115 HR 3135 IH: Community Flood Insurance Savings Act of 2017
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-06-29
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.

I115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3135IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJune 29, 2017Mr. Keating (for himself and Ms. Maxine Waters of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial ServicesA BILLTo authorize the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to make grants to
			 consortia of States and communities to hire individuals to coordinate the
			 Community Rating System program under the National Flood Insurance Program
			 for the States and communities who are members of the consortia, and for
			 other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Community Flood Insurance Savings Act of 2017. 2.Grants for Community Rating System program coordinatorsSection 1315 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4022) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

				(c)Grants for Community Rating System program coordinators
 (1)AuthorityThe Administrator shall carry out a program to make grants to consortia of States and communities for use only for costs of employing or otherwise retaining an individual or individuals to coordinate and carry out responsibilities relating to participation in the community rating system program under subsection (b) for States and communities that are members of such consortia.
 (2)EligibilityThe Administrator shall establish such criteria as the Administrator considers appropriate for a consortium of States and communities to be eligible for grants under this subsection, which shall include requiring a consortium to provide evidence to the Administrator that the consortium has sufficient authority and administrative capability to use grant amounts in accordance with this subsection on behalf of its member jurisdictions.
 (3)TimingA consortium receiving a grant under this section shall establish the position or positions described in paragraph (1), and employ or otherwise retain an individual or individuals to fill such position or positions, not later than the date that all such grant amounts are expended.
 (4)ApplicationsThe Administrator shall provide for consortia of States and communities to submit applications for grants under this subsection, which shall include—
 (A)the evidence referred to in paragraph (2); (B)such assurances as the Administrator shall require to ensure compliance with the requirement under paragraph (3);
 (C)such assurances as the Administrator shall require to ensure that the consortia will provide funding sufficient to continue the position or positions funded with the grant amounts, in the same annual amount as under such grant funding, after such grant funds are expended; and
 (D)such other information as the Administrator may require. (5)SelectionFrom among eligible consortia of States and communities submitting applications pursuant to paragraph (3), the Administrator shall select consortia to receive grants under this subsection in accordance with such competitive criteria for such section as the Administrator shall establish.
 (6)Definition of communityFor purposes of this section, the term community has the meaning given such term in section 1366(h) (42 U.S.C. 4104c(h)), except that such term includes counties and regional planning authorities that do not have zoning and building code jurisdiction.
 (7)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated for grants under this subsection— (A)$7,000,000 for the first fiscal year commencing after the expiration of the 4-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act; and
 (B)$7,000,000 for each of the four consecutive fiscal years thereafter..


		III

		109th CONGRESS

		1st Session

		S. RES. 295

		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			November 2, 2005

			Mr. Lugar (for himself,

			 Mr. Frist, and Mr. McCain) submitted the following resolution;

			 which was considered and agreed to

		RESOLUTION

		Expressing the sense of the Senate on the

		  arrest of Sanjar Umarov in Uzbekistan.

		Whereas the United States supports the development of

			 democracy, free markets, and civil society in Uzbekistan and in other states in

			 Central Asia;

		Whereas the rule of law, the impartial application of the

			 law, and equal justice for all courts of law are pillars of all democratic

			 societies;

		Whereas Sanjar Umarov was reportedly arrested in Tashkent,

			 Uzbekistan, on October 22, 2005;

		Whereas Sanjar Umarov is a businessman and leader of the

			 Uzbek opposition party, Sunshine Coalition;

		Whereas Sanjar Umarov was reportedly taken into custody on

			 October 22, 2005, during a crackdown on the Sunshine Coalition that included a

			 raid of its offices and seizure of its records;

		Whereas Sanjar Umarov was reportedly charged with grand

			 larceny;

		Whereas press accounts report that representatives of

			 Sanjar Umarov claim that Mr. Umarov was drugged and abused while at his

			 pretrial confinement center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, but such accounts could

			 not be immediately confirmed, and official information about the health,

			 whereabouts, and treatment while in custody of Mr. Umarov has thus far been

			 unavailable;

		Whereas the United States has expressed its serious

			 concern regarding the overall state of human rights in Uzbekistan and is

			 seeking to clarify the facts of this case;

		Whereas the European Union (EU) and the Organization for

			 Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have expressed concern about the

			 arrest and possible abuse of Sanjar Umarov; and

		Whereas the Government of Uzbekistan is party to various

			 treaty obligations, and in particular those under the International Covenant on

			 Civil and Political Rights, which obligate governments to provide for due

			 process in criminal cases: Now, therefore, be it

		That it is the sense of the Senate

			 that—

			(1)the law

			 enforcement and judicial authorities of Uzbekistan should ensure that Sanjar

			 Umarov is accorded the full measure of his rights under the Uzbekistan

			 Constitution to defend himself against any and all charges that may be brought

			 against him, in a fair and transparent process, so that individual justice may

			 be done;

			(2)the Government of

			 Uzbekistan should observe its various treaty obligations, especially those

			 under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which obligate

			 governments to provide for due process in criminal cases; and

			(3)the Government of

			 Uzbekistan should publicly clarify the charges against Sanjar Umarov, his

			 current condition, and his whereabouts.


110 HR 3786 IH: Servicemembers Telecom Contract Relief

U.S. House of Representatives
2007-10-09
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. 3786
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			October 9, 2007
			Ms. Zoe Lofgren of
			 California (for herself, Mr. Frank of
			 Massachusetts, Mr. Berry,
			 Mr. Gordon of Tennessee,
			 Mr. Spratt, and
			 Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania) introduced
			 the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Veterans’
			 Affairs

		A BILL
		To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to allow
		  individuals called to military service to terminate telecommunications
		  contracts entered into before the individual receives notice of a permanent
		  change of station or deployment orders.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Servicemembers Telecom Contract Relief
			 Act.
		2.Termination by
			 servicemembers of telecommunications contracts entered into before permanent
			 change of station of deployment orders
			(a)TerminationTitle
			 III of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 531 et seq.) is
			 amended by adding at the end the following new section:

					309.Termination of
				telecommunications contracts
						(a)Termination by
				servicememberA person in military service who is party to a
				contract described in subsection (b) may, at the person’s option, terminate the
				contract at any time after—
							(1)the date of the
				entry of the person into military service; or
							(2)the date of the
				military orders of the person described in subsection (b)(2), as the case may
				be.
							(b)Covered
				contractsThis section applies to a telecommunications contract
				for cellular phone service, cable or satellite television service, or internet
				service if—
							(1)the contract is executed by or on behalf of
				a person who thereafter and during the term of the contract enters military
				service (or receives order to enter military service) under a call or order
				specifying a period of not less than 90 days (or who enters military service
				under a call or order specifying a period of 90 days or less and who, without a
				break in service, receives orders extending the period of military service to a
				period of not less than 90 days); or
							(2)the person enters into the contract while
				in military service and thereafter receives military orders for a permanent
				change of station outside of the continental United States, or to deploy with a
				military unit for a period of not less than 90 days, to a location that does
				not support continuation of the service under the contract.
							(c)Manner of
				termination
							(1)In
				generalTermination of a contract under subsection (a) is made by
				delivery by the person in military service of written notice of such
				termination, and a copy of the servicemember’s military orders, to the other
				party to the contract (or to that person’s grantee or agent).
							(2)Nature of
				noticeDelivery of notice under paragraph (1) may be
				accomplished—
								(A)by hand
				delivery;
								(B)by private business
				carrier; or
								(C)by placing the
				written notice in an envelope with sufficient postage and with return receipt
				requested, and addressed as designated by the party to be notified (or that
				party’s grantee or agent), and depositing the written notice in the United
				States mails.
								(d)Date of contract
				terminationTermination of a contract under subsection (a) is
				effective on the day on which the notice is delivered in accordance with
				subsection (c).
						(e)Arrearages and
				other obligations and liabilitiesContract amounts unpaid for the
				period preceding the effective date of the contract termination shall be paid
				on a prorated basis.
						(f)Relief to other
				partyUpon application by the other party to the contract to a
				court before the termination date provided in the written notice, relief
				granted by this section to a person in military service may be modified as
				justice and equity require.
						(g)Penalties
							(1)MisdemeanorAny person who knowingly seizes, holds, or
				detains the personal effects, security deposit, or other property of a person
				in military service (or of a dependent of a person in military service) who
				lawfully terminates a contract covered by this section, or who knowingly
				interferes with the removal of such property from premises covered by such
				contract, for the purpose of subjecting or attempting to subject any of such
				property to a claim for contract payments accruing subsequent to the date of
				termination of such lease, or attempts to do so, shall be fined as provided in
				title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or
				both.
							(2)PreservationThe
				remedy and rights provided under this section are in addition to and do not
				preclude any remedy for wrongful conversion otherwise available under law to
				the person claiming relief under this section, including any award for
				consequential or punitive
				damages.
							.
			(b)Clerical
			 amendmentThe table of
			 contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by inserting after the item
			 relating to section 308 the following new item:

						Sec. 309. Termination of
				telecommunications
				contracts.

