		I
		111th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 6437
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			November 18, 2010
			Mr. Engel (for
			 himself and Mrs. Myrick) introduced
			 the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Energy and
			 Commerce

		A BILL
		To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve
		  the quality, health outcomes, and value of maternity care under the Medicaid
		  and CHIP programs by developing a maternity care quality measurement program,
		  identifying payment mechanism improvements, and identifying essential
		  evidence-based maternity care services.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Partnering to Improve Maternity Care
			 Quality Act of 2010.
		2.Quality measures
			 for maternity care under Medicaid and CHIPTitle XIX of the Social Security Act is
			 amended by inserting after section 1139B the following new section:

				1139C.Maternity
				care quality measurement
					(a)In
				generalThe Secretary shall develop a maternity care quality
				measurement program for care provided to childbearing women and newborns for
				use by—
						(1)a State in
				administering a State plan under title XIX or a State Child Health Plan under
				title XXI;
						(2)health insurance
				issuers (as such term is defined in section 2791 of the Public Health Service
				Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–91)) and managed care entities that enter into contracts
				with States for the purpose of administering such plans; and
						(3)providers of items
				and services (including accountable care organizations) with respect to items
				and services provided under such plans.
						(b)Identification
				of an initial set of maternity care quality measures
						(1)In
				generalNot later than
				January 1, 2013, the Secretary shall identify, and publish, from maternity care
				quality measures endorsed under section 1890(b)(2), an initial core set of
				maternity care quality measures for use in data collection and reporting
				by—
							(A)a State in
				administering a State plan under title XIX or a State Child Health Plan under
				title XXI;
							(B)health insurance
				issuers (as such term is defined in section 2791 of the Public Health Service
				Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–91)) and managed care entities that enter into contracts
				with States for the purpose of administering such plans; and
							(C)providers of items
				and services (including accountable care organizations) with respect to items
				and services provided under such plans.
							(2)Consultation and
				public commentNot later than
				January 1, 2012, the Secretary shall—
							(A)solicit public comment on a recommended
				initial core set of maternity care quality measures; and
							(B)consult with
				stakeholders identified in
				subsection (i)(1) regarding such
				measures.
							(c)Development of
				additional quality measures
						(1)Contracts with
				qualified entitiesNot later
				than the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date the Secretary
				publishes the initial measures under
				subsection (b)(1), the Secretary,
				acting through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in consultation
				with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall enter into grants,
				contracts, or intergovernmental agreements with qualified measure development
				entities for the purpose of developing, testing, and validating maternity care
				quality measures in areas that are not adequately covered by the measures
				identified under
				subsection (b)(1).
						(2)Qualified
				measure development entity definedFor purposes of this
				subsection, the term qualified measure development entity means an
				entity that—
							(A)has demonstrated
				expertise and capacity in the development and testing of quality
				measures;
							(B)has adopted
				procedures for quality measure development that ensure the inclusion of—
								(i)the views of the individuals and entities
				who are identified in
				subsection (d)(2)(E) and whose
				performance will be assessed by the measures; and
								(ii)the views of
				other individuals and entities (including patients, consumers, and health care
				purchasers) who will use the data generated as a result of the use of the
				quality measures;
								(C)for the purpose of ensuring that the
				quality measures developed under this subsection meet the requirements to be
				considered for endorsement under section 1890(b)(2), has provided assurances to
				the Secretary that the measure development entity will collaborate with—
								(i)the
				Secretary;
								(ii)the
				consensus-based entity with a contract under section 1890(a)(1); and
								(iii)stakeholders
				(including those stakeholders identified in
				subsection (i)(1)), as
				practicable;
								(D)has transparent
				policies regarding governance and conflicts of interest; and
							(E)submits an
				application to the Secretary at such time, and in such form and manner, as the
				Secretary may require.
							(3)eMeasures
							(A)In
				generalA qualified measure
				development entity with a grant, contract, or intergovernmental agreement under
				paragraph (1), in developing quality
				measures, shall use the measure-authoring tool of the consensus-based entity
				with a contract under section 1890(a)(1) to create eMeasures that make use of
				and build upon the quality dataset developed under
				subsection (g).
							(B)eMeasure
				definedFor purposes of this paragraph, the term
				eMeasure means a measure for which measurement data (including
				clinical data) will be collected electronically, including through the use of
				electronic health records and other electronic data sources.
							(4)EndorsementAny maternity care quality measures
				developed under this subsection by a qualified measure development entity shall
				be submitted by the qualified measure development entity to the consensus-based
				entity with a contract under section 1890(a)(1) to be considered for
				endorsement under section 1890(b)(2).
						(d)Types of
				measures
						(1)In
				generalThe maternity quality measures identified under
				subsection (b) and the measures
				developed under
				subsection (c) shall—
							(A)be evidence-based and, as appropriate,
				risk-adjusted; and
							(B)include a balance
				of each of the types of measures listed in
				paragraph (2).
							(2)List of types of
				measuresThe measures listed in this paragraph are the
				following:
							(A)Measures of the
				process, experience, efficiency, and outcomes of maternity care, including
				postpartum outcomes.
							(B)Measures that
				apply to—
								(i)women and newborns who are healthy and at
				low risk, including measures of appropriately low-intervention, physiologic
				birth in low-risk women; and
								(ii)women and newborns at higher risk.
								(C)Measures that
				apply to—
								(i)childbearing
				women; and
								(ii)newborns.
								(D)Measures that
				apply to care during—
								(i)pregnancy;
								(ii)intrapartum
				period; and
								(iii)the postpartum
				period.
								(E)Measures that
				apply to—
								(i)clinicians and
				clinician groups;
								(ii)facilities;
								(iii)health plans;
				and
								(iv)accountable care organizations.
								(F)Measurement
				of—
								(i)disparities;
								(ii)care
				coordination; and
								(iii)shared decision
				making.
								(e)Maternity
				Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems surveys
						(1)Adaption of
				surveysNot later than January 1, 2014, for the purpose of
				measuring the care experiences of childbearing women and newborns, the Agency
				for Healthcare Research and Quality shall adapt the Consumer Assessment of
				Healthcare Providers and Systems program surveys of—
							(A)providers;
							(B)facilities;
				and
							(C)health
				plans.
							(2)Surveys must be
				effectiveThe Agency for
				Healthcare Research and Quality shall ensure that the surveys adapted under
				paragraph (1) are effective in
				measuring aspects of care that childbearing women and newborns experience,
				including aspects related to—
							(A)various care
				settings;
							(B)various types of
				caregivers;
							(C)considerations
				relating to pain;
							(D)the use of
				medications;
							(E)shared decision
				making—
								(i)during
				pregnancy;
								(ii)in the
				intrapartum period; and
								(iii)in the
				postpartum period; and
								(F)the provision of
				information, emotional support, and comfort measures during the intrapartum
				period.
							(3)LanguagesThe
				surveys adapted under
				paragraph (1) shall be available in
				English and Spanish.
						(4)EndorsementThe
				Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality shall submit any Consumer Assessment
				of Healthcare Providers and Systems surveys adapted under this subsection to
				the consensus-based entity with a contract under section 1890(a)(1) to be
				considered for endorsement under section 1890(b)(2).
						(5)ConsultationThe adaption of (and process for applying)
				the surveys under
				paragraph (1) shall be conducted in
				consultation with the stakeholders identified in
				subsection (i)(1).
						(f)Measurement
				reporting
						(1)Voluntary
				reportingThe Secretary shall encourage voluntary and
				standardized reporting to the Secretary, using the maternity care quality
				measures identified under
				subsection (b) and developed under
				subsection (c) and the surveys adapted
				under
				subsection (e), by—
							(A)clinicians
				(including physicians, midwives, and clinician groups);
							(B)facilities
				(including hospitals and freestanding birth centers);
							(C)accountable care
				organizations; and
							(D)health
				plans,
							on the
				performance of such clinicians, facilities, accountable care organizations, or
				plans.(2)Standardized
				format and processNot later
				than January 1, 2013, the Secretary, in consultation with the stakeholders
				identified under
				subsection (i)(1), shall—
							(A)(i)develop, validate, and test formats and
				processes for standardized reporting under
				paragraph (1)—
									(I)to the clinicians, facilities,
				accountable care organizations, health plans, and State agencies identified in
				paragraph (3); and
									(II)to the patients, policymakers, and
				payers identified in
				paragraph (4)(A); and
									(ii)update such formats and processes
				to incorporate any additional quality measures developed under
				subsection (c) and any surveys developed
				under
				subsection (e); and
								(B)reflect best
				practices for timely, accurate, effective communications for quality measures,
				and update such formats and processes as appropriate.
							(3)Feedback
				reports
							(A)Clinicians,
				facilities, accountable care organizations, and health plansIf
				the Secretary receives a report from a clinician, facility, accountable care
				organization, or health plan under
				paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
				provide, annually, to such clinician, facility, accountable care organization,
				or health plan a confidential feedback report that contains quality measure
				data collected through the report received under
				paragraph (1), and, if feasible,
				risk-adjusted benchmarks. Such feedback reports shall be designed and used for
				the purpose of quality improvement by such clinician, facility, accountable
				care organization, or plan.
							(B)State
				agenciesThe Secretary shall
				provide an annual report to the State agency administering or supervising the
				administration of a State plan under title XIX or a State Child Health plan
				under title XXI on the quality of care provided by clinicians, facilities,
				accountable care organizations, and health plans in such State.
							(4)Public
				availability of data
							(A)In
				generalSubject to
				subparagraph (B), the data
				contained in the reports under
				paragraph (1) shall be made available
				to—
								(i)patients to use in
				maternity care decision making; and
								(ii)policymakers and
				purchasers to assess the quality of maternity care services provided under
				titles XIX and XXI.
								(B)Endorsed and
				validData reported under
				this subsection may only be made available under this paragraph, or otherwise
				made public, if—
								(i)such data are
				received—
									(I)from a maternity
				care quality measure that is identified under
				subsection (b) or developed under
				subsection (c); or
									(II)through the use
				of a survey adapted under
				subsection (e);
									(ii)endorsed without
				time-limited qualification under section 1890(b)(2); and
								(iii)the clinician,
				facility, accountable care organization, or health plan that submitted such
				data has been given an opportunity to confirm the quality and accuracy of such
				data.
								(g)Conversion of
				currently endorsed measures and creation of initial quality dataset To enable
				electronic health records To measure the care of childbearing women and
				newborns
						(1)In
				generalNot later than
				January 1, 2012, for the purpose of fostering automated patient-centered
				longitudinal quality measurement of maternity and newborn care using clinical
				data, the consensus-based entity with a contract under section 1890(b)(2) shall
				coordinate—
							(A)the conversion of
				endorsed measures for the care of childbearing women and newborns to eMeasures
				(as such term is defined in
				subsection (c)(3)(B)); and
							(B)the development of
				an initial quality dataset for use within electronic health records of
				childbearing women and newborns enrolled in a program administered by a State
				through State plans under title XIX and State Child Health plans under title
				XXI for purposes of such eMeasures.
							(2)Requirements for
				eMeasure conversion and dataset creationThe conversion to eMeasures and the dataset
				creation under
				paragraph (1) shall, for each quality
				measure of the care of childbearing women or newborns that the consensus-based
				entity with a contract under section 1890(b)(2) endorses, use the entity’s
				measure authoring tool to—
							(A)specify standard data elements, quality
				data elements, and data flow connectors to electronic information;
							(B)specify quality measure logical
				statements;
							(C)test quality measure validity with an
