To authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation treatment) to the products of Bulgaria.
PL 104-92 (H.R.1643), enacted 01/06/1996

110 STAT. 16 
PUBLIC LAW 104-92-JAN. 6, 1996 
Public Law 104-92 
104th Congress 
An Act 
Jan. 6, 1996 
Making appropriations for certain activities for the fiscal year 1996, and for other 
[H.R. 1643] 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable cor-
porate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, for the several depart-
ments, agencies, corporations, and other organizational units of 
Government for the fiscal year 1996, and for other purposes, namely: 
SEC. 101. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary under the 
authority £uid conditions provided in the applicable appropriations 
Act for the fiscal year 1995 for continuing the foUowmg projects 
or activities including the costs of direct loans and loan guarantees 
(not otherwise specifically provided for in this Act) which were 
conducted in the fiscal year 1995: 
All nutrition services for the elderly under the account 
heading " . ^ n g services programs" under the Administration 
on Aging in the Department of Health and Human Services; 
All grants to States for child welfare services, authorized 
by title IV, part B, subpart 1, of the Social Security Act, 
under the account heading "Children and families services pro-
grams" under the Administration for Children and Families 
in the Department of Health and Human Services; 
All Federal Parent Locator Service activities, as authorized 
by section 453 of the Social Security Act, under the accoimt 
heading "Children and families services programs" under the 
Administration for Children and Families in the Department 
of Health and Human Services; 
All State xmemplojnnent insureince administration activi-
ties under the account heading "State imemployment insurance 
and emplojnnent service operations" under the Employment 
and Training Administration in the Department of Labor; 
All general welfare assistance pajnnents and foster care 
payments, as authorized by law, funded under the account 
heading "Operation of Indian programs" under the Bureau 
of Indian Affairs in the Department of the Interior; 
All projects and activities funded under the account head-
ing "Family support pajnnents to States" imder the Administra-
tion For Children and Families in the Department of Hesilth 
and Human Services; 
All projects and activities funded under the account head-
ing "Pa5rtnents to States for foster care and adoption assistance" 
under the Administration For Children and Families in the 
Department of HesQth and Human Services; 
PUBLIC LAW 104-92—JAN. 6, 1996 
110 STAT. 17 
All administrative activities necessary to carry out the 
projects and activities in the preceding two paragraphs; 
All projects and activities funded under the account head-
ings "Dual benefits payments account", "Limitation on adminis-
tration" and "Limitation on railroad imemployment insurance 
administration fund" under the Railroad Retirement Board; 
All projects and activities necessary to accommodate visi-
tors EUid to provide for visitor services in the National Park 
System, the National Wildlife Refuges, the National Forests, 
the facilities operated by the Smithsonian Institution, the 
National Gallery of Art, the John F. Kennedy Center for the 
Performing Arts, and the United States Holocaust Memorial; 
and 
All projects and activities necessary to process visas £m.d 
passports and to provide for American citizen services, notvdth-
standing section 15 of the State Department Basic Authorities 
Act of 1956: Provided, That whenever the amount which would 
be made available or the authority which would be granted 
under an Act which included funding for fiscal year 1996 for 
the projects and activities listed in tWs section is greater than 
that which would be available or granted imder current oper-
ations, the pertinent project or activity shall be continued at 
a rate for operations not exceeding the current rate. 
(b) Whenever the amoimt which would be made available or 
the authority which would be granted imder the Act which included 
funding for fiscal year 1996 for the projects and activities listed 
in this section as passed by the House as of the date of enactment 
of this Act, is different from that which would be available or 
granted imder such Act as passed by the Senate as of the date 
of enactment of this Act, the pertinent project or activity shall 
be continued at a rate for operations not exceeding the current 
rate or the rate permitted by the action of the House or the 
Senate, whichever is lower, under the authority and conditions 
provided in the applicable appropriations Act for the fiscal year 
1995. 
