31 U.S.C. § 3512 (MONEY AND FINANCE)
§ 3512. Executive agency accounting and other financial management reports and plans
(a)
(1) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of the Congress and make available on the website described under section 1122 a financial management status report and a governmentwide 5-year financial management plan.
(2) A financial management status report under this subsection shall include—
(A) a description and analysis of the status of financial management in the executive branch;
(B) a summary of the most recently completed financial statements—
(i) of Federal agencies under section 3515 of this title; and
(ii) of Government corporations;
(C) a summary of the most recently completed financial statement audits and reports—
(i) of Federal agencies under section 3521(e) and (f) of this title; and
(ii) of Government corporations;
(D) a summary of reports on internal accounting and administrative control systems submitted to the President and the Congress under the amendments made by the Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act of 1982 (Public Law 97–255);
(E) a listing of agencies whose financial management systems do not comply substantially with the requirements of Section 1 3(a) 2 the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996, and a summary statement of the efforts underway to remedy the noncompliance; and
(F) any other information the Director considers appropriate to fully inform the Congress regarding the financial management of the Federal Government.
(3)
(A) A governmentwide 5-year financial management plan under this subsection shall describe the activities the Director, the Deputy Director for Management, the Controller of the Office of Federal Financial Management, and agency Chief Financial Officers shall conduct over the next 5 fiscal years to improve the financial management of the Federal Government.
(B) Each governmentwide 5-year financial management plan prepared under this subsection shall—
(i) describe the existing financial management structure and any changes needed to establish an integrated financial management system;
(ii) be consistent with applicable accounting principles, standards, and requirements;
(iii) provide a strategy for developing and integrating individual agency accounting, financial information, and other financial management systems to ensure adequacy, consistency, and timeliness of financial information;
(iv) identify and make proposals to eliminate duplicative and unnecessary systems, including encouraging agencies to share systems which have sufficient capacity to perform the functions needed;
(v) identify projects to bring existing systems into compliance with the applicable standards and requirements;
(vi) contain milestones for equipment acquisitions and other actions necessary to implement the 5-year plan consistent with the requirements of this section;
(vii) identify financial management personnel needs and actions to ensure those needs are met;
(viii) include a plan for ensuring the annual audit of financial statements of executive agencies pursuant to section 3521(h) of this title; and
(ix) estimate the costs of implementing the governmentwide 5-year plan.
(4)
(A) Not later than 15 months after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit the first financial management status report and governmentwide 5-year financial management plan under this subsection to the appropriate committees of the Congress.
(B)
(i) Not later than January 31 of each year thereafter, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit to the appropriate committees of the Congress a financial management status report and a revised governmentwide 5-year financial management plan to cover the succeeding 5 fiscal years, including a report on the accomplishments of the executive branch in implementing the plan during the preceding fiscal year.
(ii) The Director shall include with each revised governmentwide 5-year financial management plan a description of any substantive changes in the financial statement audit plan required by paragraph (3)(B)(viii), progress made by executive agencies in implementing the audit plan, and any improvements in Federal Government financial management related to preparation and audit of financial statements of executive agencies.
(5) Not later than 30 days after receiving each annual report under section 902(a)(6) of this title, the Director shall transmit to the Chairman of the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate a final copy of that report and any comments on the report by the Director.
(b) The head of each executive agency shall establish and maintain systems of accounting and internal controls that provide—
(1) complete disclosure of the financial results of the activities of the agency;
(2) adequate financial information the agency needs for management purposes;
(3) effective control over, and accountability for, assets for which the agency is responsible, including internal audit;
(4) reliable accounting results that will be the basis for—
(A) preparing and supporting the budget requests of the agency;
(B) controlling the carrying out of the agency budget; and
(C) providing financial information the President requires under section 1104(e) of this title; and
(5) suitable integration of the accounting of the agency with the central accounting and reporting responsibilities of the Secretary of the Treasury under section 3513 of this title.
(c)
(1) To ensure compliance with subsection (b)(3) of this section and consistent with standards the Comptroller General prescribes, the head of each executive agency shall establish internal accounting and administrative controls that reasonably ensure that—
(A) obligations and costs comply with applicable law;
(B) all assets are safeguarded against waste, loss, unauthorized use, and misappropriation; and
(C) revenues and expenditures applicable to agency operations are recorded and accounted for properly so that accounts and reliable financial and statistical reports may be prepared and accountability of the assets may be maintained.
