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SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM
For carrying out titles XI and XVI of the Social Se-
curity Act, section 401 of Public Law 92–603, section 212
of Public Law 93–66, as amended, and section 405 of
Public Law 95–216, including payment to the Social Secu-
rity trust funds for administrative expenses incurred pur-
suant to section 201(g)(1) of the Social Security Act,
$18,753,834,000, to remain available until expended: Pro-
vided, That any portion of the funds provided to a State
in the current fiscal year and not obligated by the State
during that year shall be returned to the Treasury.
For making, after June 15 of the current fiscal year,
benefit payments to individuals under title XVI of the So-
cial Security Act, for unanticipated costs incurred for the
current fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary.
For carrying out title XVI of the Social Security Act
for the first quarter of fiscal year 1997, $9,260,000,000,
to remain available until expended.
LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
For necessary expenses, including the hire of two me-
dium size passenger motor vehicles, and not to exceed
$10,000 for official reception and representation expenses,
not more than $5,164,268,000 may be expended, as au-
thorized by section 201(g)(1) of the Social Security Act
or as necessary to carry out sections 9704 and 9706 of
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the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 from any one or all
of the trust funds referred to therein: Provided, That reim-
bursement to the trust funds under this heading for ad-
ministrative expenses to carry out sections 9704 and 9706
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be made, with
interest, not later than September 30, 1997.
In addition to funding already available under this
heading, and subject to the same terms and conditions,
$407,000,000, for disability caseload processing.
In addition to funding already available under this
heading, and subject to the same terms and conditions,
$228,000,000, which shall remain available until ex-
pended, to invest in a state-of-the-art computing network,
including related equipment and administrative expenses
associated solely with this network, for the Social Security
Administration and the State Disability Determination
Services, may be expended from any or all of the trust
funds as authorized by section 201(g)(1) of the Social
Security Act.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
For expenses necessary for the Office of Inspector
General in carrying out the provisions of the Inspector
General Act of 1978, as amended, $4,816,000, together
with not to exceed $21,076,000, to be transferred and ex-
pended as authorized by section 201(g)(1) of the Social
Security Act from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors In-
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surance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance
Trust Fund.
RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
DUAL BENEFITS PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
For payment to the Dual Benefits Payments Ac-
count, authorized under section 15(d) of the Railroad Re-
tirement Act of 1974, $239,000,000, which shall include
amounts becoming available in fiscal year 1996 pursuant
to section 224(c)(1)(B) of Public Law 98–76; and in addi-
tion, an amount, not to exceed 2 percent of the amount
provided herein, shall be available proportional to the
amount by which the product of recipients and the average
benefit received exceeds $239,000,000: Provided, That the
total amount provided herein shall be credited in 12 ap-
proximately equal amounts on the first day of each month
in the fiscal year.
FEDERAL PAYMENTS TO THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT
ACCOUNTS
For payment to the accounts established in the
Treasury for the payment of benefits under the Railroad
Retirement Act for interest earned on unnegotiated
checks, $300,000, to remain available through September
30, 1997, which shall be the maximum amount available
for payment pursuant to section 417 of Public Law
98–76.
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LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATION
For necessary expenses for the Railroad Retirement
Board, $73,561,000, to be derived from the railroad re-
tirement accounts.
LIMITATION ON RAILROAD UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
ADMINISTRATION FUND
For further expenses necessary for the Railroad Re-
tirement Board, for administration of the Railroad Unem-
ployment Insurance Act, not less than $17,255,000 shall
be apportioned for fiscal year 1996 from moneys credited
to the railroad unemployment insurance administration
fund.
SPECIAL MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT FUND
To effect management improvements, including the
reduction of backlogs, accuracy of taxation accounting,
and debt collection, $659,000, to be derived from the rail-
road retirement accounts and railroad unemployment in-
surance account: Provided, That these funds shall supple-
ment, not supplant, existing resources devoted to such op-
erations and improvements.
LIMITATION ON THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
For expenses necessary for the Office of Inspector
General for audit, investigatory and review activities, as
authorized by the Inspector General Act of 1978, as
amended, not more than $5,673,000, to be derived from
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the railroad retirement accounts and railroad unemploy-
ment insurance account.
UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE
OPERATING EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the United States Institute
of Peace as authorized in the United States Institute of
Peace Act, $11,500,000.
TITLE V—GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 501. The Secretaries of Labor, Health and
Human Services, and Education are authorized to transfer
unexpended balances of prior appropriations to accounts
corresponding to current appropriations provided in this
Act: Provided, That such transferred balances are used for
the same purpose, and for the same periods of time, for
which they were originally appropriated.