				appropriate electronic health record test database;
							(D)finalize eMeasures for export to electronic
				health record systems; and
							(E)carry out this work in—
								(i)collaboration with
				the developer or sponsor of each endorsed measure, who is responsible, under an
				agreement with the entity that endorsed such measure, for updating such
				measure; and
								(ii)consultation with
				the stakeholders identified in
				subsection (i)(1).
								(h)Measurement
				program reportingNot later
				than January 1, 2014, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit
				to the Congress and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission a
				report on the status of the maternity care quality measurement program under
				this section, including—
						(1)the measured
				results in maternity care quality;
						(2)trends over time in maternity care
				quality;
						(3)the adequacy and
				use of the set of—
							(A)the quality
				measures identified under
				subsection (b);
							(B)the quality
				measures developed under
				subsection (c); and
							(C)the surveys adapted under
				subsection (e);
							(4)the adequacy and
				use of the reporting format under
				subsection (f)(2);
						(5)the adequacy of
				the quality dataset under
				subsection (g); and
						(6)any
				recommendations for programmatic and legislative changes needed to improve the
				quality of care provided to childbearing women and newborns under this title
				and title XXI, including recommendations for quality reporting by the
				States.
						(i)Stakeholders
						(1)In
				generalThe stakeholders identified in this subsection
				are—
							(A)State Medicaid administrators;
							(B)maternal-fetal
				medicine specialists;
							(C)obstetrician-gynecologists;
							(D)family
				physicians;
							(E)certified nurse-midwives;
							(F)certified midwives;
							(G)nurse
				practitioners;
							(H)nurses;
							(I)neonatologists;
							(J)pediatricians;
							(K)consumers and
				their advocates;
							(L)health quality
				measurement experts;
							(M)health quality
				measure developers;
							(N)representatives
				from the consensus-based entity with a contract under section 1890(a) of the
				Social Security Act;
							(O)electronic health
				record developers and vendors;
							(P)employers and
				purchasers;
							(Q)health facility
				and health system leaders; and
							(R)other individuals
				who are involved in the advancement of evidence-based maternity care quality
				measures.
							(2)Professional
				organizationsThe
				stakeholders identified under
				paragraph (1) may include
				representatives from professional organizations and specialty societies (such
				as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American
				Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the
				Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, and the Association of Women’s Health,
				Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses).
						(j)AppropriationOut
				of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated
				for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015, such sums as may be necessary for
				the purpose of carrying out this section. Funds appropriated under this
				subsection shall remain available until
				expended.
					.
		3.Demonstration project
			 to evaluate payment reform in maternity care
			(a)In
			 generalThe Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
			 establish a demonstration project to evaluate the use of alternative payment
			 methods under the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act,
			 for the purpose of—
				(1)improving the
			 quality, value, and outcomes of maternity care by reliably delivering effective
			 care that contributes to improved outcomes; and
				(2)reducing the costs
			 of maternity care for beneficiaries under such program by—
					(A)delivering
			 effective care;
					(B)avoiding overuse
			 of care that may cause harm to the beneficiary or a waste of resources, without
			 providing a benefit to the beneficiary; and
					(C)discouraging the
			 provision of care that lacks an evidence base and is contrary to strong
			 recommendations supported by high quality evidence in clinical practice
			 guidelines from nationally recognized specialty societies and professional
			 organizations.
					(b)Payments
				(1)RequirementsPayments made under the demonstration
			 project under
			 subsection (a) for the provision of medical
			 services shall be adjusted for the health conditions and other characteristics
			 of Medicaid beneficiaries, as determined by the Secretary.
				(2)Allowable
			 payment structuresUnder the
			 demonstration project under
			 subsection (a), the Secretary may evaluate
			 alternative payment methods, including the following:
					(A)Payments that are
			 defined to cover services for a single episode of care for an individual woman
			 and her newborn, including—
						(i)all
			 care from the prenatal through the postpartum period; or
						(ii)all care received
			 during the intrapartum period.
						(B)Payments based on
			 a condition-adjusted capitated rate for a population of women and
			 newborns.
					(C)Payments that
			 cover multiple providers (such as hospitals, birth centers, physicians,
			 midwives, and nurse practitioners) that would otherwise be paid
			 separately.
					(D)Payments in the
			 form of virtual bundling, in which providers are paid
			 separately, but the amount of such payments are adjusted so that the total of
			 the individual payments to each provider remains under a total payment budget
			 for the episode of care.
					(E)Payments to providers (including doulas,
			 and other providers of continuous labor support) and for services (such as
			 shared decision making, breast-feeding support programs, and doula services)
			 that may not currently be eligible for direct reimbursement under title XIX of
			 the Social Security Act.
					(F)Payments that
			 cover multiple services that would otherwise be paid for separately, or that
			 allow greater flexibility as to the type of provider, location of service, or
			 approach to care than would otherwise be permitted, to enable providers to
			 improve outcomes or value.
					(G)Other payment innovations that are likely
			 to result in improved maternity care quality, outcomes, and value (such as
			 payment of bonuses for improved outcomes or payments for care
			 coordination).
					(3)Evaluation and
			 monitoringThe Secretary shall also make payments for the purpose
			 of collecting data necessary for the evaluation and monitoring of the
			 demonstration project under this section.
				(c)Scope and
			 selection of StatesThe demonstration project under
			 subsection (a) shall be conducted in no more
			 than 8 States, which shall be selected by the Secretary based on—
				(1)an application
			 that—
					(A)is submitted by a entity or consortium
			 that—
						(i)includes the
			 single State agency under section 1902(a)(5); and
						(ii)may
			 include managed care organizations, integrated health systems, and accountable
			 care organizations providing maternity care to Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries;
			 and
						(B)specifies the
			 regions and populations in the State that will be served by the entity or
			 consortium under the demonstration project;
					(2)criteria designed to ensure that, as a
			 whole, the demonstration project is, to the greatest extent possible,
			 representative of the demographic and geographic composition of Medicaid
			 beneficiaries nationally; and
				(3)criteria designed
			 to ensure that multiple payment models are tested through the demonstration
			 project.
				(d)Protections for
			 beneficiaries
				(1)No additional
			 cost sharingUnder the demonstration project under
			 subsection (a), a Medicaid beneficiary shall
			 not be liable for any cost sharing in excess of the amount of cost sharing that
			 such beneficiary would otherwise be liable for under title XIX of the Social
			 Security Act.
				(2)No reduction in
			 qualityA provider who provides services to a Medicaid
			 beneficiary under the demonstration project under
			 subsection (a) shall provide services that
			 the provider expects will result in a similar or improved health outcome for
			 such beneficiary, compared with the services such beneficiary would receive
			 under title XIX of the Social Security Act if the beneficiary was not receiving
			 services under the demonstration project.
				(3)No denial of
			 covered servicesIn no case
			 may a Medicaid beneficiary be denied maternity and nonmaternity items and
			 services under the demonstration project under
			 subsection (a) than such beneficiary would
			 otherwise receive under title XIX of the Social Security Act.
				(e)PeriodThe
			 demonstration project under
			 subsection (a) shall begin on January 1,
			 2012, and shall end on December 31, 2016.
			(f)Reports
				(1)State
			 reportsEach entity or
			 consortium with an application that is approved under
			 subsection (c) that participates in the
			 demonstration project under
			 subsection (a) shall report to the
			 Secretary, in a time, form, and manner specified by the Secretary, the data
			 necessary to—
					(A)monitor
			 the—
						(i)health outcomes of
			 participating beneficiaries;
						(ii)the
			 costs of the project; and
						(iii)the quality of
			 maternity care provided under the project; and
						(B)evaluate the rationale for the selection of
			 the items and services included in any bundled payment made by the entity or
			 consortium under the project.
					(2)Final
			 reportNot later than
			 December 31, 2017, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report
			 containing—
					(A)the results of the
			 demonstration project under
			 subsection (a);
					(B)an assessment of
			 the influence of medical liability on the results of such project; and
					(C)recommendations for changes in Medicaid
			 payment policies to enhance the quality, health outcomes, and value of
			 maternity care provided through the Medicaid program.
					4.Essential
			 services for childbearing women and newborns
			(a)Report on
			 evidence-Based maternity care servicesThe Secretary of Health
			 and Human Services is authorized to, and shall seek to, enter an agreement with
			 the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies to develop and, not later
			 than January 1, 2013, publish a report that, on the basis of the best available
			 evidence, identifies the following:
				(1)Essential
			 servicesThe following
			 essential maternity care services:
					(A)A package of
			 evidence-based maternity care services that the Institute of Medicine
			 identifies as essential for the majority of childbearing women and newborns who
			 are healthy and at low risk for complications during pregnancy, birth, the
			 postpartum period, and the newborn period (the 28-day period beginning on the
			 date of birth).
					(B)Any additional and differing maternity care
			 services that the Institute of Medicine identifies as essential to women and
			 newborns who are at higher risk than the individuals described under
			 paragraph (1) for complications during
			 pregnancy, birth, the postpartum period, and the newborn period.
					(C)Any pre- and
			 interconception care services that have been demonstrated to contribute to
			 improved maternal and newborn outcomes.
					(2)Limited value
			 and understudied servicesMaternity care services that are identified
			 by the Institute of Medicine as—
					(A)being of limited
			 value (including use of a specific service for indications that are not
			 supported); or
					(B)requiring
			 comparative effectiveness research to clarify the safety and effectiveness of
			 such services.
					(b)Strength of
			 evidenceIn identifying the essential services under
			 subsection (a)(1), the Institute of
			 Medicine shall—
				(1)give priority to maternal care services
			 that are supported for use for specific indications or populations by
			 systematic reviews with high- or moderate-quality evidence and strong
			 recommendations, as determined by a valid assessment system, such as GRADE
			 (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation); and
				(2)clearly indicate if a service that is
			 recommended as essential is based on lower quality evidence or weaker
			 recommendations than the levels described under paragraph (1).
				(c)Consultative
			 process
				(1)In
			 generalThe Institute of Medicine shall develop the report under
			 subsection (a) in consultation with a
			 multistakeholder panel that includes representatives of—
					(A)clinicians with
			 expertise in—
						(i)obstetrics;
						(ii)family
			 medicine;
						(iii)pediatrics;
						(iv)midwifery;
						(v)nursing;
						(vi)maternal fetal medicine;
						(vii)genetics;
						(viii)anesthesia;
						(ix)substance
			 abuse;
						(x)reproductive endocrinology;
						(xi)mental health;
						(xii)infectious disease; and
						(xiii)interconception care;
						(B)consumers and
			 their advocates;
					(C)payers and
			 purchasers; and
					(D)research
			 methodology experts.
					(2)Professional
			 organizationsThe
			 representatives under
			 paragraph (1) may include representatives
			 from professional organizations and specialty societies (such as the American
			 College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family
			 Physicians, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the Society for Maternal
			 Fetal Medicine, and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal
			 Nurses).
				(d)Definition of
			 maternal care servicesFor
			 purposes of the report under
			 subsection (a), the term maternity
			 care services shall include—
				(1)services related
			 to the confirmation of pregnancy and preconception, prenatal, intrapartum,
			 postpartum, newborn, and interconception care;
				(2)newborn care services that are incidental
			 to interconception care;
				(3)mental health and
			 substance abuse services; and
				(4)support services
			 (such as language translation and care coordination).
				(e)Sense of
			 CongressIt is the sense of
			 Congress that the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
			 Services and the directors of State Medicaid agencies should ensure that the
			 services available to childbearing women and newborns under the Medicaid
			 program in each State are well-aligned with the essential maternity care
			 services identified in
			 subsection (a)(1).