(2) Standards the Comptroller General prescribes under this subsection shall include standards to ensure the prompt resolution of all audit findings.
(d)
(1) In consultation with the Comptroller General, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget—
(A) shall establish by December 31, 1982, guidelines that the head of each executive agency shall follow in evaluating the internal accounting and administrative control systems of the agency to decide whether the systems comply with subsection (c) of this section; and
(B) may change a guideline when considered necessary.
(2) By December 31 of each year (beginning in 1983), the head of each executive agency, based on an evaluation conducted according to guidelines prescribed under paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall prepare a statement on whether the systems of the agency comply with subsection (c) of this section, including—
(A) if the head of an executive agency decides the systems do not comply with subsection (c) of this section, a report identifying any material weakness in the systems and describing the plans and schedule for correcting the weakness; and
(B) a separate report on whether the accounting system of the agency conforms to the principles, standards, and requirements the Comptroller General prescribes under section 3511(a) of this title.
(3) The head of each executive agency shall sign the statement and reports required by this subsection and submit them to the President and Congress. The statement and reports are available to the public, except that information shall be deleted from a statement or report before it is made available if the information specifically is—
(A) prohibited from disclosure by law; or
(B) required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs.
(e) To assist in preparing a cost-based budget under section 1108(b) of this title and consistent with principles and standards the Comptroller General prescribes, the head of each executive agency shall maintain the accounts of the agency on an accrual basis to show the resources, liabilities, and costs of operations of the agency. An accounting system under this subsection shall include monetary property accounting records.
(f) The Comptroller General shall—
(1) cooperate with the head of each executive agency in developing an accounting system for the agency; and
(2) approve the system when the Comptroller General considers it to be adequate and in conformity with the principles, standards, and requirements prescribed under section 3511 of this title.
(g) The Comptroller General shall review the accounting systems of each executive agency. The results of a review shall be available to the head of the executive agency, the Secretary, and the President. The Comptroller General shall report to Congress on a review when the Comptroller General considers it proper.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 959; Pub. L. 97–452, § 1(12), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2468; Pub. L. 101–576, title III, § 301(a), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2847; Pub. L. 103–272, § 4(f)(1)(J), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1362; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(f) [title VIII, § 805(b)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–314, 3009–392; Pub. L. 113–101, § 4, May 9, 2014, 128 Stat. 1153.)
text: Historical and Revision Notes
1982 Act
Revised Section
Source (U.S. Code)
Source (Statutes at Large)
3512(a)
31:66a(a).
Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, §§ 112(c), 113(a), 64 Stat. 835; Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1970, eff. July 1, 1970, § 102(a), 84 Stat. 2085.
3512(b)
31:66a(c).
Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, 64 Stat. 832, § 113(c); added Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 814, § 2(b), 70 Stat. 782.
3512(c)
31:66(b)(less Treasury Department).
Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, §§ 112(b)(less Treasury Department), 113(b), 64 Stat. 835, 836.
31:66a(b).
3512(d)
31:66(c).
In subsection (a)(3), the words “funds, property, and other” are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (a)(4)(C), the word “President” is substituted for “Office of Management and Budget” because sections 101 and 102(a) of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1970 (eff. July 1, 1970, 84 Stat. 2085) redesignated the Bureau of the Budget as the Office of Management and Budget and transferred all functions of the Bureau to the President.
In subsection (a)(5), the words “the accounting of the Treasury Department in connection with” are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (b), the words “As soon as practicable after August 1, 1956” are omitted as executed. The words “with a view”, “adequate”, and “as an integral part of the system” are omitted as surplus.
In subsections (c) and (d), the words “Comptroller General” are substituted for “General Accounting Office” for consistency. The word “considers” is substituted for “deemed” as being more precise.
In subsection (c), the text of 31:66a(b) is omitted as unnecessary. In clause (1), the words “the head of” are added for consistency with the revised title and other titles of the United States Code. In clause (2), the words “under section 3511 of this title” are substituted for “by him” in 31:66(b)(less Treasury Department) for clarity.
In subsection (d), the word “concerned” is omitted as surplus. The word “President” is substituted for “Director of the Office of Management and Budget” because sections 101 and 102(a) of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1970 redesignated the Bureau of the Budget as the Office of Management and Budget and transferred all functions of the Bureau to the President.
text: 1983 Act
Revised Section
Source (U.S. Code)
Source (Statutes at Large)
3512(b)
31 App.:66a(d)(1).
Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, 64 Stat. 832, § 113(d); added Sept. 8, 1982, Pub. L. 97–255, § 2, 96 Stat. 814.
