datamatters24/research-document-archive huggingface dataset:
business faces significant challenges in the purchase of
health insurance, including higher costs and lack of choice
of coverage. Congress further finds that such challenges
lead to fewer Americans who are able to take advantage
of private health insurance, leading to higher cost and
lower quality care.
(b) Congress finds that reduction of the number of
uninsured Americans is an important public policy goal.
Congress further finds that the use of alternative pooling
mechanisms 
such 
as 
Association 
Health 
Plans,
HealthMarts and other innovative means could provide
significant opportunities for small business and individuals
to purchase health insurance. Congress further finds that
the use of such mechanisms could provide significant op-
portunities to expand private health coverage for individ-
uals who are employees of small business, self-employed,
or do not work for employers who provide health insur-
ance.
(c) Congress finds that the current Tax Code pro-
vides significant incentives for employers to provide health
insurance coverage for their employees by providing a de-
duction for the employer for the cost of health insurance
coverage and an exclusion from income for the employee
for employer-provided health care. Congress further finds
that some individuals may prefer to decline coverage under
HR 2990 RDS
otherwise) for employees (or their dependents) cov-
ered thereunder and which demonstrates to the Sec-
retary that all requirements for certification under
this part would be met with respect to such plan,
fund, or program if such plan, fund, or program
were a group health plan, such plan, fund, or pro-
gram shall be treated for purposes of this title as an
employee welfare benefit plan on and after the date
of such demonstration.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS
TO PREEMPTION
RULES.—
(1) Section 514(b)(6) of such Act (29 U.S.C.
1144(b)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
‘‘(E) The preceding subparagraphs of this paragraph
do not apply with respect to any State law in the case
of an association health plan which is certified under part
8.’’.
(2) Section 514 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1144)
is amended—
(A) in subsection (b)(4), by striking ‘‘Sub-
section (a)’’ and inserting ‘‘Subsections (a) and
(d)’’;
(B) in subsection (b)(5), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (a)’’ in subparagraph (A) and inserting
HR 2990 RDS
‘‘For taxable years beginning
The applicable
in calendar year—
percentage is—
2002, 2003, and 2004 .................................................................
2005 .............................................................................................
2006 .............................................................................................
2007 and thereafter .....................................................................
100.
‘‘(c) LIMITATION BASED ON OTHER COVERAGE.—
‘‘(1) COVERAGE UNDER CERTAIN SUBSIDIZED
EMPLOYER PLANS.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subsection (a) shall
not apply to any taxpayer for any calendar
month for which the taxpayer participates in
any health plan maintained by any employer of
the taxpayer or of the spouse of the taxpayer if
50 percent or more of the cost of coverage
under such plan (determined under section
4980B and without regard to payments made
with respect to any coverage described in sub-
section (e)) is paid or incurred by the employer.
‘‘(B) EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS TO CAF-
ETERIA PLANS, FLEXIBLE SPENDING ARRANGE-
MENTS, AND
MEDICAL
SAVINGS
ACCOUNTS.—
Employer contributions to a cafeteria plan, a
flexible spending or similar arrangement, or a
medical savings account which are excluded
from gross income under section 106 shall be
treated for purposes of subparagraph (A) as
paid by the employer.
HR 2990 RDS
Subtitle C—Access to Information
Sec. 1121. Patient access to information.
Subtitle D—Protecting the Doctor-Patient Relationship
Sec. 1131. Prohibition of interference with certain medical communications.
Sec. 1132. Prohibition of discrimination against providers based on licensure.
Sec. 1133. Prohibition against improper incentive arrangements.
Sec. 1134. Payment of claims.
Sec. 1135. Protection for patient advocacy.
Subtitle E—Definitions
Sec. 1151. Definitions.
Sec. 1152. Preemption; State flexibility; construction.
Sec. 1153. Exclusions.
Sec. 1154. Coverage of limited scope plans.
Sec. 1155. Regulations.