		II
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 2004
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			December 15, 2011
			Mr. Udall of New Mexico
			 (for himself, Mr. Bingaman,
			 Mr. Inouye, and Ms. Landrieu) introduced the following bill; which
			 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
			 Affairs

		A BILL
		To grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the troops who
		  defended Bataan during World War II.

		1.FindingsCongress makes the following
			 findings:
			(1)Within hours
			 after the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the Imperial Japanese forces
			 launched an attack on the Philippines, cutting off vital lines of communication
			 to United States and Filipino troops assigned to the United States Army Forces
			 in the Far East under the command of General Douglas MacArthur.
			(2)On December 8th,
			 1941, the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment, successors to the New Mexico National
			 Guardsmen who made up part of the famed Rough Riders of the
			 Spanish-American War, were the first to fire.
			(3)Despite being cut
			 off from supply lines and reinforcements, the United States and Philippine
			 Forces quickly executed a plan to delay the Japanese invasion and defend the
			 Philippines against the Japanese invasion.
			(4)By April 1942,
			 troops from the United States and the Philippines had bravely and staunchly
			 fought off enemy attacks in Bataan for more than 4 months under strenuous
			 conditions that resulted in widespread starvation and disease.
			(5)By maintaining
			 their position and engaging the enemy for as long as they did, the troops at
			 Bataan were able to redefine the momentum of the war, delaying the Japanese
			 timetable to take control of the southeast Pacific for needed war materials.
			 Because of the Bataan defenders' heroic actions, United States and Allied
			 forces throughout the Pacific had time to regroup and prepare for the
			 successful liberation of the Pacific and the Philippines.
			(6)On April 9, 1942,
			 Major General Edward King, his troops suffering from starvation and a lack of
			 supplies, surrendered the soldiers from the United States and the Philippines
			 into enemy hands.
			(7)Over the next
			 week, troops from the United States and the Philippines were taken prisoner and
			 forced to march 65 miles without any food, water, or medical care in what came
			 to be known as the Bataan Death March.
			(8)During this
			 forced march, thousands of soldiers died, either from starvation, lack of
			 medical care, sheer exhaustion, or abuse by their captors.
			(9)Conditions at the
			 prisoner of war camps were appalling, leading to increased disease and
			 malnutrition among the prisoners.
			(10)The prisoners at
			 Camp O'Donnell would die at a rate of nearly 400 per day because of its poor
			 conditions.
			(11)On June 6, 1942,
			 the prisoners from the United States were transferred to Camp Cabanatuan, north
			 of Camp O'Donnell.
			(12)Nearly 26,000 of
			 the 50,000 Filipino Prisoners of War died at Camp O’Donnell, and survivors were
			 gradually paroled from September through December 1942.
			(13)Between
			 September of 1942 and December of 1944, American prisoners of war who survived
			 the horrific death march were shipped north for forced labor aboard hell
			 ships and succumbed in great numbers because of the abysmal conditions.
			 Many of the ships were mistakenly targeted by allied Naval forces because the
			 Japanese military convoys were not properly labeled as carrying prisoners of
			 war. The sinking of the Arisan Maru alone, claimed nearly 1,800 American
			 lives.
			(14)The prisoners
			 who remained in the camps suffered from continued mistreatment, malnutrition,
			 lack of medical care, and horrific conditions until they were liberated in
			 1945.
			(15)The veterans of
			 Bataan represented the best of America and the Philippines. They hailed from
			 diverse locales across both countries and represented a true diversity of
			 Americans.
			(16)Over the
			 subsequent decades, these prisoners formed support groups, were honored in
			 local and State memorials, and told their story to all people of the United
			 States.
			(17)The United
			 States Navy has continued to honor their history and stories by naming 2 ships
			 after the battle including 1 ship still in service, USS Bataan (LHD–5), in
			 memory of their valor and honorable resistance against Imperial Japanese
			 forces.
			(18)Many of the
			 survivors of Bataan have now passed away, and those who remain continue to tell
			 their story.
			(19)The people of
			 the United States and the Philippines are forever indebted to these men
			 for—
				(A)the courage and
			 tenacity they demonstrated during the first 4 months of World War II fighting
			 against enemy soldiers; and
				(B)the perseverance
			 they demonstrated during 3 years of capture, imprisonment, and atrocious
			 conditions, while maintaining dignity, honor, patriotism, and loyalty.
				2.Congressional
			 gold medal
			(a)Award
			 authorizedThe Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
			 President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the
			 award, on behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design
			 in honor of the troops from the United States and the Philippines who defended
			 Bataan and were subsequently prisoners of war, collectively, in recognition of
			 their personal sacrifice and service to their country during World War
			 II.
			(b)Design and
			 strikingFor purposes of the award under subsection (a), the
			 Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the
			 Secretary) shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems,
			 devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
			(c)Smithsonian
			 Institution
				(1)In
			 generalFollowing the award of the gold medal in honor of the
			 defenders and prisoners of war at Bataan under subsection (a), the gold medal
			 shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be displayed as
			 appropriate and made available for research.
				(2)Sense of the
			 congressIt is the sense of the Congress that the Smithsonian
			 Institution should make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) available
			 for display at other locations, particularly such locations as are associated
			 with the prisoners of war at Bataan.
				3.Duplicate
			 medals
			(a)Striking of
			 duplicatesUnder such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe,
			 the Secretary may strike duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under
			 section 2.
			(b)Selling of
			 duplicatesThe Secretary may sell such duplicates under
			 subsection (a) at a price sufficient to cover the costs of such duplicates,
			 including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead
			 expenses.
			4.National
			 medalsMedals struck pursuant
			 to this Act are National medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United
			 States Code.
		5.Authorization of
			 appropriations; proceeds of sale
			(a)Authorization
			 of appropriationsThere is authorized to be charged against the
			 United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, an amount not to exceed $30,000 to
			 pay for the cost of the medal authorized under section 2.
			(b)Proceeds of
			 saleAmounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals
			 under section 3 shall be deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise
			 Fund.