3512(c)(1)
31 App.:66a(d)(2).
3512(c)(2) (A)
31 App.:66a(d)(3), (4).
3512(c)(2) (B)
31 App.:66a(b)(last sentence).
Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, 64 Stat. 832, § 113(b)(last sentence); added Sept. 8, 1982, Pub. L. 97–255, § 4, 96 Stat. 815.
3512(c)(3)
31 App.:66a(d)(5).
In subsections (b)(1) and (c)(1)(A), the words “the requirements of” are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (b)(1), before clause (A), the words “the head of” are added for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. The word “provide” is omitted as surplus. In clause (B), the word “all” is substituted for “funds, property, and other” to eliminate unnecessary words.
In subsection (c)(1)(A), the words “the head of each executive agency shall follow” are substituted for “agencies” for clarity and consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code.
In subsection (c)(2), before clause (A), the words “beginning in” are substituted for “succeeding” because of the restatement. The words “on whether the systems of the agency comply with subsection (b) of this section” are substituted for 31 App.:66a(d)(3)(A) to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (B), the word “related” is omitted as surplus.
In subsection (c)(3)(A), the words “provision of” are omitted as surplus.
heading: References in Text
text: The Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act of 1982, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(D), is Pub. L. 97–255, Sept. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 814, which added subsec. (d) to section 66a of former Title 31, Money and Finance. Section 66a of former Title 31 was repealed by Pub. L. 97–258, § 5(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1068, and reenacted by the first section thereof as this section. Provisions relating to reports on internal accounting and administrative control systems are restated in subsec. (d)(2) and (3) of this section.
The Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(E), is Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(f) [title VIII], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–314, 3009–389, which is set out as a note under this section. Section 3(a) of the act probably means section 803(a) of the act, which contains requirements relating to financial management systems.
The date of the enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (a)(4)(A), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 101–576, which added subsec. (a) and was approved Nov. 15, 1990.
heading: Amendments
text: 2014—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 113–101, which directed the insertion of “and make available on the website described under section 1122” after “appropriate committees of Congress” was executed by making the insertion after “appropriate committees of the Congress” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
1996—Subsec. (a)(2)(E), (F). Pub. L. 104–208 added subpar. (E) and redesignated former subpar. (E) as (F).
1994—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 103–272, § 4(f)(1)(J)(i), substituted “subsection (b)(3)” for “subsection (a)(3)” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (d)(1), (2). Pub. L. 103–272, § 4(f)(1)(J)(ii), substituted “subsection (c)” for “subsection (b)” wherever appearing.
1990—Pub. L. 101–576 substituted “and other financial management reports and plans” for “systems” in section catchline, added subsec. (a), and redesignated former subsecs. (a) to (f) as (b) to (g), respectively.
1983—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 97–452 added subsecs. (b) and (c). Former subsecs. (b) and (c) were redesignated (d) and (e), respectively.
Subsecs. (d) to (f). Pub. L. 97–452 redesignated former subsecs. (b) to (d) as (d) to (f), respectively.
heading: Change of Name
text: Committee on Governmental Affairs of Senate changed to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of Senate, effective Jan. 4, 2005, by Senate Resolution No. 445, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Oct. 9, 2004.
Committee on Government Operations of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of House of Representatives by section 1(a) of Pub. L. 104–14, set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress. Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 6, 1999. Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2019.
heading: Short Title
text: This section is popularly known as the “Federal Managers Financial Integrity Act”.
heading: Termination of Reporting Requirements
text: For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions of law requiring submittal to Congress of any annual, semiannual, or other regular periodic report listed in House Document No. 103–7 (in which the requirement to submit statements and reports to Congress under subsection (d)(3) of this section is listed on page 151), see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, and section 1(a)(4) [div. A, § 1402(1)] of Pub. L. 106–554, set out as notes under section 1113 of this title.
heading: Federal Financial Management Improvement
text: Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(f) [title VIII], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–314, 3009–389, provided that:
“SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE[.]
“This title may be cited as the ‘Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996.’
“SEC. 802. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
“(a) Findings.—
The Congress finds the following:
“(1) Much effort has been devoted to strengthening Federal internal accounting controls in the past. Although progress has been made in recent years, Federal accounting standards have not been uniformly implemented in financial management systems for agencies.
