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Bill· SS. 1936 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1991
Health Equity and Access Improvement Act of 1991 - Title I: Tax Incentives for Health Care Access - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax credit of up to $600 for an individual ($1,200 for a family) for qualified health expenses. Provides that in the case of a taxpayer whose adjusted gross income exceeds $10,000 ($20,000 for a family) the credit shall be reduced by an amount equal to ten percent of the excess. Permits a tax deduction, for both itemizers and nonitemizers, for the cost of health insurance premiums for which no other compensation is received. Provides an employer health insurance credit for small businesses equal to 25 percent of the qualified health care costs of the employer in the first year the employer offers health coverage to employees and which is then reduced five percentage points annually. Raises from 25 percent to 100 percent the deduction allowed to self-employed individuals for health insurance premiums and makes the deduction permanent. Provides a credit for a qualified primary health services provider who practices in a rural health professional shortage area. Sets forth a formula for determining such credit. Excludes from gross income any payment made on behalf of a taxpayer by the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. Permits a physician in a rural health professional shortage area to expense up to $25,000 worth of rural health care property. Provides that interest on student loan payments by medical professionals practicing in rural areas shall not be treated as personal interest and will therefore qualify as a tax deduction. Title II: Health Care Reform Provisions - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to request the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to develop a model health care insurance benefits plan that shall contain standards that entities offering health care insurance policies should meet with respect to the benefits and coverage provided under such policies and report on such standards to the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to develop such a plan if the NAIC fails to develop such a plan or if the NAIC plan does not meet specified requirements. Sets forth such requirements. Requires the Secretary, taking into account recommendations of the Managed Care Advisory Committee, to develop recommended standards that insurers offering managed care plans should meet with respect to the benefits, coverage, and delivery systems provided under such plans. Establishes the Managed Care Advisory Committee. Provides that, in the case of a managed care plan meeting recommended standards, specified provision of State law will be preempted and will not be enforced against the managed care plan with respect to an insurer offering such plan. Permits a qualified small employer purchasing group, upon application to and approval by the Secretary, to enter into contracts with carriers to provide health insurance coverage to eligible employees. Establishes standards which health care insurers must meet in a contract with a small business. Requires such insurers, among other things, to: (1) provide coverage and benefits consistent with the model health care insurance benefits plan; (2) meet specified registration and disclosure requirements; (3) not exclude from coverage any eligible employee; (4) not extend beyond six months any limitation on any preexisting condition and, with respect to such limitation, apply it only to preexisting conditions which manifested themselves or for which medical care was sought during the three months preceding coverage; (5) guarantee renewability of the contract at the employer's election, unless the contract is terminated for cause; and (6) establish premiums that meet specified standards. Title III: Medical Liability Reform - Sets forth provisions concerning settlement offers in medical malpractice cases. Establishes an Alternative Dispute Resolution Board of Advisers to make recommendations to the Secretary concerning the establishment of a model voluntary alternative dispute resolution program for medical malpractice cases. Sets caps on the payment of future losses, non-economic damages, and attorneys' fees. Prohibits joint liability in a civil action for non-economic damages. Establishes a statute of limitations for a medical malpractice civil action. Requires each State to: (1) allocate its medical licensing fees to the State agency responsible for licensing and disciplinary actions; (2) require that at least 25 percent of a disciplinary board's membership shall be from the general public; (3) have in effect a Statewide risk management program; and (4) establish a health care disciplinary trust fund consisting of all punitive damage awards resulting from medical malpractice and medical product civil actions. Protects a health care producer of a drug or device from punitive damages if the drug or device was subject to approval or premarket approval under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary to make a grant to an entity representing recipients of assistance at migrant and community health centers to develop a business plan and establish a nationwide risk retention group as provided for in the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Public Health Provisions - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title, Title XXI: BASICARE. Authorizes appropriations under title XXI for the purpose of providing basic health care benefits to low-income uninsured individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act) coverage. Requires a State, in order to receive funding under title XXI, to submit and have approved by the Secretary a BasiCare assistance plan. Sets forth plan requirements. Requires, for BasiCare eligibility, that: (1) family income be below 200 percent of the poverty line; (2) an individual not be eligible for Medicaid; and (3) an individual not be otherwise covered under a health plan by the individual's employer. Permits the imposition of deductibles, copayments, and premiums if income is between 100 to 200 percent of the poverty line. Establishes the Federal Medical Waiver Demonstration Board to review applications submitted by States to conduct health care-related demonstration projects. Requires the Board to develop at least three different model health care delivery plans. Permits the Board, upon approval of a State's demonstration project, to waive the following provisions of Federal law: (1) the Public Health Service Act; (2) title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act; (3) titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (BASICARE) of the Social Security Act; (4) all health care programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and (5) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Title V: Medically Underserved Areas - Authorizes appropriations for the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program and the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. Directs the Secretary to establish and administer a program to provide allotments to States to enable such States to provide grants for the creation or enhancement of community based primary health care entities that provide services to pregnant women and children up to age three. Requires grant recipients to substantially target populations of pregnant women and children who: (1) lack health care coverage or ability to pay for health care services; or (2) reside in medically underserved or health professional shortage areas. Directs the Secretary to award grants to federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and other entities submitting applications for the purpose of providing access to services for medically underserved populations or in high impact areas not currently served by a FQHC. Limits the expenditure of funds awarded an FQHC to the provision of those services provided under the Medicaid program and any unreimbursed costs of providing services under the community based primary health care grant program. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to develop and implement a plan for mental health outreach programs in rural areas. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary, in awarding grants under the Public Health Service Act relating to the research, teaching, and training activities of health personnel educational entities, to give priority to those entities that have a high permanent rate for placing graduates in settings serving residents of medically underserved communities and that otherwise demonstrate a commitment to serving such communities. Directs the Secretary to award grants to health professions institutions to expand training programs that are targeted at those individuals desiring to practice in or serve the needs of medically underserved communities. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to award grants to eligible regional consortia to enhance and expand coordination among various health professions programs, particularly in medically underserved rural areas. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants, under the area health education center provisions of the Act, to rural communities to enable such communities to provide stipends to physicians, nurses, or other health professional trainees to encourage such individuals to continue to provide health care services in such rural communities. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to facilitate the development of networks among rural and urban health care providers to preserve and share health care resources and enhance the quality and availability of health care in rural areas. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to develop and administer cooperatives in rural areas that will establish an effective case management and reimbursement system designed to support the economic viability of essential public or private health services, facilities, health care systems, and health care resources in such rural areas. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the: (1) Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to authorize appropriations for the Rural Health Care Transition Grant Program; and (2) Medicare program to authorize appropriations for the Essential Access Community Hospital Program. Title VI: Incentives to Encourage Preventive Services - Provides a tax credit for qualified preventive services of up to $250. Includes on a list of preventive services: (1) cancer screening tests; (2) childhood immunizations; (3) mammograms; (4) pap tests for uterine cancer; and (5) other specified examinations and tests. Authorizes appropriations, under the Public Health Service Act, for grants for preventive health service programs for the provision, without charge, of immunizations.
Bill· HRH.R. 3744 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1991
Economic Growth and Family Tax Freedom Act of 1991 - Title I: Nonrefundable Tax Credit for Children - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of $1,000 for each child under the age of six and $300 for each child between the age of six and 18. Makes the dependent care credit inapplicable to children under the age of six. Title II: Reducing the Cost of Capital by Reducing Capital Gains Tax Rates, Indexing the Basis of Certain Assets, and Excluding Gain From Sales of Principal Residences - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the individual and corporate capital gains rate from 34 percent to 15 percent. Reduces such tax to 7.5 percent for low- and middle-income taxpayers. Provides for the phaseout of personal exemptions and the overall limitation on itemized deductions to take into account adjusted gross income which has been reduced by net capital gain. Requires indexing, based on the gross national product deflator, of the adjusted basis of certain assets (corporate stock and tangible property that is a capital asset 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. Excludes from gross income the sale or exchange of property that has been owned and used by the taxpayer as the taxpayer's principal residence. Terminates provisions relating to the rollover or gain on the sale of a principal residence. Title III: Adjusting Depreciation Rates to Reflect Inflation - Provides a depreciation deduction adjustment for tangible property (other than residential rental property and nonresidential real property) placed in service after 1991. Allows phase-in deductions for such property placed in service after 1996. Title IV: Savings Incentives - Allows individuals to establish individual retirement plus accounts with tax treatment similar to that for individual retirement plans. Makes contributions to such accounts nondeductible. Provides for qualified distributions from such accounts, other than for general retirement purposes, including special purpose distributions made for the purchase of a first home and for medical or educational purposes. Prohibits special purpose distributions from being made during the first five years of the account. Title V: Treatment of Passive Losses - Provides for the treatment of rental and nonrental real estate activities under the limitations on losses from passive activities. Title VI: Enterprise Zones - Subtitle A: Designation of Enterprises Zones - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Secretary) to designate enterprise zones for purposes of providing tax and regulatory relief and improving local services. Limits choices to areas nominated by States and local governments. Limits the total number of areas that may be designated, and the time period of the designation. Authorizes the Secretary to designate a zone only if the area meets certain locational, demographic, unemployment, and poverty criteria. Requires nominating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's designation, to agree in writing to follow a course of action that may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, simplifying or streamlining regulation of business, and providing job training to area residents. Describes areas to which the Secretary must give preference in selecting areas for designation. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress every two years on the effects of such enterprise zones' designation in accomplishing the purposes of this Act. Subtitle B: Federal Income Tax Incentives - Allows a nonrefundable income tax credit to enterprise zone employees for five percent of any wages earned as do not exceed a specified amount. Phases out such credit. Provides for the nonrecognition of capital gain on the sale of enterprise zone property. Allows a taxpayer a deduction on the aggregate amount paid for the purchase of enterprise stock on its original issue by a qualified issuer. Requires any gain from the disposition of the stock to be treated as ordinary income. Excludes enterprise zone capital gains from income computation of alternative minimum taxes. Subtitle C: Regulatory Flexibility - Amends Federal law to revise the definition of "small entity" for purposes of the analysis of regulatory functions to include qualified business, government, and nonprofit enterprises operating within enterprise zones. Authorizes Federal agencies, upon request by a designating government, to waive or modify rules and regulations pertaining to the implementation of projects or activities within an enterprise zone. Requires agencies to approve the request if the resulting benefits of job creation, community development, or economic revitalization outweigh the public interest in retaining the rule unchanged. Disallows waiver or modification of a rule that would directly violate a statutory requirement or present a danger to the public health and safety. Subtitle D: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Enterprise Zones - Requires the Foreign-Trade Zone Board to consider on a priority basis, and to expedite the processing of, applications for the establishment of foreign-trade zones within enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to give priority to, and expedite applications for, the establishment of ports of entry necessary to establish such zones. Subtitle E: Repeals of Title VII of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 - Repeals title VII (enterprise zone development) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987.
Bill· HRH.R. 3730 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1991
Middle Class Tax Relief and Fairness Act of 1992 - Title I: Credit for Portion of Social Security Taxes - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a credit for 20 percent of a taxpayer's social security taxes, limited to $200 ($400 in the case of a joint return) and applicable to years beginning after December 31, 1991, and before January 1, 1994. Title II: Revenue Increases - Subtitle A: Increase in Top Marginal Individual Income Tax Rates - Lowers the tax rates for certain taxpayers and increases the tax rate for certain higher incomes. Increases the tentative minimum tax for taxpayers other than corporations. Subtitle B: Surtax on Individuals With Incomes Over $1,000,000 - Imposes a surtax on incomes in excess of $1,000,000, including estates and trusts. Title III: Budget Provisions - Provides that any change in outlays or receipts resulting from this Act shall not be considered for any purpose under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
Bill· HRH.R. 3735 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1991
Program for Greater Stability and Support (PROGRESS) for Eastern Europe Act of 1991 - Sets forth policies on the provision of trade benefits and other assistance to eligible Eastern and Central European countries, including prohibitions on assistance to Communist party organizations. Defines an eligible Central or Eastern European country as Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and any other Central or Eastern European country (including Yugoslavia) that is taking steps toward: (1) political pluralism; (2) economic reform and a market economy; (3) respect for human rights; and (4) building a friendly relationship with the United States. Declares that the United States, in providing such assistance, should: (1) avoid equating the amount of funds used for assistance with success; (2) encourage and facilitate technical advice on establishing free market economies; and (3) encourage cultural and educational exchanges between U.S. and Eastern European nongovernmental organizations that are committed to democracy and free market economies. States that the President should consider property rights, business regulations, the informal sector, wage and price controls, taxation, trade policy, restrictions on investment and capital flows, the size of the state sector, and the banking sector, in determining whether such assistance should be provided. Declares that the United States should encourage U.S. companies to bid on contracts to improve Central and Eastern Europe's infrastructure and assist companies in applying for such contracts. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include eligible Central and Eastern European countries within the definition of a beneficiary country for purposes of permitting tax deductions for conventions held in such countries. Increases the tax exclusion for income earned in eligible Central and Eastern European countries. Encourages the President to: (1) negotiate with eligible Central and Eastern European countries to establish tax sparing treaties; and (2) reduce trade barriers with such countries wherever possible. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide that Overseas Private Investment Corporation programs shall not be prohibited in eligible Central or Eastern European countries. Amends the SEED Act of 1989 to redesignate the SEED Information Center System as the Central and Eastern European Business Information Center System, a central clearinghouse and data resource service for U.S. and Central and Eastern European businesses. Requires information to be made available to local enterprises in Central and Eastern Europe seeking trade or investment with the United States through trade information centers. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth a matching requirement for U.S. businesses receiving such funding. Requires the Director of the U.S. Information Agency to establish a Program for East European Political Education. Provides that such Program shall provide training and experience for Central and Eastern European leaders with the Congress, in U.S. political campaigns, and with U.S. media and businesses, by awarding Congressional Gift of Democracy Fellowships. Sets forth a matching requirement for nongovernmental organizations chosen to award such fellowships. Limits fellowships to a five-month period. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to develop a management training program for business people and government officials from eligible Central and Eastern European countries. Makes Small Business Development Center Program and Senior Corps of Retired Executives funds available to carry out this program. Commends the Peace Corps and the Small Business Administration for developing the Business to Business Program to teach business and management skills to Central and Eastern Europe. Directs the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) to establish a task force to review, and recommend revisions to, AID's regulations governing the application process for private voluntary organizations and businesses to receive AID funding for activities relating to Central and Eastern Europe.