SEC. 502. No part of any appropriation contained in
this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the
current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
SEC. 503. (a) No part of any appropriation contained
in this Act shall be used, other than for normal and recog-
nized executive-legislative relationships, for publicity or
propaganda purposes, for the preparation, distribution, or
use of any kit, pamphlet, booklet, publication, radio, tele-
vision, or film presentation designed to support or defeat
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legislation pending before the Congress, except in presen-
tation to the Congress itself.
(b) No part of any appropriation contained in this
Act shall be used to pay the salary or expenses of any
grant or contract recipient, or agent acting for such recipi-
ent, related to any activity designed to influence legislation
or appropriations pending before the Congress.
SEC. 504. The Secretaries of Labor and Education
are each authorized to make available not to exceed
$15,000 from funds available for salaries and expenses
under titles I and III, respectively, for official reception
and representation expenses; the Director of the Federal
Mediation and Conciliation Service is authorized to make
available for official reception and representation expenses
not to exceed $2,500 from the funds available for ‘‘Sala-
ries and expenses, Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Service’’; and the Chairman of the National Mediation
Board is authorized to make available for official reception
and representation expenses not to exceed $2,500 from
funds available for ‘‘Salaries and expenses, National Medi-
ation Board’’.
SEC. 505. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Act, no funds appropriated under this Act shall be
used to carry out any program of distributing sterile nee-
dles for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug unless
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the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines
that such programs are effective in preventing the spread
of HIV and do not encourage the use of illegal drugs.
SEC. 506. (a) PURCHASE
OF
AMERICAN-MADE
EQUIPMENT AND PRODUCTS.—It is the sense of the Con-
gress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equip-
ment and products purchased with funds made available
in this Act should be American-made.
(b) NOTICE REQUIREMENT.—In providing financial
assistance to, or entering into any contract with, any en-
tity using funds made available in this Act, the head of
each Federal agency, to the greatest extent practicable,
shall provide to such entity a notice describing the state-
ment made in subsection (a) by the Congress.
SEC. 507. When issuing statements, press releases,
requests for proposals, bid solicitations and other docu-
ments describing projects or programs funded in whole or
in part with Federal money, all grantees receiving Federal
funds, including but not limited to State and local govern-
ments and recipients of Federal research grants, shall
clearly state (1) the percentage of the total costs of the
program or project which will be financed with Federal
money, (2) the dollar amount of Federal funds for the
project or program, and (3) percentage and dollar amount
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of the total costs of the project or program that will be
financed by nongovernmental sources.
SEC. 508. None of the funds appropriated under this
Act shall be expended for any abortion except when it is
made known to the Federal entity or official to which
funds are appropriated under this Act that such procedure
is necessary to save the life of the mother or that the preg-
nancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.
SEC. 509. Effective October 1, 1993, and applicable
thereafter, and notwithstanding any other law, each State
is and remains free not to fund abortions to the extent
that the State in its sole discretion deems appropriate, ex-
cept where the life of the mother would be endangered if
the fetus were carried to term.
SEC. 510. Notwithstanding any other provision of
law—
(1) no amount may be transferred from an ap-
propriation account for the Departments of Labor,
Health and Human Services, and Education except
as authorized in this or any subsequent appropria-
tion act, or in the Act establishing the program or
activity for which funds are contained in this Act;
(2) no department, agency, or other entity,
other than the one responsible for administering the
program or activity for which an appropriation is
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made in this Act, may exercise authority for the tim-
ing of the obligation and expenditure of such appro-
priation, or for the purposes for which it is obligated
and expended, except to the extent and in the man-
ner otherwise provided in sections 1512 and 1513 of
title 31, United States Code; and
(3) no funds provided under this Act shall be
available for the salary (or any part thereof) of an
employee who is reassigned on a temporary detail
basis to another position in the employing agency or
department or in any other agency or department,
unless the detail is independently approved by the
head of the employing department or agency.
SEC. 511. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—None
of the funds made available in this Act may be used for
the expenses of an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) task
force.
SEC. 512. None of the funds made available in this
Act may be used to enforce the requirements of section
428(b)(1)(U)(iii) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
with respect to any lender when it is made known to the
Federal official having authority to obligate or expend
such funds that the lender has a loan portfolio under part
B of title IV of such Act that is equal to or less than
$5,000,000.
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SEC. 513. None of the funds made available in this
Act may be used for Pell Grants under subpart 1 of part
A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to stu-
dents attending an institution of higher education that is
ineligible to participate in a loan program under such title
as a result of a default determination under section
435(a)(2) of such Act, unless such institution has a par-
ticipation rate index (as defined at 34 CFR 668.17) that
is less than or equal to 0.0375.