“(2) Federal financial management continues to be seriously deficient, and Federal financial management and fiscal practices have failed to—
“(A) identify costs fully;
“(B) reflect the total liabilities of congressional actions; and
“(C) accurately report the financial condition of the Federal Government.
“(3) Current Federal accounting practices do not accurately report financial results of the Federal Government or the full costs of programs and activities. The continued use of these practices undermines the Government’s ability to provide credible and reliable financial data and encourages already widespread Government waste, and will not assist in achieving a balanced budget.
“(4) Waste and inefficiency in the Federal Government undermine the confidence of the American people in the government and reduce the federal Government’s ability to address vital public needs adequately.
“(5) To rebuild the accountability and credibility of the Federal Government, and restore public confidence in the Federal Government, agencies must incorporate accounting standards and reporting objectives established for the Federal Government into their financial management systems so that all the assets and liabilities, revenues, and expenditures or expenses, and the full costs of programs and activities of the Federal Government can be consistently and accurately recorded, monitored, and uniformly reported throughout the Federal Government.
“(6) Since its establishment in October 1990, the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (hereinafter referred to as the ‘FASAB’) has made substantial progress toward developing and recommending a comprehensive set of accounting concepts and standards for the Federal Government. When the accounting concepts and standards developed by FASAB are incorporated into Federal financial management systems, agencies will be able to provide cost and financial information that will assist the Congress and financial managers to evaluate the cost and performance of Federal programs and activities, and will therefore provide important information that has been lacking, but is needed for improved decision making by financial managers and the Congress.
“(7) The development of financial management systems with the capacity to support these standards and concepts will, over the long term, improve Federal financial management.
“(b) Purpose[.]—The purposes of this Act [title] are to—
“(1) provide for consistency of accounting by an agency from one fiscal year to the next, and uniform accounting standards throughout the Federal Government;
“(2) require Federal financial management systems to support full disclosure of Federal financial data, including the full costs of Federal programs and activities, to the citizens, the Congress, the President, and agency management, so that programs and activities can be considered based on their full costs and merits;
“(3) increase the accountability and credibility of federal [sic] financial management;
“(4) improve performance, productivity and efficiency of Federal Government financial management;
“(5) establish financial management systems to support controlling the cost of Federal Government;
“(6) build upon and complement the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–576; 104 Stat 2838) [see Short Title of 1990 Amendment note set out under section 501 of this title], the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–62[;] 107 Stat. 285) [see Short Title of 1993 Amendment note set out under section 1101 of this title] and the Government Management Reform Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–356; 108 Stat. 3410) [see Short Title of 1994 Amendment note set out under section 3301 of this title]; and
“(7) increase the capability of agencies to monitor execution of the budget by more readily permitting reports that compare spending of resources to results of activities.
“SEC. 803. IMPLEMENTATION OF FEDERAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS.
“(a) In General.—
Each agency shall implement and maintain financial management systems that comply substantially with Federal financial management systems requirements, applicable Federal accounting standards, and the United States Government Standard General Ledger at the transaction level.
“(b) Audit Compliance Finding.—
“(1) In general.—
Each audit required by section 3521(e) of title 31, United States Code, shall report whether the agency financial management systems comply with the requirements of subsection (a).
“(2) Content of Reports.—
When the person performing the audit required by section 3521(e) of title 31, United States Code, reports that the agency financial management systems do not comply with the requirements of subsection (a), the person performing the audit shall include in the report on the audit—
“(A) the entity or organization responsible for the financial management systems that have been found not to comply with the requirements of subsection (a);
“(B) all facts pertaining to the failure to comply with the requirements of subsection (a), including—
“(i) the nature and extent of the noncompliance including areas in which there is substantial but not full compliance;
“(ii) the primary reason or cause of the noncompliance;
“(iii) the entity or organization responsible for the non-compliance [sic]; and
“(iv) any relevant comments from any responsible officer or employee; and
“(C) a statement with respect to the recommended remedial actions and the time frames to implement such actions.
“(c) Compliance Implementation.—
“(1) Determination.—
No later than the date described under paragraph (2), the Head of an agency shall determine whether the financial management systems of the agency comply with the requirements of subsection (a). Such determination shall be based on—
“(A) a review of the report on the applicable agency-wide audited financial statement;
“(B) any other information the Head of the agency considers relevant and appropriate.
“(2) Date of determination.—
The determination under paragraph (1) shall be made no later than 120 days after the earlier of—
“(A) the date of the receipt of an agency-wide audited financial statement; or
“(B) the last day of the fiscal year following the year covered by such statement.