Bill· HRH.R. 3741 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1991
Enterprise Capital Formation Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for gain on investments in new small business stock (seed capital) held for at least five years. Establishes special rules for such investments. Provides for determining the maximum capital gains rate for small business net capital gain or seed capital gain. Treats capital gains on the sale of such stock as a preference item for purposes of the minimum tax.
Bill· HRH.R. 3733 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1991
Campaign Spending Reform Act of 1991 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to limit contributions to candidates for Federal office by nonparty multicandidate political committees to $1,000. Prohibits separate segregated funds established by national banks, corporations, or labor organizations from acting as intermediaries or conduits with respect to contributions to candidates for Federal office. Prohibits the transfer of funds among noncandidate, nonparty political committees. Prohibits a candidate for Federal office from establishing, maintaining, financing, or controlling a political committee (leadership committee), other than the principal campaign committee of the candidate. Prohibits such principal campaign committees from making contributions to other such committees. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for qualified political contributions. Limits such amount to $250 ($500 in the case of a joint return). Disallows the use of such credit by estates or trusts. Provides that the annual limitation on total individual contributions does not apply to contributions to national, State, and local committees of political parties. Declares that no limitation applies to contributions in a general election by a political committee of a political party or by a House of Representatives or Senate campaign committee of a political party. Allows independent local committees of political parties to make unlimited contributions and expenditures to congressional elections. Prohibits a candidate for the House of Representatives from accepting contributions from persons other than local individual residents totaling in excess of the total contributions accepted from local individual residents. Subjects to limitation and reporting requirements payments by a national committee of a political party or a State committee of a political party for a mixed political activity. Prohibits a labor organization from using dues or agency fees for political purposes, unless the payor of such dues or fees approves such use in writing. Allows an employee to revoke such approval at any time. Requires the labor organization to annually notify employees of the prohibition.
Bill· HRH.R. 3743 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1991
Requires the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service to report to specified committees annually on the program to prevent abuses of taxpayers' rights by the Service. Directs the Commissioner to establish a group of individuals to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of such program. Requires the Comptroller General to report to the Congress on: (1) an investigation of past instances in which the Service has abused taxpayers' rights, has been used for political purposes, has improperly targeted taxpayers for investigation, has promoted overzealous agents on the strength of collections, has maintained illegal dossiers on taxpayers, or has conducted investigations for political purposes; and (2) an assessment and evaluation of the implementation and effectivess of the program to prevent such abuses. Provides access to returns and return information by the Comptroller General and the Monitoring Group to carry out the purposes of this Act. Authorizes appropriations for the monitoring group.
Bill· HRH.R. 3739 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for a first-time homebuyer who purchases a principal residence of five percent of the purchase price of such residence. Limits such credit to $2,000. Limits the homebuyer's income to $50,000 ($100,000 in the case of a joint return).
Bill· SS. 1924 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1991
All-Americans Savings and Investment Incentive Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue code to provide individuals a deduction for capital gains based on the period the asset is held (up to three years). Excludes collectibles from such assets. Makes such deduction an item of tax preference. Excludes from gross income interest received during a taxable year up to $350 ($700 in the case of a joint return). Provides a phaseout of such exclusion for incomes over $50,000. Makes such exclusion applicable to distributions from regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts. Makes certain nonresident aliens ineligible for such exclusion.
Bill· SS. 1921 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1991
Tax Fairness and Savings Incentive Act of 1991 - Title I: Tax Credit for Children - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of $300 per qualifying child. Title II: Retirement Savings Incentives - Subtitle A: Retirement Savings Incentives - Removes the limitations on deductions for individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and provides a cost of living adjustment for deductible amounts. Establishes special individual retirement accounts that are nondeductible. Makes such accounts nontaxable if earnings on contributions are held for at least five years. Applies the early withdrawal penalty to distributions made before the end of the five year-period. Subtitle B: Penalty-Free Distributions - Provides exemptions from the ten-percent penalty on early withdrawals from individual retirement plans for: (1) first home purchases; (2) higher education expenses; and (2) financially devastating medical expenses. Requires contributions to be held in certain IRAs (other than special IRAs) for at least five years prior to distributions. Title III: Reduction in Defense Spending - Sets forth limits on budget outlays and authority for defense spending for FY 1993 through 1997. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit the Congress from exceeding such limits. Provides for reducing maximum deficit amounts. Prohibits sequestration under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
Bill· SS. 1926 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the tax exclusion of U.S. savings bonds used to pay higher education tuition and fees to remove the requirement that such expenses be for the enrollment or attendance of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or the taxpayer's dependent.
Bill· SS. 1920 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1991
Economic Growth and Family Tax Freedom Act of 1991 - Title I: Nonrefundable Tax Credit for Children - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of $1,000 for each child under the age of six and $300 for each child between the age of six and 18. Makes the dependent care credit inapplicable to children under the age of six. Title II: Reducing the Cost of Capital by Reducing Capital Gains Tax Rates, Indexing the Basis of Certain Assets, and Excluding Gain From Sales of Principal Residences - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the individual and corporate capital gains rate from 34 percent to 15 percent. Reduces such tax to 7.5 percent for low- and middle-income taxpayers. Provides for the phaseout of personal exemptions and the overall limitation on itemized deductions to take into account adjusted gross income which has been reduced by net capital gain. Requires indexing, based on the gross national product deflator, of the adjusted basis of certain assets (corporate stock and tangible property that is a capital asset 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. Excludes from gross income the sale or exchange of property that has been owned and used by the taxpayer as the taxpayer's principal residence. Terminates provisions relating to the rollover or gain on the sale of a principal residence. Title III: Adjusting Depreciation Rates to Reflect Inflation - Provides a depreciation deduction adjustment for tangible property (other than residential rental property and nonresidential real property) placed in service after 1991. Allows phase-in deductions for such property placed in service after 1996. Title IV: Savings Incentives - Allows individuals to establish individual retirement plus accounts with tax treatment similar to that for individual retirement plans. Makes contributions to such accounts nondeductible. Provides for qualified distributions from such accounts, other than for general retirement purposes, including special purposes distributions made for the purchase of a first home and for medical or educational purposes. Prohibits special purpose distributions from being made during the first five years of the account. Title V: Treatment of Passive Losses - Provides for the treatment of rental and nonrental real estate activities under the limitations on losses from passive activities. Title VI: Enterprise Zones - Subtitle A: Designation of Enterprises Zones - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Secretary) to designate enterprise zones for purposes of providing tax and regulatory relief and improving local services. Limits choices to areas nominated by States and local governments. Limits the total number of areas that may be designated, and the time period of the designation. Authorizes the Secretary to designate a zone only if the area meets certain locational, demographic, unemployment, and poverty criteria. Requires nominating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's designation, to agree in writing to follow a course of action that may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, simplifying or streamlining regulation of business, and providing job training to area residents. Describes areas to which the Secretary must give preference in selecting areas for designation. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress every two years on the effects of such enterprise zones' designation in accomplishing the purposes of this Act. Subtitle B: Federal Income Tax Incentives - Allows a nonrefundable income tax credit to enterprise zone employees for five percent of any wages earned as do not exceed a specified amount. Phases out such credit. Provides for the nonrecognition of capital gain on the sale of enterprise zone property. Allows a taxpayer a deduction on the aggregate amount paid for the purchase of enterprise stock on its original issue by a qualified issuer. Requires any gain from the disposition of the stock to be treated as ordinary income. Excludes enterprise zone capital gains from income computation of alternative minimum taxes. Subtitle C: Regulatory Flexibility - Amends Federal law to revise the definition of "small entity" for purposes of the analysis of regulatory functions to include qualified business, government, and nonprofit enterprises operating within enterprise zones. Authorizes Federal agencies, upon request by a designating government, to waive or modify rules and regulations pertaining to the implementation of projects or activities within an enterprise zone. Requires agencies to approve the request if the resulting benefits of job creation, community development, or economic revitalization outweigh the public interest in retaining the rule unchanged. Disallows waiver or modification of a rule that would directly violate a statutory requirement or present a danger to the public health and safety. Subtitle D: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Enterprise Zones - Requires the Foreign-Trade Zone Board to consider on a priority basis and to expedite the processing of applications for the establishment of foreign-trade zones within enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to give priority to, and expedite applications for, the establishment of ports of entry necessary to establish such zones. Subtitle E: Repeals of Title VII of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 - Repeals title VII (enterprise zone development) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987.
