		I
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 999
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			March 10, 2011
			Ms. Schakowsky (for
			 herself, Ms. DeGette,
			 Mr. Farr, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts,
			 Mr. Hinchey,
			 Ms. Lee of California,
			 Mr. Lipinski,
			 Mrs. Maloney,
			 Ms. McCollum,
			 Ms. Pingree of Maine,
			 Ms. Woolsey,
			 Mr. Honda,
			 Mr. Price of North Carolina,
			 Mr. Serrano,
			 Mr. Grijalva,
			 Mr. George Miller of California,
			 Mr. Stark,
			 Mr. Payne,
			 Mr. Waxman,
			 Mrs. Capps, and
			 Mr. Weiner) introduced the following
			 bill; which was referred to the Committee
			 on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on
			 Ways and Means, for a
			 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
			 consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
			 committee concerned

		A BILL
		To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to
		  deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices under the
		  Medicare Program.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and
			 Choice Act of 2011.
		2.Establishment of
			 Medicare operated prescription drug plan option
			(a)In
			 generalSubpart 2 of part D of title XVIII of the Social Security
			 Act is amended by inserting after section 1860D–11 (42 U.S.C. 1395w–111) the
			 following new section:

					1860D–11A.Medicare operated prescription drug plan
		  option(a)In
				generalNotwithstanding any
				other provision of this part, for each year (beginning with 2012), in addition
				to any plans offered under section 1860D–11, the Secretary shall offer one or
				more Medicare operated prescription drug plans (as defined in subsection (c))
				with a service area that consists of the entire United States and shall enter
				into negotiations in accordance with subsection (b) with pharmaceutical
				manufacturers to reduce the purchase cost of covered part D drugs for eligible
				part D individuals who enroll in such a plan.
						(b)NegotiationsNotwithstanding section 1860D–11(i), for
				purposes of offering a Medicare operated prescription drug plan under this
				section, the Secretary shall negotiate with pharmaceutical manufacturers with
				respect to the purchase price of covered part D drugs in a Medicare operated
				prescription drug plan and shall encourage the use of more affordable
				therapeutic equivalents to the extent such practices do not override medical
				necessity as determined by the prescribing physician. To the extent practicable
				and consistent with the previous sentence, the Secretary shall implement
				strategies similar to those used by other Federal purchasers of prescription
				drugs, and other strategies, including the use of a formulary and formulary
				incentives in subsection (e), to reduce the purchase cost of covered part D
				drugs.
						(c)Medicare
				operated prescription drug plan definedFor purposes of this
				part, the term Medicare operated prescription drug plan means a
				prescription drug plan that offers qualified prescription drug coverage and
				access to negotiated prices described in section 1860D–2(a)(1)(A). Such a plan
				may offer supplemental prescription drug coverage in the same manner as other
				qualified prescription drug coverage offered by other prescription drug
				plans.
						(d)Monthly
				beneficiary premium
							(1)Qualified
				prescription drug coverageThe monthly beneficiary premium for
				qualified prescription drug coverage and access to negotiated prices described
				in section 1860D–2(a)(1)(A) to be charged under a Medicare operated
				prescription drug plan shall be uniform nationally. Such premium for months in
				2012 and each succeeding year shall be based on the average monthly per capita
				actuarial cost of offering the Medicare operated prescription drug plan for the
				year involved, including administrative expenses.
							(2)Supplemental
				prescription drug coverageInsofar as a Medicare operated
				prescription drug plan offers supplemental prescription drug coverage, the
				Secretary may adjust the amount of the premium charged under paragraph
				(1).
							(e)Use of a
				formulary and formulary incentives
							(1)In
				generalWith respect to the
				operation of a Medicare operated prescription drug plan, the Secretary shall
				establish and apply a formulary (and may include formulary incentives described
				in paragraph (2)(C)(ii)) in accordance with this subsection in order to—
								(A)increase patient
				safety;
								(B)increase appropriate use and reduce
				inappropriate use of drugs; and
								(C)reward
				value.
								(2)Development of
				initial formulary
								(A)In
				generalIn selecting covered
				part D drugs for inclusion in a formulary, the Secretary shall consider
				clinical benefit and price.
								(B)Role of
				AHRQThe Director of the
				Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality shall be responsible for assessing
				the clinical benefit of covered part D drugs and making recommendations to the
				Secretary regarding which drugs should be included in the formulary. In
				conducting such assessments and making such recommendations, the Director
				shall—
									(i)consider safety
				concerns including those identified by the Federal Food and Drug
				Administration;
									(ii)use available data and evaluations, with
				priority given to randomized controlled trials, to examine clinical
				effectiveness, comparative effectiveness, safety, and enhanced compliance with
				a drug regimen;
									(iii)use the same
				classes of drugs developed by United States Pharmacopeia for this part;
									(iv)consider
				evaluations made by—
										(I)the Director under
				section 1013 of Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act
				of 2003;
										(II)other Federal
				entities, such as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and
										(III)other private
				and public entities, such as the Drug Effectiveness Review Project and Medicaid
				programs; and
										(v)recommend to the
				Secretary—
										(I)those drugs in a class that provide a
				greater clinical benefit, including fewer safety concerns or less risk of
				side-effects, than another drug in the same class that should be included in
				the formulary;
										(II)those drugs in a class that provide less
				clinical benefit, including greater safety concerns or a greater risk of
				side-effects, than another drug in the same class that should be excluded from
				the formulary; and
										(III)drugs in a class
				with same or similar clinical benefit for which it would be appropriate for the
				Secretary to competitively bid (or negotiate) for placement on the
				formulary.
										(C)Consideration of
				AHRQ recommendations
									(i)In
				generalThe Secretary, after
				taking into consideration the recommendations under subparagraph (B)(v), shall
				establish a formulary, and formulary incentives, to encourage use of covered
				part D drugs that—
										(I)have a lower cost and provide a greater
				clinical benefit than other drugs;
										(II)have a lower cost than other drugs with
				same or similar clinical benefit; and
										(III)drugs that have the same cost but provide
				greater clinical benefit than other drugs.
										(ii)Formulary
				incentivesThe formulary
				incentives under clause (i) may be in the form of one or more of the
				following:
										(I)Tiered copayments.
										(II)Reference
				pricing.
										(III)Prior
				authorization.
										(IV)Step
				therapy.
										(V)Medication therapy
				management.
										(VI)Generic drug substitution.
										(iii)FlexibilityIn applying such formulary incentives the
				Secretary may decide not to impose any cost-sharing for a covered part D drug
				for which—
										(I)the elimination of
				cost sharing would be expected to increase compliance with a drug regimen;
				and
										(II)compliance would
				be expected to produce savings under part A or B or both.
										(3)Limitations on
				formularyIn any formulary established under this subsection, the
				formulary may not be changed during a year, except—
								(A)to add a generic
				version of a covered part D drug that entered the market;
								(B)to remove such a
				drug for which a safety problem is found; and
								(C)to add a drug that the Secretary identifies
				as a drug which treats a condition for which there has not previously been a
				treatment option or for which a clear and significant benefit has been
				demonstrated over other covered part D drugs.
								(4)Adding drugs to
				the initial formulary
								(A)Use of advisory
				committeeThe Secretary shall
				establish and appoint an advisory committee (in this paragraph referred to as
				the advisory committee)—
									(i)to review petitions from drug
				manufacturers, health care provider organizations, patient groups, and other
				entities for inclusion of a drug in, or other changes to, such formulary;
				and
									(ii)to recommend any
				changes to the formulary established under this subsection.
									(B)CompositionThe advisory committee shall be composed of
				9 members and shall include representatives of physicians, pharmacists, and
				consumers and others with expertise in evaluating prescription drugs. The
				Secretary shall select members based on their knowledge of pharmaceuticals and
				the Medicare population. Members shall be deemed to be special Government
				employees for purposes of applying the conflict of interest provisions under
				section 208 of title 18, United States Code, and no waiver of such provisions
				for such a member shall be permitted.
								(C)ConsultationThe
				advisory committee shall consult, as necessary, with physicians who are
				specialists in treating the disease for which a drug is being
				considered.
								(D)Request for
				studiesThe advisory
				committee may request the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or an
				academic or research institution to study and make a report on a petition
				described in subparagraph (A)(ii) in order to assess—
									(i)clinical
				effectiveness;
									(ii)comparative
				effectiveness;
									(iii)safety;
				and
									(iv)enhanced
				compliance with a drug regimen.
									(E)RecommendationsThe
				advisory committee shall make recommendations to the Secretary
				regarding—
									(i)whether a covered part D drug is found to
				provide a greater clinical benefit, including fewer safety concerns or less
				risk of side-effects, than another drug in the same class that is currently
				included in the formulary and should be included in the formulary;
									(ii)whether a covered part D drug is found to
				provide less clinical benefit, including greater safety concerns or a greater
				risk of side-effects, than another drug in the same class that is currently
				included in the formulary and should not be included in the formulary;
				and
									(iii)whether a
				covered part D drug has the same or similar clinical benefit to a drug in the
				same class that is currently included in the formulary and whether the drug
				should be included in the formulary.
									(F)Limitations on
				review of manufacturer petitionsThe advisory committee shall not review a
				petition of a drug manufacturer under subparagraph (A)(ii) with respect to a
				covered part D drug unless the petition is accompanied by the following:
									(i)Raw data from clinical trials on the safety
				and effectiveness of the drug.
									(ii)Any data from
				clinical trials conducted using active controls on the drug or drugs that are
				the current standard of care.
									(iii)Any available
				data on comparative effectiveness of the drug.
									(iv)Any other
				information the Secretary requires for the advisory committee to complete its
				review.
									(G)Response to
				recommendationsThe Secretary
				shall review the recommendations of the advisory committee and if the Secretary
				accepts such recommendations the Secretary shall modify the formulary
				established under this subsection accordingly. Nothing in this section shall
				preclude the Secretary from adding to the formulary a drug for which the
				Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the advisory
				committee has not made a recommendation.
								(H)Notice of
				changesThe Secretary shall
				provide timely notice to beneficiaries and health professionals about changes
				to the formulary or formulary incentives.
								(f)Informing
				beneficiariesThe Secretary
				shall take steps to inform beneficiaries about the availability of a Medicare
				operated drug plan or plans including providing information in the annual
				handbook distributed to all beneficiaries and adding information to the
				official public Medicare Web site related to prescription drug coverage
				available through this part.
						(g)Application of
				all other requirements for prescription drug plansExcept as
				specifically provided in this section, any Medicare operated drug plan shall
				meet the same requirements as apply to any other prescription drug plan,
				including the requirements of section 1860D–4(b)(1) relating to assuring
				pharmacy
				access).
						.
			(b)Conforming
			 amendments
				(1)Section 1860D–3(a)
			 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
			 1395w–103(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
			 paragraph:

						(4)Availability of
				the medicare operated prescription drug planA Medicare operated
				prescription drug plan (as defined in section 1860D–11A(c)) shall be offered
				nationally in accordance with section
				1860D–11A.
						.
				(2)(A)Section 1860D–3 of the
			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–103) is amended by adding at the end the
			 following new subsection:

							(c)Provisions only
				applicable in 2006 through 2011The provisions of this section
				shall only apply with respect to 2006 through
				2011.
							.
					(B)Section 1860D–11(g) of such Act (42
			 U.S.C. 1395w–111(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
			 paragraph:

							(8)No authority for
				fallback plans after 2011A fallback prescription drug plan shall
				not be available after December 31,
				2011.
							.
					(3)Section
			 1860D–13(c)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–113(c)(3)) is
			 amended—
					(A)in the heading, by
			 inserting and Medicare
			 operated prescription drug plans after
			 Fallback
			 plans; and
					(B)by inserting or a Medicare operated
			 prescription drug plan after a fallback prescription drug
			 plan.
					(4)Section 1860D–16(b)(1) of the Social
			 Security Act (42 U.S.C.1395w–116(b)(1)) is amended—
					(A)in subparagraph
			 (C), by striking and after the semicolon at the end;
					(B)in subparagraph
			 (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and;
			 and
					(C)by adding at the
			 end the following new subparagraph:

							(E)payments for
				expenses incurred with respect to the operation of Medicare operated
				prescription drug plans under section
				1860D–11A.
							.
					(5)Section 1860D–41(a) of the Social Security
			 Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–151(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
			 paragraph:

						(19)Medicare
				operated prescription drug planThe term Medicare operated
				prescription drug plan has the meaning given such term in section
				1860D–11A(c).
						.
				3.Improved appeals
			 process under the Medicare operated prescription drug planSection 1860D–4(h) of the Social Security
			 Act (42 U.S.C. 1305w–104(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
			 paragraph:

				(4)Appeals process
				for Medicare operated prescription drug plan
					(A)In
				generalThe Secretary shall
				develop a well-defined process for appeals for denials of benefits under this
				part under the Medicare operated prescription drug plan. Such process shall be
				efficient, impose minimal administrative burdens, and ensure the timely
				procurement of non-formulary drugs or exemption from formulary incentives when
				medically necessary. Medical necessity shall be based on professional medical
				judgment, the medical condition of the beneficiary, and other medical evidence.
				Such appeals process shall include—
						(i)an
				initial review and determination made by the Secretary; and
						(ii)for appeals
				denied during the initial review and determination, the option of an external
				review and determination by an independent entity selected by the
				Secretary.
						(B)Consultation in
				development of processIn developing the appeals process under
				subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consult with consumer and patient groups,
				as well as other key stakeholders to ensure the goals described in subparagraph
				(A) are
				achieved.
					.