(c) Whenever an Act which included funding for fiscal year 
1996 for the projects and activities listed in this section has been 
passed by only the House or only the Senate as of the date of 
enactment of this Act, the pertinent project or activity shall be 
continued under the appropriation, fund, or authority granted by 
the one House at a rate for operations not exceeding the current 
rate or the rate permitted by the action of the one House, whichever 
is lower, and under the authority and conditions provided in the 
applicable appropriations Act for the fiscal year 1995. 
SEC. 102. Appropriations made by section 101 shall be available 
to the extent and in the manner which would be provided by 
the pertinent appropriations Act. 
SEC. 103. No appropriation or funds made available or authority 
granted pursuant to section 101 shall be used to initiate or resume 
any project or activity for which appropriations, fimds, or other 
authority were not available during the fiscal year 1995. 
SEC. 104. No provision which is included in the appropriations 
Act enumerated in section 101 but which was not included in 
the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 1995 and which 
by its terms is applicable to more than one appropriation, fund, 
or authority shall be applicable to any appropriation, fimd, or 
authority provided in this Act. 
110 STAT. 18 
PUBLIC LAW 104-92-^AN. 6, 1996 
SEC. 105. Appropriations made and authority granted pursuant 
to this title of this Act shall cover all obligations or expenditures 
incurred for any program, project, or activity during the period 
for which funds or authority for such project or activity Eire available 
under this Act. 
Termination 
SEC. 106. Unless otherwise provided for in this title of this 
date. 
Act or in the applicable appropriations Act, appropriations and 
funds made available and authority granted pursuant to this title 
of this Act shall be available until (a) enactment into law of an 
appropriation for any project or activity provided for in this title 
01 this Act, or (b) the enactment into law of the applicable appropria-
tions Act by both Houses without any provision for such project 
or activity, or (c) September 30, 1996, except for the projects and 
activities under the headings "Fcimily support payments to States" 
and "Payments to States for foster care and adoption assistance", 
for which date shall be March 15, 1996, whichever first occurs. 
SEC. 107. Expenditures made pursuant to this title of this 
Act shall be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or 
authorization whenever a bill in which such applicable appropria-
tion, fund, or authorization is contained is enacted into law. 
SEC. 108. No provision in the appropriations Act for the fiscal 
year 1996 referred to in section 101 of this Act that makes the 
availability of any appropriation provided therein dependent upon 
the enactment of additional authorizing or other legislation shall 
be effective before the date set forth in section 106(c) of this Act. 
SEC. 109. Appropriations and fiinds made available by or 
authority granted pursuant to this title of this Act may be used 
without regard to the time limitations for submission and approval 
of apportionments set forth in section 1513 of title 31, United 
States Code, but nothing herein shall be construed to waive any 
other provision of law governing the apportionment of fiinds. 
SEC. 110. For the purposes of this title of this Act, the time 
covered by this title of this Act shall be considered to have begun 
on December 16,1995. 
SEC. 111. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 
except section 106, funds appropriated under section 101 for the 
payment of vested dual benefits imder the Railroad Retirement 
Act shall be made available so as to fully fund the payments 
made on January 1, 1996, and the pa3anents to be made within 
the period covered by this Act including those payments to be 
made on the first day of each month within the period covered 
by this Act. In addition to the funds appropriated under section 
101 of this Act, $12,800,000 is appropriated to restore full funding 
for payments made for the period prior to January 1,1996. 
8 use 1351 note. 
SEC. 112. Notwithstsinding any other provision of this Act, 
except section 106, the authorities provided under subsection (a) 
of section 140 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal 
Years 1994 and 1995 (PubHc Law 103-236) shall remain in effect 
during the period of this Act, notwithstanding paragraph (3) of 
said subsection. 