TITLE XII—APPLICATION OF QUALITY CARE STANDARDS TO
GROUP HEALTH PLANS AND HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE
UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT
Sec. 1201. Application to group health plans and group health insurance cov-
erage.
Sec. 1202. Application to individual health insurance coverage.
TITLE XIII—AMENDMENTS TO THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT
INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974
Sec. 1301. Application of patient protection standards to group health plans
and group health insurance coverage under the Employee Re-
tirement Income Security Act of 1974.
Sec. 1302. ERISA preemption not to apply to certain actions involving health
insurance policyholders.
Sec. 1303. Limitations on actions.
TITLE XIV—APPLICATION TO GROUP HEALTH PLANS UNDER
THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986
Sec. 1401. Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
TITLE XV—EFFECTIVE DATES; COORDINATION IN
IMPLEMENTATION
Sec. 1501. Effective dates.
Sec. 1502. Coordination in implementation.
TITLE XVI—HEALTH CARE PAPERWORK SIMPLIFICATION
Sec. 1601. Health care paperwork simplification.
141
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish, on an expedited basis and by rule pursuant to
section 553 of title 5, United States Code and
through the Health Resources and Services Adminis-
tration, standards described in subsection (c)(1) (re-
lating to financial solvency and capital adequacy)
that entities must meet to obtain a waiver under
subsection (a)(2)(C). In establishing such standards,
the Secretary shall consult with interested organiza-
tions, including the National Association of Insur-
ance Commissioners, the Academy of Actuaries, and
organizations representing Federally qualified health
centers.
‘‘(2) FACTORS
TO
CONSIDER
FOR
SOLVENCY
STANDARDS.—In establishing solvency standards for
community health organizations under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall take into account—
‘‘(A) the delivery system assets of such an
organization and ability of such an organization
to provide services to enrollees;
‘‘(B) alternative means of protecting
against insolvency, including reinsurance, unre-
stricted surplus, letters of credit, guarantees,
organizational insurance coverage, partnerships
with other licensed entities, and valuation at-
142
tributable to the ability of such an organization
to meet its service obligations through direct
delivery of care; and
‘‘(C) any standards developed by the Na-
tional Association of Insurance Commissioners
specifically for risk-based health care delivery
organizations.
‘‘(3) ENROLLEE PROTECTION AGAINST INSOL-
VENCY.—Such standards shall include provisions to
prevent enrollees from being held liable to any per-
son or entity for the organization’s debts in the
event of the organization’s insolvency.
‘‘(4) DEADLINE.—Such standards shall be pro-
mulgated in a manner so they are first effective by
not later than April 1, 2000.
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) COMMUNITY
HEALTH
ORGANIZATION.—
The term ‘community health organization’ means an
organization that is a Federally-qualified health cen-
ter or is controlled by one or more Federally-quali-
fied health centers.
‘‘(2) FEDERALLY-QUALIFIED
HEALTH
CEN-
TER.—The term ‘Federally-qualified health center’
has the meaning given such term in section
1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act.
143
‘‘(3) HEALTH
INSURANCE
COVERAGE.—The
term ‘health insurance coverage’ has the meaning
given such term in section 2791(b)(1).
‘‘(4) CONTROL.—The term ‘control’ means the
possession, whether direct or indirect, of the power
to direct or cause the direction of the management
and policies of the organization through member-
ship, board representation, or an ownership interest
equal to or greater than 50.1 percent.’’.
Æ
State, and local sources for schoolwide reform in
schoolwide programs under section 1114;
‘‘(7) the State educational agency will modify or
eliminate State fiscal and accounting barriers so
that schools can easily consolidate funds from other
Federal, State, and local sources for schoolwide pro-
grams under section 1114;
‘‘(8) the State educational agency has involved
the committee of practitioners established under sec-
tion 1603(b) in developing the plan and monitoring
its implementation; and
‘‘(9) the State educational agency will inform
local educational agencies of the local educational
agency’s authority to obtain waivers under title XIV
and, if the State is an Ed-Flex Partnership State,
waivers under the Education Flexibility Partnership
Act of 1999 (30 U.S.C. 589a et seq.).
