Records whose title is actually about this topic. Use a country filter if the list is still too broad.
Records
Bill· HRH.R. 204 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Foreign Aid Reporting Reform Act of 1995 - Directs the President, in conjunction with the submission of annual requests for enactment of authorizations and appropriations for foreign assistance programs, to submit to the Congress a single report containing: (1) an integrated justification for all foreign assistance programs proposed for the coming fiscal year; and (2) an assessment of when the objectives of those programs will be achieved so that the assistance can be terminated. Directs congressional committees reporting legislation authorizing the enactment of or providing new budget authority for foreign assistance programs to include in reports accompanying such legislation an explanation for any change proposed in: (1) the total amount of new budget authority authorized or provided for any program as compared to the amount proposed by the President; or (2) the amount of assistance for any specific recipient or for any centrally funded program as compared to the amount proposed by the President.
Bill· HRH.R. 90 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Tax Rebate to Fight Crime Act - Appropriates two percent of net Federal individual income tax revenues to the Trust Fund to Fight Crime established in each State. Allows expenditures from such trust funds for: (1) salaries and expenses of police officers; (2) building and operating prisons; and (3) salaries and expenses of judges of courts handling criminal cases, prosecutors, and public defenders. Requires rebates from such trust funds to taxpayers if amounts are not spent as required. Reduces discretionary spending limits set forth in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to reflect amounts appropriated by this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 108 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Congressional Pay For Performance Act - Provides that if the Congress has not passed all general appropriation bills before the beginning of a fiscal year, then the permanent appropriation for the compensation of Members of Congress shall not be effective for such fiscal year. Makes it out of order for the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider the legislative branch appropriation bill for any fiscal year until other general appropriation bills for such fiscal year have been presented to the President.
Bill· HRH.R. 119 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Lobbying Disclosure Title II: Congressional Gift Rules Title I: Lobbying Disclosure - Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 - Requires registration with the Office of Lobbying Registration and Public Disclosure (Office) established by this Act by any individual lobbyist (or the individual's employer, if it employs one or more lobbyists) within 30 days after the individual first makes, or is employed or retained to make, a lobbying contact with either the President, the Vice President, a Member of Congress, or any other specified Federal officer or employee. Defines a lobbyist as any individual employed or retained by a client for financial or other compensation for services that include one or more lobbying contacts (but not an individual whose lobbying activities constitute less than ten percent of the time engaged in the services provided to that client). Provides for: (1) special registration filing rules in cases involving multiple clients and contacts; and (2) registration termination in cases where a registrant is no longer employed or retained by a client to conduct lobbying activities, and does not anticipate any additional lobbying activities for such client. (Sec. 104) Specifies the contents of such registration and reports. (Sec. 105) Requires registrants to file semiannual lobbying activity reports with the Office. Provides for: (1) exemptions from such registration and reporting requirements in cases involving lobbying income of $2,500 or less (for a particular client) or total expenses of $5,000 or less (for all lobbying activities) (adjusted periodically for inflation) for the semiannual period. Requires Office regulations to permit tax-exempt charitable organizations required to report lobbying expenses by the Internal Revenue Code to report, under this Act, only good faith estimates of such expenses in order to meet specified criteria for exemption from the reporting requirements of this Act. (Sec. 106) Provides for special rules generally prohibiting registrants under this Act and the Foreign Agents Registration Act from providing gifts (including meals, lodging, transportation, entertainment, reimbursements, loans, or forbearance) to any covered legislative branch official, or to the spouse, dependent, friend, or relative of such an official if it is given with the knowledge and acquiescence of such official and is given because of his or her position. Permits certain such items under prescribed circumstances, such as lawful political contributions and informational materials sent to the official's office, and gifts given for a nonbusiness purpose and motivated by family relationship or close personal friendship. (Sec. 107) Establishes the Office as an executive agency, and specifies its duties, including making public the semiannual lobbyist activity reports. (Sec. 108) Establishes procedures for: (1) determining and resolving alleged violations of this Act; and (2) judicial review of Office decisions. (Sec. 113) Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to: (1) eliminate references to political propaganda and, in certain cases, replace them with references to informational materials; and (2) modify registration exemption provisions. (Sec. 114) Revises (Byrd Amendment) requirements for a declaration by persons requesting or receiving a Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement with respect to any payments made in connection with it which would be prohibited if made with appropriated funds. Requires, in lieu of information currently required, the: (1) name of any registrant under this Act who has made lobbying contacts on behalf of the person with respect to that Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement; and (2) certification that the declarant has not made, and will not make, any prohibited payment. (Sec. 115) Repeals: (1) the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act; and (2) provisions on lobbyist activities of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act and the Housing Act of 1949. (Sec. 118) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 119) Sets forth special rules for the identification of: (1) foreign and other clients on whose behalf lobbying contacts are made with a covered legislative or executive branch official; and (2) such covered officials. (Sec. 121) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to the Congress on differences in meaning between this Act and the Internal Revenue Code of "lobbying activities," "lobbying expenditures," "influencing legislation," and related terms. Requires the President to appoint an interim Director of the Office within 30 days after enactment of this Act. Title II: Congressional Gift Rules - Makes conforming amendments to the Standing Rules of the Senate and the Rules of the House of Representatives, as well as the Ethics in Government Act and the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, with regard to the restrictions of this Act on gifts by lobbyists and foreign agents to covered subjects.
Bill· HRH.R. 23 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Comprehensive Preventive Health and Promotion Act of 1995 - Mandates establishment and annual revision of a schedule of recommended preventive health care services (preventive services). Requires each carrier and employer health benefit plan to include coverage for the preventive services. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on the failure of a carrier or an employer plan to comply. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to include the preventive services in the definition of "medical and other health services." Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to mandate Medicaid coverage of the preventive services and, in some circumstances, for: (1) home and community care for functionally disabled elderly individuals; and (2) community supported living arrangements services. Amends Federal law relating to health care services for veterans to include the preventive services under this Act in the definition of "medical services." Regulates provision of the preventive services on an outpatient basis. Amends Federal law relating to health insurance for Federal employees to add the preventive services to the list of benefits which may be provided under service or indemnity benefit plans. Amends Federal law relating to medical care for dependents of members of the uniformed services to add coverage of the preventive services. Mandates: (1) grants to counties for a project to demonstrate the effectiveness of providing preventive services to improve and reduce health costs; (2) dissemination of information on the benefits of practicing preventive care; (3) grants to employers to establish and conduct on-site workshops on health care promotion for employees; and (4) a program of on-site workshops on health care promotion for Federal employees.
Bill· HRH.R. 199 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Neutral Cost Recovery Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the depreciation deduction to be computed based on a neutral recovery basis for certain property placed in service after December 31, 1994. Increases the dollar limitation on the deduction to expense depreciable business assets.
Bill· HRH.R. 6 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
American Dream Restoration Act - 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 based on: (1) taxpayer adjusted gross incomes over $200,000; and (2) social security tax payments. Provides an inflation adjustment for such credit and the taxpayer adjusted gross income amount. Allows a tax credit for qualified married couples equal to a dollar amount determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to reduce revenues by $2 billion. Describes such couples as those who would be required to pay more in income taxes because they are married than they would be required to pay if they were not married. Establishes individual retirement plans 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 on 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.
