime; (2) temporary or permanent correctional facilities, including facilities on military bases, prison barges, and boot camps, for the confinement of convicted nonviolent offenders and criminal aliens for the purpose of freeing suitable existing prison space for the confinement of persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime; and (3) jails. Authorizes States to enter into regional compacts to carry out such provisions, subject to specified limitations. Specifies that an eligible State may receive either a general grant or a truth-in- sentencing incentive grant, with an exception. Sets forth general eligibility requirements. Requires a State, to be eligible for a general grant, to submit an application to the Attorney General that provides assurances that such State has, since 1993, increased the percentage of persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime sentenced to prison, the average prison time actually to be served in prison by such persons, and the average percentage of time of the sentence to be actually served in prison by persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime and sentenced to prison (with an indeterminant sentencing exception). Requires a State, to be eligible for a truth-in-sentencing incentive grant, to submit such an application providing assurances that: (1) such State has implemented truth-in-sentencing laws that require (or has enacted but has not yet implemented such laws that, within three years, will require) persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime to serve not less than 85 percent of the sentence imposed; or (2) if the State practices indeterminate sentencing, such State demonstrates that the average time served equals at least 85 percent of the sentences established for such crimes under the State's sentencing and release guidelines (with exceptions for geriatric prisoners or those whose medical condition precludes them from posing a threat to the public after a public hearing in which representatives of the public and the prisoner's victims have had an opportunity to be heard regarding a proposed release). Sets forth special rules regarding State: (1) sharing of funds with counties and other units of local government; (2) policies providing for the recognition of the rights and needs of crime victims; (3) use of funds to build or expand juvenile correctional facilities or pretrial detention facilities for juvenile offenders; and (4) use of funds for the privatization of correctional facilities. Sets forth: (1) formulas for the Attorney General to apply in determining the amount of funds that may be granted to each eligible State; and (2) accountability requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth provisions regarding the distribution, limitations on the use of, and matching requirements with respect to, grant funds. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) payments for incarceration on tribal lands; (2) payments to eligible States for incarceration of criminal aliens (and authorizes appropriations); (3) support of Federal prisoners in non-Federal institutions (and authorizes appropriations); and (4) reports by the Attorney General to the Congress. Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies - Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the Department of Commerce (Department) and related agencies and activities, including: (1) the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; (2) the International Trade Commission and international trade activities; (3) export administration; (4) the Economic Development Administration; (5) minority business development; (6) economic and statistical analysis and administration; (7) the Bureau of the Census and related activities; (8) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; (9) public broadcasting facilities, planning, and construction; (10) the Patent and Trademark Office; (11) the National Institute of Standards and Technology and related services and activities; (12) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (including a transfer of funds); (13) various government trust funds related to ocean and water resources development and activities; (14) technology policy and administration; and (15) the Office of the Inspector General. Rescinds $75 million of amounts available to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for the construction of research facilities. (Sec. 201) Allows advance payments to be made for authorized Department activities only upon certification by Department officials that such payments are in the public interest. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary or other appropriate agency head, if legislation is enacted to dismantle or reorganize the Department, to report to the appropriations committees within 90 days thereafter a plan for transferring funds provided to the Department in this Act to the appropriate successor organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to use any available funds to carry out the legislation, including voluntary separation incentives if duly authorized. (Sec. 207) States that the transfer of title of the Rutland City Industrial Complex to Hilinex, Vermont, shall not require compensation to the Government for its share of such property. (Sec. 208) Directs the Secretary to: (1) commence and complete a demolition of existing structures and an environmental cleanup of the Central Foundry Property in Holt, Alabama; and (2) transfer such property to the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority. (Sec. 219) Requires any costs incurred by a department or agency funded under this title resulting from personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions included in this title to be absorbed within the total budgetary resources available to such department or agency. (Sec. 210) Prohibits funds to develop new fishery management plans approved by a Regional Fishery Management Council until the payment of specified offsetting fees. Title III: The Judiciary - Judiciary Appropriations Act, 1996 - Appropriates FY 1996 funds for activities of the Judiciary, including: (1) the Supreme Court; (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; (3) the U.S. Court of International Trade; (4) the Courts of Appeals, district courts, and other judicial services; (5) the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (Administrative Office); (6) the Federal Judicial Center; (7) Judicial Retirement Funds; and (8) the United States Sentencing Commission. (Sec. 305) Revises provisions regarding judicial conferences of the circuits to allow (current law requires) the chief judge to summon judges to and preside at, and every judge to attend and remain throughout, such conferences. Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies - Department of State and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Appropriates funds for FY 1996 for the Department of State and related agencies, activities, and programs, including: (1) diplomatic and consular programs; (2) the Capital Investment Fund; (3) the Office of the Inspector General; (4) payments to the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (5) contributions to international organizations, peacekeeping activities, conferences and commissions; (6) a grant to the Asia Foundation; (7) the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA); (8) the United States Information Agency (USIA); (9) the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program Trust Fund; (10) the Israeli Arab Scholarship Program; (11) the American Studies Collections Endowment Fund; (12) international broadcasting operations, including broadcasting to Cuba; and (13) the National Endowment for Democracy. (Sec. 401) Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated under this Act. (Sec. 404) Requires the Secretary of State and the Directors of USIA and ACDA, within 90 days after the enactment of legislation consolidating, reorganizing, or downsizing the functions of such department and agencies, to submit to the appropriations committees a proposal for transferring or rescinding funds appropriated herein for such consolidated functions. Authorizes such officials to use any available funds to cover the consolidation costs required by such legislation, including voluntary separation incentives duly authorized. (Sec. 407) Repeals Federal provisions limiting the use of endowment trust income under the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Act. (Sec. 408) Expresses the sense of the Senate that no funds made available under this Act should be used for the deployment of combat- equipped U.S. military personnel for any ground operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, except in specific limited circumstances. (Sec. 409) Requires costs incurred by a department or agency funded under this title resulting from personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions included in this title to be absorbed within the total budgetary resources available to such department or agency. Title V: Related Agencies - Appropriates funds for FY 1996 for: (1) the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation; (2) the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; (3) the Commission on Civil Rights; (4) the Commission on Immigration Reform; (5) the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; (6) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; (7) the Federal Communications Commission; (8) the Federal Maritime Commission; (9) the Federal Trade Commission; (10) the Japan-United States Friendship Commission; (11) the Legal Services Corporation; (12) the Marine Mammal Commission; (13) the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission; (14) the Securities and Exchange Commission; (15) the Small Business Administration; (16) certain accounts and revolving funds; and (17) the State Justice Institute. (Sec. 501) Places limitations on the use of funds by the Legal Services Corporation. Directs the Corporation to: (1) implement a system of competitive awards of grants and contracts that will apply to all contracts for the delivery of legal assistance awarded by the Corporation after March 31, 1996; and (2) promulgate regulations to implement a competitive selection process for the recipients of such grants and contracts. Prohibits the Corporation from: (1) engaging in litigation that is in any way intended to or has the effect of altering or revising any legislative, judicial, or elective district; (2) attempting in any way to influence the issuance of any executive order or regulation or the passage or defeat of any legislation; (3) bringing a class action suit against the Federal Government or any State; (4) providing assistance to any alien unless the alien is lawfully present in this country or meets other specified requirements; (5) supporting or conducting programs to advocate particular public policies or encourage political activities; or (6) participating in any litigation with respect to abortion or any prisoner. Sets forth prohibited uses of funds appropriated to the Corporation. Directs the Corporation to report every 60 days to the appropriations committees setting forth the status of certain legal assistance cases and matters brought through the Corporation. Requires an audit (containing specified information) to be conducted of each person or entity receiving financial assistance from the Corporation. Allows the Corporation access to appropriate legal and financial documents for purposes of such audits, while requiring appropriate confidentiality. Requires such audits for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 1996. (Sec. 510) Provides authorized funds transfers, and transfer limits, for appropriations made to the Small Business Administration. Title VI: General Provisions - Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 607) Expresses the sense of the Congress that equipment and products purchased with funds from this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 609) Prohibits funds from this Act from being used to pay for costs incurred for: (1) opening or operating any U.S. diplomatic or consular post (post) in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that was not operating on July 11, 1995; (2) expanding any such post that was in operation on such date; or (3) increasing the number of personnel assigned to such post above the level existing on such