Records whose title is actually about this topic. Use a country filter if the list is still too broad.
Records
Bill· HRH.R. 1360 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1995
Kosova Peace, Democracy, and Human Rights Act of 1995 - Bars specified sanctions, prohibitions, or requirements with respect to Serbia or Montenegro under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 from ceasing to be effective unless: (1) the President first submits to the Congress the certification described by this Act; and (2) such requirements are met. Describes such certification as a certification that: (1) there is substantial progress toward the realization of a separate identity for Kosova, the right of the people of Kosova to govern themselves, and the creation of an international protectorate for Kosova; (2) there is substantial improvement in the human rights situation in Kosova; and (3) international human rights observers are allowed to return to Kosova and the government of Kosova is permitted to meet and carry out its mandate as elected representatives of the people of Kosova. Directs the President to report to the Congress on: (1) the situation in Kosova; (2) measures to provide humanitarian assistance to Kosova and Kosovar refugees; (3) recommendations on what modalities may be pursued; (4) the current status of U.S. efforts to establish a U.S. Information Agency cultural center in Kosova; and (5) the presence of U.S. officials in Kosova prior to establishment of such center.
Bill· HRH.R. 1361 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorizations Title II: Personnel Management Improvement Title III: Navigation Safety and Waterway Services Management Title IV: Miscellaneous Title V: Coast Guard Regulatory Reform Title VI: Documentation of Vessels Title VII: Technical and Conforming Amendments Title VIII: Coast Guard Auxiliary Amendments Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 - Title I: Authorizations - Authorizes appropriations for the Coast Guard for FY 1996 for: (1) operation and maintenance; (2) acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft; (3) research, development, test, and evaluation of technologies, materials, and human factors relating to the performance of the Coast Guard's mission; (4) retired pay, payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection and Survivor Benefit Plans, and payments for medical care of retired personnel and their dependents; (5) alteration or removal of bridges obstructing navigation, and personnel and administrative costs associated with the bridge alteration program; and (6) environmental compliance and restoration. (Sec. 102) Authorizes: (1) an end-of-year strength for active duty personnel of 38,400 as of September 30, 1996; and (2) specified military training student loads for FY 1996. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to submit to specified congressional committees quarterly reports on drug interdiction. Title II: Personnel Management Improvement - Makes provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 1993 concerning homeowners assistance for certain individuals affected by Hurricane Andrew applicable to the military personnel of the Coast Guard who were assigned to, or employed at or in connection with, any Federal facility or installation in the vicinity of Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, subject to specified limitations. (Sec. 202) Excludes certain reserve members in computing the authorized strength of members on active duty or members in grade. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Commandant of the Coast Guard to make child development services available to members of the armed forces and Federal civilian employees. (Sec. 204) Requires any officer, chief warrant officer, or enlisted member of the Coast Guard or Coast Guard Reserve to request that all information contained in the National Driver Register pertaining to the individual be made available to the Commandant. Authorizes such individual to request the chief driver licensing official of a State to provide information about the individual to the Commandant. (Sec. 205) Revises provisions regarding officer retention to provide for retention until eligible for retirement under specified conditions. Title III: Navigation Safety and Waterway Services Management - Repeals provision requiring the Secretary of Commerce to collect and pay to the Treasury foreign passenger vessel user fees. (Sec. 302) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the Florida Avenue Bridge in Orleans Parish, Louisiana; (2) renewal of the Houston-Galveston Navigation Safety Advisory Committee, the Lower Mississippi River Waterway Advisory Committee, the Navigation Safety Advisory Council, and the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Advisory Committee; (3) nondisclosure of port security plans; (4) establishment of a civil penalty to enforce maritime alcohol and dangerous drug testing; (5) withholding vessel clearance for specified violations; (6) increased civil penalties for failure to report a casualty and for operation of an uninspected vessel in violation of manning requirements; and (7) a requirement that vessels operating beyond three nautical miles from the coastline of the Great Lakes carry alerting and locating equipment, including emergency position indicating radio beacons. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to transfer Coast Guard property in Traverse City, Michigan, and in Ketchikan, Alaska. (Sec. 403) Authorizes electronic filing of commercial instruments. (Sec. 404) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) Board for Correction of Military Records deadlines; (2) judicial sale of documented vessels to aliens; (3) authority of the Commandant to sell recyclable material; (4) special selection boards; and (5) limits on the use of information from marine casualty investigations. (Sec. 407) Directs: (1) the Commandant to report on the recruitment of women and minorities into the Coast Guard; and (2) the Secretary to report on LORAN-C radionavigation system technology. (Sec. 408) California Cruise Industry Revitalization Act - Amends the Johnson Act to exclude certain voyages from prohibitions against manufacturing, repairing, selling, or possessing gambling devices. (Sec. 409) Revises or adds provisions regarding: (1) vessel financing; (2) availability of extrajudicial remedies for default on preferred mortgage liens on vessels; (3) implementation of water pollution laws with respect to vegetable oil; (4) limited double hull exemptions; and (5) oil spill response vessels. (Sec. 410) Expresses the sense of the Congress that all equipment and products purchased with funds made available under this Act should be American-made. Title V: Coast Guard Regulatory Reform - Coast Guard Regulatory Reform Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe regulations which establish a safety management system for specified persons and vessels, including: (1) a safety and environmental protection policy; (2) instructions and procedures to ensure safe operation of those vessels and protection of the environment in compliance with international and U.S. law; (3) defined levels of authority and lines of communications between and among personnel on shore and on the vessel; and (4) procedures for reporting accidents and nonconformities with this title, preparing for and responding to emergency situations, and internal audits and management reviews of the system. Requires regulations prescribed to be consistent with the International Safety Management Code with respect to vessels engaged on a foreign voyage. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) implementation of the safety management system; and (2) certification and enforcement. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of the methods that may be used to implement and enforce the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of ships and for Pollution Prevention under the Annex to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974. (Sec. 503) Authorizes the Secretary to rely, as evidence of compliance with this title, on reports, documents, and records of other persons and on other methods determined by the Secretary to be reliable. (Sec. 504) Revises provisions regarding: (1) equipment approval; (2) frequency of inspection; (3) certificates of inspection; and (4) delegation of authority of the Secretary to classification societies. Title VI: Documentation of Vessels - Authorizes a coastwise endorsement to be issued for a vessel that: (1) is less than 200 gross tons; (2) is eligible for documentation; (3) was built in the United States; and (4) was sold foreign in whole or in part, or placed under foreign registry. (Sec. 602) Authorizes the Secretary to issue a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement for two vessels (both named Gallant Lady), subject to specified limitations on operation and conditions. (Sec. 603) Extends the deadline for conversion of the vessel M-V Twin Drill. (Sec. 604) Authorizes the Secretary to issue a certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsements for employment in the coastwise trade, Great Lakes trade, and the fisheries for the vessel Rainbow's End. Title VII: Technical and Conforming Amendments - Makes technical and conforming amendments to various laws, including the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980, the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radio-telephone Act, the Ports and Waterways Safety Act of 1972, the Merchant Marine Acts of 1920 and 1956, the Maritime Education and Training Act of 1980, and title 46 (shipping) of the U.S. Code. Title VIII: Coast Guard Auxiliary Amendments - Revises provisions regarding the Coast Guard Auxiliary to direct the Auxiliary, for command, control, and administrative purposes, to include such organizational elements and units as approved by the Commandant, including a national board and staff. Grants the Auxiliary organization and its officers such rights, privileges, powers, and duties as may be granted to them by the Commandant, consistent with this title and applicable law. Deems each organizational element or unit as an instrumentality of the United States for purposes of various listed statutes, with exceptions. Permits the national board, and any Auxiliary district or region, to form a corporation under State law in accordance with policies established by the Commandant. (Sec. 802) Revises or adds provisions regarding: (1) the purpose of the Auxiliary; (2) members and status of the Auxiliary; (3) assignment and performance of duties; (4) cooperation with other agencies, States, territories, and political subdivisions; (5) vessels deemed public vessels; (6) aircraft deemed public aircraft; and (7) disposal of certain material.
Bill· HRH.R. 1369 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1995
Requires the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) to: (1) identify areas where low-flying aircraft may constitute an adverse impact on resources and convey specific information, including annotated maps, which indicates designated flight-free areas and primary visitor use areas, to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); (2) develop a standardized reporting system acceptable to the FAA to document instances of low-flying aircraft over NPS lands for transmittal to the Honolulu FAA Flight Standards district office; (3) develop training programs and instructional materials enabling NPS personnel to recognize and report instances of low-flying aircraft; and (4) provide for quarterly meetings between NPS personnel and the FAA and affected pilots to discuss resources management objectives and issues associated with low-flying aircraft. (Sec. 3) Requires the FAA Administrator to: (1) communicate with pilots regarding NPS concerns and objectives about low-flying aircraft in specified areas; (2) investigate pilot deviations from the requirements of this Act and take action to discourage such deviations; (3) provide assistance to the NPS in communicating with various agencies in the Department of Defense about military aircraft operations over NPS areas; (4) make the results of such investigation available to the NPS at the FAA Flight Standards district office; (5) enlist the support of all aviation groups and organizations; and (6) participate in appropriate meetings at field and regional levels to assist the NPS in combating problems associated with low-flying aircraft. (Sec. 4) Prohibits the flying of commercial tour aircraft over Kaloko Honokohau, Pu'u honua o Honaunau, Pu'u kohola Heiau, and Kalaupapa National Historical Parks, Haleakala National Park, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Requires scenic tour aircraft to maintain a two-mile standoff distance from such areas. Makes it unlawful for any fixed wing aircraft or helicopter flying under visual flight rules to fly at less than 1,500 feet over the surface of any NPS lands in Hawaii not subject to earlier provisions of this Act. (Sec. 5) Lists joint responsibilities of the Director and the Administrator regarding additional assessments of adverse impacts of aircraft operators, means of generating pilot understanding of NPS resource management objectives, and procedures for addressing public land over-flight issues. (Sec. 6) Makes Federal regulations relating to general operating and flight rules and to air taxi operators and commercial operators applicable to nonstop sightseeing flights that begin and end at the same airport and are conducted within a 25 statute mile radius of the airport.
Bill· HRH.R. 1368 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Performance Based Acquisition Process Subtitle A: Performance Goals Subtitle B: Results-Oriented Acquisition Process Subtitle C: Rapid Contracting Subtitle D: Performance Based Contract Management Subtitle E: Financial Management Subtitle F: Defense Acquisition Workforce Subtitle G: Revision of Procurement Integrity Requirements Subtitle H: Clerical Amendments Title II: Reorganization and Reform of the Defense Acquisition System Subtitle A: Streamlining and Improvement of Acquisition Management Subtitle B: Transfer of Functions Subtitle C: Conforming Amendments Subtitle D: Effective Date Title III: Depot-Level Maintenance Department of Defense Acquisition Management Reform Act of 1995 - Title I: Performance Based Acquisition Process - Subtitle A: Performance Goals - Amends Federal defense procurement provisions to: (1) require acquisition programs of the Department of Defense (DOD) for each DOD appropriation account to be assessed for achieving on average 90 percent of their cost, performance, and scheduling goals; and (2) direct the Secretary of Defense to terminate any major defense acquisition program that fails to meet at least 50 percent of its cost, performance, and schedule goals. (Sec. 103) Amends the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 to direct the Secretary to include certain additional incentives such as pay and promotion incentives within a system which encourages excellence in the personnel management of defense acquisition programs (DAPs). Requires a review of such system to be completed by October 1, 1997, and requires a report from the Secretary to specified congressional committees. Subtitle B: Results-Oriented Acquisition Process - Directs the Secretary to revise DOD regulations relating to the acquisition of major systems and information technology systems. (Sec. 112) Directs the Secretary to define in appropriate regulations a simplified acquisition program cycle (cycle) that is results-oriented and consists of the following phases: (1) the integrated decision team meeting; (2) prototype development and testing; (3) product integration, development, and testing; and (4) production and integration into existing systems. Utilizes established maximum time limits for the completion of the cycle and each of its phases, with alternatives to such limits. Requires the acquisition program approval process to have one major decision point which shall occur before the program proceeds into product integration, development, and testing, directing the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition to review, and make certain determinations with respect to, such program. Requires any regulations adopted to ensure that potential users of an item being acquired under a cycle are afforded an opportunity to participate in the acquisition decisions during the appropriate phases. (Sec. 113) Prohibits the Secretary from issuing a notice to proceed with production of a major system until: (1) at least one phase of initial operational test and evaluation has been completed, during both the prototype development and testing phase and again during the product integration, development, and testing phase; and (2) the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation has made certain certifications to the Secretary concerning testing and evaluation procedures and conditions. Authorizes the waiver of such requirements under certain conditions, including for national security reasons. Prohibits operational testing of a new system other than a major system until the head of the operational test and evaluation agency of the military department concerned determines the quantity of articles of the system that are to be procured for operational testing. Repeals a Federal provision requiring any increase in the quantity of articles to be procured for low-rate initial production to be made only with the approval of the official making the original quantity determination. Prohibits such quantity from being increased by more than ten percent of the original quantity as of the date on which funds appropriated for procurement are first obligated for the program. Allows such original quantity to be exceeded in addition to the ten percent increase during periods of war or national emergency or when the Secretary makes certain certifications to specified congressional committees concerning the necessity of such action. Requires the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation to report directly to the Secretary (currently, the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary of Defense), without intervening review or approval. (Sec. 114) Directs the Secretary to revise existing DOD directives regarding development and procurement of certain information systems in order to consolidate those directives into one series of directives that is consistent with the simplified cycle established under this Act. Subtitle C: Rapid Contracting - Directs the Secretary to establish, and take necessary action to achieve, a goal of reducing by 50 percent the time necessary for DOD to acquire an item for the user of that item. (Sec. 122) Authorizes a contracting officer of an agency receiving more than three competitive proposals for a proposed contract to solicit best and final offers from three of such offerors, without conducting discussions with representatives of all of the competitive offers. (Sec. 123) Authorizes the Secretary to establish a contractor certification system for the procurement of DOD property or services that are acquired on a repetitive basis. Authorizes the head of a DOD agency to enter into such a contract on the basis of a competition among contractors certified under the system. Provides for the termination of such certification under appropriate circumstances. (Sec. 124) Requires solicitations for defense contracts for the procurement of property of services to include a statement of past contractor performance of the offeror and any certification of the offeror under the certification system established under this Act. Directs the Secretary to maintain a contractor performance data base containing performance histories of each contractor under DOD contracts. (Sec. 125) Requires (currently authorizes) the head of a defense agency to enter into multiyear contracts for the purchase of property whenever certain cost savings and other factors are present. (Sec. 126) Directs the Secretary to authorize and encourage the use of leasing in the acquisition of equipment when practicable and otherwise authorized by law. Requires a report on legislative changes required to facilitate such leases. Subtitle D: Performance Based Contract Management - Includes within unallowable defense contractor costs: (1) labor costs in excess of those provided in the contract offer; and (2) bid protest costs. (Sec. 132) Directs the Secretary to prescribe in regulations: (1) policies and procedures that encourage DOD contract administrators to submit to program managers for consideration alternative approaches to contract management, including an analysis of the costs and benefits of each alternative; and (2) a clause, to be included in each cost- and incentive-type contract, that provides contractor rewards for exceeding the contract cost, schedule, or performance parameters, as well as contractor penalties for failing to adhere to such parameters. Subtitle E: Financial Management - Requires the Secretary, before initial funding is made available for a phase of the acquisition program cycle for which an authorization of appropriations is specifically required, to submit to the Congress information concerning the objectives and plans for conducting such phase and the funding requirements for the entire phase. Directs the Congress, in authorizing appropriations for such a phase, to provide a single amount sufficient for carrying out the entire phase. Requires specific identification of the phase being funded. (Sec. 142) Authorizes the Secretary to transfer funds from appropriations available for a particular acquisition program phase in order to pay the cost of incentives provided to program managers who have been certified by the Secretary as having achieved at least 90 percent of the cost, schedule, and performance goals established for that phase. (Sec. 143) Directs the Comptroller General to review and report to the Congress on commercial practices regarding DOD accounts payable, and to develop standards to be used by the Secretary for improving DOD contract payment procedures and financial management systems. Empowers the Secretary with certain responsibilities with respect to corrective actions necessary to resolve weaknesses found by the Comptroller General. Subtitle F: Defense Acquisition Workforce - Directs the Secretary to ensure that DOD management policies and procedures provide that education and training in acquisition matters, and past performance of acquisition responsibilities, are major factors in the selection of personnel for assignment to DOD acquisition positions. Requires demonstrated past performance of acquisition duties to be considered under various provisions relating to employee qualifications, requirements, and evaluations. (Sec. 152) Directs the Secretary to provide for the acquisition of professional educational development and training services for the DOD acquisition workforce from commercial sources and through programs provided by Federal sources for all Federal acquisition personnel. Terminates provisions requiring the establishment and maintenance of a defense acquisition university structure. Requires DOD program managers and executive officers to have completed