Bill· HRH.R. 226 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1994 - Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish a proposed list of at least 15 contaminants that may occur in public water systems and that are not currently subject to regulation. Provides for proposed lists of at least 12 additional contaminants every four years. (Current law requires EPA to regulate 25 contaminants every three years.) Authorizes a waiver of the requirement to select an additional 12 contaminants after 2010 if the Administrator determines that the number of unregulated contaminants meeting criteria is fewer than 12. (Sec. 3) Directs the Administrator, in selecting unregulated contaminants, to select those that present the greatest public health concern, taking into consideration effects upon subgroups of the population that are at greater health risk. Bases the determination to regulate a contaminant on findings that: (1) the contaminant is known to occur in public water systems; (2) the contaminant occurs in concentrations which may have adverse health effects; and (3) regulation of the contaminant presents an opportunity to reduce health risks. Requires the Administrator to promulgate maximum contaminant level goals (MCLGs) and national primary drinking water regulations for contaminants to be regulated. Authorizes the Administrator to publish health advisories or take other actions for contaminants not subject to regulations. Directs the Administrator, as part of a study of health effects of contaminants for regulatory purposes, to examine methods for identifying subpopulations that may be impacted by such contaminants. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Administrator to publish an MCLG and a national primary drinking water regulation for cryptosporidium for public water systems serving 10,000 persons or more. Authorizes States with primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems (primacy) to establish alternatives to filtration requirements for systems having uninhabited, undeveloped watersheds in consolidated ownership and access to, and activities in, such watersheds if the public health will be protected by such alternatives. Terminates such authority three years after this Act's enactment. Removes a provision requiring national primary drinking water regulations to take effect 18 months after promulgation. Directs States with primacy to adopt corresponding State regulations. Requires compliance within 36 months of promulgation unless additional time is necessary for capital improvements. (Sec. 4) Directs the Administrator, for any national primary drinking water regulation proposed and promulgated after this Act's enactment, to consider, in the case of nonthreshold contaminants, the likely incremental compliance costs and the incremental public health risk reduction benefits afforded by alternative levels. Permits such cost and benefit consideration for threshold contaminants. Makes such consideration inapplicable to the first promulgation or initial revision after such enactment date with respect to regulations for: (1) contaminants covered by proposed regulations for radionuclides; (2) sulfate; and (3) contaminants covered by specified proposed negotiated rules on disinfectants and disinfection by-products and enhanced surface water treatment (bars such consideration for promulgation of second stage regulations of such contaminants as well). Applies cost and benefit consideration to contaminants regulated prior to this Act's enactment date or subsequent revisions of regulations for those contaminants initially exempted by this section only if changes in technology, treatment techniques, or other means permit greater protection of health. Authorizes the Administrator, if greater protection is not achievable, to initiate a new rulemaking or retain existing regulations. Requires the Administrator to promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation for radon. Provides for the review of national primary drinking water regulations at least once every five (currently, three) years. (Sec. 5) Requires the Administrator, concurrently with the promulgation of a national primary drinking water regulation establishing: (1) a maximum contaminant level (MCL), to promulgate a listing of the best technology or other means available for achieving compliance for large water systems and for systems serving between 3,300 and 10,000 persons and 3,300 or fewer, respectively; and (2) a treatment technique for a contaminant, to promulgate a listing of such technology for achieving a level of protection of public health equivalent to that provided by treatment for large systems and systems in such size ranges. (Sec. 6) Expands the list of requirements States must meet to maintain primacy to require States to take measures to protect the distribution system from contamination due to leakage from sewage lines. Directs the Administrator to promulgate a regulation to govern the recycling of filter backwash water within the treatment process of a public water system. (Sec. 7) Adds to the list of requirements a State must meet to maintain primacy that a State implements requirements for the certification of laboratories conducting tests and for operators of community and nontransient noncommunity public water systems. Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations specifying minimum standards for certification programs. (Sec. 10) Grants variances from best technology requirements to allow systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer to use best available affordable technology (BAAT) under certain conditions. Limits such variances to five years but provides for renewals under certain conditions. Prohibits variances for microbiological contaminants. (Sec. 11) Sets the maximum exemption period for public water systems serving fewer than 3,300 persons at four years if the State has primacy and determines that: (1) the system cannot meet the MCL or install BAAT due to compelling economic or other circumstances; (2) the system could not comply with the MCL through the use of alternate water supplies; (3) the granting of the exemption will provide a drinking water supply that protects public health; and (4) the State has examined the capability of the system to comply and determined if management or restructuring changes can be made that will result in compliance or improve water quality. Provides for renewals under certain conditions. Prohibits exemptions for microbiological contaminants. (Sec. 12) Directs the Administrator to issue guidelines for State programs to bring systems into, and to maintain, compliance. Provides for State programs to assure viability of public water systems. Sets forth restrictions on funding to small systems that have a history of monitoring violations. Bars financial assistance to any system established after this Act's enactment date unless the State has an effective operating permit program or means to ensure that the system has the management and technical capacity and financial capability to maintain compliance. Requires States to establish programs for assessing the long-term technical, managerial, and financial capability of community and nontransient noncommunity systems serving fewer than 10,000 persons that are in violation of requirements or in jeopardy of noncompliance. Restricts State revolving fund (SRF) assistance to States that fail to implement viability assessments or programs. (Sec. 13) Directs the Administrator to publish guidance for States with primacy for public water systems to carry out source water assessment programs. Makes systems eligible for monitoring relief upon completion of assessments in delineated areas. Requires the Administrator to conduct a demonstration project to demonstrate the most effective and protective means of assessing and protecting source waters serving large metropolitan areas and located on Federal lands. Directs States to submit source water petition programs to the Administrator. Authorizes such petitions to request States to assist in, or redirect resources to, addressing the origins of contaminants that are not adequately addressed by the wellhead protection or other programs. (Sec. 14) Authorizes States with primacy to modify the monitoring requirements for regulated chemical pesticide contaminants, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxin, and certain unregulated Phase II and V contaminants for public water systems serving fewer than 3,300 persons during an interim relief period if: (1) monitoring for a contaminant fails to detect its presence in groundwater or surface water supplying the systems; and (2) the State determines that the contaminant is unlikely to be detected by further monitoring. Terminates interim monitoring relief when permanent monitoring relief is approved or 36 months after this Act's enactment, whichever comes first. Authorizes States with primacy that have approved wellhead protection and source assessment programs to adopt tailored alternative monitoring requirements for systems where such monitoring would comply with the Administrator's guidelines. Requires such programs to be adequate to assure compliance with, and enforcement of, national primary drinking water regulations. Makes alternative monitoring inapplicable to regulated microbiological contaminants, disinfectants and disinfection by-products, or corrosion by-products. Directs the Administrator to issue guidelines for States to follow in proposing alternative requirements to the standardized monitoring framework for chemical contaminants. Requires alternative monitoring programs to apply on a contaminant-by-contaminant basis and provides that systems must show that a contaminant is not present in the water supply or, if present, it is below the MCL. (Sec. 15) Makes Federal agencies owning or operating facilities in wellhead protection areas, engaged in activities that may result in the contamination of water supplies, or owning or operating any public water system subject to Federal, State, interstate, and local requirements to the same extent such requirements apply to others. Waives immunity otherwise applicable to the United States with respect to substantive or procedural requirements. Absolves Federal employees of liability for civil penalties in connection with acts or omissions related to such requirements, but subjects them to criminal sanctions. Exempts Federal agencies from criminal sanctions. Authorizes the President to exempt any Federal agency in the executive branch from compliance with a requirement. Requires all funds collected by a State from penalties from the Federal Government to be used only for projects to improve or protect the environment or to defray the costs of environmental protection or enforcement unless a State law requires the funds to be used differently. (Sec. 16) Increases the maximum penalty for failures to comply with orders issued in response to emergency situations where contaminants pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health. (Sec. 17) Imposes penalties on system owners or operators who fail to report violations of MCLs or treatment techniques. (Sec. 18) Requires the Administrator to enter into agreements with States to make capitalization grants to be deposited in State drinking water treatment revolving funds. Permits such funds to be used only for providing financial assistance to public water systems for expenditures that will facilitate compliance with national primary drinking water regulations. Allocates 15 percent of amounts in such funds solely for loan assistance to systems which regularly serve fewer than 10,000 persons. Permits assistance to systems not owned by governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, or Indian tribes based on public health and financial needs and repayment ability. Sets forth requirements for agreements, including that no financial assistance will be provided to a public water system if expenses could be avoided or significantly reduced by consolidation of such system with another system. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants for public water system expenditures to Indian tribes and Alaskan Native villages which are ineligible for funding under this section. Requires the Administrator to make allotments for the District of Columbia and specified U.S. territories for public water systems. Authorizes the State of Virginia to demonstrate alternative approaches to intergovernmental coordination to assist in the financing of new drinking water facilities in specified rural communities in southwestern Virginia that are experiencing economic hardship. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Administrator to provide technical assistance to small systems to enable such systems to maintain compliance with national primary drinking water regulations. Authorizes appropriations. Extends the authorization of appropriations for grants for State public water system supervision programs. (Sec. 20) Requires the Administrator to review and revise the list of unregulated contaminants for which monitoring is required every five years. Limits such list to a maximum of 40 contaminants. (Sec. 21) Directs the Administrator to maintain a national drinking water occurrence data base, using monitoring data on the occurrence of both regulated and unregulated contaminants in public water systems. (Sec. 22) Provides that failure of a State to abide by a guideline shall not be a basis for the State's loss of primacy. Authorizes the Administrator to reduce grants otherwise available to a State under the SRF program if the State fails to abide by a guideline. (Sec. 23) Authorizes administrative penalties for specified violations. (Sec. 24) Directs the Administrator to issue guidelines to assist systems in assessing the conditions to return water from a system used for heat pumps and similar devices to the distribution system of the public water system. (Sec. 25) Requires the Administrator to publish guidelines for water conservation plans for systems serving fewer than 3,300 persons, between 3,300 and 10,000 persons, and more than 10,000 persons. Permits States with primacy to require public water systems to submit water conservation plans as a condition of receiving grants or loans. (Sec. 26) Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations containing a health effects based performance standard establishing minimal leaching levels of lead from new submersible pumps anticipated to be used in domestic water wells. Applies such standard to new pumps manufactured for, or first introduced into, interstate commerce after the effective date of the regulation. Sets a minimum standard that shall not allow lead concentration in drinking water to increase by more than 15 parts per billion when in prolonged contact with the pump. Waives such regulation requirement if pumps are anticipated to comply with voluntary standards that are at least as protective. Requires the Administrator to determine whether new submersible pumps which convey drinking water and contain brass alloys containing at least .2 percent lead are being manufactured for, or first introduced into, interstate commerce. Prohibits the Administrator from promulgating regulations under this section if such pumps are not being manufactured or introduced into interstate commerce. Directs the Administrator to determine if: (1) voluntary standards for new plumbing fittings manufactured for or introduced into interstate commerce which convey drinking water have been developed that are at least as protective of human health so as not to cause lead concentration in drinking water to increase by more than 15 parts per billion when in prolonged contact with the fitting; and (2) such fittings can be anticipated to comply with such standards within five years of enactment. Requires the Administrator to promulgate a health effects based performance standard establishing minimal leaching levels from such fittings if such voluntary standards have not been developed. Imposes penalties upon persons who manufacture such pumps or plumbing fittings or introduce them into interstate commerce in violation of such requirements. Requires the Federal Trade Commission to: (1) conduct an investigation into the veracity of claims that devices manufactured, sold, or distributed in commerce for use in single and multi-family residences will improve the quality of drinking water or eliminate or reduce the level of drinking water contaminants; and (2) take action to ensure that such claims are consistent with the Federal Trade Commission Act. (Sec. 27) Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, after the Administrator promulgates a national primary drinking water regulation for a contaminant, to issue a regulation for that contaminant in bottled water or make a finding that a regulation is not necessary to protect the public health because the contaminant is not present in bottled water. Requires the relevant MCL or treatment technique for the contaminant in bottled water to be as stringent or protective as that for the contaminant in drinking water systems. Makes the drinking water regulation the standard for bottled water if the Secretary fails to establish a regulation. (Sec. 28) Directs the Administrator to: (1) enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study of the human health effects of arsenic, subject to the availability of appropriations; and (2) promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation for arsenic. (Sec. 31) Authorizes appropriations to carry out the SDWA for eight fiscal years.