Bill· HRH.R. 3724 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1991
Indian Health Amendments of 1991 - Amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to state that it is the intent of the Congress that the Nation meet specified health status objectives with respect to Indians and urban Indians by the year 2000. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to report to the President, for transmission to the Congress, on the progress made in each area of the Indian Health Service (Service) toward meeting each stated objective. Title I: Indian Health Manpower - Directs the Secretary to make preparatory scholarship grants for: (1) up to two years on a full-time basis (or the part-time equivalent) to Indians who have demonstrated the capability to successfully complete courses of study in the health professions; and (2) up to four years (or the part-time equivalent) for pregraduate education of any grantee leading to a baccalaureate degree in an approved course of study preparatory to such health professions. Prohibits the Secretary from denying scholarship assistance to an eligible applicant solely by reason of such applicant's eligibility for assistance or benefits under any other Federal program. Authorizes the Secretary to grant health professions scholarships to Indians who are enrolled full or part-time in appropriately accredited schools and pursuing courses of study in the health professions, with an emphasis on certain ones. Makes an individual eligible for such scholarship in any year in which he or she is enrolled full or part-time in such course of study. Provides that the period for a part-time scholarship shall not exceed the part-time equivalent of four years. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Service, to establish a Placement Office to develop a national policy for the placement, to available vacancies within the Service, of health professionals required to meet the active duty obligation prescribed under the Public Health Service Act without regard to any competitive personnel system, agency personnel limitation, or Indian preference policy. Makes an individual liable to the United States for the amount paid to or on the individual's behalf under a written Indian health professions contract if it is breached in specified ways. Entitles the United States to recover an amount determined by a specified formula pursuant to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, as amended, from any individual who breaches such contract by failing to begin or complete such service obligations. Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Service, to provide: (1) continuing education allowances to nurses employed by the Service; and (2) grants to establish and develop clinics operated by nurses, nurse midwives, or nurse practitioners to provide primary health care services to Indians. Allocates funds for the training of nurse practitioners. Requires that at least 25 percent of retention bonuses awarded each year by the Secretary beginning in FY 1992 be awarded to nurses. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Service, to establish a program to enable licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and registered nurses working in an Indian health program for at least one year to pursue advanced training in a residency program. Revises the Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program with respect to: (1) eligibility requirements; (2) priority vacancy positions; (3) an individual's becoming a participant in the program; (4) extension of obligated service; (5) undergraduate loans; (6) repayment of loans; (7) tax liability reimbursements; and (8) the Secretary's annual report to the Congress. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Service, to assign one individual in each area office to be responsible on a full-time basis for recruitment activities. Requires the Secretary to provide a grant to a college or university to establish and maintain a program parallel to the Indians into Medicine Program (INMED) for the nursing and mental health professions. Directs the Secretary to provide matching grants to Indian tribes and tribal organizations to assist in educating Indians to serve as health professionals in Indian communities by providing them with scholarships, under specified conditions. Prohibits any scholarship recipient from discriminating against an individual seeking health care on the basis of ability to pay or that payment for such care will be provided by Medicare or Medicaid Programs under the Social Security Act. Directs the Secretary, under authority of the Snyder Act, to: (1) maintain a Community Health Aide Program in Alaska; and (2) provide, in a specified manner, a high standard of training to community health aides to ensure that they provide quality health care, health promotion, and disease prevention services to the villages served by the Program. Requires the Secretary, by contract or otherwise, to provide training for individuals in the administration and planning of tribal health programs. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Health Services - Authorizes the Secretary to expend appropriated funds under this Act to eliminate the deficiencies in health status and resources of all Indian tribes. Changes the threshold cost established by the Secretary: (1) for FY 1992 to a minimum of $20,000 (currently a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $20,000) before a service unit can be eligible for reimbursement from the Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund for the cost of treatment of an individual; and (2) for each succeeding year to the cost of the previous year increased by the percentage increase in the medical care expenditure category of the consumer price index for all urban consumers. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Service, to provide health promotion and disease prevention services to Indians to achieve the health objectives set forth in this Act. Repeals the requirement that the Secretary establish from one to four demonstration projects to discover the most effective and cost-efficient means of providing health promotion and disease prevention services to Indians. Directs the Secretary to continue to maintain specified model diabetes projects in existence through FY 2000. Authorizes the Secretary to establish new model diabetes projects. Prohibits the establishment of a greater number of them in one service area than in another until there is an equal number established with respect to all service areas. Adds to the duties of the diabetes control officer employed in each area office of the Service the task of evaluating the effectiveness of services provided through model diabetes projects established under this Act. Requires the Service to report annually to the President for transmission to the Congress, on the mental health status of Indians. Requires any person employed as a psychologist or as a social worker to provide mental health care services to Indians in a clinical setting, under this Act or through a contract under the Indian Self-Determination Act, to be licensed as such or working under the direct supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist or social worker. Directs the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on the: (1) feasibility and desirability of furnishing hospice care to terminally ill Indians; (2) the determination of the most efficient and effective means of furnishing such care; and (3) the feasibility of allowing an Indian tribe to purchase, directly or through the Service, managed care coverage under certain circumstances. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Health Facilities - Requires the Secretary, when evaluating for the Congress the likely impact of the closure of an Indian Health Service hospital or one of its outpatient health care facilities, to specify: (1) the level of use of such hospital or facility by all eligible Indians; and (2) the distance between such hospital or facility and the nearest operating Service hospital. Requires the Secretary for health care delivery demonstration projects, as of October 1, 1995, to enter into contracts or award grants taking into consideration applications received from all service areas. Prohibits the award of a greater number of such contracts or grants in one service area than in another until there is an equal number of them with respect to all service areas for which the Secretary receives applications under certain conditions. Requires the Secretary to submit to the President (currently, the Congress) for inclusion in the budget submittal for: (1) FY 1997, an interim report on such established demonstration projects; and (2) FY 1999, a final report. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Access to Health Services - Amends the Social Security Act to prohibit any payments received by a hospital or skilled nursing facility of the Service for services provided to Indians eligible for Medicare benefits from being considered in determining appropriations for health care and services to Indians. Declares that the Secretary has no authority to provide services to an Indian beneficiary with coverage under Medicare in preference to an Indian beneficiary without such coverage. Requires payments to any Service facility made under the Medicaid program to be placed in a special fund to be held by the Secretary and used, in a specified manner, exclusively for making any improvements in the facilities of such Service to achieve compliance with the applicable conditions and requirements of the Social Security Act. Terminates this requirement when the Secretary determines and certifies that substantially all Service health facilities are in compliance with such conditions and requirements. Prohibits payments received by such facility for services provided to Indians eligible for benefits under Medicaid from being considered in determining appropriations for the provision of health care and services to Indians. Requires the Secretary to submit to the President, instead of the Congress, for submission with the budget, an accounting of the amount and use of funds reimbursed through Medicare and Medicaid made available to Indian Health Services. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Health Services for Urban Indians - Authorizes appropriations to make health services more accessible to the urban Indian population. Title VI: Organizational Improvements - Requires the Secretary to carry out, through the Director of the Service, all scholarship and loan functions under this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Title VII: Substance Abuse Programs - Redesignates Title VII of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act as Title VIII. Expands the responsibilities of the Indian Health Service with respect to the Memorandum of Agreement entered into under the Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1986. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Service, to provide a program of comprehensive alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment to members of Indian tribes. Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Service, to enter into contracts with public or private providers of alcohol and substance abuse treatment services to assist the Service in carrying out such programs. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide assistance to Indian tribes in developing criteria for the certification and accreditation of service facilities which meet certain minimum standards; (2) develop and implement a program for acute detoxification and treatment for Indian youth who are alcohol and substance abusers; and (3) construct or renovate, and appropriately staff and operate, a youth regional treatment center in each area under the jurisdiction of an area office. Considers the area offices of the Service in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, as one area office. Authorizes the Secretary to make funds available to the Tanana Chiefs Conference, Incorporated, to lease, construct, renovate, operate and maintain a residential youth treatment facility in Fairbanks, Alaska. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Service, to: (1) identify and use, where appropriate, federally-owned structures suitable as local residential or regional alcohol and substance abuse treatment centers for Indian youth; and (2) establish guidelines to determine their suitability for such purpose. Directs the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior, to develop and implement, within each Health Service unit, community-based rehabilitation and follow-up services designed to integrate long-term treatment and to monitor and support Indian youth who are alcohol or substance abusers after their return home. Requires the Secretary to provide for the inclusion of family members of a youth in such treatment programs or other appropriate services. Earmarks at least ten percent of funds appropriated to carry out such programs for outpatient care of adult family members related to the treatment of an Indian youth. Directs the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on: (1) the incidence and prevalence of the abuse of multiple forms of drugs, including alcohol, among Indian youth residing on Indian reservations and in urban areas; and (2) the interrelationship of such abuse with the incidence of mental illness among such youth. Requires the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior, to develop and implement, within each service unit, a program to provide training and community education in the areas of alcohol and substance abuse. Directs the Secretary, with respect to such programs, to take into consideration and make available, the results of the demonstration project for children of alcoholics funded by the Office of Minority Health of the Department of Health and Human Services. Requires the Secretary to make grants to the Navajo Nation to provide residential treatment for alcohol and substance abuse for the Tribe's adult and adolescent members and neighboring tribes. Directs the Navajo Nation to enter into a contract with a Gallup, New Mexico, area institution accredited by the Joint Commission of the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations to provide such comprehensive alcohol and drug treatment. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to: (1) those urban Indian organizations with which the Secretary has entered into a contract under this Act for the provision of health-related services in prevention, treatment, or rehabilitation of, or school and community-based education in alcohol and substance abuse in urban centers; and (2) Indian tribes to establish fetal alcohol syndrome programs to meet the health status objective specified in this Act. Directs the Secretary to provide assistance to Indian tribes in the development, printing, and dissemination of education and prevention materials on fetal alcohol syndrome. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Service, to continue making grants through FY 1995 to the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico, to provide substance abuse treatment services to Indians in need of them. Authorizes appropriations. Title VIII: Miscellaneous - Directs the President to include with submission of the budget certain reports and statements on meeting the objectives of this Act. Extends to FY 2000 the time during which Arizona is designated as a contract health service delivery area. Continues through FY 1995 the demonstration programs involving treatment for child sexual abuse that were conducted in FY 1991 through the Hopi Tribe and the Asiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck Reservation. Authorizes the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior to establish such programs in any service area, except that the establishment of a greater number of them in one service area than in another is prohibited until there is an equal number established with respect to all service areas. Authorizes appropriations for Indian health care programs through FY 2000. Title IX: Technical Corrections - Makes technical corrections to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
Bill· SS. 1918 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation on income tax forms of tax overpayments and cash contributions to the Public Debt Repayment Account. Amends Federal law to name the Treasury account which accepts money and gifts for the public debt as the Public Debt Repayment Account.
Bill· SS. 1917 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1991
Asset Indexing Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require indexing, based on the gross national product deflator, of the adjusted basis of certain assets (corporate stock and tangible property that is a capital asset of property used in a trade or business) that have been held for more than three years at the time of sale or other transfer, solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss.
Bill· SS. 1913 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt charitable organizations from wagering taxes.
Bill· HRH.R. 3704 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1991
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1991 - Title I: National Ocean Service - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for: (1) mapping, charting, and geodesy; (2) observation and assessment; and (3) ocean and coastal management. Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to conduct analyses of samples collected under the National Status and Trends Program until completion of a specified water circulation model for Long Island Sound. Earmarks observation and assessment funds for such a model. Title II: National Marine Fisheries Service - Amends the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Fisheries Program Authorization Act to authorize appropriations to the Department of Commerce for the National Marine Fisheries Service for: (1) information collection and analysis; (2) conservation and management; and (3) State and industry assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with, and provide financial assistance to, State, marine fisheries commissions, regional fishery management councils, and academic institutions for research on marine animals, endangered species, and fisheries conservation and management. Mandates a study in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and a report to specified congressional committees on the effects of feeding of noncaptive dolphins by human beings. Requires establishment in NOAA of the National Shellfish Indicator Study Project to conduct research on pathogenic indicators of contamination of shellfish growing areas, to be conducted in accordance with a specified existing cooperative agreement between NOAA and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to release certain previously-appropriated funds for shellfish water standards research. Authorizes appropriations. Mandates a comprehensive economic study and a report to the Congress to provide baseline information to guide policy decisions on the future of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic shrimp fishery. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Oceanic and Atmospheric Research - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for NOAA for: (1) climate and air quality research; and (2) atmospheric research. Requires the Office of the Chief Scientist of NOAA to submit to the Congress a plan for implementation of a nationwide climate services system and applied climatology program. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for NOAA for ocean and Great Lakes research. Authorizes appropriations to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OOAR) of NOAA for the Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for the OOAR for a large lakes research plan. Title IV: National Weather Service - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) for operations and research. Mandates establishment of: (1) an advisory committee on Atlantic tropical cyclone research and reconnaissance; and (2) a five-year program for data collection, research, and analysis on such cyclones; and (3) a management plan for the five-year program. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for the NWS for public warning and forecast systems, including systems acquisition. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary to complete the acquisition and deployment of the Next Generation Weather Radar system and the Automated Surface Observing Systems. Directs the Secretary to provide at least one NWS liaison officer for each area receiving such public institution liaison and community preparedness services, as of the date of enactment of this Act, from a Weather Service Office (WSO), a Weather Service Meteorological Observatory (WSMO), or an Agricultural Weather Service Center (AWSC). Requires such officer to be provided for at least two years after the WSO, WSMO, or AWSC is closed, consolidated, automated, or relocated. Directs the Secretary to provide such areas with sufficient personnel to ensure that modernization and restructuring of the NWS do not result in degradation in public institution liaison and community preparedness of such areas. Requires the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to identify areas for which there is significant doubt that the Secretary will be able to make a certification that such actions regarding a WSO or a Weather Service Forecast Office will not result in degradation of weather services to the affected area. Requires the Comptroller General to report to specified congressional committees regarding any areas certified by the Secretary which are listed by the NAS as significantly doubtful of certification. Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989 to add removal of any NWS radar to the list of actions requiring such certification by the Secretary. Modifies the required contents of the certification and associated procedure. Title V: National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for NOAA for: (1) satellite observing systems; and (2) completion of the procurement of specified Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites and Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites and the launching and supporting ground systems for each; and (3) data and information services. Amends the Land Remote-Sensing Commercialization Act of 1984 to mandate that any license issued under specified provisions of that Act specify that the licensee shall promptly make available all unenhanced data which the Secretary of the Interior (currently, the Secretary of Commerce) may request under specified provisions of the Act relating to archiving of data. Amends provisions of the Act relating to archiving in order to transfer from the Secretary of Commerce to the Secretary of the Interior responsibility for: (1) providing for long-term storage, maintenance, and upgrading of the basic, global, land remote-sensing data set; (2) requesting data needed for the basic data set from a system operator; (3) making data which is in the public domain available to requesting parties; and (4) using existing Government facilities, to the extent practicable, to carry out these functions. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to consult with the Secretary of Commerce to ensure that archiving activities are consistent with the terms and conditions of any contract, agreement, or license under specified provisions of the Act. Title VI: Buy America Provisions - Sets forth Buy American provisions regarding any contract or subcontract made with funds authorized under this Act for articles, materials, or supplies. Declares ineligible for any contract or subcontract from NOAA any person determined by a court or Federal agency to have affixed a fraudulent "Made in America" label to any product. Authorizes awarding to a domestic firm a contract under this Act for goods that, under competitive procedures, would be awarded to a foreign firm, if certain circumstances exist. Title VII: Tropical Cyclone Research Program - Tropical Cyclone Research Act of 1991. Directs the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Commerce to establish a five-year joint program, which expands on the plan established in provisions of this Act relating to Atlantic tropical cyclones, for collecting operational and reconnaissance data, conducting research, and analyzing data on tropical cyclones to assist the forecast and warning program and increase the understanding of the causes and behavior of tropical cyclones. Sets forth the responsibilities of each Secretary. Directs those Secretaries to jointly develop and submit to the Congress management plans for: (1) the program established by this Act; and (2) continued tropical cyclone surveillance and reconnaissance which will adequately protect the citizens of U.S. coastal areas. Mandates that the management plan and program: (1) provide for a minimum of the same level and quality of protection as the current tropical cyclone surveillance and reconnaissance program; and (2) in no way allow any reduction in the level, quality, timeliness, sustainability, and area of served of both the existing principal and back-up severe storm reconnaissance and tracking systems. Title VIII: Program Support - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for NOAA for: (1) executive direction and administrative activities; (2) acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of facilities; (3) marine services; and (4) reactivation and operation of a specified research vessel. Directs the Secretary to acquire space from the Administrator of General Services that meets the long-term needs of NOAA on Near Island in Kodiak, Alaska, provided the annual lease costs do not exceed a specified amount. Prohibits deactivation of any NOAA research vessel until an equivalent replacement is operational. Prohibits construction of any NOAA vessel or its major components in a foreign shipyard. Prohibits NOAA vessels homeported in the United States from being overhauled, repaired, or maintained in a foreign shipyard, except for voyage repairs. Directs the Secretary to consult with the Oceanographer of the Navy regarding interoperability of NOAA vessels with Navy vessels. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for modernization of the NOAA fleet. Mandates submission to the Congress of a detailed fleet replacement and modernization plan. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire NOAA vessels by purchase, lease, lease-purchase, or otherwise, under one or more multi-year contracts. Imposes requirements and conditions on such contracts. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for NOAA for aircraft services. Title IX: Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires notice to specified congressional committees: (1) before the Secretary may carry out a major reorganization of, or reprogram over a specified amount of funds appropriated for, any NOAA program or activity; and (2) annually regarding any new NOAA program or activity. Requires the Comptroller General to submit to the Congress an audit of: (1) natural resource damage assessment and restoration activities of NOAA under specified Acts; and (2) the Damage Assessment and Restoration Revolving Fund. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on a two-year budget cycle for NOAA. Freezes the price of nautical charts or other nautical products produced or published by NOAA. Mandates a report to the Congress by the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology regarding: (1) the most urgent current needs of oceanographic researchers for remote sensing capabilities and remotely sensed data; and (2) the major goals of satellite oceanography for the next ten years. Directs the Secretary to submit to specified congressional committees a report on how current and planned Federal satellite capabilities can aid in the enforcement of Federal fisheries laws and international fisheries conservation programs. Establishes in NOAA a Cooperative Institute of Fisheries Oceanography in partnership with Duke University and the Consolidated University of North Carolina. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to acquire space from the Administrator of General Services in the area of Newport News-Norfolk, Virginia, for consolidating and meeting the long-term space needs of NOAA in a cost-effective manner. Authorizes exchange of Department of Commerce real property for other real property in the area. Directs the Secretary to complete and make publicly available a manual describing requirements for recipients of NOAA financial assistance. Prohibits, after enactment of this Act, subjecting such assistance to review by the Financial Assistance Review Board. Sets forth procedures applicable to nondiscretionary assistance programs. Declares that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, financial assistance provided under a program for which the recipient is specified by statute to be, or has customarily been, a State or an interstate fishery commission may be provided on a sole-source basis. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for implementing the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990. Prohibits using amounts appropriated under this Act for activities authorized separately under the Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Resources Act. Repeals the National Ocean Pollution Planning Act of 1978. Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant of a specified amount to a qualified institution to develop and promote innovative post-secondary education and research in seafood business management and vessel operations. Establishes in NOAA the Chesapeake Bay Estuarine Resources Office. Earmarks funds for the establishment of the Office. Requires, notwithstanding any other provision of law, that amounts received by the United States (after enactment of this Act or with respect to the grounding of the Exxon Valdez) as reimbursement of expenses related to oil or hazardous substance spills response activities conducted by NOAA: (1) be deposited in NOAA's Damage Assessment and Restoration Revolving Fund; (2) be available for use in accordance with the law under which the activities are conducted; and (3) not be considered to be an augmentation of appropriations. Requires reversion to the Humbolt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District of certain property on Woodley Island in Eureka, California, acquired from that District and determined to be excess property.
Bill· SS. 1909 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1991
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to increase the exempted income amount under the social security retirement test for individuals who have attained normal retirement age by $3,000 each year for 1992 through 1996. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase to 55 percent for 1992 and 1993, and 60 percent for 1994 and thereafter, the maximum portion of OASDI benefits treated as taxable income for beneficiaries with income over certain threshold amounts.
Bill· SS. 1905 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the excise tax paid by any person for air transportation and for seating or sleeping accommodations in connection with such transportation.
Bill· SS. 1911 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to foreign companies carrying on insurance business in the United States. Requires the use of domestic company tax return data from the same taxable year as the year for which minimum effectively connected net investment income calculations are made. Requires the use of a carryover account for year-to-year income comparisons. Allows a foreign company to elect to use the individualized company yield method for determining such company's minimum effectively connected net investment income. Bases such method on United States dollar-denominated assets.
Bill· HRH.R. 3701 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1991
National Telecommunications Infrastructure Act of 1991 - Establishes in the U.S. Treasury a trust fund to be known as the Advance Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund to provide grants for the improvement of the nation's telecommunications networks and the deployment of advanced telecommunications technologies. Specifies that: (1) the head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shall be a trustee of the Fund; and (2) funds received from fees collected pursuant to this Act may, to the extent permitted by appropriation Acts, be used by the head to reimburse persons whose use of a frequency is terminated under the Emerging Telecommunications Technologies Act of 1991. Authorizes to be appropriated to the Fund for any fiscal year an amount not to exceed the amount of fees collected pursuant to this Act during such fiscal year, minus any funds allocated to reimburse displaced spectrum users. Specifies grant requirements for an advanced technology deployment project, such as that the project: (1) will result in the installation and operation of a fiber optics or other advanced technology for the provision of telecommunications services; (2) has been designed to promote the universal service objectives of the Communications Act of 1934; (3) is subject to the requirements imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or a State commission related to the provision of equal access; and (4) will result in the interconnection of such technology with the public switched telecommunications network. Directs the head to establish: (1) an advisory panel on the awarding of grants; and (2) procedures for the submission, review, and selection of grant applications. Amends the Communications Act to require the FCC, where there are mutually exclusive applications, to use competitive bidding for awarding all initial licenses or new construction permits, including licenses and permits for spectra reallocated for non-Government use. Directs the FCC: (1) to require potential bidders to file a first-stage application indicating an intent to participate in the competitive bidding process; (2) to require the winning bidder to submit a second-stage application; and (3) upon determining that such application is acceptable for filing and that the applicant is qualified, to grant a permit or license. Specifies that: (1) each participant in the competitive bidding process is subject to the schedule of charges contained in the Communications Act; and (2) the FCC shall have the authority in awarding construction permits or licenses under competitive bidding procedures to define the geographic and frequency limiations and technical requirements, if any, of such permits or licenses, to establish minimum acceptable competitive bids, and to establish other appropriate conditions on such permits and licenses that will serve the public interest. Directs the FCC to adopt rules establishing competitive bidding procedures, taking into account diversity of ownership, the needs of small businesses, and incentives for minority ownership. Excludes specified categories from competitive bidding, such as license renewals, frequencies specifically reserved for Federal, State, or local government entities, amateur operator services, maritime, land transportation, and aeronautical private radio services, and any other service, class of services, or assignment that the FCC determines (after conducting public comment and notice proceedings) should be exempt because of the public interest. Requires that moneys received from competitive bidding be deposited in the Fund. Makes a provision authorizing the FCC to grant an initial license or construction permit involving any use of the electromagnetic spectrum to a qualified applicant through the use of a system of random selection inapplicable where competitive bidding procedures are required. Authorizes the FCC, in making spectrum allocation decisions among services that are subject to competitive bidding, to consider the relative economic values and other public interest benefits of the proposed uses as reflected in the potential revenues that would be collected under its competitive bidding procedures. Requires the FCC to: (1) convene a joint panel composed of representatives of the Federal Government, State government, and private industry and commerce to advise the FCC with respect to communications infrastructure planning; and (2) prescribe regulations establishing procedures for local exchange carriers (carriers) to ensure coordinated network planning, the development of standards for the telephone exchange service networks of carriers by appropriate standard-setting bodies, and the provision by carriers serving the same area of timely information to other such carriers on the deployment of communications equipment that will affect changes in interconnectabiity or interoperability among communications networks. Bars carriers from being required to share information with carriers with whom they directly compete except as may be necessary to meet interconnection and interoperability requirements. Specifies that a carrier which is the recipient of information pursuant to this Act shall use it only for its own exchange network and service planning and shall not disclose it to any person other than a carrier in the same area of interest. Directs: (1) the FCC to convene a joint board to establish nationwide uniform depreciation rates and schedules for investments in plant and equipment used for an advanced broadband telecommunications network which reflect the real economic life of plant and equipment and which foster investment in, and the development of, an advanced broadband public telecommunications network; and (2) the joint board to issue its recommended decision, and the FCC to approve, disapprove, or modify such decision, within a specified time frame. Specifies that such rates and schedules shall be used by all Federal and State regulatory communications agencies in determining rates and charges. Directs the joint board, in prescribing minimum standards, to consider specified factors, including the need to substantially reduce the number of years over which facilities in operation on the enactment date of this Act may be fully depreciated and the need to encourage the deployment of modern broadband technology. Authorizes the FCC to prescribe alternative depreciation regulations to be applied in the case of any State that does not comply with the minimum standards prescribed under this Act. Specifies that such regulations shall require the FCC to determine that a common carrier will comply with a requirement conditioning the use of expedited depreciation schedules on the assumption by the common carrier of legally enforceable commitments to make reasonable and necessary investments in the expansion and modernization of its telecommunications facilities before the carrier is permitted to use the prescribed depreciation regulations. Requires the joint board, prior to making a recommendation to the FCC, to put the tentative agreement out for comment from State commissions, carriers, and other parties. Specifies that nothing in this Act shall prevent States from prescribing more rapid recovery of capital expenditures.
Bill· HRH.R. 3697 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1991
Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 1991 - Title I: Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program - Establishes an emergency unemployment compensation program. Allows any State to enter into and participate in an agreement with the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) under which the State agency which administers the State unemployment compensation law will make payments of emergency unemployment compensation: (1) to individuals who have exhausted all rights to regular compensation under State law, have no rights to such regular compensation or any additional State or Federal compensation, and are not receiving Canadian compensation; and (2) for any week of unemployment beginning in the individual's eligibility period. Sets forth provisions relating to exhaustion of regular benefits and weekly amount of emergency benefits equal to regular benefits. Authorizes a State Governor, in a period of a seven or eight percent total unemployment rate in that State (as defined under this Act), to elect to trigger an extended compensation period to provide emergency unemployment compensation to individuals who have exhausted their rights to regular compensation under State law. Requires a State, under such an agreement, to establish an emergency unemployment compensation account with respect to the benefit year of each eligible individual who files an application. Limits benefit payments to not more than the amount in the individual's account. Sets forth formulas for determining the amount in such account. Provides that the applicable limit in such account shall be equal to: (1) 20 for an eight-percent period, i.e. one triggered by an adjusted total unemployment rate (TUR) of eight percent or more in the State, for the most recent six calendar months with available data; (2) 13 for a seven-percent period; and (3) seven for a six-percent period or for any other period. Sets forth special rules relating to such applicable limits. Requires reduction in such account by the amount of extended benefits received by the individual relating to the same benefit year under the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970. Sets the weekly benefit amount at the amount of regular compensation (including dependents' allowances) payable under the State law to the individual for such week for total unemployment. Provides for determination of periods and applicable triggers. Provides for a minimum period of at least 13 weeks. Provides, in general, that no emergency unemployment compensation shall be payable to any individual under this Act for any week beginning: (1) before the later of November 17, 1991, or the first week following the week in which an agreement under this Act is entered into; or (2) after August 1, 1992. Sets forth transition and reachback provisions for the eligibility of certain individuals for such benefits, as exceptions to such general rule. Provides for payments to States having such agreements for emergency unemployment compensation. Sets forth financing provisions. Requires that funds in the extended unemployment compensation account of the Unemployment Trust Fund be used to make payments to States having agreements under this Act. Sets forth provisions relating to fraud and overpayments. Defines the eligible period under this Act. Provides that in no event shall an individual's period of eligibility include any weeks after the 39th week after the end of the benefit year for which the individual exhausted rights to regular compensation or extended compensation. Title II: Demonstration Program to Provide Job Search Assistance - Directs the Secretary to carry out a demonstration program to determine the feasibility of implementing job search assistance programs. Requires selection of three States to participate in such program, based on specified criteria. Requires that at least one of these States will replicate a prior successful demonstration project for job search assistance. Sets forth requirements for the program agreement with these States. Requires a job search assistance program, for purposes of this title, to: (1) require certain unemployment compensation recipients to participate in a qualified intensive job search program (the program) after receiving such compensation for at least six but not more than ten weeks during any benefit year; (2) entitle such individuals to an intensive job search program voucher; and (3) disqualify those who do not satisfactorily participate in such program from receiving such compensation for a specified period of not more than ten weeks. Makes such program requirements applicable to such recipients if, during a specified three-year period, they had at least 126 weeks of employment at wages of $30 or more a week with their last employer (or an equivalent amount computed under prescribed regulations). Sets forth exceptions to such program requirements and program qualifications. Provides that such vouchers entitle the organization (including the State employment service) providing the program to a payment from the State agency equal to the lesser of: (1) the reasonable costs of providing the program; or (2) the average weekly benefit amount in the State. Requires Federal payments from the extended unemployment compensation account to each participating State's account in the Unemployment Trust Fund in an amount equal to the payments made by the State agency for such program vouchers. Provides for payments on a calendar month basis, and for certification by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to submit two interim reports and a final report to the Congress on the demonstration program under this title. Title III: Other Provisions - Amends specified Federal law to repeal certain limitations on payment of unemployment compensation to former members of the Armed Forces. Reduces the length of required active duty by reserves for purposes for such payment. Amends the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to allow optional unemployment benefits for certain school employees, by making denial of such benefits discretionary rather than mandatory. Amends the Social Security Act to establish an Advisory Council on Unemployment Compensation. Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish such a council by February 1, 1992, and every fourth year thereafter. Requires each such council to evaluate the unemployment compensation program. Sets forth membership and staff provisions. Requires each council to report to the President and the Congress by February 1 of the second year following the year in which it is required to be established. Requires the first Council report to include findings and recommendations on determining eligibility for extended unemployment benefits on the basis of unemployment statistics for regions, States, or subdivisions of States. Directs the Secretary, within 12 months, to report to the Congress a proposal for revising the method of allocating grants among the States for administration of the unemployment insurance program. Prohibits the Secretary from revising such method until 12 months after such report is submitted to the Congress. Title IV: Financing Provisions - Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 to provide for permanent extension of provisions relating to collection of nontax debts owed to Federal agencies. Amends the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to extend the surtax imposed on employers through 1996. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit the use of the preceding year's tax for purposes of determining individual estimated tax payments. Title V: Railroad Unemployment Insurance - Amends the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to provide temporary extended railroad unemployment insurance benefits to railroad employees who have less than ten years of service, for certain periods of high national unemployment. Provides for such extended benefits for up to 13 weeks (65 days of unemployment), through July 4, 1992. Sets forth transition and reachback provisions. Title VI: Appropriations - Appropriates additional specified amounts, from the Employment Security Administration Account in the Unemployment Trust Fund, for: (1) State unemployment insurance and employment service operations for specified service operations for specified activities and administrative expenses related to amendments made by this Act; and (2) authorized expenses of the Advisory Council on Unemployment Compensation. Title VII: Budget Provisions - Provides that any amount of new budget authority, outlays, or receipts resulting from this Act shall not be considered for any purpose under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Exempts payments under title I (emergency unemployment compensation) of this Act from any sequestration order issued under specified provisions of such Act.