the course of development and training services established under this section. Authorizes the Secretary to submit to the Congress an alternative system of development and training. Subtitle G: Revision of Procurement Integrity Requirements - Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (the Act) to: (1) require the head of a procuring activity who approves a recusal request (request for dismissal from participation in a procurement contract due to possible conflict of interests) to retain such request for at least five years and make such request available to the public; and (2) make certain contract officer or employee certification requirements under such Act inapplicable to contracts of less than $500,000. Provides that no individual who, in the year prior to separation from service as a military officer in a covered position or an officer or employee of the Government, participated personally and substantially in acquisition functions related to a contract of $500,000 or more shall knowingly accept or continue employment with the contractor or subcontractor involved under such contract for a period of one year following separation from service, except for employment in an unrelated position. Defines a "covered position" as one which requires such officer or employee to work directly on contracts in excess of $500,000. Requires a procurement ethics training program for procurement officials who are likely to be involved in contracts, modifications, or extensions in excess of $25,000. (Currently, all officials must participate in the program.) (Sec. 162) Provides penalties for those aiding, abetting, counseling, commanding, inducing, or procuring acts of Government officials which affect a personal interest of the individual. (Sec. 163) Repeals certain superseded and obsolete laws. (Sec. 164) Provides implementing regulations and requires Inspector General reports in each of FY 1996 through 1999 on compliance by the head of an agency in designating procurement positions covered by amendments to the Act. Subtitle H: Clerical Amendments - Makes clerical amendments to Federal armed forces provisions, the Federal criminal code, and the Department of Energy Organization Act. Title II: Reorganization and Reform of the Defense Acquisition System - Subtitle A: Streamlining and Improvement of Acquisition Management - Adds specified duties for the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology (Under Secretary). Establishes in DOD a Defense Research, Development, and Acquisition Agency, with a Director and a Chief of Engineering and Analysis (Chief). Outlines the duties to be performed by the Agency, including the planning, programming, and carrying out of the research, development, and acquisition (RDA) activities of DOD, the preparation and integration of budgets for RDA activities, and the review of acquisition program plans. Provides for: (1) selection and evaluation of Agency program executive officers; (2) the organization of personnel; (3) policies and procedures for the interaction of commanders of unified and specified combatant commands with program executive officers regarding the initiation and conduct of weapons acquisition programs; and (4) the selection, evaluation, and duties of Agency program managers. Requires the Chief to be responsible for ensuring that all functional analytical capabilities provided to the Agency Director and its officers and managers in connection with DOD acquisition programs are the most advanced capability of their type. Limits the procurement authority of the Secretaries of the various military departments to that considered necessary for the sustainment of operations of that service branch. (Sec. 202) Directs the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to make recommendations to the Under Secretary regarding the desirability for joint development by the United States and one or more foreign countries of foreign products or systems. Subtitle B: Transfer of Functions - Transfers, with specified exceptions, to the: (1) Secretary all RDA activities of the military departments; and (2) Agency all the functions of specified organizations and commands. Directs the Secretary to terminate all organizations whose functions are so transferred. Provides savings provisions. Subtitle C: Conforming Amendments - Repeals specified Federal provisions concerning the general authorities and responsibilities of the defense acquisition workforce. Makes conforming amendments with respect to the transfer of certain RDA functions made earlier under this Act. Subtitle D: Effective Date - Makes this title and its amendments effective one year after the date of enactment of this Act. Title III: Depot-Level Maintenance - Repeals Federal provisions: (1) prohibiting more than 40 percent of funds made available for military department or defense agency depot-level maintenance and repair workloads from being used to contract for the performance of such workload by nongovernmental personnel; (2) prohibiting the management of DOD civilian depot-level maintenance personnel on the basis of end strengths; (3) providing an exception to (1), above; and (4) requiring a report concerning funds used to contract out for such work. (Sec. 302) States that it is essential for the national defense that DOD preserve an organic maintenance and repair capability to meet readiness and sustainability requirements for the systems and equipment required for contingency plans. Requires the Secretary to identify those DOD maintenance and repair activities that are necessary to preserve such capability (core capability), and prohibits the Secretary from contracting out for their performance. Allows for the contracting out of non-core capability functions. (Sec. 303) Directs the Secretary to provide for the performance by the private sector of all DOD depot-level maintenance and repair work except: (1) when no responsive bids for such performance are received from responsible offerors; or (2) for reasons of national security as determined by the Secretary.
Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 85 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1995
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) substantive dialogue between North and South Korea is vital to the implementation of the Agreed Framework Between the United States and North Korea of October 1994; and (2) the President should pursue measures to reduce tensions between North and South Korea and facilitate progress toward holding a North Korea-South Korea summit, initiating mutual nuclear facility inspections, establishing liaison offices, resuming a joint North-South military discussion, expanding trade relations between North and South Korea, promoting freedom to travel between such nations, cooperating in fields of mutual interest, establishing postal and telecommunications services, and reconnecting railroads and roadways between such nations.
Bill· SS. 644 (104th)reported
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1995
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, from the date of enactment of this Act until December 31, 2000, to establish research corporations within the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Removes the requirement that such corporations must, within a four-year period after their establishment, be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization specifically under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be dissolved (thereby allowing such corporation to remain established if it is so recognized under any Code provision).
Bill· SS. 646 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Performance Based Acquisition Process Subtitle A: Performance Goals Subtitle B: Results-Oriented Acquisition Process Subtitle C: Rapid Contracting Subtitle D: Performance Based Contract Management Subtitle E: Financial Management Subtitle F: Defense Acquisition Workforce Subtitle G: Revision of Procurement Integrity Requirements Subtitle H: Clerical Amendments Title II: Reorganization and Reform of the Defense Acquisition System Subtitle A: Streamlining and Improvement of Acquisition Management Subtitle B: Transfer of Functions Subtitle C: Conforming Amendments Subtitle D: Effective Date Title III: Depot-Level Maintenance Department of Defense Acquisition Management Reform Act of 1995 - Title I: Performance Based Acquisition Process - Subtitle A: Performance Goals - Amends Federal defense procurement provisions to: (1) require acquisition programs of the Department of Defense (DOD) for each DOD appropriation account to be assessed for achieving on average 90 percent of their cost, performance, and scheduling goals; and (2) direct the Secretary of Defense to terminate any major defense acquisition program that fails to meet at least 50 percent of its cost, performance, and schedule goals. (Sec. 103) Amends the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 to direct the Secretary to include certain additional incentives such as pay and promotion incentives within a system which encourages excellence in the personnel management of defense acquisition programs (DAPs). Requires a review of such system to be completed by October 1, 1997, and requires a report from the Secretary to specified congressional committees. Subtitle B: Results-Oriented Acquisition Process - Directs the Secretary to revise DOD regulations relating to the acquisition of major systems and information technology systems. (Sec. 112) Directs the Secretary to define in appropriate regulations a simplified acquisition program cycle (cycle) that is results-oriented and consists of the following phases: (1) the integrated decision team meeting; (2) prototype development and testing; (3) product integration, development, and testing; and (4) production and integration into existing systems. Utilizes established maximum time limits for the completion of the cycle and each of its phases, with alternatives to such limits. Requires the acquisition program approval process to have one major decision point which shall occur before the program proceeds into product integration, development, and testing. Directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition to review, and make certain determinations with respect to, such program. Requires any regulations adopted to ensure that potential users of an item being acquired under a cycle are afforded an opportunity to participate in the acquisition decisions during the appropriate phases. (Sec. 113) Prohibits the Secretary from issuing a notice to proceed with production of a major system until: (1) at least one phase of initial operational test and evaluation has been completed, during both the prototype development and testing phase and again during the product integration, development, and testing phase; and (2) the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation has made certain certifications to the Secretary concerning testing and evaluation procedures and conditions. Authorizes the waiver of such requirements under certain conditions, including for national security reasons. Prohibits operational testing of a new system other than a major system until the head of the operational test and evaluation agency of the military department concerned determines the quantity of articles of the system that are to be procured for operational testing. Repeals a Federal provision requiring any increase in the quantity of articles to be procured for low-rate initial production to be made only with the approval of the official making the original quantity determination. Prohibits such quantity from being increased by more than ten percent of the original quantity as of the date on which funds appropriated for procurement are first obligated for the program. Allows such original quantity to be exceeded in addition to the ten percent increase during periods of war or national emergency or when the Secretary makes certain certifications to specified congressional committees concerning the necessity of such action. Requires the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation to report directly to the Secretary (currently, the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary of Defense), without intervening review or approval. (Sec. 114) Directs the Secretary to revise existing DOD directives regarding development and procurement of certain information systems in order to consolidate those directives into one series of directives that is consistent with the simplified cycle established under this Act. Subtitle C: Rapid Contracting - Directs the Secretary to establish, and take necessary action to achieve, a goal of reducing by 50 percent the time necessary for DOD to acquire an item for the user of that item. (Sec. 122) Authorizes a contracting officer of an agency receiving more than three competitive proposals for a proposed contract to solicit best and final offers from three of such offerors, without conducting discussions with representatives of all of the competitive offers. (Sec. 123) Authorizes the Secretary to establish a contractor certification system for the procurement of DOD property or services that are acquired on a repetitive basis. Authorizes the head of a DOD agency to enter into such a contract on the basis of a competition among contractors certified under the system. Provides for the termination of such certification under appropriate circumstances. (Sec. 124) Requires solicitations for defense contracts for the procurement of property of services to include a statement of past contractor performance of the offeror and any certification of the offeror under the certification system established under this Act. Directs the Secretary to maintain a contractor performance data base containing performance histories of each contractor under DOD contracts. (Sec. 125) Requires (currently authorizes) the head of a defense agency to enter into multiyear contracts for the purchase of property whenever certain cost savings and other factors are present. (Sec. 126) Directs the Secretary to authorize and encourage the use of leasing in the acquisition of equipment when practicable and otherwise authorized by law. Requires a report on legislative changes required to facilitate such leases. Subtitle D: Performance Based Contract Management - Includes within unallowable defense contractor costs: (1) labor costs in excess of those provided in the contract offer; and (2) bid protest costs. (Sec. 132) Directs the Secretary to prescribe in regulations: (1) policies and procedures that encourage DOD contract administrators to submit to program managers for consideration alternative approaches to contract management, including an analysis of the costs and benefits of each alternative; and (2) a clause, to be included in each cost- and incentive-type contract, that provides contractor rewards for exceeding the contract cost, schedule, or performance parameters, as well as contractor penalties for failing to adhere to such parameters. Subtitle E: Financial Management - Requires the Secretary, before initial funding is made available for a phase of the acquisition program cycle for which an authorization of appropriations is specifically required, to submit to the Congress information concerning the objectives and plans for conducting such phase and the funding requirements for the entire phase. Directs the Congress, in authorizing appropriations for such a phase, to provide a single amount sufficient for carrying out the entire phase. Requires specific identification of the phase being funded. (Sec. 142) Authorizes the Secretary to transfer funds from appropriations available for a particular acquisition program phase in order to pay the cost of incentives provided to program managers who have been certified by the Secretary as having achieved at least 90 percent of the cost, schedule, and performance goals established for that phase. (Sec. 143) Directs the Comptroller General to review and report to the Congress on commercial practices regarding DOD accounts payable, and to develop standards to be used by the Secretary for improving DOD contract payment procedures and financial management systems. Empowers the Secretary with certain responsibilities with respect to corrective actions necessary to resolve weaknesses found by the Comptroller General. Subtitle F: Defense Acquisition Workforce - Directs the Secretary to ensure that DOD management policies and procedures provide that education and training in acquisition matters, and past performance of acquisition responsibilities, are major factors in the selection of personnel for assignment to DOD acquisition positions. Requires demonstrated past performance of acquisition duties to be considered under various provisions relating to employee qualifications, requirements, and evaluations. (Sec. 152) Directs the Secretary to provide for the acquisition of professional educational development and training services for the DOD acquisition workforce from commercial sources and through programs provided by Federal sources for all Federal acquisition personnel. Terminates provisions requiring the establishment and maintenance of a defense acquisition university structure. Requires DOD program managers and executive officers to have completed the course of development and training services established under this section. Authorizes the Secretary to submit to the Congress an alternative system of development and training. Subtitle G: Revision of Procurement Integrity Requirements - Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (the Act) to: (1) require the head of a procuring activity who approves a recusal request (request for dismissal from participation in a procurement contract due to possible conflict of interests) to retain such request for at least five years and make such request available to the public; and (2) make certain contract officer or employee certification requirements under such Act inapplicable to contracts of less than $500,000. Provides that no individual who, in the year prior to separation from service as a military officer in a covered position or an officer or employee of the Government, participated personally and substantially in acquisition functions related to a contract of $500,000 or more shall knowingly accept or continue employment with the contractor or subcontractor involved under such contract for a period of one year following separation from service, except for employment in an unrelated position. Defines a "covered position" as one which requires such officer or employee to work directly on contracts in excess of $500,000. Requires a procurement ethics training program for procurement officials who are likely to be involved in contracts, modifications, or extensions in excess of $25,000. (Currently, all officials must participate in the program.) (Sec. 162) Provides penalties for those aiding, abetting, counseling, commanding, inducing, or procuring acts of Government officials which affect a personal interest of the individual. (Sec. 163) Repeals certain superseded and obsolete laws. (Sec. 164) Provides implementing regulations and requires Inspector General reports in each of FY 1996 through 1999 on compliance by the head of an agency in designating procurement positions covered by amendments to the Act. Subtitle H: Clerical Amendments - Makes clerical amendments to Federal armed forces provisions, the Federal criminal code, and the Department of Energy Organization Act. Title II: Reorganization and Reform of the Defense Acquisition System - Subtitle A: Streamlining and Improvement of Acquisition Management - Adds specified duties for the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology (Under Secretary). Establishes in DOD a Defense Research, Development, and Acquisition Agency, with a Director and a Chief of Engineering and Analysis (Chief). Outlines the duties to be performed by the Agency, including the planning, programming, and carrying out of the research, development, and acquisition (RDA) activities of DOD, the preparation and integration of budgets for RDA activities, and the review of acquisition program plans. Provides for: (1) selection and evaluation of Agency program executive officers; (2) the organization of personnel; (3) policies and procedures for the interaction of commanders of unified and specified combatant commands with program executive officers regarding the initiation and conduct of weapons acquisition programs; and (4) the selection, evaluation, and duties of Agency program managers. Requires the Chief to be responsible for ensuring that all functional analytical capabilities provided to the Agency Director and its officers and managers in connection with DOD acquisition programs are the most advanced capability of their type. Limits the procurement authority of the Secretaries of the various military departments to that considered necessary for the sustainment of operations of that service branch. (Sec. 202) Directs the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to make recommendations to the Under Secretary regarding the desirability for joint development by the United States and one or more foreign countries of foreign products or systems. Subtitle B: Transfer of Functions - Transfers, with specified exceptions, to the: (1) Secretary all RDA activities of the military departments; and (2) Agency all the functions of specified organizations and commands. Directs the Secretary to terminate all organizations whose functions are so transferred. Provides savings provisions. Subtitle C: Conforming Amendments - Repeals specified Federal provisions concerning the general authorities and responsibilities of the defense acquisition workforce. Makes conforming amendments with respect to the transfer of certain RDA functions made earlier under this Act. Subtitle D: Effective Date - Makes this title and its amendments effective one year after the date of enactment of this Act. Title III: Depot-Level Maintenance - Repeals Federal provisions: (1) prohibiting more than 40 percent of funds made available for military department or defense agency depot-level maintenance and repair workloads from being used to contract for the performance of such workload by nongovernmental personnel; (2) prohibiting the management of DOD civilian depot-level maintenance personnel on the basis of end strengths; (3) providing an exception to (1), above; and (4) requiring a report concerning funds used to contract out for such work. (Sec. 302) States that it is essential to the national defense that DOD preserve an organic maintenance and repair capability to meet readiness and sustainability requirements for the systems and equipment required for contingency plans. Requires the Secretary to identify those DOD maintenance and repair activities that are necessary to preserve such capability (core capability), and prohibits the Secretary from contracting out for their performance. Allows for the contracting out of non-core capability functions. (Sec. 303) Directs the Secretary to provide for the performance by the private sector of all DOD depot-level maintenance and repair work except: (1) when no responsive bids for such performance are received from responsible offerors; or (2) for reasons of national security as determined by the Secretary.