Bill· HRH.R. 228 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Community Participation and Human Health Title II: State Roles Title III: Voluntary Response Title IV: Liability and Allocation Title V: Remedy Selection and Cleanup Standards Title VI: Miscellaneous Title VII: Funding Title VIII: Environmental Insurance Resolution Fund Title IX: Taxes Subtitle A: Environmental Insurance Resolution Taxes and Trust Fund Subtitle B: 5-Year Extension of Hazardous Substance Superfund Subtitle C: Report by Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Reform Act of 1995 - Title I: Community Participation and Human Health - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA or Superfund) to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make technical assistance grants available to any group of individuals who may be affected by the release or threatened release of hazardous substances or pollutants at any facility on the State Registry or National Priorities List (NPL). (Sec. 101) Requires the President to provide for public participation in significant phases of response activities under CERCLA. Makes all nonprivileged information available to the public throughout all phases of the response action. Directs the President to ensure that the presentation of information on risk is unbiased and informative. (Sec. 102) Requires the President to provide the opportunity for the establishment of a representative public forum, known as a Community Working Group (CWG), to achieve direct, regular, and meaningful consultation with all interested parties throughout all stages of a response action whenever: (1) the President determines such a group will be helpful; or (2) 50 citizens, or at least 20 percent of the population of a locality in which the NPL facility is located, petition for a CWG to be established. Authorizes CWGs to offer recommendations on the anticipated future use of land at an affected facility prior to the selection of a remedy. Establishes a Citizen Information and Access Office within each State to provide information regarding State Registry and NPL sites, citizens' rights, facility records and health data, public meetings, removal and remedial actions, and outreach activities. Authorizes Indian tribes to petition the Administrator to form a body equivalent to such Office. Directs the Administrator to submit a biennial Environmental Justice Study to the Congress. (Sec. 103) Requires the President, in setting priorities for taking remedial action, to: (1) group facilities together, even if they are not adjacent, and score them as a single facility where more than one facility on the State Registry results in hazardous substances exposures to the same population; (2) take into account the use of land or waterways for subsistence, religious, or cultural practices where such use results in additional exposures, in placing facilities on the NPL; (3) conduct interviews with persons affected by the facility and solicit their input in the hazard ranking system evaluation; and (4) place highest priority on facilities with releases of hazardous substances which result in actual ongoing human exposures at levels resulting in demonstrated adverse health effects as identified in specified health assessments. Authorizes the President to take into account any history of exposure to hazardous substances in the community regardless of the source of exposure, in placing facilities on the NPL. Requires the Administrator to: (1) evaluate major urban areas and other areas where environmental justice concerns may warrant special attention; and (2) identify five facilities in each EPA region that are, or should be, on the State Registry and that are likely to warrant inclusion on the NPL. Accords such facilities a priority in evaluation for NPL listing and scoring. (Sec. 109) Requires the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Administrator to develop and distribute educational materials on human health effects of hazardous substances to the public. (Sec. 110) Authorizes the ATSDR Administrator to provide grant or contract assistance to individuals who may be affected by releases or threatened releases when: (1) a public health assessment is conducted at a facility on the NPL; or (2) a release is being evaluated for inclusion on the NPL. Authorizes the ATSDR Administrator, pursuant to such grants or contracts, to provide for health services to communities affected by the release of hazardous substances. (Sec. 113) Permits the EPA Administrator to carry out a demonstration program to assist in the recruitment and training of individuals from areas affected by NPL facilities for employment in remediation activities. Encourages parties conducting response actions under CERCLA to have their contractors train minorities and other disadvantaged persons from the affected community in remediation skills. Title II: State Roles - Authorizes States, pursuant to contracts or cooperative agreements, to apply to the Administrator to take or require: (1) preremedial actions at any non-federally owned or operated facility that is not listed on the NPL; or (2) response actions at non-federally owned or operated NPL facilities or removal actions at any facility proposed for listing on the NPL. Sets forth requirements for State enforcement and allocation of liability. (Sec. 202) Prohibits funding to States for response actions, except for emergency removal actions, unless the affected State provides assurances that it will pay 15 percent of the cost of the action or funding and will assure oversight of any operation and maintenance of response actions. (Sec. 206) Directs the Administrator to study the feasibility of authorizing States to use their own laws to carry out CERCLA in lieu of the Federal program under such Act. (Sec. 207) Authorizes States to apply to the Administrator to exercise the Administrator's authorities with respect to response actions at Federal facilities. Bases approval of transfer of authorities in part on a State's hazardous waste program authorization under the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Continues the existing limitations on transfers of authority from the Administrator to any other person under provisions regarding Federal facilities. Title III: Voluntary Response - Directs the Administrator to establish a program to provide assistance to States to establish and expand voluntary response programs. (Sec. 301) Provides that no portion of a facility subject to a response action plan under a qualified State program shall be proposed for listing on the NPL so long as substantial and continual response activities are being undertaken to complete the response action in a timely fashion. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations describing circumstances in which States with qualified programs and the authority to issue permits under Federal environmental statutes may waive permit requirements with respect to approved voluntary response plans under certain conditions. Provides that performance of a voluntary response action shall not constitute an admission of liability under any Federal, State, or local law or regulation or in any private action. Title IV: Liability and Allocation - Authorizes the Administrator to issue administrative subpoenas to require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and production of information regarding response actions. Revises confidentiality requirements with respect to such information and applies confidentiality requirements to contractors. (Sec. 403) Absolves of liability for response actions a person who does not impede a response action or natural resource restoration to the extent liability is based solely on: (1) arrangement, transportation, or acceptance provisions relating to disposal or treatment of hazardous substances and such activities only involved municipal solid waste or sewage sludge possessed by the person and the person is the owner, operator, or lessee of residential property or a small business or small nonprofit organization; (2) such provisions and such activities involved fewer than 55 gallons of liquid materials (or 100 pounds of solid materials) containing hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants or such amount as the Administrator may determine; (3) ownership or operation of a vessel or facility and the person is a bona fide prospective purchaser of the facility; (4) ownership and the person acquired the facility by inheritance after disposal of the hazardous substances took place, did not contribute to the release, and exercised due care with respect to such substances; (5) ownership by a Federal, State, or local entity of a road or other right-of-way (other than railroads) over which hazardous substances are transported or on the granting of a license or a permit to conduct business; or (6) actions of a Federal agency in response to a natural disaster. Makes persons who are solely liable under arrangement, transportation, or acceptance provisions regarding disposal or treatment of hazardous substances liable for no more than ten percent of total response costs if such activities only involved municipal solid waste or sewage sludge. Applies such limitation to the aggregate liability of all persons involved. Applies such limitation only if acts or omissions giving rise to liability occurred before the date 36 months after enactment of this Act or the person asserting the limitation participates in a qualified household hazardous waste collection program. Limits the liability of persons who do not impede the performance of a response action or natural resource restoration with respect to a release to the lesser of the fair market value of a vessel or facility or the actual proceeds of the sale of the vessel or facility subject to certain conditions. Provides that a person who owns or operates real property contiguous to property on which there has been a release of a hazardous substance and that may be contaminated shall not be considered an owner or operator, for liability purposes, if such persons: (1) exercised due care with respect to such substance; (2) took precautions against foreseeable acts or omissions that resulted in the release; and (3) did not cause or contribute to the release and provides access to persons authorized to conduct response actions. Authorizes the President to issue assurances of no enforcement action to such person and grant such person protection against cost recovery and contribution actions. Grants the United States a lien, subject to certain conditions, on any facility for which the prospective purchaser is not liable for unrecovered response costs. Provides that no lien shall arise with respect to property: (1) for which the property owner preceding the first bona fide prospective purchaser is not liable or has resolved liability; or (2) where an audit required by an environmental professional gives the purchaser no reason to know of the release of hazardous substances. (Sec. 404) Directs the Administrator to calculate the EPA response action oversight costs for which potentially responsible parties (PRPs) are liable on a national basis as a percentage of total response costs incurred by PRPs (the national oversight rate). Limits the rate to ten percent of total response costs incurred by all PRPs. Provides that when the President responds at facilities on the NPL, liability for pollutants and contaminants shall be identical to that for hazardous substances only if such pollutants and contaminants: (1) constitute an imminent and substantial danger to human health; and (2) are not associated with the production or extraction of any hydrocarbon. Prohibits liability based solely on a person's construction activities at a facility if a person can demonstrate that the activities were carried out in accordance with a contract with the owner or operator and the person is a small business construction contractor. (Sec. 405) Revises contribution provisions to require an action by a PRP against another PRP for recovery of costs to be commenced within the later of: (1) three years after completion of a removal action or within six years after initiation of physical on-site construction of the remedial action; or (2) three years after the date of judgment in any action for recovery or the date of any administrative order or judicial settlement for recovery of costs or damages. (Sec. 406) Provides that a person who has resolved liability to a State or an Indian tribe in an administrative or judicially approved settlement shall not be liable for claims by persons other than the United States regarding response costs or damages addressed in the settlement. Provides the same protection for persons who have resolved liability to the United States. Includes protection against all claims that may be asserted against the settling party for recovery of costs or damages paid by another person if addressed in the settlement, except claims based on contractual indemnification. Limits the right to seek