		I
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2863
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			June 12, 2009
			Ms. Woolsey (for
			 herself and Mr. Bishop of New York)
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Education and
			 Labor

		A BILL
		To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income
		  Security Act of 1974 to provide for treatment of certain deferred executive
		  compensation arrangements which is comparable to certain funding-based limits
		  on benefits and benefit accruals imposed on defined benefit pension plans under
		  the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Worker-Executive Parity Act of
			 2009.
		2.Treatment for covered
			 deferred executive compensation arrangements which is comparable to certain
			 funding-based limits on benefits and benefit accruals imposed on defined
			 benefit pension plans
			(a)In
			 generalSection 206(g) of the
			 Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1056(g)) is
			 amended—
				(1)by redesignating
			 paragraphs (9) and (10) as paragraphs (10) and (11), respectively; and
				(2)by inserting after
			 paragraph (8) the following new paragraph:

						(9)Comparable
				treatment for covered deferred executive compensation arrangements
							(A)In
				generalIn any case in which a limitation applies under paragraph
				(2), (3), or (4) for any plan year in the case of a defined benefit plan which
				is a single-employer plan—
								(i)no
				amount of deferred compensation may accrue to a disqualified individual during
				such plan year under the terms of any covered deferred executive compensation
				arrangement maintained by the plan sponsor (irrespective of whether the accrual
				in deferred compensation is expressed in the form of a promise, a guarantee, or
				any other representation), and
								(ii)in the case of
				such an arrangement established during or after the 1-year period preceding
				such plan year (or any amendment to such an arrangement if such amendment is
				adopted during or after such 1-year period), no distribution of accrued
				deferred compensation may be made under such arrangement (or such amendment) to
				a disqualified individual during such plan year.
								(B)Covered deferred
				executive compensation arrangement defined
								(i)In
				generalFor purposes of this paragraph, the term covered
				deferred executive compensation arrangement means any arrangement
				providing for the deferral of compensation of a disqualified individual,
				whether or not—
									(I)compensation of
				the disqualified individual which is deferred under such arrangement is subject
				to substantial risk of forfeiture,
									(II)the disqualified
				individual’s rights to the compensation deferred under the arrangement are no
				greater than the rights of a general creditor of the plan sponsor,
									(III)all amounts set
				aside (directly or indirectly) for purposes of paying the deferred compensation
				(including income), and all income attributable to such amounts, remain (until
				made available to the disqualified individual or other beneficiary) solely the
				property of the plan sponsor (without being restricted to the provision of
				benefits under the arrangement),
									(IV)the amounts
				referred to in subclause (III) are available to satisfy the claims of the plan
				sponsor’s general creditors at all times (not merely after bankruptcy or
				insolvency), and
									(V)some or all of the
				compensation of the disqualified individual which is deferred under such
				arrangement is guaranteed by an insurance company, insurance service, or other
				similar organization.
									(ii)Exception for
				qualified arrangementsSuch term shall not include a arrangement
				that is—
									(I)described in
				section 219(g)(5)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or
									(II)an eligible
				deferred compensation plan (as defined in section 457(b) of such Code) of an
				eligible employer described in section 457(e)(1)(A) of such Code.
									(C)Disqualified
				individual definedFor purposes of this paragraph, the term
				disqualified individual means a director or executive officer of
				the plan
				sponsor.
							.
				(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply with respect
			 to plan years beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this
			 Act.


110 HRES 798 IH: Referring the bill (H.R. 4037), entitled

U.S. House of Representatives
2007-11-05
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
		110th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. RES. 798
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			November 5, 2007
			Mr. Filner submitted
			 the following resolution; which was referred to the
			 Committee on the
			 Judiciary

		RESOLUTION
		Referring the bill (H.R. 4037), entitled
		  For the relief of Francisco Rivera and Alfonso Calderon, to the
		  chief judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a report
		  thereon.

		1.ReferralThe bill (H.R. 4037), entitled For
			 the relief of Francisco Rivera and Alfonso Calderon and now pending in
			 the House of Representatives, is referred to the chief judge of the United
			 States Court of Federal Claims.
		2.Proceedings and
			 ReportUpon receipt of the
			 bill under section 1, the chief judge shall—
			(1)proceed under
			 sections 1492 and 2509 of title 28, United States Code; and
			(2)report back to the
			 House of Representatives, at the earliest practicable date, providing—
				(A)findings of fact
			 and conclusions of law that are sufficient to inform the Congress of the
			 nature, extent, and character of the claim for compensation referred to in such
			 bill as a legal or equitable claim against the United States; and
				(B)the amount, if any,
			 legally or equitably due from the United States to Francisco Rivera and Alfonso
			 Calderon.