‘‘(d) PEER REVIEW AND SECRETARIAL APPROVAL.—
‘‘(1) SECRETARIAL
DUTIES.—The Secretary
shall—
‘‘(A) establish a peer review process to as-
sist in the review of State plans;
‘‘(B) approve a State plan after its submis-
sion unless the Secretary determines that the
and appeals in connection with the joint
resolution, shall be limited to not more
than 10 hours, which shall be divided
equally between those favoring and those
opposing the joint resolution.
(ii) 
FURTHER
DEBATE
LIMITA-
TIONS.—A motion to limit debate shall be
in order and shall not be debatable.
(iii) AMENDMENTS AND MOTIONS NOT
IN ORDER.—An amendment to, a motion
to postpone, a motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business, a motion
to recommit the joint resolution, or a mo-
tion to reconsider the vote by which the
joint resolution is agreed to or disagreed to
shall not be in order.
(C) VOTE
ON
FINAL
PASSAGE.—Imme-
diately following the conclusion of the debate on
a joint resolution, and a single quorum call at
the conclusion of the debate if requested in ac-
cordance with the rules of the House concerned,
the vote on final passage of the joint resolution
shall occur.
(D) RULINGS OF THE CHAIR ON PROCE-
DURE.—An appeal from a decision of the Chair
255
HR 2990 RDS
(C) QUORUM.—A quorum shall consist of
a majority of the members of the Panel.
(D) HEARINGS.—For the purpose of car-
rying out its duties, the Panel may hold such
hearings and undertake such other activities as
the Panel determines to be necessary to carry
out its duties.
(5) ADMINISTRATION.—
(A) COMPENSATION.—Except as provided
in subparagraph (B), members of the Panel
shall receive no additional pay, allowances, or
benefits by reason of their service on the Panel.
(B) TRAVEL EXPENSES AND PER DIEM.—
Each member of the Panel who is not an officer
or employee of the Federal Government shall
receive travel expenses and per diem in lieu of
subsistence in accordance with sections 5702
and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(C) CONTRACT
AUTHORITY.—The Panel
may contract with and compensate Government
and private agencies or persons for items and
services, without regard to section 3709 of the
Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).
(D) USE OF MAILS.—The Panel may use
the United States mails in the same manner
256
HR 2990 RDS
and under the same conditions as Federal agen-
cies and shall, for purposes of the frank, be
considered a commission of Congress as de-
scribed in section 3215 of title 39, United
States Code.
(E) 
ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT
SERV-
ICES.—Upon the request of the Panel, the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services shall pro-
vide to the Panel on a reimbursable basis such
administrative support services as the Panel
may request.
(6) SUBMISSION OF FORM.—Not later than 2
years after the first meeting, the Panel shall submit
a form to the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices for use by third-party health care payers.
(7) TERMINATION.—The Panel shall terminate
on the day after submitting the form under para-
graph (6).
(b) REQUIREMENT FOR USE OF FORM BY THIRD-
PARTY CARE PAYERS.—A third-party health care payer
shall be required to use the form devised under subsection
257
HR 2990 RDS
(a) for plan years beginning on or after 5 years following
the date of the enactment of this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives October 7,
1999.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.
I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2995
To amend section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to require the marking
of frozen produce with the country of origin on the front panel of
the package for retail sale.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 1, 1999
Mr. EVERETT (for himself, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. CALLAHAN, Mr. DEAL of
Georgia, Mr. FARR of California, Mr. FOLEY, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr.