TITLE II 
VETERANS AFFAIRS 
The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money 
in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable 
PUBLIC LAW 104-92^JAN. 6, 1996 
110 STAT. 19 
corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, for the several 
departments, agencies, corporations, and other organizational units 
of Government for the fiscal year 1996, and for other purposes, 
namely: 
SEC. 201. ENSURED PAYMENT DURING FISCAL YEAR 1996 
OF 
VETERANS' BENEFITS IN EVENT OF LACK OF APPROPRIATIONS.—(a) 
PAYMENTS REQUIRED.—In any case during fiscal year 1996 in which 
appropriations are not otherwise available for programs, projects, 
and activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall nevertheless ensure that— 
(1) payments of existing veterans benefits are made in 
accordance with regular procedures and schedules and in 
accordance with eligibility requirements for such benefits; and 
(2) payments to contractors of the Veterans 
Health 
Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs are made 
when due in the case of services provided that directly relate 
to patient health and safety. 
(b) FUNDING.—There is hereby appropriated such sums as may 
be necessary for the pa5mients pursuant to subsection (a), including 
such amounts as may be necessary for the costs of administration 
of such pa5niients. 
(c) CHARGING OF ACCOUNTS WHEN APPROPRIATIONS MADE.— 
In any case in which the Secretary uses the authority of subsection 
(a) to make pa5nnents, applicable accounts shall be charged for 
amoimts so paid, and for the costs of administration of such pay-
ments, when regular appropriations become available for those 
purposes. 
(d) EXISTING BENEFITS SPECIFIED.—For purposes of this section, 
existing veterans benefits are benefits luider laws administered 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that have been adjudicated 
and authorized for pa3rment as of— 
(1) December 15,1995; or 
(2) if appropriations for such benefits are available (other 
than pursuant to subsection (b)) after December 15, 1995, the 
last day on which appropriations for payment of such benefits 
are available (other than pursu£int to subsection (b)). 
SEC. 202. Section 201 shall cease to be effective on September 
30,1996. 
SEC. 203. For the purposes of this title of this Act, the time 
covered by this title of this Act shall be considered to have begun 
on January 4,1996. 
Termination 
date. 
Coverage. 
TITLE III 
The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money 
in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable 
corporate or other revenues, receipts, and fimds, for the several 
departments, agencies, corporations, and other organizational imits 
of Government for the fiscal year 1996, and for other purposes, 
namely: 
SEC. 301. Such amounts as may be necessary under the author-
ity and conditions provided in applicable appropriations Acts for 
the fiscal year 1995 for paying salaries of Federal employees 
excepted from the provisions of the Antideficiency Act (31 U.S.C. 
1341 et seq.) who are continuing projects and activities conducted 
in fiscal year 1995 who work during periods when there is otherwise 
no funding authority for their salaries. 
Government 
employees. 
110 STAT. 20 
PUBLIC LAW 104-92-^AN. 6, 1996 
Termination 
date. 
District of 
Columbia. 
SEC. 302. Appropriations made by section 301 shall be available 
to the extent and in the manner which would be provided by 
the pertinent appropriations Act. 
SEC. 303. No appropriation or funds made available or authority 
granted pursuant to section 301 shall be used to initiate or resume 
any project or activity for which appropriations, funds, or other 
authority were not available during the fiscal year 1995. 
SEC. 304. No provision which is included in the appropriations 
Act enumerated in section 301 but which was not included in 
the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 1995 sind which 
by its terms is applicable to more than one appropriation, fund, 
or authority shall be applicable to any appropriation, fund, or 
authority provided in this Act. 
SEC. 305. Appropriations made and authority granted pursuant 
to this title of this Act shall cover all obligations or expenditures 
incurred for any program, project, or activity during the period 
for which funds or authority for such project or activity are available 
under this Act. 
SEC. 306. Unless otherwise provided for in this title of this 
Act or in the applicable appropriations Act, appropriations and 
funds made available and authority granted pursuant to this title 
of this Act shall be available until (a) enactment into law of an 
appropriation for any project or activity provided for in this title 
of this Act, or (b) the enactment into law of the applicable appropria-
tions Act by both Houses without any provision for such project 
or activity, or (c) January 26,1996, whichever first occurs. 