		II

		109th CONGRESS

		1st Session

		S. 2137

		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			December 16, 2005

			Mr. Durbin introduced

			 the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the

			 Committee on

			 Finance

		A BILL

		To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to make all

		  uninsured children eligible for the State children’s health insurance program,

		  to encourage States to increase the number of children enrolled in the medicaid

		  and State children’s health insurance programs by simplifying the enrollment

		  and renewal procedures for those programs, and for other

		  purposes.

		1.Short

			 titleThis Act may be cited as

			 the All Kids Health Insurance Coverage

			 Act of 2005.

		2.FindingsThe Senate finds the following:

			(1)There are more

			 than 9,000,000 children in the United States with no health insurance

			 coverage.

			(2)Uninsured

			 children, when compared to privately insured children, are—

				(A)3.5 times more

			 likely to have gone without needed medical, dental, or other health

			 care;

				(B)4 times more

			 likely to have delayed seeking medical care;

				(C)5 times more

			 likely to go without needed prescription drugs; and

				(D)6.5 times less

			 likely to have a regular source of care.

				(3)Children without

			 health insurance coverage are at a disadvantage in the classroom, as shown by

			 the following studies:

				(A)The Florida

			 Healthy Kids Annual Report published in 1997, found that children who do not

			 have health care coverage are 25 percent more likely to miss school.

				(B)A study of the

			 California Health Families program found that children enrolled in public

			 health coverage experienced a 68 percent improvement in school performance and

			 school attendance.

				(C)A 2002 Building

			 Bridges to Healthy Kids and Better Students study conducted by the Council of

			 Chief State School Officers in Vermont concluded that children who started out

			 without health insurance saw their reading scores more than double after

			 obtaining health care coverage.

				(4)More than half of

			 uninsured children in the United States are eligible for coverage under either

			 the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or Medicaid, but are not

			 enrolled in those safety net programs.

			(5)Some States,

			 seeing that the Federal Government is not providing assistance to middle class

			 families who are unable to afford health insurance, are trying to extend health

			 care coverage to some or all children in the State.

			(6)State efforts to

			 cover all children may not be successful without financial assistance from the

			 Federal Government.

			3.Eligibility of

			 all uninsured children for SCHIP

			(a)In

			 GeneralSection 2110(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397jj(b)) is

			 amended—

				(1)in paragraph

			 (1)—

					(A)by striking

			 subparagraph (B); and

					(B)by redesignating

			 subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B);

					(2)in paragraph

			 (2)—

					(A)by striking

			 include and all that follows through a child who is

			 an and inserting include a child who is an; and

					(B)by striking the

			 semicolon and all that follows through the period and inserting a period;

			 and

					(3)by striking

			 paragraph (4).

				(b)No Exclusion of

			 Children With Access to High-Cost CoverageSection 2110(b)(3) of

			 the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

			 1397jj(b)(3)) is amended—

				(1)in the paragraph

			 heading, by striking rule and inserting

			 rules;

				(2)by striking

			 A child shall not be considered to be described in paragraph

			 (1)(C) and inserting the following:

						(A)Certain non

				federally funded coverageA child shall not be considered to be

				described in paragraph (1)(C)

						;

				and

				(3)by adding at the

			 end the following:

						(B)No exclusion of

				children with access to high-cost coverageA State may include a

				child as a targeted vulnerable child if the child has access to coverage under

				a group health plan or health insurance coverage and the total annual aggregate

				cost for premiums, deductibles, cost sharing, and similar charges imposed under

				the group health plan or health insurance coverage with respect to all targeted

				vulnerable children in the child’s family exceeds 5 percent of such family’s

				income for the year

				involved.

						.

				(c)Conforming

			 Amendments

				(1)Titles XIX and

			 XXI of the Social Security Act (42

			 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.; 1397aa et. seq.) are amended by striking targeted

			 low-income each place it appears and inserting targeted

			 vulnerable.

				(2)Section 2101(a)

			 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa(a)) is amended by striking uninsured,

			 low-income and inserting low-income.

				(3)Section

			 2102(b)(3)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397bb(b)(3)(C)) is amended by inserting

			 , particularly with respect to children whose family income exceeds 200

			 percent of the poverty line before the semicolon.

				(4)Section

			 2102(b)(3)(E), section 2105(a)(1)(D)(ii), paragraphs (1)(C) and (2) of section

			 2107, and subsections (a)(1) and (d)(1)(B) of section 2108 of such Act (42

			 U.S.C. 1397bb(b)(3)(E); 1397ee(a)(1)(D)(ii); 1397gg; 1397hh) are amended by

			 striking low-income each place it appears.