					.


116 S4932 IS: Medicare Reimbursement Equity Act of 2020
U.S. Senate
2020-12-01
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. 4932IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESDecember 1, 2020Mr. Paul introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceA BILLTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure appropriate global surgical package code values in the Medicare program.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Medicare Reimbursement Equity Act of 2020.2.Ensuring appropriate global surgical package code values in medicareSection 1848(c)(8) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(8)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:(D)Ensuring appropriate global surgical package code valuesFor services furnished on or after January 1, 2021, the Secretary shall ensure that the valuation of evaluation and management (E/M) post-operative visits is equal to the valuation of evaluation and management (E/M) services identified as of January 1, 2021, by HCPCS codes 99211–99215, 99217, 99224–99226, 99231–99233, 99238–99239, 99291–99292, and 99354–99357 (or any successor codes)..


115 S3647 IS: TIFIA for Airports Act
U.S. Senate
2018-11-15
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.

		II
		115th CONGRESS2d Session
		S. 3647
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			November 15, 2018
			Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Mr. Perdue) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

		A BILL
		To allow airport projects to be eligible to participate in the TIFIA program, and for other
			 purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the TIFIA for Airports Act. 2.Project eligibility (a)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of law, an eligible airport-related project (as defined in section 40117(a) of title 49, United States Code) shall be considered to be a project under section 601(a)(12) of title 23, United States Code.
			(b)Credit subsidy limitation
 (1)In generalOf the amounts made available to carry out the TIFIA program (as defined in section 601(a) of title 23, United States Code), not more than $10,000,000 may be used for subsidy costs of Federal credit instruments for projects described in subsection (a).
 (2)Rule of constructionParagraph (1) shall not apply to projects described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of subsection 601(a)(12) of title 23, United States Code.
				(c)Period of applicability
 (1)In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary of Transportation may enter into an agreement to make a secured loan or loan guarantee, or make available a line of credit, for a project described in subsection (a) only during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on September 30, 2020.
 (2)ExtensionIf the Secretary of Transportation does not enter into any agreement under paragraph (1) before September 30, 2020, the Secretary of Transportation may—
 (A)extend the period under that paragraph to March 30, 2021; and (B)enter into only 1 agreement to make a secured loan or loan guarantee, or make available a line of credit, for a project described in subsection (a).


I
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5380
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 7, 2012
Mr. Fitzpatrick introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL
To extend the temporary suspension of duty on mixed xylidines.

1.Mixed xylidines
(a)In generalHeading 9902.22.36 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (relating to mixed xylidines) 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 to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the date of the enactment of this Act.


109 HCON 231 IH: Recognizing the benefits and importance of Federally-qualified health centers and the Medicaid prospective payment system for such centers.
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-07-28
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
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 231
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 28, 2005
Mr. Pickering (for himself, Mr. Towns, Mr. Hall, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Goode, Mrs. Myrick, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Moran of Kansas, Mr. Olver, Mr. Cardoza, Mr. Cuellar, Mr. Payne, Mr. Baird, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Evans, Ms. Herseth, Mr. Case, Mr. McDermott, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Capuano, Mr. Inslee, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Norwood, Mrs. Cubin, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Terry, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Conyers, Ms. Norton, Mr. Putnam, and Mr. Filner) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Recognizing the benefits and importance of Federally-qualified health centers and the Medicaid prospective payment system for such centers.

Whereas Federally-qualified health centers—community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers—form the back bone of the Nation’s health care safety net, providing care to nearly 6 million of the 53 million people enrolled in the Medicaid program nationwide;
Whereas to protect the valuable resources intended to assist community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers in caring for the uninsured, the Congress in 1989 created the concept of Federally-qualified health centers and required that the services of such centers be covered as guaranteed benefits under Medicaid;
Whereas the number of uninsured people served by Federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs) has doubled since 1989, a growth rate more than twice that of the Nation’s uninsured population;
Whereas FQHC patients are more likely than the general population to be enrolled in Medicaid, with 36 percent of all FQHC patients enrolled in the program compared to 12 percent nationally;
Whereas FQHCs provided 17 percent of all Medicaid and State Health Insurance Program office visits in 2001;
Whereas Medicaid on average contributes 36 percent of an FQHC's budget, with the remainder provided by Federal grants, State and local governments, Medicare, private contributions, private insurance, and patient fees;
Whereas the cost of treating Medicaid patients at FQHCs is 30 to 34 percent less than the cost for those receiving care elsewhere, and 26 to 40 percent lower for prescription drug costs;
Whereas such cost is 35 percent lower for diabetics and 20 percent lower for asthmatics, and diabetes and asthma are two of the most commonly treated diseases at FQHCs;
Whereas FQHC Medicaid patients are 22 percent less likely to be hospitalized for potentially avoidable conditions than those obtaining care elsewhere;
Whereas in 2000 a bipartisan majority of the Congress established a prospective payment system (PPS) to ensure that FQHCs receive sufficient Medicaid funding, thereby striking a balance between protecting the Federal investment in such health centers and State flexibility in designing the payment system for these centers;
Whereas the PPS has allowed States to appropriately predict and budget the cost of FQHC Medicaid expenditures;
Whereas the PPS has allowed FQHCs to provide and expand primary care services to more people in need, while promoting efficient operation of and ensuring adequate Medicaid reimbursement for these centers;
Whereas without the assurance of sufficient Medicaid funding under the PPS, FQHCs would likely be forced to cross-subsidize Medicaid underpayments with Federal grant dollars intended to care for the uninsured;
Whereas if the PPS were eliminated or changed communities could be left without access to primary and preventive health care services, thus undoing decades of investment by the Congress in the health care safety net; and
Whereas FQHCs provide cost-effective, high-quality health care to the Nation's poor and medically underserved (including the working poor, the uninsured, and many high-risk and vulnerable populations), acting as a vital safety net in the Nation's health delivery system, meeting escalating health needs, and reducing health disparities: Now, therefore, be it

That—
(1)it is the sense of the Congress that the Medicaid prospective payment system for Federally-qualified health centers is critical to ensuring that both Medicaid recipients and the Nation’s uninsured population have access to quality affordable primary and preventive care services; and
(2)the Congress recognizes the critical role of such health centers as an essential source of care for millions of Medicaid recipients and uninsured Americans and supports continuation of the prospective payment system in helping to maintain this system of care.


115 SRES 488 IS: Honoring the 100th anniversary of Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia.
U.S. Senate
2018-04-26
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.

		III
		115th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. RES. 488
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			April 26, 2018
			Mr. Perdue (for himself and Mr. Isakson) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

		RESOLUTION
		Honoring the 100th anniversary of Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia.