116 S3144 IS: Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2019
U.S. Senate
2019-12-19
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II116th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 3144IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESDecember 19, 2019Ms. Smith (for herself, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsA BILLTo establish a competitive grant program to support out-of-school-time youth workforce readiness
			 programs, providing employability skills development, career exploration,
			 employment readiness training, mentoring, work-based learning, and
			 workforce opportunities for eligible youth.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2019.
 2.PurposeThe purpose of this Act is to establish or expand activities to— (1)increase access and opportunities for youth to obtain the education and training that youth need to succeed in the labor market;
 (2)support engagement in and the integration of programs and activities offered during out-of-school-time hours through the workforce investment, education, and economic development systems;
 (3)improve the quality of the workforce and meet the skill requirements of employers; (4)engage employers in addressing the training, skill, and employment needs of youth and youth jobseekers, and fostering opportunities for connection and economic mobility; and
 (5)include younger youth in the education and workforce investment activities in an age and developmentally appropriate manner.
 3.DefinitionsIn this Act: (1)Community-based organizationThe term community-based organization means a youth-serving private nonprofit organization (which may include a faith-based organization) that—
 (A)is representative of a community or a significant segment of a community; (B)has demonstrated expertise and effectiveness in workforce development; and
 (C)has demonstrated expertise— (i)in the planning and delivery of education, training, and related activities that are included in a career pathway;
 (ii)in forging coordination and cooperation between educators and other members of the community; and (iii)in development and implementation of data systems that measure the progress of students and outcomes of career pathways.
 (2)Covered partnershipThe term covered partnership means a partnership between— (A)a community-based organization; and
 (B)an industry or sector partnership, a local educational agency, or another public entity or private employer, as appropriate.
 (3)Eligible youthThe term eligible youth has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102), except that the individual involved shall be—
 (A)not younger than age 6; and (B)not older than age 18 (or age 19 if enrolled in secondary school).
 (4)Industry or sector partnershipThe term industry or sector partnership means— (A)an industry or sector partnership, as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102); and
 (B)a collaborative that meets the requirements of paragraph (26) of that section 3 but also includes— (i)an Indian tribe or tribal organization (as such terms are defined in section 166(b) of that Act (29 U.S.C. 3221(b))), as appropriate; or
 (ii)a community-based organization. (5)Out-of-school-timeThe term out-of-school-time, used with respect to a program, means a supervised program regularly attended by eligible youth, that fosters learning and development during out-of-school-time hours, which includes hours before school, after school, during summer vacation or another school holiday, or on a Saturday or Sunday.
 (6)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor. (7)WIOA definitionsThe terms career pathway, customized training, in-demand industry sector or occupation, local area, local board, local educational agency, and recognized postsecondary credential have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
 (8)Workforce readiness programThe term workforce readiness program means an out-of-school-time program that— (A)meets the requirements of section 7;
 (B)is offered by a community-based organization of an eligible entity or a related covered partnership; and
 (C)is intended to help prepare eligible youth for the workforce. 4.Grant program establishment (a)GrantsUsing the amounts made available under section 9, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities.
 (b)General use of fundsThe Secretary shall award the grants, on a competitive basis, to assist eligible entities in planning, developing, and implementing nationwide, comprehensive workforce readiness programs, that are—
 (1)in out-of-school-time programs; (2)carried out by community-based organizations of the eligible entity or related covered partnerships; and
 (3)for eligible youth. (c) Periods of grantsThe Secretary shall award the grants for periods of not less than 3 years and not more than 5 years.
 5.Eligible entitiesTo be eligible to receive a grant under section 4, an entity shall— (1)(A)be a national youth-serving organization with active chapters, affiliates, or subgrant recipients, that are community-based organizations (including such organizations that are facility-based organizations) in not fewer than 35 States; and
 (B)provide programming focused on youth workforce readiness in an out-of-school-time program; and (2)obtain approval of an application under section 6.
 6.ApplicationTo be eligible to receive a grant under section 4, an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—
 (1)a description of how the entity will implement a youth workforce readiness program in a manner that ensures an equitable geographic distribution of program activities, including an equitable distribution between urban and rural communities;
 (2)a description of the proposed program activities to be funded and their locations; (3)a description of populations of eligible youth to be served, including populations living in or from underserved communities or communities with employment disparities;
 (4)a description of the effective strategies, best practices, or evidence-based practices the workforce readiness program will use;
 (5)an assurance that the program will take place in safe and easily accessible facilities; (6)a demonstration of how, in implementing the proposed program activities, the entity will coordinate activities with Federal, State, and local programs and make the most effective use of public resources;
 (7)a description of— (A)the community-based organizations or the covered partnerships through which the entity will implement the program; and
 (B)if a covered partnership will assist in implementing the program, the collaboration and coordination activities that the community-based organization in the partnership has carried out or will carry out with other entities in the partnership, related to that implementation;
 (8)if the program includes an opportunity to earn a recognized postsecondary credential, a description of the activities leading to the credential; and
 (9)an assurance that funds provided under this Act will be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, or local funds expended to provide youth programs or workforce readiness programs.
			7.Program activities
 (a)In generalAn eligible entity that receives a grant under section 4 shall use the grant funds— (1)if the entity seeks to implement the workforce readiness program through a covered partnership, to establish the partnership; and
 (2)to carry out the development and implementation of a youth workforce readiness program— (A)that includes services to help prepare eligible youth for the workforce, which services shall include—
 (i)leadership development opportunities, which may include community service and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social and civic behaviors, as appropriate;
 (ii)workforce or workforce readiness opportunities; (iii)supportive services;
 (iv)adult mentoring for the period of participation and a subsequent period, for a total of not less than 12 months;
 (v)comprehensive guidance and counseling (which may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling and referral, and prevention services, as appropriate);
 (vi)financial literacy education; (vii)entrepreneurial skills training;
 (viii)services that provide labor market and employment information about in-demand industry sectors or occupations available in the local area, such as career awareness, career counseling, and career exploration services;
 (ix)activities to develop fundamental workforce readiness skills, or to develop employability skills (such as communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking) that support social-emotional development through every developmental stage, in both formal and informal learning experiences; and
 (x)career exposure, through mentoring and targeted programming, offered by local industry or sector partnerships, to provide career assessments and education and career planning;
 (B)that includes services to help prepare eligible youth who are not younger than age 15 for the workforce, which services shall include—
 (i)support for the use of career pathways; (ii)paid and unpaid work experiences that have as a component academic and occupational education, which may include—
 (I)summer employment opportunities and other employment opportunities available throughout the school year;
 (II)pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs; (III)internships and job shadowing; and
 (IV)on-the-job training opportunities; (iii)work-based learning (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)) that provides opportunities for the application of employability skills, and hands-on work experiences through covered partnerships;
 (iv)occupational skill training, which shall include priority consideration for training programs that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials that are aligned with in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the local area involved, if the local board determines that the programs meet the quality criteria described in section 123 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3153);
 (v)the provision of customized training; (vi)education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce readiness activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster; and
 (vii)activities that help youth prepare for and transition to postsecondary education and training; and
 (C)that may include— (i)the provision of professional development (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)) for training educators and other providers of educational services who participate in the workforce readiness program; and
 (ii)developing assets and resources that assist an employer or groups of employers or sectors in working with eligible youth.
 (b)SubgrantsThe eligible entity may use the grant funds, with the approval of the Secretary, to award subgrants to eligible organizations to carry out activities through a youth workforce readiness program.
			8.Evaluation and reporting
			(a)Measures of effectiveness
 (1)In generalAn eligible entity that implements a youth workforce readiness program under this Act shall— (A)ensure that the program is—
 (i)based upon an assessment of objective data regarding the need for such a program in the communities served; and
 (ii)evaluated on an established set of performance measures aimed at ensuring the availability of high-quality opportunities by measuring eligible youth success; and
 (B)collect the data necessary for the measures of eligible youth success described in subparagraph (A)(ii).
 (2)MeasuresThe performance measures (including indicators) that will be used to evaluate the youth workforce readiness programs—
 (A)shall be aligned with the regular academic program of the school of and the academic needs of participating eligible youth; and
 (B)shall include performance measures that— (i)are able to track the success (such as improvement over time) of eligible youth; and
 (ii)include assessment results and other indicators of eligible youth success, such as improved attendance during the school day, better classroom grades, regular (or consistent) program attendance, and on-time advancement to the next grade level; and
 (C)for high school students, may include indicators such as achievement of career competencies, or successful completion of internships, apprenticeships, or work-based learning opportunities, or high school graduation.
					(b)Periodic evaluation
 (1)In generalThe Secretary shall conduct a periodic evaluation of the eligible entity, to assess the progress of the entity's youth workforce readiness program toward ensuring high-quality opportunities by measuring eligible youth success.
 (2)Use of resultsThe results of evaluations under paragraph (1) shall be— (A)used to refine, improve, and strengthen the program, and to refine the performance measures; and
 (B)used by the Secretary to determine whether a grant for a program is eligible to be renewed under section 4.
 (c)ReportingThe Secretary shall submit a report containing the results of the evaluation to the appropriate committees of Congress, and make the report available to the public.
 9.Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.
		10.Reestablishment of youth councils
 (a)EstablishmentSection 107 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3122) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					(j)Youth council
 (1)EstablishmentThere shall be established, as a subgroup within each local board, a youth council appointed by the local board, in cooperation with the chief elected official for the local area.
 (2)MembershipThe membership of each youth council— (A)shall include—
 (i)representatives with special interest or professional expertise in youth workforce development programs, activities related to youth workforce readiness, or youth workforce investment activities;
 (ii)local labor or joint labor-management organizations; and (iii)representatives of education-related organizations; and
 (B)may include— (i)members of the local board with special interest or expertise in youth workforce readiness or youth workforce development;
 (ii)representatives of local labor or joint labor-management organizations with special interest or expertise in youth workforce readiness or youth workforce development;
 (iii)representatives of the workforce, in the local area, with special interest or expertise in youth workforce readiness or youth workforce development;
 (iv)representatives of entities administering education and training activities, including career and technical education activities, in the local area, with special interest or expertise in youth workforce readiness or youth workforce development;
 (v)representatives of youth service agencies, including juvenile justice and local law enforcement agencies, and representatives of local public housing authorities;
 (vi)parents of eligible youth, and current or former youth program participants; (vii)representatives of vulnerable populations (including foster youth, minority youth, and youth with disabilities);
 (viii)community representatives, employers of eligible youth, and workplace learning advisors (as defined in section 3), with experience relating to youth workforce activities;
 (ix)for a local area in which a Job Corps center is located, representatives of that center; and (x)such other individuals as the chairperson of the local board, in cooperation with the chief elected official, determines to be appropriate.
 (3)Relationship to local boardMembers of the youth council who are not otherwise members of the local board shall be voting members of the youth council and nonvoting members of the board.
 (4)DutiesThe duties of the youth council shall include— (A)representing the interests of youth before the local board;
 (B)collaborating with the local board to ensure programs address youth workforce development and youth workforce readiness; and
 (C)advising the local board on the inclusion and incorporation of the local youth workforce in decisions as appropriate..
 (b)State plansSection 102(b)(2)(C) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3112(b)(2)(C)) is amended—
 (1)in clause (vii), by striking and at the end; (2)by redesignating clause (viii) as clause (ix); and
 (3)by inserting after clause (vii) the following:  (viii)how the local boards in the State are incorporating the recommendations of the youth councils within the local boards; and.
 (c)Local plansSection 108(b) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3123(b)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (21), by striking and at the end;
 (2)by redesignating paragraph (22) as paragraph (23); and (3)by inserting after paragraph (21) the following:

 (22)how the local board is incorporating the recommendations of the youth council within the local board; and.
 (d)Annual reportsSection 116(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(d)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (2)—
 (A)in subparagraph (K), by striking and at the end; (B)by redesignating subparagraph (L) as subparagraph (M); and
 (C)by inserting after subparagraph (K) the following:  (L)information on the activities carried out in the State on the recommendation of youth councils in the State; and; and
 (2)in paragraph (3)— (A)in subparagraph (A), by striking (L) and inserting (M);
 (B)in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; (C)by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and
 (D)by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:  (C)information on the activities carried out in the local area on the recommendation of the youth council within the local board; and.


114 S2104 IS: Preserving Medicare Advantage for all Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2015
U.S. Senate
2015-09-30
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		II
		114th CONGRESS1st Session
		S. 2104
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			September 30, 2015
			Mr. Portman (for himself and Mr. Casey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

		A BILL
		To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide relief to Medicare Advantage plans with
			 a significant number of dually eligible or low-income subsidy
			 beneficiaries and to prevent the termination of two star plans.

		1.Short title
 This Act may be cited as the Preserving Medicare Advantage for all Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2015.
 2.FindingsCongress makes the following findings: (1)In the IMPACT Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–185), Congress recognized the potential effects of socioeconomic status and dual eligible populations on the Medicare Advantage STARS rating system by requesting the Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation in the Department of Health and Human Services undertake studies on this population and the Medicare program.
 (2)Studies published in the past year have shown the need for an interim policy until the comprehensive results of the studies undertaken as part of the IMPACT Act of 2014 are published. An adjustment for 2016 is necessary while Congress continues to work to achieve an appropriate policy for a temporary bridge until the results from the studies undertaken by the Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation in the Department of Health and Human Services under such Act are finalized.
			3.Delay in authority to terminate contracts for certain medicare advantage plans failing to achieve
			 minimum
 quality ratingsSection 1857(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–27(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