contribution from other parties where: (1) the person asserting the right has waived such right in a settlement; (2) the person from whom the contribution is sought is not liable under CERCLA; or (3) the person from whom the contribution is sought has entered into a final settlement with the United States. Makes any person who commences a contribution action liable to the person against whom the action is brought for all reasonable costs of defending against the claim if the action: (1) is barred for the reasons stated above; (2) is brought against a person who is protected from suits by reason of settlement with the United States; or (3) is brought during a specified moratorium period. (Sec. 408) Provides that response action contractors shall not be liable solely as a result of testing or implementation of alternative or innovative treatment or containment technologies with respect to a response action if use of the technology has been approved by the authorized Federal or State regulatory agency. (Sec. 409) Requires consent decrees pursuant to settlements to require the parties to attempt expeditiously to resolve disagreements concerning implementation of the remedial action informally with Federal and State agencies. Requires such decrees to contain stipulated penalties for violations in an amount of up to $25,000 per day. Waives certain conditions to expand the scope of eligibility for de minimis settlements. Authorizes the Administrator, if a PRP will be paying amounts to the President as part of a settlement for carrying out a response action, to accept ownership of a financial instrument running irrevocably to the benefit of the United States to conduct such response actions. (Sec. 411) Requires (current law authorizes) the President to offer PRPs (currently, any person) who enter into settlement agreements that are in the public interest a final covenant not to sue concerning liability to the United States for response actions or costs, provided that: (1) the settling party agrees to perform a final remedial action for the release that is the subject of the settlement; (2) the remedial action does not provide any hazardous substances will remain at the facility at concentrations above the protective concentration levels established after completion of the final action; (3) the agreement has been reached prior to the commencement of litigation against the settling party; (4) the settling party waives all contribution rights against other PRPs at the facility; (5) the settling party pays a premium that compensates for the risks of remedy failure, unanticipated increases in the cost of any uncompleted action (unless the party is performing the action), and the U.S. litigation risk with respect to persons who have not resolved liability to the United States unless the settlement covers 100 percent of U.S. response costs; and (6) the settlement is otherwise acceptable to the United States. Authorizes the President, for settlements for which covenants are unavailable, to provide any person with a covenant not to sue concerning any liability to the United States if the covenant not to sue is in the public interest. (Sec. 412) Adds the following to the list of conditions that a PRP must meet in order to be eligible for an expedited settlement: (1) liability must be based solely on provisions regarding arrangement, transportation, or acceptance of municipal solid waste or sewage sludge for treatment or disposal; and (2) the PRP must be a natural person, small business, or a municipality that has demonstrated a limited ability to pay response costs. (Sec. 413) Directs the Administrator to initiate the allocation process under this Act for each nonfederally owned facility on the NPL that involves two or more PRPs: (1) for which the President selects a remedial action on or after February 3, 1994; and (2) for any such action selected before such date if requested by a PRP which has resolved liability to the United States with respect to the remedial action. Authorizes the Administrator to initiate such process for any facility involving two or more PRPs. Makes the allocation process inapplicable to a facility: (1) for which there has been a final settlement, decree, or order that determines all liability or allocated shares of PRPs; or (2) at which all of the PRPs are facility owners or operators. Authorizes the Administrator to initiate a single allocation process for more than one facility. Places a moratorium on the commencement or continuation of liability claims or recovery actions in connection with responses for which allocation is required until 90 days after the issuance of the allocator's report. Sets forth requirements concerning the allocation process, including those for the notification of PRPs and determinations regarding de minimis parties. Provides that de minimis parties that are potentially liable but entitled to expedited settlements shall not be subject to the allocation process unless they fail to settle with the President within 30 days of the offer. Requires the allocation parties to select an allocator from a list provided by the Administrator or from candidates proposed by the parties. Authorizes PRPs, prior to the issuance of the allocator's report, to submit a private allocation for the remedial action to the allocator. Requires the allocator to adopt such report if it meets specified conditions. Directs the allocator to conduct an allocation process culminating in the issuance of a report with a nonbinding, equitable allocation of the percentage shares of responsibility, including the orphan share, within 180 days of the issuance of the final list of parties or the date of the contract for allocation service, whichever is later. Bases allocation shares on the following factors: (1) the amount of hazardous substances contributed by each party; (2) the degree of toxicity and mobility of such substances; (3) the degree of involvement of each party in the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of such substances; (4) the degree of care exercised by the party; (5) the cooperation of the party in contributing to the response action; and (6) other factors determined by the Administrator. Sets forth components of orphan shares. Requires shares that the allocator cannot attribute to any party to be distributed among parties, including the orphan share. Authorizes the Administrator and the Attorney General to reject the allocator's report under certain conditions. Permits settling parties to seek a new allocation if there is convincing evidence that the allocator did not have certain information when the report was issued. Includes within settlements based on allocated shares: (1) a waiver of contribution rights against all PRPs for the response action as well as a waiver of rights to challenge any settlement the President enters into with any other PRP; (2) covenants not to sue; (3) a site-specific premium that compensates for the U.S. litigation risk with respect to PRPs who have not resolved liability (unless the settlement covers 100 percent of response costs); (4) contribution protection regarding matters addressed in the settlement; and (5) provisions through which the settling parties shall receive reimbursement from Superfund for response costs incurred in excess of the aggregate of their allocated share and any premia required by the settlement. Lists maximum amounts for premia authorized for litigation risk. Permits the Administrator to modify such amounts. Authorizes the United States to commence actions against liable persons who have not resolved liability following allocation. Sets forth conditions under which a party that performs work in excess of its allocated share may be reimbursed. Limits Superfund financing for reimbursements of costs incurred by parties that are attributable to orphan shares. Authorizes appropriations. Makes Federal agencies named as PRPs subject to the allocation process to the same extent as any other party. Declares that the procedures set forth in this Act shall not be construed to modify the principles of retroactive, strict, joint, and several liability. Provides that persons who are potentially liable solely as response action contractors shall not be named as allocation parties under this section. (Sec. 414) Absolves persons (other than owners or operators) who arranged for the recycling of recyclable material from liability for environmental response actions. Deems transactions involving scrap paper, plastic, glass, textiles, or rubber (other than whole tires) to be arranging for recycling if the person who arranged the transaction demonstrates that the following criteria were met: (1) the recyclable material met a commercial specification grade and a market existed for the material; (2) a substantial portion of the material was made available for use as a feedstock for the manufacture of a new saleable product; (3) the material (or product made from the material) could have been a replacement for a virgin raw material; and (4) with respect to transactions occurring 90 days after this Act's enactment, the person exercised reasonable care to determine that the facility where the material would be managed by another was in compliance with Federal, State, or local environmental laws or regulations. Deems transactions involving scrap metal to be arranging for recycling if the person who arranged the transaction demonstrates that: (1) the criteria for scrap materials were met; (2) he or she complied with applicable standards regarding activities associated with the recycling of scrap metals; and (3) the scrap metal was not melted prior to the transaction. Deems transactions involving spent lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, or other batteries to be arranging for recycling if the person involved demonstrates that: (1) the criteria for scrap materials were met; and (2) he or she complied with applicable Federal environmental standards regarding such batteries. Makes the exemptions from liability under this Act inapplicable if the person: (1) had an objectively reasonable basis to believe at the time of the recycling transaction that the recyclable material would not be recycled or would be burned as fuel or for energy recovery or incineration or that the consuming facility was not in compliance with Federal, State, or local environmental laws or regulations; (2) added hazardous substances to the material for purposes other than processing for recycling; or (3) failed to exercise reasonable care with respect to the management of the material. Makes such exemptions inapplicable if the recyclable material contained polychlorinated biphenyls in excess of 50 parts per million or any new Federal standard. Title V: Remedy Selection and Cleanup Standards - Revises provisions regarding cleanup standards to direct the Administrator to promulgate national goals to be applied at all facilities subject to remedial action under this Act. Requires such goals to be expressed as a single numerical level for chemical carcinogens and noncarcinogens. (Sec. 501) Directs the Administrator to promulgate a national risk protocol for conducting risk assessments under CERCLA. Requires the risk protocol to be used for risk assessment underlying determinations of the need for remedial action, the establishment of protective concentration levels of chemicals, and the evaluation of remedial alternatives. Requires remedial actions to: (1) comply with substantive requirements of Federal, or more stringent State, environmental or facility siting laws; (2) attain any promulgated concentration levels applicable to determining the level of cleanup for such actions; and (3) comply with any other standard under State environmental or facility siting laws that the State demonstrates is consistently applied to remedial actions. States that a goal of this Act is to restore any contaminated groundwater or surface water that may be used for drinking water to: (1) the level of any maximum contaminant level or level goal for the hazardous substance or contaminant that has been established under the Safe Drinking Water Act; and (2) a protective concentration level that attains such goal for any other hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Requires the achievement of such goal unless the President finds that such goal is technically impracticable from an engineering perspective or, under certain conditions, unreasonably costly. Requires remedial actions for contaminated groundwater (other than that used for drinking water) to attain levels appropriate to the current or anticipated use of such water. Authorizes the President to select a remedial action that does not comply with Federal and State standards subject to certain conditions. (Sec. 502) Revises general rules for remedial actions. Directs the President, in selecting a remedy, to take into account the reasonably anticipated future uses of land at a facility. Provides certain procedures for the remediation of hot spots. Requires the President to