 Whereas 2018 is the 100th anniversary of a military installation operating in Columbus, Georgia;
 Whereas Fort Benning is named after Confederate Brigadier General Henry Lewis Benning, a resident of Columbus, Georgia, and a prominent Civil War infantry commander;
 Whereas Fort Benning resides on land originally belonging to the Creek Tribe of the Muskogee Nation;
 Whereas, on April 4, 1917, the day after President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany, the citizens of Columbus began advocating for an Army camp to be constructed near Columbus, Georgia;
 Whereas the War Department decided to move the Infantry School of Arms at Fort Still, Oklahoma, to a more spacious site to train soldiers on infantry skills and tactics;
 Whereas, on August 27, 1918, with the help of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, an 84-acre farm on Macon Road in Columbus, Georgia, was selected as the site for the infantry camp;
 Whereas, on September 18, 1918, the Adjutant General ordered troops from Fort Still to report to the newly selected site by October 1, 1918;
 Whereas, on October 19, 1918, Columbus native Anna Caroline Benning, daughter of the brigadier general, raised the United States flag over the United States Infantry School of Arms, and it was formally christened Camp Benning;
 Whereas, after the end of World War I, the Committee on Military Affairs of the Senate ordered construction on Camp Benning to be halted on January 9, 1919;
 Whereas Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia strongly advocated for congressional hearings to receive testimony over resuming construction of the post, allowing for Columbus-area supporters, as well as infantry commanders who fought in World War I, to testify about the need for the post;
 Whereas, on March 8, 1919, the Committee on Military Affairs of the Senate voted to resume building Camp Benning;
 Whereas the post quickly outgrew the Macon Road location, and on June 17, 1919, Camp Benning was moved to its present site, which included the 1,800 acre plantation of local businessman Arthur Bussey;
 Whereas, on January 9, 1922, the War Department issued General Order No. 1 making Camp Benning a permanent military installation and appropriating more than $1,000,000 of additional building funds for the Infantry School of Arms, which later became the Infantry School;
 Whereas, on May 12, 1920, 10 Army aircraft were assigned to Camp Benning as the air detachment of the post, marking the first use of aviation at Camp Benning;
 Whereas, on February 8, 1922, Camp Benning was redesignated Fort Benning; Whereas, on June 17, 1932, the tank school of the United States Army officially moved from Fort Meade, Maryland, to Fort Benning;
 Whereas Fort Benning played a critical role in World War II, training thousands of soldiers for the European, African, and Pacific theatres of war;
 Whereas, on June 25, 1940, the commandant of the Infantry School was directed by the Adjutant General to provide a platoon of volunteers for parachute test duty, leading to the formation of the Parachute Test Platoon;
 Whereas, on September 16, 1940, the War Department approved the formation of the first Parachute Battalion at Fort Benning;
 Whereas, on October 1, 1940, the 501st Parachute Battalion was activated; Whereas, in July 1941, the modern Officer Candidate School for Infantry was established at Fort Benning to provide a rigorous training venue for new officers;
 Whereas, in December 1943, the 555th Parachute Infantry Company, later redesignated as Company A, 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, the first African-American parachute unit, which was known as Triple Nickles, was activated at Fort Benning;
 Whereas, after World War II, Fort Benning continued to play a vital role in training soldiers for every conflict involving the United States;
 Whereas the Ranger Training Center was established October 12, 1950, which trained personnel for the Korean War;
 Whereas, during the second longest conflict involving the United States, the Vietnam War, Fort Benning reopened the Officer Training School for Infantry and trained thousands of officers who participated in the war;
 Whereas the 11th Air Assault Division was activated at Fort Benning on February 7, 1963, to test and develop the air mobile concept;
 Whereas the 11th Air Assault Division was inactivated on July 1, 1965, and replaced by the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) and deployed to Vietnam on September 11, 1965, specializing in flying troops in and out of combat zones via helicopter;
 Whereas Fort Benning served as a major staging ground for troops sent to the Middle East during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, and later during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom;
 Whereas, in 2009, tanks from the Armor School at Fort Knox arrived at Fort Benning, combining infantry and armor at 1 post and forming the Maneuver Center of Excellence;
 Whereas the Maneuver Center of Excellence consists of— (1)the Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate;
 (2)the United States Army Infantry School; (3)the 199th Infantry Brigade;
 (4)the United States Army Armor School; (5)the Directorate of Training and Doctrine; and
 (6)additional tenant units; Whereas some of the most respected United States military leaders in the 20th century were stationed at Fort Benning, including—
 (1)General Omar Bradley; (2)General Dwight Eisenhower;
 (3)General George Marshall; (4)General George Patton;
 (5)General William Livsey; and (6)General Colin Powell;
 Whereas Fort Benning has helped foster changes in the role of women in the military; Whereas, on December, 14, 1973, Privates Joyce Kutsch and Rita Johnson became the first women to graduate the Basic Airborne Course, and later, United States Army Quartermaster School Parachute Rigger Course;
 Whereas, on August 21, 2015, Captain Kristen Griest and 1st Lieutenant Shaye Haver became the first 2 women to graduate from the Army Ranger school at Fort Benning;
 Whereas, on December 1, 2016, 13 women became the first ever to graduate from the Army Armor Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning;
 Whereas, on May 19, 2017, Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade, graduated 137 new Infantry soldiers, including 18 women who completed the first inter-gender Infantry One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning;
 Whereas, on June 22, 2017, 4 women became the first ever to graduate from the Cavalry School of the Army at Fort Benning;
 Whereas Fort Benning is the sixth largest military installation in the United States covering approximately 182,000 acres, with a $5,500,000,000 economic impact to the Tri-Community and approximately 120,000 military and civilian personnel;
 Whereas the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Columbus, Columbus 2025, and other partnering groups fought to establish and have continued to support Fort Benning from its inception;
 Whereas the people of the Tri-Community fought to establish and have continued to support Fort Benning from its inception; and
 Whereas the following visionary citizens displayed the foresight, vision, and leadership to fight to establish Camp Benning near Columbus, Georgia:
 (1)Mr. John Betjeman. (2)Mr. Rhodes Browne.
 (3)Mr. John Ralston Cargill. (4)Mr. Lucius H. Chappell.
 (5)Mr. Henry B. Crawford. (6)Mr. J. Homer Dimon.
 (7)Mr. Robert Ernest Dismukes. (8)Mr. W.J. Fielder.
 (9)Mr. Reynolds Flournoy. (10)Mr. Frank U. Garrard.
 (11)Mr. Ralph Curtis Jordan. (12)Mr. Albert Kirven.
 (13)Mr. A.F. Kunze. (14)Mr. Frank G. Lumpkin.
 (15)Mr. Leighton W. MacPherson. (16)Mr. H.R. Mcclatchey.
 (17)Mr. T.T. Miller. (18)Mr. Marshall Morton.
 (19)Mr. Roger M. Page. (20)Mr. T.G. Reeves.
 (21)Mr. Walter A. Richards. (22)Mr. H.C. Smith: Now, therefore, be it

 That the Senate— (1)honors Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia, on its 100th anniversary;
 (2)commends the thousands of men and women who have worked and trained at Fort Benning; (3)honors the people of the Tri-Community including those in Columbus, Georgia, and Phenix City, Alabama, for their continued support of Fort Benning; and
 (4)encourages Fort Benning to continue its instrumental role in preparing the brave men and women of the United States for the battlefield.


		II
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. 2955
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			May 8, 2012
			Ms. Klobuchar 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 mixtures of
		  cyhalothrin (cyclopropanecarboxylic acid,
		  3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-,
		  cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl ester, [1α(S*), 3α(Z)]-(±)-).

		1.Mixtures of cyhalothrin
			 (cyclopropanecarboxylic acid,
			 3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-, cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)
			 methyl ester, [1α(S*), 3α(Z)]-(±)-)
			(a)In
			 generalHeading 9902.02.09 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
			 the United States (relating to mixtures of cyhalothrin (cyclopropanecarboxylic
			 acid, 3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-,
			 cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl ester, [1α(S*), 3α(Z)]-(±)-)) 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.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 6052
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			July 30, 2010
			Mr. McHenry
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Oversight and Government
			 Reform

		A BILL
		To require the Director of the Office of Management and
		  Budget to establish and maintain a Web site to track the expenditure of
		  Government funds.

		1.Requirement for Web site to
			 track expenditure of Government funds
			(a)Requirement for
			 Web siteThe Director of the
			 Office of Management and Budget shall establish and maintain a publicly
			 available Web site for the purpose of tracking all expenditures of funds
			 appropriated or otherwise available to the Federal Government.
			(b)Exception for
			 small expendituresThe Web site established under subsection (a)
			 shall not track any expenditure in an amount of $500 or less.
			(c)Additional
			 requirementsIn carrying out subsection (a), the Director
			 shall—
				(1)set forth in
			 detail the expenditures of funds; and
				(2)ensure that
			 classified expenditures are appropriately protected.
				(d)DeadlineThe
			 Web site required by subsection (a) shall be fully implemented not later than
			 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.


113 S334 IS: To terminate agricultural direct payments beginning with the 2013 crop year.
U.S. Senate
2013-02-14
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.

		II
		113th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 334
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			February 14, 2013
			Mrs. McCaskill (for
			 herself and Mr. Flake) introduced the
			 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
			 Forestry

		A BILL
		To terminate agricultural direct payments beginning with
		  the 2013 crop year.

		1.Findings and sense of
			 Congress
			(a)FindingsCongress
			 finds that—
				(1)on September 30,
			 2012, the final day of the 2012 fiscal year, the total public debt outstanding
			 equaled more than $16,000,000,000,000;
				(2)the Congressional
			 Budget Office projects that under law in effect as of the date of enactment of
			 this Act, the budget deficit for fiscal year 2013 will be
			 $845,000,000,000;
				(3)the most recent
			 projection from the Department of Agriculture, updated in February 2013,
			 forecast—
					(A)net farm income
			 to be $112,000,000,000 in 2012, the second-highest total on record; and
					(B)farm asset
			 values, reflecting expectations of long-term profitability, to rise to a record
			 $2,536,000,000,000;
					(4)direct payments
			 to agricultural producers—
					(A)cost the Federal
			 Government nearly $5,000,000,000 annually;
					(B)are fixed
			 payments with no connection to market conditions or the actual losses of the
			 producers; and
					(C)are not reduced
			 or adjusted in any way in response to high commodity prices or high farm
			 incomes;
					(5)direct payments
			 that are set based on historical acreage and yield are payable even to people
			 who do not farm and to agricultural producers who do not grow the covered
			 commodity for which the direct payments are made;
				(6)(A)direct payments are
			 paid to producers on less than 22 percent of all farms in the United States and
			 only for a select number of commodities;
					(B)among producers on farms that receive
			 direct payments, the payments are concentrated among producers on the largest
			 farm operations, which are those least likely to need support;
					(C)more than 51 percent of payments flow
			 to just 10 percent of recipients; and
					(D)more than 73 percent of payments flow
			 to just 25 percent of recipients;
					(7)(A)direct payments
			 were—
						(i)enacted through the Agricultural
			 Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.), title I of the 1996 Farm Bill;
			 and
						(ii)intended to be temporary,
			 transitional payments to assist agricultural producers following the
			 elimination of target price deficiency payments; but
						(B)the transition was
			 never completed and direct payments were reauthorized in 2002 and 2008;
			 and
					(8)direct payments
			 were eliminated by—
					(A)S. 3240 (112th
			 Congress), the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012, which passed the
			 Senate on June 21, 2012; and
					(B)H.R. 6083 (112th
			 Congress), the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2012,
			 which was reported by the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
			 Representatives on September 13, 2012.
					(b)Sense of
			 CongressIt is the sense of Congress that direct payments—
				(1)are unnecessary
			 and unaffordable; and
				(2)should be
			 immediately repealed.
				2.Termination of
			 agricultural direct payments
			(a)RepealSections 1103 and 1303 of the Food,
			 Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8713, 8753) are repealed.
			(b)Application of
			 amendmentsNotwithstanding section 701 of the American Taxpayer
			 Relief Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–240; 126 Stat. 2362), the amendments made by
			 this section shall apply beginning with the 2013 crop year.