Bill· SS. 1900 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1991
Tithe Tax Act of 1989 - 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. 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. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, within 90 days of this Act's enactment, to submit to a specified congressional committee a draft of conforming and technical Internal Revenue Code changes required to reflect the changes made by this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 3689 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1991
Community Health Care Act of 1991 - Title I: Establishment Of Federal-State Partnership For The Provision Of Universal Health Insurance - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXI under which is created a national health insurance program (the program) to be administered in each State through local health care districts established below. Entitles U.S. citizens and permanent U.S. residents residing in each local health care district to enroll in the State health care plan for that district which shall provide for a variety of specified standard benefits and services as well as preventive and long-term care services, services for pregnant women and children, and, at the option of the State, other benefits and services which the State Health Care Board established below determines are appropriate. Requires providers of such services to meet State certification standards similar to those under Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) for furnishing such services and other applicable safety standards as well in order to receive payment for plan services. Places limitations on the amount, duration, and scope of benefits and services to be provided under State plans, with exceptions for certain experimental services. Details administrative provisions. Establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services the National Health Care Board which shall be responsible for the general administration of the program at the Federal level. Requires each State to establish a State Health Care Board which shall designate, according to specified criteria, geographic regions of the State to serve as local health care districts, unless the State demonstrates to the satisfaction of the National Board that such local districts are unnecessary in which case the program shall be under State administration. Provides for the use of area agencies on aging to administer long-term care benefits under the program in States without local health care districts. Establishes with respect to each local health care district a district health care board which shall establish payment rates for plan benefits and services and, at the option of the State, either serve as the single community insurer with overall responsibility for administering the State plan in that district or enter into agreements for the administration of the State plan in partnership with eligible private health benefit plans. Requires each district board to establish a mechanism for enrolling in the State plan all eligible individuals residing in the local health care district. Sets forth provisions governing the establishment by district boards of payment rates for plan services and the payment by district boards of service providers for services provided to district residents enrolled in the program, with payments made in advance on the basis of average per capita rates for individuals enrolled with private plans who are furnished benefits and services under the State plan. Places restrictions on out-of-pocket expenses for plan benefits and services. Provides for the establishment of annual budgets under State plans. Establishes limitations on total payments under State plans. Creates in the Treasury the Federal Health Care Trust Fund (trust fund) to receive funds generated from revenues dedicated to the support of the program. Outlines provisions governing payments from the trust fund to the States for plan services, with reduced payments for States for which the National Board has established and is administering a State plan. Provides for adjustments to such Federal payments to reflect differences in the costs incurred by States under State plans. Establishes the National Commission on Quality Assurance. Makes it the purpose of the Commission to enhance the quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of health care services. Delineates specific Commission duties. Includes as a duty the establishment of national minimum standards for health care providers to assure the quality of medical services. Requires the consideration of specified criteria in establishing such standards. Requires each State Health Care Board to provide for the appointment of a State Commission on Quality Assurance to: (1) facilitate the transfer of information to and from the National Commission; (2) gather information on medical practices in the State; (3) monitor the establishment of local health care district quality assurance boards in each health care district and develop rules and procedures for the operations of these district quality assurance review boards; and (4) hear appeals from and perform periodic reviews of quality review procedures conducted by local health care district quality assurance review boards. Requires each district board to establish a local health care district quality assurance review board to: (1) review the performance of individuals and entities providing services in the district; (2) ensure the compliance of such individuals and entities with the minimum standards discussed above; (3) receive and hear complaints on service quality; (4) impose sanctions on individuals and entities that it finds to be out of compliance with such standards; and (5) provide technical assistance to such individuals and entities. Sets forth requirements for State laws relating to medical malpractice liability. Requires the National Board to make grants to eligible States for medical malpractice liability reform programs. Authorizes appropriations. Requires State development of practice profiles with respect to practitioner services. Discusses the assumption of State responsibilities by the National Board in cases of States without State plans. Terminates specified Federal health benefit programs rendered superfluous by the enactment of this Act. Title II: Financing Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase individual and top corporate income tax rates and excise taxes on cigarettes and distilled spirits as well as to make changes in social security taxes (including an increase in hospital insurance tax rates) to generate revenues to support the program established under title I. Directs the National Health Care Board to recommend to the Congress increases in other excise taxes resulting in additional specified annual revenues.
Bill· HRH.R. 3690 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1991
Fairness in Federal Purchases Act of 1991 - Amends the Buy American Act to require Federal agency heads, upon publication in the Federal Register of a notification that the unemployment rate was five percent or higher or that the gross national product (GNP) declined during the preceding fiscal quarter, to: (1) determine whether the amount the agency spent on foreign government goods and services exceeded the amount such foreign governments spend on similar domestic goods and services during the preceding fiscal year and, if so, adjust spending on procurement from domestic versus foreign sources to eliminate any imbalance; and (2) determine whether less than 35 percent of the agency procurement spending went to small businesses and, if so, increase small business procurement spending to equal or exceed that amount. Provides that the lowest acceptable domestic product prices shall be considered unreasonable if they exceed the lowest acceptable foreign prices by more than: (1) six percent in the case of a domestic offer from a large business that is not a labor surplus area concern; or (2) 15 percent in the case of a domestic offer from a small business or labor surplus area concern. Terminates such spending requirements after: (1) three years; or (2) specified shorter periods following publication of an unemployment rate of less than five percent for the preceding quarter or of a stable or increasing GNP for two consecutive quarters.
Bill· HRH.R. 3682 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the low-income housing credit for three years from applicable termination dates. Allows housing credit agencies to collect a reasonable fees for compliance monitoring. Requires such agencies to take into account project developer fees when determining the financial feasibility of a housing project and the credit to be allocated to such project.
Bill· HRH.R. 3692 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1991
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Land Withdrawal Act of 1991 - Withdraws from all forms of entry, sale, and disposal under the public land laws and from all forms of appropriation and operation under mining and mineral leasing laws the public lands in Eddy County, New Mexico, which surround the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) (a Department of Energy (DOE) research and development facility authorized to demonstrate the safe disposal of defense radioactive waste). Describes the lands to be withdrawn. Revokes specified public land orders made inconsistent by this Act. Makes the Secretary of Energy responsible for management of the withdrawn lands. Requires the Secretary to develop a management plan for the withdrawn lands requiring any use of such lands for activities not associated with WIPP to be subject to conditions and restrictions that may be necessary to permit the conduct of WIPP activities. Requires the management plan to permit domestic livestock grazing, hunting and trapping, maintenance of wildlife habitat, the disposal of salt tailings remaining on the surface, and mining. Directs the Secretary to submit the management plan to appropriate congressional committees and the State of New Mexico. Authorizes the Secretary to close to the public any part of such withdrawn lands if required for public health and safety. Authorizes the Secretary to implement a transuranic waste experimental program at the WIPP according to prescribed guidelines. Directs the Secretary to submit the experimental program proposal to: (1) the State of New Mexico; (2) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); (3) the National Academy of Sciences; and (4) the WIPP Environmental Evaluation Group (EEG). Provides for conflict resolution if the State of New Mexico disagrees with the Secretary's final experimental program plan. Sets forth review and modification procedures. Prohibits transuranic waste from being received for operational demonstration of the WIPP before: (1) the Secretary's determination of compliance with disposal regulations; and (2) the EPA Administrator's certification to the Congress that the Secretary has complied with them. Sets forth: (1) the EPA compliance scheme; (2) specified restrictions upon transuranic waste; (3) retrievability requirements regarding transuranic waste emplaced in the WIPP; and (4) transportation and containerization requirements (including training for accident prevention and emergency preparedness). Directs the Mine Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor to inspect the mine at the WIPP as frequently as other mine sites under its purview, and to report its findings to the Secretary for prompt correction of any deficiencies. Directs the Bureau of Mines to prepare an annual evaluation of mine safety at the WIPP. Sets forth an economic assistance payment scheme to be made by the Secretary to the State of New Mexico and certain local governmental units for operation and decommissioning expenses. Authorizes payments in lieu of taxes to such governmental entities. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the State of New Mexico regarding the promotion of WIPP-related business and employment opportunities, with particular attention given to Lea and Eddy counties. Directs the Secretary to make annual payments to the State of New Mexico for the purpose of establishing and maintaining an Impact Assessment Group within the Waste Management Education and Research Consortium to prepare annual reports on the economic impact of WIPP activities. Directs the Secretary to: (1) submit to certain congressional committees a preliminary plan for active and passive institutional controls for managing the WIPP after decommissioning; and (2) publish in the Federal Register a preliminary management plan for the WIPP after decommissioning. Authorizes appropriations to provide compensation for the cancellation of specified oil and gas leases. Authorizes appropriations for this Act generally. Mandates that transuranic waste introduced at the WIPP site prior to enactment of this Act be promptly removed if: (1) it is not being used to implement the experimental program; or (2) it does not comply with specified statutory restrictions. Subjects such waste to the retrievability requirements of this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 3680 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1991
Family Tax Relief Act 1991 - Title I: Modification of Personal Income Tax - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a refundable tax credit of $350 for each child under the age of 18. Title II: Modifications of the Congressional Budget Process - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to reduce the discretionary spending limits for the defense, international, and domestic categories for FY 1992 and 1993. Reduces overall discretionary spending limits for fiscal year 1994 and 1995. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to require the reductions in outlays for FY 1992 through 1995 resulting from the reductions in discretionary spending limits under this title to be treated as savings in direct spending for sequestration purposes. Title III: Nondefense Spending Savings - Subtitle A: Aid to Families With Dependent Children - Amends part A (Aid to Families With Dependent Children) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require State plans to reduce AFDC payments by reason of the tax credit for children. Provides that if any family becomes ineligible for AFDC payments because of such reduction, the family remains eligible for any other program, the qualification for which is eligibility to receive such aid, and will not be required to reapply if otherwise eligible. Prohibits the approval of any State plan for medical assistance if payment levels are less than the payment levels in effect under such plan on October 1, 1991 (currently, May 1, 1988). Revises the method of allocating child support payment received for AFDC recipients. Subtitle B: Termination of Specific Programs - Terminates the following: (1) the superconductor super collider project; (2) the Space Station Freedom Program or any other space station; (3) reduced rate mailings for qualified nonprofit organizations, except mailings by blind or other handicapped persons; (4) the Fossil Energy Research and Development program; (5) the Nuclear Energy Research and Development Program; and (6) the Clean Coal Technology program. Subtitle C: Termination of Certain Loan and Guarantee Programs - Provides for the termination of the Small Business Administration and the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Transfers certain authorities to other Federal agencies. Subtitle D: Education Provisions - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require certain institutions of higher education to pay a co-origination fee in order for a student to be eligible to receive certain loans to attend such institution. Bases such fee on the loan default rate of the institution. Requires the Secretary of Education to use such fees to make payments on defaulted loans. Lowers the rates on special allowances paid to lenders who make higher education loans. Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 to make permanent provisions regarding the collection of non-tax debts owed to Federal agencies. Amends Federal law to revise the method of computing aid to local educational agencies in the case of children of persons who reside or work on Federal property by taking into account the number of children whose parents are employed on public housing property. Subtitle E: Agricultural Programs - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to make individuals with adjusted gross income in excess of $100,000 ineligible for deficiency payments. Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to set forth the percentage of reduction in deficiency payments for wheat, feed grains, cotton, rice, and crops for crop years 1992 through 1995. Amend the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to repeal the export enhancement program and the market promotion program. Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from using cash or commodities of, or owned by, the Commodity Credit Corporation or the Department of Agriculture to subsidize: (1) the export of an agricultural commodity or product; or (2) market and export promotion of an agricultural commodity or product by any person. Title IV: National Security Savings - Prohibits the Department of Defense from procuring the following weapon systems: (1) B-2 bomber aircraft; (2) MX missiles; and (3) small intercontinental ballistic missiles (SICBM). Suspends the following weapon system programs until the President certifies to the Congress the need for such programs and the Congress authorizes such programs to proceed: (1) the Air Force advanced tactical fighter; (2) the aerospace plan; (3) the MILSTAR satellite; (4) the A-12 aircraft; (5) the V-22 Osprey aircraft; and (6) the Army light helicopter. Limits the procurement of certain weapon systems that are procured for use in any fiscal year after FY 1991 to the minimum number of units necessary to maintain a defense industrial base sufficient for producing that weapon system as needed to meet existing and contingent threats to the national security as, determined by the President. Specifies such systems as: (1) the seawolf submarine (SSN-21); (2) the M-1 tank; (3) the F/A-18 aircraft; (4) helicopters; (5) the F-14 aircraft; and (6) the F-16 aircraft. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the modernization of weapon systems, including aircraft carriers, should continue; and (2) the Navy should continue to operate nonnuclear-powered aircraft carriers in the fleet while the environmental risks associated with the deployment of nuclear aircraft carriers into zones of armed conflict are unacceptable. Amends the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1985 to reduce the strength level of members of the Armed Forces stationed in Europe. Specifies the Armed Forces end strengths for FY 1992 through 1996. Provides for the distribution of personnel reductions by: (1) removing two heavy divisions of the Army from active to reserve components; (2) deactivating two light infantry divisions of the Army; and (3) reducing the number of aircraft carrier groups in the Navy. Declares that the Congress urges the President to enter into negotiations with appropriate foreign countries in regions where there are serious threats to vital national security interests of the United States in order to provide for the establishment of facilities in such countries that are suitable for facilitating rapid deployment of appropriate elements of the Armed Forces to those regions in the event of an international crisis that threatens those national security interests. Directs the President to take action as necessary to increase significantly the sea lift capabilities of the Armed Forces in order to facilitate the rapid deployment of such regions. Authorizes the Department of Defense to use funds available for the Strategic Defense Initiative for the development and deployment of an antiballistic missile defense system that is the minimum system necessary to defend the United States against a limited ballistic missile attack, including accidentally launched ballistic missiles. Authorizes appropriations for the sea lift and the Strategic Defense Initiative.