establish cost-effective generic remedies for categories of facilities. Sets forth factors to be taken into consideration with respect to selection of response actions for groundwater. (Sec. 504) Removes a condition on the President's authority to acquire property needed to conduct a response action that requires the State in which the property is located to agree to accept transfer of the property when the action is completed. (Sec. 505) Alters the criteria for the continuance of obligations for removal actions to provide that actions shall not continue after $4 million (currently, $2 million) has been obligated or two years (currently, 12 months) have elapsed from the date of initial response to a release or threatened release of hazardous substances. Requires Federal agencies, before the commencement of any non-emergency removal action, to notify the EPA and the State of the planned action and obtain, in the case of facilities listed or proposed for listing on the NPL, concurrence in the planned action from the EPA or the State. (Sec. 506) Authorizes the President, in order to respond to a release of a hazardous substance, to acquire a hazardous substance easement which limits or controls the use of land or other natural resources. Permits easements and notices of property use restrictions to be used whenever institutional controls have been selected as a component of a removal or remedial action. Makes easements enforceable in perpetuity (unless terminated pursuant to this Act) against owners of affected property or persons who acquire interest in, or rights to use, the property. Title VI: Miscellaneous - Makes a Federal agency subject to certain actions required for Federal facilities under CERCLA, with the exception of certain reporting requirements, if the agency owned or operated a facility over which it exercised no regulatory or other control over activities that resulted in a release of a hazardous substance unless: (1) no Federal agency was the primary or sole source or cause of such release; (2) the activities resulting in the release were pursuant to statutory authority and occurred prior to 1976; and (3) the persons primarily responsible for the release are financially viable and capable of performing or financing the response action. (Sec. 605) Authorizes the use of the Superfund to pay up to 50 percent of response costs incurred by a potentially liable party in taking approved actions to achieve response after employing an alternative or innovative technology that fails to achieve the required level of response. (Sec. 606) Includes trusts, estates, or persons who hold title to a vessel or facility or are otherwise affiliated with a vessel or facility in a fiduciary capacity within the definition of "owner or operator" for purposes of determining liability under CERCLA. Limits the personal obligations and liabilities of a fiduciary to the extent to which the assets of the trust or estate are sufficient to indemnify the fiduciary, subject to certain conditions. Excludes from such definition the United States, a Federal agency, or a conservator or receiver appointed by a Federal agency which acquired ownership of a facility or vessel in connection with receivership or conservatorship and forfeiture or seizure authority, provided such entity does not participate in operations that result in a release. (Sec. 608) Directs the Administrator to establish a small business Superfund assistance section within the small business ombudsman office to provide assistance and information regarding CERCLA and the allocation and settlement processes. (Sec. 611) Requires the Administrator to study and report to the Congress on EPA procedures for suspension and debarment of persons and business entities, particularly response action contractors, and to assess the feasibility and cost of creating a nationwide data base to track such persons. (Sec. 613) Directs the Administrator to publish guidelines for a model State program for the training and certification of individuals to perform Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. Establishes the Environmental Certification Board. (Sec. 615) Revises provisions regarding the application of CERCLA to Federal agencies to make such agencies subject to all Federal, State, interstate, and local requirements regarding response actions related to, or management of, hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants in the same manner as such requirements apply to nongovernmental entities. Absolves Federal employees of personal liability for civil penalties under Federal or State response laws with respect to acts or omissions within their official duties. Makes such employees subject to criminal sanctions under such laws, but exempts Federal agencies from such sanctions. (Sec. 616) Increases the authorization from Superfund for worker training and education grants. (Sec. 619) Makes States eligible for reimbursement currently available to local governments for emergency response actions. (Sec. 620) Directs the Administrator to study and report to the Congress on the feasibility of instituting a small disadvantaged business goal program for all Federal contracts under CERCLA. Title VII: Funding - Extends the authorization of appropriations to carry out specified Superfund authorities through FY 2000. Title VIII: Environmental Insurance Resolution Fund - Environmental Insurance Resolution and Equity Act of 1995 - Establishes the Environmental Insurance Resolution Fund to provide for the resolution of disputes between certain PRPs and their insurers. (Sec. 805) Authorizes the Fund to decide not to make an offer unless an eligible person has filed and is actively pursuing a claim with an insurer. (Sec. 806) Requires the Fund to make resolution offers to eligible persons equal to the applicable percentage of the lesser of the eligible costs incurred by the persons or the available coverage. Describes applicable percentages based on facility location and size, litigation venues, and State. (Sec. 807) Directs eligible persons that accept Fund resolutions to waive existing and future claims against an insurer for eligible costs. (Sec. 808) Requires the Fund to make pre- and post-resolution payments to eligible persons who accept a resolution. Treats payments made by the Fund to an eligible person as payments made by an insurer. (Sec. 809) Requires the Fund, in cases where an eligible person rejects a resolution offer, litigates a claim against an insurer, and obtains a final judgment against, or enters into a settlement with, the insurer, to reimburse the insurer for the lesser of the amount of the resolution offer or the final judgment or settlement. Authorizes the Fund, in such cases, to reimburse an insurer for unrecovered reasonable costs and legal fees if the resolution offer exceeded such final judgment or settlement. (Sec. 811) Provides that this title acts as a stay of all pending litigation regarding claims for indemnity or arising from insurance coverage for eligible costs. Bars stays of litigation ten years after this Act's enactment with respect to: (1) a person that becomes an eligible person on or after such date; and (2) an eligible person that has not filed a request for a resolution offer and has not rejected an offer before such date. (Sec. 815) Directs the President to report on: (1) the potential liability of the Fund; and (2) the number of non-NPL facilities and their average cleanup cost. (Sec. 817) Terminates the Fund's authority to: (1) accept requests for resolution ten years after this Act's enactment date; and (2) offer resolutions ten years and 180 days after such date. Title IX: Environmental Insurance Resolution Taxes and Trust Fund; 5-Year Extension of Hazardous Substance Superfund - Subtitle A: Environmental Insurance Resolution Taxes and Trust Fund - Amends provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to environmental taxes to establish environmental insurance resolution taxes. Imposes a tax on each assessable person engaged in any trade or business that is equal to: (1) such person's adjusted base-period commercial direct premiums multiplied by the applicable direct funding rate; and (2) such person's adjusted base-period commercial reinsurance premiums multiplied by the applicable reinsurance funding rate. (Sec. 901) Sets the exemption amount for any person at $50 million. Treats participants in joint underwriting operations of insurance or reinsurance and those treated as single employers as one person and allocates the exemption amount between participants. Imposes a tax on a policy of casualty insurance against hazards, risks, losses, or liabilities in the United States or related policies of reinsurance on which premiums are written by foreign persons. Requires such tax to be equal to .50 percent of the maximum limit of liability of such persons under such policies. Sets forth conditions under which foreign persons are exempt from such tax (including cases where foreign persons may be taxed as assessable persons). Imposes a tax (on current-year premiums) equal to the direct premiums written under specified insurance policies issued against hazards, risks, losses, or liabilities within the United States multiplied by the applicable funding rate. Exempts policies related to directors and officers liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and fire insurance on residential or farm owner-occupied housing units. Sets the exemption amount for such tax at $5 million. Establishes a special withholding rule for premiums issued by foreign persons unless the income from the premiums is connected with a U.S. trade or business and is not exempt from income tax pursuant to a treaty. Imposes assessments on insurers resolving claims with the Environmental Insurance Resolution Trust Fund. Requires such assessments to be in an amount equal to an insurer's Fund-certified percentages of the direct insurance and reinsurance limits. Provides that such assessments are excise taxes and shall be imposed and collected in the same manner as other excise taxes. (Sec. 902) Establishes the Environmental Insurance Resolution Trust Fund to be composed of environmental insurance resolution taxes and amounts in the Environmental Insurance Resolution Fund established under title VIII of this Act. Makes the Trust Fund available to carry out title VIII. (Sec. 903) Exempts the Environmental Insurance Resolution Fund from income tax. Subtitle B: 5-Year Extension of Hazardous Substance Superfund - Provides for a five-year extension of Superfund. Subtitle C: Report by Environmental Protection Agency - Directs the Administrator to report annually to the Congress on the effectiveness of this Act's liability and enforcement reforms.
Bill· HRH.R. 76 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the special rules for the deduction of health insurance costs of self-employed individuals until December 31, 1995.
Bill· HRH.R. 34 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Health Insurance Equity Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent, and to increase to 100 percent, the deduction for the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals.
Bill· HRH.R. 177 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Diversity in Media Act of 1995 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require holders of mass communications licenses to submit to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) an annual report describing the proportion of ownership and control of such licenses that is held by minorities and women. Outlines situations under which the FCC may award a communications license to a party on the basis of increasing diversification of media ownership or promotion of the public interest. Provides either demerits or credits to license applicants based on their history of minority and women ownership and control. Requires the FCC to issue a tax certificate for assignment of a license or transfer of control of a corporate licensee for a broadcast, common carrier, private radio, or other telecommunications facility to an assignee or transferee owned or controlled by members of a minority or women if such action is consistent with increasing the participation of minorities and women as employees or owners of telecommunications facilities. Prohibits discrimination in employment by: (1) licensees of commercially operated or public broadcast stations or networks; (2) common carriers; (3) satellite operators; and (4) the headquarters of any of these entities. Establishes a program within such entities to ensure equal employment policies, including the filing with the FCC of an equal employment opportunity program by applicants for a construction permit, assignment of a license, transfer of control, or license renewal. Requires: (1) reports to the FCC by covered entities concerning equal opportunity programs of the entities; and (2) reports to the Congress by the FCC on women and minority participation as employees and owners of telecommunications facilities.