116 HRES 263 IH: Expressing support for the designation of April 9, 2019, as National Yellow Ribbon Day.
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-03-27
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.

IV116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. RES. 263IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 27, 2019Mr. Tonko (for himself and Mr. Wenstrup) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and ReformRESOLUTIONExpressing support for the designation of April 9, 2019, as National Yellow Ribbon Day.

 Whereas yellow is the official color of the active combat arms branch of the United States Army; Whereas the yellow ribbon symbol was first used in the United States to mark national unity and remembrance for the 52 Americans held hostage in Iran for 444 days, beginning on November 4, 1979;
 Whereas, during the Persian Gulf war, Americans again used the yellow ribbon to promote solidarity for United States troops;
 Whereas, in 2006, the New York State Assembly and Senate unanimously proclaimed April 9 to be New York State Yellow Ribbon Day;
 Whereas April 9, 2004, was the day Staff Sgt. Keith Matthew Maupin of Batavia, Ohio, was captured in Iraq, making him the Iraq war’s first POW/MIA;
 Whereas yellow ribbons worn on lapels or clothing traditionally represent the message of “support our troops”; and
 Whereas National Yellow Ribbon Day is a day for all Americans to celebrate our current active duty troops: Now, therefore, be it

 That the House of Representatives supports the designation of National Yellow Ribbon Day.


116 S4573 IS: DHS Illicit Cross-Border Tunnel Defense Act
U.S. Senate
2020-09-15
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. 4573IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 15, 2020Ms. McSally introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsA BILLTo support remediation of illicit cross-border tunnels, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the DHS Illicit Cross-Border Tunnel Defense Act.2.Counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations(a)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 and 2022 to carry out remediation operations of illicit cross-border tunnels.(b)Counter illicit cross-Border tunnel operations strategic plan(1)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall develop a strategic plan to address the following:(A)Risk-based criteria to be used to prioritize the identification, breach, assessment, and remediation of illicit cross-border tunnels.(B)Promote the use of innovative technologies to identify, breach, assess, and remediate illicit cross-border tunnels in a manner that, among other considerations, reduces the impact of such activities on surrounding communities.(C)Processes to share relevant illicit cross-border tunnel location, operations, and technical information.(D)Indicators of specific types of illicit cross-border tunnels found in each U.S. Border Patrol sector identified through operations to be periodically disseminated to U.S. Border Patrol sector chiefs to educate field personnel.(E)A counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations resource needs assessment that includes consideration of the following:(i)Technology needs.(ii)Staffing needs, including the following:(I)A position description for counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations personnel.(II)Any specialized skills required of such personnel.(III)The number of such full time personnel, disaggregated by U.S. Border Patrol sector.(2)Report to Congress on strategic planNot later than one year after the issuance of the strategic plan required under paragraph (1), the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the implementation of paragraph (1).


		III
		110th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. RES. 510
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			April 10, 2008
			Mrs. Murray (for
			 herself, Mr. Inhofe, and
			 Mr. Menendez) submitted the following
			 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
			 Pensions

			April 24, 2008
			Committee discharged; considered and agreed
			 to

		RESOLUTION
		Supporting the goals and ideals of National
		  Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month.

		Whereas cystic fibrosis is one of the most common
			 life-threatening genetic diseases in the United States and one for which there
			 is no known cure;
		Whereas the average life expectancy of an individual with
			 cystic fibrosis is 37 years, an improvement from a life expectancy in the 1960s
			 where children did not live long enough to attend elementary school, but still
			 unacceptably short;
		Whereas approximately 30,000 people in the United States
			 have cystic fibrosis, more than half of them children;
		Whereas 1 of every 3,500 babies born in the United States
			 is born with cystic fibrosis;
		Whereas more than 10,000,000 Americans are unknowing,
			 symptom-free carriers of the cystic fibrosis gene;
		Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
			 recommend that all States consider newborn screening for cystic
			 fibrosis;
		Whereas the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation urges all States to
			 implement newborn screening for cystic fibrosis to facilitate early diagnosis
			 and treatment which improves health and life expectancy;
		Whereas prompt, aggressive treatment of the symptoms of
			 cystic fibrosis can extend the lives of people who have the disease;
		Whereas recent advances in cystic fibrosis research have
			 produced promising leads in gene, protein, and drug therapies beneficial to
			 people who have the disease;
		Whereas innovative research is progressing faster and is
			 being conducted more aggressively than ever before, due, in part, to the Cystic
			 Fibrosis Foundation’s establishment of a model clinical trials network;
		Whereas, although the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation continues
			 to fund a research pipeline for more than 30 potential therapies and funds a
			 nationwide network of care centers that extend the length and quality of life
			 for people with cystic fibrosis, lives continue to be lost to this disease
			 every day;
		Whereas education of the public about cystic fibrosis,
			 including the symptoms of the disease, increases knowledge and understanding of
			 cystic fibrosis and promotes early diagnosis; and
		Whereas the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will conduct
			 activities to honor National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in May 2008: Now,
			 therefore, be it

		That the Senate—
			(1)honors the goals
			 and ideals of National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month;
			(2)supports the
			 promotion of further public awareness and understanding of cystic
			 fibrosis;
			(3)encourages early
			 diagnosis and access to quality care for people with cystic fibrosis to improve
			 the quality of their lives; and
			(4)supports research
			 to find a cure for cystic fibrosis by fostering an enhanced research program
			 through a strong Federal commitment and expanded public-private
			 partnerships.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 4898
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			April 26, 2012
			Mr. Carnahan
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Ways and
			 Means

		A BILL
		To suspend temporarily the duty on certain women’s
		  footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics and valued over $12
		  but not over $20 per pair.

		1.Certain women’s footwear with
			 outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics and valued over $12 but not over
			 $20 per pair
			(a)In
			 generalSubchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff
			 Schedule of the United States is amended by inserting in numerical sequence the
			 following new heading:

								9902.01.00Footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics,
						covering the ankle, valued over $12 but not over $20/pair, other than tennis
						shoes, basketball shoes, gym shoes, training shoes, or the like, for women,
						other than work footwear (provided for in subheading 6402.91.90)FreeNo
						changeNo changeOn or before 12/31/2015

					.
			(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) applies to goods
			 entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day
			 after the date of the enactment of this Act.