SEC. 514. (a) HIGH COST TRAINING EXCEPTION.—
Section 428H(d)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1078–8(d)(2)) is amended by striking out the
period at the end thereof and inserting in lieu thereof a
semicolon and the following: ‘‘except in cases where the
Secretary determines that a higher amount is warranted
in order to carry out the purpose of this part with respect
to students engaged in specialized training requiring ex-
ceptionally high costs of education, but the annual insur-
able limit per student shall not be deemed to be exceeded
by a line of credit under which actual payments by the
lender to the borrower will not be made in any years in
excess of the annual limit.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
subsection (a) shall be effective for loans made to cover
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the cost of instruction for periods of enrollment beginning
on or after July 1, 1996.
SEC. 515. None of the funds made available in this
Act may be used to carry out any Federal program, or
to provide financial assistance to any State, when it is
made known to the Federal official having authority to
obligate or expend such funds that—
(1) such Federal program or State subject any
health care entity to discrimination on the basis
that—
(A) the entity refuses to undergo training
in the performance of induced abortions, to pro-
vide such training, to perform such abortions,
or to provide referrals for such abortions;
(B) the entity refuses to make arrange-
ments for any of the activities specified in sub-
paragraph (A); or
(C) the entity attends (or attended) a post-
graduate physician training program, or any
other program of training in the health profes-
sions, that does not (or did not) require or pro-
vide training in the performance of induced
abortions, or make arrangements for the provi-
sion of such training; or
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(2) in granting a legal status to a health care
entity (including a license or certificate), or in pro-
viding to the entity financial assistance, a service, or
another benefit, such Federal program or State re-
quire that the entity be an accredited postgraduate
physician training program, or that the entity have
completed or be attending such a program, if the ap-
plicable standards for accreditation of the program
include the standard that the program must require
or provide training in the performance of induced
abortions, or make arrangements for the provision of
such training.
EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF HOME HEALTH AGENCY
RECERTIFICATION SURVEYS
SEC. 516. Section 1891(c)(2)(A) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395bbb(c)(2)(A)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘15 months’’ and inserting ‘‘36
months’’, and
(2) by striking the second sentence and insert-
ing the following: ‘‘The Secretary shall establish a
frequency for surveys of home health agencies within
this 36-month interval commensurate with the need
to assure the delivery of quality home health serv-
ices.’’.
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TITLE VI—ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS
SEC. 601. In addition to amounts otherwise provided
in this Act, the following amounts are hereby appropriated
as specified for the following appropriation accounts:
Health Care Financing Administration, ‘‘Program Man-
agement’’, $396,000,000; Office of the Secretary, ‘‘Office
of Inspector General’’, $43,000,000; and Social Security
Administration, ‘‘Limitation on Administrative Ex-
penses’’, $111,000,000.
SEC. 602. Appropriations and funds made available
pursuant to section 601 of this Act shall be available until
enactment into law of a subsequent appropriation for fis-
cal year 1996 for any project or activity provided for in
section 601.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Departments of Labor,
Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996’’.
(d) Such amounts as may be necessary for programs,
projects or activities provided for in the Departments of
Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development,
and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996, at
a rate of operations and to the extent and in the manner
provided for, the provisions of such Act to be effective as
if it had been enacted into law as the regular appropria-
tions Act, as follows:
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AN ACT
Making appropriations for the Departments of Veter-
ans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and for
sundry independent agencies, boards, commissions, cor-
porations, and offices for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1996, and for other purposes.
TITLE I
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the payment of compensation benefits to or on
behalf of veterans as authorized by law (38 U.S.C. 107,
chapters 11, 13, 51, 53, 55, and 61); pension benefits to
or on behalf of veterans as authorized by law (38 U.S.C.
chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, and 61; 92 Stat. 2508); and bur-
ial benefits, emergency and other officers’ retirement pay,
adjusted-service credits and certificates, payment of pre-
miums due on commercial life insurance policies guaran-
teed under the provisions of Article IV of the Soldiers’
and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, as amended, and
for other benefits as authorized by law (38 U.S.C. 107,
1312, 1977, and 2106, chapters 23, 51, 53, 55, and 61;
50 U.S.C. App. 540–548; 43 Stat. 122, 123; 45 Stat. 735;
76 Stat. 1198); $18,331,561,000, to remain available
until expended: Provided, That not to exceed $25,180,000
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of the amount appropriated shall be reimbursed to ‘‘Gen-
eral operating expenses’’ and ‘‘Medical care’’ for necessary
expenses in implementing those provisions authorized in
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, and in
the Veterans’ Benefits Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. chapters
51, 53, and 55), the funding source for which is specifi-
cally provided as the ‘‘Compensation and pensions’’ appro-
priation: Provided further, That such sums as may be
earned on an actual qualifying patient basis, shall be reim-
bursed to ‘‘Medical facilities revolving fund’’ to augment
the funding of individual medical facilities for nursing
home care provided to pensioners as authorized by the
Veterans’ Benefits Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. chapter 55):
Provided further, That $12,000,000 previously transferred
from ‘‘Compensation and pensions’’ to ‘‘Medical facilities
revolving fund’’ shall be transferred to this heading.
READJUSTMENT BENEFITS
For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation
benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by law
(38 U.S.C. chapters 21, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 39, 51, 53,
55, and 61), $1,345,300,000, to remain available until ex-
pended: Provided, That funds shall be available to pay any
court order, court award or any compromise settlement
arising from litigation involving the vocational training
program authorized by section 18 of Public Law 98–77,
as amended.
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VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES
For military and naval insurance, national service life
insurance, servicemen’s indemnities, service-disabled vet-
erans insurance, and veterans mortgage life insurance as
authorized by law (38 U.S.C. chapter 19; 70 Stat. 887;
72 Stat. 487), $24,890,000, to remain available until ex-
pended.
GUARANTY AND INDEMNITY PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such
sums as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of the
program, as authorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter 37, as
amended: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of
modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out
the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $65,226,000,
which may be transferred to and merged with the appro-
priation for ‘‘General operating expenses’’.
LOAN GUARANTY PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such
sums as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of the
program, as authorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter 37, as
amended: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of
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modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out
the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $52,138,000,
which may be transferred to and merged with the appro-
priation for ‘‘General operating expenses’’.
DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, such sums as may be
necessary to carry out the purpose of the program, as au-
thorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter 37, as amended: Provided,
That such costs, including the cost of modifying such
loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974, as amended: Provided further,
That during 1996, within the resources available, not to
exceed $300,000 in gross obligations for direct loans are
authorized for specially adapted housing loans (38 U.S.C.
chapter 37).
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out
the direct loan program, $459,000, which may be trans-
ferred to and merged with the appropriation for ‘‘General
operating expenses’’.
EDUCATION LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, $1,000, as authorized
by 38 U.S.C. 3698, as amended: Provided, That such
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costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be
as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, as amended: Provided further, That these funds
are available to subsidize gross obligations for the prin-
cipal amount of direct loans not to exceed $4,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to
carry out the direct loan program, $195,000, which may
be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for
‘‘General operating expenses’’.
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, $54,000, as authorized
by 38 U.S.C. chapter 31, as amended: Provided, That such
costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be
as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, as amended: Provided further, That these funds
are available to subsidize gross obligations for the prin-
cipal amount of direct loans not to exceed $1,964,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to
carry out the direct loan program, $377,000, which may
be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for
‘‘General operating expenses’’.
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NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM
ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For administrative expenses to carry out the direct
loan program authorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter 37, sub-
chapter V, as amended, $205,000, which may be trans-
ferred to and merged with the appropriation for ‘‘General
operating expenses’’.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
MEDICAL CARE
For necessary expenses for the maintenance and op-
eration of hospitals, nursing homes, and domiciliary facili-
ties; for furnishing, as authorized by law, inpatient and
outpatient care and treatment to beneficiaries of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs, including care and treat-
ment in facilities not under the jurisdiction of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, and furnishing recreational fa-
cilities, supplies, and equipment; funeral, burial, and other
expenses incidental thereto for beneficiaries receiving care
in Department of Veterans Affairs facilities; administra-
tive expenses in support of planning, design, project man-
agement, real property acquisition and disposition, con-
struction and renovation of any facility under the jurisdic-
tion or for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs;
oversight, engineering and architectural activities not
charged to project cost; repairing, altering, improving or
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providing facilities in the several hospitals and homes
under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs, not otherwise provided for, either by contract or by
the hire of temporary employees and purchase of mate-
rials; uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by
law (5 U.S.C. 5901–5902); aid to State homes as author-
ized by law (38 U.S.C. 1741); and not to exceed
$8,000,000 to fund cost comparison studies as referred
to in 38 U.S.C. 8110(a)(5); $16,564,000,000, plus reim-
bursements: Provided, That of the funds made available
under this heading, $789,000,000 is for the equipment
and land and structures object classifications only, which
amount shall not become available for obligation until Au-
gust 1, 1996, and shall remain available for obligation
until September 30, 1997.
MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH
For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of
medical and prosthetic research and development as au-
thorized by law (38 U.S.C. chapter 73), to remain avail-
able until September 30, 1997, $257,000,000, plus reim-
bursements.
MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION AND MISCELLANEOUS
OPERATING EXPENSES
For necessary expenses in the administration of the
medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction,
supply, and research activities, as authorized by law; ad-
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ministrative expenses in support of planning, design,
project management, architectural, engineering, real prop-
erty acquisition and disposition, construction and renova-
tion of any facility under the jurisdiction or for the use
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including site ac-
quisition; engineering and architectural activities not
charged to project cost; and research and development in
building construction technology; $63,602,000, plus reim-
bursements.
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, $7,000, as authorized
by Public Law 102–54, section 8, which shall be trans-
ferred from the ‘‘General post fund’’: Provided, That such
costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be
as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, as amended: Provided further, That these funds
are available to subsidize gross obligations for the prin-
cipal amount of direct loans not to exceed $70,000. In ad-
dition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct
loan program, $54,000, which shall be transferred from
the ‘‘General post fund’’, as authorized by Public Law
102–54, section 8.
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DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION
GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
For necessary operating expenses of the Department
of Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including
uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by law; not
to exceed $25,000 for official reception and representation
expenses; hire of passenger motor vehicles; and reimburse-
ment of the General Services Administration for security
guard services, and the Department of Defense for the
cost of overseas employee mail; $848,143,000: Provided,
That of the amount appropriated and any other funds
made available from any other source for activities funded
under this heading, except reimbursements, not to exceed
$214,109,000 shall be available for General Administra-
tion; including not to exceed (1) $2,766,000 for personnel
compensation and benefits and $50,000 for travel in the
Office of the Secretary, (2) $4,397,000 for personnel com-
pensation and benefits and $75,000 for travel in the Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning, (3)
$1,980,000 for personnel compensation and benefits and
$33,000 for travel in the Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Congressional Affairs, and (4) $3,740,000 for person-
nel compensation and benefits and $100,000 for travel in
the Office of Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergov-
ernmental Affairs: Provided further, That during fiscal
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year 1996, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
number of individuals employed by the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs (1) in other than ‘‘career appointee’’ posi-
tions in the Senior Executive Service shall not exceed 6,
and (2) in schedule C positions shall not exceed 11: Pro-
vided further, That not to exceed $6,000,000 of the
amount appropriated shall be available for administrative
expenses to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan pro-
grams under the Loan Guaranty Program Account: Pro-
vided further, That funds under this heading shall be avail-
able to administer the Service Members Occupational Con-
version and Training Act: Provided further, That none of
the funds under this heading may be obligated or ex-
pended for the acquisition of automated data processing
equipment and services for Department of Veterans Af-
fairs regional offices to support Stage III of the automated
data equipment modernization program of the Veterans
Benefits Administration.
NATIONAL CEMETERY SYSTEM
For necessary expenses for the maintenance and op-
eration of the National Cemetery System not otherwise
provided for, including uniforms or allowances therefor, as
authorized by law; cemeterial expenses as authorized by
law; purchase of three passenger motor vehicles, for use
in cemeterial operations; and hire of passenger motor vehi-
cles, $72,604,000.
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OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector
General in carrying out the provisions of the Inspector
General Act of 1978, as amended, $30,900,000.
CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For constructing, altering, extending and improving
any of the facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or for any of the
purposes set forth in sections 316, 2404, 2406, 8102,
8103, 8106, 8108, 8109, 8110, and 8122 of title 38,
United States Code, including planning, architectural and
engineering services, maintenance or guarantee period
services costs associated with equipment guarantees pro-
vided under the project, services of claims analysts, offsite
utility and storm drainage system construction costs, and
site acquisition, where the estimated cost of a project is
$3,000,000 or more or where funds for a project were
made available in a previous major project appropriation,
$136,155,000, to remain available until expended: Pro-
vided, That except for advance planning of projects funded
through the advance planning fund and the design of
projects funded through the design fund, none of these
funds shall be used for any project which has not been
considered and approved by the Congress in the budgetary
process: Provided further, That funds provided in this ap-
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propriation for fiscal year 1996, for each approved project
shall be obligated (1) by the awarding of a construction
documents contract by September 30, 1996, and (2) by
the awarding of a construction contract by September 30,
1997: Provided further, That the Secretary shall promptly
report in writing to the Comptroller General and to the
Committees on Appropriations any approved major con-
struction project in which obligations are not incurred
within the time limitations established above; and the
Comptroller General shall review the report in accordance
with the procedures established by section 1015 of the Im-
poundment Control Act of 1974 (title X of Public Law
93–344): Provided further, That no funds from any other
account except the ‘‘Parking revolving fund’’, may be obli-
gated for constructing, altering, extending, or improving
a project which was approved in the budget process and
funded in this account until one year after substantial
completion and beneficial occupancy by the Department
of Veterans Affairs of the project or any part thereof with
respect to that part only: Provided further, That of the
funds made available under this heading in Public Law
103–327, $7,000,000 shall be transferred to the ‘‘Parking
revolving fund’’.
CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS
For constructing, altering, extending, and improving
any of the facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use
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of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including plan-
ning, architectural and engineering services, maintenance
or guarantee period services costs associated with equip-
ment guarantees provided under the project, services of
claims analysts, offsite utility and storm drainage system
construction costs, and site acquisition, or for any of the
purposes set forth in sections 316, 2404, 2406, 8102,
8103, 8106, 8108, 8109, 8110, and 8122 of title 38,
United States Code, where the estimated cost of a project
is less than $3,000,000, $190,000,000, to remain avail-
able until expended, along with unobligated balances of
previous ‘‘Construction, minor projects’’ appropriations
which are hereby made available for any project where the
estimated cost is less than $3,000,000: Provided, That
funds in this account shall be available for (1) repairs to
any of the nonmedical facilities under the jurisdiction or
for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs which
are necessary because of loss or damage caused by any
natural disaster or catastrophe, and (2) temporary meas-
ures necessary to prevent or to minimize further loss by
such causes.
PARKING REVOLVING FUND
For the parking revolving fund as authorized by law
(38 U.S.C. 8109), income from fees collected, to remain
available until expended. Resources of this fund shall be
available for all expenses authorized by 38 U.S.C. 8109
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except operations and maintenance costs which will be
funded from ‘‘Medical care’’.
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE EXTENDED CARE
FACILITIES
For grants to assist the several States to acquire or
construct State nursing home and domiciliary facilities
and to remodel, modify or alter existing hospital, nursing
home and domiciliary facilities in State homes, for furnish-
ing care to veterans as authorized by law (38 U.S.C.
8131–8137), $47,397,000, to remain available until ex-
pended.
GRANTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF STATE VETERANS
CEMETERIES
For grants to aid States in establishing, expanding,
or improving State veteran cemeteries as authorized by
law (38 U.S.C. 2408), $1,000,000, to remain available
until September 30, 1998.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
SEC. 101. Any appropriation for 1996 for ‘‘Com-
pensation and pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment benefits’’, and
‘‘Veterans insurance and indemnities’’ may be transferred
to any other of the mentioned appropriations.
SEC. 102. Appropriations available to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for 1996 for salaries and ex-
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penses shall be available for services as authorized by 5
U.S.C. 3109.
SEC. 103. No part of the appropriations in this Act
for the Department of Veterans Affairs (except the appro-
priations for ‘‘Construction, major projects’’, ‘‘Construc-
tion, minor projects’’, and the ‘‘Parking revolving fund’’)
shall be available for the purchase of any site for or toward
the construction of any new hospital or home.
SEC. 104. No part of the foregoing appropriations
shall be available for hospitalization or examination of any
persons except beneficiaries entitled under the laws be-
stowing such benefits to veterans, unless reimbursement
of cost is made to the appropriation at such rates as may
be fixed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
SEC. 105. Appropriations available to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 1996 for ‘‘Com-
pensation and pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment benefits’’, and
‘‘Veterans insurance and indemnities’’ shall be available
for payment of prior year accrued obligations required to
be recorded by law against the corresponding prior year
accounts within the last quarter of fiscal year 1995.
SEC. 106. Appropriations accounts available to the
Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 1996 shall
be available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding
prior year appropriations accounts resulting from title X
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of the Competitive Equality Banking Act, Public Law
100–86, except that if such obligations are from trust
fund accounts they shall be payable from ‘‘Compensation
and pensions’’.
SEC. 107. Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to
transfer, without compensation or reimbursement, the ju-
risdiction and control of a parcel of land consisting of ap-
proximately 6.3 acres, located on the south edge of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Regional Of-
fice Center, Wichita, Kansas, including buildings Nos. 8
and 30 and other improvements thereon, to the Secretary
of Transportation for the purpose of expanding and mod-
ernizing United States Highway 54: Provided, That if nec-
essary, the exact acreage and legal description of the real
property transferred shall be determined by a survey satis-
factory to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Sec-
retary of Transportation shall bear the cost of such sur-
vey: Provided further, That the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall be responsible for all costs associated with the
transferred land and improvements thereon, and compli-
ance with all existing statutes and regulations: Provided
further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the
Secretary of Transportation may require such additional
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terms and conditions as each Secretary considers appro-
priate to effectuate this transfer of land.