“(3) Remediation plan.—
“(A) If the Head of an agency determines that the agency’s financial management systems do not comply with the requirements of subsection (a), the head of the agency, in consultation with the Director, shall establish a remediation plan that shall include resources, remedies, and intermediate target dates necessary to bring the agency’s financial management systems into substantial compliance.
“(B) If the determination of the head of the agency differs from the audit compliance findings required in subsection (b), the Director shall review such determinations and provide a report on the findings to the appropriate committees of the Congress.
“(4) Time period for compliance.—
A remediation plan shall bring the agency’s financial management systems into substantial compliance no later than 3 years after the date a determination is made under paragraph (1), unless the agency, with concurrence of the Director—
“(A) determines that the agency’s financial management systems cannot comply with the requirements of subsection (a) within 3 years;
“(B) specifies the most feasible date for bringing the agency’s financial management systems into compliance with the requirements of subsection (a); and
“(C) designates an official of the agency who shall be responsible for bringing the agency’s financial management systems into compliance with the requirements of subsection (a) by the date specified under subparagraph (B).
“SEC. 804. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
“(a) Reports by the Director.—
No later than March 31 of each year, the Director shall submit a report to the Congress regarding implementation of this Act [title]. The Director may include the report in the financial management status report and the 5-year financial management plan submitted under section 3512(a)(1) of title 31, United States Code.
“(b) Reports by the Inspector General[.]—Each Inspector General who prepares a report under section 5(a) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) shall report to Congress instances and reasons when an agency has not met the intermediate target dates established in the remediation plan required under section 3(c) [803(c)]. Specifically the report shall include—
“(1) the entity or organization responsible for the non-compliance [sic];
“(2) the facts pertaining to the failure to comply with the requirements of subsection (a), including the nature and extent of the non-compliance [sic], the primary reason or cause for the failure to comply, and any extenuating circumstances; and
“(3) a statement of the remedial actions needed to comply.
“(c) Reports by the Comptroller General.—
No later than October 1, 1997, and October 1, of each year thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall report to the appropriate committees of the Congress concerning—
“(1) compliance with the requirements of section 3(a) of this Act [803(a) of this title], including whether the financial statements of the Federal Government have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards; and
“(2) the adequacy of applicable accounting standards for the Federal Government.
“SEC. 805. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
“(a) Audits by Agencies.—
[Amended section 3521 of this title.]
“(b) Financial Management Status Report.—
[Amended this section.]
“(c) Inspector General Act of 1978.—
[Amended section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.]
“SEC. 806. DEFINITIONS.
“For purposes of this title:
“(1) Agency.—
The term ‘agency’ means a department or agency of the United States Government as defined in section 901(b) of title 31, United States Code.
“(2) Director.—
The term ‘Director’ means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
“(3) Federal Accounting Standards.—
The term ‘Federal accounting standards’ means applicable accounting principles, standards, and requirements consistent with section 902(a)(3)(A) of title 31, United States Code.
“(4) Financial management systems.—
The term ‘financial management systems’ includes the financial systems and the financial portions of mixed systems necessary to support financial management, including automated and manual processes, procedures, controls, data, hardware, software, and support personnel dedicated to the operation and maintenance of system functions.
“(5) Financial system.—
The term ‘financial system’ includes an information system, comprised of one or more applications, that is used for—
“(A) collecting, processing, maintaining, transmitting, or reporting data about financial events;
“(B) supporting financial planning or budgeting activities;
“(C) accumulating and reporting costs information; or
“(D) supporting the preparation of financial statements.
“(6) Mixed system.—
The term ‘mixed system’ means an information system that supports both financial and nonfinancial functions of the Federal Government or components thereof.
“SEC. 807. EFFECTIVE DATE.
“This title shall take effect for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997.
“SEC. 808. REVISION OF SHORT TITLES.
“(a) [Amended section 4001 of Pub. L. 104–106, set out as a Short Title of 1996 Act note under section 101 of Title 41, Public Contracts.]
“(b) [Amended section 5001 of Pub. L. 104–106, div. E, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 679, subsequently repealed by Pub. L. 107–217, § 6(b), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1304.]
“(c) Any reference in any law, regulation, document, record, or other paper of the United States to the Federal Acquisition Reform Act of 1996 or to the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 shall be considered to be a reference to the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 [see Short Title of 1996 Act note set out under section 101 of Title 41].”