				(3)Delay in contract termination authority for certain plans failing to achieve minimum quality rating
 (A)In generalSubject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary may not terminate a contract under this section with respect to the offering of an MA plan by a Medicare Advantage organization solely because the MA plan has failed to achieve a minimum quality rating under the 5-star rating system established under section 1853(o) during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this paragraph and through the end of plan year 2018.
 (B)Application only to plans receiving a quality rating of at least 2 starsSubparagraph (A) shall only apply with respect to a contract with respect to the offering of an MA plan that has a quality rating under section 1853(o)(4) of at least 2 stars for the most recent plan year..
		4.Demonstration project to direct quality improvement programs to address socioeconomic status
			 disparities in Medicare Advantage plans
			(a)Establishment
 (1)In generalThe Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary) shall establish a demonstration project under this section to provide funds to MA organizations offering one or more qualified MA plans for use in developing or expanding programs or services with respect to such plans that seek to improve health care delivery and outcomes of care for enrollees with low socioeconomic status.
 (2)DurationThe demonstration project under this section shall be conducted for a period of 1 year beginning in plan year 2016.
 (b)DefinitionsIn this section: (1)MA organization; MA planThe terms MA organization and MA plan have the meaning given such terms in subsections (a)(1) and (b)(1), respectively, of section 1859 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–28).
				(2)Qualified MA plan
 (A)The term qualified MA plan means an MA plan described in subparagraph (B) or (C). (B)An MA plan is described in this subparagraph if the MA plan meets each of the following criteria:
 (i)The plan has a quality rating under section 1853(o)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(o)(4)) of at least 3.25 stars but not more than 4 stars for the most recent plan year.
 (ii)Not less than 45 percent of enrollees in the plan are one or both of the following: (I)Eligible for a low income subsidy under section 1860D–14 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–114).
 (II)Dually eligible for benefits under the Medicare program under title XVIII of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) and the Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
 (C)An MA plan is described in this subparagraph if the MA plan meets each of the following criteria: (i)The plan has a quality rating under section 1853(o)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(o)(4)) of at least 3.0 stars but not more than 4 stars for the most recent plan year.
 (ii)Not less than 60 percent of enrollees in the plan are one or both of the following: (I)Eligible for a low income subsidy under section 1860D–14 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–114).
 (II)Dually eligible for benefits under the Medicare program under title XVIII of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) and the Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
							(c)Use of funds
 (1)In generalSubject to paragraph (2), funds received under the demonstration project by an MA organization with respect to a qualified MA plan shall be used under the Quality Improvement Program of the organization under section 1852(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–22(e)) to target improvement by the qualified MA plan with respect to two or more triple-weighted measures under the 5-star rating system under section 1853(o)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(o)(4)).
				(2)Focus on outcome measure
 (A)In generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), at least one of the measures targeted under paragraph (1) shall be an outcome measure.
 (B)ExceptionAn MA organization may apply to the Secretary for an exception to subparagraph (A) in order to focus on only process measures under this subsection.
 (d)Inclusion in annual quality improvement program reportAn MA organization receiving funds under the demonstration project shall include, as part of the annual report to the Secretary on the Quality Improvement Program of the organization under such section 1852(e) for each year of the demonstration project, with respect to each qualified MA plan offered by the organization, the results of the targeting of plan improvement on measures under subsection (c) during the preceding year.
			(e)Funding
 (1)In generalFor purposes of carrying out the demonstration project under this section, subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall provide for the transfer from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 1817 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i) and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t), in such proportion as the Secretary determines appropriate, of an amount equal to the amount the Secretary determines is equal to the estimated total savings to the Medicare program as a result of the implementation of the amendment made by section 2 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account.
 (2)AdministrationThe Secretary may retain up to 10 percent of the funds transferred under paragraph (1) to administer the demonstration project under this section and the remainder of such funds shall be distributed in accordance with this section to MA organizations offering qualified MA plans based on the enrollment in such plans of individuals described in each of subclauses (I) and (II) of subsections (b)(2)(B)(ii) and (b)(2)(C)(ii).
 (3)AvailabilityAmounts transferred under paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.


		III
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. RES. 268
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			September 15, 2011
			Mr. Enzi (for himself,
			 Mr. Barrasso, Mr. McConnell, Mr.
			 Reid, Mr. Akaka,
			 Mr. Alexander, Ms. Ayotte, Mr.
			 Baucus, Mr. Begich,
			 Mr. Bennet, Mr.
			 Bingaman, Mr. Blumenthal,
			 Mr. Blunt, Mr.
			 Boozman, Mrs. Boxer,
			 Mr. Brown of Massachusetts,
			 Mr. Brown of Ohio,
			 Mr. Burr, Ms.
			 Cantwell, Mr. Cardin,
			 Mr. Carper, Mr.
			 Casey, Mr. Chambliss,
			 Mr. Coats, Mr.
			 Coburn, Mr. Cochran,
			 Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr.
			 Coons, Mr. Corker,
			 Mr. Cornyn, Mr.
			 Crapo, Mr. DeMint,
			 Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr.
			 Franken, Mrs. Gillibrand,
			 Mr. Graham, Mr.
			 Grassley, Mrs. Hagan,
			 Mr. Harkin, Mr.
			 Hatch, Mr. Heller,
			 Mr. Hoeven, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr.
			 Inhofe, Mr. Inouye,
			 Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johanns, Mr. Johnson
			 of Wisconsin, Mr. Johnson of South
			 Dakota, Mr. Kerry,
			 Mr. Kirk, Ms.
			 Klobuchar, Mr. Kohl,
			 Mr. Kyl, Ms.
			 Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg,
			 Mr. Leahy, Mr.
			 Lee, Mr. Levin,
			 Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lugar, Mr.
			 Manchin, Mr. McCain,
			 Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Menendez, Mr.
			 Merkley, Ms. Mikulski,
			 Mr. Moran, Ms.
			 Murkowski, Mrs. Murray,
			 Mr. Nelson of Nebraska,
			 Mr. Nelson of Florida,
			 Mr. Paul, Mr.
			 Portman, Mr. Pryor,
			 Mr. Reed, Mr.
			 Risch, Mr. Roberts,
			 Mr. Rockefeller,
			 Mr. Rubio, Mr.
			 Sanders, Mr. Schumer,
			 Mr. Sessions, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr.
			 Shelby, Ms. Snowe,
			 Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Tester, Mr.
			 Thune, Mr. Toomey,
			 Mr. Udall of Colorado,
			 Mr. Udall of New Mexico,
			 Mr. Vitter, Mr.
			 Warner, Mr. Webb,
			 Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wicker, and Mr.
			 Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and
			 agreed to

		RESOLUTION
		Relative to the death of the Honorable
		  Malcolm Wallop, former Senator for the State of Wyoming.

		Whereas Malcolm Wallop served in the Wyoming House of
			 Representatives from 1969 to 1972, and in the Wyoming Senate from 1973 to
			 1976;
		Whereas Malcolm Wallop represented the people of the State
			 of Wyoming in the United States Senate with distinction for 18 years, from 1977
			 to 1995;
		Whereas, while serving in the Senate, Malcolm Wallop
			 championed the development of space-based anti-missile defense, supported
			 legislation to reduce inheritance and gift taxes, fought to restore fish
			 habitats in the United States, and opposed the control of the water resources
			 of the State of Wyoming by the Federal Government;
		Whereas Malcolm Wallop created the Congressional Award
			 Program in 1979 as a challenge to young people throughout the United States to
			 change the world around them through personal initiative, achievement, and
			 service;
		Whereas, in 1984, Malcolm Wallop coauthored section 1014
			 of the Tax Reform Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-369; 98 Stat. 1015), commonly
			 known as the Wallop-Breaux Amendment, which remains today as the leading
			 legislative initiative for sport fish restoration in the United States;
		Whereas Malcolm Wallop served as chairman of the Select
			 Committee on Ethics, ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Natural
			 Resources and the Committee on Armed Services, chairman of the Senate Steering
			 Committee, and was the first nonlawyer in the history of the Senate to serve on
			 the Committee on the Judiciary;
		Whereas, after retiring from the Senate, Malcolm Wallop
			 founded the Frontiers of Freedom Institute to continue addressing the issues he
			 championed as a Senator and to ensure that the ideals he espoused were not
			 forgotten; and
		Whereas the hallmarks of Malcolm Wallop's public service
			 were conservatism, civility, and working for the western way of life: Now,
			 therefore, be it

		That—
			(1)the Senate has
			 heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the
			 Honorable Malcolm Wallop, former member of the Senate; and
			(2)the Secretary of
			 the Senate communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives and
			 transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of the
			 deceased.


116 HR 8180 IH: Managing Predators Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-09-04
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
116th CONGRESS2d Session
H. R. 8180
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 4, 2020
Mr. Tiffany (for himself and Mr. Stauber) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL
To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to exclude the gray wolf from the authority of such Act, to remove the gray wolf from the lists of threatened species and endangered species published pursuant to such Act, and for other purposes.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Managing Predators Act. 2.Gray wolf excludedSection 4(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)) is amended—
(1)in paragraph (1), by striking The Secretary shall by regulation and inserting Except as provided in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall by regulation; and (2)by adding at the end the following:

(4)Applicability to the gray wolf
(A)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of law, this Act does not apply to the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wyoming. (B)DelistingNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wyoming is removed from the lists of threatened species and endangered species that are published pursuant to this Act.
(C)Authority in other StatesNotwithstanding any other provision of law, with respect to a State other than Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, or Wyoming, if the population of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in such State, as estimated by the agency of such State that has primary authority over wildlife management and conservation, is at or above a population goal established by such agency, the Secretary may not make a determination under paragraph (1) that the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in such State is an endangered species or threatened species. . 3.Delisting of gray wolf in certain StatesNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wyoming is removed from the lists of threatened species and endangered species that are published pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).