SEC. 307. Expenditures made pursuant to this title of this 
Act shall be charged to the applicable appropriation, fiind, or 
authorization whenever a bill in which such applicable appropria-
tion, fund, or authorization is contained is enacted into law. 
SEC. 308. No provision in the appropriations Act for the fiscal 
year 1996 referred to in section 301 of this Act that msikes the 
availability of any appropriation provided therein dependent upon 
the enactment of additional authorizing or other legislation shall 
be effective before the date set forth in section 306(c) of this Act. 
SEC. 309. Appropriations and funds made available by or 
authority granted pursuant to this title of this Act may be used 
without regard to the time limitations for submission and approval 
of apportionments set forth in section 1513 of title 31, United 
States Code, but nothing herein shall be construed to wsiive any 
other provision of law governing the apportionment of funds. 
S E C 310. ALL FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DEEMED TO BE EXCEPTED 
EMPLOYEES.—(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1342 of title 31, United 
States Code, is amended for the period December 15, 1995 through 
January 26,1996— 
(1) by inserting after the first sentence "All officers euid 
employees of the United States Government or the District 
of Columbia government shall be deemed to be performing 
services relating to emergencies involving the safety of human 
life or the protection of property."; and 
(2) by striking out the last sentence. 
SEC. 311. EXCEPTED EMPLOYEES UNDER NORMAL LEAVE POL-
ICY.—Federal employees considered excepted from furlough during 
any period in which there is a lapse in appropriations with respect 
to the agency activity in which the employee is engaged shall 
not be considered to be furloughed when on leave and shall be 
PUBLIC LAW 104-92-^AN. 6, 1996 
110 STAT. 21 
subject to the same leave regulations as if no lapse in appropriations 
had occurred. 
SEC. 312. 
ELIGIBILITY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.— 
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, beginning on January 
2, 1996, any Federal employee who is excepted from furlough and 
is not being paid due to a lapse in appropriations shall be dfeemed 
to be totally separated from Federal service and eligible for 
unemplojonent compensation benefits under subchapter I of chapter 
85 of title 5 of the United States Code with no waiting period 
for such eligibility to accrue. 
SEC. 313. For the purposes of this title. Federal employees 
returning to work under the provisions of section 310 shall be 
deemed to have returned to work at the first regularly scheduled 
opportunity afl;er December 15,1995. 
SEC. 314. Appropriations made pursuant to section 301 are 
made notwithstanding section 15 of the State Department Basic 
Authorities Act of 1956, section 701 of the United States Information 
and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, section 313 of the Foreign 
Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (Public 
Law 103-236), section 53 of the Arms Control and Disarmament 
Act, and section 10 of Public Law 91-672. 
TITLE IV 
District of 
Columbia. 
The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of the general 
fund and enterprise fiinds of the District of Columbia for the District 
of Columbia for the fiscal year 1996, and for other purposes, namely: 
SEC. 401. (a) Such amounts as may be necessEiry under the 
authority and conditions provided in the applicable appropriations 
Act for the fiscal year 1995 for continuing projects or activities 
including the costs of direct loans and loan guarantees (not other-
wise specifically provided for in this title of this Act) which were 
conducted in the fiscal year 1995 and for which appropriations, 
funds, or other authority would be avedlable in the following appro-
priations Act: 
The District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 1996: 
Provided, That whenever the amount which would be made avail-
able or the authority which would be granted in this Act is greater 
than that which would be available or granted under current oper-
ations, the pertinent project or activity shall be continued at a 
rate for operations not exceeding the current rate. 