116 HR 6502 IH: COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-04-14
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.

I116th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 6502IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESApril 14, 2020Mr. Harder of California (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Cox of California, Ms. Slotkin, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Porter, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Levin of California, and Mr. Rouda) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and LaborA BILLTo amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for deferral of loan repayment for graduates during the period of the coronavirus.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act.2.Deferral of loan repayment for graduates during the period of the coronavirus(a)In generalPart G of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:493E.Deferral of loan repayment for graduates during the period of the coronavirus(a)Deferral of loan repaymentIn addition to any deferral of repayment of a loan made under this title pursuant to this title, a borrower of a loan under this title who is an eligible individual as described in subsection (b), shall be eligible for a deferment of such loan during the period, not to exceed 3 years, following the date of enactment of the COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act.(b)Eligible individual(1)In generalA borrower of a loan under this title is an eligible individual if the individual graduates from the eligible institution for which the individual borrowed the loan to enroll during the period beginning on January 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020.(2)ExtensionThe Secretary may extend the period described in paragraph (1) for additional 1-year periods, but not later than through December 31, 2022, if the Secretary determines, in writing, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Treasury, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, that the anticipated economic impact of the coronavirus on graduates of eligible institutions over the relevant 1-year extension period necessitates such extension.(3)ConsiderationsIn making a determination regarding whether the anticipated economic impact of the coronavirus on graduates of eligible institutions necessitates an extension pursuant to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall consider—(A)whether a national emergency with respect to the coronavirus is in effect;(B)relevant economic indicators, including recent unemployment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and(C)relevant data and projections related to the transmission or seasonal recurrence of the coronavirus and any existing or anticipated measures by Federal, State, or local governments to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus.(c)CoronavirusThe term coronavirus means coronavirus as defined in section 506 of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116–123)..(b)Effective dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect from the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act until the date that is 3 years after such date of enactment.


116 HR 5115 IH: Realizing the Economic Opportunities and Value of Expanding Recycling Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-11-15
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.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 5115IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESNovember 15, 2019Mr. Cárdenas (for himself and Mr. Bucshon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceA BILLTo establish the Recycling Infrastructure Program within the Environmental Protection Agency, and
			 for other purposes.

		1.Short title; table of contents
 (a)Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Realizing the Economic Opportunities and Value of Expanding Recycling Act or the RECOVER Act. (b)Table of contentsThe table of contents for this Act is as follows:

					Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
					Sec. 2. Definitions.
					Sec. 3. Recycling Infrastructure Program.
					Sec. 4. Reports.
					Sec. 5. Funding.

 2.DefinitionsIn this Act, the following definitions apply: (1)AdministratorThe term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
 (2)Curbside recyclablesThe term curbside recyclables means those recyclable materials that a municipality or recycling service provider collects separately from municipal solid waste.
 (3)Curbside recyclingThe term curbside recycling means the process by which residential recyclable materials are picked up curbside. (4)Drop-off facilityThe term drop-off facility means a site to drop off recyclable materials.
 (5)Material recovery facilityThe term material recovery facility means a facility equipped for the sorting of recyclable materials. (6)Recyclable material (A)In generalThe term recyclable material means a material that can be collected, separated, processed, or otherwise derived from a waste stream for recycling.
 (B)InclusionsThe term recyclable material includes— (i)ferrous metal;
 (ii)nonferrous metal, such as aluminum; (iii)plastic;
 (iv)glass; (v)paper;
 (vi)fiber; (vii)paperboard;
 (viii)household electronics; (ix)tires;
 (x)rubber; (xi)consumer packaging; and
 (xii)consumer durables, such as automobiles and refrigerators. (7)RecyclingThe term recycling means the process of collecting, sorting, and processing recyclable materials for reuse, use as a feedstock, or use in manufacturing or assembling a product, but does not include use of recyclable materials for electricity or steam generation.
 (8)Recycling Infrastructure ProgramThe term Recycling Infrastructure Program means the program that may be established pursuant to section 3(a). (9)Recycling operationThe term recycling operation means an operation that processes recyclable materials from residential, industrial, or commercial operations through various manufacturing stages, including separating, shredding, grinding, crushing, media separation, shearing, or baling.
 (10)StateThe term State means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States.
			3.Recycling Infrastructure Program
 (a)EstablishmentThe Administrator may establish a program, to be known as the Recycling Infrastructure Program, to award financial assistance to States, local governments, and tribal governments, on a competitive basis, to support and expand the recycling infrastructure and recycling programs in such States, local governments, and tribal governments.
 (b)Eligible use of fundsA State, local government, or tribal government may use financial assistance received under the Recycling Infrastructure Program for projects and programs—
 (1)to— (A)expand recycling infrastructure by expanding or supporting recycling-related technology or infrastructure that—
 (i)increases recycling or collection rates; (ii)expands curbside recycling collection programs where appropriate;
 (iii)expands other collection points and landfill avoidance programs; (iv)improves the quality of recyclable material that is separated from solid waste;
 (v)improves sorting and separation of recyclable materials; (vi)delivers increased high-quality feedstocks for use in manufacturing; or
 (vii)encourages the use of recyclable materials in new products; (B)transition curbside recycling programs to more efficient collection practices where necessary;
 (C)enhance the performance of curbside recycling and other recycling programs; (D)promote public space recycling programs;
 (E)develop rural recycling systems; or (F)develop and implement variable rate (commonly referred to as pay-as-you-throw) funding programs in which the pricing structure for which the fee for solid waste collection increases as the amount of solid waste increases; or
 (2)relating to— (A)consumer education, that—
 (i)identify how to recycle and what is recyclable; or (ii) (I)highlights the importance of recycling;
 (II)promotes strategies to improve recyclable material quality; and (III)is designed to increase recycling participation and the amount of materials collected;
 (B)marketing opportunities for recyclable materials in the United States; or (C)education and training for recycling operators.
 (c)State and local government eligibilityIn order to be eligible to receive financial assistance under the Recycling Infrastructure Program— (1)for a project or program described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b), a State, local government, or tribal government shall—
 (A)submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require;
 (B)be in compliance with subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.); and (C)have, or will have, a method of tracking and demonstrating progress on State-wide, local government-wide, or tribal government-wide recycling rates, and agree to demonstrate such progress to the Administrator, in a manner the Administrator determines appropriate, not later than two years after receipt of such financial assistance; and
 (2)for a project or program described in paragraph (1) of subsection (b)— (A)a State, local government, or tribal government shall—
 (i)have or will have— (I)legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out the project or program, including the safety and security aspects of the project or program;
 (II)satisfactory continuing control over the use of the equipment or facilities used during the project or program, with a defined plan for its use after program assistance has ended;
 (III)the technical and financial capacity to maintain new and existing equipment and facilities used for the project or program; and
 (IV)advisors providing guidance on the terms and structure of the project or program that are independent from investors in the project or program;
 (ii)demonstrate that the project or program shall encourage, to the maximum extent feasible, as determined by local policies, criteria, and decision making, the participation of private enterprise; and
 (iii)demonstrate that the project or program is supported by an acceptable degree of local financial commitment (including evidence of stable and dependable financing sources); and
 (B)a local government or tribal government shall— (i)provide for the collection of at least 5 types of recyclable materials; and
 (ii)own, operate, or contract to handle, operate, or sell to— (I)a curbside recyclables collection program;
 (II)a redemption center, drop-off facility, or transfer station for recyclables; or (III)a material recovery facility.
							(d)Selection criteria
 (1)PriorityIn awarding financial assistance to States, local governments, and tribal governments under the Recycling Infrastructure Program, the Administrator shall give priority to States, local governments, and tribal governments that propose to use the assistance to—
 (A)expand recycling access and collection of recyclable materials to underserved areas; (B)modernize existing technology;
 (C)use innovative technology; (D)enhance curbside recycling and other collection; or
 (E)reduce contamination of recyclable materials. (2)ApplicabilityNothing in this subsection supersedes the applicability of other requirements of Federal law (including regulations).
				(e)Federal assistance
 (1)AmountThe amount of the Federal financial assistance used for a project or program described in subsection (b) shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the project or program.
 (2)SupplantFederal financial assistance under this Act shall not be used to supplant or repay other financial assistance.
 (f)State, Tribal, and local permitsThe provision of financial assistance with respect to a project or program described in subsection (b) shall not—
 (1)alter any obligation to obtain any required State, local, or tribal permit or approval with respect to the project or program; or
 (2)otherwise supersede any State, local, or tribal law (including any regulation) applicable to the construction or operation of the project or program.
				4.Reports
 (a)State, local government, and tribal government reportsEach State, local government, or tribal government receiving financial assistance during a fiscal year under the Recycling Infrastructure Program shall submit to the Administrator, not later than 12 months after receiving such assistance, a report for such fiscal year, in accordance with such requirements as the Administrator may prescribe.
 (b)EPA reportNot later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on measures taken towards implementing this Act that includes a list of States, local governments, and tribal governments receiving financial assistance under the Recycling Infrastructure Program.
			5.Funding
 (a)In generalThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act— (1)$150,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, to remain available until expended;
 (2)$125,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, to remain available until expended; (3)$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, to remain available until expended;
 (4)$75,000,000 for fiscal year 2023, to remain available until expended; and (5)$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, to remain available until expended.
 (b)AdministrationThe Administrator may use for the administration of this Act such funds as the Administrator determines necessary for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.


