45284 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 165 / Tuesday, August 26, 1997 / Notices

Sunshine Act, Pub. L. 94–409, that the

Securities and Exchange Commission

will hold the following meeting during

the week of August 25, 1997.

A closed meeting will be held on

Thursday, August 28, 1997 at 10:00 a.m.

Commissioners, Counsel to the

Commissioners, the Secretary to the

Commission, and recording secretaries

will attend the closed meeting. Certain

staff members who have an interest in

the matters may also be present.

The General Counsel of the

Commission, or his designee, has

certified that, in his opinion, one or

more of the exemptions set forth in 5

U.S.C. 552b(c)(4), (8), (9)(A) and (10)

and 17 CFR 200.402(a)(4), (8), (9)(i) and

(10), permit consideration of the

scheduled matters at the closed meeting.

Commissioner Hunt, as duty officer,

voted to consider the items listed for the

closed meeting in a closed session.

The subject matter of the closed

meeting scheduled for Thursday,

August 28, 1997, at 10:00 a.m., will be:

Institution and settlement of

injunctive actions.

Institution and settlement of

administrative proceedings of an

enforcement nature.

At times, changes in Commission

priorities require alterations in the

scheduling of meeting items. For further

information and to ascertain what, if

any, matters have been added, deleted

or postponed, please contact:

The Office of the Secretary at (202)

942–7070.

Dated: August 21, 1997.

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–22799 Filed 8–22–97; 1:00 p.m.]

BILLING CODE 8010–01–M

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Personal Responsibility and Work

Opportunity Reconciliation Act of

1996: Federal Means-Tested Public

Benefits Paid by the Social Security

Administration

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Benefits Paid by the

Social Security Administration Meeting

the Definition of a ‘‘Federal MeansTested Public Benefit’’.

SUMMARY: The Social Security

Administration announces that, for

purposes of title IV of the Personal

Responsibility and Work Opportunity

Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA),

as amended, the only benefits paid by

the Social Security Administration

which are ‘‘Federal means-tested public

benefits’’ are supplemental security

income payments made under title XVI

of the Social Security Act. This notice

pertains to the eligibility of aliens for

certain government benefits during their

first 5 years of entry with a specified

immigrant status, to aliens who are

lawfully admitted for permanent

residence who can be credited with 40

qualifying quarters of coverage, and to

the operation of alien-sponsor deeming

rules.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Diane Blackman, Deputy Associate

Commissioner, Office of Program

Benefits Policy, Social Security

Administration, 6401 Security

Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235,

410–965–3571.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 403 of title IV of the

PRWORA, enacted August 22, 1996,

provides that qualified aliens entering

the United States on or after the date of

enactment, are ineligible for ‘‘Federal

means-tested public benefits’’ during

the first 5 years they are qualified aliens,

unless they fall within certain specified

exceptions. In addition, sections 402

and 435 provide that aliens who are

lawfully admitted for permanent

residence are eligible for certain Federal

benefits if they can be credited,

individually and/or from a spouse or

parent, with 40 qualifying quarters of

coverage. However, qualifying quarters

of coverage may not be credited for any

quarter in which the individual received

a ‘‘Federal means-tested public benefit’’

after December 31, 1996. Similarly,

under section 412, aliens who are

lawfully admitted for permanent

residence are eligible for certain State

public benefits if they can be credited

with 40 qualifying quarters of coverage

but only if they did not receive a

‘‘Federal means-tested public benefit’’

in that quarter after the foregoing date.

Also, with respect to the operation of

the alien-sponsor deeming rules

described in section 421, receipt of

‘‘Federal means-tested public benefits’’

is a factor in determining the duration

of the deeming period.

Prior to the enactment of PRWORA,

early versions of the bill contained a

definition of ‘‘Federal means-tested

public benefit’’ that could have

encompassed benefits provided by both

discretionary spending programs and

mandatory spending programs. (These

early versions provided that, with

certain exceptions, ‘‘the term ‘Federal

means-tested public benefit’ meant a

public benefit (including cash, medical,

housing, and food assistance and social

services) of the Federal Government in

which the eligibility of an individual,

household, or family eligibility unit for

benefits, or the amount of such benefits,

or both are determined on the basis of

income, resources, or financial need of

the individual, household, or unit.’’ 142

Cong. Rec. S8481 (daily ed. July 22,

1996).)