				(5)Section

			 2110(a)(27) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397jj(a)(27)) is amended by striking

			 eligible low-income individuals and inserting targeted

			 vulnerable individuals.

				(d)Effective

			 DateThe amendments made by this section take effect on October

			 1, 2006.

			4.Increase in

			 Federal financial participation under SCHIP and medicaid for States with

			 simplified enrollment and renewal procedures for children

			(a)SCHIPSection

			 2105(c)(2) of the Social Security Act

			 (42 U.S.C. 1397ee(c)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					(C)Nonapplication

				of limitation and increase in federal payment for states with simplified

				enrollment and renewal procedures

						(i)In

				generalNotwithstanding subsection (a)(1) and subparagraph

				(A)—

							(I)the limitation

				under subparagraph (A) on expenditures for items described in subsection

				(a)(1)(D) shall not apply with respect to expenditures incurred to carry out

				any of the outreach strategies described in clause (ii), but only if the State

				carries out the same outreach strategies for children under title XIX;

				and

							(II)the enhanced

				FMAP for a State for a fiscal year otherwise determined under subsection (b)

				shall be increased by 5 percentage points (without regard to the application of

				the 85 percent limitation under that subsection) with respect to such

				expenditures.

							(ii)Outreach

				strategies describedFor purposes of clause (i), the outreach

				strategies described in this clause are the following:

							(I)Presumptive

				eligibilityThe State provides for presumptive eligibility for

				children under this title and under title XIX.

							(II)Adoption of

				12-month continuous eligibilityThe State provides that

				eligibility for children shall not be redetermined more often than once every

				year under this title or under title XIX.

							(III)Elimination

				of asset testThe State does not apply any asset test for

				eligibility under this title or title XIX with respect to children.

							(IV)Passive

				renewalThe State provides for the automatic renewal of the

				eligibility of children for assistance under this title and under title XIX if

				the family of which such a child is a member does not report any changes to

				family income or other relevant circumstances, subject to verification of

				information from State

				databases.

							.

			(b)Medicaid

				(1)In

			 generalSection 1902(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(l)) is

			 amended—

					(A)in paragraph (3),

			 by inserting subject to paragraph (5), after

			 Notwithstanding subsection (a)(17),; and

					(B)by adding at the

			 end the following:

							(5)(A)Notwithstanding the

				first sentence of section 1905(b), with respect to expenditures incurred to

				carry out any of the outreach strategies described in subparagraph (B) for

				individuals under 19 years of age who are eligible for medical assistance under

				subsection (a)(10)(A), the Federal medical assistance percentage is equal to

				the enhanced FMAP described in section 2105(b) and increased under section

				2105(c)(2)(C)(i)(II), but only if the State carries out the same outreach

				strategies for children under title XXI.

								(B)For purposes of subparagraph (A), the

				outreach strategies described in this subparagraph are the following:

									(i)Presumptive

				eligibilityThe State provides for presumptive eligibility for

				such individuals under this title and title XXI.

									(ii)Adoption of 12-month continuous

				eligibilityThe State provides that eligibility for such

				individuals shall not be redetermined more often than once every year under

				this title or under title XXI.

									(iii)Elimination of asset

				testThe State does not apply any asset test for eligibility

				under this title or title XXI with respect to such individuals.

									(iv)Passive renewalThe

				State provides for the automatic renewal of the eligibility of such individuals

				for assistance under this title and under title XXI if the family of which such

				an individual is a member does not report any changes to family income or other

				relevant circumstances, subject to verification of information from State

				databases.

									.

					(2)Conforming

			 amendmentThe first sentence of section 1905(b) of the

			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

			 1396d(b)) is amended by striking section 1933(d) and inserting

			 sections 1902(l)(5) and 1933(d).

				(c)Effective

			 DateThe amendments made by this section take effect on October

			 1, 2006.

			5.Limitation on

			 payments to States that have an enrollment cap but have not exhausted the

			 state’s available allotments

			(a)In

			 GeneralSection 2105 of the Social

			 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397ee) is amended by adding at the end the

			 following:

					(h)Limitation on

				Payments to States That Have an Enrollment Cap but Have Not Exhausted the

				State’s Available Allotments

						(1)In

				generalNotwithstanding any other provision of this section,

				payment shall not be made to a State under this section if the State has an

				enrollment freeze, enrollment cap, procedures to delay consideration of, or not

				to consider, submitted applications for child health assistance, or a waiting

				list for the submission or consideration of such applications or for such

				assistance, and the State has not fully expended the amount of all allotments

				available with respect to a fiscal year for expenditure by the State, including

				allotments for prior fiscal years that remain available for expenditure during

				the fiscal year under subsection (c) or (g) of section 2104 or that were

				redistributed to the State under subsection (f) or (g) of section 2104.