(b) Whenever the amount which would be made available or 
the authority which would be granted under the Act listed in 
this section as passed by the House as of the date of enactment 
of this Act, is different from that which would be available or 
granted under such Act as passed by the Senate as of the date 
of enactment of this Act, the pertinent project or activity shall 
be continued at a rate for operations not exceeding the current 
rate or the rate permitted by the action of the House or the 
Senate, whichever is lower, xmder the authority and conditions 
provided in the applicable appropriations Act for the fiscal year 
1995: Provided, That where an item is not included in either version 
or where an item is included in only one version of the Act as 
passed by both Houses as of the date of enactment of this Act, 
the pertinent project or activity shall not be continued except as 
provided for in section 411 or 412 under the appropriation, fiind, 
or authority granted by the applicable appropriations Act for the 
110 STAT. 22 
PUBLIC LAW 104-92^JAN. 6, 1996 
Termination 
date. 
Abortion. 
fiscal year 1995 and under the authority and conditions provided 
in the appUcable appropriations Act for the fiscal year 1995. 
SEC. 402. Appropriations made by section 401 shall be available 
to the extent and in the manner which would be provided by 
the pertinent appropriations Act. 
SEC. 403. No appropriation or funds made available or authority 
granted pursuant to section 401 shall be used to initiate or resume 
any project or activity for which appropriations, funds, or other 
authority were not available during the fiscal year 1995. 
SEC. 404. No provision which is included in the appropriations 
Act enumerated in section 401 but which was not included in 
the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 1995 and which 
by its terms is applicable to more than one appropriation, fund, 
or authority shall be applicable to any appropriation, fund, or 
authority provided in this title of this Act. 
SEC. 405. Appropriations made and authority granted pursuant 
to this title of this Act shall cover all obligations or expenditures 
incurred for any program, project, or activity during the period 
for which fiinds or authority for such project or activity are available 
under this title of this Act. 
SEC. 406. Unless otherwise provided for in this title of this 
Act or in the applicable appropriations Act, appropriations and 
funds made available and authority granted pursuant to this title 
of this Act shall be available until (a) enactment into law of an 
appropriation for any project or activity provided for in this title 
of this Act, or (b) the enactment into law of the applicable appropria-
tions Act by both Houses without any provision for such project 
or activity, or (c) September 30,1996, whichever first occurs. 
SEC. 407. Notwithstanding smy other provision of this title 
of this Act, except section 406, none of the funds appropriated 
under this title of this Act shall be expended for any abortion 
except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the 
fetus were carried to term or where the pregnancy is the result 
of an act of rape or incest. 
SEC. 408. Expenditures made pursuant to this title of this 
Act shall be charged to the applicable appropriation, fiind, or 
authorization whenever a bill in which such applicable appropria-
tion, fund, or authorization is contained is enacted into law. 
SEC. 409. No provision in the appropriations Act for the fiscal 
year 1996 referred to in section 401 of this title of this Act that 
makes the availability of any appropriation provided therein 
dependent upon the enactment of additionsd authorizing or other 
legislation shall be effective before the date set forth in section 
406(c) of this Act. 
SEC. 410. Appropriations and funds made available by or 
authority granted pursuant to this title of this Act may be used 
without regard to the time limitations for submission and approval 
of apportionments set forth in section 1513 of title 31, United 
States Code, but nothing herein shedl be construed to waive any 
other provision of law governing the apportionment of funds. 
SEC. 411. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title 
of this Act, except section 406, whenever the Act listed in section 
401 as passed by both the House and Senate as of the date of 
enactment of this Act does not include funding for an ongoing 
project or activity for which there is a budget request, or whenever 
the rate for operations for an ongoing project or activity provided 
by section 401 for which there is a budget request would result 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 4 - 9 2 - J A N . 6, 1996 
110 STAT. 23 
in the project or activity being significantly reduced, the pertinent 
project or activity may be continued under the authority and condi-
tions provided in the applicable appropriations Act for the fiscal 
year 1995 by increasing the rate for operations provided by section 
401 to a rate for operations not to exceed one that provides the 
minimal level that would enable existing activities to continue. 
No new contracts or grants shall be awarded in excess of an amoimt 
that bears the same ratio to the rate for operations provided by 
this section as the number of days covered by this Act bears to 
366, For the purposes of this title of this Act the minimal level 
means a rate for operations that is reduced fi*om the current rate 
by 25 percent. 