PRWORA was subject to section 313

of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974,

also known as the ‘‘Byrd Rule,’’ because

it was enacted as a budget reconciliation

bill. Under the Byrd Rule, a Senator may

raise a point of order to strike or prevent

the incorporation of ‘‘extraneous’’

material. A provision in a reconciliation

bill will be considered ‘‘extraneous’’

and subject to a point of order if, among

other things, ‘‘it produces changes in

outlays or revenues which are merely

incidental to the non-budgetary

components of the provision.’’ 2 U.S.C.

§ 644(b)(1)(D). The legislative history of

PRWORA indicates that the Senate

understood the significance of the Byrd

Rule objection in terms of limiting the

scope of the definition of ‘‘Federal

means-tested public benefit’’ to

mandatory spending programs, while

leaving discretionary programs

unaffected. See 142 Cong. Rec. at S9403

(daily ed. August 1, 1996) (statement of

Senator Chafee); 142 Cong. Rec. at

S9400 (statements of Senators Graham,

Kennedy and Exon). Therefore, to the

extent the definition of ‘‘Federal meanstested public benefit’’ included benefits

provided by discretionary spending

programs, it was potentially subject to a

Byrd Rule objection and thus stricken

from the legislation.

During Senate debate on PRWORA, a

point of order was raised pursuant to

the Byrd Rule. The Presiding Officer

sustained the point of order, and the

ruling was not appealed. The definition

was stricken and PRWORA was

ultimately enacted without the term

‘‘Federal means-tested public benefit’’

being defined. H.R. Conference Report

No. 725, 104th Congress, 2nd session

381–82 (1996).

In light of the statutory language and

legislative history, ‘‘Federal meanstested public benefit’’ applies only to

benefits provided by Federal meanstested, mandatory spending programs.

The purpose of this notice is to

announce which payments made by the

Social Security Administration

constitute a ‘‘Federal means-tested

public benefit’’ as described above. The

Social Security Administration

announces that, of the programs it

administers, only supplemental security

income benefits under title XVI of the

Social Security Act are ‘‘Federal meanstested public benefits’’ for purposes of

title IV of the Personal Responsibility
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 165 / Tuesday, August 26, 1997 / Notices 45285

and Work Opportunity Reconciliation

Act of 1996, as amended.

Dated: August 18, 1997.

Glenna Donnelly,

Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Programs

and Policy.

[FR Doc. 97–22697 Filed 8–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4190–29–P

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice No. 2593]

United States International

Telecommunications Advisory

Committee (ITAC), Standardization

Sector (ITAC–T); Study Groups B and

D and Citel Ad-Hoc; Meeting Notice

The Department of State announces

that the United States International

Telecommunications Advisory

Committee (ITAC), Telecommunications

Standardization Sector (ITAC–T) Study

Groups B and D and CITEL AD–HOC

have scheduled meetings to develop

United States positions and

contributions for upcoming ITU–T

meetings dealing with standardization

activities of the International

Telecommunications Union and

preparatory activity for CITEL PCC–I

and COM/CITEL. These meetings will

take place at the Department of State, at

2201 C Street, NW., Washington, DC

beginning at 9:30 a.m. each day and are

scheduled to meet all day. The ITAC–

T Study Groups B and D dealing

primarily with the upcoming meetings

of ITU–T Study Groups 7, 8, and 4 will

meet September 23 in Room 1207, and

the preparatory activities for CITEL

meetings will follow in the same room.

Study Groups B and D will meet on

November 4, 1997 in Room 1406 to

continue preparations for ITU–T Study

Group 7 in December, 1997, and the

meeting of ITU–T Study Group in

January 1998, and the COM/CITEL

meeting scheduled for December 1–5,

1997 in Montevideo, Uruguay. A more

extensive agenda may be developed and

distributed by fax or electronic mail to

members prior to the announced

meetings including the scheduling of

appropriate Ad-Hoc meetings. Other

matters within the purview of U.S.