102 HR 3883 IH: To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-06-14
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. 3883IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJune 14, 2021Mr. Wenstrup (for himself and Ms. Underwood) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.1.Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health Administration(a)ProhibitionSection 1715 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:1715.Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health Administration(a)ProhibitionNo person (including any veteran, patient, resident, employee of the Department, contractor, or visitor) may smoke on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration.(b)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)The term smoke includes—(A)the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and any other combustion or heating of tobacco; and(B)the use of any electronic nicotine delivery system, including electronic or e-cigarettes, vape pens, and e-cigars.(2)The term facility of the Veterans Health Administration means any land or building (including any medical center, nursing home, domiciliary facility, outpatient clinic, or center that provides readjustment counseling) that is—(A)under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs;(B)under the control of the Veterans Health Administration; and(C)not under the control of the General Services Administration..(b)Conforming amendments(1)Table of sectionsThe table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 1715 and inserting the following:1715. Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health Administration..(2)Veterans Health Care Act of 1992Section 526 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–585) is repealed.


114 HR 3453 IH: Federal Home Loan Bank Product Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-09-08
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
		114th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 3453
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			September 8, 2015
			Mr. David Scott of Georgia (for himself and Mr. Lucas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

		A BILL
		To clarify the regulatory treatment of Federal Home Loan Bank products.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Federal Home Loan Bank Product Act. 2.Treatment of Federal home loan bank products (a)Section 1a(2) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1a(2)) is amended—
 (1)in subparagraph (B), by striking and; (2)in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and
 (3)by adding at the end the following:  (D)is the Federal Housing Finance Agency for any Federal Home Loan Bank (as defined in section 2 of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act)..
 (b)Section 402(a) of the Legal Certainty for Bank Products Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 27(a)) is amended— (1)by striking or at the end of paragraph (6);
 (2)by striking the period at the end of paragraph (7) and inserting ; or; and (3)by adding at the end the following:

 (8)any Federal Home Loan Bank (as defined in section 2 of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act)..


114 HR 1787 IH: Fair Pay Act of 2015
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-04-14
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
		114th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 1787
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			April 14, 2015
			Ms. Norton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

		A BILL
		To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on
			 account of sex, race, or national origin, and for other purposes.