IV
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 525
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 19, 2004
Mr. Israel submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Commending those individuals that have donated prepaid telephone cards to members of the United States Armed Forces participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Whereas members of the United States Armed Forces participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom are separated from families and friends for extended periods of time;
Whereas the ability to keep in touch with family and friends while facing life threatening danger is critical to the well being of the members of the Armed Forces serving overseas;
Whereas the people of the United States have supported efforts to boost the morale of members of the Armed Forces that are deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq by donating prepaid calling cards so that the members are able to keep in touch with family and friends; and
Whereas the donation of prepaid calling cards to members of the Armed Forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan is important to the success of our troops: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress commends those individuals that have donated prepaid telephone cards to members of the United States Armed Forces participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.


		II
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. 2830
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			May 7, 2012
			Mr. Kerry introduced the
			 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on
			 Finance

		A BILL
		To extend and modify the temporary reduction of duty on
		  3,3′-dichlorobenzidine dihydrochloride ([1,1′-biphenyl]- 4,4′-diamino,
		  3,3′-dichloro-).

		1.3,3′-dichlorobenzidine
			 dihydrochloride ([1,1′-biphenyl]- 4,4′-diamino, 3,3′-dichloro-)
			(a)In
			 generalHeading 9902.25.73 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
			 the United States (relating to 3,3′-dichlorobenzidine dihydrochloride
			 ([1,1′-biphenyl]- 4,4′-diamino, 3,3′-dichloro-)) is amended—
				(1)by striking
			 5.9% in column 1 general rate of duty column and inserting
			 3.8%; and
				(2)by striking the
			 date in the effective period column and inserting
			 12/31/2015.
				(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by subsection (a) apply 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.


116 HRES 1048 IH: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should enact the Poverty Bill of Rights to reaffirm the right of all Americans to live a life free from poverty and its impacts.
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-07-16
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 CONGRESS2d SessionH. RES. 1048IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 16, 2020Ms. Fudge (for herself, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Bass, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Evans, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Hastings, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Norton, Mr. Payne, Mr. Rush, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Sewell of Alabama, Ms. Velázquez, and Mrs. Beatty) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and ReformRESOLUTIONExpressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should enact the Poverty Bill of Rights to reaffirm the right of all Americans to live a life free from poverty and its impacts.Whereas according to the Census Bureau, more than 38,000,000 people, including 12,000,000 children, lived in poverty in 2018 based on the Official Poverty Measure;Whereas more than 17,000,000 people lived in deep poverty, defined as living in a household with a total cash income below 50 percent of its poverty threshold;Whereas poverty disproportionately impacts communities of color, with the poverty rate at 20.8 percent for Blacks, 17.6 percent for Hispanics, and 10.1 percent for Asians, versus 8.1 percent for non-Hispanic Whites;Whereas the Official Poverty Measure often understates the number of people who have trouble making ends meet;Whereas according to a 2020 Federal Reserve report on the economic well-being of United States households, an estimated 37 percent of people cannot cover an unexpected $400 expense;Whereas the top one percent of United States households have experienced income growth before taxes and transfer payments nearly seven times faster than the bottom 20 percent of households since 1979;Whereas wealth has become even more concentrated than income;Whereas according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the top 10 percent of United States households ranked by wealth own 77 percent of the country’s total wealth while those in the bottom 50 percent own one percent;Whereas a full-time, full-year minimum wage worker at the Federal minimum wage level of $7.25 lives below the poverty line;Whereas a vast majority of low wage earners lack access to paid family leave, leaving them just one accident or illness away from economic devastation;Whereas unions increase workers’ wages, ensure access to better benefits, address wage inequality, and reduce poverty;Whereas 5,140,000 Americans aged 65 and older lived in poverty in 2018;Whereas according to the United States Census Bureau, 27,500,000 people did not have health insurance at any point in 2018;Whereas according to the Federal Reserve, 25 percent of adults reported skipping medical care, such as a visit to a doctor or dentist, because they were unable to afford the cost in 2019;Whereas minority and low-income individuals are disproportionately affected by air pollution and are more likely to face health conditions that put them at greater risk when exposed to hazardous air pollution;Whereas families living in poverty also struggle to afford childcare, housing, utilities, and food expenses;Whereas according to the United States Census Bureau, households with incomes less than the Federal poverty level who pay for childcare spend on average four times the percentage of their income on it as do other families;Whereas in 2017, 83 percent of renter households with incomes below $15,000 paid more than 30 percent of their total household income for housing, experiencing housing costs burdens, and 72 percent paid more than 50 percent of their income for housing, experiencing severe cost burdens;Whereas water and wastewater bills are increasingly unaffordable for millions of households nationwide;Whereas according to the Energy Information Administration, nearly one-third of United States households reported facing a challenge in paying energy bills or sustaining adequate heating and cooling in their homes in 2015;Whereas more than 20,000,000 Americans lack access to any broadband whatsoever and many more are unable to adopt broadband, primarily due to prohibitive costs;Whereas limited access to technology and broadband services makes it difficult for people to apply for jobs online, connect with health insurance, apply for financial aid, telework, or complete online homework;Whereas according to the Department of Agriculture, 37,200,000 people, including 11,200,000 children, lived in food-insecure households in 2018;Whereas 5,600,000 households had very low food security, defined as households in which the food intake of one or more members was reduced and eating patterns disrupted because of insufficient money and other resources for food;Whereas according to a 2009 Department of Agriculture report on access to affordable and nutritious food, millions of people live in food deserts, or areas where they are more than a mile from a supermarket;Whereas reliable and affordable public transportation is critical to accessing employment, food, health care, and education;Whereas the educational level attained by individuals has a dramatic impact on poverty, with 25.9 percent of adults over 25 years old without a high school diploma in poverty versus 12.7 percent for those with a high school degree, but no college, and 4.4 percent for those with a college degree;Whereas according to the Government Accountability Office, socioeconomic and racial segregation in schools has increased dramatically in the past decade;Whereas low-income individuals are more likely to be targeted by child welfare services and the criminal justice system and live in communities with high rates of violence and heavy police presence;Whereas low-income parents have their children removed from the household every day, because living in poverty is incorrectly treated as child neglect;Whereas the criminal justice system often punishes poverty, as court fees and fines disproportionately impact the poor;Whereas police are most likely to use deadly force in low-income, more highly segregated neighborhoods;Whereas low-income communities often have limited social capital and political voice;Whereas strict voter ID requirements, closures of polling places, limited access to alternatives to in-person voting and other voter suppression tactics disproportionately impact poor and minority Americans;Whereas the effects of poverty are widespread, long-lasting, and dangerous, and leave families vulnerable to unexpected events;Whereas adults who were poor during childhood are more likely to experience poverty as adults, are less likely to graduate high school, and are less likely to be consistently employed as young adults;Whereas lower incomes are associated with shorter life expectancies;Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic threatens to increase health, food, housing, and economic insecurity and push millions of people into poverty;Whereas low-income and minority communities have long experienced inadequate access to health care, housing, nutritious food, and education and economic opportunity, which increase the prevalence of COVID–19 risk factors, such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, and high blood pressure; andWhereas the COVID–19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated the inequality and poverty afflicting the United States, as well as underlined the shortcomings of its social safety net programs: Now, therefore, be itThat it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should enact the Poverty Bill of Rights to reaffirm the right of all Americans to live a life free from poverty and its impacts, including the right to—(1)equal opportunity, irrespective of race, gender, or socioeconomic status;(2)working family tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, that are proven to lift families out of poverty, free from onerous eligibility requirements;(3)a livable wage that is enough to ensure adequate housing, food, clothing, and other basic household needs;(4)robust paid leave programs so they can care for themselves, their families, and dependents without fear of financial devastation;(5)emergency financial assistance in times of unemployment;(6)unionize to negotiate for higher wages, better benefits, and safe working conditions;(7)financial security for themselves and their families during retirement years;(8)quality, affordable health care and prescription drugs;(9)clean air through robust environmental and public health policies;(10)high-quality, affordable, and reliable childcare;(11)accessible, affordable, safe housing;(12)safe, clean, and affordable water and wastewater services;(13)affordable, reliable energy service;(14)equitable access to technology and telephone and broadband services;(15)adequate access to affordable and nutritious foods;(16)reliable, efficient, and affordable public transportation;(17)high-quality, equitable PreK–12 public education;(18)safe public schools that promote racial and socioeconomic diversity;(19)access to affordable higher education, registered apprenticeships, and other vocational training opportunities;(20)live with their families and not be separated from each other on the basis of poverty;(21)safe neighborhoods, where they are protected by law enforcement, not targeted, profiled, harassed, and brutalized;(22)equal treatment in criminal justice settings, free from discrimination; and(23)equal representation and participation in democracy through unfettered, unabridged access to the ballot box, accessible polling places, and alternatives to traditional in-person voting, such as early voting and voting by mail.