						(2)Rule of

				constructionParagraph (1) shall not be construed as prohibiting

				a State from establishing regular open enrollment periods for the submission of

				applications for child health

				assistance.

						.

			(b)Effective

			 DateThe amendments made by this section take effect on October

			 1, 2006.

			6.Additional

			 enhancement to FMAP to promote expansion of coverage to all uninsured children

			 under Medicaid and SCHIP

			(a)In

			 generalTitle XXI (42 U.S.C.

			 1397aa et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					2111.Additional

				enhancement to FMAP to promote expansion of coverage to all uninsured children

				under medicaid and SCHIP

						(a)In

				generalNotwithstanding subsection (b) of section 2105 (and

				without regard to the application of the 85 percent limitation under that

				subsection), the enhanced FMAP with respect to expenditures in a quarter for

				providing child health assistance to uninsured children whose family income

				exceeds 200 percent of the poverty line, shall be increased by 5 percentage

				points.

						(b)Uninsured child

				defined

							(1)In

				generalFor purposes of subsection (a), subject to paragraph (2),

				the term uninsured child means an uncovered child who has been

				without creditable coverage for a period determined by the Secretary, except

				that such period shall not be less than 6 months.

							(2)Special rule

				for newborn childrenIn the case of a child 12 months old or

				younger, the period determined under paragraph (1) shall be 0 months and such

				child shall be considered uninsured upon birth.

							(3)Special rule

				for children losing medicaid or SCHIP coverage due to increased family

				incomeIn the case of a child who, due to an increase in family

				income, becomes ineligible for coverage under title XIX or this title during

				the period beginning on the date that is 12 months prior to the date of

				enactment of the All Kids Health Insurance Coverage Act of 2005 and ending on

				the date of enactment of such Act, the period determined under paragraph (1)

				shall be 0 months and such child shall be considered uninsured upon the date of

				enactment of the All Kids Health Insurance Coverage Act of 2005.

							(4)Monitoring and

				adjustment of period required to be uninsuredThe Secretary

				shall—

								(A)monitor the

				availability and retention of employer-sponsored health insurance coverage of

				dependent children; and

								(B)adjust the period

				determined under paragraph (1) as needed for the purpose of promoting the

				retention of private or employer-sponsored health insurance coverage of

				dependent children and timely access to health care services for such

				children.

								.

			(b)Cost-sharing

			 for children in families with high family incomeSection

			 2103(e)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397cc(e)(3)) is amended by

			 adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

					(C)Children in

				families with high family income

						(i)In

				generalFor children not described in subparagraph (A) whose

				family income exceeds 400 percent of the poverty line for a family of the size

				involved, subject to paragraphs (1)(B) and (2), the State shall impose a

				premium that is not less than the cost of providing child health assistance to

				children in such families, and deductibles, cost sharing, or similar charges

				shall be imposed under the State child health plan (without regard to a sliding

				scale based on income), except that the total annual aggregate cost-sharing

				with respect to all such children in a family under this title may not exceed 5

				percent of such family's income for the year involved.

						(ii)Inflation

				adjustmentThe dollar amount specified in clause (i) shall be

				increased, beginning with fiscal year 2008, from year to year based on the

				percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (all

				items; United States city average). Any dollar amount established under this

				clause that is not a multiple of $100 shall be rounded to the nearest multiple

				of

				$100.

						.

			(c)Additional

			 allotments for states providing coverage to all uninsured children in the

			 state

				(1)In

			 generalSection 2104 of the Social

			 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397dd) is amended by inserting after

			 subsection (c) the following:

						(d)Additional

				allotments for States providing coverage to all uninsured children in the

				State

							(1)Appropriation;

				total allotmentFor the purpose of providing additional

				allotments to States to provide coverage of all uninsured children (as defined

				in section 2111(b)) in the State under the State child health plan, there is

				appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise

				appropriated—

								(A)for fiscal years

				2007, 2008, and 2009, $3,000,000,000;

								(B)for fiscal year

				2010, $5,000,000,000; and

								(C)for fiscal year

				2011, $7,000,000,000.