Bill· HRH.R. 100 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Arts, Humanities, and Museums Amendments of 1995 - Amends the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 (NFAHA) and the Museum Services Act to revise and reauthorize programs under them. (Sec. 2) Limits a State's current allotment from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to not more than the preceding year's level if: (1) the State's current year funding for the arts is less than the average annual amount expended by the State during the most recent preceding period of three fiscal years; and (2) the rate of reduction in its arts spending exceeds that for the aggregate of the State's general fund reductions for the current fiscal year. Extends through FY 1997 the authorization of appropriations to carry out NFAHA, including funds for: (1) program grants and other assistance by the NEA and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH); (2) matching non-Federal funds received; and (3) administration of NEA and NEH programs. Sets limitations on total appropriations authorized for the NEA and the NEH in FY 1996. Directs the Chairperson of the NEA to investigate State compliance with certain requirements and report with recommendations to specified congressional officials. (Sec. 3) Amends the Museum Services Act to extend through FY 1997 the authorization of appropriations, including funds for: (1) grants to museums to increase and improve services; and (2) functions of the Institute of Museum Services (which is within the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities).
Bill· HRH.R. 80 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Consolidation of Information on Technologies Title II: Technology Transfer and Commercialization Financing Corporation Title III: Commercialization Financing Title IV: Alternative Minimum Tax on Corporations Importing Products Into the United States Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions Federal Technology Commercialization and Credit Enhancement Act of 1995 - Title I: Consolidation of Information on Technologies - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a standardized, accessible data base describing all patents, licenses, technologies, and processes owned in whole or in part by the Federal Government. Provides for data base access by: (1) the Technology Transfer and Commercialization Financing Corporation (established by this Act); and (2) the public. Directs the Secretary to review current Federal technology transfer efforts. Title II: Technology Transfer and Commercialization Financing Corporation - Establishes a public-private Technology Transfer and Commercialization Financing Corporation (Corporation) to foster U.S. economic growth by providing credit for businesses and facilitating the transfer and commercialization of federally owned or developed patents, licenses, processes, and technologies. Title III: Commercialization Financing - Establishes in the Treasury the Technology Transfer Investment Fund. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Corporation to provide outreach activities to areas that: (1) have a depressed economy or chronically high unemployment; (2) have been adversely affected by the North American Free Trade Agreement; or (3) are designated as Federal empowerment zones or enterprise communities. Title IV: Alternative Minimum Tax on Corporation's Importing Products into the United States - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an alternative minimum tax on certain corporations importing products into the United States. Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth effective date and separability provisions.
Bill· HRH.R. 252 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: House of Representatives Title II: Senate Title III: Joint House and Senate Matters Subtitle A: Congressional Budget Process Subtitle B: Staffing and Instrumentalities Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Subtitle D: Budget Control Legislative Reorganization Act of 1995 - Title I: House of Representatives - Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that there should be established a schedule of legislative activities of the House that: (1) provides for four full days of legislative business per week while the House is in session; (2) sets aside specific periods exclusively for floor proceedings and committee meetings and hearings; (3) rationalizes the scheduling of committee and subcommittee meetings and hearings to minimize conflicts; and (4) encourages and requires that the House Information Systems provide training on the use of computerized scheduling to minimize such conflicts. (Sec. 101) Amends rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that the public be notified before a committee or subcommittee holds a meeting or hearing. (Sec. 102) Amends rule XXI to require a report from any committee accompanying any bill authorizing or providing obligational authority or tax expenditures or the joint explanatory statement accompanying a conference report on such bill to contain a concise statement: (1) describing the effect of any provision of the bill or conference report which changes the application of existing law; and (2) to list in a separate and identifiable part of the report or joint explanatory statement each item in such bill, report, conference report, or joint explanatory statement that earmarks the required use of funds below the appropriation account level or provides a specific tax expenditure. (Sec. 103) Requires: (1) the House Committee on Appropriations to immediately notify the appropriate standing committee whenever the Committee orders reported any general appropriations bill that makes appropriations for any unauthorized expenditure, or that reappropriates unexpended balances of appropriations, within the jurisdiction of any other standing committee; (2) a House committee to notify such Committee whenever it reports any bill, resolution, or amendment thereto, carrying an appropriation from a committee not having jurisdiction to report appropriations; (3) such Committee to deliver copies of appropriation bills as passed the House with numbered Senate amendments to the appropriate authorizing committees at least 24 hours before requesting appointment of conferees thereon unless the Speaker of the House determines otherwise; and (4) the Committee to deliver copies of the conference report and accompanying joint explanatory statement to the appropriate authorizing committees at least 24 hours before floor action thereon unless the Speaker determines otherwise. (Sec. 104) Directs the Speaker and the minority leader of the House to appoint 20 independent factfinders at the beginning of each Congress to carry out investigations on behalf of the House as required by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Disqualifies any lobbyist required under the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act to register with the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate. Requires such Committee to adopt specified rules relating to the use of independent factfinders. (Sec. 106) Expresses the sense of the House that the Committee on House Oversight should: (1) review the training and orientation programs currently available for the personal, committee, and administrative staff of the House; (2) evaluate their overall effectiveness and utility; and (3) develop, administer, and coordinate a comprehensive training program for House staff employees. (Sec. 107) Expresses the sense of the House that: (1) the three-day layover requirement for committee reports on legislation and on conference reports may not be waived unless the legislation and any accompanying report have been available to each Member for at least 24 hours before its consideration on the House floor; (2) an amendment to a bill to be considered under suspension of the rules should be printed and available to each Member for at least 24 hours before its consideration; (3) committees and conference committees should endeavor to file reports on word processing computer disks to facilitate availability to Members; (4) an internal cable system, a cable channel, or party specific channels should be developed to provide Members with summaries of the pending legislation and should be available in their offices, committee hearing rooms, and the cloakrooms; and (5) the full text of bills, amendments, reports, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimates, General Accounting Office (GAO) reports, Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) reports, Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports and Issue Briefs, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the annotated CFR, the Congressional Record, and the Federal Register should be made available to all Members and congressional staff via computer by the beginning of the 105th Congress and such appropriate legislative information should also be made available to the public and the Depository Libraries through a low-cost computer connection. (Sec. 108) Expresses the sense of the House that specified steps should be taken to improve the public's understanding of the Congress and the legislative process. (Sec. 109) Expresses the sense of the House that the Committee on House Oversight and the House Committee on Appropriations should conduct a study of the salary ranges of congressional personal, committee, and administrative staff with a view toward achieving bicameral salary parity for House and Senate staff performing analogous functions. (Sec. 110) Amends rule XXI to make it out of order to consider any provision of a general appropriation bill (except a conference report) that would exceed any applicable authorization level as set forth in any authorization measure as passed by the House. (Sec. 111) Requires the Parliamentarian of the House, at the beginning of the 105th Congress, to recodify the Rules of the House by clarifying conflicting definitions, eliminating anachronisms, and reorganizing the rules into a more coherent and logical structure. Authorizes the Parliamentarian to utilize the services of CRS and the Government Printing Office (GPO) personnel to carry out the recodification. Title II: Senate - (Bill language to be supplied at a later date). Title III: Joint House and Senate Matters - Subtitle A: Congressional Budget Process - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to revise the Federal and congressional budget processes by establishing a two-year budgeting and appropriations cycle and timetable. Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. Devotes the first session of any Congress to the budget resolution and to appropriations decisions, retaining current deadlines in most cases. Changes certain deadlines to conform to the biennial scheme. Devotes each second session to authorization activity, subject to specified deadlines. (Sec. 303) Conforms provisions governing the President's budget to the biennial framework. (Sec. 305) Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to conform to the biennial framework. (Sec. 306) Prohibits the House or Senate from considering any legislation that authorizes appropriations for a period of less than two fiscal years, unless the activity for which the funds are to be spent is of less than two years duration. Prohibits the House or Senate from considering any legislation that appropriates an amount for a program, project, or activity not authorized by: (1) existing law in excess of the amount previously appropriated for such program; or (2) law within the two-year period prior to the date of the appropriation. Requires each congressional committee, by January 2 of each odd-numbered year, to report on its oversight activities during the Congress. (Sec. 321) Requires CBO to make quarterly budget reports to the House and Senate Committees on the Budget. (Sec. 322) Amends the Employment Act of 1946 to require the President to include in the annual economic report a gross national product budget analysis. Requires the President to make fiscal policy reports to the Congress after submission of the annual economic report. (Sec. 323) Directs the Director of CBO to report to the Congress and the President on a review of Government user fees. Prohibits the House or Senate from considering any concurrent resolution on the budget until such report has been received. (Sec. 324) Requires budget resolutions to include total revenue losses attributable to certain tax laws and the aggregate amount by which such total will be increased or decreased. Subtitle B: Staffing and Instrumentalities - Provides that GAO, CBO, CRS, GPO, and OTA shall be authorized by the enactment every eighth year beginning for FY 1997 of an Act to authorize appropriations for those offices for the next eight fiscal years. (Sec. 342) Requires the appropriate committees of the House and of the Senate to study and report: (1) recommendations to their leadership providing for better coordination of specified legislative branch services, positions, and entities; and (2) on the feasibility of providing competitive bidding for the right to operate such facilities and to provide legislative branch services such as barber and beauty shops, a gymnasium, health and medical services, restaurants, automobile services, and child care. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous - Directs the Committees on Government Reform and Oversight in the House and on Governmental Affairs in the Senate to conduct, with the assistance of GAO, a comprehensive survey of all statutory reporting requirements, soliciting the views of the congressional committees, and to report legislation on or before December 31, 1996, to eliminate obsolete, nonessential, or duplicative reports. (Sec. 351) Requires the Committees to establish a uniform and appropriate procedure for requiring agency reports to the Congress to expire after five years, subject to their specific reauthorization, and to report legislation by December 31, 1996, to sunset statutory reporting requirements. (Sec. 352) Repeals provisions of Federal law and the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to abolish the Joint Committee on Printing and the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library. Establishes the Joint Committee on Information Management to: (1) coordinate information management for the Congress; (2) establish standards and applications policies for the Congress and its support agencies for information technologies; (3) ensure dissemination of executive branch information to the public; and (4) carry out all functions of the Joint Committee on Printing and the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library. Provides for the transfer of functions to the Joint Committee, except that those related to the supervision of the Botanic Garden and the Capitol art collection shall be transferred to the House Committee on Oversight and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Subtitle D: Budget Control - Budget Control Act of 1995 - Requires initial direct spending targets for FY 1996 through 1999 to equal total outlays for all direct spending except net interest and deposit insurance. (Sec. 363) Requires the President, as part of the budget submission, to provide an annual review of direct spending and receipts, including: (1) information supporting the adjustment of direct spending targets; (2) information on total outlays for programs covered by such targets, including actual outlays for the prior fiscal year and projected outlays for the current fiscal year and the five succeeding fiscal years; and (3) information on the major categories of Federal receipts, including a comparison between the levels of those receipts and the levels projected as of the date of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 364) Sets forth required actions by the President and the Congress if actual or projected costs exceed targeted levels. (Sec. 366) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, prior to the submission of the President's budget for FY 1997 through 1999, to adjust direct spending targets: (1) for increases in beneficiaries; (2) for revenue legislation; (3) as provided in reconciliation bills; and (4) to reflect the costs of emergency legislation. (Sec. 369) Prohibits the House of Representatives from considering any general appropriation bill, if the President has submitted a direct spending message, until the Congress has adopted the required concurrent resolution on the budget. (Sec. 370) Requires the President and the Congress to seriously consider other alternatives before proposing reductions in means-tested programs.