Bill· HRH.R. 3678 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1991
Economic Growth Act of 1991 - Title I: Investment and Job Creation Incentives - Subtitle A: Reduction in Capital Gains Tax for Individuals - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the capital gains deduction for individuals. Provides special rules for the gain or loss from the sale or exchange of collectibles and sales of interest in partnerships. Disallows such deduction in computing the alternative minimum tax. Revises the formula for determining gain from the dispositions of certain depreciable realty to take into account depreciation adjustments (adjustments allowed or allowable for exhaustion, wear and tear, obsolescence, or certain amortization). Subtitle B: Inflation Adjustment for Investments - Requires indexing, based on the consumer price index, 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 after April 15, 1991) 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 the inflation adjustment treatment of: (1) short sales; (2) regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts; and (3) partnerships, S corporations, and common trust funds. Prohibits gain from the sale or other disposition of an indexed asset from being taken into account under the limitation on investment interest. Subtitle C: Enterprise Zones - Part I: Designation - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Secretary) to designate enterprise zones for purposes of providing tax and regulatory relief and improving local services. Limits choices to areas nominated by States and local governments. Limits the total number of areas that may be designated, and the time period of the designation. Authorizes the Secretary to designate a zone only if the area meets certain locational, demographic, unemployment, and poverty criteria. Requires nominating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's designation, to agree in writing to follow a course of action that may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, simplifying or streamlining regulation of business, and providing job training to area residents. Describes areas to which the Secretary must give preference in selecting areas for designation. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress every two years on the effects of such enterprise zones' designation in accomplishing the purposes of this Act. Part II: Federal Income Tax Incentives - Allows a nonrefundable income tax credit to enterprise zone employees for five percent of any wages earned as do not exceed a specified amount. Phases out such credit. Provides for the nonrecognition of capital gain on the sale of enterprise zone property. Allows a taxpayer a deduction on the aggregate amount paid for the purchase of enterprise stock on its original issue by a qualified issuer. Requires any gain from the disposition of the stock to be treated as ordinary income. Excludes enterprise zone capital gains from income computation of alternative minimum taxes. Part III: Regulatory Flexibility - Amends Federal law to revise the definition of "small entity" for purposes of the analysis of regulatory functions to include qualified business, government, and nonprofit enterprises operating within enterprise zones. Authorizes Federal agencies, upon request by a designating government, to waive or modify rules and regulations pertaining to the implementation of projects or activities within an enterprise zone. Requires agencies to approve the request if the resulting benefits of job creation, community development, or economic revitalization outweigh the public interest in retaining the rule unchanged. Disallows waiver or modification of a rule that would directly violate a statutory requirement or present a danger to the public health and safety. Part IV: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Enterprise Zones - Requires the Foreign-Trade Zone Board to consider on a priority basis and to expedite the processing of applications for the establishment of foreign-trade zones within enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to give priority to, and expedite applications for, the establishment of ports of entry necessary to establish such zones. Part V: Repeal of Title VII of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 - Repeals title VII (enterprise zone development) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987. Subtitle D: Research and Experimentation Credit Made Permanent - Makes permanent the tax credit for increasing research activities and the tax credit for clinical testing expenses. Title II: Savings Incentives - Allows individuals to establish individual retirement plus accounts with tax treatment similar to that for individual retirement plans. Makes contributions to such accounts nondeductible. Allows existing individual retirement accounts (IRA) to be rolled over into individual retirement plus accounts with payment of tax on the amount rolled over for which a deduction was once allowable, but no tax when withdrawn. Title III: Homeownership Incentives - Subtitle A: First-Time Homebuyers - Allows a tax credit for the first-time purchase of a principal residence by individuals with incomes of $31,000 or less (phased-out to incomes of up to $41,000). Limits such credit to $1,000. Subtitle B: Penalty-Free IRA Plus Withdrawal for Home Purchase, Higher Education, and Health Costs - Allows penalty-free distributions from IRA Plus accounts of up to 25 percent of the account limit for: (1) first-time homebuyers; (2) medical expenses; and (3) higher education expenses. Title IV: Work Incentives - Subtitle A: Reduction in Social Security Penalty on Working Elderly - Amends title II of the Social Security Act (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Benefits) to raise the earnings limit for retirees. Appropriates to each payor fund amounts equivalent to the aggregate increase in social security benefits payable from such fund which is attributable to such amendment. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study during 1997 whether further amendments relating to deductions on account of work and the exempt amount under the earnings limit are necessary or appropriate. Subtitle B: 25 Percent Reduction in Income Tax Rates - Reduces the individual income tax rates and the alternative minimum tax. Title V: Reduction in Federal Spending to Offset Revenue Loss - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to annually: (1) estimate the amount (if any) of the net reduction in Federal revenues for the fiscal year which will result from the amendments made by this Act; and (2) determine the sequestration percentage necessary to reduce Federal outlays for such fiscal year by an aggregate amount equal to the estimated amount of such net reduction. Requires the President to issue an order requiring a sequestration with respect to each budget account in an amount equal to the sequestration percentage of the amount otherwise available for such account.
Bill· HRH.R. 3677 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1991
Child Support Enforcement Improvements Act of 1991 - Makes depository institutions not liable under any Federal or State law to any person for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency attempting to establish, modify, or enforce a child support obligation of such individual. Prohibits such an agency from disclosing such a record for any other purpose and provides for civil damages for unauthorized disclosures. Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to permit credit reporting agencies to grant access to certain consumer reports to a State child support enforcement agency that is seeking to establish, modify, or enforce a child support obligation against the consumer. Amends the Social Security Act to revise requirements for State statutorily prescribed procedures to improve the effectiveness of child support enforcement. Requires such procedures to require, if a State court or administrative agency issues a support order requiring an absent parent to obtain medical insurance coverage for one or more children of a custodial parent, that the absent parent: (1) within 30 days after receiving notice of such order, provide to the custodial parent written documentation that such insurance coverage has been obtained or applied for; (2) upon failure to apply for, obtain, or maintain such coverage, be liable for any reasonable and necessary health or dental expenses, including medical insurance premiums of the child or children incurred by the custodial parent. Sets forth requirements for the insurer if such coverage is obtained. Includes under the incentive payments program any dependent medical insurance coverage which is provided due to the successful application of such enforcement procedures. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study, and report to specified congressional committees how the successful efforts of States in enforcing obligations of absent parents to pay (and obtain medical insurance coverage with respect to) health and dental expenses of children should be rewarded through an incentive payments program. Amends Social Security Act provisions for collection of past-due child support from Federal tax refunds to require: (1) any State that has a centralized system for collection, recording, and distribution of child support to use such system to verify the existence of all past-due child support (in addition to other support verified by the system); and (2) any State that does not have such a system to make a good faith effort to collect all such past-due child support. Directs the Office of Child Support Enforcement of the Department of HHS to report to the Congress annually on State compliance with specified standards establishing time limits within which the State must respond to requests to provide certain child support assistance, under the Social Security Act. Requires States to assess a $1,000 penalty against any employer who fails to make a payment of withheld wages to pay child support obligations of an employee within the ten-day period required under the Social Security Act. Requires States to expend all such penalties collected for State plan operation within a specified period. Allows delay in such additional requirements if State legislation is required. Directs the Office of Child Support Enforcement of the Department of HHS to develop a national parent locator network which would build on the comprehensive statewide child support enforcement systems and which would allow States to carry on specified parent locator activities.
Bill· HRH.R. 3669 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1991
Directs the President to transfer to the Demobilization and Transition Fund for El Salvador (established pursuant to the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1991) a specified amount of funds allocated for foreign military financing for El Salvador for FY 1992 under any joint resolution making continuing appropriations. Requires the transfer to the Fund of 50 percent of funds for such financing for El Salvador provided under such a joint resolution or the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1992 (excluding the funds released by the President) if a pardon (other than a pardon pursuant to an agreement between the parties to the conflict in El Salvador) is granted to any of the army officers convicted of the November 1989 murders at the University of Central America.
Bill· HRH.R. 3667 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1991
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 firefighters.
Bill· SS. 1886 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1991
Medicaid Moratorium Amendments of 1991 - Amends the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenues Act of 1988 to: (1) delay until September 30, 1992, the issuance of regulations changing the treatment under the Medicaid program (title XIX of the Social Security Act) of voluntary contributions and provider-specific taxes; and (2) maintain current regulations that allow intergovernmental transfers as a source of a State's expenditures for which Federal matching funds are available under the Medicaid program. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to specified congressional committees a report on: (1) regulations to limit the use of voluntary contributions and provider-specific taxes to obtain Federal financial participation; (2) specific types of voluntary contributions and provider-specific taxes that may be used as sources of a State's expenditures for which Federal financial participation is available; and (3) any legislation that the Secretary believes is appropriate. Sets forth budget compliance provisions.
Bill· SS. 1888 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1991
ESOP Promotion Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow S corporations (certain small business corporations) to participate in employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs).