Study Group D as well as Ad-Hoc CITEL

preparations may be raised.

Members of the General Public may

attend this meeting and join in the

discussions, subject to the instructions

of the Chair. Admittance of public

members will be limited to the seating

available. In this regard, entrance to the

Department of State is controlled.

Questions regarding the meeting may be

addressed to Mr. Gary Fereno at (202)

647–0200.

Note: If you wish to attend please send a

fax to (202) 647–7407 not later than 24 hours

before the scheduled meeting. On this fax,

please include subject meeting, your name,

social security number, company/

organization, and date of birth. One of the

following valid photo identifications will be

required for admittance: U.S. driver’s license

with your picture on it, U.S. passport, U.S.

Government identification (company ID’s are

no longer accepted by Diplomatic Security).

Enter from the ‘‘C’’ Street Main Lobby.

Dated: August 15, 1997.

Earl S. Barbely,

Chairman, U.S. ITAC for

Telecommunications Standardization.

[FR Doc. 97–22583 Filed 8–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–45–M

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice No. 2591]

Shipping Coordinating Committee

International Maritime Organization

(IMO) Legal Committee; Notice of

Meeting

The U.S. Shipping Coordinating

Committee (SHC) will conduct an open

meeting at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday,

October 1, 1997, in Room 2415 U.S.

Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second

Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. The

purpose of this meeting is to prepare for

the 76th session of the IMO Legal

Committee, which will be held October

13–17, 1997, in London, regarding the

provision of financial security for

seagoing vessels, compensation for

pollution from ships’ bunkers, a draft

convention on wreck removal, the

carriage by sea of radioactive materials,

and other matters. This meeting will

also be a further opportunity for

interested members of the public to

express their views on whether the

United States should ratify the

Hazardous and Noxious Substances

Convention, adopted in London in May,

1996.

Members of the public are invited to

attend the SHC meeting, up to the

seating capacity of the room. For further

information, or to submit views

concerning the subjects of discussion,

write to either Captain Malcolm J.

Williams, Jr., or Lieutenant Commander

Bruce P. Dalcher, U.S. Coast Guard (G–

LMI), 2100 Second Street, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20593, or by

telephone (202) 267–1527, telefax (202)

267–4496.

Dated: August 14, 1997.

Russell A. La Mantia,

Chairman, Shipping Coordinating Committee.

[FR Doc. 97–22582 Filed 8–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–07–M

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice No. 2592]

Shipping Coordinating Committee,

Subcommittee on Safety of Life at Sea

and Associated Bodies, Working

Group on Stability and Load Lines and

on Fishing Vessels Safety; Notice of

Meeting

The Working Group on Stability and

Load Lines and on Fishing Vessels

Safety of the Subcommittee on Safety of

Life at Sea will conduct an open

meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday,

September 18, 1997, in Room 6103, at

U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100

Second Street, SW, Washington, DC

20593–0001. This meeting will discuss

the upcoming 41st Session of the

Subcommittee on Stability and Load

Lines and on Fishing Vessels Safety

(SLF) and associated bodies of the

International Maritime Organization

(IMO) which will be held on January

26–30, 1998, at the IMO Headquarters in

London, England.

Items of discussion will include the

following:

a. Harmonization of damage stability

provisions in the IMO;

b. Progress of the Intersessional

Correspondence Group on Load Lines

issues;

c. Technical revisions to the Code on

Intact Stability;

d. High Speed Craft Code revision;

e. Role of the human element, including

shipboard loading and stability

software; and

f. Safety aspects of ships engaged in a

ballast water exchange.

Members of the public may attend

this meeting up to the seating capacity

of the room. Interested persons may

seek information by writing: Mr. Paul

Cojeen, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters,

Commandant (G–MSE–2), Room 1308,

2100 Second Street, SW, Washington,

DC 20593–0001 or by calling (202) 267–

2988.

Dated: August 14, 1997.

Russell A. La Mantia,

Chairman, Shipping Coordinating Committee.

[FR Doc. 97–22584 Filed 8–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–07–M