KUCINICH, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. SHOWS, and Mrs. THURMAN) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways
and Means
A BILL
To amend section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to require
the marking of frozen produce with the country of origin
on the front panel of the package for retail sale.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. MARKING OF FROZEN PRODUCE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 304 of the Tariff Act of
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1304) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (h) through (k)
as subsections (i) through (l), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the fol-
lowing new subsection:
‘‘(h) FROZEN PRODUCE.—
‘‘(1) MARKING OF FROZEN PRODUCE.—Unless
otherwise excepted under paragraph (3) of sub-
section (a), frozen produce shall be marked, on the
front panel of its package for retail sale, with the
country of origin of the produce in permanent, indel-
ible, and clearly legible print or type.
‘‘(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this subsection:
‘‘(A) FROZEN PRODUCE.—The term ‘fro-
zen produce’ means—
‘‘(i) frozen vegetables or mixtures of
frozen vegetables provided for in chapter 7
of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States; and
‘‘(ii) frozen fruits or mixtures of fro-
zen fruits provided for in chapter 8 of such
Schedule.
‘‘(B) FRONT PANEL.—The ‘front panel’ of
a package is that part of the package that is
most likely to be displayed, presented, shown,
or examined by the ultimate purchaser under
customary conditions of display for retail sale.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 304(j) of
such Act, as redesignated by subsection (a)(1), is amended
by striking ‘‘subsection (h)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection
(i)’’.
SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by section 1 apply to goods
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption,
after the end of the 18-month period beginning on the date
of the enactment of this Act.
Æ
I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2997
To provide grants to certain rural local educational agencies.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 1, 1999
Mr. HILLEARY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To provide grants to certain rural local educational agencies.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Low-Income and Rural
School Program’’.
SEC. 2. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
(a) RESERVATIONS.—From amounts appropriated
under section 7 for this Act for a fiscal year, the Secretary
shall reserve 1⁄2 of 1 percent to make awards to elementary
or secondary schools operated or supported by the Bureau
of Indian Affairs to carry out the purpose of this Act.
(b) GRANTS TO STATES.—
I
#
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 299
To amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health
and Human Services to establish a program for the collection of informa-
tion relating to the use of children and individuals with mental disabilities
as subjects in biomedical and behavioral research.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 6, 1999
Mr. TOWNS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services to establish a
program for the collection of information relating to the
use of children and individuals with mental disabilities
as subjects in biomedical and behavioral research.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
HR 299 IH1S
SECTION 1. AMENDMENT TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM FOR
THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION RELAT-
ING TO THE USE OF CHILDREN AND INDIVID-
UALS WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES AS SUB-
JECTS IN BIOMEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL RE-
SEARCH.
Section 491(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 289(a)) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(a)’’; and
(2) by inserting at the end the following:
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall establish a program for the
collection of information relating to the use of children and
individuals with mental disabilities (including mental re-
tardation and mental illnesses) in biomedical or behavioral
research subject to paragraph (1), or subject to chapter
V of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or otherwise sub-
ject to regulation by any Federal department or agency.
The program may, pursuant to such paragraph, such
chapter, or other applicable law, include the establishment
of requirements for the submission of reports by Institu-
tional Review Boards. Information collected under the pro-
gram will include information relating to—
‘‘(A) description of the research subjects;
‘‘(B) the nature of the research;
‘‘(C) the objective of the research;
HR 299 IH1S
‘‘(D) the reasons for the use of such subjects;
and
‘‘(E) the source of funding for the research.
The Secretary shall ensure that information collected
under the program is made available to the public on a
regular basis including in the form of an annual report.’’.
Æ
I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 29
To amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require that the Director
of the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation
utilize dynamic scoring for provisions of bills or joint resolutions that
reduce rates of taxation.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 6, 1999
Mr. DREIER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Commit-
tee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and
Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require
that the Director of the Congressional Budget Office
and the Joint Committee on Taxation utilize dynamic
scoring for provisions of bills or joint resolutions that
reduce rates of taxation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DYNAMIC SCORING.