date, unless the President certifies that the Vietnamese Government is fully cooperating with the United States in activities relating to the investigation and recovery of missing U.S. military personnel from the Vietnam area. (Sec. 611) Prohibits the use of funds from this Act to provide specified amenities or personal comforts in the Federal prison system. (Sec. 614) Amends the Federal criminal code to terminate the Advisory Corrections Council. (Sec. 615) Requires costs incurred by a department or agency funded under this title resulting from personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions included in this title to be absorbed within the total budgetary resources available to such department or agency. Title VII: Rescissions - Rescinds specified funds from unobligated balances within certain accounts of: (1) the Department of Justice; (2) the State Department; and (3) USIA. Title VIII: Prison Litigation Reform - Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 - Revises Federal criminal code provisions regarding remedies for prison crowding to substitute provisions regarding remedies for prison conditions. Prohibits: (1) prospective relief in any civil action regarding prison conditions from extending further than necessary to correct the violation of the Federal right of particular plaintiffs; and (2) the court from granting or approving any such relief unless that relief is narrowly drawn, extends no further than necessary to correct the violation of the Federal right, and is the least intrusive means necessary to correct the violation. Directs the court to give substantial weight to any adverse impact on public safety or the operation of a criminal justice system caused by the relief. Prohibits the court from ordering prospective relief that requires or permits a government official to exceed his or her authority under, or that otherwise violates, State or local law, unless: (1) Federal law permits such relief to be ordered in violation of State or local law; (2) the relief is necessary to correct the violation of a Federal right; and (3) no other relief will correct the violation of the Federal right. Authorizes the court to enter a temporary restraining order or an order for preliminary injunctive relief, which shall automatically expire 90 days after its entry, with exceptions. Directs the court to give substantial weight to any adverse impact on public safety or operation of a criminal justice system caused by the preliminary relief, and to respect principles of comity in tailoring any such relief. Prohibits a prisoner release order from being entered unless: (1) a court has previously entered an order for less intrusive relief that has failed to remedy the deprivation of the Federal right and the defendant has had a reasonable amount of time to comply with the previous court orders; and (2) it is entered by a three-judge court, which finds by clear and convincing evidence that crowding is the primary cause of the violation and no other relief will remedy it. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) termination or modification of relief; (2) settlements; (3) State law remedies; (4) procedure for motions affecting prospective relief; and (5) the use of special masters. (Sec. 803) Amends the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act to require the Attorney General to personally sign any complaint filed, or any certification or motion to intervene made, to initiate a civil action under the Act. Revises provisions of the Act to prohibit any action from being brought by a prisoner with respect to prison conditions until available administrative remedies are exhausted. Specifies that the failure of a State to adopt or adhere to an administrative grievance procedure shall not constitute the basis for an action. Directs the court to dismiss any such action if satisfied that the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief (and authorizes the court, in such instances, to dismiss the underlying claim without first requiring exhaustion of administrative remedies). Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) limits on the award of attorney fees; (2) limits on recovery; (3) hearings; and (4) waiver of reply. (Sec. 804) Amends the Federal judicial code to require a prisoner: (1) of a Federal, State, or local institution seeking to bring a civil action or appeal a judgment in a civil action or proceeding without prepayment of fees or security to submit a certified copy of the prisoner's trust fund account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint or notice of appeal, obtained from the appropriate official of each institution at which the prisoner is or was confined; and (2) who brings a civil action or files an appeal in forma pauperis to pay the full amount of a filing fee (and directs the court to assess and, when funds exist, to collect, as a partial payment of any court fees required by law, an initial partial filing fee of 20 percent of the greater of the average monthly deposits to the prisoner's account or the average monthly balance in the prisoner's account for such six-month period). Sets forth similar provisions regarding the payment of costs by the prisoner. Revises provisions regarding the appointment of counsel in forma pauperis proceedings to require the court to dismiss the case at any time if the allegation of poverty is untrue or if the action or appeal is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. Makes an exception to the discharge of debt in a bankruptcy proceeding for a fee imposed by a court for the filing of a case, motion, complaint, or appeal, or for other costs and expenses assessed with respect to such filing, regardless of an assertion of poverty by the debtor or the debtor's status as a prisoner. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) successive claims; (2) judicial screening of complaints in civil actions brought by prisoners against governmental entities; and (3) limits of Federal tort claims by prisoners. (Sec. 807) Requires any compensatory damages award to a prisoner in connection with a civil action brought against any Federal, State, or local correctional facility or official or agent thereof to be paid directly to satisfy any outstanding restitution orders pending against the prisoner, with the remainder forwarded to the prisoner. (Sec. 808) Provides for notice to crime victims of pending damage awards. (Sec. 809) Authorizes the court to revoke earned release credit under specified circumstances. Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) direct the Bureau of Prisons, in awarding credit towards service of sentence for satisfactory behavior, to consider whether the prisoner has earned or is making satisfactory progress toward earning a high school diploma or an equivalent degree; and (2) provide that credit awarded after the date of enactment of this Act shall vest on the date the prisoner is released from custody. Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Department of the Interior - Makes appropriations for the FY 1996 operation of the Department of the Interior. Prohibits this Act's funds being spent by the National Park Service for activities in direct response to the United Nations Biodiversity Initiative in the United States. Authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to transfer NPS funds to State, local, and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations to carry out NPS programs. Directs the National Park Service to conduct a Feasibility Study for a northern access route into Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Restricts or regulates: (1) the use of this Act's research resources funds regarding the Endangered Species Act; and (2) activities and funding relating to the National Biological Survey. Provides funding for the closure of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, transferring specified functions to the Secretary of Energy. Sets forth the uses and limitations for such appropriations, including use of Bureau of Indian Affairs school system funds. Provides for a report concerning Indian tribes and their compliance with provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. (Sec. 109) Repeals the Outer Banks Protection Act. (Sec. 118) Sets forth provisions affecting the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands concerning infrastructure assistance. Title II: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service. Prohibits the use of funds to implement any reorganization or "reinvention" of the Forest Service. Makes appropriations for the Department of Energy for, among other things, fossil energy research and development, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), and the SPR Account. Makes appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Indian Health Service for Indian health services and facilities. Appropriates funds to: (1) the Department of Education for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education for Indian Education; (2) the Office of Navajo and Hopi Relocation; (3) the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development; (4) the Smithsonian Institution; (5) construction and improvements at the National Zoological Park; (6) restoration and repair of buildings owned or occupied by the Smithsonian Institution; (7) the National Gallery of Art; (8) the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and (9) the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Makes appropriations for: (1) the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities; (2) the Institute of Museum Services; (3) the Commission of Fine Arts; (4) National Capital arts and cultural affairs; (5) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; (6) the National Capital Planning Commission; (7) the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission; and (8) the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. Requires that funds made available in previous years for the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation be available for operating and administrative expenses and for the orderly closure of the Corporation. Sets forth uses and prohibitions on such funds. Title III: General Provisions - Sets forth uses and limitations of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 307) Requires expenditures under this Act to comply with the Buy American Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress that entities receiving Federal assistance should purchase only American-made equipment and products. Prohibits Federal contracts with persons found to have falsely labeled a product with a "Made in America" inscription. (Sec. 312) Prohibits any funds from this Act from being used for the AmeriCorps program. (Sec. 313) Mandates dissolution of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation. (Sec. 314) Regulates use of any Act's funds for the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project. (Sec. 315) Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a fee program to demonstrate the feasibility of user-generated cost recovery for the operation and maintenance of recreation areas or sites and habitat enhancement projects on Federal lands. (Sec. 322) Prohibits, with exceptions, use of this Act's funds to accept or process applications for a patent for any mining or mill site claim located under the general mining laws. (Sec. 324) Prohibits funding the Office of Forestry and Economic Development after December 31, 1995. (Sec. 326) Provides for a land exchange in Washington State. Authorizes appropriations as necessary to carry out this Act. (Sec. 327) Provides for the establishment of the Timber Sales Pipeline Restoration Fund. (Sec. 328) Places limitations on the type of grant awards that can be made by the National Endowment for the Arts. (Sec. 329) Delays the implementation of regulations concerning livestock grazing on lands administered by the Forest Service. (Sec. 330) Increases penalties for the use of a hazardous or injurious device on Federal or Indian lands. (Sec. 331) Prohibits, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the use of funds available to the National Endowment for the Arts pursuant to this Act to promote, disseminate, sponsor, or produce any material or performance that: (1) denigrates the religious objects or religious beliefs of the adherents of a particular religion; or (2) depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual or excretory activities or organs. Requires that this prohibition be strictly applied without regard to the content or viewpoint of the material or performance. (Sec. 333) Prohibits using this Act's funds to review or modify sourcing areas previously approved under specified provisions of the Forest Resources Conservation and Shortage Relief Act of 1990 or to enforce or implement specified Federal regulations. Prohibits adoption of policies that would restrain domestic transportation or processing of timber from private lands or impose additional accountability requirements on any timber. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Department of Labor - Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies within the Department of Labor. Rescinds unobligated advances to the Employment Security Administration account of the Unemployment Trust Fund. (Sec. 102) Amends the Job Training Partnership Act to repeal the prohibition on using appropriated funds to carry out any contract with a nongovernmental entity to administer or manage a Civilian Conservation Center of the Jobs Corps. Title II: Department of Health and Human Services - Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services. Rescinds appropriations made to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for immunization activities. Rescinds appropriations for low income home energy assistance. Provides limitations on the use of appropriated funds. (Sec. 207) Requires a transfer of funds for the security protection of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Title III: Department of Education - Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies and programs within the Department of Education. Sets forth general provisions relating to the use of appropriated funds. (Sec. 301) Prohibits appropriated funds from being used to transport teachers or students in order to: (1) overcome racial imbalance in any school or school system; or (2) carry out a racial desegregation plan. (Sec. 303) Prohibits the use of funds to prevent the implementation of programs of voluntary prayer and meditation in the public schools. Title IV: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the following agencies or programs: (1) Armed Forces Retirement Home; (2) Corporation for National and Community Service; (3) Corporation for Public Broadcasting; (4) Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; (5) Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission; (6) National Commission on Libraries and Information Science; (7) National Council on Disability; (8) National Education Goals Panel; (9) National Labor Relations Board; (10) National Mediation Board; (11) Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission; (12) Physician Payment Review Commission; (13) Prospective Payment Assessment Commission; (14) Social Security Administration; (15) Railroad Retirement Board; and (16) United States Institute of Peace. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth provisions on the use of the appropriated funds. (Sec. 505) Prohibits the use of funds to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug unless the Surgeon General determines that such programs are effective in preventing the spread of HIV and do not encourage the use of illegal drugs. (Sec. 506) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and funds purchased under this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 507) Imposes a disclosure requirement on grantees receiving Federal funds. (Sec. 508) Prohibits the use of funds to perform abortions except to save the life of the mother or where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. (Sec. 509) Permits States to not perform abortions, except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term. (Sec. 511) Sets forth limitations on the use of appropriated funds. (Sec. 515) Prohibits appropriated funds being used by any Federal program or to assist any State when such Federal program or State discriminates against any health care entity that refuses to undergo training in the performance of abortions. Title VI: Additional Appropriations - Makes supplemental appropriations for the Health Care Financing Administration, the Office of the Secretary, and the Social Security Administration. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Department of Veterans Affairs - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Provides for the use of such appropriations. Sets forth various administrative provisions, including specified limitations, with respect to availability, transfers, and use of such appropriations. (Sec. 103) Prohibits availability of such appropriations for: (1) purchase of any site for or toward the construction of any new hospital or home (except the appropriations for construction of major or minor projects or the parking revolving fund); and (2) hospitalization or examination of any persons except beneficiaries entitled under the laws bestowing such benefits to veterans, unless reimbursement is made to the appropriation at rates fixed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (Sec. 107) Authorizes the Secretary to transfer jurisdiction and control of certain land in Wichita, Kansas, to the Secretary of Transportation. Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Provides for the use of such appropriations. (Sec. 201) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 (USHA), as amended by the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Additional Disaster Assistance, for Anti-terrorism Initiatives, for Assistance in the Recovery from the Tragedy that Occurred at Oklahoma City, and Rescissions Act, 1995, to authorize public housing agencies to provide modernization assistance to mixed-income developments. (Sec. 202) Provides for conversion of certain public housing to vouchers. Requires each PHA to: (1) identify any distressed public housing developments that meet specified criteria; and (2) develop and carry out a plan in conjunction with the Secretary for their removal from the PHA inventory and the annual contributions contract, over a period of up to five years (with possible extensions for up to another five years in certain circumstances). Directs the Secretary to make authority available to a PHA to provide section 8 tenant-based assistance to families residing in any development that is removed from the PHA inventory and the annual contributions contract. Requires each conversion plan to require the PHA to notify and counsel families residing in such a development, and ensure that they are offered tenant-based or project-based assistance and relocated, as necessary, to other decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing which is, to the maximum extent practicable, housing of their choice. (Sec. 203) Repeals a "take one-take all" requirement under USHA that a housing owner who accepts a Section 8 voucher holder as a tenant must accept all others. Exempts housing unit owners participating in the certificate and voucher programs from certain notice requirements relating to rent increases or termination of their assistance payment contracts with a PHA. Limits certain requirements to the duration of a lease. (Sec. 204) Directs the Secretary to conduct a demonstration program under which up to 30 selected PHAs (including Indian housing authorities) may administer the public or Indian housing program and the section 8 housing assistance payments program (for a total number of public housing units up to 25,000) in ways which are designed to reduce costs and achieve greater cost-effectiveness in Federal expenditures, provide incentives for heads of households to become economically self-sufficient, and increase housing choices for lower- income families. (Sec. 205) Amends the Multifamily Housing Finance Improvement Act, under the housing and Community Development Act of 1992, to extend the risk-sharing and housing finance agency pilot demonstration programs but reduce the number of units involved in such programs during FY 1996. (Sec. 206) Authorizes the Secretary of HUD to delegate, during FY 1996, to one or more entities the authority to carry out some or all of the Secretary's responsibilities and functions in connection with the foreclosure of HUD-held mortgages under the National Housing Act (NHA). (Sec. 207) Authorizes the Secretary, during FY 1996, to sell or otherwise transfer multifamily mortgages held by the Secretary under the National Housing Act to State housing finance agencies, in connection with the risk-sharing or the housing finance agency pilot demonstration program under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, without regard to certain unit limitations. (Sec. 211) Amends section 8 of the USHA to provide for the transfer of budget authority. Directs the Secretary, if a section 8 assistance contract, other than a contract for tenant-based assistance, is terminated, not renewed, or expires, to transfer any budget authority remaining in that contract to another contract, in order to provide continued assistance to eligible families, including those receiving the benefit of the project-based assistance at the time of the termination. (Sec. 209) Makes certain amendments (made by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1995) relating to documentation of multifamily refinancings under the National Housing Act effective during FY 1996 and thereafter. (Sec. 210) Directs the Secretary, in FY 1996 and 1997, to initiate a demonstration program with respect to multifamily projects: (1) whose owners agree to participate; (2) whose mortgages are insured under the NHA and assisted under section 8 of the USHA; and (3) whose present section 8 rents are, in the aggregate, exceed the fair market rent of the locality in which the project is located. Requires these programs to be designed to test the feasibility and desirability of the goal of ensuring, to the maximum extent practicable, that the debt service and operating expenses, including adequate reserves, attributable to such multifamily projects can be supported with or without mortgage insurance under the NHA and with or without above-market rents and utilizing project-based assistance or, with the consent of the property owner, tenant-based assistance, while taking into account the need for assistance of low and very low-income families in such projects. Authorizes the Secretary to use arrangements with third parties, under which the Secretary may provide for their assumption of some or all of the Secretary's functions, obligations, and benefits. Sets forth goals and demonstration approaches for such programs. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) manage and dispose of multifamily properties and multifamily mortgages for properties assisted under section 8 with rents above 110 percent of fair market rents; and (2) delegate to one or more entities the authority to carry out some or all of the Secretary's functions and responsibilities in connection with the foreclosure of mortgages held under the NHA. Authorizes the Secretary, subject to the consent of specified parties, to: (1) remove, relinquish, extinguish, modify, or agree to the removal of any mortgage, regulatory agreement, project-based assistance contract, use agreement, or restriction that had been imposed or required by the Secretary, including restrictions on distributions of income which would interfere with the ability of the project to operate without above market rents; (2) require an owner of a property assisted under the section 8 new construction-substantial rehabilitation program to apply any accumulated residual receipts toward effecting program purposes; (3) enter into contracts to purchase reinsurance, or enter into participations or otherwise transfer economic interest in contracts of insurance or in the premiums paid, or due to be paid, on such insurance to third parties; (4) offer project-based assistance with rents at or below fair market rents for the locality and negotiate other terms acceptable to the Secretary and the project owner; (5) offer to pay all or a portion of the project's debt service, including payments monthly from the appropriate Insurance Fund, for the full remaining term of the insured mortgage; (6) forgive and cancel any mortgage debt insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that a demonstration program property cannot carry at market rents while bearing full operating costs; and (7) for demonstration program properties that cannot carry full operating costs (excluding debt service) at market rents, approve project-based rents sufficient to carry such full operating costs (and offer to pay the full debt service in the specified manner). Directs the Secretary to develop procedures to provide appropriate and timely notice to local government officials, the community, and the tenants of the project. Limits such demonstration program authority with respect to mortgages to not more than 15,000 units. Prohibits the expansion of such demonstration until specified reports are submitted to the Congress. Appropriates funds for the cost of modifying loans held or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). (Sec. 212) Requires all remaining obligated and unobligated balances in the Renewal of Expiring Section 8 Subsidy Contracts account on September 30, 1995, to be transferred to and merged with the obligated and unobligated balances, respectively, of the Annual Contributions for Assisted Housing account. (Sec. 213) Directs the Secretary to cancel the indebtedness of the Hubbard Hospital Authority of Hubbard, Texas, of the Groveton Texas Hospital Authority, and of the Hepzibah Public Service District of Hepzibah, West Virginia, relating to specified public facilities loans under title II of the Housing Amendments of 1955. (Sec. 214) Determines the Paul Mirabile Center, San Diego, California, to satisfy HUD continuum care requirements. Treats such Center as entirely residential rental property consisting solely of residential units used exclusively to facilitate the transition of homeless individuals to independent living within 24 months. (Sec. 215) Limits to no more than seven Assistant Secretaries and 77 schedule C and 20 non-career senior executive service employees the number of such Assistant Secretaries and employees in HUD by the end of FY 1996. (Sec. 216) Requires specified funds to be made available to: (1) the County of San Bernardino in California to assist with the expansion of the Los Padrinos Gang Intervention Program and the Unity Home Domestic Violence Shelter (from remaining funds made available to Bethlehem House in Highland, California, for site planning and loan acquisition); and (2) the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio, for the renovation and rehabilitation of an industrial building (from specified funds for removal of asbestos from an abandoned public school building in that city). (Sec. 217) Amends the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 to revise eligibility criteria to determine which housing qualifies for lead-based paint abatement grants. (Sec. 218) Amends USHA to repeal the six-year limitation on the extension period for Federal sharing of utility cost savings with PHAs under the program of annual contributions for operation of low-income housing. (Sec. 219) Amends NHA, with respect to the housing program for moderate income and displaced families, to extend through FY 1996 the period for mortgage note sales. (Sec. 220) Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1988, to repeal the prohibition (Frost-Leland) against the use of funds for demolishing certain historic buildings in Dallas and Houston, Texas. (Sec. 222) Prohibits the use of any funds in this Act: from being used: (1) by the Secretary to impose any sanction or penalty because of the enactment of any State or local law or regulation declaring English as the official language; or (2) for lobbying activities as prohibited by law. (Sec. 223) Transfers to the Department of Justice all HUD functions, activities, and responsibilities relating to title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, and the Fair Housing Act, including any rights guaranteed under the Fair Housing Act and any functions relating to the Fair Housing Initiatives program under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, along with adequate personnel and resources allocated to any such activity. (Sec. 224) Prohibits the use of any funds provided in this Act during FY 1996 to investigate or prosecute under the Fair Housing Act any otherwise lawful activity engaged in by one or more persons, including the filing or maintaining of non-frivolous legal action, that is engaged in solely for the purposes of achieving or preventing action by a Government official, entity, or court of competent jurisdiction. (Sec. 225) Prohibits the use of any funds provided in this Act to take any enforcement action with respect to a complaint of discrimination under the Fair Housing Act on the basis of familial status and which involves an occupancy standard established by the housing provider, except to the extent that it is found that there has been discrimination in contravention of the standards provided a specified HUD Memorandum, or until such time that HUD issues a final rule. (Sec. 226) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 with respect to the eligibility of housing reconstruction costs for expenditure of Community Development Block Grant funds. Title III: Independent Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the: (1) American Battle Monuments Commission; (2) Consumer Product Safety Commission; (3) Court of Veterans Appeals; (4) Department of Defense-Civil for cemeterial expenses, Army; (5) Environmental Protection Agency; (6) Executive Office of the President for the Office of Science and Technology Policy; (7) Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality; (8) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); (9) General Services Administration for the Consumer Information Center; (10) National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (11) National Credit Union Administration for the obligations of the Central Liquidity Facility; (12) National Science Foundation; (13) Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation; and (14) Selective Service System. Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for necessary expenses for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to terminate all programs, activities, and initiatives under the National and Community Service Act of 1990, and to resolve all responsibilities and obligations in connection with the CNCS and its Office of Inspector General. Authorizes exemption from categorical pretreatment standards under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, if specified conditions are met, of an industrial discharger that is a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility which discharged to the Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant (an advanced wastewater treatment plant with activated carbon) before enactment of this Act. Requires the Director of FEMA to promulgate a methodology, based on specified criteria, for assessment and collection of fees applicable to persons subject to the FEMA radiological emergency preparedness regulations. Authorizes such fee assessment and collection only during FY 1996. (Sec. 301) Prohibits EPA use of any funds provided in this Act to: (1) carry out any final action by the EPA Administrator or delegate for promulgation of a rule concerning any new standard for radon in drinking water; (2) sign, promulgate, implement or enforce a proposed regulation relating to individual foreign refinery baseline requirements for reformulated gasoline; (3) implement a provision of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (or any pending EPA action to implement such provision) for denial or restriction of the use of defined areas as disposal sites for dredged or fill material; or (4) implement specified requirements of the Clean Air Act with respect to any moderate nonattainment area in which the average daily winter temperature is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Declares that this last prohibition does not preclude EPA assistance to the State of Alaska to make progress toward meeting the carbon monoxide standard in such areas and to resolve remaining issues regarding the use of oxygenated fuels in such areas. Title IV: Corporations - 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. Makes funds available for the Office of Inspector General of the Resolution Trust Corporation. Title V: General Provisions - Specifies certain uses, limitations, and prohibitions on uses of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 514) Requires FY 1996 pay raises to be absorbed within the levels appropriated in this Act. (Sec. 516) 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. 517) Prohibits the use of funds to implement any cap on reimbursements to grantees for indirect costs, except as published in a specified Office of Management and Budget Circular. (Sec. 519) Requires the Director of FEMA to sell the disaster housing inventory of mobile homes and trailers, and deposit the proceeds in the Treasury. (Sec. 520) Requires that funds necessary to terminate the Office of Consumer Affairs be made available from funds appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services for FY 1996. (Sec. 111)(sic) Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow the import of a drug, food, or food additive if it is to be incorporated into a product that will be exported as specified. Title II: Emergency Peacekeeping Appropriations (sic) - Makes supplemental appropriations for: (1) the Department of State for the administration of foreign affairs; (2) the United States Information Agency for salaries and expenses; (3) the President for the Agency For International development for assistance for Eastern Europe and Baltic States and for the Foreign Military Financing Program; (4) the Export- Import Bank of the United States; and (5) the Department of Defense for military construction, military personnel, operation and maintenance, and procurement. Rescinds funds appropriated for: (1) missile and other procurement, Air Force; (2) research, development, test and evaluation, for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defense-Wide. Title III: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for: (1) the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Consolidated Farm Service Agency, the Rural Housing and Community Development Service, and the Rural Utilities Service. Makes supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Small Business Administration for the Disasters Loans Program Account; (2) the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers-Civil; and (3) the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Reclamation. Provides for a transfer of funds to the Alaska Power Administration. Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of land Management, the U.S. Fish and wildlife service, the national Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and for territorial and international affairs. Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service. Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Transportation for the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. Makes supplemental appropriations to the Panama Canal Commission. Makes supplemental appropriations to the Federal emergency Management Agency for disaster relief. Title IV: Contingent Supplemental Appropriations - Makes contingent supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Department of Commerce for the National Institute of Standards and Technology; (2) the Department of State for international organizations and conferences, including contributions for international peacekeeping activities; (3) the Department of Labor for the Employment and Training Administration; (4) the Department of Health and Human Services for substance abuse and mental health services; (5) the Department of Education for education reform, education for the disadvantaged, school improvement programs, and education research, statistics and improvement; (6) the Department of Veterans Affairs for departmental administration; (7) the Department of Housing and Urban Development for housing programs, community planning and development grants, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Office of the Inspector General; (8) the Environmental Protection Agency programs and management, buildings and facilities, the Hazardous Substance Superfund, State and tribal assistance grants; (9) the Executive Office of the President for the Council on and Office of Environmental Quality; (10) the National Science Foundation; and (11) the Department of the Treasury for community development financial institutions.

To amend title 10, United States Code, to permit covered beneficiaries under the military health care system who are also entitled to medicare to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program.

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1996

Amends Federal provisions concerning the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to direct the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under which covered CHAMPUS beneficiaries who are also entitled to hospital insurance benefits under Part A of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act will be permitted to enroll in a health benefits plan offered through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program in lieu of receiving care under CHAMPUS or the TRICARE program. Outlines provisions concerning: (1) required contributions for such coverage; and (2) the management of participants in the plan. Requires the Secretary and the OPM Director to report annually to the Congress describing the provision of health care services to covered beneficiaries under the plan during the preceding fiscal year.

A bill to provide funding for community-oriented policing, to reduce funding for the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1996

Requires the Secretary of Defense to transfer $6.5 billion of unobligated funds appropriated under the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1996 for FY 1996 to the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund to be used only for community-oriented policing programs. Requires the Secretary to allocate such amount from among the Department's programs for which funding was not requested in the 1996 budget request of the President.

A resolution to urge the President to announce at the earliest opportunity the results of the Senior Army Decorations Board which reviewed certain cases of gallantry and heroism by black Americans during World War II.

United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1996

Commends: (1) the Secretary of the Army for convening a study to determine whether racial bias and procedural violations resulted in medals not being awarded to black American members of the Army for their acts of distinguished or heroic service in World War II; and (2) the Senior Army Decorations Board for convening to review cases pertaining to certain Black American members of the Army for their acts of conspicuous gallantry in that war. Urges the President to endorse the recommendations of the Board.

United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1996

United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act of 1996 - Deems service of a person as a member of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps between July 1, 1943, and December 15, 1945 (qualified service), to be active military service for purposes of all laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Requires: (1) the Secretary of Defense to issue an honorable discharge to each person whose qualified service warrants one; and (2) the discharge to be issued before the end of the one-year period beginning on the enactment of this Act. Prohibits benefits from being paid to persons as a result of such enactment for any period before the enactment date.

Crime Prevention and Family Protection Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Victim Restitution Act of 1996 Title II: Violent Criminal Incarceration Act of 1996 Subtitle A: Truth in Sentencing Subtitle B: Stopping Abusive Prisoner Lawsuits Subtitle C: Stop Turning Out Prisoners Subtitle D: Enhancing Protection Against Incarcerated Criminals Subtitle E: Prison Conditions Subtitle F: Community Service Projects Subtitle G: Prison Commissary Administration Title III: Criminal Alien Deportation Improvements Act of 1996 Title IV: Local Government Law Enforcement Block Grants Act of 1996 Title V: Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 Subtitle A: Habeas Corpus Reform Subtitle B: Federal Death Penalty Procedures Reform Crime Prevention and Family Protection Act of 1996 - Title I: Victim Restitution Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal criminal code to require (current law authorizes) the court to order restitution of the victim when a convicted defendant is being sentenced for specified offenses. Provides that such requirement does not affect the power of the court to impose any other penalty authorized by law. Permits the court, in the case of a misdemeanor, to impose restitution in lieu of any other penalty authorized by law. Authorizes a court to order restitution of any person who, as shown by a preponderance of the evidence, was harmed physically, emotionally, or pecuniarily by unlawful conduct of the defendant during the offense or during the course of a scheme, conspiracy, or pattern of unlawful activity related to the offense. Mandates that a restitution order require the defendant to reimburse the victim for necessary child care, transportation, and other expenses related to participation in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attendance at proceedings related to the offense. Directs the court: (1) to order restitution in the full amount of the victim's losses without consideration of the economic circumstances of the offender or the fact that a victim is entitled to receive compensation from insurance or any other source; and (2) upon determination of the amount owed to each victim, to specify in the restitution order the manner of, and schedule for, restitution in consideration of the financial resources, other assets, projected earnings, other income, and financial obligations of the offender. Specifies that: (1) a restoration order may direct the offender to make a single, lump-sum payment, partial payments at specified intervals, or such in-kind payments as may be agreeable to the victim and the offender and shall direct the offender to give appropriate notice to multiple victims or other persons who may receive restitution where the identity of such victims and other persons can be reasonably determined; and (2) such in-kind payments may be in the form of the return or replacement of property or the provision of services. Provides that when the court finds that: (1) more than one offender has contributed to the loss of a victim, the court may make each offender liable for payment of the full amount or may apportion liability to reflect the level of contribution and economic circumstances of each offender; and (2) more than one victim has sustained a loss requiring restitution, the court shall order full restitution of each victim but provide for different payment schedules to reflect the economic circumstances of each victim. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) compensation with respect to losses from insurance or other sources; (2) set-offs against amounts later recovered as compensatory damages by the victim in Federal and State civil proceedings; and (3) payment by the offender to an entity designated by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts for accounting and payment in accordance with this Act. Specifies that a restitution order shall constitute a lien against all property of the offender. Makes compliance with a restitution order a condition of any probation, parole, or other form of release. Specifies actions the court may take, including revocation of probation or supervised release, if a defendant fails to comply. Provides for enforcement of restitution orders. Authorizes: (1) a victim or the offender to petition the court to modify a restitution order in view of a change in the economic circumstances of the offender; and (2) the court to refer any issue arising in connection with a proposed restitution order to a magistrate or special master for proposed findings of fact and recommendations as to disposition, subject to a de novo determination of the issue by the court. Title II: Violent Criminal Incarceration Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Truth in Sentencing - Revises the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (VCCLEA) to authorize the Attorney General to provide grants to eligible States (and to eligible States organized as a regional compact) to build, expand, and operate: (1) space in correctional facilities in order to increase prison bed capacity for persons convicted of a serious violent felony; and (2) temporary to permanent correctional facilities, including facilities on military bases and boot camp facilities, for the confinement of convicted nonviolent offenders and criminal aliens for the purpose of freeing suitable existing prison space for persons convicted of a serious violent felony. Permits such grants to be used to build, expand, and operate secure youth correctional facilities. Limits eligible States to receiving either a general grant or a truth-in-sentencing incentive grant. Requires a State, to be eligible to receive general grant funds, to submit to the Attorney General an application that provides assurances (general grant requirements) that since 1993 such State has increased: (1) the percentage of convicted violent offenders sentenced to prison; (2) the average prison time actually to be served by such offenders; and (3) the percentage of sentence actually to be served in prison by violent offenders. Requires a State, to be eligible to receive truth-in-sentencing incentive grants, to submit to the Attorney General an application that provides assurances that the State has enacted laws and regulations which include: (1) truth-in-sentencing laws which either currently require or, within three years, will require that persons convicted of a serious violent felony serve not less than 85 percent of the sentence imposed or 85 percent of the court-ordered maximum sentence for States that practice indeterminate sentencing; (2) laws requiring that the sentencing or releasing authorities notify and allow the victims of the defendant or the family of such victims the opportunity to be heard regarding the issue of sentencing and any post-conviction release; and (3) laws requiring that the releasing authority notify the victims of serious violent felons or the family of such victims and the convicting court regarding the release of a defendant. Requires a State, to be eligible to receive general grants or truth-in-sentencing grants under this Act, to provide an assurance to the Attorney General that: (1) inmate labor will be used to build and expand correctional facilities; (2) each State will involve counties and other local governments in the construction, development, expansion, modification, operation, or improvement of correctional facilities designed to ensure the incarceration of offenders and will share funds received under this subtitle with any county or other local government that is housing State prisoners, taking into account the burden placed on such local government in confining prisoners due to overcrowding in State prison facilities in furtherance of the purposes of VCCLEA; (3) the State has implemented or will implement (within 18 months) policies to determine the veteran status of inmates and to ensure that incarcerated veterans receive the veterans benefits to which they are entitled; and (4) the State has adopted procedures for the collection of reliable statistical data which compiles the rates of serious violent felonies before and after the receipt of general grant or truth-in-sentencing grant funds and will report such statistical data to the Attorney General if not already provided. Specifies that beginning in FY 1998, 15 percent of the funds that would otherwise be available to a State as general grants or truth-in-sentencing grants shall be withheld from any State which does not have an eligible system of consequential sanctions for juvenile offenders. Makes a State eligible for grants under this title notwithstanding the general grant requirements if the State practices indeterminant sentencing and the average times served in such State for murder, rape, robbery, and assault exceed the national average of times served for such offenses by ten percent or more. Allows a State to use up to 15 percent of the funds provided under this title for jail construction if the Attorney General determines that the State has enacted legislation that provides for pretrial release requirements at least as restrictive as those found in the Federal criminal code or legislation that prohibits an individual charged with an offense for which a sentence of more than one year may be imposed or involving violence against another person from being released before trial without a financial guarantee to ensure appearance before trial. Provides that the Governor of the State may allow for earlier release of a geriatric prisoner or a prisoner whose medical condition precludes the prisoner from posing a threat to the public after a public hearing in which representatives of the public and the prisoner's victims have an opportunity to be heard. Permits a State that otherwise meets the requirements of this title and that certifies to the Attorney General that exigent circumstances require that it expend funds to confine juvenile offenders, to use funds received under this title to build, expand, and operate juvenile correctional facilities or pretrial detention facilities for such offenders. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the formula for determining the amount of funds that each State may receive; (2) accounting, audit, and reporting requirements (including a requirement that States receiving funds under this title require that the appropriate public authorities report to the Attorney General the death of each individual while in a municipal or county jail, State prison, or other similar place of confinement and that the Attorney General annually publish a report on such deaths); and (3) limitations on funds. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the transfer and use of unallocated funds; and (2) the reservation of funds for payments to States for the incarceration of criminal aliens. Directs the Attorney General to give preference for specified payments under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to States and political subdivisions which are ineligible for payments for incarceration of criminal aliens under this Act. Subtitle B: Stopping Abusive Prisoner Lawsuits - Amends the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act to prohibit any civil action for deprivation of rights from being brought by an adult convicted of a crime and confined in any correctional facility until available plain, speedy, and effective administrative remedies are exhausted. (Sec. 212) Requires the court to dismiss any such action if satisfied that the action: (1) fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; or (2) is frivolous or malicious. (Sec. 213) Repeals a provision requiring that the minimum standards provide for an advisory role for employees and inmates in the formulation, implementation, and operation of the system. (Sec. 214) Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize the court to request an attorney to represent a person financially unable to employ counsel at any time. Requires (current law authorizes) the court to dismiss a proceeding in forma pauperis if the allegation of poverty is untrue or if satisfied that the action is frivolous or malicious. Requires: (1) a prisoner in a correctional institution who files an affidavit of indigence to include a statement of all assets such prisoner possesses; and (2) the court to make inquiry of the institution for information relating to the extent of the prisoner's assets and to require full or partial payment of filing fees according to the prisoner's ability to pay. Subtitle C: Stop Turning Out Prisoners - Revises provisions of VCCLEA regarding judicial remedies with respect to prison conditions. Specifies that prospective relief in a civil action with respect to prison conditions shall extend no further than necessary to remove the conditions that are causing the deprivation of the Federal rights of individual plaintiffs in that action. Prohibits the court from granting or approving any prospective relief unless it finds that the relief is narrowly drawn and the least intrusive means to remedy the violation of the Federal right. Directs the court, in determining the intrusiveness of the relief, to give substantial weight to any adverse impact on public safety or the operation of a criminal justice system caused by the relief. Prohibits the court, in any such action, from granting or approving any relief to reduce or limit the prison population unless the plaintiff proves that crowding is the primary cause of the deprivation of the Federal right and no other relief will remedy that deprivation. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) termination of relief (including provision for the automatic termination of prospective relief after a two-year period); (2) procedure for motions affecting prospective relief; (3) standing (grants standing to specified Federal, State, or local officials to oppose the imposition or continuation in effect of relief to reduce or limit the prison population and to intervene in any proceeding relating to that relief); (4) special masters; and (5) attorney's fees. Subtitle D: Enhancing Protection Against Incarcerated Criminals - Amends the Federal criminal code to require the Bureau of Prisons to ensure that: (1) prisoners under its jurisdiction do not engage in any physical activities designed to increase their fighting ability; and (2) all equipment designed for increasing the strength or fighting ability of prisoners promptly be removed from Federal correctional facilities and not be introduced into such facilities thereafter except as needed for a medically required program of physical rehabilitation approved by the Director of the Bureau (Director). Subtitle E: Prison Conditions - Directs the Attorney General to establish standards regarding conditions in the Federal prison system that provide prisoners the least amount of amenities and personal comforts consistent with constitutional requirements and good order and discipline in the Federal prison system. (Sec. 242) Requires the Director to report annually to the Congress on the amount spent at each Federal correctional facility under the Bureau's jurisdiction for: (1) the minimal requirements necessary to maintain custody and security of prisoners; (2) basic nutritional needs; (3) essential medical services; and (4) amenities and programs beyond the scope of such items. Subtitle F: Community Service Projects - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize the Chief Executive Officer of a Federal penal or correctional facility, as part of an inmate work program, to provide services to private, nonprofit organizations or to a component of any State government or political subdivision thereof which shall: (1) be used only for the benefit of the recipient entity; and (2) not displace an employee of the recipient or result in a reduction in hours, wages, or employment benefits of any employee of the recipient. Subtitle G: Prison Commissary Administration - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize the Director to establish, operate, and maintain commissaries in Federal penal or correctional facilities to provide or make available to inmates articles and services authorized by the Director. Establishes in the Treasury the Prison Commissary Fund. Requires revenues from commissary articles and services to be deposited in the Fund which shall be available for the payment of any expenses incurred by the Bureau in establishing, operating, and maintaining prison commissaries and the Fund. Authorizes the Director to use monies from the Fund for the general welfare of inmates. Title III: Criminal Alien Deportation Improvements Act of 1996 - Amends INA, as amended by the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994, to expand the definition of "aggravated felony" to include various offenses including: (1) commercial bribery, counterfeiting, forgery, or trafficking in vehicles the identification numbers of which have been altered for which a sentence of five or more years' imprisonment may be imposed; (2) perjury or subornation of perjury for which a sentence of five or more years' imprisonment may be imposed; and (3) failure to appear before a court pursuant to a court order to answer or dispose of a charge of a felony for which a sentence of two or more years' imprisonment may be imposed. (Sec. 302) Subjects a conditional permanent resident alien convicted of an aggravated felony to expedited deportation. (Sec. 303) Revises the seven-year residency defense against a deportation or exclusion order to permit deportation or exclusion of a permanent resident alien who has been sentenced (currently, imprisoned) to five or more years for an aggravated felony. (Sec. 304) Limits collateral attacks on deportation orders. (Sec. 305) Amends VCCLEA to: (1) rename the criminal alien tracking center as the criminal alien identification system; (2) specify that the system shall be used to identify and locate deportable aliens who have committed aggravated felonies; and (3) transfer the system from the Attorney General to the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. (Sec. 306) Amends Federal criminal law to: (1) bring certain alien smuggling-related crimes under the purview of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations provisions; and (2) authorize wiretaps for alien smuggling investigations. (Sec. 308) Revises criteria under INA for deportation for crimes of moral turpitude to cover certain aliens convicted of a crime for which a sentence of one year or longer may be imposed. (Sec. 309) Makes local governments eligible for specified alien incarceration reimbursement assistance under VCCLEA. (Sec. 310) Amends INA to permit the use of electronic and telephonic media in deportation hearings. (Sec. 312) Directs the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to report on the effectiveness of the Prisoners Transfer Treaty with Mexico. (Sec. 313) Directs the Attorney General to designate a Department of Justice office which shall provide States and local entities with technical and prosecutorial assistance with respect to aliens who flee prosecution for crimes committed in the United States. (Sec. 314) Advises the President to negotiate bilateral prisoner transfer treaties. Requires annual presidential certification that a treaty is effectively returning illegal aliens incarcerated in the United States to finish their prison term in their home country. (Sec. 315) Directs the Attorney General and the Commissioner to develop an interior (home country) repatriation program. (Sec. 316) Amends INA to authorize deportation of nonviolent offenders prior to Federal or State sentence completion. Title IV: Local Government Law Enforcement Block Grants Act of 1996 - Amends VCCLEA to replace provisions of title I setting forth the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act of 1994 with a local law enforcement block grant program. Requires the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to pay to qualifying local governments specified sums for reducing crime and improving public safety, including sums for: (1) hiring, training, and employing on a continuing basis new, additional law enforcement officers and support personnel; (2) paying overtime to increase the number of hours worked by presently employed officers and support personnel; (3) procuring equipment, technology, and other material directly related to basic law enforcement functions; (4) enhancing security measures in and around schools and any other facility or location which is considered by the unit of local government to have a special risk for incidents of crime; (5) establishing crime prevention programs that may involve, though not exclusively, law enforcement officials and that are intended to discourage, disrupt, or interfere with the commission of criminal activity; (6) establishing or supporting drug courts; (7) establishing early intervention and prevention programs for juveniles to reduce or eliminate crime; (8) enhancing the adjudication process of cases involving violent offenders, including the adjudication process of cases involving violent juvenile offenders; (9) enhancing programs under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (Omnibus Act) drug control and system improvement grant program; (10) establishing cooperative task forces between adjoining local governments to work cooperatively to prevent and combat criminal activity, particularly criminal activity that is exacerbated by drug- or gang-related involvement; and (11) establishing a multijurisdictional task force, particularly in rural areas, composed of local law enforcement officials, that works with Federal law enforcement officials to prevent and control crime. Prohibits a local government from expending any of the funds provided under this title to purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise acquire tanks or armored personnel carriers, fixed wing aircraft, limousines, real estate, yachts, consultants, or vehicles not primarily used for law enforcement unless the Attorney General certifies that extraordinary and exigent circumstances exist that make the use of funds for such purposes essential to the maintenance of public safety and good order. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the timing of payments; (2) payment adjustments; (3) reservation of sums for adjustments; (4) repayment of unexpended amounts; (5) requirements that such funds not be used to supplant State or local funds; (6) matching funds; (7) oversight accountability and administration; and (8) technology assistance. Authorizes appropriations. Prohibits a local government from expending any of the funds provided under this title to purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise acquire tanks or armored personnel carriers, fixed wing aircraft, limousines, real estate, yachts, consultants, or vehicles not primarily used for law enforcement unless the Attorney General certifies that extraordinary and exigent circumstances make the use of funds for such purposes essential to the maintenance of public safety and good order. Requires the Director to: (1) establish procedures under which a local government is required to provide notice to the Director regarding the proposed use of funds made available under this title; and (2) establish a process for the ongoing evaluation of projects developed with such funds. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) general qualification requirements; (2) sanctions for noncompliance; (3) maintenance of effort requirements; (4) the allocation and distribution of funds, including resolution of disparate allocations and unavailability and inaccuracy of information; (5) the use of funds to contract with private, nonprofit entities or community-based organizations; and (6) public participation. (Sec. 402) Repeals VCCLEA provisions regarding: (1) the Ounce of Prevention Council; (2) local crime prevention block grants; (3) model intensive block grants; (4) family and community endeavor schools grants; (5) assistance for delinquent and at-risk youth; (6) police retirement; (7) the Local Partnership Act; (8) the National Community Economic Partnership; (9) urban recreation and at-risk youth; (10) community-based justice grants for prosecutors; (11) the family unity demonstration project; and (12) gang resistance and education training. Title V: Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Habeas Corpus Reform - Chapter 1: Post Conviction Petitions: General Habeas Corpus Reform - Amends the Federal judicial code to establish a one-year statute of limitations for habeas corpus actions brought by State prisoners, running from the latest of the time at which: (1) the judgment became final by the conclusion of direct review or the expiration of the time for seeking such review; (2) the impediment to filing an application created by State action in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States is removed where the applicant was prevented from filing by such State action; (3) the Federal right asserted was initially recognized by the Supreme Court where the right has been newly recognized by the Court and is retroactively applicable; and (4) the factual predicate of the claim or claims presented could have been discovered through the exercise of reasonable diligence. Specifies that time that passes during the pendency of a properly filed application for State review with respect to the pertinent judgment or claim shall not be counted toward any period of limitation. (Sec. 502) Vests authority to issue certificates of probable cause for appeal of habeas corpus orders exclusively in the courts of appeals. Permits a certificate of probable cause to issue only if the petitioner has made a substantial showing of the denial of a Federal right. Specifies that such certificate must indicate which specific issue or issues satisfy this standard. (Sec. 504) Permits the denial of a habeas corpus petition on the merits, notwithstanding the failure of the applicant to exhaust State court remedies. Specifies that a State shall not be deemed to have waived the exhaustion requirement or estopped from reliance upon the requirement, unless, through its counsel, it expressly waives the requirement. Prohibits an application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court from being granted with respect to any claim that was decided on the merits in State proceedings, unless the adjudication of the claim resulted in a decision that was based on an arbitrary or unreasonable: (1) interpretation of clearly established Federal law as articulated in U.S. Supreme Court decisions; (2) application to the facts of clearly established Federal law as articulated in such decisions; or (3) determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State proceeding. (Sec. 505) Imposes a two-year period of limitation for filing for collateral relief by Federal prisoners, running from the latest of the time at which: (1) the judgment of conviction becomes final; (2) the impediment to making a motion created by governmental action in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States is removed where the movant was prevented from making a motion by such governmental action; (3) the right asserted was initially recognized by the Supreme Court where the right has been newly recognized by the Court and is retroactively applicable; and (4) the factual predicate of the claim presented could have been discovered through the exercise of reasonable diligence. Chapter 2: Special Procedures for Collateral Proceedings in Capital Cases - Amends the Federal judicial code to set forth special habeas corpus procedures in capital cases, including provisions regarding: (1) the appointment of counsel; (2) stays of execution, limits on stays, and successive petitions; and (3) time requirements and tolling rules. Directs the district court, whenever a State prisoner under capital sentence files a petition for habeas corpus relief to which this subtitle applies, to consider only claims that have been raised and decided on the merits in the State courts, unless the failure to raise the claim properly is: (1) the result of State action in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States; (2) the result of the Supreme Court recognition of a new Federal right that is retroactively applicable; or (3) based on a factual predicate that could not have been discovered through the exercise of reasonable diligence in time to present the claim for State or Federal post-conviction review. Prohibits an appeal from being taken to the court of appeals from the final order of a district court denying relief in a habeas corpus proceeding that is subject to this subtitle unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of probable cause. Specifies that such a certificate may only be issued if the petitioner has made a substantial showing of the denial of a Federal right and must indicate which specific issue or issues satisfy this standard. Sets forth provisions regarding limitation periods for determining petitions. Requires the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to report annually to the Congress on court compliance with the time limits established by this title. Chapter 3: Funding for Litigation of Federal Habeas Corpus Petitions in Capital Cases - Amends the Omnibus Act to require the Director of BJA to provide grants to the States to support litigation pertaining to Federal habeas corpus petitions in capital cases. Subtitle B: Federal Death Penalty Procedures Reform - Revises VCCLEA provisions regarding the conduct of a special hearing to determine whether a death sentence is justified, to require the jury (or if there is no jury, the court) to consider whether the aggravating factors found to exist outweigh any mitigating factors and to recommend such sentence if it unanimously finds at least one aggravating factor and no mitigating factor, or one or more aggravating factors which outweigh any mitigating factors. Directs that the jury be instructed that: (1) it must avoid any influence of sympathy, sentiment, passion, prejudice, or other arbitrary factors in its decision and should make such a recommendation as the information warrants; and (2) its recommendation is to be based on the aggravating factors and any mitigating factors which have been found, but that the final decision concerning the balance of aggravating and mitigating factors is a matter for the jury's judgment.