		II
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 1560
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			September 14, 2011
			Mr. Kohl introduced the
			 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on the
			 Judiciary

		A BILL
		To enhance access to controlled substances for residents
		  of institutional long-term care facilities, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited as
			 the Nursing Home Resident Pain Relief
			 Act of 2011.
		2.DefinitionsSection 102 of the Controlled Substances Act
			 (21 U.S.C. 802) is amended—
			(1)in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the
			 following: Solely for purposes of section 309(f), the term
			 agent includes a facility designee.; and
			(2)by adding at the end the following:

					(57)The term
				institutional long-term care facility means—
						(A)a facility
				certified to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs as a nursing
				facility, as defined in section 1919(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
				1396r(a));
						(B)a skilled nursing
				facility, as defined in section 1819(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
				1395i–3(a)); or
						(C)any other entity
				of a type designated by the Attorney General by regulation.
						(58)The term
				administrator of an institutional long-term care facility
				means—
						(A)a corporation,
				company, partnership, or other entity that—
							(i)owns, operates,
				or manages an institutional long-term care facility; and
							(ii)may be held
				liable, by law or by consent, for the acts or omissions of the facility
				designees who are delegated authority by the institutional long-term care
				facility in connection with the dispensing of controlled substances, including
				liability for any civil penalties authorized under part D of this title;
				and
							(B)an individual
				who—
							(i)has been
				designated as a co-administrator by an entity described in subparagraph
				(A);
							(ii)is responsible
				for managing, supervising, or overseeing the care provided to residents of the
				institutional long-term care facility or the work of the employees of the
				institutional long-term care facility; and
							(iii)can be held
				personally liable, along with the entity described in subparagraph (A), at law
				or by consent, for the acts or omissions of the facility designees of the
				institutional long-term care facility in connection with the dispensing of
				controlled substances, including liability for any civil penalties authorized
				under section
				402.
							.
			3.Oral
			 communication of prescription information for residents of institutional
			 long-term care facilitiesSection 309 of the Controlled Substances Act
			 (21 U.S.C. 829) is amended—
			(1)in subsection
			 (a), in the first sentence, by inserting except as provided in
			 subsection (f) and  after without the written prescription of a
			 practitioner; and
			(2)by adding at the
			 end the following:

					(f)Controlled
				substances dispensed to residents of institutional long-Term care facilities
				through the use of facility designees
						(1)DefinitionsIn
				this subsection—
							(A)the term
				authorizing agreement means a written agreement—
								(i)between—
									(I)an individual
				practitioner providing medical care to, or supervising medical care being
				provided to, a resident of an institutional long-term care facility whose care
				is provided or supervised by the practitioner; and
									(II)an administrator
				of the institutional long-term care facility;
									(ii)that authorizes
				the administrator to designate 1 or more qualified individuals to act as
				facility designees for the purpose of dispensing a controlled substance to the
				resident; and
								(iii)that includes a
				written authorization from the practitioner, in a form and manner specified by
				the Attorney General, that specifies whether the scope of the authorization is
				for—
									(I)controlled
				substances in schedule II only; or
									(II)all controlled
				substances, regardless of schedule; and
									(B)the term
				facility designee means an individual designated by the
				administrator to whom the authority to act as an agent of a practitioner is
				delegated under paragraph (3)(A).
							(2)Authorization
							(A)In
				generalA practitioner may enter into an authorizing agreement
				with an administrator of an institutional long-term care facility if the
				administrator has—
								(i)adopted written
				policies and procedures that specify the duties and responsibilities of a
				facility designee and that require documentation of the acceptance of the
				duties and responsibilities by a facility designee, consistent with the
				authorizing agreement; and
								(ii)provided copies
				of the policies and procedures adopted under clause (i) to the practitioner and
				to each facility designee.
								(B)Rescission of
				authorityA practitioner may in writing, at any time—
								(i)rescind the
				authorizing agreement;
								(ii)rescind the
				authority of a facility designee; or
								(iii)modify the
				scope of the authorization of a facility designee.
								(3)Delegation of
				authority
							(A)In
				generalUnder an authorizing agreement, an administrator of an
				institutional long-term care facility may, in accordance with the policies and
				procedures described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) delegate, in writing, the authority
				to act as a facility designee to 1 or more health care professionals who are
				qualified under subparagraph (B).
							(B)Requirements
				for qualificationTo qualify to be a facility designee under
				subparagraph (A), a health care professional shall be—
								(i)directly employed
				by, and subject to the supervision and control of, the institutional long-term
				care facility;
								(ii)lawfully acting
				within the scope of the employment of the individual; and
								(iii)be a registered
				nurse, advanced practice nurse, physician’s assistant, or equivalent
				professional who is licensed, certified, registered, or otherwise permitted to
				provide professional nursing or health care by the jurisdiction in which the
				individual is employed.
								(C)RequirementA
				written delegation of authority under subparagraph (A) shall specify, at the
				option of the practitioner, and in accordance with the authorizing agreement,
				whether the scope of the authorization is for—
								(i)schedule II
				controlled substances only; or
								(ii)all controlled
				substances, regardless of schedule.
								(D)Service as a
				facility designeeA facility designee shall act in accordance
				with the policies and procedures described in paragraph (2)(A)(i).
							(E)List of
				authorizing agreements and facility designees
								(i)In
				generalAn administrator of an institutional long-term care
				facility shall establish and maintain a current list of—
									(I)all practitioners
				who have entered into an authorizing agreement with the administrator;
				and
									(II)all facility
				designees of each practitioner described in subclause (I) that are employees of
				the institutional long-term care facility.
									(ii)RequirementsThe
				list required under clause (i) shall—
									(I)be—
										(aa)dated upon
				establishment and each time the list is updated; and
										(bb)made readily
				available in appropriate places on the premises of the institutional long-term
				care facility to ensure proper notice of which employees of the institutional
				long-term care facility are facility designees for which practitioners;
				and
										(II)include—
										(aa)the name and
				address of the institutional long-term care facility and the administrator of
				the institutional long-term care facility;
										(bb)the name of each
				practitioner who has entered into an authorizing agreement with the
				administrator of the institutional long-term care facility; and
										(cc)for each
				practitioner listed under item (bb)—
											(AA)the name of each
				facility designee; and
											(BB)whether
				practitioner is providing authorization for schedule II controlled substances
				only or all controlled substances, regardless of schedule.
											(iii)Distribution
				of listAn administrator of an institutional long-term care
				facility shall provide the list established under clause (i) to—
									(I)all pharmacies to
				which the institutional long-term care facility submits prescriptions for
				dispensing; and
									(II)each
				practitioner who has entered into an authorizing agreement with the
				administrator of the institutional long-term care facility.
									(iv)UpdatesThe
				administrator of an institutional long-term care facility shall promptly update
				and redistribute a list established under clause (i) if—
									(I)there are any
				changes to the information required to be included in the list under clause
				(ii); or
									(II)the authority of
				any facility designee on the list is rescinded or modified under paragraph
				(2)(B).
									(F)Prohibition of
				redelegation of authorityA facility designee may not redelegate
				any aspect of the authorization of the practitioner to another
				individual.
							(4)Transmission by
				a facility designee of a valid oral prescription issued by
				practitioner
							(A)In
				generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (D), a practitioner
				who is providing medical care to, or supervising medical care being provided
				to, a resident of an institutional long-term care facility may issue an oral
				prescription for the resident for a controlled substance which is a
				prescription drug as determined under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
				(21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and the oral prescription may be communicated through
				a facility designee acting under the authorizing agreement of the
				practitioner.
							(B)PoliciesA
				practitioner or a facility designee acting under this subsection shall follow
				the requirements of this subsection regardless of the schedule of the
				controlled substance for which an oral prescription is being
				communicated.
							(C)Requirements
								(i)Responsibilities
				of practitionerIn issuing an oral prescription under
				subparagraph (A), a practitioner shall provide to the facility designee—
									(I)the full name of
				the resident;
									(II)the drug name,
				strength, and dosage form;
									(III)the quantity
				prescribed;
									(IV)the directions
				for use; and
									(V)the name,
				address, and Drug Enforcement Administration registration number of the
				prescribing practitioner.
									(ii)Responsibilities
				of a facility designeeA facility designee that receives an oral
				prescription issued under subparagraph (A) shall promptly—
									(I)create a document
				that reduces such oral prescription to writing, which shall include—
										(aa)all of the
				information provided by the practitioner under clause (i);
										(bb)the legible full
				name and signature of the facility designee;
										(cc)the name and
				address of the institutional long-term care facility;
										(dd)the date and
				time the facility designee received the oral prescription; and
										(ee)an
				attestation by the covered individual, under penalty of perjury as provided in
				section 1746 of title 28, United States Code, that—
											(AA)the facility
				designee has personally spoken with the prescribing practitioner; and
											(BB)all the
				information required under clause (i) was provided by the practitioner and is
				accurately and completely recorded by the facility designee on the document;
				and
											(II)transmit the
				written document, or a facsimile thereof, to a pharmacy for dispensing.
									(iii)ProhibitionA
				document described in clause (ii)(I) may not be prepared, in whole or in part,
				by a pharmacy.
								(iv)FacsimilesIf
				a facility designee transmits a written document described in clause (ii)(I) by
				facsimile, the facsimile shall serve as the original written prescription and
				shall be maintained in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Attorney
				General.
								(D)Schedule II
				controlled substances
								(i)In
				generalAn oral prescription for a schedule II controlled
				substance shall only be issued through or transmitted by a facility designee
				under subparagraph (A) during an emergency situation, as described in
				subsection (a), and the quantity prescribed shall be limited to an amount
				adequate to treat the patient during the emergency situation.
								(ii)Non-emergency
				situationsA schedule II controlled substance may only be
				dispensed for treatment of a resident of an institutional long-term care
				facility in a non-emergency situation if the prescription is in writing and
				signed by the prescribing individual practitioner, as described in subsection
				(a).
								(E)Rule of
				constructionNothing in this subsection shall be construed
				to—
								(i)preclude a
				practitioner from issuing—
									(I)a prescription
				for a controlled substance and transmitting the prescription directly to the
				pharmacy, as otherwise authorized in subsections (a), (b), or (c) or by
				regulations issued by the Attorney General; or
									(II)a written
				prescription for a controlled substance, signed by the practitioner, and having
				the written prescription transmitted to the pharmacy through a duly authorized
				agent of the practitioner (including a facility designee), as otherwise
				authorized by subsections (a), (b), or (c) of this section or by regulations
				issued by the Attorney General; or
									(ii)authorize a
				facility designee to make any determination that underlies any element of a
				prescription.
								(F)Rulemaking
				authorityThe Attorney General may, by regulation, promulgate
				rules specifying additional requirements with respect to the formatting,
				content, and creation of the written document described in subparagraph
				(C)(ii).
							(G)Record of oral
				prescriptions
								(i)In
				generalEach practitioner who issues an oral prescription to a
				facility designee shall—
									(I)create a
				contemporaneous record of the oral prescription; and
									(II)maintain the
				record in a written or electronic log at the registered location of the
				practitioner, in accordance with section 307.
									(ii)Contents and
				retention requirementsThe Attorney General shall specify by
				regulation the contents and retention requirements for record required to be
				kept under clause (i).
								(iii)Responsibility
				of the practitionerA practitioner shall be responsible for the
				creation of the contemporaneous record of the oral prescription required under
				clause (i)(I), and may not delegate or assign any responsibilities under clause
				(i), in whole or in part, to—
									(I)a
				pharmacy;
									(II)a facility
				designee; or
									(III)an
				institutional long-term care facility (including an employee of the
				institutional long-term care facility).
									(H)Definition of
				oral prescriptionThe Attorney General may, if determined by the
				Attorney General to be necessary, define by regulation the term oral
				prescription for purposes of this subsection.
							(5)Pharmacy
				verification of oral prescriptions transmitted by facility designees
							(A)In
				generalUpon receiving an oral prescription from a practitioner
				that was reduced to writing and transmitted under paragraph (4), a pharmacy
				shall—
								(i)determine whether
				the institutional long-term care facility employee who transmitted the
				prescription is a facility designee for the prescribing practitioner for the
				prescribed controlled substance based on the most recent list of the facility
				designees that the institutional long-term care facility provided to the
				pharmacy under paragraph (3)(E)(iii); and
								(ii)document the
				determination under clause (i), which shall include a notation on the
				prescription document to memorialize that the cross-check was completed that
				includes—
									(I)the initials of
				the verifying pharmacist; and
									(II)the date and
				time of the verification.
									(B)Transmission to
				prescribing practitionerNot later than 72 hours after a pharmacy
				dispenses a controlled substance pursuant to an oral prescription issued under
				paragraph (4), the pharmacy shall transmit a copy of the prescription document
				that the pharmacy received from the facility designee under paragraph
				(4)(C)(ii), clearly marked as having been dispensed, to the prescribing
				practitioner.
							(C)Practitioner
				requirementA practitioner shall—
								(i)endorse, by
				physically affixing his written signature to the copy of the prescription the
				pharmacy transmitted to the practitioner under subparagraph (B), if the
				prescription was issued by the practitioner; and
								(ii)not later than 5
				business days after receiving the copy of the prescription from the pharmacy,
				return the prescription to the pharmacy in accordance with subparagraph
				(E).
								(D)Endorsement of
				prescriptionBy endorsing a prescription under subparagraph (C),
				the practitioner—
								(i)attests that the
				oral prescription memorialized and transmitted by a facility designee was
				authorized by the practitioner named on the prescription; and
								(ii)certifies that
				the prescription information conveyed by the facility designee—
									(I)was
				accurate;
									(II)matches the
				information in the record kept by the practitioner under paragraph (4)(G);
				and
									(III)was based on
				determinations and instructions made by the practitioner.
									(E)Return of
				endorsed prescription to pharmacyThe practitioner may deliver a
				prescription endorsed under subparagraph (C)(i) to the pharmacy in person, by
				mail, by facsimile, or by other appropriate means of delivery, except that if
				the practitioner uses the mail for delivery, the prescription shall be
				postmarked during the 5-business-day period described in subparagraph
				(C)(ii).
							(F)Attachment of
				endorsement to prescriptionA dispensing pharmacy shall attach a
				prescription endorsed under subparagraph (C)(i) to the prescription document
				that the pharmacy received from the facility designee under paragraph
				(4)(C).
							(G)Noncompliance
								(i)In
				generalIf a pharmacy does not receive an endorsed prescription
				required under this paragraph from a practitioner within the 5-business-day
				period described in subparagraph (C)(ii), the pharmacy—
									(I)may not dispense
				any subsequent prescriptions for controlled substances issued by or on behalf
				of the practitioner for residents at the institutional long-term care facility,
				unless the prescription is a written prescription issued directly by the
				practitioner, until the required endorsement of the oral prescription is
				received; and
									(II)shall note the
				limitation described in subclause (I) on the most recent copy of the list that
				the institutional long-term care facility provided to the pharmacy under
				paragraph (3)(E)(iii).
									(ii)Notice to
				DEAA pharmacy shall notify the nearest office of the Drug
				Enforcement Administration if the pharmacy does not receive an endorsed
				prescription from a practitioner by the end of the 10-business-day period
				beginning on the date on which the pharmacy transmitted notice to the
				practitioner under subparagraph (B).
								(6)Recordkeeping
							(A)In
				generalEach institutional long-term care facility shall—
								(i)maintain a
				readily retrievable written or electronic logbook, in which it records each
				instance in which a facility designee memorializes and transmits an oral
				prescription for a controlled substance to a pharmacy on behalf of a
				practitioner under paragraph (4); and
								(ii)keep, on the
				premises of the institutional long-term care facility—
									(I)the logbook
				described in clause (i); and
									(II)copies
				of—
										(aa)any authorizing
				agreements;
										(bb)any policies and
				procedures issued by the institutional long-term care facility under paragraph
				(2)(A)(i);
										(cc)any notice of
				rescission or modification of the authority of a facility designee;
										(dd)each list
				prepared by the administrator of the institutional long-term care facility
				under paragraph (3)(E); and
										(ee)all documents
				created by facility designees to reduce oral prescriptions to writing, under
				paragraph (4)(C)(ii)(I).
										(B)Retention of
				copiesAn institutional long-term care facility shall—
								(i)retain a copy of
				any document described in subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) until the end of the 5-year
				period beginning on the date on which the document was created; and
								(ii)whether retained
				in written or electronic form, make available for inspection and copying by the
				Attorney General under section 510—
									(I)the logbook
				described in subparagraph (A)(i); and
									(II)copies of the
				documents described in subparagraph (A)(ii)(II).
									(C)ProhibitionThe
				logbook required under subparagraph (A)(i) may not be prepared, maintained, or
				updated, in whole or in part, by a pharmacy.
							(D)Contents of
				logbookThe logbook shall contain, at a minimum—
								(i)all of the
				information required under paragraph (4)(C); and
								(ii)the name,
				address, and telephone number of the pharmacy to which each prescription was
				transmitted.
								(E)Rulemaking
				authorityThe Attorney General may promulgate rules relating to
				the formatting, content, and updating of the logbook required to be kept under
				clause (A)(i).
							(7)Rule of
				constructionNothing in this subsection shall be construed to
				allow an institutional long-term care facility, or an administrator, employee,
				or agent of an institutional long-term care facility, who is not a
				practitioner, to prescribe, administer, dispense, distribute, deliver, possess,
				maintain, stock, or otherwise use a controlled substance except as expressly
				provided by this
				title.
						.
			4.Practitioner
			 recordkeepingSection 307 of
			 the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 827) is amended—
			(1)in subsection
			 (a)—
				(A)in paragraph (2),
			 by striking and at the end;
				(B)in paragraph (3),
			 by striking inventory. and inserting inventory;
			 and; and
				(C)by adding at the
			 end the following:

						(4)every registrant
				who prescribes a controlled substance for a patient residing at an
				institutional long-term care facility under section 309(f) shall maintain the
				prescribing log described in subsection (f)(2)(G) of that
				section.
						;
				and
				(2)in subsection
			 (c)(1)(A), by adding after treatment of an individual the
			 following: , or under section 309(f).
			5.Penalties
			(a)In
			 generalSection 402 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C.
			 842) is amended—
				(1)by amending
			 subsection (a)(1) to read as follows:

						(1)who is subject to
				the requirements of part C, including an institutional long-term care facility
				and an administrator or employee of an institutional long-term care facility
				who are subject to any of the requirements under section 309(f), to distribute
				or dispense a controlled substance, or to aid in the prescribing or dispensing
				of a controlled substance, in violation of section
				309;
						;
				and
				(2)in subsection
			 (c)—
					(A)in paragraph
			 (1)—
						(i)by
			 amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:

								(B)In the case of a
				violation of paragraph (5) or (10) of subsection (a) of this section, the civil
				penalty for each violation shall not exceed $10,000, except that if a person
				refuses or negligently fails to make any record, report, notification,
				declaration, or statement required by section 309(f), the civil penalty for
				each violation shall be not less than $3,000 and not more than
				$10,000.
								;
				and
						(ii)by
			 adding at the end the following:

								(C)In the case of a
				violation of subsection (a)(1), the civil penalty shall be not less than $5,000
				for each violation.
								;
				and
						(B)in paragraph
			 (2)—
						(i)in
			 subparagraph (A), by striking sentenced to imprisonment of not more than
			 one year and inserting sentenced to a term of imprisonment of
			 not more than 3 years; and
						(ii)in
			 subparagraph (B), by striking 2 years and inserting 5
			 years.
						(b)Directive to
			 the United States Sentencing Commission
				(1)In
			 generalPursuant to its authority under section 994 of title 28,
			 United States Code, and in accordance with this subsection, the United States
			 Sentencing Commission shall review and, if appropriate, amend the Federal
			 Sentencing Guidelines and policy statements to conform to the amendments made
			 by this Act.
				(2)RequirementsIn
			 carrying out this subsection, the Commission shall—
					(A)establish new
			 guidelines and policy statements, as warranted, in order to implement new or
			 revised criminal offenses created under this title;
					(B)assure reasonable
			 consistency with other relevant directives and with other sentencing
			 guidelines;
					(C)account for any
			 additional aggravating or mitigating circumstances that might justify
			 exceptions to the generally applicable sentencing ranges;
					(D)make any
			 necessary conforming changes to the sentencing guidelines; and
					(E)assure that the
			 guidelines adequately meet the purposes of sentencing under section 3553(a)(2)
			 of title 18, United States Code.
					6.Rule of
			 constructionNothing in this
			 Act or in the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to alter or
			 eliminate the requirements relating to electronic prescriptions for controlled
			 substances in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, as established by
			 the Attorney General.


113 S1047 IS: Families for Foster Youth Stamp Act of 2013
U.S. Senate
2013-05-23
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
		113th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 1047
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			May 23, 2013
			Mr. Grassley (for
			 himself, Ms. Landrieu, and
			 Mr. Cochran) introduced the following
			 bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Homeland Security and
			 Governmental Affairs

		A BILL
		To provide for the issuance and sale of a semipostal by
		  the United States Postal Service to support effective programs targeted at
		  improving permanency outcomes for youth in foster care.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Families for Foster Youth Stamp Act of
			 2013.
		2.Families for
			 foster youth semipostal
			(a)In
			 generalIn order to increase
			 funding for effective programs targeted at improving permanency outcomes for
			 youth in foster care, the United States Postal Service shall, for a period of
			 not less than 4 years, provide for the issuance and sale of a semipostal, in
			 accordance with section 416 of title 39, United States Code.
			(b)Disposition of
			 amounts
				(1)Adoption
			 Opportunities ProgramFifty percent of any amounts becoming
			 available from the sale of the semipostal under this Act shall be transferred
			 to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for programs and activities
			 authorized under section 203 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and
			 Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5113) that specifically target
			 improvement in permanency outcomes for youth in foster care through adoption,
			 guardianship, or kinship care.
				(2)State Court
			 Improvement ProgramFifty percent of any amounts becoming
			 available from the sale of the semipostal under this Act shall be transferred
			 to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for programs and activities
			 authorized under section 438 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
			 629h).
				(c)DefinitionIn
			 this Act, the term semipostal has the meaning given that term in
			 section 416 of title 39, United States Code.


110 HR 5004 IH: To extend the temporary suspension of duty on flumiclorac

U.S. House of Representatives
2008-01-16
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
		2d Session
		H. R. 5004
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			January 16, 2008
			Mrs. Tauscher
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Ways and
			 Means

		A BILL
		To extend the temporary suspension of duty on flumiclorac
		  pentyl ester.

		1.Flumiclorac pentyl
			 ester
			(a)In
			 generalHeading 9902.24.36 of
			 the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by striking
			 12/31/2009 and inserting 12/31/2011.
			(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 SCON 34 IS: Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should hold the Russian Federation accountable for being in material breach of its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
U.S. Senate
2014-03-25
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.

		III
		113th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. CON. RES. 34
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			March 25, 2014
			Mr. Rubio (for himself, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Risch) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

		CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
		Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should hold the Russian Federation accountable
			 for being in material breach of its obligations under the
			 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

			Whereas the Russian Federation is in material breach of its obligations under the Treaty Between
			 the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
			 on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles,
			 commonly referred to as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF)
			 Treaty, signed at Washington December 8, 1987, and entered into force June
			 1, 1988; and

			Whereas such behavior poses a threat to the United States, its deployed forces, and its allies:
			 Now, therefore, be it

			That it is the sense of Congress that—

				(1)
				the President should hold the Russian Federation accountable for being in material breach of its
			 obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty;

				(2)
				the President should demand the Russian Federation completely and verifiably eliminate the military
			 systems that constitute the material breach of its obligations under the
			 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty;

				(3)
				the President should not engage in further reductions of United States nuclear forces generally and
			 should not engage in nuclear arms reduction negotiations with the Russian
			 Federation specifically until such complete and verifiable elimination of
			 the military systems has occurred; and

				(4)
				the President, in consultation with United States allies, should consider whether it is in the
			 national security interests of the United States to unilaterally remain a
			 party to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty if the Russian
			 Federation is still in material breach of such Treaty beginning one year
			 after the date of the adoption of this concurrent resolution.


115 HR 4783 IH: Veterans Deserve Better Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2018-01-11
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.

I115th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 4783IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 11, 2018Ms. Rosen (for herself and Mr. Jones) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo amend the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to improve the scheduling of
			 appointments, the accountability of third party administrators, and
			 payment to providers under such Act, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Veterans Deserve Better Act. 2.Payment to providers under Veterans Choice Program, scheduling of appointments, and accountability of third party administrators under such programSection 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:

				(u)Prompt payment
					(1)Payment of claims
 (A)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of this section or any other provision of law, the Secretary shall pay for hospital care or medical services furnished by a health care entity or provider under this section within 45 calendar days upon receipt of a clean paper claim or 30 calendar days upon receipt of a clean electronic claim.
 (B)DenialIf a claim is denied, the Secretary shall, within 45 calendar days of denial for a paper claim and 30 calendar days of denial for an electronic claim, notify the health care entity or provider of the reason for denying the claim and what, if any, additional information is required to process the claim.
 (C)Additional informationUpon the receipt of additional information described in subparagraph (B) with respect to a denied claim, the Secretary shall ensure that the claim is paid, denied, or otherwise adjudicated within 30 calendar days from the receipt of the requested information.
 (D)Invoice basisThis subsection shall only apply to payments made on an invoice basis and shall not apply to capitation or other forms of periodic payment.
 (2)Submittal of claimsA health care entity or provider that furnishes hospital care or medical services under this section shall submit to the Secretary a claim for payment for furnishing the hospital care or medical services not later than 180 days after the date on which the health care entity or provider furnished the hospital care or medical services.
					(3)Fraudulent claims
 (A)In generalSections 3729 through 3733 of title 31, United States Code, shall apply to fraudulent claims for payment submitted to the Secretary by a health care entity or provider under this section.
 (B)Preclusion of certain providersPursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the Secretary shall bar a health care entity or provider from furnishing hospital care or medical services under this section if the Secretary determines the health care entity or provider has submitted to the Secretary fraudulent health care claims for payment by the Secretary.
						(4)Overdue claims
 (A)In generalAny claim that has not been denied with notice, made pending with notice, or paid to a health care entity or provider by the Secretary shall be overdue if the notice or payment is not received by the health care entity or provider within the time periods specified in paragraph (1).
						(B)Interest
 (i)In generalIf a claim is overdue under this paragraph, the Secretary may, under the requirements established by paragraph (1) and consistent with the provisions of chapter 39 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Prompt Payment Act), require that interest be paid on clean claims.
 (ii)ComputationInterest paid under clause (i) shall be computed at the rate of interest established by the Secretary of the Treasury under section 3902 of title 31, United States Code, and published in the Federal Register.
 (C)ReportNot less frequently than annually, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on payment of overdue claims under this paragraph, disaggregated by paper and electronic claims, that includes the following:
 (i)The amount paid in overdue claims under this paragraph, disaggregated by the amount of the overdue claim and the amount of interest paid on such overdue claim.
 (ii)The number of such overdue claims and the average number of days late each claim was paid, disaggregated by facility of the Department and Veterans Integrated Service Network region.
							(5)Overpayment
 (A)In generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall deduct the amount of any overpayment from payments due a health care entity or provider under this section.
						(B)Notification of right To dispute
 (i)In generalDeductions may not be made under this paragraph unless the Secretary has made reasonable efforts to notify a health care entity or provider of the right to dispute the existence or amount of such indebtedness and the right to request a compromise of such indebtedness.
 (ii)DeterminationThe Secretary shall make a determination with respect to any dispute or request under clause (i) prior to deducting any overpayment under this paragraph unless the time required to make such a determination before making any deductions would jeopardize the Secretary’s ability to recover the full amount of such indebtedness.
							(6)Information and documentation required
 (A)In generalThe Secretary shall provide to all health care entities or providers furnishing hospital care or medical services under this section a list of information and documentation that is required to establish a clean claim under this subsection.
 (B)Consultation with health care entitiesThe Secretary shall consult with entities in the health care industry, in the public and private sector, to determine the information and documentation to include in the list under subparagraph (A).
 (C)Notification of modificationsIf the Secretary modifies the information and documentation included in the list under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall notify all health care entities or providers described in such subparagraph not later than 30 days before such modifications take effect.
 (7)Processing of claimsIn processing a claim for compensation for hospital care or medical services furnished by a health care entity or provider under this section, the Secretary shall act through—
 (A)a non-Department entity that has entered into an agreement with the Secretary under this section; or
 (B)a non-Department entity that specializes in processing such claims for other Federal agency health care systems.
						(8)Treatment of certain outstanding claims
 (A)ReportNot later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Deserve Better Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the number of claims for payment for hospital care and medical services furnished to eligible veterans under this section that are outstanding as of the date of the submittal of the report.
 (B)Outreach to providersNotwithstanding any other provision of this section, with respect to each health care entity or provider that has an outstanding claim for payment for hospital care and medical services furnished to eligible veterans under this section as of the date of the enactment of the Veterans Deserve Better Act, not later than 45 days after such date of enactment, the Secretary shall either pay the claim, deny the claim, or request additional information regarding the claim.
 (9)DefinitionsIn this subsection: (A)The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
 (i)the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (ii)the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
 (B)The term clean electronic claim means the transmission of data for purposes of payment of covered health care expenses that is submitted to the Secretary which contains substantially all of the required data elements necessary for accurate adjudication, without obtaining additional information from the health care entity or provider that furnished the care or service, submitted in such format as prescribed by the Secretary in regulations for the purpose of paying claims for care or services.
 (C)The term clean paper claim means a paper claim for payment of covered health care expenses that is submitted to the Secretary which contains substantially all of the required data elements necessary for accurate adjudication, without obtaining additional information from the health care entity or provider that furnished the care or service, submitted in such format as prescribed by the Secretary in regulations for the purpose of paying claims for care or services.
 (D)The term fraudulent claims— (i)means the intentional and deliberate misrepresentation of a material fact or facts by a health care entity or provider made to induce the Secretary to pay a claim that was not legally payable to that entity or provider; and
 (ii)does not include a good faith interpretation by a health care entity or provider of utilization, medical necessity, coding, and billing requirements of the Secretary.
 (E)The term health care entity or provider means any health care entity or provider that is an entity described in subsection (a)(1)(B), excluding any Federal health care entity or provider.
 (v)Information on scheduling appointmentsThe Secretary shall provide to each eligible veteran who seeks an appointment for care or services under this section the following:
 (1)Information on the time required for a veteran to make an appointment for such care or services under this section in the region in which the veteran resides.
 (2)With respect to appointments made through third party administrators— (A)information on what will happen if the third party administrator cannot schedule an appointment for the provision of such care or services;
 (B)a list of other health care providers in the region in which the veteran resides that are within the network of the third party administrator; and
 (C)information on how the veteran can file with the Secretary a complaint concerning the handling of an appointment by the third party administrator.
						(w)Requirements of third party administrators
 (1)Appointment timingThe Secretary shall ensure that each contract with a third party administrator requires the third party administrator to schedule an appointment for care or services under this section for an eligible veteran not later than five days after the eligible veteran elects to receive such care or services under this section.
 (2)Tracking of appointmentsThe Secretary shall track all appointments for care and services under this section that are scheduled directly through a third party administrator.
 (3)Follow-upThe Secretary shall follow up with a third party administrator regarding any appointment for care or services under this section that is pending to be scheduled by the third party administrator for more than 5 days to determine the reason for the delay in scheduling the appointment.
 (4)Report on overdue appointmentsThe Secretary shall require each third party administrator to submit to the Secretary, not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Deserve Better Act, a list of the appointments that, as of the submittal of the report, have been pending scheduling by the third party administrator for a period of more than 15 days..


117 S2760 IS: End Government Shutdowns Act
U.S. Senate
2021-09-20
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.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2760IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 20, 2021Mr. Portman (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Daines, Mr. Braun, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Sasse, and Mr. Hoeven) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on AppropriationsA BILLTo amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for automatic continuing resolutions.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the End Government Shutdowns Act.2.Automatic continuing appropriations(a)In GeneralChapter 13 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1310 the following new section:1311.Continuing appropriations(a)(1)If any appropriation measure for a fiscal year is not enacted before the beginning of such fiscal year or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations is not in effect, there are appropriated such sums as may be necessary to continue any program, project, or activity for which funds were provided in the preceding fiscal year—(A)in the corresponding appropriation Act for such preceding fiscal year; or(B)if the corresponding appropriation bill for such preceding fiscal year did not become law, then in a joint resolution making continuing appropriations for such preceding fiscal year.(2)(A)Appropriations and funds made available, and authority granted, for a program, project, or activity for any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be at a rate of operations not in excess of the lower of—(i)100 percent of the rate of operations provided for in the regular appropriation Act providing for such program, project, or activity for the preceding fiscal year;(ii)in the absence of such an Act, 100 percent of the rate of operations provided for such program, project, or activity pursuant to a joint resolution making continuing appropriations for such preceding fiscal year; or(iii)100 percent of the annualized rate of operations provided for in the most recently enacted joint resolution making continuing appropriations for part of that fiscal year or any funding levels established under the provisions of this Act,for the period of 120 days. After the first 120-day period during which this subsection is in effect for that fiscal year, the applicable rate of operations shall be reduced by 1 percentage point. For each subsequent 90-day period during which this subsection is in effect for that fiscal year, the applicable rate of operations shall be reduced by 1 percentage point. The 90-day period reductions shall extend beyond the last day of that fiscal year.(B)If this section is in effect at the end of a fiscal year, funding levels shall continue as provided in this section for the next fiscal year.(3)Appropriations and funds made available, and authority granted, for any fiscal year pursuant to this section for a program, project, or activity shall be available for the period beginning with the first day of a lapse in appropriations and ending with the date on which the applicable regular appropriation bill for such fiscal year becomes law (whether or not such law provides for such program, project, or activity) or a continuing resolution making appropriations becomes law, as the case may be.(b)An appropriation or funds made available, or authority granted, for a program, project, or activity for any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be subject to the terms and conditions imposed with respect to the appropriation made or funds made available for the preceding fiscal year, or authority granted for such program, project, or activity under current law.(c)Expenditures made for a program, project, or activity for any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever a regular appropriation bill or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations until the end of a fiscal year providing for such program, project, or activity for such period becomes law.(d)This section shall not apply to a program, project, or activity during a fiscal year if any other provision of law (other than an authorization of appropriations)—(1)makes an appropriation, makes funds available, or grants authority for such program, project, or activity to continue for such period; or(2)specifically provides that no appropriation shall be made, no funds shall be made available, or no authority shall be granted for such program, project, or activity to continue for such period..(b)Clerical AmendmentThe table of sections of chapter 13 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1310 the following new item:1311. Continuing appropriations..