								(2)State and

				territorial allotments

								(A)In

				generalIn addition to the allotments provided under subsections

				(b) and (c), subject to subparagraph (B) and paragraphs (3) and (4), of the

				amount available for the additional allotments under paragraph (1) for a fiscal

				year, the Secretary shall allot to each State with a State child health plan

				that provides coverage of all uninsured children (as so defined) in the State

				approved under this title—

									(i)in the case of

				such a State other than a commonwealth or territory described in subsection

				(ii), the same proportion as the proportion of the State’s allotment under

				subsection (b) (determined without regard to subsection (f)) to 98.95 percent

				of the total amount of the allotments under such section for such States

				eligible for an allotment under this subparagraph for such fiscal year;

				and

									(ii)in the case of a

				commonwealth or territory described in subsection (c)(3), the same proportion

				as the proportion of the commonwealth’s or territory’s allotment under

				subsection (c) (determined without regard to subsection (f)) to 1.05 percent of

				the total amount of the allotments under such section for commonwealths and

				territories eligible for an allotment under this subparagraph for such fiscal

				year.

									(B)Minimum

				allotment

									(i)In

				generalNo allotment to a State for a fiscal year under this

				subsection shall be less than 50 percent of the amount of the allotment to the

				State determined under subsections (b) and (c) for the preceding fiscal

				year.

									(ii)Pro rata

				reductionsThe Secretary shall make such pro rata reductions to

				the allotments determined under this subsection as are necessary to comply with

				the requirements of clause (i).

									(C)Availability

				and redistribution of unused allotmentsIn applying subsections

				(e) and (f) with respect to additional allotments made available under this

				subsection, the procedures established under such subsections shall ensure such

				additional allotments are only made available to States which have elected to

				provide coverage under section 2111.

								(3)Use of

				additional allotmentAdditional allotments provided under this

				subsection are not available for amounts expended before October 1, 2005. Such

				amounts are available for amounts expended on or after such date for child

				health assistance for uninsured children (as defined in section

				2111(b)).

							(4)Requiring

				election to provide coverageNo payments may be made to a State

				under this title from an allotment provided under this subsection unless the

				State has made an election to provide child health assistance for all uninsured

				children (as so defined) in the State, including such children whose family

				income exceeds 200 percent of the poverty

				line.

							.

				(2)Conforming

			 amendmentsSection 2104 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397dd) is

			 amended—

					(A)in subsection

			 (a), by inserting subject to subsection (d), after under

			 this section,;

					(B)in subsection

			 (b)(1), by inserting and subsection (d) after Subject to

			 paragraph (4); and

					(C)in subsection

			 (c)(1), by inserting subject to subsection (d), after for

			 a fiscal year,.

					(d)Effective

			 dateThe amendments made by this section take effect on October

			 1, 2006.

			7.Repeal of the

			 scheduled phaseout of the limitations on personal exemptions and itemized

			 deductions

			(a)In

			 generalThe Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—

				(1)by striking

			 subparagraphs (E) and (F) of section 151(d)(3), and

				(2)by striking

			 subsections (f) and (g) of section 68.

				(b)Effective

			 DateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable

			 years beginning after December 31, 2005.

			(c)Application of

			 EGTRRA sunsetThe amendments made by this section shall be

			 subject to title IX of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of

			 2001 to the same extent and in the same manner as the provision of such Act to

			 which such amendment relates.


		II
		110th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 6146
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
		  STATES

			September 29
			 (legislative day, September 17), 2008
			Received

		AN ACT
		To amend title 28, United States Code, to
		  prohibit recognition and enforcement of foreign defamation
		  judgments.

		1.Findings; Purpose
			(a)FindingsCongress finds the following:
				(1)The first
			 amendment of the Constitution of the United States prohibits the abridgment of
			 freedom of speech.
				(2)Freedom of speech
			 is fundamental to the values of American democracy.
				(3)In light of the
			 constitutional protection our Nation affords to freedom of speech, the Supreme
			 Court has modified the elements of the common law tort of defamation to provide
			 more protection for defendants than would be available at common law, including
			 providing special protections for political speech.
				(4)The courts of
			 other countries, including those that otherwise share our Nation’s common law
			 and due process traditions, are not constrained by the first amendment and thus
			 may provide less protection to defamation defendants than our Constitution
			 requires.
				(5)While our Nation’s
			 courts will generally enforce foreign judgments as a matter of comity, comity
			 does not require that courts enforce foreign judgments that are repugnant to
			 our Nation’s fundamental constitutional values, in particular its strong
			 protection of the right to freedom of speech.
				(6)Our Nation’s
			 courts should only enforce foreign judgments as a matter of comity when such
			 foreign judgments are consistent with the right to freedom of speech.
				(b)PurposeThe purpose of this Act is to protect the
			 right to freedom of speech under the first amendment to the Constitution of the
			 United States from the potentially weakening effects of foreign judgments
			 concerning defamation.
			2.Recognition of
			 Foreign Defamation judgments
			(a)In
			 GeneralPart VI of title 28,
			 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

					181Foreign
				judgments

							Sec.
							4101. Recognition of foreign defamation judgments.