SEC. 412. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title 
of this Act, except section 406, whenever the rate for operations 
for any continuing project or activity provided by section 401 or 
section 411 for which there is a budget request would result in 
a furlough of Government employees, that rate for operations may 
be increased to the minimum level that would enable the furlough 
to be avoided. No new contracts or grants shall be awarded in 
excess of an amoimt that bears the same ratio to the rate for 
operations provided by this section as the number of days covered 
by this Act bears to 366. 
SEC. 413. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title 
of this Act, except sections 406, 411, and 412, for those programs 
that had high initial rates of operation or complete distribution 
of funding at the beginning of the fiscal year in fiscal year 1995 
because of distributions of fimding to States, foreign countries, 
grantees, or others, similar distributions of funds for fiscal year 
1996 shall not be made and no grants shall be awarded for such 
programs funded by this title of this Act that would impinge on 
final funding prerogatives. 
SEC. 414. This title of this Act shall be implemented so that 
only the most limited fimding action of that permitted in this 
title of this Act shall be taken in order to provide for continuation 
of projects and activities. 
SEC. 415. The provisions of section 132 of the District of Colum-
bia Appropriations Act, 1988, Public Law 100-202, shall not apply 
for this title of this Act. 
SEC. 416. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title Domestic 
of this Act, except section 406, none of the funds appropriated partners. 
under this title of this Act shall be used to implement or enforce 
any system or registration of unmarried, cohabiting couples whether 
they are homosexual, lesbian, heterosexual, including but not lim-
ited to registration for the purpose of extending employment, health, 
or governmental benefits to such couples on the same basis that 
such benefits are extended to legally married couples; nor shall 
any funds made available pursuant to any provision of this title 
of this Act otherwise be used to implement or enforce D.C. Act 
9-188, signed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia on April 
15, 1992. 
TITLE V 
CLARIFICATION OF CERTAIN REIMBURSEMENTS 
SEC. 501. CLARIFICATION OF REIMBURSEMENT TO STATES FOR 
FEDERALLY FUNDED EMPLOYEES.—(a) If a State used State fimds 
110 STAT. 24 
PUBLIC LAW 104-92-^AN. 6, 1996 
to continue canying out a Federal program or furloughed State 
employees whose compensation is advanced or reimbursed in whole 
or in part by the Federal Government— 
(1) such furloughed employees shall be compensated at 
their standard rate of compensation for such period; 
(2) the State shall be reimbursed for expenses that would 
have been paid by the Federal Government during such period 
had appropriations been available, including the cost of com-
pensating such furloughed employees, together with interest 
thereon due under section 6503(d) of title 31, United States 
Code; and 
(3) the State may use funds available to the State under 
such Federal program to reimburse such State, together with 
interest thereon due under section 6503(d) of title 31, United 
States Code. 
(b) For purposes of this subsection, the term "State" shall 
have the meaning as such term is defined under the applicable 
Federal program under subsection (a). 
Applicability. 
(c) The authority under this section applies with respect to 
any period in fiscal year 1996 (not limited to periods beginning 
or ending after the date of the enactment of this Act) during 
which there occurs a lapse in appropriations with respect to any 
department or agency of the Federal Government which, but for 
such lapse in appropriations, would have paid, or made reimburse-
ment relating to, any of the expenses referred to in subsection 
(a) with respect to the program involved. Payments and reimburse-
ments under this authority shall be made only to the extent and 
in amoimts provided in advance in appropriations Acts. 
Approved January 6, 1996. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1643: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 104-162 (Comm. on Ways and Means). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 141 (1995): July 10, 11, considered and passed House. 
Jan. 2, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Vol. 142 (1996): Jan. 5, House concurred in Senate amendment with an 
amendment. Senate concurred in House amendment. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 32 (1996): 
Jan. 6, Presidential statement.