Bill· HRH.R. 37 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Pension Plan Funding Title II: Required Security for Certain Plan Amendments Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions Pension Funding Improvement Act of 1995 - Title I: Pension Plan Funding - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to revise minimum funding standards for pension plans. (Sec. 102) Revises the additional funding requirements for pension plans that are not multiemployer plans to provide for an underfunding reduction requirement and solvency maintenance requirement. (Sec. 104) Provides for transition use of credit balances from plan years before 1996. Title II: Required Security for Certain Plan Amendments - Amends ERISA to increase required funding percentages and required security under provisions for pension plan termination insurance. (Sec. 203) Applies such required funding and security provisions to multiemployer plans, as well as to other pension plans. (Sec. 204) Applies specified criminal penalties to violations of such requirements. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends ERISA to require inclusion in annual Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) reports of actuarial evaluations of pension benefit guaranty funds for the next five, ten, 20 and 30 years. (Currently, inclusion of such evaluations for the next five years only is required.) Requires such evaluations to set forth alternative premium schedules to assure that PBGC assets equal or exceed its liabilities during such periods. Authorizes the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to transmit a separate report analyzing and commenting upon the actuarial evaluation (and premium schedules) prepared by the PBGC, for any fiscal year the CBO deems appropriate. (Sec. 302) Authorizes the PBGC to require certain plan sponsors or members of a sponsor's controlled group to provide it with records or other information necessary to determine liabilities and assets of plans covered by ERISA plan termination insurance provisions, or the financial condition of sponsors or members of sponsors' controlled groups maintaining such plans. Applies such information requirements to a plan if: (1) its underfunding exceeds $10 million; (2) it has more than 2,000 participants; or (3) it has been granted minimum funding waivers in excess of $1 million. Treats all plans maintained by the same sponsor (or any member of such sponsor's controlled group) as one plan for purposes of such information requirements.
Bill· HRH.R. 56 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Capital Formation and Jobs Creation Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a 50 percent income tax deduction for the net capital gain of both corporate and noncorporate taxpayers. Requires indexing, based on the gross domestic 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 one year at the time of sale or other transfer, solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss. Allows an itemized deduction for losses arising from the sale or exchange of a principal residence.
Bill· HRH.R. 259 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends Federal transportation law to repeal specified authorities with respect to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK), eliminating intercity rail passenger transportation (while retaining AMTRAK commuter services). (Sec. 3) Repeals a provision which provides for the judicial review of the discontinuance of a route, a train, or transportation, or the reduction in the frequency of transportation by AMTRAK. (Sec. 4) Authorizes appropriations in decreasing amounts over four fiscal years. (Sec. 5) Repeals specified laws that apply to AMTRAK operations, abolishing the Board of Directors. Declares that the United States relinquishes all rights held in any stock, note of indebtedness, or mortgage issued by or entered into with AMTRAK. (Sec. 6) Repeals: (1) certain provisions which require AMTRAK to make an agreement to avoid duplicating employee functions; (2) all authority for operation of the AMTRAK route system; and (3) all authority for the Northeast Corridor improvement program. (Sec. 8) Prohibits a rail carrier employee whose employment is terminated as a result of a discontinuance of intercity rail passenger service from receiving any wage continuation or severance benefit in excess of six months pay. Authorizes a rail carrier to require an employee whose position is eliminated as a result of such discontinuance to transfer to any vacant position for which he or she can be made qualified on any part of the rail carrier's system. (Sec. 9) Amends the Federal Employers' Liability Act (or Employers' Liability Act) to declare that it shall not apply to common carriers to the extent they provide rail passenger transportation.
Bill· HRH.R. 261 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Review of Intergovernmental Regulations Title II: Compensation of State and Local Governments for Additional Direct Costs Unfunded Federal Mandates Relief Act of 1995 - Title I: Review of Intergovernmental Regulations - Requires the President, after submitting the annual Federal budget, to submit to the Congress a report specifying and evaluating the costs to State and local governments of complying with intergovernmental regulations during the most recently completed fiscal year, the fiscal year in progress, and the next two fiscal years. Specifies the contents of such report. Authorizes the President to delegate the responsibility of preparing such report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget or the head of any other Federal agency. Directs the responsible official to prescribe standards to be used by agencies in estimating the compliance costs and benefits of intergovernmental regulations. Directs each agency to furnish such official with required information pertaining to agency regulations. Title II: Compensation of State and Local Governments for Additional Direct Costs - Prohibits any Federal agency or U.S. court from requiring such governments, in any fiscal year, to comply with any intergovernmental regulation unless sufficient funds have been provided to reimburse them for additional compliance costs estimated for the fiscal year. Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to transmit annually to the President and the Congress a report specifying an estimate of the total amount of additional direct costs that will be incurred in upcoming fiscal years by such governments in complying with each intergovernmental regulation promulgated pursuant to a significant law. Directs the chairmen of the congressional committees having jurisdiction over any significant law under which an intergovernmental regulation is promulgated to propose, to a bill providing funds for each fiscal year in which such regulation will be in effect, an amendment to appropriate funds to reimburse such governments for the additional direct costs they will incur in complying with such regulation. Sets forth procedures for reimbursements of such additional direct costs by Federal agencies to States, and by States to local governments.
Bill· HRH.R. 51 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: State of New Columbia Subtitle A: Procedures for Admission Subtitle B: Description of New Columbia Territory Subtitle C: General Provisions Relating to Laws of New Columbia Title II: Responsibilities and Interests of Federal Government Title III: General Provisions New Columbia Admission Act - Title I: State of New Columbia - Subtitle A: Procedures for Admission - Sets forth procedures for admission into the United States of the State of New Columbia. Requires the Mayor of the District of Columbia to: (1) submit to the eligible voters propositions for statehood and adoption of a State Constitution; and (2) issue a proclamation for the first elections to the Congress of two Senators and one Representative of New Columbia. Requires the President, upon adoption of such propositions and certification of such elections, to issue a proclamation announcing the results and admitting New Columbia into the Union. Provides for conversion of District government offices to State offices. Subtitle B: Description of New Columbia Territory - Provides that New Columbia shall consist of all territory of the District as of the date of enactment of this Act, excluding land within specified metes and bounds that shall remain the District of Columbia and that shall include the principal Federal monuments, the White House, the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court Building, the Federal executive, legislative, and judicial office buildings located adjacent to the Mall and the Capitol Building, and certain military property. Subtitle C: General Provisions Relating to Laws of New Columbia - Prohibits New Columbia from imposing taxes on Federal property except as provided by the Congress. Maintains the applicability to New Columbia of current District laws and continues pending judicial proceedings. Title II: Responsibilities and Interests of Federal Government - Maintains: (1) the District of Columbia as the seat of the Federal Government; and (2) the Federal Government's authority over military lands and specified other property. Provides for Federal payments in lieu of taxes to New Columbia. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to take a scenic easement in the space above all lots within New Columbia. Requires each State that is the last place an individual resided before residing in the District of Columbia to permit such individual to vote in Federal elections by absentee ballot. Sets forth a rule for expedited consideration of a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution to repeal the 23d amendment (provides for the appointment of electors for President and Vice President for the District). Title III: General Provisions - Establishes a Statehood Transition Commission to advise the President, the Congress, the District, and, after admission, New Columbia on procedures for an orderly transition to statehood during the first two years of New Columbia's existence. Directs the Commission to make recommendations regarding: (1) continued applicability of current Federal laws to the District; (2) the amount of the annual payment in lieu of taxes to New Columbia; and (3) the incarceration of individuals convicted of crimes in New Columbia and a plan for closing the Lorton Correctional Complex, Virginia, by 2010.