		1.Short title
 (a)Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Fair Pay Act of 2015. (b)ReferenceExcept as provided in section 8, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.).
 2.FindingsCongress finds the following: (1)Wage rate differentials exist between equivalent jobs segregated by sex, race, and national origin in Government employment and in industries engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce.
 (2)The existence of such wage rate differentials— (A)depresses wages and living standards for employees necessary for their health and efficiency;
 (B)prevents the maximum utilization of the available labor resources; (C)tends to cause labor disputes, thereby burdening, affecting, and obstructing commerce;
 (D)burdens commerce and the free flow of goods in commerce; and (E)constitutes an unfair method of competition.
 (3)Discrimination in hiring and promotion has played a role in maintaining a segregated work force. (4)Many women and people of color work in occupations dominated by individuals of their same sex, race, and national origin.
			(5)
 (A)In 2009, a woman in the United States working in a full-time, year-round job earned 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man working in a full-time, year-round job.
 (B)A 2007 study found that—even when accounting for key factors generally known to influence earnings such as race, educational attainment, and experience—nearly half (49.3 percent) of the pay gap can be explained by differences in the industries and occupations that men and women work in, and 41 percent of the pay gap cannot be accounted for but may be partially explained by discrimination in the workplace.
 (6)Section 6(d) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 prohibits discrimination in compensation for equal work on the basis of sex. (7)Artificial barriers to the elimination of discrimination in compensation based upon sex, race, and national origin continue to exist more than 4 decades after the passage of section 6(d) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.). Elimination of such barriers would have positive effects, including—
 (A)providing a solution to problems in the economy created by discrimination through wage rate differentials;
 (B)substantially reducing the number of working women and people of color earning low wages, thereby reducing the dependence on public assistance; and
 (C)promoting stable families by enabling working family members to earn a fair rate of pay. 3.Equal pay for equivalent jobs (a)AmendmentSection 6 (29 U.S.C. 206) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					(h)
						(1)
 (A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), no employer having employees subject to any provision of this section shall discriminate, within any establishment in which such employees are employed, between employees on the basis of sex, race, or national origin by paying wages to employees in such establishment in a job that is dominated by employees of a particular sex, race, or national origin at a rate less than the rate at which the employer pays wages to employees in such establishment in another job that is dominated by employees of the opposite sex or of a different race or national origin, respectively, for work on equivalent jobs.
 (B)Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall prohibit the payment of different wage rates to employees where such payment is made pursuant to—
 (i)a seniority system; (ii)a merit system;
 (iii)a system that measures earnings by quantity or quality of production; or (iv)a differential based on a bona fide factor other than sex, race, or national origin, such as education, training, or experience, except that this clause shall apply only if—
 (I)the employer demonstrates that— (aa)such factor—
 (AA)is job-related with respect to the position in question; or (BB)furthers a legitimate business purpose, except that this item shall not apply if the employee demonstrates that an alternative employment practice exists that would serve the same business purpose without producing such differential and that the employer has refused to adopt such alternative practice; and
 (bb)such factor was actually applied and used reasonably in light of the asserted justification; and (II)upon the employer succeeding under subclause (I), the employee fails to demonstrate that the differential produced by the reliance of the employer on such factor is itself the result of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, or national origin by the employer.
 (C)The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall issue guidelines specifying criteria for determining whether a job is dominated by employees of a particular sex, race, or national origin for purposes of subparagraph (B)(iv). Such guidelines shall not include a list of such jobs.
 (D)An employer who is paying a wage rate differential in violation of subparagraph (A) shall not, in order to comply with the provisions of such subparagraph, reduce the wage rate of any employee.
 (2)No labor organization or its agents representing employees of an employer having employees subject to any provision of this section shall cause or attempt to cause such an employer to discriminate against an employee in violation of paragraph (1)(A).
 (3)For purposes of administration and enforcement of this subsection, any amounts owing to any employee that have been withheld in violation of paragraph (1)(A) shall be deemed to be unpaid minimum wages or unpaid overtime compensation under this section or section 7.
 (4)In this subsection: (A)The term labor organization means any organization of any kind, or any agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which employees participate and that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work.
 (B)The term equivalent jobs means jobs that may be dissimilar, but whose requirements are equivalent, when viewed as a composite of skills, effort, responsibility, and working conditions..
 (b)Conforming amendmentSection 13(a) (29 U.S.C. 213(a)) is amended in the matter before paragraph (1) by striking section 6(d) and inserting sections 6 (d) and (h). 4.Prohibited actsSection 15(a) (29 U.S.C. 215(a)) is amended—
 (1)by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and inserting a semicolon; and (2)by adding after paragraph (5) the following:

 (6)to discriminate against any individual because such individual has opposed any act or practice made unlawful by section 6(h) or because such individual made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing to enforce section 6(h); or
 (7)to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against, coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any employee or any other person because the employee inquired about, disclosed, compared, or otherwise discussed the employee's wages or the wages of any other employee, or because the employee exercised, enjoyed, aided, or encouraged any other person to exercise or enjoy any right granted or protected by section 6(h)..
			5.Remedies
 (a)Enhanced penaltiesSection 16(b) (29 U.S.C. 216(b)) is amended— (1)by inserting after the first sentence the following: Any employer who violates subsection (d) or (h) of section 6 shall additionally be liable for such compensatory or punitive damages as may be appropriate, except that the United States shall not be liable for punitive damages.;
 (2)in the sentence beginning An action to, by striking either of the preceding sentences and inserting any of the preceding sentences of this subsection; (3)in the sentence beginning No employees, by striking No employees and inserting Except with respect to class actions brought under subsection (f), no employee;
 (4)in the sentence beginning The court in, by striking in such action and inserting in any action brought to recover the liability prescribed in any of the preceding sentences of this subsection; and
 (5)by striking section 15(a)(3) each place it occurs and inserting paragraphs (3), (6), and (7) of section 15(a). (b)Action by secretarySection 16(c) (29 U.S.C. 216(c)) is amended—
 (1)in the first sentence— (A)by inserting or, in the case of a violation of subsection (d) or (h) of section 6, additional compensatory or punitive damages, before and the agreement; and
 (B)by inserting before the period the following: , or such compensatory or punitive damages, as appropriate; (2)in the second sentence, by inserting before the period the following: and, in the case of a violation of subsection (d) or (h) of section 6, additional compensatory or punitive damages; and
 (3)in the third sentence, by striking the first sentence and inserting the first or second sentence. (c)FeesSection 16 (29 U.S.C. 216) is amended by adding at the end the following:

 (f)In any action brought under this section for a violation of section 6(h), the court shall, in addition to any other remedies awarded to the prevailing plaintiff or plaintiffs, allow expert fees as part of the costs. Any such action may be maintained as a class action as provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure..
			6.Records
 (a)RecordsSection 11(c) (29 U.S.C. 211(c)) is amended— (1)by inserting (1) after (c); and
 (2)by adding at the end the following:  (2)Every employer subject to section 6(h) shall preserve records that document and support the method, system, calculations, and other bases used by the employer in establishing, adjusting, and determining the wage rates paid to the employees of the employer. Every employer subject to section 6(h) shall preserve such records for such periods of time, and shall make such reports from the records to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as shall be prescribed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by regulation or order as necessary or appropriate for the enforcement of the provisions of section 6(h) or any regulation promulgated pursuant to section 6(h)..
 (b)Small business exemptionsSection 11(c) (as amended by subsection (a)) is further amended by adding at the end the following:  (3)Every employer subject to section 6(h) that has 25 or more employees on any date during the first or second year after the effective date of this paragraph, or 15 or more employees on any date during any subsequent year after such second year, shall, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under paragraph (8), prepare and submit to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for the year involved a report signed by the president, treasurer, or corresponding principal officer, of the employer that includes information that discloses the wage rates paid to employees of the employer in each classification, position, or job title, or to employees in other wage groups employed by the employer, including information with respect to the sex, race, and national origin of employees at each wage rate in each classification, position, job title, or other wage group..
 (c)Protection of confidentialitySection 11(c) (as amended by subsections (a) and (b)) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