Bill· HRH.R. 3662 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1991
Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to require that: (1) a decision by Federal Prison Industries (FPI) to produce a new prison-made product or to expand the production of an existing product be made by the Board of Directors of FPI (the Board) in conformance with the public notice and comment requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act; and (2) the corporation prepare and furnish to the Board a detailed analysis of the probable impact on industry and free labor of any proposal to authorize the production and sale of a new prison-made product or to expand production of a currently authorized product (such proposal). Requires such analysis to identify and consider factors including: (1) the number of vendors that currently meet Federal requirements for the specific product; (2) the proportion of the Federal market for the product currently furnished by small and disadvantaged businesses and businesses in labor surplus areas during the previous three fiscal years; (3) the share of the Federal market for the product projected for FPI for the fiscal year in which production will commence (or expand) and the subsequent three fiscal years; (4) whether the industry producing the product in the private sector has an unemployment rate higher than the national average, a rate of employment for production workers that has consistently shown an increase during the previous five years, or an import to domestic production ratio of 25 percent or greater; (5) whether the specific product is an import-sensitive product; (6) the projected growth in the Government for the specific product and the capability of such demand to sustain both FPI and private vendors; and (7) whether authorizing the production of the new product will provide inmates with the maximum opportunity to acquire knowledge and skill in trades and occupations that will provide them with a means of earning a livelihood upon release. Bars the Board from approving such proposal if the product is: (1) produced in the private sector by an industry which has reflected during the previous year an unemployment rate above the national average; or (2) an import-sensitive product. Directs the Board to: (1) give additional notice of such proposal in a publication designed to most effectively provide notice to private vendors and labor unions representing private sector workers who could reasonably be expected to be affected by approval of such proposal; (2) solicit comments on the analysis required under this Act from trade associations representing private sector workers who could reasonably be expected to be affected by its approval; (3) afford an opportunity, upon request, for a representative of private industry to present comments on such proposal directly to the Board. Requires the corporation to provide the Board with its recommendations regarding action on the proposal, taking into consideration the comments received. Requires: (1) the various Federal departments and agencies (agencies) to offer to purchase from FPI any product authorized to be offered for sale and listed in the UNICOR Schedule of Products (whenever it has a requirement for an FPI product); and (2) FPI to publish and periodically revise such Schedule. Sets forth provisions with respect to the solicitation of offers from FPI and contract awards to FPI on either a competitive or sole source basis. Prohibits the cancellation or withdrawal of a solicitation solely for the purpose of affording an agency buying activity the opportunity to enter into noncompetitive negotiation with FPI unless the Attorney General determines that FPI cannot reasonably expect to receive the contract award on a competitive basis and that such award is necessary to: (1) maintain work opportunities otherwise unavailable at the penal facility at which the contract is to be performed to prevent circumstances that could reasonably be expected to significantly endanger the safe and effective administration of such facility; or (2) permit diversification into the labor-intensive manufacture of a specific product that has been approved by the Board. Specifies that: (1) a timely offer received from FPI shall be considered eligible for award (even if the competition is restricted); and (2) FPI shall be required to perform its contractual obligations to the same extent as any other contractor. Repeals a provisions under which any dispute relating to the price, quality, character, or suitability of FPI products shall be arbitrated by a board consisting of the Comptroller General of the United States, the Administrator of General Services, and the President, or their representatives. Specifies that: (1) a decision by a contracting officer regarding the award of a contract to FPI or relating to the performance of such contract shall be final, unless reversed on appeal (but authorizes the Director of FPI to appeal to the head of a Federal agency an adverse determination made by a contracting officer, in which case the decision of such agency head shall be final); and (2) a dispute between FPI and a buying activity regarding contract performance shall be subject to final resolution by the board of contract appeals having jurisdiction over the buying activity's contract performance disputes under the Contract Disputes Act of 1978. Requires that the amendments made by this Act be implemented through modifications to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) within 180 days. Makes the FAR subject to provisions of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (which assure publication in the Federal Register and the opportunity for public comment before the promulgation of a final regulation). Requires each Federal agency reporting to the Federal Procurement Data System through the General Services Administration to report all acquisitions from FPI. Amends the Federal criminal code to require the Board, in its annual report to the Congress, to include: (1) an analysis of the corporation's total sales for each specific product sold to Federal agencies, the total purchases by each agency of each specific product, the corporation's share of such total Government purchases by specific product, and the number and disposition of disputes submitted to agency heads; (2) an analysis of the inmate workforce, including the number of inmates employed, the number and percentage of employed inmates by the term of their incarceration, and the various hourly wages paid to inmates employed with respect to the production of the various specific products authorized for production and sale; and (3) data concerning employment obtained by former inmates upon release to determine whether the employment provided by FPI during incarceration provided such inmates with knowledge and skill in a trade or occupation that enabled such former inmate to earn a livelihood upon release. Directs that copies of such annual report be made available to the public at a price not to exceed the cost of printing. Authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to count toward the attainment of the goal set out in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987 for participation by small disadvantaged businesses, historically Black colleges and universities, and minority institutions in DOD contracting opportunities, the value of any purchase of supplies or services made by FPI from an entity described in such Act for the performance of a contract with DOD.
Bill· HRH.R. 3645 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1991
Tourism Policy and Export Promotion Act of 1991 - Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to include as purposes of the national tourism policy: (1) to increase United States export earnings from tourism and transportation services traded internationally; (2) to ensure the orderly growth and development of tourism; (3) to coordinate and encourage the development of the tourism industry in rural communities; and (4) to promote increased and more effective investment in international tourism by the States, local governments, and cooperative tourism marketing programs. Includes as duties of the Secretary of Commerce: (1) to encourage the development of receptive, linguistic, informational, currency exchange, meal, and package tour services required by the international market; (2) to provide export promotion services for States, local governments, and companies in the United States that sell tourism services in the international market; and (3) to advise and provide technical assistance to U.S. firms seeking to facilitate travel to and from the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe and compile statistics on such travel. Allows the use of appropriations for certain printing purposes. Repeals the annual reporting requirement of the Secretary of Commerce under the International Travel Act of 1961. Revises the membership of the Tourism Policy Council. Requires up to three Federal departments and agencies represented on such Council to detail to the Council for each year one staff person and associated resources. Requires the Secretary's tourism development efforts to focus on markets which have the greatest potential for increasing travel and tourism export revenues. Describes the generic promotion program under which the Secretary may award grants to carry out proposals to develop and implement tourism development programs, including cooperative tourism marketing programs Requires at least one member of the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to be a city representative knowledgeable of tourism promotion. Revises the length of service of members on the Board. Requires the Board to send its comments to the Congress with regard to a marketing plan to stimulate travel to the United States. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on: (1) acts, policies, or practices of each foreign country that constitutes significant barriers to, or distortions of, United States travel and tourism exports; (2) an estimate of the trade-distorting impact on U.S. commerce of such acts, policies, or practices; and (3) an estimate, if feasible, on the value of additional U.S. travel and tourism exports that would have been exported to each foreign country if the acts, policies, and practices of such country did not exist. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on action taken to ensure that foreign tourists are not unnecessarily delayed when entering the United States. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress annually on the goals achieved by the United States Travel and Tourism Administration (USTTA) as part of the evaluation of such Administration. Requires the Secretary to ensure that the services of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service continue to be available to assist the USTTA as necessary to assist USTTA foreign offices in stimulating and encouraging travel to the United States by foreign residents. Abolishes the position of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Tourism Marketing. Establishes a Deputy Under Secretary for Tourism Trade Development. Establishes three regional offices of the USTTA to be based in, and responsible for, the following geographic areas: (1) Europe and Africa; (2) Asia and the Pacific Region; and (3) North America, South America, and the Caribbean region. Limits administrative expenses of the USTTA for FY 1993 and subsequent fiscal years. Requires a report to the Congress on a study regarding: (1) economic effects associated with the public identification and promotion of scenic travel as a tourist attraction; and (2) techniques for incorporating scenic travel into tourism development programs. Directs the Secretary to publish monthly statistical reports on U.S. international travel receipts and payments prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on activities to increase tourism opportunities for, and encourage travel by, disabled persons. Declares that the Congress finds that increased efforts directed at the promotion of rural tourism will contribute to the economic development of rural America. Establishes the Rural Tourism Development Foundation. Authorizes the Secretary to assist the Foundation in the development and promotion of rural tourism Sets forth reporting requirements for the Secretary concerning: (1) the status of the efforts to improve the survey of international air travelers; and (2) the feasibility of publishing international travel receipts and payments on a monthly basis. Requires a report to specified congressional committees on assistance to U.S. firms seeking to facilitate travel to and from the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 3660 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1991
Long Island Sound Restoration Act - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out a demonstration program to make annual grants to the States of New York and Connecticut for: (1) demonstrating methods of restoring and maintaining the water quality of designated bays and harbors of Long Island Sound at which water quality standards pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act have not been achieved or at which other significant water quality degradation has occurred; (2) demonstrating the importance of controlling nonpoint sources of pollution in restoring and maintaining water quality; (3) enhancing opportunities for water-dependent recreational activities, maintaining a healthy ecosystem, protecting and enhancing marine life, minimizing health risks associated with human consumption of shellfish and finfish, and ensuring that social and economic benefits to the public associated with the Sound are advanced; and (4) advancing goals and recommendations of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan of the Long Island Sound Study. Requires the States of New York and Connecticut, in order to be eligible for grants, to designate bays and harbors of the Sound at which eligible activities will be carried out. Sets forth designation requirements. Requires grants to be used to: (1) carry out eligible activities and monitoring programs at designated bays and harbors; and (2) educate the public on the implementation and results of such activities. Allocates 2/3 and 1/3 of the amounts appropriated in a fiscal year for such grants to New York and Connecticut, respectively. Sets the non-Federal share of the costs of such activities at 30 percent. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 3650 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an exception from the at-risk rules (concerning qualified nonrecourse financing) for property acquired by foreclosure.
Bill· HRH.R. 3653 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the tax exclusion for certain fringe benefits to provide that "no-additional-cost service" includes the value of transportation on a noncommercial aircraft if: (1) such transportation is provided on a flight made in the ordinary course of the trade or business of the taxpayer owning or leasing such aircraft for use in such trade or business; (2) the flight on which the transportation is provided would have been made whether or not such person was transported on the flight; and (3) no substantial additional cost is incurred in providing such transportation to such person.
Bill· HRH.R. 3652 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the treatment of rental and nonrental real estate activities under the limitations on losses from passive activities. Provides individuals a deduction for capital gains based on the period the asset is held (up to three years). Excludes collectibles from such assets. Makes such deduction an item of tax preference.
Bill· HRH.R. 3663 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow penalty-free distributions from eligible individual retirement plans for: (1) qualified first-time home purchases; (2) qualified higher education expenses; (3) a period of involuntary unemployment; and (4) certain medical expenses. Increases the income limitation on the deduction for retirement savings. Provides a cost-of-living adjustment for the maximum allowable contribution.
Bill· HRH.R. 3651 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restore the exclusion from gross income for income from the discharge of qualified real property business indebtedness.
Bill· HRH.R. 3644 (102nd)reported
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Secretary of the Treasury to take into account the amounts estimated to be transferred to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund (Fund) during the fiscal year before the one in which the presidential election involved occurs before determining that the Fund is insufficiently funded to satisfy the full entitlements of eligible candidates (thus triggering pro rata reductions in payments to them). Directs the Secretary to base deposits into the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account on estimated income to such Fund.
Bill· SS. 1875 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the deduction for personal exemptions. Establishes greater exemption amounts for taxpayers with children younger than the age of ten based upon the applicable tax bracket. Denies the use of the dependent care credit to taxpayers who elect to use the credit for young children. Allows individuals eligible for the earned income credit an additional refundable tax credit based upon the number of children under the age of ten. Denies the use of the credit for young children to such individuals. Provides for advance payments of the earned income credit and the credit for young children to eligible taxpayers.
Bill· SS. 1876 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the income tax rate schedule for heads of households the same as that for married individuals filing joint returns.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 208 (102nd)passed
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1991
Makes funds for FY 1991 available through FY 1992 for the Albert Einstein Congressional Fellowship Program.
