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201 records in US in 1995

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Bill· HRH.R. 1214 (104th)open

Personal Responsibility Act of 1995

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.

Bill· SS. 538 (104th)open

A bill to reinstate the permit for, and extend the deadline under the Federal Power Act applicable to the construction of, a hydroelectric project in Oregon, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1995

Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, upon request of a specified licensee, to reinstate a certain permit effective May 23, 1993, and to extend the period during which the licensee is required to commence project construction to the date that is four years after the date of enactment of this Act.

Bill· SS. 522 (104th)open

A bill to provide for a limited exemption to the hydroelectric licensing provisions of part I of the Federal Power Act for certain transmission facilities associated with the El Vado Hydroelectric Project in New Mexico.

United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1995

Exempts certain transmission line facilities associated with the El Vado Hydroelectric Project in New Mexico from the hydroelectric licensing provisions of part I of the Federal Power Act and from the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Bill· HRH.R. 1174 (104th)open

Nuclear Waste Disposal Funding Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1995

Nuclear Waste Disposal Funding Act - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to authorize the Department of Energy (DOE), upon a certain condition being met, to use proceeds from the sale of the United States Enrichment Corporation for radioactive waste disposal activities under such Act. Makes certain portions of such proceeds available for such activities from the Nuclear Waste Fund in specified fiscal years.

Bill· HRH.R. 1158 (104th)passed

Second Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act, 1995

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.

Bill· SS. 506 (104th)open

Mining Law Reform Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title II (sic): Disposition of Locatable Mineral Deposits Title III: Surface Management of Mineral Activities Title IV: Royalty Title V: Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation Program Title VI: Administrative Provisions Mining Law Reform Act of 1995 - Declares that it is the purpose of this Act to: (1) promote mineral exploration and development; (2) ensure land reclamation; and (3) avoid claims of takings of property rights that could require compensation under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution. Title II (sic): Disposition of Locatable Mineral Deposits - Mandates: (1) an annual $100 maintenance fee, payable in advance, for each unpatented mining claim or site until a patent has been issued therefor; and (2) an initial maintenance fee of $100 for the assessment year which includes the date of location of such mining claim or site. (Sec. 201) Sets forth claim maintenance and assessment work requirements. Confers the right of exclusive possession upon the owner of any unpatented mining claim or site in compliance with this Act. Requires the owner of each unpatented mining claim or site to pay a location fee of $25 per claim at the time the notice or certificate of location is filed. Credits the annual claim maintenance fee payments for an unpatented mining claim or site against the requisite royalties. Prescribes procedural guidelines for fee adjustments and disposition. Exempts from application of this section any oil shale claims subject to claim maintenance fees under the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Repeals the fee requirements of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) to: (1) repeal the filing requirements for mining claim recordation; and (2) declare that failure to file a timely notice or certificate of location shall constitute forfeiture of the mining claim and render the claim null and void. (Sec. 202) Permits waiver of the maintenance fee upon written certification that the owner and all related persons own not more than 25 unpatented mining claims or sites. (Sec. 203) Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from denying residential occupancy, or requiring removal of equipment or facilities, if a notice of intent or plan of operations shows such occupancy to be reasonably required. Sets forth procedural guidelines for divestment and reverter of a patented estate that is used for unauthorized purposes. Prescribes patent issuance guidelines. Amends the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1995 to repeal its proscription against the obligation of appropriated funds for processing patents for mining or mill site claims. Title III: Surface Management of Mineral Activities - Declares that compliance with this title constitutes compliance with specified provisions of the FLPMA and any other law applicable to Federal lands subject to this title within the National Forest System. States that this Act is applicable only to mineral activities on those Federal lands where the surface estate is managed by the Bureau of Land Management or the U.S. Forest Service. Cites the Federal environmental protection statutes applicable to mining operations under this Act. (Sec. 302) Prescribes procedural guidelines for: (1) authorization of mineral activities and plans of operations requirements (including a reclamation plan that complies with State requirements, and evidence of financial assurance); (2) cooperative agreements for joint administration between the Secretary and the requesting State; and (3) enforcement and administrative and judicial review. Title IV: Royalty - Imposes a royalty of three percent of the net proceeds upon the production and sale of locatable minerals from any unpatented mining claim (and from certain patented claims). Waives the royalty for: (1) any mine with an annual gross yield of less than $500,000; and (2) minerals processed at a facility by the same person which extracted the minerals if a certain urban development action grant has been made. Prescribes royalty payment guidelines. Title V: Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation Program - Requires any State which wishes to receive certain royalty proceeds to establish an interest-bearing abandoned locatable mineral mine reclamation fund. (Sec. 501) Establishes the Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation Fund to consist of certain allocated royalty receipts in a State where a State Fund has not been established. (Sec. 503) Identifies: (1) Federal lands and water eligible for reclamation under this Act; and (2) reclamation uses and objectives for moneys in a State Fund. (Sec. 505) Requires each State with a State Fund to furnish an annual accounting report to the Congress. Title VI: Administrative Provisions - Declares that this Act supersedes the general mining laws only to the extent that they conflict with the requirements of this Act. Sets forth the effect of this Act upon other Federal and State laws.

Bill· HRH.R. 1146 (104th)referred

State Flexibility, Individual Empowerment, and Dependency Reduction Act

United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1995

State Flexibility, Individual Empowerment, and Dependency Reduction Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to each State for each of FY 1996 through 2015 to provide aid to low-income individuals in need of assistance in order to gain economic independence. Provides that such grant amount shall represent a specified percentage (beginning with 100 percent in FY 1996 and reduced by five percent per fiscal year thereafter) of the total amount of Federal funds received by such State under various Federal programs eliminated by amendments and repeals made under this Act. Precludes any State application or performance report requirements in order to receive such assistance. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress if it is determined that a State has materially failed to comply with the terms of a grant or has expended funds in a manner inconsistent with Federal law. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 3) Repeals Federal law and specified Acts to eliminate public welfare programs in the areas of: (1) cash aid (including Aid to Families with Dependent Children and the Supplemental Security Income program); (2) medical aid; (3) food aid (including the food stamp and school lunch programs); (4) housing aid (including the rental assistance and public housing program); (5) energy aid; (6) jobs, training, and vocational education aid; (7) social services; and (8) aid to low-income communities. (Sec. 4) Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (the Act) to continue eligibility under the Medicaid program for individuals who were eligible for such assistance on the day before the enactment of this Act. Repeals a provision of the Act providing a six-month extension of Medicaid benefits for individuals no longer eligible for assistance under a State-approved plan. (Sec. 5) Transfers within the Act provisions concerning: (1) penalties for substantial noncompliance with a State plan for child and spousal support; and (2) certain administrative responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary for Family Support.

Bill· HRH.R. 1122 (104th)open

Alaska Power Administration Sale Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1995

Title I - Alaska Power Administration Sale Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to sell: (1) the Snettisham Hydroelectric Project to the State of Alaska Power Authority; and (2) the Eklutna Hydroelectric Project to the Municipality of Anchorage doing business as Municipal Light and Power, the Chugach Electric Association, Inc., and the Matanuska Electric Association, Inc. (Eklutna Purchasers). Directs the Secretary to deposit sale proceeds into the miscellaneous receipts of the Treasury. Declares that both Projects shall continue to be exempt from Federal Power Act requirements (subject to a certain Memorandum of Agreement). Grants jurisdiction to the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska to review and enforce such Memorandum, including the remedy of specific performance. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) issue rights-of-way with respect to certain Eklutna lands to the Alaska Power Administration for subsequent reassignment to the Eklutna Purchasers; and (2) convey to the State of Alaska (with respect to certain Snettisham lands) improved lands under certain statutory selection entitlements.

Bill· SS. 481 (104th)referred

Fish and Wildlife Expenditure Recovery Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1995

Fish and Wildlife Expenditure Recovery Act of 1995 - Prohibits the amount of fish and wildlife costs (costs) that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) may incur during a fiscal year from exceeding 20 percent of the gross annual power revenues, exclusive of gross residential exchange revenues, that the BPA Administrator accrues in that fiscal year. Makes nonreimbursable from BPA power revenues any costs incurred in a fiscal year in excess of such amount. Prohibits such costs from being allocated to or otherwise recovered through BPA power transmission rates.

Bill· SS. 473 (104th)open

Nuclear Energy Policy Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1995

Nuclear Energy Policy Act of 1995 - Prohibits the building of any civilian nuclear power reactor unless there exists: (1) a facility licensed by the United States for the permanent emplacement of of high-level radioactive radioactive waste (including spent nuclear fuel) from the reactor; and (2) an adequate volume of capacity within the emplacement facility to accept all high-level radioactive waste generated by the reactor during its reasonably foreseeable operational lifetime. Limits the aggregate volume of high-level radioactive waste generated by certain civilian power reactors to the total volume of capacity available in facilities for the permanent emplacement facilities for high-level radioactive waste (including spent nuclear fuel). Permits private citizen's suits to enforce this Act.

Law· HRH.R. 1051 (104th)enacted

To provide for the extension of certain hydroelectric projects located in the State of West Virginia.

United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1995

Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, upon request of a certain licensee, to extend the time required to commence construction of specified hydroelectric projects located in West Virginia until October 3, 1995. Instructs the Commission to reinstate any expired license for such projects and extend the time required for commencement of construction until October 3, 1999.

Bill· SS. 468 (104th)open

A bill to extend the deadline under the Federal Power Act applicable to the construction of a hydroelectric project in Ohio, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995

Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, upon the request of a specified licensee, to extend for a maximum of three consecutive two-year periods the time required for commencement of construction of a certain hydroelectric project in the State of Ohio.

Bill· HRH.R. 1032 (104th)open

Electric Consumers and Environmental Protection Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995

Electric Consumers and Environmental Protection Act of 1995 - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to provide that the obligation of the Secretary of Energy to accept high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel as of January 31, 1998, is absolute and is not dependent on the commencement of operation of a repository or a monitored retrievable storage facility. Repeals certain site selection limitations and licensing conditions.

Bill· HRH.R. 1022 (104th)referred

Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Risk Assessment and Communication Title II: Analysis of Risk Reduction Benefits and Costs Title III: Peer Review Title IV: Judicial Review Title V: Plan Title VI: Priorities Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Act of 1995 - Declares that this Act shall not apply to: (1) an emergency situation, in which case the agency head shall comply with this Act within as reasonable a time as is practical; (2) activities necessary to maintain military readiness; (3) any individual food, drug, or other product label, or any risk characterization appearing on any such label, if the individual product label is required by law to be approved by a Federal department or agency prior to use; and (4) Federal agency approval of State programs or plans. Title I: Risk Assessment and Communication - Risk Assessment and Communication Act of 1995 - Applies this title generally to all significant risk assessment and risk characterization documents, except: (1) screening analyses; (2) health, safety, or environmental inspections; or (3) the sale or lease of Federal resources or regulatory activities that directly result in collection of Federal receipts. (Sec. 104) Requires each covered Federal agency head to apply specified principles in order to assure that significant risk assessment documents and all of their components distinguish scientific findings from other considerations and are, to the extent feasible, scientifically objective, unbiased, and inclusive of all relevant data and rely, to the extent available and practicable, on scientific findings. (Sec. 105) Specifies the requirements that each significant risk characterization document is required to meet. (Sec. 106) Prohibits any covered Federal agency from automatically incorporating or adopting any recommendation or classification made by a non-United States-based entity concerning the health effects value of a substance without an opportunity for notice and comment. Requires compliance with this title by any risk assessment document or risk characterization document adopted by a covered Federal agency on the basis of such a recommendation or classification. (Sec. 107) Directs the President to: (1) issue guidelines for Federal agencies consistent with specified risk assessment and characterization principles; and (2) provide a format for summarizing risk assessment results. Requires such guidelines to include guidance on such subjects such as the evaluation of benign tumors and the use of different types of dose-response models. Requires the President to periodically review and revise such guidelines as appropriate. (Sec. 108) Directs each covered Federal agency head to do the following for periodic reports to the Congress: (1) regularly and systematically evaluate risk assessment research and training needs of the agency; and (2) develop a strategy and schedule for carrying out research and training to meet certain such needs. (Sec. 109) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to provide for a study using comparative risk analysis to rank health, safety, and environmental risks and to provide a common basis for evaluating strategies for reducing or preventing those risks. Requires the Director to submit to the Congress a report of the National Research Council with recommendations regarding the use of comparative risk analysis and ways to improve the use of comparative risk analysis for decision-making in appropriate Federal agencies. (Sec. 110) Limits covered Federal agencies to: (1) the Environmental Protection Agency; (2) the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; (3) the Food and Drug Administration; (4) the Consumer Product Safety Commission; (5) the Department of Transportation; (6) the Department of Energy; (7) the Department of Agriculture; (8) the Department of the Interior; (9) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; (10) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (11) the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; (12) the Mine Safety and Health Administration; and (13) other Federal agencies determined by the President, acting through the OMB Director. Title II: Analysis of Risk Reduction Benefits and Costs - Requires the President to require each Federal agency to prepare specified analyses for each new major rule within a program designed to protect human health, safety, or the environment. (Sec. 202) Requires that certain certifications be made in order for a final rule subject to this title to be promulgated. (Sec. 203) Directs OMB to issue guidance consistent with this title to: (1) assist the agencies, the public, and the regulated community in the implementation of this title, including any new requirements or procedures needed to supplement prior agency practice; and (2) govern the development and preparation of analyses of risk reduction benefits and costs. Title III: Peer Review - Requires each Federal agency head to develop a systematic program for independent and external peer review for regulatory programs designed to protect human health, safety, or the environment in connection with any risk assessment or cost analysis forming the basis of any rule likely to result in an annual increase in costs of $100 million or more. Exempts from such requirement any: (1) rule or other action taken by an agency to authorize or approve any individual substance or product; and (2) data or method which has been previously subjected to peer review or any component of any analysis or assessment previously subjected to peer review. Authorizes the OMB Director to order that peer review be provided for any major risk assessment or cost assessment likely to have a significant impact on public policy decisions. Directs the President to appoint National Peer Review Panels to review annually for a report to the Congress the risk and cost assessment practices of each Federal agency for programs designed to protect human health, safety, or the environment. Title IV: Judicial Review - Provides for judicial review under this Act. Title V: Plan - Requires each covered Federal agency to publish a plan to review and, where appropriate, revise significant risk assessment or characterization documents if the agency head determines that application of the appropriate specified principles for risk assessment and risk characterization and communication would be likely to alter significantly the results of the prior risk assessment or characterization. Provides for public participation and consultation in plan development. Title VI: Priorities - Directs the President, in order to assist in the public policy and regulation of risks to public health, to identify specified opportunities to reflect priorities within existing Federal regulatory programs designed to protect human health in a cost-effective and cost-reasonable manner. (Sec. 601) Requires the President to issue biennial reports to the Congress recommending priorities for modifications to, elimination of, or strategies for existing Federal regulatory programs designed to protect public health. Requires an agency to consider the priorities set forth in the report when preparing a budget or strategic plan for any such regulatory program.

Bill· HRH.R. 1020 (104th)open

Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1995

Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to revise and rename it the Integrated Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Act of 1995. (Sec. 1) Instructs the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to accept spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste by not later than January 31, 1998. Entitles contract holders to specified remedies for the Secretary's failure to meet service contract obligations, or to accept spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste as mandated under this Act. States that the Nuclear Waste Fund shall fund the execution of service contract and implementation of the Secretary's responsibilities, including the acceptance of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at contract holder sites and transporting such fuel or waste to a private storage facility. Establishes an integrated spent nuclear fuel management system for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, including its storage, transportation, and disposal. Prescribes procedural guidelines for the use of: (1) railroads; (2) transportation planning and requirements; (3) multi-purpose canister systems; (4) interim storage facilities; (5) permanent disposal; (6) land withdrawal; and (7) private storage facilities. Prescribes consultation and assistance guidelines between the Secretary and the State of Nevada. Prescribes budget priorities for purposes of annual requests for appropriations from the Waste Fund. Prescribes a fee schedule for electricity and nuclear fuel used to generate electricity in a civilian nuclear power reactor. Sets forth advance contract prerequisites for utilization or production facility license renewals. Reestablishes the Nuclear Waste Fund and the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish by rule the appropriate portion of the costs of managing high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel allocable to the interim storage or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel from atomic energy defense activities; and (2) advise the Congress annually of the amount of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel from atomic energy defense activities requiring management in the integrated spent nuclear fuel management system. Subjects the Secretary to all Federal, State, and local environmental or land use laws and regulations, with specified exceptions. Grants the U.S. courts of appeals original and exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions under this Act. Provides that upon a contract holder's request, the Secretary shall take title to or possession of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste without removing it from the contract holder's designated storage site if the Secretary cannot accept such items within the contract's acceptance schedule. Requires the NRC to promulgate regulatory guidelines for: (1) financial assurances for low-level radioactive waste site closures; and (2) training and qualification of civilian nuclear powerplant personnel. Reestablishes the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to take action as necessary to improve the management of the civilian radioactive waste management program to ensure that it is operated to the maximum extent like a private business. States that the program is not subject to civil service regulations. Abolishes the Interim Storage Fund, the Monitored Retrievable Storage Commission, the Office of Subseabed Disposal Research, and the Office of Nuclear Waste Negotiator. Repeals all references to the Yucca Mountain site. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress whether particular milestones have been reached with respect to: (1) multi-purpose canister systems; (2) land withdrawals; (3) interim storage facilities; and (4) acceptance of spent nuclear fuel from contract holders. Directs the Secretary to: (1) create a value engineering function within the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management; and (2) employ on an on-going basis, integrated performance modeling regarding site characterization. (Sec. 2) Sets forth transition provisions for the continuation of: (1) contracts; (2) Nuclear Waste Fund; (3) Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management; and (4) Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. (Sec. 3) Mandates that amounts in the Nuclear Waste Fund be appropriated exclusively for certain authorized purposes cited in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. Precludes such appropriations from being taken into account for any budget enforcement procedures under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Amends such Act to provide that appropriations to the Nuclear Waste Fund are not subject to its discretionary spending limits or to a certain allocation of the Energy and Waster Development Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. Reduces specified discretionary spending limits under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

Bill· SS. 461 (104th)open