						4101.Recognition of
				foreign defamation judgments
							(a)First Amendment
				ConsiderationsNotwithstanding any other provision of
				Federal or State law, a domestic court shall not recognize or enforce a foreign
				judgment for defamation that is based upon a publication concerning a public
				figure or a matter of public concern unless the domestic court determines that
				the foreign judgment is consistent with the first amendment to the Constitution
				of the United States.
							(b)DefinitionsFor purposes of this section:
								(1)Domestic
				CourtThe term domestic
				court means a State court or a Federal court.
								(2)Foreign
				CourtThe term foreign
				court means a court, administrative body, or other tribunal of a foreign
				country.
								(3)Foreign
				judgmentThe term
				foreign judgment means a final judgment rendered by a foreign
				court.
								.
			(b)Clerical
			 AmendmentThe table of
			 chapters for part VI of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at
			 the end the following:

						181.Foreign
				  Judgments4101

					.

			Passed the House of
			 Representatives September 27, 2008.
			Lorraine C. Miller,
			Clerk.


114 HR 453 IH: Healthy Relationships Act of 2015
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-01-21
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 453
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 21, 2015
Mr. Hultgren (for himself, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Neugebauer, Mr. Miller of Florida, Mr. Mulvaney, Mr. Fincher, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Huelskamp, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. Salmon, Mr. Nunnelee, Mr. Jones, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Meadows, Mr. Pompeo, and Mr. Gowdy) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants on a competitive basis to public and private entities to provide qualified sexual risk avoidance education to youth and their parents.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Healthy Relationships Act of 2015. 2.Sexual risk avoidance education (a)GrantsThe Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may award grants on a competitive basis to public and private entities to provide qualified sexual risk avoidance education to youth and their parents.
(b)Qualified sexual risk avoidance educationTo qualify for funding under subsection (a), sexual risk avoidance education shall meet each of the following: (1)The primary emphasis and context for each topic covered through the funding shall be the unambiguous message that postponing sexual activity is the optimal sexual health behavior for youth.
(2)The education shall be medically accurate. (3)The education shall be an evidence-based approach.
(4)The education shall be age-appropriate. (5)The education shall thoroughly address each of the following:
(A)The holistic individual and societal benefits associated with personal responsibility, success sequencing, self-regulation, goal setting, healthy decisionmaking, and a focus on the future. (B)The research-based advantage of reserving sexual activity for marriage, as associated with poverty prevention and optimal physical and emotional health for all youth, regardless of previous sexual experience.
(C)The skills needed to resist the pervasive, sex-saturated culture that portrays teenage sexual activity as an expected norm, with few risks or negative consequences. (D)The foundational components of healthy relationships and their impact on the formation of healthy marriages and safe and stable families.
(E)How to avoid sexual coercion, dating violence, and risk behaviors, such as drugs, alcohol, and the misuse of social media.  (6)The education shall ensure that any information provided on contraception—
(A)emphasizes the superior health benefits of sexual delay; and (B)does not exaggerate the effectiveness of contraception in preventing the physical and non-physical consequences of teenage sexual activity.
(c)PriorityIn awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to applicants proposing programs to provide qualified sexual risk avoidance education that— (1)serves youth throughout the middle and high school grades; and
(2)will promote parent-child communication regarding healthy sexual decisionmaking. (d)DefinitionsIn this Act:
(1)The term age-appropriate means appropriate for the general developmental and social maturity of the age group (as opposed to the cognitive ability to understand a topic, or the atypical development, of a small segment of the targeted population). (2)The term evidence-based approach means an approach that—
(A)has a clear theoretical framework integrating research findings with practical implementation relevant to the field; (B)matches the needs and desired outcomes for the intended audience; and
(C)if effectively implemented, will demonstrate improved outcomes for the targeted population. (3)The term medically accurate means referenced to peer-reviewed research by medical, educational, scientific, governmental, or public health publications, organizations, or agencies.
(4)The term sexual risk avoidance means voluntarily refraining from sexual activity. (5)The term sexual activity means genital contact or sexual stimulation for the purpose of arousal, including sexual intercourse.
(6)The term success sequencing means increasing the chance of avoiding poverty by means of progression through the following behavorial benchmarks in the following sequence: completing school, securing a job, and marrying before bearing children. (e)Authorization of appropriations (1)In generalTo carry out this Act, there is authorized to be appropriated $110,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020. Amounts authorized to be appropriated by the preceding sentence shall be derived exclusively from amounts in the Prevention and Public Health Fund established by section 4002 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–11).
(2)Federal administrative costsOf the amount authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1) for a fiscal year— (A)not more than $1,000,000 are authorized to be used for Federal administrative costs; and
(B)of the amount used by the Secretary for administrative costs, at least 40 percent shall be used for training and technical assistance by qualified organizations whose— (i)sole focus is the development and advancement of sexual risk avoidance;
(ii)have expertise in theory-based sexual risk avoidance curriculum development and implementation; (iii)have direct experience in developing sexual risk avoidance evaluation instruments; and
(iv)can offer technical assistance and training on a wide range of topics relevant to the sexual risk avoidance field.