 (4)The rules and regulations promulgated by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under paragraph (8), relating to the form of such a report, shall include requirements to protect the confidentiality of employees, including a requirement that the report shall not contain the name of any individual employee..
 (d)Use; inspections; examination; regulationsSection 11(c) (as amended by subsections (a) through (c)) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

 (5)The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission may publish any information and data that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission obtains pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3). The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission may use the information and data for statistical and research purposes, and compile and publish such studies, analyses, reports, and surveys based on the information and data as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission may consider appropriate.
 (6)In order to carry out the purposes of this Act, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall by regulation make reasonable provision for the inspection and examination by any person of the information and data contained in any report submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission pursuant to paragraph (3).
 (7)The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall by regulation provide for the furnishing of copies of reports submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission pursuant to paragraph (3) to any person upon payment of a charge based upon the cost of the service.
 (8)The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall issue rules and regulations prescribing the form and content of reports required to be submitted under paragraph (3) and such other reasonable rules and regulations as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission may find necessary to prevent the circumvention or evasion of such reporting requirements. In exercising the authority of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under paragraph (3), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission may prescribe by general rule simplified reports for employers for whom the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission finds that because of the size of the employers a detailed report would be unduly burdensome..
 7.Research, education, and technical assistance program; report to congressSection 4(d) (29 U.S.C. 204(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:  (4)The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall conduct studies and provide information and technical assistance to employers, labor organizations, and the general public concerning effective means available to implement the provisions of section 6(h) prohibiting wage rate discrimination between employees performing work in equivalent jobs on the basis of sex, race, or national origin. Such studies, information, and technical assistance shall be based on and include reference to the objectives of such section to eliminate such discrimination. In order to achieve the objectives of such section, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall carry on a continuing program of research, education, and technical assistance including—
 (A)conducting and promoting research with the intent of developing means to expeditiously correct the wage rate differentials described in section 6(h);
 (B)publishing and otherwise making available to employers, labor organizations, professional associations, educational institutions, the various media of communication, and the general public the findings of studies and other materials for promoting compliance with section 6(h);
 (C)sponsoring and assisting State and community informational and educational programs; and (D)providing technical assistance to employers, labor organizations, professional associations and other interested persons on means of achieving and maintaining compliance with the provisions of section 6(h).
 (5)The report submitted biennially by the Secretary to Congress under paragraph (1) shall include a separate evaluation and appraisal regarding the implementation of section 6(h)..
		8.Conforming amendments
			(a)Congressional employees
 (1)ApplicationSection 203(a)(1) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1313(a)(1)) is amended— (A)by striking subsections (a)(1) and (d) of section 6 and inserting subsections (a)(1), (d), and (h) of section 6; and
 (B)by striking 206 (a)(1) and (d) and inserting 206 (a)(1), (d), and (h). (2)RemediesSection 203(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1313(b)) is amended by inserting before the period the following: or, in an appropriate case, under section 16(f) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 216(f)).
				(b)Executive branch employees
 (1)ApplicationSection 413(a)(1) of title 3, United States Code, as added by section 2(a) of the Presidential and Executive Office Accountability Act (Public Law 104–331; 110 Stat. 4053), is amended by striking subsections (a)(1) and (d) of section 6 and inserting subsections (a)(1), (d), and (h) of section 6.
 (2)RemediesSection 413(b) of such title is amended by inserting before the period the following: or, in an appropriate case, under section 16(f) of such Act. 9.Effective dateThe amendments made by this Act shall take effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.


110 HR 466 IH: Congressional Pension Accountability Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2007-01-12
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
110th CONGRESS 1st Session
H. R. 466
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 12, 2007
Mr. Shadegg (for himself, Mr. Garrett of New Jersey, Mr. Flake, Mr. Hoekstra, Mr. Souder, Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin, Mr. Pitts, and Mrs. Wilson of New Mexico) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL
To amend title 5, United States Code, to deny Federal retirement benefits to individuals convicted of certain offenses, and for other purposes.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Congressional Pension Accountability Act.
2.Denial of retirement benefits
(a)In generalSection 8312(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—
(1)by striking or at the end of paragraph (1), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting ; or, and by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

(3) was convicted of an offense described in subsection (d), to the extent provided by that subsection.; and
(2)by striking and at the end of subparagraph (A), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting ; and, and by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:

(C)with respect to the offenses described in subsection (d), to the period after the date of conviction..
(b)Offenses describedSection 8312 of such title 5 is amended by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e), and by inserting after subsection (c) the following:

(d)The offenses to which subsection (a)(3) applies are the following:
(1)An offense within the purview of—
(A)section 201 of title 18 (bribery of public officials and witnesses); or
(B)section 371 of title 18 (conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud United States), to the extent of any conspiracy to commit an act which constitutes an offense within the purview of such section 201.
(2)Perjury committed under the statutes of the United States or the District of Columbia in falsely denying the commission of any act which constitutes an offense within the purview of a statute named by paragraph (1), but only—
(A)if the offense to which such perjury relates was committed after the date of the enactment of this subsection; and
(B)in the case of the statute named by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), to the extent provided by such subparagraph.
(3)Subornation of perjury committed in connection with the false denial or false testimony of another individual as specified by paragraph (2).An offense shall not be considered to be an offense described in this subsection except if or to the extent that it is committed (i) after the date of the enactment of this subsection, and (ii) by a Member of Congress (as defined by section 2106, including a Delegate to Congress)..
(c)Absence from United States To avoid prosecutionSection 8313(a)(1) of such title 5 is amended by striking or at the end of subparagraph (A), by striking and at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting or, and by adding at the end the following:

(C)after the date of the enactment of subsection (d) of section 8312, for an offense described in such subsection; and.
(d)Nonaccrual of interest on refundsSection 8316(b) of such title 5 is amended by striking or at the end of paragraph (1), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting ; or, and by adding at the end the following:

(3)if the individual was convicted of an offense described in section 8312(d), for the period after the conviction..
3.Constitutional authorityThe Constitutional authority for this Act is the power of Congress to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper as enumerated in Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, and the power to ascertain compensation for Congressional service under Article I, Section 6 of the United States Constitution.


		III
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. RES. 265
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			September 13, 2011
			Mr. Nelson of Florida
			 (for himself and Mr. Rubio) submitted the
			 following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

		RESOLUTION
		Honoring the lifetime achievements of E.
		  Thom Rumberger.