116 S4216 IS: Knowing the Efficiency and Efficacy of Permanent Telehealth Options Act of 2020
U.S. Senate
2020-07-20
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II116th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 4216IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 20, 2020Mrs. Fischer (for herself and Ms. Rosen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceA BILLTo direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct studies and report to Congress on actions taken to expand access to telehealth services under the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance programs during the COVID–19 emergency.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Knowing the Efficiency and Efficacy of Permanent Telehealth Options Act of 2020 or the KEEP Telehealth Options Act of 2020.2.FindingsCongress finds the following:(1)On January 21, 2020, the United States confirmed the Nation’s first case of the 2019 novel coronavirus (which presents as the disease COVID–19).(2)On January 31, 2020, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this Act referred to as the Secretary) declared a public health emergency in response to COVID–19.(3)By March, the disease reached the pandemic level according to the World Health Organization, and the President proclaimed the COVID–19 outbreak in the United States to constitute a national emergency.(4)This emergency declaration authorizes the Secretary to temporarily waive or modify certain requirements of the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children’s Health Insurance programs and of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule throughout the duration of the public health emergency declared in response to the COVID–19 outbreak.(5)Under this authority, the Secretary, and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (in this Act referred to as the Administrator) acting under the Secretary’s authority, issued numerous rules, regulations, and waivers enabling the expansion of telehealth services during the public health emergency.(6)Telehealth services play a critical role in enhancing access to care for patients while simultaneously reducing the risk of exposure to the coronavirus for both patients and providers.(7)The Administrator expanded access to telehealth services under the public health emergency to all Medicare beneficiaries (including clinician-provided services to new and established patients).(8)On April 23, 2020, the Administrator released a telehealth toolkit to assist States in expanding the use of telehealth through Medicaid and CHIP.(9)Expanded telehealth options are valuable for all Americans during this public health crisis, but especially for high-risk patients and rural Americans who already have difficulty accessing care.3.Studies and reports on the expansion of access to telehealth services during the COVID–19 emergency(a)HHS(1)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, shall conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on actions taken by the Secretary during the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B)) to expand access to telehealth services under the Medicare program, the Medicaid program, and the Children’s Health Insurance program. Such report shall include the following:(A)A comprehensive list of telehealth services available under such programs and an explanation of all actions undertaken by the Secretary during the emergency period described in such paragraph to expand access to such services.(B)A comprehensive list of types of providers that may be reimbursed for such services furnished under such programs during such period, including a list of services which may only be reimbursed under such programs during such period if furnished by such providers in-person. (C)A quantitative analysis of the use of such telehealth services under such programs during such period, including data points on use by rural, minority, low-income, and elderly populations.(D)A quantitative analysis of the use of such services under such programs during such period for mental and behavioral health treatments.(E)An analysis of the public health impacts of the actions described in subparagraph (A).(2)Publication of reportNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish on the public website of the Department of Health and Human Services the report described in paragraph (1).(b)GAO(1)In generalNot later than 210 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on—(A)the efficiency, management, and success and failures of the expansion of access to telehealth services under the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance programs during the emergency period described in subsection (a)(1); and(B)any risk in increased fraudulent activity, and types of fraudulent activity, associated with such expansion.(2)RecommendationsThe report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include recommendations on—(A)potential improvements to telehealth services, and expansions of such services, under the programs described in paragraph (1)(A); and(B)ways to address any fraudulent activity described in paragraph (1)(B).


109 HR 5492 IH: National Constitution Center

U.S. House of Representatives
2006-05-25
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		109th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 5492
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 25, 2006
			Mr. Brady of
			 Pennsylvania introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on
			 Resources

		A BILL
		To amend the Constitution Heritage Act of 1988 to provide
		  for the operation of the National Constitution Center.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 National Constitution Center
			 Operations Act.
		2.Name
			 clarificationSection 3(a) of
			 the Constitution Heritage Act of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 407bb(a)) is amended by
			 striking (hereafter in this Act referred to as the
			 Center) and inserting (hereafter in this Act
			 referred to as the NCC).
		3.Operation of the
			 National Constitution CenterSection 4 of the Constitution Heritage Act
			 of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 407cc) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				(c)Operation of the
				NCC
					(1)In
				generalA cooperative
				agreement entered into under subsection (b) shall—
						(A)authorize the NCC to—
							(i)operate the NCC;
							(ii)provide to visitors to the NCC any
				activities and services relating to and consistent with any functions of the
				NCC under section 3(b);
							(iii)carry out activities that are appropriate
				for the operation of the NCC, including charging fees, conducting events, and
				selling and marketing merchandise, tickets for activities of the NCC, and food
				to visitors to the NCC; and
							(iv)negotiate and enter into any agreements,
				leases, contracts, or other arrangements with any person, firm, association,
				organization, corporation, or governmental entity (including the Federal
				Government and any State and local governments) that are appropriate for
				carrying out activities at the NCC or that are normally associated with the
				operation of a facility like the NCC, including an agreement, contract, or
				other arrangement for janitorial service, building maintenance, food service,
				information technology maintenance, or the operation of a museum store;
							(B)provide that any revenues from facilities
				and services of the NCC shall be made available to the NCC, without further
				appropriation, to offset the expenses of operating the NCC;
						(C)authorize the NCC to occupy the site and
				any structures provided under subsection (a)—
							(i)for a term specified in the cooperative
				agreement not to exceed 30 years; and
							(ii)in accordance with any terms and conditions
				of the cooperative agreement;
							(D)(i)provide that the NCC shall maintain, during
				the term of the cooperative agreement and at the expense of the NCC, insurance
				on the NCC covering such risks, in such amounts, and including such terms and
				conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and
							(ii)provide that any repairs or reconstruction
				carried out using payments made to the NCC under an insurance policy maintained
				under clause (i) shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary;
							(E)provide that the NCC shall maintain the
				status as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
				Revenue Code of 1986 that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of the
				Code;
						(F)provide that the NCC shall make available
				to the Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States all books,
				documents, papers, and records of the NCC that are necessary for an
				audit;
						(G)provide that the NCC shall submit to the
				Secretary or Congress an annual report that—
							(i)describes the activities of the NCC during
				the preceding fiscal year;
							(ii)compares the goals and objectives of the
				NCC to the actual accomplishments of the NCC during the preceding fiscal year;
				and
							(iii)includes a plan for the NCC for the
				subsequent fiscal year; and
							(H)include any other terms and conditions that
				the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
						(2)Termination of
				agreementThe Secretary may
				terminate the cooperative agreement entered into under paragraph (1) if the
				Secretary determines that termination is in the best interest of the
				public.
					(3)Effect on
				existing agreementThe
				agreement between the National Park Service and the NCC numbered
				CA–4450–99–9018 shall remain in effect until the date on which—
						(A)the agreement is terminated in accordance
				with the terms of the agreement; or
						(B)a cooperative agreement is entered into
				under paragraph (1).
						(4)Administration
				of Independence National Historical ParkNothing in this subsection affects the
				authority of the Secretary to enter into a contract or other agreement with any
				organization or entity that provides for the administration of Independence
				National Historical Park so long as the agreement does not conflict with the
				cooperative agreement entered into under paragraph (1).
					(5)Exemption from
				applicable lawAn agreement,
				lease, contract, or other arrangement entered into under paragraph (1) shall
				not be subject to section 3(k) of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–2(k)),
				section 321 of the Act of June 30, 1939 (40 U.S.C. 303(b)), or section 403 of
				the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C.
				5952).
					.
		4.Conforming
			 amendments
			(a)Section 3 of the Constitution Heritage Act
			 of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 407bb) is amended—
				(1)in the second sentence of subsection (a),
			 by striking Center and inserting NCC; and
				(2)in subsection (b)—
					(A)in the subsection heading, by striking
			 Center and inserting
			 NCC;
					(B)in the matter before paragraph (1), by
			 striking Center and inserting NCC; and
					(C)in paragraph (3), by striking
			 Center's and inserting NCC's.
					(b)Section 4 of the Constitution Heritage Act
			 of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 407cc) is amended—
				(1)in the section heading, by striking
			 Center and inserting
			 NCC;
				(2)in subsection (a), by striking
			 Center each place it appears and inserting NCC;
			 and
				(3)in subsection (b)—
					(A)in the subsection heading, by striking
			 Center and inserting
			 NCC;
					(B)in the first sentence, by striking
			 Center the second place it appears and inserting
			 NCC; and
					(C)in the second sentence, by striking
			 National Constitution Center and inserting
			 NCC.
					(c)Section 5 of the Constitution Heritage Act
			 of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 407cc) is amended in subsections (c) and (e) by striking
			 National Constitution Center each place it appears and inserting
			 NCC.


 HJ 100 ENR: Appointing the day for the convening of the first session of the One Hundred Eleventh Congress and establishing the date for the counting of the electoral votes for President and Vice President cast by the electors in December 2008.
U.S. House of Representatives
0
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV
One Hundred Tenth Congress of the United States of America
At the Second SessionBegun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand and eight
H. J. RES. 100

JOINT RESOLUTION
Appointing the day for the convening of the first session of the One Hundred Eleventh Congress and establishing the date for the counting of the electoral votes for President and Vice President cast by the electors in December 2008.