115 HR 3390 IH: Student Loan Relief Act of 2017
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-07-25
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.

I115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3390IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 25, 2017Ms. Castor of Florida (for herself and Mr. Soto) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the WorkforceA BILLTo amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reduce the interest rate caps for Federal Direct
			 student loans, to eliminate loan origination fees on all Federal Direct
			 student loans, and to provide for refinancing of Federal Direct student
			 loans and Federal family education loans.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Student Loan Relief Act of 2017. 2.Reduction of interest rates for Federal Direct Student LoansSection 455(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				(11)Interest rate provisions for new loans on or after july 1, 2018
 (A)Rates for undergraduate fdsl and fduslNotwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans issued to undergraduate students, for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2018, the applicable rate of interest shall, for loans disbursed during any 12-month period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, be determined on the preceding June 1 and be equal to the lesser of—
 (i)a rate equal to the high yield of the 10-year Treasury note auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1 plus the Federal Reserve discount rate charged for primary credit on the date of such auction, as authorized under section 14(d) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 357); or
 (ii)4 percent. (B)Rates for graduate and professional fduslNotwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans issued to graduate or professional students, for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2018, the applicable rate of interest shall, for loans disbursed during any 12-month period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, be determined on the preceding June 1 and be equal to the lesser of—
 (i)a rate equal to the high yield of the 10-year Treasury note auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1 plus the Federal Reserve discount rate charged for primary credit on the date of such auction, as authorized under section 14(d) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 357); or
 (ii)5 percent. (C)Plus loansNotwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, for Federal Direct PLUS Loans, for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2018, the applicable rate of interest shall, for loans disbursed during any 12-month period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, be determined on the preceding June 1 and be equal to the lesser of—
 (i)a rate equal to the high yield of the 10-year Treasury note auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1 plus the Federal Reserve discount rate charged for primary credit on the date of such auction, as authorized under section 14(d) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 357); or
 (ii)6 percent. (D)Consolidation loansNotwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, any Federal Direct Consolidation Loan for which the application is received on or after July 1, 2018, shall bear interest at an annual rate on the unpaid principal balance of the loan that is equal to the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans consolidated, rounded to the nearest higher one-eighth of one percent.
 (E)ConsultationThe Secretary shall determine the applicable rate of interest under this paragraph after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and shall publish such rate in the Federal Register as soon as practicable after the date of determination.
 (F)RateThe applicable rate of interest determined under this paragraph for a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or a Federal Direct PLUS Loan shall be fixed for the period of the loan..
 3.Elimination of the loan origination fees on Federal Direct Student LoansSection 455(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