Law· HRH.R. 1350 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1995
Maritime Security Act of 1995 - Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to modify the authority of the Secretary of Transportation regarding operating-differential subsidies (ODSs) for vessels over 25 years old. Allows the Secretary to authorize replacement vessels for certain liner vessels receiving ODSs, making them ineligible for ODSs and limiting them to payments under this Act until the existing contract terminates by its terms. Allows the Secretary to authorize replacement vessels for certain bulk cargo vessels receiving ODSs, requiring that they continue to receive ODSs until the existing contract terminates by its terms. Prohibits new ODS contracts after enactment of this Act. Prohibits renewing or extending existing contracts. Allows operation of an ODS vessel in the U.S. foreign trade without restriction, notwithstanding any other provision of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936. Allows certain liner vessels to be transferred and registered under the flag of an effective U.S.-controlled foreign flag, provided the vessel is available for requisition by the Secretary. Mandates the establishment of a fleet of active, militarily useful vessels to meet national defense and other security requirements and maintain an American presence in international commercial shipping. Requires that the fleet consist of privately owned, U.S.-flag liner vessels with ODSs. Requires each fleet vessel to have an operating agreement with the Secretary, operate exclusively in the foreign trade, and be documented under Federal law. Allows the vessels to operate in the foreign trade without restriction. Requires the owner or operator of a vessel covered by an agreement, in war, national emergency, or the national interest, to make available, under an Emergency Preparedness Program, vessels, capacity in vessels, intermodal systems and equipment, terminal facilities, and intermodal and management services. Prohibits an owner, operator, or related party from engaging in noncontiguous trade, except as permitted in regulated waivers. Authorizes appropriations for the operating agreements under this Act. Declares that existing provisions prohibiting ODS holders from operating competing foreign-flag vessels do not preclude owners, operators, and others from owning, chartering, or operating foreign-flag vessels in specified ways. Amends cargo preference provisions to modify the definition of "privately owned United States-flag commercial vessels." Deems certain cargo preference provisions fulfilled regarding liner vessels if specified requirements are met. Terminates restrictions and requirements of specified provisions on vessels constructed, reconstructed, or reconditioned with the aid of a construction-differential subsidy for liner or dry bulk cargo vessels when they become 25 years old and for liquid bulk cargo vessels when they become over 20 years old.
Bill· HRH.R. 1347 (104th)reported
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1995
Maritime Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Transportation for FY 1996 for: (1) the operating-differential subsidy; (2) operating agreements for vessels enrolled in the Maritime Security Program; (3) operations and training activities; and (4) the costs of guaranteed loans authorized by the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as well as for administrative expenses related to loan guarantee commitments. Amends: (1) the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946 to require the Secretary of Transportation to consult with the Secretary of Defense (currently, Secretary of the Navy) regarding the National Defense Reserve Fleet and to repeal certain restrictions on requiring bids, payments, performance, or completion bonds from contractors with respect to repair or maintenance of Fleet vessels; and (2) the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to extend war risk insurance authority. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to submit to the Congress a report on the condition of public ports of the United States each even-numbered (currently, each) year.
Bill· SS. 635 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1995
Provides that officers in the grades of lieutenant general or vice admiral and above who have served at least three years in such position shall be automatically retired in the highest grade satisfactorily served. Repeals Federal provisions requiring Senate confirmation of such retirement.
Bill· HRH.R. 1340 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1995
Modifies the project for the Bonneville Lock and Dam, Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, to authorize the Secretary of the Army to convey to the relocated city of North Bonneville, Washington, specified real property and easements in the area of such relocated city. Requires as a condition of such conveyance that the city execute a release of claims for relief against the United States growing out of the relocation. Requires the dismissal of any pending litigation related to the relocation. Repeals provisions of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1993 requiring the Secretary to take specified action to relocate such city.
Bill· HRH.R. 1329 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1995
Extends through December 31, 2003, the eligibility of veterans for: (1) inpatient care for exposure to toxic substances and ionizing radiation during military service; and (2) inpatient and outpatient care for exposure to a toxic substance or environmental hazard during the Persian Gulf War. Extends eligibility for such outpatient care for any disability to veterans who, during the period before December 31, 2003, either: (1) served on active duty in Vietnam and may have been exposed to dioxins or other toxic substances during such duty; or (2) were exposed during active duty to ionizing radiation during atomic testing or during the American occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Bill· HRH.R. 1326 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1995
Requests the President to award posthumously the Congressional Medal of Honor to Brevet Brigadier General Strong Vincent for his actions in the defense of Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863.
Bill· HRH.R. 1327 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Discretionary Savings Title II: Extension of Authority of Federal Communications Commission to Use Competitive Bidding Title III: Privatization of the United States Enrichment Corporation Title IV: Retirement Title V: Medicare Savings Extensions Subtitle A: Provisions Relating to Part A of the Medicare Program Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Part B of the Medicare Program Subtitle C: Provisions Relating to Parts A and B of the Medicare Program Title VI: Contract With America Tax Relief Act of 1995 Subtitle A: American Dream Restoration Subtitle B: Senior Citizens' Equity Subtitle C: Job Creation and Wage Enhancement Subtitle D: Family Reinforcement Subtitle E: Social Security Earnings Test Subtitle F: Technical Corrections Tax Fairness and Deficit Reduction Act of 1995 - Title I: Discretionary Savings - Discretionary Spending Reduction and Control Act of 1995 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to establish discretionary spending limits for FY 1996 through 2000. Extends congressional committee allocation and enforcement provisions and the applicability of certain points of order through FY 2000. Extends the requirement for five-year concurrent resolutions on the budget through FY 2000. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to establish amounts for FY 1996 through 2000 to eliminate budgetary excess from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund. (Sec. 1003) Revises the general statement of budget enforcement to apply to discretionary spending limits and pay-as-you-go requirements rather than expired maximum deficit amounts. (Sec. 1004) Extends enforcement of discretionary spending limits, pay-as-you-go requirements, and reporting requirements through FY 2000. (Sec. 1009) Provides a special rule on the interrelationship between changes in discretionary spending limits and pay-as-you-go requirements for enforcement purposes. Prohibits changes in direct spending and receipts resulting from this Act from being reflected in pay-as-you-go estimates. Revises the final sequestration report to be made by the Office of Management and Budget for FY 1996. Title II: Extension of Authority of Federal Communications Commission to Use Competitive Bidding - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to extend through FY 2000 the authority of the Federal Communications Commission to use competitive bidding in granting licenses and permits. Title III: Privatization of the United States Enrichment Corporation - USEC Privatization Act - Provides for the transfer by the United States Enrichment Corporation of some or all of its assets and obligations regarding uranium- and uranium enrichment-related activities to a private corporation. Title IV: Retirement - Congressional and Federal Employee Retirement Equalization Act - Increases, incrementally through 1997, percentages of basic pay which may be deposited by a Federal employee or Member of Congress in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund for service for which retirement deductions or deposits have not been made. Adjusts employing agency deductions and withholding according to this schedule. Provides that Government contributions shall be determined, with respect to service after 1995, according to the 1995 applicable percentage plus three percent. Conforms military basic pay and volunteers' readjustment allowance or stipend percentages to the percentages for employee service. Revises Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) deductions and withholding so that the rates applicable to Federal and congressional employees and Members, increased incrementally through 1997, are made uniform. Provides higher rates for law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and air traffic controllers. Conforms military basic pay and volunteers' compensation percentages to the FERS percentages for employee service. Exempts postal employees from the applicability of these Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and FERS contribution changes. (Sec. 4004) Revises rules relating to average pay, for purposes of computing employee annuities or survivor annuities for employees separating after 1995, to increase the number of consecutive years of service considered. Revises accrual rates, with respect to annuities of congressional employees and Members with at least five years of service, to compute annuities on the basis of service before 1996. Applies, in the case of immediate retirement, the 1.1 percent accrual rate in the computation of the basic annuity of a Member or congressional employee who separates after January 1, 1996. (Sec. 4006) Eliminates the option of Members not to participate in FERS. Title V: Medicare Savings Extensions - Medicare Presidential Budget Savings Extension Act of 1995 - Subtitle A: Provisions Relating to Part A of the Medicare Program - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary), with respect to per diem limits on routine costs of services of skilled nursing facilities or prospective payments to such facilities, from considering changes in the costs of services occurring during cost periods which began in FY 1994 or 1995. Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Part B of the Medicare Program - Sets the monthly part B premium (for supplementary medical insurance) at 50 percent of the monthly actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and over. Subtitle C: Provisions Relating to Parts A and B of the Medicare Program - Amends title XVIII secondary payer provisions to extend permanently requirements for employer responses to fiscal intermediaries or carriers inquiring as to coverage of an employee under a group health plan. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend permanently requirements of the Secretary of the Treasury and the Commissioner of Social Security to provide taxpayer identity information for verification of Medicare beneficiary employment status. Extends permanently the prohibition on large group health plans from taking into account that a disabled active individual under age 65 is entitled to Medicare benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the SSA. Extends the period during which a group health plan may not take into account that an individual with end stage renal disease is entitled to Medicare benefits solely by reason of title II provisions. Prohibits the Secretary, in determining limits on reasonable costs of home health care agency services, from taking into account changes in the costs of services furnished with respect to cost reporting periods which began on or after July 1, 1994, and before July 1, 1996. Title VI: Contract With America Tax Relief Act of 1995 - Contract With America Tax Relief Act of 1995 - Subtitle A: American Dream Restoration - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals a tax credit of $500 multiplied by the number of qualifying children who have not attained age 18. Places limitations on such credit for taxpayer adjusted gross incomes over $200,000. Provides an inflation adjustment for such credit and the taxpayer adjusted gross income amount. (Sec. 6102) Allows a marriage penalty reduction credit for qualified married couples to be determined under tables prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. (Sec. 6103) Establishes individual retirement plans (IRAs) which can be designated as American Dream Savings Accounts. Disallows a tax deduction for amounts contributed to such accounts. Limits contributions to such accounts to the lesser of $2,000, or compensation includible in an individual's gross income for a taxable year ($4,000 in the case of certain married individuals). Provides an inflation adjustment of such amounts. Permits contributions to be made after age 70.5. Excludes distributions from such accounts from gross income and makes the penalty on early distributions inapplicable. Designates qualified distributions as those: (1) made after the individual attains age 59.5; (2) made to a beneficiary on or after the death of the individual; (3) attributable to the individual being disabled; and (4) qualified as special purpose distributions. Prohibits qualified distributions from being made within the five-year period since the account began. Describes special purpose distributions as those for: (1) qualified first-time homebuyers; (2) qualified higher education expenses; and (3) qualified medical expenses, including long-term care insurance. Terminates the authority to make nondeductible contributions to IRAs. (Sec. 6104) Provides for computing a spousal IRA on the basis of compensation of both spouses. Subtitle B: Senior Citizens' Equity - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to decrease the tax on social security benefits from 1996 through 1999. Terminates such tax after December 31, 1999. (Sec. 6211) Provides for the treatment of qualified long-term care insurance as accident and health insurance for purposes of insurance company taxation. Prohibits long-term care insurance under cafeteria plans. Includes in the gross income of an employee employer-provided coverage for qualified long-term care services provided through flexible spending arrangements. Provides that the continuation coverage excise tax does not apply to a group health plan solely by reason of failing to provide long-term care insurance. Declares that payments to relatives (unlicensed with respect to long-term medical care services) shall be treated as not paid for medical care. (Sec. 6212) Includes amounts paid for qualified long-term care services as medical expenses deductible from gross income. (Sec. 6213) Provides for the nonrecognition of gain or loss on the exchange of any life insurance contract or an endowment or annuity contract for a long-term care insurance contract. (Sec. 6214) Excludes from gross income certain amounts withdrawn from individual retirement accounts and certain employer cash or deferred arrangements to pay long-term care premiums. (Sec. 6221) Provides for the exclusion as a death benefit of any amount paid or advanced to an individual under a life insurance contract because such individual is terminally ill or chronically ill and confined to a qualified facility. (Sec. 6222) Allows insurance companies to issue accelerated death benefit riders on life insurance contracts. (Sec. 6231) Includes in gross income excess long-term care benefits, except for terminally ill individuals. (Sec. 6232) Establishes reporting requirements for persons who pay long-term care benefits. Subtitle C: Job Creation and Wage Enhancement - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a 50 percent income tax deduction for the net capital gain of noncorporate taxpayers. Allows such deduction in computing gross income. (Sec. 6302) Requires indexing, based on the gross national product deflator, of the adjusted basis of certain assets (corporate stock and tangible property that is a capital asset or property used in a trade or business) that have been held for more than three years at the time of sale or other transfer, solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss. Allows a taxpayer, other than a corporation that holds any readily tradable stock on January 1, 1995, to treat such stock as having been sold on the last business day before such date for an amount equal to its closing market price on such last business day (and as having been reacquired on such last business day for an amount equal to such closing market price). (Sec. 6311) Reduces the alternative capital gains tax on corporations from 35 percent to 25 percent. (Sec. 6316) Allows an itemized deduction for losses arising from the sale or exchange of a principal residence. (Sec. 6321) Allows the depreciation deduction to be computed based on a neutral recovery basis for property placed in service after December 31, 1994. (Sec. 6322) Provides for the treatment of lessor improvements which are abandoned at the termination of a lease. (Sec. 6331) Phases out the alternative minimum tax for corporations to zero after December 31, 2000. Provides for earlier termination of certain tax adjustments. (Sec. 6341) Establishes in the Treasury a Public Debt Reduction Trust Fund for the deposit of portions of tax liability designated by individuals. Makes amounts in such Trust Fund available only to pay at maturity, or to redeem or buy before maturity, any obligation of the Federal Government included in the public debt. Prohibits the reissuance of any obligation which is paid, redeemed, or bought with amounts from the Trust Fund. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to require a sequestration (reduction) of Federal spending equivalent to the aggregate amounts designated for payment to such Fund. Sets forth congressional reporting requirements. (Sec. 6351) Increases the unified credit against the estate tax and the unified credit against the gift tax and provides a cost-of- living adjustment for such credits. Provides an inflation adjustment for the alternate valuation of certain farm and business property, the gift tax exclusion, the generation-skipping tax exemption, and the estate tax on closely held businesses. (Sec. 6352) Increases the dollar limitation on the election to expense certain depreciable business assets. (Sec. 6353) Includes as a principal place of business, for purposes of qualifying a home office for the deductibility of expenses, a place of business used by the taxpayer for administrative or management activities of a trade or business if there is no other fixed location where the taxpayer conducts such activities. (Sec. 6354) Treats the storage of product samples as inventory for deduction purposes. Subtitle D: Family Reinforcement - Allows an income tax credit for up to $5,000 of qualified adoption expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year. Sets forth a formula for reduction of such credit for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income exceeds $60,000. Denies such a credit for any expense for which a deduction or credit is allowable under another Code provision. Defines "qualified adoption expenses" as reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney's fees, and other lawful expenses directly related to legal adoption of a child, but not any expenses paid from any funds received under a Federal, State, or local program. Disqualifies for such a credit any expenses in connection with the adoption of a child of the taxpayer's spouse. (Sec. 6402) Allows a tax credit for an individual who maintains a household which includes one or more qualified persons requiring custodial care equal to $500 for each such person. Subtitle E: Social Security Earnings Test - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to increase the monthly exempt amount for individuals who have attained retirement age. Subtitle F: Technical Corrections - Makes technical amendments to the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990 and the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993. Provides for the application of amendments made by title XII of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. Includes among such amendments clarification of U.S. shareholder interests in controlled foreign corporations with respect to dividends, modification of the election to include a child's unearned income on a parent's return, and certain investments in annuity contracts.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 51 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1995
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Kaliningrad-Konigsberg area should be made into a demilitarized zone and the Russian Federation should remove all its military forces from such area; (2) the administration of such area should be transferred from the Russian Federation to an international body; and (3) appropriate international and regional agencies should be requested to conduct and implement studies to restore the environmental integrity of the area.
Bill· SS. 612 (104th)reported
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1995
Veterans' Hospice Care Services Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot program to: (1) assess the feasibility and desirability of furnishing hospice care to terminally ill veterans; and (2) determine the most efficient and effective means of providing such care. Directs the Secretary to designate 15 to 30 Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for hospice care demonstration projects. Allows such hospice care to be provided by Department medical facilities and personnel or by contract with a non-Department medical facility. Limits the amount paid for such care to amounts paid for hospice care programs under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. Directs the Secretary, during the pilot program period of October 1, 1995, through December 31, 2000, to designate no fewer than ten Department medical facilities at which hospice care is being provided to furnish palliative care to such veterans. Provides for: (1) informing terminally ill veterans of their eligibility for hospice and palliative care; and (2) hospice program evaluation, assessment, and congressional reports by the Secretary and the Under Secretary for Health of the hospice care pilot program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 1999.
Bill· SS. 617 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Supplementals and Rescissions Title II: General Provisions Second Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act, 1995 - Title I: Supplementals and Rescissions - Makes FY 1995 additional supplemental appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for the Agricultural Research Service, the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the Commodity Credit Corporation, and the Food and Nutrition Service. Rescinds appropriations made to the Department of Agriculture for the Office of the Secretary, Agricultural Research Service, the Cooperative State Research Service, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Rural Development Administration and Farmers Home Administration, the Alcohol Fuels Credit Guarantee Program Account, the Rural Electrification Administration, the Food and Nutrition Service, and the Foreign Agricultural Service. Makes FY 1995 additional supplemental appropriations to the National Bankruptcy Review Commission and the United States Information Agency. Rescinds appropriations made to: (1) the Department of Justice for the Immigration and Naturalization Service and Office of Justice Programs; (2) the Department of Commerce for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Under Secretary for Technology-Office of Technology Policy, the National Technical Information Service, and the Economic Development Administration; (3) the Judiciary for the United States Court of International Trade and for defender services; (4) the Small Business Administration; (5) the Department of State; (6) the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency; (7) the Board for International Broadcasting; and (8) the United States Information Agency. Rescinds appropriations made to: (1) the Corps of Engineers-Civil; (2) the Bureau of Reclamation of the Department of the Interior; (3) the Department of Energy; (4) the Appalachian Regional Commission; and (5) the Tennessee Valley Authority. Rescinds funds appropriated to the President for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs. Rescinds appropriations made to: (1) the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and territorial and international affairs; (2) the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service; (3) the Department of Energy for fossil energy research and development, naval petroleum and oil shale reserves, and energy conservation; (4) the Department of Education for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Rescinds appropriations made to the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities. Rescinds appropriations made to the Department of Labor for the Employment and Training Administration and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rescinds appropriations made to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Assistant Secretary for Health, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, the Health Care Financing Administration, the Social Security Administration, the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration on Aging, and the Office of the Secretary. Rescinds appropriations made to specified Department of Education programs, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the Railroad Retirement Board. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to decrease the appropriated funds for FY 1995 for the Federal Direct Student Loan Program. Rescinds funds made available to the Legislative Branch for: (1) the payments to widows and heirs of deceased Members of Congress; (2) Joint Economic Committee and the Joint Committee on Printing; (3) the Office of Technology Assessment for salaries and expenses; (4) the Congressional Budget Office for salaries and expenses; (5) the Architect of the Capitol for capitol buildings and grounds; (6) the Government Printing Office for congressional printing and binding and salaries and expenses; (7) the Botanic Garden for salaries and expenses; (8)the Library of Congress for salaries and expenses; and (9) the General Accounting Office for salaries and expenses. Rescinds funds made available to the Department of Defense for: (1) military construction; (2) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; and (3) Base Realignment and Closure Account, Parts II and III. Rescinds funds made available to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for: (1) the Office of the Secretary; (2) the Coast Guard; (3) the Federal Aviation Administration; (4) the Federal Highway Administration; (5) the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; (6) the Federal Railroad Administration; and (7) the Federal Transit Administration. Reduces certain obligation limitations for DOT. (Sec. 901) Rescinds funds from the DOT working capital fund. (Sec. 902) Cancels a specified amount for DOT civilian and military compensation and benefits permanently. Makes FY 1995 additional supplemental appropriations to the General Services Administration and the Office of Personnel Management. Rescinds funds made available to the Department of the Treasury for departmental offices, the Financial Management Service, the United States Mint, the Bureau of the Public Debt, and the Internal Revenue Service. Rescinds funds made available to the Executive Office of the President for the White House Office and Federal drug control programs. Rescinds funds made available to the General Services Administration for the Federal Buildings Fund and the Office of Personnel Management for salaries and expenses. Makes FY 1995 additional supplemental appropriations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster relief and the National Flood Insurance Fund. Rescinds funds made available to: (1) the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical care and major projects construction; and (2) the Department of Housing and Urban Development for housing programs. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to: (1) permit a public housing agency to use modernization assistance for any eligible activity, including demolition, replacement housing, and temporary relocation assistance, authorized by this or other applicable appropriations Acts; (2) permit replacement units to be built on the site of the original demolished public housing unit only if the number of replacement units is significantly less than the number of units demolished; (3) repeal provisions prohibiting public housing projects from transferring title unless there is Federal funding assistance providing for a unit for unit replacement for each transfer; and (4) permit the reuse of any budget authority that is recaptured on account of termination of a housing assistance payments contract only for one or more the following, tenant-based assistance or project-based assistance. Rescinds funds made available to the: (1) Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board; (2) Community Development Financial Institutions Fund; (3) Corporation for National and Community Service; (4) Environmental Protection Agency; (5) National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (6) National Science Foundation; and (7) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Title II: General Provisions - Directs the Secretary concerned to: (1) prepare, offer, and award contracts for salvage timber sales from Federal lands; and (2) perform the appropriate revegetation and tree planting operations in the salvage area. Subjects such sales to judicial review only in the United States district court for the district in which the affected Federal lands are located. Permits such an action only if made within 15 days after the initial advertisement of the challenged timber sale. (Sec. 2002) Amends the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government Appropriations Act, 1995 and other Federal law provisions concerning overtime for criminal investigators. (Sec. 2006) Prohibits the use of funds available in FY 1995 appropriations being used for specified purposes by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Bill· SS. 613 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1995
VA State Health Care Reform Pilot Program Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out pilot programs on the participation of the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system in the health care systems of States that have adopted comprehensive health benefit plans. Allows up to five States to be used for such pilot programs. Requires the Secretary to provide benefits to persons through the Department health care system in such a State as if such system were a provider of benefits under the State plan. Prohibits a State from refusing Department participation in a State health benefit plan unless the chief executive officer of such State certifies that the Department plan or its facilities are inadequate to meet the State health benefit plan. Requires the Secretary to designate a health system director for each State in which a pilot program is carried out. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out any necessary administrative reorganization of Department health care systems or facilities in a program State. Allows the Secretary to exclude Department facilities from participation in a pilot program. Authorizes a health system director to enter into contracts and agreements for the provision of health care and related services in connection with the pilot program. Excludes such contracts and agreements from certain Federal law. Requires review by the Central Office of the Department of contracts and agreements of $250,000 or more. Outlines provisions concerning: (1) the use of Department personnel in a pilot program; (2) eligible persons; and (3) copayments and other charges (and their waiver with respect to certain veterans). Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Reform Fund to be used for pilot program purposes, with a separate account established for each program. Requires the Secretary to collect, and report to specified congressional committees concerning, information with respect to the provision of health care benefits under each pilot program.
Bill· SS. 615 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1995
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide outpatient medical services to any former prisoner of war for any disability.
Bill· SS. 602 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1995
NATO Participation Act Amendments of 1995 - Amends the NATO Participation Act of 1994 to expand eligibility for participation in a program to assist in transition to full North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership to European countries emerging from communist domination (currently, countries emerging from communist domination that are participating in the Partnership for Peace program). Revises conditions on such assistance to permit participation only if the President reports to designated congressional committees that the country: (1) has made progress toward establishing shared values and interests, a democratic government, a free market economy, civilian control of the military, police, and intelligence services, adherence to the Helsinki Final Act of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and more transparent defense budgets and is participating in the Partnership for Peace defense planning process; (2) has made public commitments regarding NATO; (3) meets standards of NATO allies to prevent the transfer of defense articles to states supporting terrorism; and (4) is likely, within five years, to be in a position to further the principles of NATO and contribute to its own security and that of the North Atlantic area. Adds economic support fund, peacekeeping operations, and Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund assistance to the list of assistance available to participants in the NATO transition program. Earmarks international military education and training assistance for the placement of additional military personnel from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia at U.S. military education institutions and for the placement of U.S. instructors at military educational centers in eligible countries. Declares that the President should use the vote of the United States at all international fora to urge observer status in the North Atlantic Council for eligible countries. Sets forth conditions under which a country's eligibility may be terminated.
Bill· SS. 610 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1995
Corinth, Mississippi, Battlefield Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) acquire lands in the vicinity of the Corinth Battlefield in Mississippi for, and construct, an interpretive center to commemorate and interpret the 1862 Civil War Siege and Battle of Corinth; and (2) administer such lands and center as part of the Shiloh National Military Park. Authorizes appropriations.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 91 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1995
Calls upon the President to express strong U.S. opposition to Turkey's invasion of northern Iraq and urges the United States, at the United Nations Security Council, to condemn Turkey's illegal act of aggression and bring about an immediate and unconditional withdrawal. Denounces Turkey's consistent pattern of human rights violations against ethnic Kurds and condemns acts of terror by PKK forces against Turkish civilian and military targets. Supports the maintenance of Operation Provide Comfort and the continuation of other non-governmental humanitarian assistance for the Kurds of northern Iraq.
Bill· HRH.R. 1308 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1995
El Centro Naval Air Facility Ranges Withdrawal Act - Withdraws specified Federal lands utilized in the mission of the Naval Air Facility, El Centro, California, from all forms of appropriation under the public land and mining laws, but not the mineral, geothermal leasing, or mineral materials sales laws. Reserves such withdrawn lands for use by the Secretary of the Navy for defense-related purposes in accordance with the June 29, 1987, Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Department of the Navy and subject to specified provisions for other defense-related purposes consistent with those specified in the Memorandum. Sets forth provisions regarding publication and filing requirements, legal effect, availability for public inspection, and reimbursement. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, during the period of the withdrawal, to manage the lands withdrawn under this Act pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and other applicable law. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) permitted management activities (wildlife and wildlife habitat protection, control of predatory and other animals, prevention and suppression of fires resulting from nonmilitary activities, and geothermal leasing and development and related power production, mineral leasing and development, and mineral material sales); (2) conditions on nonmilitary uses; (3) closure to the public; (4) additional military uses; (5) the June 29, 1987, cooperative agreement entered into between the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Department of the Navy with regard to the defense-related uses of Federal lands to further the mission of El Centro; and (6) the duration of withdrawal and reservation, including a process for extension. Directs the Secretary of the Navy to maintain a program of decontamination of the lands withdrawn under this Act at least at the level of decontamination activities performed on such lands in FY 1986. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) early relinquishment of withdrawal; (2) delegation of functions; (3) hunting, fishing, and trapping; (4) immunity of the United States; and (5) termination of prior reclamation withdrawals. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 594 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1995
Establishes within the Department of the Interior the Presidio Trust. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to the administrative jurisdiction of the Trust specified areas of the Presidio military complex. Establishes a board of directors to manage the Trust. Requires the Trust to manage the leasing, maintenance, rehabilitation, repair, and improvement of Presidio property under its jurisdiction. Provides related Trust authorities. Requires Trust financial statements to be audited annually. Requires the Trust to report annually to the Secretary and the Congress on its operations, activities, and accomplishments during the prior fiscal year. Authorizes appropriations to carry out Trust activities.
Bill· HRH.R. 1296 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1995
Establishes within the Department of the Interior the Presidio Trust. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to the administrative jurisdiction of the Trust specified areas of the Presidio military complex. Establishes a board of directors to manage the Trust. Requires the Trust to manage the leasing, maintenance, rehabilitation, repair, and improvement of Presidio property under its jurisdiction. Provides related Trust authorities. Requires Trust financial statements to be audited annually. Requires the Trust to report annually to the Secretary and the Congress on its operations, activities, and accomplishments during the prior fiscal year. Authorizes appropriations to carry out Trust activities.
Bill· SS. 584 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1995
Authorizes the awarding of the Purple Heart to persons serving with the armed forces who were wounded while being taken prisoner or held captive before April 25, 1962. Prohibits such award to a person convicted by a competent court of rendering assistance to any U.S. enemy.
Bill· HRH.R. 1285 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1995
Innocent Landowner Defense Amendment of 1995 - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act to create a rebuttable presumption that a defendant who has acquired real property has made all appropriate inquiry into previous ownership and uses of the property if he establishes that, immediately prior to or at the time of acquisition, he obtained a Phase I Environmental Audit (i.e., an investigation of the property, conducted by environmental professionals, to determine the obviousness of the presence or likely presence of a release or threatened release of hazardous substances, including a review of specified records of the previous ownership and use of such property). Specifies that no such presumption shall arise: (1) unless the defendant has maintained a compilation of the information reviewed in the course of the Audit; and (2) if the Audit discloses the presence or likely presence of a release or threatened release of hazardous substances on the property to be acquired, unless the defendant has taken reasonable steps to confirm the absence of such release or threatened release.
Bill· HRH.R. 1267 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Time-Limited Transitional Assistance Title II: Make Work Pay Title III: The Work First Program Title IV: Family Responsibility and Improved Child Support Enforcement Title V: Teen Pregnancy and Family Stability Title VI: Program Simplification Title VII: Child Protection Block Grant Program Title VIII: SSI Reform Title IX: Financing Title X: Food Assistance Reform Title XI: Deficit Reduction Title XII: Effective Date Individual Responsibility Act of 1995 - Title I: Time-Limited Transitional Assistance - Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) require States opting to have work first programs to make ineligible for AFDC any family with a member who has participated in such work program, generally, for two years (and so is prohibited from further participation), while preserving the eligibility of such families for Medicaid; and (2) direct the Secretary of Health and Human Service (Secretary) to establish a database of work first and community service programs participants for use by States opting to have work first programs. Title II: Make Work Pay - Amends SSA titles XIX (Medicaid) and IV part A (AFDC), the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and other specified Federal law, to make various specified changes with regard to certain program aspects, including: (1) extended Medicaid enrollment for former AFDC recipients; (2) increased AFDC earned income disregards; (3) limited AFDC income and resource disregards of savings for education, first time home purchase, or microenterprise initiatives; (4) child care, including replacement of current Federal child care programs with State-administered block grant programs for child care services, as well as child care for work first program participants; and (5) refundable tax credits for dependent care and other expenses connected with gaining employment in order to enable AFDC recipients to become self-sufficient. (Sec. 213) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require participating residents to receive advanced earned income payments from a responsible State agency pursuant to a State Advance Payment Program in lieu of receiving earned income advance amounts from an employer. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to designate up to four State Advance Payment Demonstrations. Title III: The Work First Program - Amends SSA title IV to replace the current Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program under part F with a new program for assessing the employability of AFDC recipients and providing for their participation in job search activities, as well as a new Work First Program that allows participating States to establish one of two types of work programs, with one type similar to the programs operated by Riverside County, California and the State of Oregon. (Sec. 301) Requires a State to develop an individual responsibility plan, involving job search and other employment-related activities, for each aid applicant or recipient 18 years of age or older who has not completed high school or obtained a certificate of high school equivalency, and is not attending secondary school. Requires States establishing a work first program to have a workfare program (including community service) or a job placement voucher program with respective requirements for obtaining private sector employment. Requires a work supplementation component under such programs that provides for subsidized private sector or State or local government jobs. Requires States to provide program participants with the necessary case management services to ensure integrated benefits and services provided under such programs. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) States should target individuals who have not attained 25 years of age for participation in work first programs; and (2) the Secretary and the States should consider the needs of rural areas in designing State plans under SSA title IV part G. (Sec. 305) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to community- based organizations that move AFDC recipients into the private work sector. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Family Responsibility and Improved Child Support Enforcement - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to require States to have statutorily prescribed procedures to: (1) record child support orders in a central case registry; and (2) collect child support payments through a centralized collections unit. (Sec. 401) Revises the guidelines for: (1) State plans for child and spousal support; and (2) payments distribution. (Sec. 403) Requires State plans to establish procedural guidelines for: (1) notification of all proceedings and orders affecting child support obligations; and (2) privacy safeguards regarding paternity and child support actions. (Sec. 411) Revises the formula for: (1) Federal matching payments to the States; and (2) incentive adjustments to the Federal matching rate. (Sec. 413) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include prescribed procedures for State reviews and audits. Revises the guidelines for Federal evaluation and audit of State programs governing paternity, child and spousal support, and parent location. (Sec. 415) Revises the automated data processing requirements for State plans to mandate a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system which can perform specified tasks. (Sec. 416) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to conduct staffing studies of each State child support enforcement program and to report the results to the Congress. (Sec. 417) Makes funds available to the Secretary for: (1) training of Federal and State staff, research and demonstration programs, and special projects of regional and national significance; and (2) operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service. (Sec. 421) Mandates that the single statewide automated data system function as a single central case registry of State-provided services and support orders. Delineates contents of case records and data matching activities, including data exchange with sister States. (Sec. 422) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. (Sec. 423) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures: (1) for mandatory income withholding for support payments subject to enforcement; and (2) under which child support orders issued before October 1, 1996, shall become subject to withholding from wages if arrearages occur, without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. Revises the procedural guidelines for income withholding for child support enforcement. (Sec. 425) Revises the Federal Parent Locator Service to add kinds of information which may be transmitted to locate individuals and assets for purposes of establishing parentage and executing child support obligations. Requires the Secretary to establish in the Service a Data Bank of Child Support Orders and an automated Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 426) Requires State plans to include procedures for recording social security numbers on certain family legal documents and records, including all applications for motor vehicle licenses and professional licenses. (Sec. 431) Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1997. (Sec. 432) Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the procedures for a court to apply when determining which State order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement for child support orders. (Sec. 433) Amends SSA title IV part D to revise State plan guidelines for mandatory expedited administrative and judicial procedures to include: (1) authorized genetic testing to establish paternity; and (2) the securing of assets and increasing of monthly payments to satisfy a support arrearage. (Sec. 441) Expresses the sense of the Congress that social services should be provided in hospitals to women who have become pregnant as a result of rape or incest. (Sec. 442) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures for providing new fathers with parenting counseling that stresses the importance of paying child support in a timely manner. (Sec. 443) Mandates that a State plan for child and spousal support have procedural guidelines for the State agency to determine whether an individual is cooperating with efforts to establish paternity and secure support. (Sec. 444) Sets forth the applicable percentage for Federal matching payments. (Sec. 445) Revises the guidelines for performance-based incentive adjustments to the Federal matching rate with respect to Statewide paternity establishment and the overall performance of the State in child support enforcement. (Sec. 446) Revises the guidelines for statutorily prescribed procedures governing genetic testing and outreach for voluntary paternity acknowledgment. (Sec. 451) Establishes the National Child Support Guidelines Commission to develop and recommend to the Congress a national child support guideline that is based on a study of various guideline models. (Sec. 452) Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the priority of refund distribution with respect to past-due support owed to individuals. (Sec. 463) Amends SSA title IV part D to revise procedural guidelines for: (1) consent by the United States to income withholding, garnishment, and similar proceedings for enforcement of child support and alimony obligations of current and retired Federal employees; and (2) enforcement of child support obligations of current and retired members of the Armed Forces. (Sec. 465) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures for: (1) placing liens for child support arrearages on motor vehicle titles of the debtor; (2) voiding fraudulent transfers by a child support debtor; (3) suspending any driver's, business, or occupational license issued to any person who owes past-due child support; (4) reporting to credit bureaus the name of the parent in arrears for child support; (5) extending the statute of limitations for collection on child support arrearages; and (6) calculating interest or penalties on such arrearage. (Sec. 471) Prescribes procedural guidelines for passport denial (including revocation) upon certification of nonpayment of child support. (Sec. 472) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should ratify the United Nations Convention of 1956. Requires State plans to provide that the State must treat international child support cases as interstate cases. (Sec. 473) Amends SSA title IV part D to authorize holds on lottery winnings, settlements, payouts, bequests, and proceeds from the sale of forfeited property in order to satisfy child support arrearages. (Sec. 474) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures that impose liability upon grandparents for the financial support of a grandchild whose parent is less than 18 years of age to the extent the parent is unable to provide such support. (Sec. 475) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the States should develop programs that are designed to work with noncustodial parents who are unable to meet their child support obligations. (Sec. 481) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to include within the definition of medical child support order an order issued through a State administrative process. (Sec. 482) Mandates that a State plan for aid and services to needy families with children extend Medicaid eligibility for families losing AFDC due to increased child support collections. (Sec. 491) Sets forth effective dates for this Act. Title V: Teen Pregnancy and Family Stability - Amends SSA title IV part A with respect to Federal and State roles in reducing teenage pregnancy and promoting family stability, among other things by: (1) giving States the option to deny AFDC for additional children (except those born as a result of rape or incest) of AFDC families while preserving their eligibility for Medicaid; and (2) requiring unmarried minors who are pregnant or who have children to live under adult supervision in order to receive AFDC. (Sec. 503) Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to provide for the establishment of the National Clearinghouse on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Programs. (Sec. 504) Requires State plans to reduce by 25 percent the aid payable to a family with a parent under 20 who has not completed secondary school (or obtained an equivalency certificate) if that parent has failed without good cause to maintain minimum attendance at an educational institution. (Sec. 505) Grants States the option, with respect to families in which both parents are married, to disregard any standard that limits: (1) the time during a month that a family's principal earner may be employed (100-hour rule) under the AFDC-UP (Unemployed Parent) program; or (2) the length of time (six-month limit) such a family may receive AFDC payments. (Sec. 506) Repeals the quarters of work coverage requirement under the AFDC-UP program for families in which both parents are under age 20. (Sec. 508) Places restrictions on Federal housing benefits to minors who bear children out-of-wedlock. (Sec. 509) Give States the option of denying AFDC to minor parents. (Sec. 511) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) children should be educated about the risks of early parenthood; (2) reproductive family planning and education should be made available to potential parents; and (3) States should use SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) funds to provide comprehensive services to high-risk youth and work with schools for early identification and referral of such children. Title VI: Program Simplification - Amends SSA titles IV part A and XI, as well as the Food Stamp Act of 1977, among other things to give States increased flexibility in providing AFDC benefits (including restoring those wrongfully terminated) through, among other means, use of electronic benefit transfers, quicker action on waiver requests, and coordination with food stamp rules. (Sec. 631) Expresses the support of the Congress for certain efforts by the Social Security Administration to reduce fraud and abuse in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program under SSA title XVI. (Sec. 632) Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to study and report to the Congress on the feasibility of issuing a single counterfeit-resistant ID card to replace the current social security card and any health security card issued under health reform legislation. (Sec. 641) Sets forth additional AFDC changes involving: (1) State payment options under the program for dependent children of unemployed parents; (2) State determination of the needs of the dependent child and relative with whom the child is living; (3) "fill- the-gap" budgeting; (4) repeal of the requirement for supplemental payments in States paying less than their needs standards; (5) collection of AFDC overpayments from Federal tax refunds; and (6) disregard of student and nonrecurring lump-sum income. (Sec. 646) Amends SSA title XI to raise the limitations on payments under SSA titles I (Old Age Assistance), X (Aid to the Blind), XIV (Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled), and XVI (Supplemental Security Income)(SSI), and IV parts A and E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance). Title VII: Child Protection Block Grant Program - Amends SSA title IV part B (Child-Welfare Services) to convert the current program into a child protection block grant program. Authorizes appropriations. Title VIII: SSI Reform - Amends SSA title XVI to limit the payment of SSI benefits for children by reason of disability and make specified changes with regard to disability reviews for certain children and young adults. (Sec. 811) Provides for the denial of SSI benefits by reason of disability to drug addicts and alcoholics. Title IX: Financing - Amends SSA, IRC, and the Immigration and Nationality Act with regard to the treatment of aliens concerning AFDC, SSI, and food stamp benefits, among other things to: (1) provide for an extension of deeming of income and resources under the AFDC, SSI, and food stamp programs; (2) prescribe requirements for sponsor's affidavit of support; (3) extend requirements for affidavits of support to family-related and diversity immigrants; (4) revise the definition of "emergency assistance to needy families with children" and the limitation on State expenditures for such assistance; (5) include certain Federal assistance (such as AFDC and food stamps) in gross income; (6) make payments of certain assistance reportable to the Internal Revenue Service; (7) deny the earned income tax credit to individuals not authorized to be employed in the United States; (8) phaseout the earned income credit for individuals having more than $2,500 of taxable interest and dividends; and (9) ignore AFDC and food stamp benefits for purposes of determining the earned income tax credit. Title X: Food Assistance Reform - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to establish specific time periods for: (1) retail food stores and wholesale food concerns (stores) to apply for food stamp program (program) participation; and (2) prohibition of program participation based on lack of business integrity. (Sec. 1003) Includes income and sales tax information among the types of eligibility verification information which may be requested. (Sec. 1004) Establishes a six-month reapplication waiting period for a store that does not meet participation requirements. (Sec. 1006) Authorizes suspension of a store pending administrative and judicial review. (States that the Secretary shall not be liable for lost sales during such period.) (Sec. 1007) Provides for disqualification of a store that is disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). (Sec. 1008) Provides for permanent disqualification of a store that knowingly submits a falsified application. (Sec. 1009) Expands civil and criminal forfeiture for specified violations of the Act. (Sec. 1010) Amends the Social Security Act as amended by the Social Security Administrative Reform Act of 1994, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended by the Social Security Administrative Reform Act of 1994, to authorize information sharing with State WIC enforcement instrumentalities. (Sec. 1011) Amends the Act to expand the definition of "coupon." (Sec. 1012) Amends the Act to increase ineligibility penalties for program violations. (Sec. 1013) Makes mandatory the collection of overissuance of coupons from Federal pay or Federal tax refunds (as authorized by this section). (Sec. 1016) Revises work requirements to: (1) disqualify a non- exempt individual not employed a minimum of 20 hours per week nor participating in a State workfare or training program; (2) revise exempt individual categories; and (3) disqualify a household that includes an individual who refuses to comply with work requirements. Increases and extends authorization allotments for employment training. Coordinates work requirements with the AFDC program under part A of SSA title IV. (Sec. 1017) Extends current claims retention rates. (Sec. 1019) Encourages States to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 1020) Freezes the standard deduction rate through October 1, 1995. (Sec. 1021) Extends the Puerto Rico block grant. (Sec. 1022) Revises specified income exclusion requirements. Commodity Distribution Act of 1995 - Authorizes the Secretary to purchase and distribute food assistance commodities to the States through FY 2000. (Sec. 1053) Requires the Secretary to establish procedures for supplemental State, local, and private commodity donations. (Sec. 1054) Requires a State seeking commodity assistance to submit an administrative plan to the Secretary every four years. (Sec. 1055) Establishes program allocation guidelines. Requires States to make emergency feeding organizations their first priority. (Sec. 1057) Authorizes the Secretary to use Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to pay initial commodity processing and packaging costs. (Sec. 1059) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 1060) Obligates specified funds for a commodity supplemental food program for women, infants, and children or the elderly. Requires the CCC to donate specified amounts of cheese and nonfat dry milk to such program. (Sec. 1061) States that commodities received under this title shall not be considered income or resources for any Federal, State, or local means-tested program. (Sec. 1068) Repeals the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983. Eliminates specified provisions of: (1) the Commodity Distribution Reform Act and WIC Amendments of 1987; (2) the Charitable Assistance and Food Bank Act of 1987; (3) the Food Security Act of 1985; (4) the Agricultural and Consumer Protection Act of 1973; (5) the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990; and (6) the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988. Title XI: Deficit Reduction - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to use savings resulting from this Act for specified deficit reductions. Title XII: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date for amendments made by this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 1274 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1995
Turkish Human Rights Compliance Act - Requires the President, from the funds available for FY 1996 for assistance for Turkey under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act, to withhold, first from grant assistance and then from loan assistance, $500,000 for each day that Turkey does not meet the conditions of this Act. Authorizes a presidential waiver of this Act if it is in the national security interest. Considers conditions to be met when the President certifies to the Congress that the Turkish Government: (1) allows free monitoring of the human rights situation within its territory by human rights monitoring organizations; (2) recognizes the civil, cultural, and human rights of its Kurdish citizens, ceases military operations against Kurdish civilians, and takes steps toward a peaceful resolution of the Kurdish issue; (3) takes steps toward the total withdrawal of military forces from Cyprus and supports a settlement recognizing the sovereignty and independence of Cyprus, with a constitutional democracy; (4) removes its blockade of U.S. and international assistance to Armenia; and (5) removes official restrictions on Christian churches and schools and offers sufficient protection against acts of violence, harassment, and vandalism in connection with the clergy and such churches and schools.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 45 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1995
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) if Department of Defense (DOD) commissary and exchange systems are reduced or eliminated, derived funds should be used to increase other forms of compensation for current and retired military personnel in order to offset the decrease in indirect pay for such personnel; and (2) if exchange stores are reduced, eliminated, or privatized, funds should be provided to DOD to upgrade and avoid the erosion of morale, welfare, and recreation activities and other facilities provided to current and retired military personnel and their dependents.
Bill· SS. 578 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1995
Turkish Human Rights Compliance Act - Requires the President, from the funds available for FY 1996 for assistance for Turkey under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act, to withhold, first from grant assistance and then from loan assistance, $500,000 for each day that Turkey does not meet the conditions of this Act. Authorizes a presidential waiver of this Act if it is in the national security interest. Considers conditions to be met when the President certifies to the Congress that the Turkish Government: (1) allows free monitoring of the human rights situation within its territory by human rights monitoring organizations; (2) recognizes the civil, cultural, and human rights of its Kurdish citizens, ceases military operations against Kurdish civilians, and takes steps toward a peaceful resolution of the Kurdish issue; (3) takes steps toward the total withdrawal of military forces from Cyprus and supports a settlement recognizing the sovereignty and independence of Cyprus, with a constitutional democracy; (4) removes its blockade of U.S. and international assistance to Armenia; and (5) removes official restrictions on Christian churches and schools and offers sufficient protection against acts of violence, harassment, and vandalism in connection with the clergy and such churches and schools.
Bill· SJRESS.J.Res. 29 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1995
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) substantive dialogue between North and South Korea is vital to the implementation of the Agreed Framework Between the United States and North Korea of October 1994; and (2) the President should pursue measures to reduce tensions between North and South Korea and facilitate progress toward holding a North Korea-South Korea summit, initiating mutual nuclear facility inspections, establishing liaison offices, resuming a joint North-South military discussion, expanding trade relations between North and South Korea, promoting freedom to travel between such nations, cooperating in fields of mutual interest, establishing postal and telecommunications services, and reconnecting railroads and roadways, between such nations.
Bill· SS. 573 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1995
Spending Reductions Act of 1995 - Limits spending in FY 1996 to: (1) $100 billion for service contracts; (2) $1 billion for federally funded research and development centers at the Department of Defense; (3) $3 billion for the foreign military financing program; (4) $1 billion for the International Development Association; (5) $58 million for the International Finance Corporation; and (6) $25 million for humanitarian assistance.
Bill· SS. 571 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1995
Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to deny a member of the armed forces sentenced by a court-martial to confinement and a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge or dismissal entitlement to military pay and allowances for any period after such sentence. Restores such entitlement if the sentence is disapproved or set aside. Authorizes the Secretary of the executive department concerned to pay transitional compensation to any spouse, dependent child, or former spouse of a member during any period in which the member's entitlement to pay and allowances is terminated under this Act. Allows such Secretary to pay emergency transitional assistance to a person for up to 45 days while the person's application for transitional compensation is pending approval.
Bill· SS. 570 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1995
Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to enter into one or more contracts with facilities located within 25 miles of a current or former Department of Energy (DOE) defense nuclear facility for the procurement of products and services to support waste cleanup and modernization activities at such nuclear facilities. Requires the Secretary to give preference to facilities that plan to hire, to the maximum extent practicable, residents in the vicinity of the defense nuclear facility who are employed or who have previously been employed by DOE or its private contractor at the facility. Prohibits any person from bringing a claim against a contractor or subcontractor for injury, cost, damage, illness, death, damage to property, or economic loss caused by a release of a hazardous contaminant during performance of the contract, unless such release or threatened release is caused by contractor or subcontractor negligence or intentional misconduct. Sets forth a six year statute of limitations for commencement of such actions. Directs the Secretary and contractors under the Secretary's supervision, in entering into a contract or subcontract with a private entity for products to be acquired or services to be performed at a qualifying DOE site, to give preference to an entity (otherwise qualified and within the competitive range) that plans to: (1) provide products and services originating from communities within 25 miles of the site; (2) hire residents living in the site's vicinity to perform the contract (especially dislocated site workers); and (3) invest in value-added activities in the site's vicinity to mitigate adverse economic development impacts resulting from closure or restructuring of the site.
Bill· HRH.R. 1259 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1995
Requires nonlethal excess supplies of the Department of Defense to be made available to a State, local government, territory, or possession, upon request, before being made available for humanitarian relief purposes.
Bill· HRH.R. 1265 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1995
Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act and the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (the base closure laws) to prohibit the Secretary of Defense from transferring to another Federal department or agency any portion of a military installation to be closed or realigned under the base closure laws unless the head of such department or agency agrees to retain possession and use of the transferred property for agency purposes. Prohibits any such transferred property from being sold or used by such department or agency in any property exchange.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 44 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1995
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the demilitarization of the conflict in the northeast of Ireland will further the goals of peace and reconciliation in Ireland; (2) the British Government should announce, as soon as possible, its intention to vacate and withdraw all British military forces from the northeast no later than December 31, 1999; (3) the Irish Republican Army and the organizations which comprise the Combined Loyalist Military Command should simultaneously decommission their weapons in amounts proportionate to the phased withdrawal of British troops; (4) the demilitarization process should be initiated by the prompt withdrawal of a substantial number of British military forces; and (5) the new North and South body proposed in the British Framework Document of February 22, 1995, should include oversight of compliance by all parties with the demilitarization process.
Bill· SS. 565 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1995
Product Liability Fairness Act of 1995 - Applies this Act to any product liability action begun after enactment of this Act, except for actions for loss or damage to a product itself, actions for commercial loss, and actions for negligent entrustment. Makes any circuit court of appeals decision interpreting this Act a precedent for any Federal or State court within that court's geographic jurisdiction. (Sec. 4) Allows a claimant or defendant in a product liability action to offer to proceed with voluntary, nonbinding alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Requires defendant offerees to pay reasonable attorney's fees and costs if they unreasonably or in bad faith refuse to proceed to ADR and final judgment is entered against the defendant. (Sec. 5) Imposes seller liability if the seller failed to exercise reasonable care, made an express warranty, or engaged in intentional wrongdoing. Declares that a failure to inspect is not a failure of reasonable care if there was no reasonable opportunity to inspect. Makes a seller liable as a manufacturer if the manufacturer is not subject to service or if the claimant would be unable to enforce a judgment. (Sec. 6) Makes it a complete defense if the claimant was under the influence of alcohol or a drug and was more than 50 percent responsible. (Sec. 7) Reduces damages by the percentage of harm attributable to misuse or alteration, except for actions involving an employer or coemployee if the employer or coemployee is, under State law, immune from claimant's action. (Sec. 8) Allows punitive damages, as permitted by State law, if the claimant shows by clear and convincing evidence that the harm resulted from the defendant's conscious, flagrant safety indifference. Limits the amounts that may be awarded for a claim. Requires, at the request of either party, consideration of punitive damages in a separate proceeding. (Sec. 9) Limits the time within which a product liability action must be started, with a separate limit for durable goods. (Sec. 10) Permits several and prohibits joint liability for noneconomic loss. (Sec. 11) Grants an insurer a right of subrogation whether or not the insurer is a party. Prohibits settlements or payments, and makes releases invalid, without the consent of the insurer. Requires, if the manufacturer or seller alleges the harm was the fault of the claimant's employer or coemployee, that the issue be submitted to the trier of fact. Reduces damages if it is found by clear and convincing evidence that the harm was so caused, but requires the manufacturer or seller to reimburse the insurer for attorney's fees and costs if it is not so found. (Sec. 12) Declares that U.S. district courts shall not have jurisdiction under this Act based on provisions of the U.S. Code relating to Federal questions, commerce and antitrust, and amounts in controversy.
Bill· SS. 564 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: General Provisions Title II: Expedited Procedures Use of Force Act - Title I: General Provisions - Authorizes the President, in the absence of a declaration of war or statutory authorization for a specific use of force, to use force abroad to: (1) repel an armed attack upon the United States or its armed forces; (2) respond to a foreign military threat that jeopardizes U.S. national interests under emergency conditions that do not permit sufficient time for the Congress to consider such authorization or a declaration of war; (3) extricate U.S. citizens and nationals located abroad from a direct and imminent threat to their lives; (4) forestall an imminent act of international terrorism directed at U.S. citizens or nationals or to retaliate against the perpetrators of such an act; and (5) protect internationally recognized rights of innocent and free passage in the air and on the seas in circumstances where the threat of violation of such rights poses a danger to the safety of American citizens or U.S. national security. Requires the President to adhere to principles of necessity and proportionality such that: (1) force may not be used for purposes of aggression; (2) the President shall have determined, before the use of force, that the objective could not have been achieved satisfactorily by means other than the use of force; (3) the use of force shall be exercised with levels of force, in a manner, and for a duration essential to and directly connected with the achievement of the objective; and (4) the diplomatic, military, economic, and humanitarian consequences of the action shall be in reasonable proportion to the benefits of the objective. (Sec. 102) Directs the President, except where an emergency exists that does not permit sufficient time, to seek the advice of the Congress before any use of force abroad. Establishes the Congressional Leadership Group on the Use of Force Abroad to facilitate regular consultation between the President and the Congress on foreign and national security policy. (Sec. 103) Requires the President, within 48 hours of commencing a use of force abroad, to submit a Use of Force report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate. Provides for periodic reporting on the status, scope, and expected duration of the use of force. (Sec. 104) Authorizes the President to continue a use of force abroad for longer than 60 days after the date by which the Use of Force report is required only if: (1) the Congress has declared war or provided specific statutory authorization for the extended period; (2) the President has requested the Congress to enact a joint resolution constituting such a declaration or authorization but the resolution has not been subject to a vote in each House; or (3) the President has certified to the Speaker of the House and the president pro tempore of the Senate that an emergency exists that threatens the U.S. national interests and requires the period of limitation to be exceeded. (Sec. 105) Sets forth conditions under which joint or concurrent resolutions involving declarations of war and the use of force abroad shall receive expedited consideration in the Congress. (Sec. 106) Prohibits funding for any use of force abroad that is inconsistent with this Act. (Sec. 107) Authorizes Members of Congress to bring actions alleging violations of this Act. Sets forth provisions regarding judicial review and remedies. (Sec. 110) Repeals the War Powers Resolution. Title II: Expedited Procedures - Sets forth congressional procedures for the consideration of resolutions regarding the use of force abroad.
Bill· HRH.R. 1250 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Improving Aid to Families with Dependent Children Title II: Making Work Pay Title III: Improving Child Support Enforcement Title IV: Reauthorization of Child Care and Development Block Grant Title V: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code Title VI: Effective Date Family Stability and Work Act of 1995 - Title I: Improving Aid To Families With Dependent Children - Amends parts A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) and F (Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program) (JOBS) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to make various specified changes with regard to AFDC benefits, including changes: (1) increasing the standard earned income disregard under AFDC and State flexibility regarding recipient participation in the JOBS program; (2) eliminating the different treatment of two-parent families; (3) extending the transitional child care guarantee under AFDC; (4) increasing the Federal matching rates for child care under AFDC; (5) increasing JOBS program funding; (6) adding requirements for State JOBS program participation rates; (7) increasing JOBS and transitional child care matching rates for States whose recipients leave AFDC for paid employment; (8) increasing at-risk child care funding; and (9) establishing a jobs creation and work experience program under JOBS. Title II: Making Work Pay - Amends Medicaid and the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to provide for transitional Medicaid benefits and the continuation of food stamps in order to make work pay for former AFDC recipients. (Sec. 202) Provides for the temporary exclusion of earned income for purposes of determining rent paid for units in federally assisted housing. Title III: Improving Child Support Enforcement - Amends SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to make various specified changes with regard to: (1) State obligations to provide paternity establishment and child support enforcement services; (2) distribution of payments; (3) due process rights; (4) privacy safeguards; (5) program administration and funding, including funding for Secretarial assistance to State programs; (6) locate and case tracking, including providing for centralized collection and disbursement of support payments and an expanded Federal Parent Locator Service; and (7) State law requirements, including interstate enforcement of child support orders, expedited administrative and judicial procedures, and paternity establishment. (Sec. 351) Establishes a National Child Support Guidelines Commission to develop a national child support guideline for consideration by the Congress that is based on a study of various guideline models, the benefits and deficiencies of such models, and any needed improvements. (Sec. 361) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a change in the order of refund distributions and make other specified changes with regard to the enforcement of support orders, including providing for the Internal Revenue Service to collect child support arrears and revising the authority for support collection with respect to Federal employees. (Sec. 364) Provides for the enforcement of child support obligations of members of the armed forces through the establishment of a centralized personnel locator service. (Sec. 365) Makes other specified changes with regard to child support enforcement matters, including establishing State procedures for: (1) placing liens for arrears of child support on motor vehicle titles of individuals owing such arrears; (2) voiding fraudulent transfers in cases where a debtor transferred income or property to avoid payment of a child support creditor; (3) suspending driver's and other types of licenses in arrearage cases; and (4) charging for the collection of interest and penalties on arrearages. (Sec. 368) Modifies arrearage reporting to credit bureaus. (Sec. 389) Extends the statute of limitations for collection of arrearages. (Sec. 371) Provides for the denial of passports for nonpayment of child support. (Sec. 372) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should ratify the United Nations Convention of 1956. Provides for the treatment of international child support cases as interstate cases. (Sec. 381) Makes a technical correction to the definition of medical child support order under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Title IV: Reauthorization of Child Care And Development Block Grant - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to reauthorize the child care and development block grant program. Title V: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from 35 percent to 36.25 percent of a corporation's taxable income over $10 million the top marginal corporate tax rate. Title VI: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date of this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 1243 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1995
Lowers the amounts under proposed offers to sell defense articles or services, design and construction services, and major defense equipment to Saudi Arabia that trigger a requirement by the President to notify the Speaker of the House and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee under the Arms Export Control Act. Makes the lower thresholds that trigger such requirement inapplicable if the Secretary of State certifies to the Congress that the following unpaid claims of American firms against the Government of Saudi Arabia have been resolved satisfactorily: (1) those described in a specified June 30, 1993, report by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1993; or (2) those that are otherwise outstanding before this Act's enactment date and have been litigated fully in the courts of Saudi Arabia but have not been resolved in accordance with standards of fairness as determined by the Secretary of State.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 40 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1995
Supports the Nigerian people in their commitment to unity and democracy and in their insistence on the return to full civilian and democratic rule. Endorses the steps taken by President Clinton to demonstrate U.S. opposition to the annulment of the June 1993 election and encourages additional measures to encourage the restoration of democratic and civilian rule in Nigeria. Condemns the arrests by the Nigerian military of political leaders and democracy advocates and restrictions on freedom of expression. Urges General Abacha and the provisional ruling council in Nigeria to: (1) restore freedom of the press, respect human rights, and restore the independence and authority of the judiciary; (2) release political leaders and human rights activists who have been arrested or detained; (3) set up a rapid timetable for the restoration of civilian and democratic rule; and (4) positively respond to U.S. and international efforts to encourage the restoration of democracy.
Bill· SS. 548 (104th)reported
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1995
Women Veterans' Mammography Quality Standards Act - Prohibits mammograms from being performed at a Department of Veterans Affairs facility unless such facility is accredited for such purpose by a private nonprofit organization designated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Requires any such organization to meet the standards for accrediting bodies established under the Public Health Service Act (the Act). Directs the Secretary to prescribe quality assurance and control standards relating to the performance and interpretation of mammograms and the use of Department mammogram equipment and facilities consistent with requirements of the Act. Requires the Secretary to inspect such equipment and facilities annually. Requires any Department mammograms contracted to a non-Department provider to conform to the standards of the Act. Requires a report on the quality standards prescribed.
Bill· HRH.R. 1224 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Assistance of the Armed Forces in Border Protection Activities Title II: Ineligibility of Certain Aliens for Certain Social Services Title III: Grants to States to Compensate for Resident Lawful Aliens Border Integrity Act of 1995 - Title I: Assistance of the Armed Forces in Border Protection Activities - Amends Federal law to authorize the use of members of the armed forces in border protection activities. Title II: Ineligibility of Certain Aliens for Certain Social Services- Part A: Ineligibility of Certain Aliens for Certain Social Services - Amends part A (Aid to Families With Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act to limit alien eligibility for AFDC benefits. (Sec. 202) Amends part A (Determination of Benefits) of title XVI of the Social Security Act to limit alien eligibility for supplemental security income (SSI) benefits. (Sec. 203) Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to limit alien eligibility for food stamp benefits. (sec. 204) Amends title XIX of the Social Security Act to limit alien eligibility for Medicaid benefits. Subtitle B: Other Provisions Relating to Aliens - Requires an alien's sponsor to assume financial liability for any income-based public assistance provided to such alien until the date he or she becomes a U.S. citizen. (Sec. 213) Authorizes States and localities to limit assistance to aliens and to distinguish among classes of aliens in providing income-based public assistance. Title III: Grants to States to Compensate for Resident Lawful Aliens - Authorizes grants to States (including the District of Columbia) to compensate for specified services to resident lawful aliens. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 1214 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Title II: Child Protection Block Grant Program Title III: Block Grants for Child Care and for Nutrition Assistance Subtitle A: Child Care Block Grants Subtitle B: Family and School-Based Nutrition Block Grants Subtitle C: Other Repealers and Conforming Amendments Subtitle D: Related Provisions Subtitle E: General Effective Date; Preservation of Actions, Obligations, and Rights Title IV: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits Programs Subtitle B: Eligibility for State and Local Public Benefits Programs Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support Subtitle D: General Provisions Subtitle E: Conforming Amendments Title V: Food Stamp Reform and Commodity Distribution Subtitle A: Commodity Distribution Provisions Subtitle B: Simplification and Reform of Food Stamp Program Subtitle C: Effective Dates and Miscellaneous Provisions Title VI: Supplemental Security Income Title VII: Child Support Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders Subtitle H: Medical Support Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Nonresidential Parents Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions Personal Responsibility Act of 1995 - Title I: Block Grants For Temporary Assistance For Needy Families - Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to convert the current AFDC program into a block grant program with specified work, job search, and education and training requirements designed to increase State flexibility in providing time-limited assistance and support services (including birth control and child care services) to needy families to enable them to leave the program and become self-sufficient. (Sec. 101) Prohibits such assistance, generally, to: (1) certain aliens; (2) families without a minor child; (3) families not cooperating in paternity establishment or child support; (4) children born out-of-wedlock to a minor parent (or the parent until such parent turns age 18); (5) families not assigning support rights to the State; (6) minor children born to benefit recipients; and (7) a person convicted of fraudulently misrepresenting residence in order to receive welfare benefits. Withholds a portion of assistance for families which include a child whose paternity is not established. Provides that in order to be eligible for block grants under such program a State must submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services a plan that includes: (1) an outline of the assistance the State intends on providing to needy families with children; and (2) certifications that the State will operate revised SSA title IV part B (Child-Welfare Services) and D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) programs in accordance with this Act. Allows States to use grants for: (1) providing low-income household heating and cooling assistance; (2) implementing an electronic benefit transfer system for providing assistance to needy families with children; and (3) carrying out a State program pursuant to specified provisions of Federal law, including the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. Gives States the authority to treat families moving interstate under the former State program rules if they reside in their new State of residence for less than 12 months. Increases the amount of such grants for States which have reduced their out-of-wedlock births. Sets out penalties for violations of grant uses and mandatory work requirements. Establishes in the Treasury a revolving loan fund known as the Federal Rainy Day Fund for making loans to, and receiving payments of principal and interest on such loans from, qualified States under the new State block grant program. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the States should require noncustodial, nonsupporting parents who have not attained 18 years of age to fulfill community work obligations and attend appropriate parenting or money management classes after school; and (2) each State that operates a block grant program is encouraged to assign the highest priority to requiring families that include older preschool or school-age children to be engaged in work activities. Directs the Secretary to: (1) research the costs and benefits of State activities under this title; (2) evaluate innovative approaches to employing program recipients; (3) rank States in order of their success under the grant program; and (4) review the most and least successful State work programs. Sets forth requirements for: (1) State data collection and reporting; and (2) a Census Bureau study obtaining information for evaluating the impact of this title on a random national sample of recipients of assistance under State block grant programs. Appropriates funds for the latter. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) conduct research on the effects, costs, and benefits of State block grant programs under this title; (2) assist States in development and evaluation of innovative approaches to employing welfare recipients; and (3) conduct studies of the caseloads of States operating programs under this title. Directs the Secretary to develop innovative methods of disseminating information on any research, evaluations, and studies conducted under this title. (Sec. 102) Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on automated data processing systems under State block grant programs and the modifications necessary for tracking public program participants and checking case records to prohibit participants from participating in public programs of two or more States. (Sec. 106) Provides for the continued application of current AFDC standards under the Medicaid program under SSA title XIX. Title II: Child Protection Block Grant Program - Revises SSA title IV part B's Child-Welfare Services program, converting it also into a program of block grants to the States, in this case, for the protection of children in accordance with specified standards. (Sec. 201) Sets forth requirements, similar to those in title I, pertaining to: (1) State eligibility plans with appropriate certifications; (2) grant uses; (3) penalties; (4) data collection and reporting; (5) research; (6) a national random sample study; and (7) continued application of current standards under the Medicaid program. Adds requirements for: (1) citizen review panels for examining specific cases to ensure that State and local agencies are doing their job properly to protect children; (2) a clearinghouse and telephone hotline on missing and runaway children; (3) decreasing the time children wait for adoption; and (4) preventing discrimination in multiethnic placements of children. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Block Grants For Child Care And For Nutrition Assistance - Subtitle A: Child Care Block Grants - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to add the following as goals for such Act: (1) to allow each State maximum flexibility in developing child care programs and policies that best suit the needs of children and parents within such State; (2) to promote parental choice to empower working parents to make their own decisions on the child care that best suits their family's needs; (3) to encourage States to provide consumer education information to help parents make informed choices about child care; (4) to assist States to provide child care to parents trying to achieve independence from public assistance; and (5) to assist States in implementing the health, safety, licensing, and registration standards established in State regulations. (Sec. 301) Reauthorizes and extends such Act through 2000. Makes various specified technical and other changes to the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 with regard to lead State agency designation, State application and plan, and limitations on State allotments. Repeals earmarked required expenditures. Requires each State to report a plan for annual evaluations of the extent to which the State has achieved each goal established by this Act. Authorizes a State to transfer funds to carry out other State programs operated under specified provisions of Federal law, including State Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) and Child-Welfare Services programs. (Sec. 302) Repeals certain child care assistance authorized by specified Acts other than the Social Security Act, including Native Hawaiian Family-Based Education Centers under the Native Hawaiian Education Act. Subtitle B: Family and School-Based Nutrition Block Grants - Revises the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, among other changes, converting the current child nutrition program under that Act into a State family nutrition block grant program with goals that include the following: (1) to provide nutritional risk assessment, food assistance based on such risk assessment, and nutrition education and counseling to economically disadvantaged pregnant women, postpartum women, breastfeeding women, infants, and young children at nutritional risk; and (2) to provide food assistance, including nutritious meal supplements, to such women in order to reduce incidences of low-birthweight babies and babies born with birth defects as a result of nutritional deficiencies. (Sec. 321) Sets forth the formula for allotting appropriations among the States. Specifies the use of grant amounts, and establishes penalties for misuse of funds. Requires the appropriate State agency to determine that sufficient grant amounts will remain available during a fiscal year to carry out this subtitle before using any such amounts for the fiscal year. Sets out State reporting requirements. Directs the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to develop, and report to specified congressional committees, model nutrition standards for food assistance provided to economically disadvantaged pregnant women, postpartum women, breastfeeding women, infants, and young children. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 341) Amends the National School Lunch Act, among other changes, converting the current school lunch program into a program of school-based nutrition block grants to States to provide assistance to schools to establish and carry out nutritious food service programs that provide affordable meals and supplements to students. Requires the appropriate State agency to determine that sufficient grant amounts will remain available during a fiscal year to carry out this subtitle before using any such amounts for the fiscal year. Prohibits a State from requiring a school district, private nonprofit school, of Department of Defense domestic dependents' school to accept commodities, except on request, for use in its food service program. Directs the States to ensure that schools provided State assistance in establishing and carrying out nutritious food service programs do not: (1) physically segregate children eligible to receive free or low cost meals or supplements on the basis of such eligibility; (2) provide for overt identification of such children by special means; or (3) otherwise discriminate against them. Provides that if, by reason of any other provision of law, a State is prohibited from providing assistance received from a grant under such Act to private nonprofit schools or Department of Defense domestic dependents' schools, or if the State has substantially failed or is unwilling to provide such assistance, the Secretary of Agriculture shall arrange for its provision to such schools in accordance with the requirements of such Act. Directs the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to develop, and report to specified congressional committees, model nutrition standards for meals provided to students under such Act. Eliminates other current school lunch programs, including the summer food service programs for children in service institutions, the child and adult care food program, meal supplements for children in afterschool care, specified pilot projects, as well as the current publication entitled "Nutrition Guidance for Child Nutrition Programs." Retains the current program for nutritious food service programs in Department of Defense overseas dependents' schools. (Sec. 361) Repeals the Commodity Distribution Reform Act and WIC Amendments of 1987 and the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 1989. Subtitle C: Other Repealers and Conforming Amendments - Repeals the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988 with conforming amendments to the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. (Sec. 371) Repeals the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act with conforming amendments to the Victims of Crime Act of 1984. Repeals the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978. Makes technical amendments to the Temporary Child Care for Children with Disabilities and Crisis Nurseries Act of 1986, eliminating the crisis nursery demonstration program, among other changes. Repeals: (1) the Missing Children's Assistance Act; (2) the family center support provisions of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act; (3) certain investigatory and prosecutory provisions of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990; and (4) the family unification program provisions of the United States Housing Act of 1937. Subtitle D: Related Provisions - Directs the Secretary to produce and publish data on the incidence of poverty for each State, county, and local government for which data have been compiled, as well as for each school district. Requires a report to the Congress, if such data cannot be produced, enumerating each government or school district excluded and giving the reasons for the exclusion. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 382) Requires the Secretary to produce data relating to participation in programs authorized by this Act by families and children. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle E: General Effective Date; Preservation of Actions, Obligations, And Rights - Specifies the effective date of this Act and the application of its amendments and repeals. Title IV: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens - Declares that: (1) it is a compelling government interest to enact new rules for eligibility and sponsorship agreements in order to assure that aliens be self-reliant in accordance with national immigration policy; and (2) it is a compelling government interest to remove the incentive for illegal immigration provided by the availability of public benefits. Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits Programs - Makes illegal and lawful nonimmigrant aliens ineligible for any Federal means-tested public benefits program, with exceptions for: (1) non-cash, in-kind emergency services and certain types of housing-related assistance; and (2) certain aliens granted asylum and temporary agricultural workers. (Sec. 403) Makes aliens lawfully present in the United States (other than as a nonimmigrant) ineligible for SSI, block grant temporary assistance for needy families, social services block grant assistance, Medicaid, and food stamps. Exempts from such eligibility restrictions on lawful aliens: (1) refugees until five years after their arrival in the United States; (2) all eligible resident aliens until one year after enactment of this Act; and (3) all lawful permanent residents 76 years of age or older who have resided in the United States for at least five years. (Sec. 404) Requires each Federal agency administering a program covered by this title to post information and provide general notification to the public and program recipients, either directly or through the States, of the requirements concerning alien eligibility for any such program pursuant to this title. Subtitle B: Eligibility for State and Local Public Benefits Programs - Makes illegal and nonimmigrant aliens ineligible for any State or local means-tested public benefits programs, with certain exceptions including those for non-cash, in-kind emergency services, aliens granted asylum, and temporary agricultural workers. (Sec. 413) Authorizes States to determine eligibility requirements for aliens who are lawfully present in the United States (other than as nonimmigrants) for any State or local means-tested public assistance program except non-cash, in-kind emergency assistance. Exempts from such eligibility restrictions on lawful aliens: (1) refugees until five years after their arrival in the United States; (2) all eligible resident aliens until one year after enactment of this Act; and (3) all lawful permanent residents 76 years of age or older who have resided in the United States for at least five years. Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support - Provides that in determining the eligibility and the amount of benefits of any alien for any means-tested public benefits program (except those for certain housing-related assistance), the income and resources of the alien shall be deemed to include: (1) the income and resources of any person who executed an affidavit of support on the alien's behalf; and (2) the income and resources of the person's spouse (if any). Applies such requirement with respect to an alien until such time as the alien achieves U.S. citizenship through naturalization. (Sec. 422) Sets forth requirements for sponsor's affidavit of support. Subtitle D: General Provisions - Sets forth definitions and provides for the determination of lawful presence. Subtitle E: Conforming Amendments - Makes conforming amendments relating to assisted housing under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980. Title V: Food Stamp Reform and Commodity Distribution - Food Stamp Reform and Commodity Distribution Act - Subtitle A: Commodity Distribution Provisions - Commodity Distribution Act of 1995 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to purchase and distribute food assistance commodities. (Sec. 513) Requires the Secretary to establish procedures for supplemental State, local, and private commodity donations. (Sec. 514) Requires a State seeking commodity assistance to submit an administrative plan every four years to the Secretary. (Sec. 515) Establishes program allocation guidelines. Requires States to make emergency feeding organizations their first priority. (Sec. 517) Authorizes the Secretary to use Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to pay initial commodity processing and packaging costs. (Sec. 519) Authorizes program appropriations, including separate authorization of appropriations for administrative costs. (Sec. 520) Obligates specified funds for a commodity supplemental food program for women, infants, and children or the elderly. Requires the CCC to donate specified amounts of cheese and nonfat dry milk to such program. (Sec. 521) States that commodities received under this title shall not be considered income or resources for any Federal, State, or local means-tested program. (Sec. 528) Repeals specified food and commodity distribution programs. Subtitle B: Simplification and Reform of Food Stamp Program - Food Stamp Simplification and Reform Act of 1995 - Chapter 1: Simplified Food Stamp Program and State Assistance for Needy Families - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (Act) to authorize a State to operate a program under which households receiving cash assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program established by this Act would receive food stamp benefits based upon TANF rules and procedures. Sets forth the conditions for a State to use TANF rules for food stamp benefits. Chapter 2: Food Stamp Program - Amends the Act to revise the thrifty food plan annual adjustment. (Sec. 552) Eliminates: (1) the food stamp program (program) income exclusion for energy assistance; and (2) annual inflation indexing for income and excess shelter deductions and vehicle allowances. (Sec. 554) Revises work requirements. (Sec. 555) Provides for comparable treatment of disqualified individuals under the program and TANF. (Sec. 556) Encourages States to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 559) Revises State error tolerance level provisions. Chapter 3: Program Integrity - Amends the Act to direct the Secretary to establish authorization periods for retail food stores and wholesale food concerns to redeem food stamps or benefits through an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system. (Sec. 572) Provides that no food store or concern be approved for program participation without a prior visit by a Department of Agriculture employee, or whenever possible, a designated State or local official. (Sec. 573) Establishes a six-month reapplication waiting period for a denied food store or concern. (Sec. 574) States that a food store or concern disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) shall be similarly disqualified from the program. (Sec. 575) Makes a permanent disqualification of a food store or concern effective from the date of receipt of the notice of disqualification. (Sec. 576) Replaces existing administrative forfeiture provisions with criminal forfeiture provisions. (Sec. 578) Increases specified penalties for program violations. (Sec. 579) Provides for the permanent disqualification of a person convicted of trafficking in food stamp benefits of $500 or more. (Sec. 580) Requires collection of claims against recipients from Federal income tax refunds and pay. Subtitle C: Effective Dates and Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth effective dates for provisions of this Act. (Sec. 592) Expresses the sense of the Congress that States that operate electronic benefit systems to transfer food stamp benefits should operate compatible systems. (Sec. 593) Expresses the sense of the House Committee on Agriculture that reductions in outlays resulting from this title shall not be taken into account for certain deficit reduction purposes. Title VI: Supplemental Security Income - Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to: (1) deny SSI by reason of disability to drug addicts and alcoholics; (2) place restrictions on eligibility for cash benefits for disabled children; (3) establish a program of block grants to States for children with disabilities; and (4) repeal the maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SSI benefits. Provides funding for the: (1) Federal Capacity Expansion Program for drug treatment; and (2) medication development project to improve drug abuse and treatment research. (Sec. 603) Amends the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994 to provide for the examination of certain mental disorder listings in determining the eligibility of children for SSI benefits by reason of disability. (Sec. 604) Amends SSA title XI to limit the total amount payable under SSA titles I (Old Age Assistance), X (Aid to the Blind), XIV (Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled), and XVI (SSI) to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. (Sec. 605) Repeals maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SI benefits. Title VII: Child Support - Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services, and Distribution of Payments - Revises SSA title IV part D's child support and paternity establishment program to make various specified changes with regard to: (1) case registries; (2) State obligation to provide child support enforcement services; (3) distribution of child support collections; and (4) privacy safeguards. Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking - Modifies such program further to make various additional specified changes with regard to: (1) automated State case registries and new hire directories for tracking cases, exchanging and comparing information, handling locate requests, and other specified matters; (2) collection and disbursement of support payments through State disbursement units; (3) income withholding; (4) locate information from interstate networks and the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS); (5) reimbursement for information from Federal agencies and for reports by State agencies; (6) an expanded FPLS containing the automated Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders and the National Directory of New Hires; and (7) collection and use of social security numbers for use in child support enforcement. Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures - Requires each State to have in effect the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, as approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in August 1992, and modified by this Act, and the procedures required to implement such Act. Requires such law to be applied to any case involving an order which is established or modified in a State and which is sought to be modified or enforced in another State. (Sec. 722) Amends the Federal judicial code to modify provisions concerning the full faith and credit for child support orders. (Sec. 723) Requires each State to have in effect laws: (1) requiring the use of procedures for administrative enforcement in interstate cases; and (2) providing expedited procedures for establishing paternity and for establishing, modifying, and enforcing support obligations using automated means. Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment - Modifies State law procedures for paternity establishment, among other changes, providing for voluntary paternity acknowledgment. (Sec. 732) Provides for outreach for voluntary paternity establishment. (Sec. 733) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to provide for the cooperation by applicants for and recipients of temporary family assistance in establishing the paternity of, and in establishing, modifying, or enforcing a support order for, any child of the individual. Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding - Makes various specified changes to State payment provisions, including incentive payment requirements. Revises State plan and other provisions with respect to, among other items, Federal and State reviews and audits and State procedures for collecting and reporting information required by SSA title IV part D. (Sec. 745) Revises automated data processing requirements, requiring State agencies to have a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system capable of performing specified tasks relating to the management of the State's SSA title IV part D program. (Sec. 746) Provides funding for technical assistance to States for improving their SSA title IV part D programs and for operation of the FPLS. (Sec. 747) Makes changes with regard to annual congressional reports and data collection by the Secretary. Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders - Revises the process for the review and adjustment of child support orders. Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and SSA title IV part D with regard to enforcement of child support orders, among other changes: (1) providing for changed order of refund distribution; (2) eliminating the disparities in treatment of assigned and non-assigned arrearages; (3) consolidating and revising authorities for collecting support from Federal employees; (4) providing for laws voiding fraudulent transfers; (5) providing for procedures to ensure that persons owing past-due support work or have a plan for payment of such support; and (6) defining the term "support order." (Sec. 763) Provides for enforcement of child support obligations of members of the armed forces. (Sec. 765) Expresses the sense of the Congress that each State should suspend any driver's license, business license, or occupational license issued to any person who owes past-due child support. Subtitle H: Medical Support - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to make a technical correction to the definition of medical child support order under that Act. Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Nonresidential Parents - Amends SSA title IV part D to require the Administration for Children and Families to make grants to enable States to establish and administer programs to support and facilitate absent parents' access to and visitation of their children. Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment - Sets forth the effective dates of this Act. Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Provides that none of the changes in direct spending resulting from this Act shall be reflected in estimates under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings). Amends such Act to provide for adjustments for discretionary programs resulting under this Act. (Sec. 802) Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to encourage electronic benefit transfer systems.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 114 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1995
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the right of free passage through the South China Sea is in the national security interest of the United States and its friends and allies; (2) any attempt by a nondemocratic power to assert its claims to territory in such Sea is a matter of grave concern to the United States; (3) the Government of the People's Republic of China must adhere faithfully to its commitment under the Manila Declaration of 1992; and (4) the President should review the defense needs of democratic countries with claims to territory in such Sea.
Bill· HRH.R. 1189 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1995
Prohibits: (1) specified military assistance or military education and training under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to Bahrain, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates; (2) the sale or transfer of defense articles or services and design and construction services to such countries; and (3) the transfer to such countries by another foreign country of such assistance or U.S. defense articles or services. Makes such prohibition inapplicable if the President certifies to the Congress that: (1) a state of war does not exist between the country and Israel; and (2) such country has accorded formal recognition of Israel.
Bill· HRH.R. 1185 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1995
Federal Retirement Reform Act of 1995 - Amends provisions regarding the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to increase the percentages to be deducted from basic pay of CSRS participants for service after December 31, 1995. Limits Government contributions under CSRS provisions for service after 1995 to the percentage applicable in 1995. Makes individual CSRS contributions for military or volunteer service after 1995 conform to percentages set under this Act. Makes conforming amendments to related provisions regarding the Federal Employees' Retirement System. Treats postal officers and employees as if the amendments under this Act regarding deductions had not been enacted for purposes of applying retirement provisions. Establishes special rules relating to average pay such that CSRS or FERS annuity or survivor annuity eligibility based on separations occurring after 1995 shall reflect the largest annual rate resulting from averaging rates of basic pay over: (1) three consecutive years ("high three") for service performed before 1996; (2) four consecutive years ("high four") for service performed during 1996; and (3) five consecutive years ("high five") for service performed after 1996. (Current law provides for the "high three" calculation.)
Bill· HRH.R. 1158 (104th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Title II: Rescissions Title III: General Provision Title I: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations - Makes FY 1995 emergency supplemental appropriations to the: (1) Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster relief; and (2) the Coast Guard for certain operating expenses. Title II: Rescissions - Rescinds appropriations made to the Department of Agriculture for the Office of the Secretary, alternative agricultural research and commercialization, the Agricultural Research Service, the Cooperative State Research Service, the Rural Development Administration and Farmers Home Administration, the Rural Electrification and Administration, and the Food and Nutrition Service. Rescinds appropriations made to the Department of Justice for the Working Capital Fund, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Office of Justice Programs. Rescinds appropriations made to the Department of Commerce for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Office of Technology Policy, the National Technical Information Service, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the Economic Development Administration. Rescinds appropriations made to the: (1) Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and other judicial services for defender services; (2) the Small Business Administration; (3) the Legal Services Corporation; and (4) the Board for International Broadcasting. Rescinds appropriations made to the: (1) Corps of Engineers-Civil; (2) the Bureau of Reclamation of the Department of the Interior; (3) the Department of Energy; (4) the Appalachian Regional Commission; and (5) the Tennessee Valley Authority Fund. Rescinds funds appropriated to the President for multilateral economic assistance, bilateral economic assistance, military assistance, and export assistance. Rescinds appropriations made to the: (1) Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; (2) the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service; (3) the Department of Energy for fossil energy research and development, naval petroleum and oil shale reserves, and energy conservation; (4) the Department of Education for Indian education. Rescinds appropriations made to the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities. Rescinds appropriations made to the Department of Labor for the Employment and Training Administrations, the Employment Standards Administration, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Rescinds appropriations made to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Assistant Secretary for Health, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, the Health Care Financing Administration, the Administration for Children and Families, and the Administration on Aging. Rescinds appropriations made to specified Department of Education programs, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the Railroad Retirement Board. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to decrease the amount of funds available for FY 1995 for the Federal Direct Student Loan Program. Rescinds funds made available to the Legislative Branch for: (1) the Joint Economic Committee and the Joint Committee on Printing; (2) the Office of Technology Assessment for salaries and expenses; (3) the Architect of the Capitol for capitol buildings and grounds; (4) the Government Printing Office for congressional printing and binding and salaries and expenses; (5) the Botanic Garden for salaries and expenses; (6) the Library of Congress; and (7) the General Accounting Office for salaries and expenses. Rescinds funds made available to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for: (1) the Office of the Secretary; (2) the Coast Guard; (3) the Federal Aviation Administration; (4) the Federal Highway Administration; (5) the Federal Railroad Administration; and (6) the Federal Transit Administration. Reduces certain obligation limitations for DOT. (Sec. 801) Rescinds funds from the DOT working capital fund. (Sec. 802) Cancels a specified amount for DOT civilian and military compensation and benefits permanently. Rescinds funds made available to the Department of the Treasury for departmental offices, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the Financial Management Service, the Bureau of the Public Debt, and the Internal Revenue Service. Rescinds funds made available to the Executive Office of the President for the White House Office and Federal drug control programs. Rescinds funds made available to the General Services Administration, the Federal Election Commission, and the Office of Personnel Management. Rescinds funds made available to: (1) the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical care and major projects construction; and (2) the Department of Housing and Urban Development for housing programs. Rescinds funds made available to: (1) the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation board; (2) the Community Development Financial Institutions; (3) the Corporation for National and Community Service; (4) the Environmental Protection Agency; (5) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (6) the National Science Foundation; and (7) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Title III: General Provision - Prohibits the use of funds under this Act for any direct benefit or assistance to individuals not lawfully within the United States, other than that of an emergency nature or to reduce immediate threats to public health and safety.