		Whereas E. Thom Rumberger served in the United States
			 Marine Corps;
		Whereas Thom Rumberger earned a bachelor’s degree, with
			 honors, and a J.D. from the University of Florida;
		Whereas Thom Rumberger was a founding partner of the law
			 firm Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, which has represented multinational
			 corporations such as American Airlines, Inc., Sears, Roebuck and Co., and
			 Toyota Motor Corporation;
		Whereas Thom Rumberger was listed in Florida Super Lawyers
			 every year from 2007 to 2010;
		Whereas Thom Rumberger was appointed Circuit Judge in the
			 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida in 1969;
		Whereas Thom Rumberger committed himself to numerous acts
			 of public service, including serving on the Federal Judicial Advisory
			 Commission of Florida and the Board of Supervisors of the Spaceport Florida
			 Authority;
		Whereas Thom Rumberger was one of the most steadfast
			 champions of the Everglades in Florida;
		Whereas Thom Rumberger served as lead counsel for the
			 Everglades Foundation since 1999;
		Whereas Thom Rumberger was instrumental in the passage of
			 2 amendments to the Florida Constitution and of section 601 of the Water
			 Resources Development Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–541; 114 Stat. 2680), known
			 as the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan;
		Whereas Thom Rumberger was instrumental in obtaining
			 several billion dollars in funding for Everglades restoration; and
		Whereas Thom Rumberger served on the Florida Governor’s
			 2001 Select Task Force on Elections and the 2002 Select Task Force on Election
			 Procedures, Standards and Technology, and was Chairman of the Legislature’s
			 Study Committee on Public Records in 2002: Now, therefore, be it

		That the Senate—
			(1)recognizes and
			 honors the professional success of E. Thom Rumberger; and
			(2)recognizes and
			 honors the lifelong dedication of Thom Rumberger to the protection of the
			 Florida Everglades.


		II
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. 2491
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			April 26, 2012
			Mr. Brown of Ohio
			 introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on
			 Finance

		A BILL
		To extend the temporary suspension of duty on Copper
		  Phthalocyanine Green 7, Crude.

		1.Copper Phthalocyanine Green
			 7, Crude
			(a)In
			 generalHeading 9902.25.20 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
			 the United States (relating to Copper Phthalocyanine Green 7, Crude) is amended
			 by striking the date in the effective period column and inserting
			 12/31/2015.
			(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) applies with respect to
			 goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the
			 15th day after the date of the enactment of this Act.


113 HCON 61 IH: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the execution-style murders of United States citizens Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi in the Republic of Serbia in July 1999.
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-10-22
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.

IV113th CONGRESS1st SessionH. CON. RES. 61IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESOctober 22, 2013Mr. Bishop of New York (for himself, Mr. Engel, and Mr. Grimm) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign AffairsCONCURRENT RESOLUTIONExpressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the execution-style murders of United States citizens Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi in the Republic of Serbia in July 1999.Whereas brothers Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi were citizens of the United States, born in Chicago, Illinois, to ethnic Albanian parents from what is today the Republic of Kosovo, and who subsequently lived in Hampton Bays, New York;Whereas the three Bytyqi brothers responded to the brutality of the conflict associated with Kosovo’s separation from the Republic of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of which Serbia was a constituent republic by joining the so-called Atlantic Brigade of the Kosovo Liberation Army in April 1999;Whereas a Military-Technical Agreement between the Government of Yugoslavia and the North Atlantic Council came into effect on June 10, 1999, leading to a cessation of hostilities;Whereas the Bytyqi brothers were arrested on June 23, 1999, by Serbian police within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia when the brothers accidently crossed what was then an unmarked administrative border while escorting an ethnic Romani family who had been neighbors to safety outside Kosovo;Whereas the Bytyqi brothers were jailed for 15 days for illegal entry into the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in Prokuplje, Serbia, until a judge ordered their release on July 8, 1999;Whereas instead of being released, the Bytyqi brothers were taken by a special operations unit of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs to a training facility near Petrovo Selo, Serbia, where all three were executed;Whereas at the time of their murders, Ylli was 25, Agron was 23, and Mehmet was 21 years of age;Whereas Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was removed from office on October 5, 2000, following massive demonstrations protesting his refusal to acknowledge and accept election results the month before;Whereas in the following years, the political leadership of Serbia has worked to strengthen democratic institutions, to develop stronger adherence to the rule of law, and to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia evolved into a State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in February 2003, which itself dissolved when both republics proclaimed their respective independence in June 2006;Whereas the United States Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, was informed on July 17, 2001, that the bodies of Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi were found with their hands bound and gunshot wounds to the back of their heads, buried atop an earlier mass grave of approximately 70 bodies of murdered civilians from Kosovo;Whereas Serbian authorities subsequently investigated but never charged those individuals who were part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ chain of command related to this crime, including former Minister of Internal Affairs Vlajko Stojilkovic, Assistant Minister and Chief of the Public Security Department Vlastimir Djordjevic, and special operations training camp commander Goran Guri Radosavljevic;Whereas Vlajko Stojilkovic died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in April 2002 prior to being transferred to the custody of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia where he had been charged with crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war during the Kosovo conflict;Whereas Vlastimir Djordjevic was arrested and transferred to the custody of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in June 2007, and sentenced in February 2011 to 27 years imprisonment for crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war committed during the Kosovo conflict;Whereas Goran Guri Radosavljevic is reported to reside in Serbia, working as director of a security consulting firm in Belgrade;Whereas two Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs officers, Sretan Popovic and Milos Stojanovic, were charged in 2006 for crimes associated with their involvement in the detention and transport of the Bytyqi brothers from Prokuplje to Petrovo Selo, but acquitted in May 2012 with an appeals court confirming the verdict in March 2013;Whereas no individual has ever been found guilty for the murders of Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi or of any other crimes associated with their deaths; andWhereas no individual is currently facing criminal charges regarding the murder of the Bytyqi brothers: Now, therefore, be itThat it is the sense of Congress that—(1)those individuals responsible for the murders in July 1999 of United States citizens Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi in Serbia should be brought to justice;(2)it is reprehensible that no individual has ever been found guilty for executing the Bytyqi brothers, or of any other crimes associated with their deaths, and that no individual is even facing charges for these horrible crimes;(3)the Government of Serbia and its relevant ministries and offices, including the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office, should make it a priority to investigate and prosecute as soon as possible those current or former officials believed to be responsible for their deaths, directly or indirectly;(4)the United States should devote sufficient resources fully to assist and properly to monitor efforts by the Government of Serbia and its relevant ministries and offices to investigate and prosecute as soon as possible those individuals believed to be responsible for their deaths, directly or indirectly; and(5)progress in resolving this case, or the lack thereof, should remain a significant factor determining the further development of relations between the United States and the Republic of Serbia.