 (3)SunsetThe Secretary may not charge the borrower of a loan under this part for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2018, an origination fee..
 4.Refinancing FFEL and Federal Direct LoansPart D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				460A.Refinancing FFEL and Federal Direct Loans
 (a)In generalBeginning not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Student Loan Relief Act of 2017, the Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary, upon the receipt of an application from a qualified borrower, makes a loan under this part, in accordance with the provisions of this section, in order to permit the borrower to obtain the interest rate provided under subsection (c).
					(b)Refinancing direct loans
 (1)Federal direct loansUpon application of a qualified borrower, the Secretary shall repay any Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, or Federal Direct Consolidation Loan of the qualified borrower, for which the first disbursement was made, or the application for the original consolidation loan was received, before July 1, 2018, with the proceeds of a new Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, or Federal Direct Consolidation Loan, respectively, issued to the borrower in an amount equal to the sum of the unpaid principal, accrued unpaid interest, and late charges of the original loan.
 (2)Refinancing FFEL program loans as refinanced Federal Direct LoansUpon application of a qualified borrower for any loan that was made, insured, or guaranteed under part B and for which the first disbursement was made, or the application for the consolidation loan was received, before July 1, 2010, the Secretary shall make a loan under this part, in an amount equal to the sum of the unpaid principal, accrued unpaid interest, and late charges of the original loan to the borrower in accordance with the following:
 (A)The Secretary shall pay the proceeds of such loan to the eligible lender of the loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B, in order to discharge the borrower from any remaining obligation to the lender with respect to the original loan.
 (B)A loan made under this paragraph that covers— (i)a loan originally made, insured, or guaranteed under section 428 shall be a Federal Direct Stafford Loan;
 (ii)a loan originally made, insured, or guaranteed under section 428B shall be a Federal Direct PLUS Loan;
 (iii)a loan originally made, insured, or guaranteed under section 428H shall be a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan; and
 (iv)a loan originally made, insured, or guaranteed under section 428C shall be a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan.
 (C)The interest rate for each loan made by the Secretary under this paragraph shall be the applicable rate provided under subsection (c).
							(c)Interest rates
 (1)In generalThe interest rate for the new Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, and Federal Direct Consolidation Loans, shall be a rate equal to—
 (A)in any case where the original loan was a loan under section 428 or 428H, a Federal Direct Stafford loan, or a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, that was issued to an undergraduate student, a rate equal to the rate determined under section 455(b)(11)(A);
 (B)in any case where the original loan was a loan under section 428 or 428H, a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, or a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, that was issued to a graduate or professional student, a rate equal to the rate determined under section 455(b)(11)(B);
 (C)in any case where the original loan was a loan under section 428B or a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, a rate equal to the rate determined under section 455(b)(11)(C); and
 (D)in any case where the original loan was a loan under section 428C or a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan, a rate calculated in accordance with paragraph (2).
							(2)Interest rate for consolidation loans
 (A)Method of calculationIn order to determine the interest rate for any new Federal Direct Consolidation Loan under paragraph (1)(D), the Secretary shall—
 (i)determine each of the component loans that were originally consolidated in the loan under section 428C or the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan, and calculate the proportion of the unpaid principal balance of the loan under section 428C or the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan that each component loan represents;
 (ii)use the proportions determined in accordance with clause (i) and the interest rate applicable for each component loan, as determined under subparagraph (B), to calculate the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans consolidated into the loan under section 428C or the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan; and
 (iii)apply the weighted average calculated under clause (ii) as the interest rate for the new Federal Direct Consolidation Loan.
 (B)Interest rates for component loansThe interest rates for the component loans of a loan made under section 428C or a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan shall be the following:
 (i)The interest rate for any loan under section 428 or 428H, Federal Direct Stafford Loan, or Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan issued to an undergraduate student shall be a rate equal to the rate for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans issued to undergraduate students that is applicable on the date of the application for the new Federal Direct Consolidation Loan.
 (ii)The interest rate for any loan under section 428 or 428H, Federal Direct Stafford Loan, or Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan issued to a graduate or professional student shall be a rate equal to the rate for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans issued to graduate or professional students that is applicable on the date of the application for the new Federal Direct Consolidation Loan.
 (iii)The interest rate for any loan under section 428B or Federal Direct PLUS Loan shall be a rate equal the rate for Federal Direct PLUS Loans that is applicable on the date of the application for the new Federal Direct Consolidation Loan.
 (iv)The interest rate for any component loan that is a loan under section 428C or a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan shall be the weighted average of the interest rates that would apply under this subparagraph for each loan comprising the component consolidation loan.
 (v)The interest rate for any eligible loan that is a component of a loan made under section 428C or a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan and is not described in clauses (i) through (iv) shall be the interest rate on the original component loan.
								(d)Terms and conditions of loans
 (1)In generalA loan that is refinanced under this section shall have the same terms and conditions as the original loan, except as otherwise provided in this section.
 (2)No automatic extension of repayment periodRefinancing a loan under this section shall not require the extension of the duration of the repayment period of the loan, and the borrower shall retain the right to use the same repayment term that was in effect on the original loan. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent a borrower from electing a different repayment plan at any time in accordance with section 455(d)(3).
						(e)Definition of qualified borrower
 (1)In generalFor purposes of this section, the term qualified borrower means a borrower— (A)of a loan under this part or part B for which the first disbursement was made, or the application for a consolidation loan was received, before July 1, 2018; and
 (B)who meets the eligibility requirements established under paragraph (2). (2)Income requirementsNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Student Loan Relief Act of 2017, the Secretary shall establish eligibility requirements based on income or debt-to-income ratio that take into consideration providing access to refinancing under this section for borrowers with the greatest financial need.
 (f)Notification to borrowersThe Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, shall undertake a campaign to alert borrowers of loans that are eligible for refinancing under this section that the borrowers are eligible to apply for such refinancing. The campaign shall include the following activities:
 (1)Developing consumer information materials about the availability of Federal student loan refinancing.
 (2)Requiring servicers of loans under this part or part B to provide such consumer information to borrowers in a manner determined appropriate by the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection..