Returned Americans Protection Act of 2006

Bill: 109-hr-5865
Sponsor: Rep. Thomas, William M. [R-CA-22]
Introduced: 2006-07-24 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Americans in foreign countries
Arab-Israeli conflict
Armed Forces and National Security
Child support
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost accounting
Directories
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Emergency housing
Employee selection
Evacuation of civilians
Families
Federal-state relations
Food stamps
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Housing and Community Development
Immigration
International Affairs
Labor and Employment
Lebanon
Middle East and North Africa
Paternity
Repatriation
Social security numbers
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: 
Returned Americans Protection Act of 2006 - Amends the Social Security Act with respect to the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide temporary assistance to U.S. citizens and their dependents if they: (1) are identified by the Department of State as having returned, or been brought, from a foreign country to the United States because of the citizen's destitution or the citizen's or a dependent's illness, or because of war, threat of war, invasion, or similar crisis; and (2) are without available resources.
 
Postpones from FY2004 to FY2006 the limitation to a maximum $1 million of the total amount of temporary assistance provided during any fiscal year. (Thus provides a temporary increase in program funding.)
 
 
Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services to report by March 1, 2007, to specified congressional committees on how funds made available to carry out such authority have been used to provide assistance to U.S. citizens returned to the United States on or after July 20, 2006, and before the most recent date covered by the report, after evacuation from Lebanon.
 
Requires the report to include a breakdown of program costs incurred with regard to repatriating individuals from Lebanon, especially for: (1) direct assistance to individuals (such as costs of domestic travel and short-term lodging), and (2) administrative costs (such as for caseworkers, security, and related expenses).
 
Extends the repatriation program through FY2007.

action_date: 2006-07-25
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Returned Americans Protection Act of 2006 - Amends the Social Security Act with respect to the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide temporary assistance to U.S. citizens and their dependents if they: (1) are identified by the Department of State as having returned, or been brought, from a foreign country to the United States because of the citizen's destitution or the citizen's or a dependent's illness, or because of war, threat of war, invasion, or similar crisis; and (2) are without available resources.
 
Postpones from FY2004 to FY2006 the limitation to a maximum $1 million of the total amount of temporary assistance provided during any fiscal year. (Thus provides a temporary increase in program funding.)
 
Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services to report by March 1, 2007, to specified congressional committees on how funds made available to carry out such authority have been used to provide assistance to U.S. citizens returned to the United States on or after July 20, 2006, and before the most recent date covered by the report, after evacuation from Lebanon.
 
Requires the report to include a breakdown of program costs incurred with regard to repatriating individuals from Lebanon, especially for: (1) direct assistance to individuals (such as costs of domestic travel and short-term lodging), and (2) administrative costs (such as for caseworkers, security, and related expenses).
 
Extends the repatriation program through FY2007.

action_date: 2006-07-26
text: 
Amends title XI of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide temporary assistance to U.S. citizens and their dependents if they: (1) are identified by the Department of State as having returned, or been brought, from a foreign country to the United States because of the citizen's destitution or the citizen's or a dependent's illness, or because of war, threat of war, invasion, or similar crisis; and (2) are without available resources.
 
Increases from $1 million to $6 million the maximum total amount of such temporary assistance provided during FY2006.
 
Amends SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to provide that if a state agency responsible for administration of the food stamp program under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 transmits to the Secretary of Health and Human Services the names and Social Security account numbers of individuals, the Secretary shall disclose to the state agency information on them and their employers maintained in the National Directory of New Hires.
 
Requires the Secretary to make such a disclosure only to the extent that it would not interfere with the effective operation of the child support and establishment of paternity program.
 
Prohibits a state agency from disclosing information provided under this Act except for purposes for administering a food stamp program. Prescribes data security and control policies and establishes a penalty for misuse of information.

action_date: 2006-07-27
text: 
(
This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on July 26, 2006. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Amends title XI of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide temporary assistance to U.S. citizens and their dependents if they: (1) are identified by the Department of State as having returned, or been brought, from a foreign country to the United States because of the citizen's destitution or the citizen's or a dependent's illness, or because of war, threat of war, invasion, or similar crisis; and (2) are without available resources.
 
Increases from $1 million to $6 million the maximum total amount of such temporary assistance provided during FY2006.
 
Amends SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to provide that if a state agency responsible for administration of the food stamp program under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 transmits to the Secretary of Health and Human Services the names and Social Security account numbers of individuals, the Secretary shall disclose to the state agency information on them and their employers maintained in the National Directory of New Hires.
 
Requires the Secretary to make such a disclosure only to the extent that it would not interfere with the effective operation of the child support and establishment of paternity program.
 
Prohibits a state agency from disclosing information provided under this Act except for purposes for administering a food stamp program. Prescribes data security and control policies and establishes a penalty for misuse of information.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-27
text: Became Public Law No: 109-250.
action_date: 2006-07-27
text: Became Public Law No: 109-250.
action_date: 2006-07-27
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2006-07-27
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2006-07-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2006-07-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H5902)
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H5902)
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Mr. Herger asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H5902)
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8216-8217)
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5694)
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5694)
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5865.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5694-5696)
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Mr. Herger moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 109-250