Bill· SS. 1866 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1991
National Community Economic Partnership Act of 1991 - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 to establish a National Commission on Community Economic Development (the Commission), as an independent agency, to: (1) administer the community development programs established under this Act; and (2) serve as a focal point for Federal promotion of community-based economic development. Directs the Commission to develop and promulgate, in consultation with the heads of other Federal agencies, regulations to permit appropriate operation of joint programs coordinating activities supported with assistance under this Act with activities supported with assistance under programs administered by such agency heads. Authorizes the Commission to enter into contracts and other appropriate arrangements with nonprofit organizations for operation and management of any projects undertaken under such a joint program. Requires the Commission to coordinate such joint programs with other related Federal, State, local, and private activities. Establishes a program of community economic partnership investment funds. Authorizes the Commission to provide nonrefundable lines of credit to community development corporations (CDCs) to establish, maintain, or expand revolving loan funds to finance projects to: (1) provide business and employment opportunities for low-income and unemployed individuals; and (2) improve the quality of life in urban and rural areas. Sets forth requirements relating to such revolving loan funds, including: (1) competitive assessment of applications from eligible entities for capitalization of such funds; (2) applications including strategic investment plans and demonstrations of experience and achievement; (3) matching local funds (with exceptions); (4) application approval criteria, including priority for target areas with low incomes and high unemployment; and (5) availability of lines of credit; (6) authorized uses of lines of credit and of revolving loan funds; (7) limitations on use of funds; (8) local contributions; and (9) use of proceeds from investments. Requires the Commission to give priority in providing lines of credit under this Act to CDCs that propose to undertake economic development activities in distressed communities that target women, Native Americans, at-risk youth, farmworkers, very low-income communities, single mother or refugees and programs providing loans in limited amounts to very small business enterprises. Allows not more than five percent of program appropriations to be reserved for such priority activities. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1995 for such community economic partnership investment funds program. Establishes a program for emerging community development corporations (CDCs). Directs the Commission to award: (1) grants to community development corporations to attain or enhance the business management and development skills of the individuals that manage such CDCs, in order to enable such CDCs, to seek the public and private resources necessary to develop community economic projects; and (2) operating grants to community development corporations to enable them to support an administrative capacity for planning, developing, and management of low-income community development projects. Sets forth authorized uses and maximum amounts of, and application requirements for, such grants. Authorizes the Commission to award grants to emerging CDCs to enable them to establish, maintain, or expand revolving loan funds, to make or gurantee loans, or to make capital investments in new or expanding local businesses. Sets forth eligibility requirements, authorized uses of such revolving loan funds and of proceeds from investments, and maximum grant amount. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1995 for such program for emerging CDCs. Establishes a community economic development research and demonstration program. Directs the Commission to award grants to enable eligible organizations to undertake programs involving research, testing, studies, or demonstrations related to community economic development. Makes eligible for such grants, if they submit appropriate applications, the following entities: CDCs, universities, fiscal intermediaries, or nonprofit organizations involved in community-based economic development. Sets forth authorized uses and maximum amount of such grants. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1995 for such grants program. Prohibits funds authorized under this Act from being used to finance the construction of housing.
Bill· SS. 1865 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1991
Defense Tax Rebate Act - Title I: Individual Income Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax rate reductions for all categories of taxpayers. Phases in such reductions from 1992 through 1996. Title II: Retirement Savings Incentives - Subtitle A: Restoration of IRA Deduction - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove the limitations on (and thereby restoring) deductions for individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Provides a cost of living adjustment for deductible amounts. Subtitle B: Nondeductible Tax Free IRAs - Establishes special IRAs that are nondeductible. Makes such accounts nontaxable if earnings on contributions are held for at least five years. Applies the early withdrawal penalty to distributions made before the end of the five year-period. Title III: Penalty-Free Distributions - Provides exemptions from the ten-percent penalty on early withdrawals from individual retirement plans for: (1) first home purchases; (2) higher education expenses; and (3) financially devastating medical expenses. Title IV: Incremental Investment Tax Credit - Provides an investment tax credit for new manufacturing and other productive equipment. Provides for determining such credit. Title V: Repeal of the Earnings Test - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to increase the exempt amount applicable to an individual who has attained retirement age on the outside income such individual may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits during the period 1992-1996. Repeals the earnings test in 1997 for such individuals. Title VI: Emergency Unemployment Compensation - Establishes an emergency unemployment compensation program. Allows any State to enter into and participate in an agreement with the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) under which the State agency which administers the State unemployment compensation law will make payments of emergency unemployment compensation: (1) to individuals who have exhausted all rights to regular compensation under State law, have no rights to such regular compensation or any additional State or Federal compensation, and are not receiving Canadian compensation; and (2) for any week of unemployment beginning in the individual's eligibility period. Sets forth provisions relating to exhaustion of regular benefits and weekly amount of emergency benefits equal to regular benefits. Requires a State, under such an agreement, to establish an emergency unemployment compensation account with respect to the benefit year of each eligible individual who files an application. Limits benefit payments to not more than the amount in the individual's account. Sets forth formulas for determining the amount in such account. Provides that the applicable limit in such account shall be equal to: (1) ten for a five-percent period; and (2) seven for any other period. Sets forth special rules relating to such applicable limits. Requires reduction in such account by the amount of extended benefits received by the individual relating to the same benefit year under the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970. Sets the weekly benefit amount at the amount of regular compensation (including dependents' allowances) payable under the State law to the individual for such week for total unemployment. Provides for determination of periods and applicable triggers. Provides, in general, that no emergency unemployment compensation shall be payable to any individual under this Act for any week beginning: (1) before the later of October 6, 1991, or the first week following the week in which an agreement under this Act is entered into; or (2) after July 4, 1992. Sets forth transition and reachback provisions for the eligibility of certain individuals for such benefits. Provides for payments to States having such agreements for emergency unemployment compensation. Sets forth financing provisions. Requires that funds in the extended unemployment compensation account of the Unemployment Trust Fund be used to make payments to States having agreements under this Act. Sets forth provisions relating to fraud and overpayments. Defines the eligibility period under this Act. Provides that in no event shall an individual's period of eligibility include any weeks after the 39th week after the end of the benefit year for which the individual exhausted rights to regular compensation or extended compensation. Reduces the length of required Desert Storm active duty by armed forces reserves for purposes of unemployment compensation payments. Limits payment to individuals who were: (1) involuntarily separated from the armed forces; or (2) separated after being retained on active duty. Title VII: Guaranteed Student Loans - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require in the case of Stafford Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS), and PLUS loans to parents for applicants over age 21, that the lender: (1) obtain a credit report; and (2) require a cosigner for applicants who have adverse credit histories. Requires lenders to obtain the borrower's driver's license number, if any, at the time of application for the loan. Revises requirements for borrower information to be submitted to the institution during the exit interview. Requires lenders to obtain the borrower's authorization for entry of judgment against the borrower in the event of default. Provides for wage garnishment for loan collection. Authorizes a guaranty agency, or the Secretary of Education where appropriate, to garnish the disposable pay of an individual to collect the amount owed or the required repayment, subject to certain conditions. Provides for data matching. Authorizes the Secretary to obtain from Federal or State agencies specified information relating to an individual for student loan collection purposes. Title VIII: Electromagnetic Spectrum Function - Emerging Telecommunications Technologies Act of 1991 - Requires the Secretary of Commerce and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct joint electromagnetic spectrum planning meetings with respect to: (1) future spectrum needs and the spectrum allocation actions to accommodate those needs; and (2) actions to promote the efficient use of the spectrum. Directs the Secretary to submit reports to the President that identify frequency bands that: (1) are allocated on a primary basis for Government use and eligible for licensing pursuant to the Communications Act of 1934 (the Act); (2) are not required for the present or identifiable future Government needs; (3) can be made available for use under the Act for non-Government users; (4) are likely to have significant value for such users; and (5) will not result in excessive costs to the Government. Sets forth criteria for identifying, and recommending for reassignment or sharing of, such frequency bands. Exempts power marketing administrations and the Tennessee Valley Authority from any reallocation procedures. Requires such reports to make an initial identification of 50 MHz of spectrum for immediate reallocation and distribution by the FCC pursuant to competitive bidding procedures, and preliminary and final identifications of additional reallocable frequency bands. Directs the Department of Commerce to make available to the FCC 50 MHz of electromagnetic spectrum for allocation of land-mobile or land-mobile-satellite services. Directs the Secretary to convene an advisory committee to: (1) review frequency bands identified in the preliminary report; (2) advise the Secretary with respect to those bands which should be included in the final report; (3) receive public comment on the reports; and (4) report to the Secretary and specified congressional committees on recommendations for the reform of allocating the spectrum between Government and non-Government users. Directs the President to: (1) withdraw or limit the assignment to a Government station of any frequency recommended in the initial identification report for reallocation; (2) withdraw or limit the assignment to a Government station of any frequency recommended in the final report for reallocation or mixed use; (3) assign or reassign other frequencies to Government stations as necessary to adjust to such withdrawal or limitation of assignments; and (4) publish in the Federal Register a notice and description of such actions taken. Authorizes the President to substitute alternative frequencies in the interests of national defense, important Government needs, public health or safety, or Federal financial considerations. Provides that any Government licensee, or non-Government entity operating on behalf of a Government licensee, that is displaced from a frequency pursuant to this Act may be reimbursed not more than the incremental costs it incurs, in such amounts as provided in advance in appropriation Acts, that are directly attributable to the loss of the use of the frequency pursuant to this Act. Authorizes appropriations to affected licensee agencies to cover such costs. Directs the FCC to: (1) form a plan to assign the spectrum identified in the initial report pursuant to competitive bidding procedures during FY 1994 through 1996; and (2) submit to the President a plan for the distribution of the remaining reallocated frequency bands. Authorizes the President to reclaim reallocated frequencies for reassignment to Government stations. Sets forth procedures for reclaiming frequencies. Amends the Act to require the FCC to use competitive bidding for awarding all initial licenses and new construction permits, subject to specified exclusions. Outlines criteria for awarding licenses and permits under competitive bidding procedures. Prohibits licensing by lottery when competitive bidding is required. Title IX: Repeal Recreational Vessel User Fee - Amends Federal law to repeal the recreational vessel user fee. Title X: Reduction in Discretionary Spending - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to reduce the discretionary spending limit for the defense and domestic categories for FY 1993. Reduces such spending in all categories for FY 1994 and 1995.
Bill· SS. 1872 (102nd)reported
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1991
Better Access to Affordable Health Care Act of 1991 - Title I: Improvements in Health Insurance Affordability for Small Employers - Amends the Internal Revenue code to raise from 25 to 100 percent the deduction for self-employed individuals for health insurance premiums and makes the deduction permanent. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to make grants to up to 15 States for the establishment and operation of small employer health insurance purchasing programs. Permits grant funds to be used to finance administrative costs associated with developing and operating a group purchasing program for small employers. Authorizes appropriations. Requires a report to the Congress from the Secretary concerning the feasibility of establishing a requirement that health insurers must make available plans providing that payments to providers be made using Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) payment rules. Title II: Improvements in Health Insurance for Small Employers - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title, Title XXI: Standards for Small Employer Health Insurance and Certification of Managed Care Plans. Directs the Secretary to request the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to develop model standards and regulations concerning requirements for health insurance plans for small employers. Requires such plans to provide for: (1) guaranteed eligibility; (2) guaranteed availability; and (3) guaranteed renewability. Prohibits: (1) an insurer from refusing to renew or terminate a plan, except for nonpayment of premiums, fraud, or failure to maintain minimum participation rates; and (2) for certain services, discrimination based on health status. Sets limits controlling the variation of premium charges permitted among all small employers insured by an insurer. Requires the full disclosure of an insurer's rating practices. Requires a health insurance plan for small employers to offer: (1) both a standard and basic benefit package; and (2) a managed care option, if the insurer also offers such an option to other employers. Provides, under both the standard and basic package, for coverage of: (1) inpatient and outpatient hospital care; (2) inpatient and outpatient physician services; (3) diagnostic tests; and (4) preventive services. Provides, in addition, under the standard plan: (1) for the coverage of certain mental health care; (2) that, except as specified, there will be no limits on the amount, scope, or duration of benefits, and (3) for specified limits on deductibles, copayment, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket expenses. Provides under the basic plan that: (1) premiums, deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing may be imposed, but does not specify in what amounts; and (2) there shall be an out-of-pocket limit, but does not specify such limit. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax of 25 percent of gross premiums on the issuer of any health insurance plan to a small employer, if the plan does not meet the requirements of title XXI. Sets forth study and reporting requirements. Title III: Improvements in Portability of Private Health Insurance - Imposes an excise tax of $100 per day, with respect to a covered individual, on a group health plan for its failure to provide coverage for a preexisting condition, subject to stated exceptions. Title IV: Health Care Cost Containment - Establishes a Health Care Cost Commission which shall report annually to the President and the Congress on national health care costs. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, under title XXI of the Social Security Act, to establish a process for the certification of managed care plans and utilization review programs. Sets forth requirements for certification. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Administrator of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research to develop outcomes research and practice parameters for mental health services, including at least the diagnosis and treatment of childhood attention deficit syndrome disorders and manic depression. Amends Part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to authorize appropriations for research outcomes of health care services and procedures. Title V: Medicare Prevention Benefits - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish frequency and payment limits for screening for fecal-occult blood tests and screening flexible sigmoidoscopies. Amends Medicare part C (Miscellaneous Provisions) to provide coverage for tetanus-diphtheria boosters and their administration. Provides Medicare coverage for well-child services, which include routine office visits, immunizations, laboratory tests, and preventive dental care. Expands the coverage of a screening mammography to provide for one such screening annually for all covered women over age 49. Directs the Secretary to establish and provide for a series of ongoing demonstration projects which provide coverage for specified preventive services, including: (1) glaucoma screening; (2) cholesterol screening; (3) osteoporosis screening and treatment; (4) screening services for pregnant women; (5) assessments for individuals beginning at age 65 or 75; and (5) other appropriate services. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1867 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1991
Provides that in the case of Federal annuities, the repeal of the three-year basis recovery rule by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 shall apply only in cases where the starting date is after the date of the enactment of such Act. Allows a one-year period after the date of enactment of this Act for a claim for refund or credit of any overpayment of tax.