Title II of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
‘‘DYNAMIC SCORING
‘‘SEC. 204. (a) DYNAMIC SCORING.—In making esti-
mates pursuant to this Act for any bill or joint resolution
that reduces any rate of Federal taxation, the Director
of the Congressional Budget Office or the Joint Commit-
tee on Taxation, as the case may be, shall base the esti-
mate of the effect of such tax rate reduction on a dynamic
estimate of the changes in Federal revenues expected to
result from enactment of the tax rate provisions of that
bill or joint resolution.
‘‘(b) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term
‘dynamic estimate’ means a projection based in any part
on assumptions concerning probable effects of macro-
economic feedback, and shall include a statement identify-
ing all such assumptions.’’.
SEC. 2. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
The table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of
1974 is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 203 the following new item:
‘‘Sec. 204. Dynamic Scoring.’’.
Æ
professional development and technical assistance
through such agencies; and
‘‘(B) where educational service agencies do not
exist, the State educational agency will consider pro-
viding professional development and technical assist-
ance through other cooperative agreements such as
through a consortium of local educational agencies;
‘‘(3) the State educational agency will notify
local educational agencies and the public of the con-
tent and student performance standards and assess-
ments developed under this section, and of the author-
ity to operate schoolwide programs, and will fulfill
the State educational agency’s responsibilities regard-
ing local educational agency improvement and school
improvement under section 1116, including such cor-
rective actions as are necessary;
‘‘(4) the State educational agency will provide
the least restrictive and burdensome regulations for
local educational agencies and individual schools par-
ticipating in a program assisted under this part;
‘‘(5) the State educational agency will inform
the Secretary and the public of how Federal laws, if
at all, hinder the ability of States to hold local edu-
cational agencies and schools accountable for student
academic performance;
HR 2 RFS
‘‘(ii) 
challenging 
student 
performance
standards that—
‘‘(I) are aligned with the State’s con-
tent standards;
‘‘(II) describe two levels of high per-
formance, proficient and advanced, that
determine how well children are mastering
the material in the State content stand-
ards; and
‘‘(III) describe a third level of per-
formance, basic, to provide complete infor-
mation about the progress of the lower
performing children toward achieving to
the proficient and advanced levels of per-
formance.
‘‘(E) For the subjects in which students will be
served under this part, but for which a State is not
required by subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) to de-
velop, and has not otherwise developed such stand-
ards, the State plan shall describe a strategy for en-
suring that such students are taught the same
knowledge and skills and held to the same expecta-
tions as are all children.
‘‘(2) ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS.—
construction issue’ means any con-
struction issue if no bond which is
part of such issue is a private activity
bond and all of the available construc-
tion proceeds of such issue are to be
used for the construction (as defined
in clause (iv)) of public school facili-
ties to provide education or training
below the postsecondary level or for
the acquisition of land that is func-
tionally related and subordinate to
such facilities.
‘‘(III) 
OTHER
RULES
TO
APPLY.—Rules similar to the rules of
the preceding provisions of this sub-
paragraph which apply to clause (ii)
also apply to this clause.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
this section shall apply to obligations issued after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
Æ
‘‘(6) the State educational agency will encourage
schools to consolidate funds from other Federal, State,
and local sources for schoolwide reform in schoolwide
programs under section 1114;
‘‘(7) the State educational agency will modify or
eliminate State fiscal and accounting barriers so that
schools can easily consolidate funds from other Fed-
eral, State, and local sources for schoolwide programs
under section 1114;
‘‘(8) the State educational agency has involved
the committee of practitioners established under sec-
tion 1603(b) in developing the plan and monitoring
its implementation; and
‘‘(9) the State educational agency will inform
local educational agencies of the local educational
agency’s authority to obtain waivers under title XIV
and, if the State is an Ed-Flex Partnership State,
waivers under the Education Flexibility Partnership
Act of 1999 (30 U.S.C. 589a et seq.).
‘‘(d) PEER REVIEW AND SECRETARIAL APPROVAL.—
‘‘(1) 
SECRETARIAL
DUTIES.—The 
Secretary
shall—
‘‘(A) establish a peer review process to assist
in the review of State plans;