TITLE II
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT
HOUSING PROGRAMS
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR ASSISTED HOUSING
For assistance under the United States Housing Act
of 1937, as amended (‘‘the Act’’ herein) (42 U.S.C. 1437),
not otherwise provided for, $10,155,795,000, to remain
available until expended: Provided, That of the total
amount provided under this head, $160,000,000 shall be
for the development or acquisition cost of public housing
for Indian families, including amounts for housing under
the mutual help homeownership opportunity program
under section 202 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1437bb): Pro-
vided further, That of the total amount provided under
this head, $2,500,000,000 shall be for modernization of
existing public housing projects pursuant to section 14 of
the Act (42 U.S.C. 1437l), including up to $20,000,000
for the inspection of public housing units, contract exper-
tise, and training and technical assistance, directly or indi-
rectly, under grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements,
to assist in the oversight and management of public and
Indian housing (whether or not the housing is being mod-
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ernized with assistance under this proviso) or tenant-based
assistance, including, but not limited to, an annual resi-
dent survey, data collection and analysis, training and
technical assistance by or to officials and employees of the
Department and of public housing agencies and to resi-
dents in connection with the public and Indian housing
program: Provided further, That of the total amount pro-
vided under this head, $400,000,000 shall be for rental
subsidy contracts under the section 8 existing housing cer-
tificate program and the housing voucher program under
section 8 of the Act, except that such amounts shall be
used only for units necessary to provide housing assistance
for residents to be relocated from existing federally sub-
sidized or assisted housing, for replacement housing for
units demolished or disposed of (including units to be dis-
posed of pursuant to a homeownership program under sec-
tion 5(h) or title III of the United States Housing Act
of 1937) from the public housing inventory, for funds re-
lated to litigation settlements, for the conversion of section
23 projects to assistance under section 8, for public hous-
ing agencies to implement allocation plans approved by the
Secretary for designated housing, for funds to carry out
the family unification program, and for the relocation of
witnesses in connection with efforts to combat crime in
public and assisted housing pursuant to a request from
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a law enforcement or prosecution agency: Provided further,
That of the total amount provided under this head,
$4,350,862,000 shall be for assistance under the United
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437) for use in
connection with expiring or terminating section 8 subsidy
contracts, such amounts shall be merged with all remain-
ing obligated and unobligated balances heretofore appro-
priated under the heading ‘‘Renewal of expiring section
8 subsidy contracts’’: Provided further, That notwithstand-
ing any other provision of law, assistance reserved under
the two preceding provisos may be used in connection with
any provision of Federal law enacted in this Act or after
the enactment of this Act that authorizes the use of rental
assistance amounts in connection with such terminated or
expired contracts: Provided further, That the Secretary
may determine not to apply section 8(o)(6)(B) of the Act
to housing vouchers during fiscal year 1996: Provided fur-
ther, That of the total amount provided under this head,
$610,575,000 shall be for amendments to section 8 con-
tracts other than contracts for projects developed under
section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959, as amended; and
$261,000,000 shall be for section 8 assistance and reha-
bilitation grants for property disposition: Provided further,
That 50 per centum of the amounts of budget authority,
or in lieu thereof 50 per centum of the cash amounts asso-
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ciated with such budget authority, that are recaptured
from projects described in section 1012(a) of the Stewart
B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of
1988 (Public Law 100–628, 102 Stat. 3224, 3268) shall
be rescinded, or in the case of cash, shall be remitted to
the Treasury, and such amounts of budget authority or
cash recaptured and not rescinded or remitted to the
Treasury shall be used by State housing finance agencies
or local governments or local housing agencies with
projects approved by the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development for which settlement occurred after January
1, 1992, in accordance with such section: Provided further,
That of the total amount provided under this head,
$171,000,000 shall be for housing opportunities for per-
sons with AIDS under title VIII, subtitle D of the Cran-
ston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act; and
$65,000,000 shall be for the lead-based paint hazard re-
duction program as authorized under sections 1011 and
1053 of the Residential Lead-Based Hazard Reduction
Act of 1992: Provided further, That the Secretary may
make up to $5,000,000 of any amount recaptured in this
account available for the development of performance and
financial systems.
Of the total amount provided under this head,
$624,000,000, plus amounts recaptured from interest re-
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duction payment contracts for section 236 projects whose
owners prepay their mortgages during fiscal year 1996
(which amounts shall be transferred and merged with this
account), shall be for use in conjunction with properties
that are eligible for assistance under the Low Income
Housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act
of 1990 (LIHPRHA) or the Emergency Low-Income
Housing Preservation Act of 1987 (ELIHPA): Provided,
That prior to July 1, 1996, funding to carry out plans
of action shall be limited to sales of projects to non-profit
organizations, tenant-sponsored organizations, and other
priority purchasers: Provided further, That of the amount
made available by this paragraph, up to $10,000,000 shall
be available for preservation technical assistance grants
pursuant to section 253 of the Housing and Community
Development Act of 1987, as amended: Provided further,
That with respect to amounts made available by this para-
graph, after July 1, 1996, if the Secretary determines that
the demand for funding may exceed amounts available for
such funding, the Secretary (1) may determine priorities
for distributing available funds, including giving priority
funding to tenants displaced due to mortgage prepayment
and to projects that have not yet been funded but which
have approved plans of action; and (2) may impose a tem-
porary moratorium on applications by potential recipients
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of such funding: Provided further, That an owner of eligi-
ble low-income housing may prepay the mortgage or re-
quest voluntary terminaton of a mortgage insurance con-
tract, so long as said owner agrees not to raise rents for
sixty days after such prepayment: Provided further, That
an owner of eligible low-income housing who has not time-
ly filed a second notice under section 216(d) prior to the
effective date of this Act may file such notice by March
1, 1996: Provided further, That such developments have
been determined to have preservation equity at least equal
to the lesser of $5,000 per unit or $500,000 per project
or the equivalent of eight times the most recently pub-
lished fair market rent for the area in which the project
is located as the appropriate unit size for all of the units
in the eligible project: Provided further, That the Secretary
may modify the regulatory agreement to permit owners
and priority purchasers to retain rental income in excess
of the basic rental charge in projects assisted under sec-
tion 236 of the National Housing Act, for the purpose of
preserving the low and moderate income character of the
housing: Provided further, That the Secretary may give
priority to funding and processing the following projects
provided that the funding is obligated not later than Au-
gust 1, 1996: (1) projects with approved plans of action
to retain the housing that file a modified plan of action
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no later than July 1, 1996 to transfer the housing; (2)
projects with approved plans of action that are subject to
a repayment or settlement agreement that was executed
between the owner and the Secretary prior to September
1, 1995; (3) projects for which submissions were delayed
as a result of their location in areas that were designated
as a Federal disaster area in a Presidential Disaster Dec-
laration; and (4) projects whose processing was, in fact
or in practical effect, suspended, deferred, or interrupted
for a period of twelve months or more because of differing
interpretations, by the Secretary and an owner or by the
Secretary and a State or local rent regulatory agency, con-
cerning the timing of filing eligibility or the effect of a
presumptively applicable State or local rent control law or
regulation on the determination of preservation value
under section 213 of LIHPRHA, as amended, if the owner
of such project filed notice of intent to extend the low-
income affordability restrictions of the housing, or trans-
fer to a qualified purchaser who would extend such restric-
tions, on or before November 1, 1993: Provided further,
That eligible low-income housing shall include properties
meeting the requirements of this paragraph with mort-
gages that are held by a State agency as a result of a
sale by the Secretary without insurance, which imme-
diately before the sale would have been eligible low-income
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housing under LIHPRHA: Provided further, That not-
withstanding any other provision of law, subject to the
availability of appropriated funds, each unassisted low-in-
come family residing in the housing on the date of prepay-
ment or voluntary termination, and whose rent, as a result
of a rent increase occurring no later than one year after
the date of the prepayment, exceeds 30 percent of adjusted
income, shall be offered tenant-based assistance in accord-
ance with section 8 or any successor program, under which
the family shall pay no less for rent than it paid on such
date: Provided further, That any family receiving tenant-
based assistance under the preceding proviso may elect (1)
to remain in the unit of the housing and if the rent exceeds
the fair market rent or payment standard, as applicable,
the rent shall be deemed to be the applicable standard,
so long as the administering public housing agency finds
that the rent is reasonable in comparison with rents
charged for comparable unassisted housing units in the
market or (2) to move from the housing and the rent will
be subject to the fair market rent of the payment stand-
ard, as applicable, under existing program rules and pro-
cedures: Provided further, That up to $10,000,000 of the
amount made available by this paragraph may be used at
the discretion of the Secretary to reimburse owners of eli-
gible properties for which plans of action were submitted