1.Day for Convening of One Hundred Eleventh CongressThe first regular session of the One Hundred Eleventh Congress shall begin at noon on Tuesday, January 6, 2009.
2.Date for Counting 2008 Electoral Votes in CongressThe meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives to be held in January 2009 pursuant to section 15 of title 3, United States Code, to count the electoral votes for President and Vice President cast by the electors in December 2008 shall be held on January 8, 2009 (rather than on the date specified in the first sentence of that section).

Speaker of the House of Representatives.Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.


117 HR 4905 IH: Big Tech Accountability for Broadband Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-08-03
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 4905IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESAugust 3, 2021Mr. Bergman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceA BILLTo direct the Federal Communications Commission to promulgate regulations to collect regulatory fees from large technology platforms.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Big Tech Accountability for Broadband Act.2.Collection of regulatory fees from large technology platforms(a)Regulations(1)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall, notwithstanding subsection (d) of section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254), promulgate regulations to require covered businesses to contribute to the Federal universal service support mechanism under such section.(2)Fee structureSuch regulations shall include a fee structure to be assessed on covered businesses.(b)ConsiderationsIn promulgating regulations under subsection (a), the Commission shall consider including in such regulations a mechanism to prohibit a telecommunications carrier from levying on a customer of such carrier charges relating to the required contributions of such carriers to Federal universal service support mechanism under section 254(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254), if such customer is considered by the Commission to be unserved or underserved with respect to broadband internet access service. (c)DefinitionsIn this Act:(1)Broadband internet access serviceThe term broadband internet access service has the meaning of that term under section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations.(2)CommissionThe term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission.(3)Covered businessThe term covered business—(A)means a business offering an online platform which—(i)in any month during the most recently completed 12-month period—(I)more than 30,000,000 users in the United States accessed, without regard to the means by which the users accessed the service; or(II)more than 300,000,000 users worldwide accessed, without regard to the means by which the users accessed the service; and(ii)during the most recently completed taxable year, had more than $10,000,000,000 in global revenue; and(B)does not include an organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.(4)Online platformThe term online platform means a website, online or mobile application, mobile operating system, digital assistant, or online service that is designed primarily to—(A)enable a user to generate content that can be viewed by other users on the platform or to interact with other content on the platform;(B)facilitate the offering, sale, purchase, payment, or shipping of products or services, including software applications, between and among consumers or businesses not controlled by the platform operator; or(C)enable user searches or queries that access or display a large volume of information.


		IV
		110th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. CON. RES. 56
		IN THE HOUSE OF
		  REPRESENTATIVES

			December 4, 2007
			Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

		CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
		Encouraging the Association of Southeast
		  Asian Nations to take action to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy in
		  Burma.

		Whereas
			 hundreds of thousands of citizens of Burma have risked their lives in
			 demonstrations to demand a return to democracy and respect for human rights in
			 their country;
		Whereas
			 the repressive military Government of Burma has conducted a brutal crackdown
			 against demonstrators, which has resulted in mass numbers of killings, arrests,
			 and detentions;
		Whereas
			 Burma has been a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
			 since 1997;
		Whereas
			 foreign ministers of other ASEAN member nations, in reference to Burma, have
			 demanded that the government immediately desist from the use of violence
			 against demonstrators, expressed revulsion over reports
			 that demonstrators were being suppressed by violent and deadly force, and
			 called for the release of all political detainees including Daw Aung San
			 Suu Kyi;
		Whereas
			 the foreign ministers of ASEAN member nations have expressed concern that
			 developments in Burma had a serious impact on the reputation and
			 credibility of ASEAN;
		Whereas
			 Ibrahim Gambari, the United Nations (UN) Special Envoy to Burma, has called on
			 the member nations of ASEAN to take additional steps on the Burma issue,
			 saying, Not just Thailand but all the countries that I am visiting,
			 India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the UN, we could do more;
		Whereas
			 the ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action adopted October 7, 2003, at the
			 ASEAN Summit in Bali states that ASEAN members shall promote political
			 development … to achieve peace, stability, democracy, and prosperity in the
			 region, and specifically says that ASEAN Member Countries shall
			 not condone unconstitutional and undemocratic changes of
			 government;
		Whereas
			 the Government of Singapore, as the current Chair of ASEAN, will host ASEAN's
			 regional summit in November 2007 to approve ASEAN's new charter;
		Whereas
			 the current Foreign Minister of Singapore, George Yeo, has publicly expressed,
			 For some time now, we had stopped trying to defend Myanmar
			 internationally because it became no longer credible;
		Whereas
			 according to the chairman of the High Level Task Force charged with drafting
			 the new ASEAN Charter, the Charter will make ASEAN a more rules-based
			 organization and … will put in place a system of compliance monitoring and,
			 most importantly, a system of compulsory dispute settlement for noncompliance
			 that will apply to all ASEAN agreements;
		Whereas
			 upon its accession to ASEAN, Burma agreed to subscribe or accede to all ASEAN
			 declarations, treaties, and agreements;
		Whereas
			 2007 marks the 30th anniversary of the relationship and dialogue between the
			 United States and ASEAN;
		Whereas
			 the Senate passed legislation in the 109th Congress that would authorize the
			 establishment of the position of United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs,
			 and the President announced in 2007 that an Ambassador would be appointed;
			 and
		Whereas
			 ASEAN member nations and the United States share common concerns across a broad
			 range of issues, including accelerated economic growth, social progress,
			 cultural development, and peace and stability in the Southeast Asia region:
			 Now, therefore, be it

		That Congress—
			(1)joins the foreign ministers of member
			 nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that have
			 expressed concern over the human rights situation in Burma;
			(2)encourages ASEAN to take more substantial
			 steps to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy in Burma;
			(3)welcomes steps by ASEAN to strengthen its
			 internal governance through the adoption of a formal ASEAN charter;
			(4)urges ASEAN to ensure that all member
			 nations live up to their membership obligations and adhere to ASEAN's core
			 principles, including respect for and commitment to human rights; and
			(5)would welcome a decision by ASEAN,
			 consistent with its core documents and its new charter, to review Burma's
			 membership in ASEAN and to consider appropriate disciplinary measures,
			 including suspension, until such time as the Government of Burma has
			 demonstrated an improved respect for and commitment to human rights.

			Passed the Senate
			 November 16, 2007.
			Nancy Erickson,
			Secretary


117 S524 IS: Federal Insurance Office Abolishment Act of 2021
U.S. Senate
2021-03-02
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 524IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 2 (legislative day, March 1), 2021Mr. Cruz (for himself, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Braun, and Ms. Lummis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban AffairsA BILLTo abolish the Federal Insurance Office of the Department of the Treasury, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Federal Insurance Office Abolishment Act of 2021.2.Abolishment of Federal Insurance Office(a)In generalThe Federal Insurance Office of the Department of the Treasury, and the position of the Director of the Federal Insurance Office, are hereby abolished.(b)AmendmentTitle 31, United States Code, is amended—(1)by striking section 313; and(2)in the table of sections for subchapter I of chapter 3, by striking the item relating to section 313.(c)Treasury authorityThis section, and the amendment made by this section, may not be construed to repeal or otherwise limit any authority of the Secretary of the Treasury with respect matters relating to insurance.3.Related amendments(a)Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act amendmentsThe Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (12 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) is amended—(1)in section 111(b)(2) (12 U.S.C. 5321(b)(2))—(A)by striking subparagraph (B); and(B)by redesignating subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E) as subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D), respectively;(2)in section 112 (12 U.S.C. 5322)—(A)in subsection (a)(2)(A), by striking member agencies, other Federal and State financial regulatory agencies, the Federal Insurance Office and inserting the following: member agencies and other Federal and State financial regulatory agencies; and(B)in subsection (d)—(i)in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking the Office of Financial Research, member agencies, and the Federal Insurance Office and inserting the Office of Financial Research and member agencies; and(ii)in paragraph (2), by striking , any member agency, and the Federal Insurance Office, and inserting and any member agency;(3)in section 165(i) (12 U.S.C. 5365(i))—(A)in paragraph (1)(A), by striking and the Federal Insurance Office and inserting and the Secretary of the Treasury; and(B)in paragraph (2)(C), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking and the Federal Insurance Office and inserting and the Secretary of the Treasury; and(4)in section 203(a)(1)(C) (12 U.S.C. 5383(a)(1)(C))—(A)in the first sentence—(i)by striking the Director of the Federal Insurance Office and; and(ii)by striking on their own initiative and inserting on the initiative of the Board of Governors; and(B)in the second sentence, by striking and the affirmative approval of the Director of the Federal Insurance Office.(b)Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act amendmentsSection 211(a) of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (31 U.S.C. 313 note) is amended—(1)in paragraph (1), by striking the Secretary of the Treasury, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and Director of the Federal Insurance Office and inserting the following: the Secretary of the Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and(2)in paragraph (2), by striking the Secretary of the Treasury, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Director of the Federal Insurance Office each place that term occurs and inserting the following: the Secretary of the Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.