Forrestal Institute Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1996

Forrestal Institute Act of 1997 - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish the Forrestal Institute as a District of Columbia not-for-profit entity. Defines "Institute project" to mean any construction, operation, refurbishing, rebuilding, upgrading, or retrofitting of a defense energy facility or any environmental study or facility audit performed by a private party for such a facility. (Sec. 105) Sets forth the duties of the Institute, including: (1) entering into contracts to provide any military department an Institute project through the use of private parties (requires the Institute to procure all subcontracts, supplies, and services involving expenditures of over $100,000 through the use of competitive procedures approved by its Board of Directors); and (2) in lieu of performing such contracts directly, to negotiate contracts between or among the military departments and one or more private parties and to solicit and evaluate proposals and bids for such contracts. Prohibits the Institute from investing in an Institute project or otherwise acquiring or retaining an ownership interest in such project or its associated stream of revenues, or from performing the facility audit, design, construction, rebuilding, upgrading, retrofitting, or long- term operation of an Institute project, except through the use of private parties. (Sec. 106) Authorizes the Secretary to establish up to five Institutes if additional Institutes would encourage increased administrative and technical expertise and efficiency through competition between Institutes and regionalization or specialization of responsibilities. (Sec. 109) Authorizes the transfer to the Institute from the Department of Defense funds otherwise available for energy savings an amount not to exceed $5 million for FY 1997 and $5 million for FY 1998 (with each of these amounts to be available until expended). Requires repayment of such funds to be made to the Department from compensation from a percentage of savings to the Government in excess of operational costs, at the discretion of the Board. Allows the Institute, for purposes of maintaining working capital, to issue, sell, and have outstanding such notes, bonds, and other debt instruments having such maturities and bearing such rate or rates of interest as determined by the Board in an amount not to exceed $10 million. (Sec. 110) Establishes the Institute Advisory Panel and directs it to review the Institute's operations. (Sec. 111) Authorizes the Departments of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force to enter into Institute contracts not to exceed a 30- year period for the performance of the Institute project based upon an evaluation of technical proposals submitted by the Institute, provided all goods and services contracted for pursuant to such contracts are supplied by subcontractors selected in accordance with this Act. Exempts Institute contracts or subcontracts awarded thereunder from Federal law, rules, or regulations dealing with the solicitation, award, execution, delivery, or performance of public or Federal contracts. Applies the following provisions to Institute contracts and subcontracts thereunder: (1) the Davis-Bacon Act; and (2) the dispute resolution procedures of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978. Subjects the sale of excess electric power produced by a military department as a result of an Institute contract to applicable Federal and State law. Allows: (1) Institute contracts to contain a clause authorizing the termination of the contracts for the convenience of the Government; and (2) the clause to permit anticipatory profits and consequential damages to the extent of termination. Authorizes a Secretary of a military department to lease, at fair market value, real and related personal property under the individual's jurisdiction and control in connection with an Institute project undertaken pursuant to an Institute contract for a period not in excess of 50 years. Makes the interest on the leased property taxable by State and local governments. Requires any public utility supplying electric energy or natural gas to a military installation to be: (1) notified by the Institute of any proposed contract or project at such installation; and (2) consulted by the military department and the Institute issuing a proposal for such contract or project relative to the public utility's ability to serve the installation's needs and the proposal's effect on such utility. Allows the public utility to bid upon and receive the award of such contract. (Sec. 112) Requires the Secretaries of the Military Departments to develop and submit to the Institute a list of defense energy facilities potentially suitable to the test of Institute contracts. Allows the Secretaries to contract with the Institute to aid in the preparation of this list. (Sec. 113) Sets forth annual reporting requirements for the Institute.

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require two-thirds majorities for bills increasing taxes.

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1996

Constitutional Amendment - Requires a two-thirds vote of each House of the Congress in order to pass any bill levying a new tax or increasing the rate or base of any tax. Allows the Congress to waive that requirement during war or certain military conflict. Requires all votes under this amendment to be by yeas and nays and the names of persons voting for and against to be entered in the Journal of each House.

Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1996

Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1996 - Amends Federal law regarding the administrative process to revise the definition of: (1) "alternative means of dispute resolution" (ADR) to mean any procedure used to resolve issues in controversy, including the use of ombudsmen; and (2) "issue in controversy" to repeal a provision excluding prohibited personnel practices and grievances relating to prohibited political activities; retirement, life, or health insurance; suspension or removal; any examination, certification, or appointment; or the classification of any position which does not result in the reduction in grade or pay of an employee. Modifies confidentiality provisions to prohibit a neutral in a dispute resolution proceeding from disclosing any dispute resolution communication or communication provided in confidence unless specified conditions are met. Specifies that, to qualify for an exemption, an alternative confidential procedure may not provide for less disclosure than the confidential procedures otherwise provided under such provisions. Amends the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act (ADRA), the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, and other Federal law to reflect the closure of the Administrative Conference of the United States. Authorizes Federal agencies (agencies) to use the services and facilities of State, local, and tribal governments. Amends the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 to replace provisions requiring a contractor to certify that a claim is made in good faith, that supporting data are accurate and complete, and that the amount requested accurately reflects the contract adjustment for which the contractor believes the Government is liable with provisions requiring the contractor to certify the claim when required to do so under such Act or as otherwise required by law. Repeals a provision terminating (with exceptions) the authority of agencies to engage in ADR proceedings on October 1, 1999. Amends Federal requirements regarding defense agency contracts and under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the use of non-competitive procedures to procure the services of an expert or neutral for use in an ADR process. Directs the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to: (1) encourage and facilitate agency use of ADR; and (2) develop procedures that permit agencies to obtain the services of neutrals on an expedited basis. Authorizes any agency to enter into a contract for services as a neutral or for training in connection with ADR. Amends ADRA to repeal (with exceptions) a provision terminating the authority of agencies to use dispute resolution proceedings under such Act on October 1, 1995. Authorizes appropriations.

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise and improve eligibility for medical care and services under that title, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1996

Revises Federal veterans' benefits provisions to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care, and to allow the Secretary to furnish nursing home care, to a veteran who is catastrophically disabled (a veteran whose expenditures for such care exceeded 7.5 percent of his or her gross adjusted income for the preceding year). (Sec. 2) Makes eligible for medical services on an ambulatory or outpatient basis, notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such disability may be associated with the described exposure, any disabled veteran who the Secretary finds: (1) may have been exposed to dioxin or was exposed to a toxic substance found in a herbicide or defoliant used for military purposes during the Vietnam era while serving on active duty in Vietnam; (2) was exposed while serving on active duty to ionizing radiation from the detonation of a nuclear device in connection with such veteran's participation in the test of such a device or with the American occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, from September 11, 1945, through July 1, 1946; or (3) may have been exposed to a toxic substance or environmental hazard while serving on active duty in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War. Prohibits the provision of such medical services: (1) for any disability that is found to have resulted from a cause other than the exposure described; or (2) after December 31, 1996. Repeals a provision regarding the order of priority for furnishing ambulatory or outpatient medical services for veterans. (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary to furnish nursing home, domiciliary, or long-term care to qualifying disabled veterans where necessary for medical purposes or to obviate the need for hospital care. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary to furnish hospital and nursing home care to any adult dependent of a veteran which the Secretary determines is needed for a disability if such dependent agrees to pay a specified amount representing a portion of the costs of care. Makes such amounts collected or received by the United States for hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care available to the Secretary for payment of the costs of such care, without fiscal year limitation. (Sec. 5) Revises the definition of covered "medical services" for purposes of veterans' benefits provisions to include: (1) primary health care services which include initial diagnostic services, treatment services, referral to specialized care or services, and long-term followup care or services for certain chronic conditions, and routine services regarding disabilities that are provided by physicians who specialize in such disabilities; and (2) medical equipment and prosthetic appliances that are prescribed by a physician based on specific medical needs. (Sec. 7) Repeals a requirement that the Secretary include in the budget documents submitted to Congress for any fiscal year a detailed report on contract care and services furnished. Authorizes the Secretary to furnish primary health care or preventive health services to veterans who reside in locations that are more than 50 miles or one hour traveling time from a Department of Veterans Affairs facility by or through contract with non-Department facilities under specified circumstances. (Sec. 8) Modifies provisions regarding prosthetic appliances and seeing eye dogs. Directs the Secretary to furnish medical equipment or a prosthetic appliance (equipment) as well as necessary fitting and training to any veteran who is entitled to such equipment. Authorizes the Secretary to repair or replace any reasonably necessary equipment belonging to the veteran which is damaged or destroyed by an accident caused by a service-connected disability for which the veteran is in receipt of, or would, but for the receipt of retirement pay, be entitled to, disability compensation. Authorizes the Secretary to provide eligible veterans: (1) training in a Department facility or by contract, including certain travel and incidental expenses; (2) special clothing made necessary by the wearing of equipment; (3) seeing-eye or guide dogs trained to aid the blind and devices for aiding individuals in overcoming blindness, plus training including travel expenses; and (4) devices for assisting in overcoming deafness, including telecaptioning decoding devices for television receivers. (Sec. 9) Revises provisions regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical-Care Cost Recovery Fund to make specified amounts available to the Secretary for payment of the costs of furnishing hospital care and medical services, including the costs of Department personnel salaries. (Sec. 10) Grants authority for reimbursement by Medicare of certain health care services provided by Department facilities. (Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary to ensure that the Department maintains its capacity to provide for the specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans, including veterans with spinal cord dysfunction, blindness, and mental illness, in a manner that: (1) affords reasonable access to care and services for those specialized needs; and (2) ensures that overall Department capacity to provide such services is not reduced below its capacity to provide such services as of the date of enactment of this Act.

Franklin D. Kramer, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense, vice Joseph Nye.

United States · United States Senate · 6 February 1996