Bill· HRH.R. 29 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Authorizes the heads of designated Federal agencies to use up to 50 percent of unobligated funds for administrative expenses for bonuses to personnel, with the remainder to be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury and used exclusively for deficit reduction. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to designate such agencies and to report annually to the Congress on the effectiveness of this Act in reducing the deficit.
Bill· HRH.R. 91 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Prohibits expenditures by the United States in a fiscal year for land or water acquisition for the National Wildlife Refuge System if the Secretary of the Interior has not made all payments required for the preceding fiscal year to appropriate counties in which any fee area is situated. Makes conforming amendments to the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act. Makes this Act inapplicable to any acquisition the Secretary is obligated to carry out under a contract entered into by the Secretary on or before the enactment of this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 242 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to exempt farm insolvency transactions made after December 31, 1978, from alternative minimum tax (under prior law), thus effecting a three-year extension of the retroactive period that already exists.
Bill· HRH.R. 241 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income awards received under Christa McAuliffe fellowships.
Bill· HRH.R. 235 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the use of the percentage of completion method of accounting is not required with respect to contracts for the manufacture of property if no payments are required to be made before the completion of the manufacture of such property.
Bill· HRH.R. 231 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny the use of the medical expense deduction for abortions, except for procedures to prevent the death of either the pregnant woman or her preborn child so long as every reasonable effort is made to preserve the life of each.
Bill· HRH.R. 233 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal limitations on the deductibility of capital losses.
Bill· HRH.R. 232 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Saving and Investment Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an income tax deduction in the amount of dividends paid by domestic corporations, except S corporations, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, and personal holding companies. Repeals the income tax deductions currently permitted in connection with: (1) dividends received by a corporation; (2) dividends received by a corporation on the preferred stock of a public utility; and (3) dividends paid by a public utility on its preferred stock. Increases from 80 percent to 85 percent the deductible percentage of amounts received by a corporation from a qualified ten-percent owned foreign corporation.
Bill· HRH.R. 214 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Crane Tithe Tax Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the following taxes: (1) the corporate income tax; (2) the alternative minimum tax as it applies to corporations; (3) the tax on the unrelated business income of tax-exempt organizations; (4) the tax on the accumulated earnings of certain corporations; (5) the tax applied to personal holding companies; (6) the alternative tax for certain mutual savings banks; (7) income taxes imposed on insurance companies, regulated investment companies, and real estate investment trusts; and (8) the tax on the income of foreign corporations connected with U.S. business. Revises the individual income tax to impose a ten percent tax on an individual's earned income that exceeds $10,000 (adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index). Includes as earned income: (1) wages, salaries, and other employee compensation; (2) net earnings from self-employment; and (3) dividends from a personal service corporation or other direct or indirect compensation for services. Exempts tips and amounts received as a pension or annuity. Declares tax amnesty with respect to income tax liability and associated penalties and interest for pre-1994 taxable years. Repeals all tax exclusions, tax deductions, and tax credits currently used to determine individual income tax liability. Repeals the estate tax, the gift tax, and the tax on certain generation-skipping transfers.
Bill· HRH.R. 213 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the individual and corporate capital gains rate from 28 percent and 34 percent to 15 percent. Reduces the minimum tax rate accordingly. Reduces such tax to 7.5 percent for low- and middle-income taxpayers. Requires indexing, based on the gross domestic product deflator, of the adjusted basis of certain assets (corporate stock and tangible property that is a capital asset of property used in a trade or business) that have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or other transfer, solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss. Provides for indexing the limitation on capital losses of noncorporate taxpayers.
Bill· HRH.R. 212 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Judicial Taxation Prohibition Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to deny to inferior Federal courts established by the Congress under article III of the Constitution jurisdiction to issue any remedy, order, writ, or other judicial decree requiring the Federal Government or any State or local government to impose any new tax or to increase any existing tax or tax rate.
Bill· HRH.R. 186 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Public Housing Rehabilitation Equity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the low-income housing credit available for the rehabilitation of public housing.
Bill· HRH.R. 159 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Seniors Tax Equity Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the requirement that tax-exempt interest be taken into account when determining the amount of social security and railroad retirement benefits subject to tax.
Bill· HRH.R. 158 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Health Insurance Premium Deductibility Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for health insurance premiums up to $3,000.
Bill· HRH.R. 157 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Student Tax Equity Act of 1995 - Repeals provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 that restrict the types of scholarships and fellowship grants that may be excluded from gross income for income tax purposes. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for interest on a qualified educational loan incurred to pay the educational expenses of the taxpayer, spouse, or dependent. Eliminates the current requirement that such indebtedness be secured by an interest in real property.
Bill· HRH.R. 156 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Tuition Tax Credit Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for the educational expenses (tuition and supplies) of the taxpayer, spouse, or dependents at an eligible private elementary or secondary school, institution of higher education, or vocational school. Limits the credit to $1,000 per student per year.
Bill· HRH.R. 131 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Child Care Tax Credit Reform Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the amount of employment-related expenses subject to the dependent care income tax credit. Denies the credit to taxpayers having adjusted gross income of $50,000 or more.
Bill· HRH.R. 127 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Employee Educational Assistance Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the income tax exclusion of amounts paid under employee educational assistance programs.
Bill· HRH.R. 133 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a first-time homebuyer who purchases a principal residence a tax credit of ten percent of the purchase price of such residence. Limits the credit to $5,000. Requires married individuals filing jointly to both be first-time homebuyers. Allows the use of 50 percent of the credit in the first taxable year in which the residence is purchased and the remaining 50 percent in the succeeding taxable year. Makes this credit applicable to residences acquired after January 1, 1995, and before January 1, 1996, or for which a binding contract is entered into during such period.
Bill· HRH.R. 115 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the deduction for business use of the home to provide that the principal place of business is where substantially all of the management activities of the trade or business occur.
Bill· HRH.R. 132 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Hazardous Waste Recycling Tax Credit Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax credit of two cents per pound for the recycling of hazardous wastes.
Bill· HRH.R. 110 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to qualify displaced homemakers for the targeted jobs income tax credit. Defines "displaced homemaker" as an individual who: (1) has not worked in the labor force for at least five years but has, during those years, worked in the home providing unpaid services for family members; and (2) has been dependent on public assistance or on the income of another family member but is no longer supported by that income or is receiving public assistance on account of dependent children in the home.
Bill· HRH.R. 124 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a 50 percent tax credit for expenses incurred by or on behalf of their employees for training and remedial training in English language and literacy. Makes such credit applicable to employees working in the United States or its possessions. Makes such credit part of the general business tax credit. Prohibits the deduction of such expenses if the training tax credit is taken. Allows the training credit against the minimum tax.
Bill· HRH.R. 98 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Treats heart disease and hypertension as personal injuries or sickness for purposes of excluding from gross income the disability benefits received by former police officers or fire fighters.
Bill· HRH.R. 99 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income as death benefits amounts received under a life insurance contract for certain terminally ill individuals. Allows insurance companies to issue accelerated death benefit riders on life insurance contracts.
Bill· HRH.R. 86 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Voter Turnout Enhancement Study Commission Act - Establishes the Voter Turnout Enhancement Study Commission to study the costs and benefits and the impact on voter turnout of changing the Federal income tax filing date to the Federal election date. Terminates the Commission on the date of a required report. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 89 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Family Farm Tax Relief and Savings Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to nontaxable exchanges to allow the rollover of gain from the sale of a qualified farm asset into one or more individual retirement plans, to be known as asset rollover accounts. Denies an itemized deduction for contributions to such accounts and sets forth contribution limitations. Provides that rollover contributions to an asset rollover account may be made only from other such accounts. Sets forth reporting requirements for individuals making contributions to such accounts and taxes excess contributions.
Bill· HRH.R. 92 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a corporation to be a shareholder of a subchapter S corporation (small business) if each shareholder of such corporation is permitted to be a shareholder of an S corporation. Allows certain additional trusts to be shareholders of such corporations.
Bill· HRH.R. 88 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an alternative minimum tax on certain corporations equal to five percent of their net business receipts for a taxable year. Imposes such tax on a corporation (foreign or domestic) if: (1) its gross sales in the United States of manufactured parts or products exceeded $10 million; (2) it imported such products with a customs value in excess of $10 million (artificially inflated prices); and (3) its tax obligation under the alternative minimum tax exceeds its total tax obligation.
Bill· HRH.R. 62 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the unified credit against the estate tax of citizens or residents; (2) the unified credit against the estate tax of nonresidents who are not citizens; and (3) the unified credit against the gift tax. Requires an estate tax return in cases where the gross estate exceeds $1.2 million (currently $600,000). Revises the formula for the phaseout of graduated rates and the unified credit.
PreviousPage 22 of 23Next