113 HR 3298 IH: Disaster Savings Accounts Act of 2013
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-10-16
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.

I113th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3298IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESOctober 16, 2013Mr. Ross introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and MeansA BILLTo amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a deduction for amounts contributed to disaster savings accounts to help defray the cost of preparing their homes to withstand a disaster.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Disaster Savings Accounts Act of 2013.2.Deduction for contributions to disaster savings accounts(a)In generalPart VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to additional itemized deductions for individuals) is amended by redesignating section 224 as section 225 and by inserting after section 223 the following new section:224.Disaster savings accounts(a)Deduction allowedIn the case of an eligible individual, there shall be allowed as a deduction for the taxable year an amount equal to the aggregate amount paid during such taxable year by or on behalf of such individual to a disaster savings account of such individual.(b)Limitation(1)In generalThe amount allowed as a deduction under subsection (a) to an individual for the taxable year shall not exceed $5,000.(2)Partial year of eligibilityIn the case of an individual who is an eligible individual for only a portion of the taxable year, the limitation under paragraph (1) shall be the same proportion of $5,000 as such portion bears to the entire taxable year.(c)Eligible individualFor purposes of this section, the term eligible individual means any individual if—(1)such individual owned and used any residence in the United States at any time during the taxable year, and(2)while so owned and used, such residence was insured under a policy of a type normally required by a lender holding a mortgage on the residence.(d)Disaster savings accountFor purposes of this section—(1)In generalThe term disaster savings account means a trust created or organized in the United States as a disaster savings account exclusively for the purpose of paying the disaster mitigation expenses of the account beneficiary, but only if the written governing instrument creating the trust meets the following requirements:(A)Except in the case of a rollover contribution described in subsection (f)(5), no contribution will be accepted—(i)unless it is in cash, or(ii)to the extent such contribution, when added to previous contributions to the trust for the calendar year, exceeds the dollar limitation in effect under subsection (b).(B)The trustee is a bank (as defined in section 408(n)), an insurance company (as defined in section 816), or another person who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the manner in which such person will administer the trust will be consistent with the requirements of this section.(C)No part of the trust assets will be invested in life insurance contracts.(D)The assets of the trust will not be commingled with other property except in a common trust fund or common investment fund.(E)The interest of an individual in the balance in his account is nonforfeitable.(2)Disaster mitigation expensesThe term disaster mitigation expenses means expenses for any of the following with respect to the residence referred to in subsection (c):(A)Safe rooms.(B)Opening protection, including impact and wind resistant windows, exterior doors, and garage doors.(C)Reinforcement of roof-to-wall and floor-to-wall connections for wind or seismic activity.(D)Roof covering for impact, fire, or high wind resistance.(E)Cripple and shear walls to resist seismic activity.(F)Flood resistant building materials.(G)Elevating structures and utilities above base flood elevation.(H)Fire resistant exterior wall assemblies/systems.(I)Lightning protection systems.(J)Whole home standby generators.(K)Any activity specified by the Secretary as appropriate to mitigate the risks of future hazards (including earthquake, flood, hail, hurricane, lightning, power outage, tornado and wildfire) and other natural disasters.(3)Account beneficiaryThe term account beneficiary means the individual on whose behalf the disaster savings account was established.(e)Treatment of account(1)In generalA disaster savings account is exempt from taxation under this subtitle unless such account has ceased to be a disaster savings account. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any such account is subject to the taxes imposed by section 511 (relating to imposition of tax on unrelated business income of charitable, etc., organizations).(2)Account terminationsRules similar to the rules of paragraphs (2) and (4) of section 408(e) shall apply to disaster savings accounts, and any amount treated as distributed under such rules shall be treated as not used to pay disaster mitigation expenses.(f)Tax treatment of distributions(1)Amounts used for disaster mitigation expensesAny amount paid or distributed out of a disaster savings account which is used exclusively to pay disaster mitigation expenses of any account beneficiary shall not be includible in gross income.(2)Inclusion of amounts not used for disaster mitigation expensesAny amount paid or distributed out of a disaster savings account which is not used exclusively to pay the disaster mitigation expenses of the account beneficiary shall be included in the gross income of such beneficiary.(3)Excess contributions returned before due date of return(A)In generalIf any excess contribution is contributed for a taxable year to any disaster savings account of an individual, paragraph (2) shall not apply to distributions from the disaster savings accounts of such individual (to the extent such distributions do not exceed the aggregate excess contributions to all such accounts of such individual for such year) if—(i)such distribution is received by the individual on or before the last day prescribed by law (including extensions of time) for filing such individual's return for such taxable year, and(ii)such distribution is accompanied by the amount of net income attributable to such excess contribution.Any net income described in clause (ii) shall be included in the gross income of the individual for the taxable year in which it is received.(B)Excess contributionFor purposes of subparagraph (A), the term excess contribution means any contribution (other than a rollover contribution described in paragraph (5)) which is not deductible under this section.(4)Additional tax on distributions not used for disaster mitigation expenses(A)In generalThe tax imposed by this chapter on the account beneficiary for any taxable year in which there is a payment or distribution from a disaster savings account of such beneficiary which is includible in gross income under paragraph (2) shall be increased by 20 percent of the amount which is so includible.(B)Exception for disability or deathSubparagraph (A) shall not apply if the payment or distribution is made after the account beneficiary becomes disabled within the meaning of section 72(m)(7) or dies.(5)Rollover contributionAn amount is described in this paragraph as a rollover contribution if it meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B).(A)In generalParagraph (2) shall not apply to any amount paid or distributed from a disaster savings account to the account beneficiary to the extent the amount received is paid into a disaster savings account for the benefit of such beneficiary not later than the 60th day after the day on which the beneficiary receives the payment or distribution.(B)LimitationThis paragraph shall not apply to any amount described in subparagraph (A) received by an individual from a disaster savings account if, at any time during the 1-year period ending on the day of such receipt, such individual received any other amount described in subparagraph (A) from a disaster savings account which was not includible in the individual's gross income because of the application of this paragraph.(g)Cost-of-Living adjustment(1)In generalThe $5,000 amount in subsection (b) shall be increased by an amount equal to—(A)such dollar amount, multiplied by(B)the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which such taxable year begins determined by substituting calendar year 2012 for calendar year 1992 in subparagraph (B) thereof.(2)RoundingIf any increase under paragraph (1) is not a multiple of $50, such increase shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $50.(h)Special rules(1)Denial of deduction to dependentsNo deduction shall be allowed under this section to any individual with respect to whom a deduction under section 151 is allowable to another taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the calendar year in which such individual's taxable year begins.(2)Taxable year must be full taxable yearExcept in the case of a taxable year closed by reason of the death of the taxpayer, no deduction shall be allowed under this section in the case of a taxable year covering a period of less than 12 months.(3)Certain rules to applyRules similar to the following rules shall apply for purposes of this section:(A)Section 219(d)(2) (relating to no deduction for rollovers).(B)Section 219(f)(3) (relating to time when contributions deemed made).(C)Section 219(f)(5) (relating to employer payments).(D)Section 408(g) (relating to community property laws).(E)Section 408(h) (relating to custodial accounts).(F)Section 224(f)(7) (relating to transfer of account incident to divorce).(G)Section 224(f)(8) (relating to treatment after death of account beneficiary).(i)ReportsThe Secretary may require the trustee of a disaster savings account to make such reports regarding such account to the Secretary and to the account beneficiary with respect to contributions, distributions, the return of excess contributions, and such other matters as the Secretary determines appropriate..(b)Deduction allowed whether or not individual itemizes other deductionsSubsection (a) of section 62 of such Code is amended by inserting after paragraph (21) the following new paragraph:(22)Disaster savings accountsThe deduction allowed by section 224..(c)Tax on excess contributionsSection 4973 of such Code (relating to tax on excess contributions to certain tax-favored accounts and annuities) is amended—(1)by striking or at the end of subsection (a)(4), by inserting or at the end of subsection (a)(5), and by inserting after subsection (a)(5) the following new paragraph:(6)a disaster savings account (within the meaning of section 224(d)),, and(2)by adding at the end the following new subsection:(h)Excess contributions to disaster savings accountsFor purposes of this section, in the case of disaster savings accounts (within the meaning of section 224(d)), the term excess contributions means the sum of—(1)the aggregate amount contributed for the taxable year to the accounts (other than a rollover contribution described in section 224(f)(5)) which is not allowable as a deduction under section 224 for such year, and(2)the amount determined under this subsection for the preceding taxable year, reduced by the sum of—(A)the distributions out of the accounts which were included in gross income under section 224(f)(2), and(B)the excess (if any) of—(i)the maximum amount allowable as a deduction under section 224(b) for the taxable year, over(ii)the amount contributed to the accounts for the taxable year.For purposes of this subsection, any contribution which is distributed out of the disaster savings account in a distribution to which section 224(f)(3) applies shall be treated as an amount not contributed..(d)Failure To provide reports on disaster savings accountsParagraph (2) of section 6693(a) of such Code (relating to reports) is amended by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively, and by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraph:(D)section 224(i) (relating to disaster savings accounts),.(e)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections for part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking the last item and inserting the following:Sec. 224. Disaster savings accounts.Sec. 225. Cross reference..(f)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.


113 HR 2807 RH: Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2013
U.S. House of Representatives
2014-06-26
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.

IB
Union Calendar No. 367
113th CONGRESS 2d Session
H. R. 2807
[Report No. 113–494]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 24, 2013
Mr. Gerlach (for himself, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Bachus, Mr. Bishop of New York, Mrs. Black, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Bordallo, Ms. Brown of Florida, Ms. Brownley of California, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Coffman, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Costa, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Ms. DeGette, Ms. DeLauro, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Dent, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Dingell, Mr. Duffy, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Engel, Mr. Enyart, Ms. Eshoo, Ms. Esty, Mr. Farenthold, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Fortenberry, Mr. Frelinghuysen, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Garrett, Mr. Gibson, Mr. Goodlatte, Mr. Griffin of Arkansas, Mr. Grimm, Mr. Guthrie, Ms. Hanabusa, Mr. Hanna, Mr. Harper, Mr. Holt, Mr. Honda, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Hurt, Mr. Israel, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Keating, Mr. Kind, Mr. King of New York, Mr. King of Iowa, Ms. Kuster, Mr. Lance, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Loebsack, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Luetkemeyer, Mr. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, Mrs. Lummis, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Mr. Matheson, Ms. McCollum, Mr. McGovern, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Meadows, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Michaud, Mr. Miller of Florida, Mr. Moran, Mr. Murphy of Florida, Mr. Nadler, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Neal, Mrs. Negrete McLeod, Ms. Norton, Mr. Nunnelee, Mr. Olson, Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Peters of Michigan, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, Mr. Petri, Mr. Pierluisi, Ms. Pingree of Maine, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Polis, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Rogers of Kentucky, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. Rokita, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Runyan, Mr. Ruppersberger, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Schock, Mr. Schrader, Ms. Schwartz, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Shea-Porter, Mr. Simpson, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Smith of Texas, Ms. Speier, Mr. Terry, Mr. Thornberry, Mr. Tierney, Mr. Tipton, Ms. Tsongas, Mr. Turner, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Walz, Mr. Watt, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Welch, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Womack, Mr. Yarmuth, and Mr. Young of Alaska) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

June 26, 2014
Additional sponsors: Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Latta, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Owens, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Buchanan, Mrs. Davis of California, Mr. Reed, Mr. Sanford, Mrs. Bustos, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Young of Indiana, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, Mr. Posey, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mr. Himes, Mr. O'Rourke, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Daines, Mr. Benishek, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Nolan, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. Barletta, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Joyce, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Granger, Mr. Paulsen, Ms. Chu, Mr. Marchant, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Gingrey of Georgia, Mr. Heck of Washington, Mr. Higgins, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Marino, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Hinojosa, Mr. Latham, Mr. Duncan of Tennessee, Mr. Delaney, Mr. Sires, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Gibbs, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Coble, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Carter, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. Boustany, Mr. Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Reichert, Mr. Sam Johnson of Texas, Mr. Upton, Mr. Renacci, Mr. Collins of New York, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Nunes, Mr. Roskam, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Price of Georgia, Mr. Palazzo, Mr. Farr, Mr. Maffei, Mr. Huizenga of Michigan, Mr. Stivers, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Rogers of Michigan, Mr. Fincher, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, and Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico

June 26, 2014
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the special rule for contributions of qualified conservation contributions.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2013.
2.Special rule for contributions of qualified conservation contributions made permanent
(a)In general
(1)IndividualsSubparagraph (E) of section 170(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to contributions of qualified conservation contributions) is amended by striking clause (vi).
(2)CorporationsSubparagraph (B) of section 170(b)(2) of such Code (relating to qualified conservation contributions) is amended by striking clause (iii).
(b)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to contributions made in taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2014.
2.Special rule for contributions of qualified conservation contributions made permanent
(a)In general
(1)IndividualsSubparagraph (E) of section 170(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking clause (vi).
(2)CorporationsSubparagraph (B) of section 170(b)(2) of such Code is amended by striking clause (iii).
(b)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to contributions made in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013.

June 26, 2014
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed


109 HR 6097 IH: Transit System Flexibility Protection

U.S. House of Representatives
2006-09-19
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		109th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 6097
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			September 19, 2006
			Mr. Pitts (for
			 himself, Mr. English of Pennsylvania,
			 Mr. Taylor of Mississippi,
			 Mr. Hastings of Florida,
			 Mr. Neugebauer,
			 Mr. Otter,
			 Mr. Holden,
			 Mr. Gerlach,
			 Mr. Platts,
			 Mr. Costa,
			 Mr. Rogers of Michigan,
			 Mr. Peterson of Pennsylvania, and
			 Mr. Hostettler) introduced the
			 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
			 Infrastructure

		A BILL
		To amend title 49, United States Code, to allow
		  additional transit systems greater flexibility with certain mass transportation
		  projects.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Transit System Flexibility Protection
			 Act of 2006.
		2.General
			 authoritySection 5307(b)(1)
			 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking subparagraph (E) and
			 inserting the following:

				(E)operating cost of
				equipment and facilities for use in public transportation in an urbanized area
				with a population of more than 200,000 if such transit system operates less
				than 100 buses on fixed route service during peak service hours;
				and
				.


109 HR 569 IH: To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Henry Johnson for acts of valor during World War I.
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-02-02
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 569
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 2, 2005
Mr. McNulty introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL
To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Henry Johnson for acts of valor during World War I.

1.Authority for award of Medal of Honor to Henry JohnsonNotwithstanding the time limitations specified in section 3744(b) of title 10, United States Code, or any other time limitation, the President may award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Henry Johnson (service number 10–33–48), of Albany, New York, for acts of valor during World War I while a sergeant in the 369th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army.


116 HR 5202 IH: Protecting Critical Services for Mothers and Babies Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-11-20
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.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 5202IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESNovember 20, 2019Mrs. McBath (for herself, Mr. Woodall, Mr. Beyer, and Mr. David P. Roe of Tennessee) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
			 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo apply cooperative and small employer charity pension plan rules to certain charitable employers
			 whose primary exempt purpose is providing services with respect to mothers
			 and children.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Protecting Critical Services for Mothers and Babies Act. 2.Application of cooperative and small employer charity pension plan rules to certain charitable employers whose primary exempt purpose is providing services with respect to mothers and children (a)Employee Retirement Income and Security Act of 1974 (1)In generalSection 210(f)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1060(f)(1)) is amended—
 (A)by striking or at the end of subparagraph (B); (B)by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (C) and inserting ; or; and
 (C)by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraph:  (D)that, as of January 1, 2000, was maintained by an employer—
 (i)described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, (ii)who has been in existence for at least 80 years,
 (iii)who conducts medical research directly or indirectly through grant making, and (iv)whose primary exempt purpose is to provide services with respect to mothers and children..
					(b)Internal Revenue Code of 1986
 (1)IRC in generalSection 414(y)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— (A)by striking or at the end of subparagraph (B);
 (B)by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (C) and inserting ; or; and (C)by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraph:

 (D)that, as of January 1, 2000, was maintained by an employer— (i)described in section 501(c)(3),
 (ii)who has been in existence for at least 80 years, (iii)who conducts medical research directly or indirectly through grant making, and
 (iv)whose primary exempt purpose is to provide services with respect to mothers and children.. (c)Effective dateThe amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect with respect to plan years beginning after December 31, 2018.


114 S2953 IS: Indian Health Service Accountability Act of 2016
U.S. Senate
2016-05-19
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		II
		114th CONGRESS2d Session
		S. 2953
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			May 19, 2016
			Mr. Barrasso (for himself and Mr. Thune) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs

		A BILL
		To promote patient-centered care and accountability at the Indian Health Service, and for other
			 purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Indian Health Service Accountability Act of 2016 or the IHS Accountability Act of 2016. 2.FindingsCongress finds that—
 (1)in 2010, the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate held an oversight hearing entitled In Critical Condition: The Urgent Need to Reform Indian Health Service’s Aberdeen Area, during which members of the Committee listened to testimony detailing an investigation led by a former Chairman of the Committee, Byron Dorgan, including his report on the Indian Health Service (referred to in this section as the Dorgan Report);
 (2)the Dorgan Report found evidence showing the lack of quality of care at Indian Health Service facilities in the Great Plains Area (previously referred to as the Aberdeen Area), which is comprised of South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa;
 (3)in 2015— (A)staff of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate investigated claims that conditions in the Great Plains Area had not improved; and
 (B)the Committee confirmed that many issues identified in the Dorgan Report had not been resolved and found that some problems had become worse and new problems had developed;
 (4)a culture of cronyism in the Indian Health Service has further eroded confidence in the health care system of the Indian Health Service;
 (5)persistent failures by the Indian Health Service to provide tribal citizens access to safe, quality health care have led to multiple innocent patient deaths and the suffering of patients, families, and whole communities;
 (6)those failures have been extensively documented by Congress, the Indian Health Service, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which confirmed that systemic problems and substandard conditions in Indian Health Service facilities pose an immediate risk to patient safety;
 (7)the United States has treaty, trust, and statutory obligations to provide health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives, which the Indian Health Service is mandated to uphold; and
 (8)prioritizing patients and restoring faith in the health care system of the Indian Health Service requires greater transparency, accountability, and strong leadership.
 3.Removal of Indian Health Service employees based on performance or misconductTitle VI of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:  605.Removal of Service employees based on performance or misconduct (a)DefinitionsIn this section and sections 606 through 610:
 (1)EmployeeThe term employee has the meaning given the term in section 2105 of title 5, United States Code. (2)Manager (A)In generalThe term manager has the meaning given the term management official in section 7103(a) of title 5, United States Code.
 (B)InclusionsThe term manager includes, as employed at any facility of the Service— (i)a chief executive officer;
 (ii)a chief medical officer; and (iii)a department director.
 (3)MisconductThe term misconduct means neglect of duty, malfeasance, or failure to accept a directed reassignment or to accompany a position in a transfer of function.
 (4)Personnel actionThe term personnel action means a removal, transfer, or reduction in grade under subsection (b)(2). (5)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Service.
 (6)Senior executiveThe term senior executive means a career appointee (as that term is defined in section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code) that occupies a Senior Executive Service position.
 (7)Senior Executive Service positionThe term Senior Executive Service position has the meaning given the term in section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code.
 (8)SupervisorThe term supervisor has the meaning given the term in section 7103(a) of title 5, United States Code. (b)Removal based on performance or misconduct (1)In generalSubject to paragraph (4), the Secretary may remove an employee of the Service from the position the employee occupies if the Secretary determines the performance or misconduct of the employee warrants removal.
 (2)ActionIf the Secretary removes an employee under paragraph (1), the Secretary may—
 (A)remove the employee from the civil service (as defined in section 2101 of title 5, United States Code);
 (B)in the case of an individual described in paragraph (3), transfer the individual from the Senior Executive Service position to a General Schedule position at any grade of the General Schedule for which the individual is qualified and that the Secretary determines is appropriate; or
 (C)in the case of a manager or supervisor, reduce the grade of the manager or supervisor to any other grade for which the individual is qualified and that the Secretary determines is appropriate.
 (3)Individual describedAn individual referred to in paragraph (2)(B) is a senior executive that— (A)previously occupied a permanent position within the competitive service (as that term is defined in section 2102 of title 5, United States Code); or
 (B)previously occupied a permanent position within the excepted service (as that term is defined in section 2103 of title 5, United States Code).
 (4)Due processBefore an employee may be subject to a personnel action, the Secretary shall provide to the employee—
 (A)not less than 10 days before the personnel action, written notice of the proposed personnel action; and
 (B)an opportunity and reasonable time to answer orally or in writing. (c)Pay of certain individuals (1)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of law, including the requirements of section 3594 of title 5, United States Code, any individual transferred to a General Schedule position under subsection (b)(2)(B) or subject to a reduction in grade under subsection (b)(2)(C) shall, beginning on the date of the transfer, receive the annual rate of pay applicable to the position.
						(2)Requirements
 (A)In generalAn individual transferred to a General Schedule position under subsection (b)(2)(B) or subject to a reduction in grade under subsection (b)(2)(C)—
 (i)may not be placed on administrative leave or any other category of paid leave during the period during which an appeal (if any) under subsection (e)(2)(A) is ongoing; and
 (ii)may only receive pay if the individual— (I)reports for duty; and
 (II)performs a primary duty or an alternative primary duty, as each term is described in section 551.104 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
 (B)Failure to reportIf an individual transferred to a General Schedule position under subsection (b)(2)(B) or subject to a reduction in grade under subsection (b)(2)(C) does not report for duty, pursuant to subsection (f)(5), the individual shall not receive any increase in rate of pay or other benefit.
 (d)Notice to CongressNot later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary takes a personnel action, the Secretary shall submit, in writing, a notice of the personnel action and the reason for the personnel action to—
 (1)the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate;
 (2)the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;
 (3)the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; (4)the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
 (5)the Inspector General of the Department. (e)Procedure (1)InapplicabilityThe procedures under chapters 43 and 75 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to a personnel action.
						(2)Appeal
 (A)In generalSubject to subparagraph (B) and subsection (f), an employee subject to a personnel action may appeal the personnel action to the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 7701 of title 5, United States Code.
 (B)LimitationAn appeal under subparagraph (A) may only be made if the appeal is made not later than 7 days after the date of the personnel action.
							(f)Expedited review by administrative law judge
						(1)In general
 (A)ReferralOn receipt of an appeal under subsection (e)(2)(A), the Merit Systems Protection Board shall refer the appeal to an administrative law judge pursuant to section 7701(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code.
 (B)ExpeditionThe administrative law judge to whom an appeal is referred under subparagraph (A) shall— (i)expedite the appeal under section 7701(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code; and
 (ii)issue a decision in each case not later than 21 days after the date of the appeal.
 (2)FinalityNotwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 7703 of title 5, United States Code, the decision of an administrative law judge under paragraph (1) shall be final and shall not be subject to any further administrative appeal.
						(3)Failure to issue decision
 (A)In generalIn any case in which an administrative law judge fails to issue a decision in accordance with the 21-day requirement described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), the personnel action shall be treated as final.
 (B)TransparencyIn any case in which a personnel action is treated as final under subparagraph (A), the Merit Systems Protection Board shall, not later than 14 days after the date on which the personnel action becomes final, submit a letter explaining the reasons why a decision was not issued in accordance with the 21-day requirement described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii) to—
 (i)the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate;
 (ii)the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;
 (iii)the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and (iv)the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
 (4)RestrictionThe Merit Systems Protection Board or an administrative law judge may not stay any personnel action.
 (5)Cessation of pay increases and benefitsDuring the period beginning on the date on which an employee appeals a removal from the civil service under subsection (e)(2)(A) and ending on the date on which the removal becomes final, the employee may not receive any—
 (A)increase in rate of pay; or (B)award, bonus, incentive, allowance, differential, student loan repayment, special payment, or other benefit.
 (6)AssistanceTo the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall provide such information and assistance as may be necessary to ensure an appeal under this subsection is expedited to—
 (A)the Merit Systems Protection Board; and
 (B)any administrative law judge to whom an appeal under this section is referred.
 (g)Employment record transparencyThe Secretary shall ensure that the employment records for any employee subject to a personnel action, regardless of whether that personnel action is final, include—
 (1)a notation that the employee was subject to a personnel action; and (2)a description of the disposition or status of the personnel action or any appeal of the personnel action under this section.
						(h)Relation to title 5, United States Code
 (1)Additional authorityThe personnel action authorities provided to the Secretary under this section are in addition to the authorities provided under chapters 43 and 75 of title 5, United States Code.
 (2)Removal of senior executivesSection 3592(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to a personnel action. . 4.Improvements in hiring practices (a)In generalTitle VI of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661 et seq.) (as amended by section 3) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					606.Improvements in hiring practices
 (a)Direct hire authorityThe Secretary may appoint, without regard to subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code (other than sections 3303 and 3328 of that title), a candidate directly to a position within the Service for which the candidate meets Office of Personnel Management qualification standards.
 (b)PreferenceTo enhance recruitment and retention of employees of the Service, the Secretary may waive the requirements of the Indian preference laws (as defined in section 2(e) of Public Law 96–135 (25 U.S.C. 472a(e))) with respect to hiring a candidate to a position in a Service unit on written request or resolution of an Indian tribe located within the applicable Service unit.
						(c)Tribal consultation
 (1)In generalSubject to paragraph (2), before appointing, hiring, promoting, or transferring a candidate to a Senior Executive Service position or the position of a manager at an Area office or Service unit, the Secretary shall meaningfully and expeditiously consult with Indian tribes located within the applicable Service area or Service unit.
							(2)Exception
 (A)In generalIf the Secretary determines that emergency circumstances exist that may negatively impact patient health or safety if the position is not filled, the Secretary may appoint a candidate to a Senior Executive Service or manager position at an Area office or Service unit for a temporary time period only, not to exceed 180 days.
 (B)NoticeThe Secretary shall notify, in writing, each Indian tribe located within the applicable Service area or Service unit of the appointment not fewer than 7 days prior to exercising the authority described in subparagraph (A).
 (d)Notice of removal based on performance or misconductBefore appointing, hiring, promoting, or transferring a candidate to a Senior Executive Service position or the position of a manager or supervisor at an Area office or Service unit, the Secretary shall provide to Indian tribes located within the applicable Service area the content of an inclusion in an employment record under section 605(g).
						.
			(b)GAO report on IHS staffing needs
 (1)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report assessing staffing needs in the Indian Health Service.
 (2)ContentsThe report described in paragraph (1) shall include— (A)a description of the number and type of full-time equivalent employees needed at each facility of the Indian Health Service and amounts required for those employees;
 (B)an assessment of the use of independent contractors instead of full-time equivalent employees; and (C)recommendations to address staffing needs in the Indian Health Service.
 (c)Staffing planNot later than 1 year after the date on which the Comptroller General of the United States submits the report under subsection (b), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a written plan to address staffing needs in the Indian Health Service based on the recommendations described in paragraph (2)(C) of that subsection.
			5.Incentives for recruitment and retention
 (a)In generalTitle VI of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661 et seq.) (as amended by section 4(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					607.Incentives for recruitment and retention
						(a)Rewarding quality performance
 (1)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may grant or rescind bonuses or other benefits to employees of the Service—
 (A)to promote patient safety; (B)to promote quality of performance of the employees; or
 (C)to improve recruitment and retention of employees in the Service. (2)Quality incentivesThe Secretary may grant a bonus under paragraph (1) to a manager or supervisor in the Service who identifies one or more ways—
 (A)to improve patient care; or (B)to reduce waste, fraud, or abuse.
 (b)Pay systemThe Secretary shall establish a pay system for physicians, dentists, nurses, and other health care professionals employed by the Service that provides pay that, to the maximum extent practicable, is comparable to the pay provided to physicians, dentists, nurses, and other health care professionals under chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code.
 (c)Relocation costsThe Secretary may provide to an employee of the Service the costs the employee incurs in the relocation of the employee if, as determined by the Secretary—
 (1)the employee relocates to a Service area experiencing a high level of need for employees; and
 (2)the employee will accept a position that is likely to be difficult to fill in the absence of an incentive.
 (d)Performance-Based retention bonusesTo improve retention of employees in the Service, the Secretary may provide to an employee of the Service a bonus based on the performance of the employee.
						(e)Administration
 (1)OPM guidelinesThe Secretary shall carry out subsections (a) through (d) in accordance with guidelines of the Office of Personnel Management for recruitment and retention, including section 575.109 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
 (2)Service agreementsThe Secretary may only provide a bonus, pay increase, relocation cost, or other benefit under subsections (a) through (d) to an employee who agrees to serve for not less than 1 year in the Service.
							(f)Housing vouchers
 (1)In generalSubject to paragraph (2), not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary may establish a program to provide tenant-based rental assistance to an employee of the Service who—
 (A)agrees to serve for not less than 1 year at a Service facility designated by the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration as a health professional shortage area; and
 (B)is a critical employee, as determined by the Secretary. (2)SunsetAny program established by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date on which the program is established..
			(b)GAO report on IHS professional housing
 (1)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report identifying professional housing needs for employees of the Indian Health Service.
 (2)ContentsThe report described in paragraph (1) shall include— (A)an evaluation of any existing assessments and projections for the professional housing needs of employees of the Indian Health Service;
 (B)an accurate and independent assessment of the professional housing needs of employees of the Indian Health Service for each Service area (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603));
 (C)a discussion and conclusion on whether the assessments and projections described in subparagraph (A) accurately reflect the professional housing needs of employees of the Indian Health Service described in subparagraph (B); and
 (D)recommendations for establishing appropriate means for the Indian Health Service to accurately assess professional housing needs in the future.
 (c)Housing planNot later than 1 year after the date on which the Comptroller General of the United States submits the report under subsection (b), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a written plan to address the professional housing needs of the Indian Health Service based on the recommendations described in paragraph (2)(D) of that subsection.
			6.Employee protections against retaliation
 (a)In generalTitle VI of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661 et seq.) (as amended by section 5(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					608.Employee protections against retaliation
						(a)Employee accountability
 (1)Mandatory reportingAn employee of the Service who witnesses retaliation against a whistleblower, a violation of patient safety requirements, or other similar conduct shall make a report of the conduct to an official in the Department who—
 (A)is designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to receive those reports; and
 (B)is not an employee of the Service. (2)OversightThe Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide a copy of each report described in paragraph (1) and any other relevant information to the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services by not later than 3 days after receipt of the report by the designated official described in that paragraph.
 (3)RemovalThe Secretary may remove for misconduct from the civil service (as defined in section 2101 of title 5, United States Code), in accordance with section 605, an employee of the Service who retaliates against a whistleblower.
							(b)Agency accountability
 (1)In generalThe Secretary shall formally review each claim of— (A)discrimination against an employee of the Service; or
 (B)retaliation against a whistleblower in the Service. (2)Annual reports to CongressThe Secretary shall submit to Congress each year a report describing the status or disposition of each claim described in paragraph (1).
							.
			(b)GAO report
 (1)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report examining protections for whistleblowers in the Indian Health Service (referred to in this subsection as the Service).
 (2)ContentsThe report described in paragraph (1) shall include— (A)a follow-up investigation on the investigation of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate entitled In Critical Condition: The Urgent Need to Reform the Indian Health Service's Aberdeen Area;
 (B)a discussion and conclusion on whether the Service has taken proper steps to ensure that whistleblowers are not retaliated against;
 (C)recommendations for changes in Service policy relating to whistleblowers; and (D)a discussion and conclusion on whether the official email accounts of employees of the Service are being monitored.
					7.Right of employees to petition Congress
 (a)Action for violation of right of Federal employeesSection 7211 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1)by striking The right of and inserting (a) In general.—The right of; and
 (2)by adding at the end the following:  (b)Adverse actionAn employee who interferes with or denies a right protected under this section shall, in accordance with subchapter II of chapter 75, or other applicable procedures, be subject to an adverse action described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 7512..
				(b)Electronic notification of right of Indian Health Service employees
 (1)In generalThe Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Indian Health Service (referred to in this subsection as the Secretary) shall, in accordance with paragraphs (2) through (6), provide to each employee of the Indian Health Service, and electronically post, a memorandum providing notice of the right of employees under section 7211 of title 5, United States Code (relating to employees' right to petition Congress).
 (2)ContentsThe memorandum described in paragraph (1) shall include the following statement: It is a violation of section 7211 of title 5, United States Code, for any Federal agency or employee to require a Federal employee to seek approval, guidance, or any other form of input prior to contacting Congress with information, even if that information is in relation to the job responsibilities of the employee. A Federal employee found to have interfered with or denied the right of another Federal employee may be subject to an adverse action described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 7512 of title 5, United States Code, including suspension without pay for a period of more than 14 days..
 (3)SubmissionNot later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit the memorandum described in paragraph (1) to the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Inspector General) for approval.
 (4)Approval or disapprovalNot later than 30 days after the submission of the memorandum under paragraph (3), or a revised memorandum under paragraph (6), the Inspector General shall approve or disapprove the memorandum or the revised memorandum.
 (5)NoticeNot later than 30 days after approval of the memorandum or the revised memorandum under paragraph (4), the Secretary shall—
 (A)provide to each employee of the Indian Health Service an electronic copy of the memorandum; and
 (B)post the memorandum in a clear and conspicuous place on the website of the Indian Health Service for a period of not fewer than 120 days.
 (6)Revised memorandumIf the Inspector General disapproves the memorandum or a revised memorandum under paragraph (4), not later than 15 days after the disapproval, the Secretary shall submit a revised memorandum to the Inspector General for approval under paragraph (4).
				8.Liability protections
 for health professional volunteers in the Indian Health ServiceSection 224 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 233) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				(q)Certain Indian Health Service volunteers deemed Public Health Service employees
					(1)In general
 (A)For purposes of this section, a health professional volunteer at a Service unit or Service area (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603)) (referred to in this subsection as a covered entity) shall, in providing a health professional service to an individual, be deemed to be an employee of the Public Health Service for a calendar year that begins during a fiscal year for which a transfer was made under paragraph (4)(C).
 (B)Subparagraph (A) is subject to this subsection.
 (2)ConditionsIn providing a health service to an individual, a health care practitioner shall for purposes of this subsection be considered to be a health professional volunteer at a covered entity if all of the following conditions are met:
 (A)The service is provided to the individual at the facilities of a covered entity, or through offsite programs or events carried out by the covered entity.
 (B)The covered entity is sponsoring the health care practitioner pursuant to paragraph (3)(B).
 (C)The health care practitioner does not receive any compensation for the service from the individual or from any third-party payer (including reimbursement under any insurance policy or health plan, or under any Federal or State health benefits program), except that the health care practitioner may receive repayment from the covered entity for reasonable expenses incurred by the health care practitioner in the provision of the service to the individual.
 (D)Before the service is provided, the health care practitioner or the covered entity posts a clear and conspicuous notice at the site where the service is provided of the extent to which the legal liability of the health care practitioner is limited under this subsection.
 (E)At the time the service is provided, the health care practitioner is licensed or certified in accordance with applicable law regarding the provision of the service.
 (3)ApplicabilitySubsection (g) (other than paragraphs (3) and (5) of that subsection) and subsections (h), (i), and (l) apply to a health care practitioner at a covered entity for purposes of this subsection to the same extent and in the same manner as such subsections apply to an officer, governing board member, employee, or contractor of an entity described in subsection (g)(4), subject to paragraph (4) and subject to the following:
 (A)Each reference to an entity described in subsection (g)(4) shall be considered to be a reference to a covered entity.
 (B)Paragraph (1)(A) applies in lieu of the first sentence of subsection (g)(1)(A).
 (C)(i)With respect to a covered entity, a health care practitioner is not a health professional volunteer at the covered entity unless the covered entity sponsors the health care practitioner.
 (ii)For purposes of this subsection, the covered entity shall be considered to be sponsoring the health care practitioner if—
 (I)with respect to the health care practitioner, the covered entity submits to the Secretary an application meeting the requirements of subsection (g)(1)(D); and
 (II)the Secretary, pursuant to subsection (g)(1)(E), determines that the health care practitioner is deemed to be an employee of the Public Health Service.
 (D)In the case of a health care practitioner who is determined by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (g)(1)(E) to be a health professional volunteer at the covered entity, this subsection applies to the health care practitioner (with respect to services performed on behalf of the covered entity sponsoring the health care practitioner pursuant to subparagraph (C)) for any cause of action arising from an act or omission of the health care practitioner occurring on or after the date on which the Secretary makes that determination.
 (E)Subsection (g)(1)(F) applies to a health care practitioner for purposes of this subsection only to the extent that, in providing health services to an individual, each of the conditions described in paragraph (2) is met.
						(4)Funding
 (A)In generalAmounts in the fund established under subsection (k)(2) shall be available for transfer under subparagraph (C) for purposes of carrying out this subsection.
						(B)Annual estimates
 (i)In generalNot later May 1 of each fiscal year, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary, shall submit to Congress a report providing an estimate of the amount of claims (together with related fees and expenses of witnesses) that, by reason of the acts or omissions of health professional volunteers, will be paid under this section during the calendar year that begins in the following fiscal year.
 (ii)ApplicabilitySubsection (k)(1)(B) applies to the estimate under clause (i) relating to health professional volunteers to the same extent and in the same manner as that subsection applies to the estimate under that subsection relating to officers, governing board members, employees, and contractors of entities described in subsection (g)(4).
 (C)TransfersNot later than December 31 of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall transfer from the fund under subsection (k)(2) to the appropriate accounts in the Treasury an amount equal to the estimate made under subparagraph (B) for the calendar year beginning in that fiscal year, subject to the extent of amounts in the fund.
						(5)Effective dates
 (A)In generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), this subsection takes effect on October 1, 2017.
 (B)Regulations, applications, and reportsEffective on the date of the enactment of this subsection—
 (i)the Secretary may— (I)issue regulations for carrying out this subsection; and
 (II)accept and consider applications submitted under paragraph (3)(C); and
 (ii)the Attorney General may submit to Congress a report under paragraph (4)(B).. 9.Fiscal accountabilityTitle VI of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661 et seq.) (as amended by section 6(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				609.Fiscal accountability
					(a)Management of funds
 (1)In generalIf the Secretary fails to submit the staffing plan in accordance with section 4(c) of the Indian Health Service Accountability Act of 2016 or the housing plan in accordance with section 5(c) of that Act, the Secretary may not receive, obligate, transfer, or expend any amounts for a salary increase or bonus of an individual described in paragraph (2) before the applicable plan is submitted in accordance with section 4(c) or section 5(c) of that Act, as applicable.
 (2)Individual describedAn individual referred to in paragraph (1) is— (A)an individual who—
 (i)is employed in a position described in sections 5312 through 5316 of title 5, United States Code (relating to the Executive Schedule);
 (ii)is a limited term appointee, limited emergency appointee, or noncareer appointee in the Senior Executive Service, as defined under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively, of section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code; or
 (iii)is employed in a position in the executive branch of the Government of a confidential or policy-determining nature under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations; or
 (B)a senior executive (as defined in section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code).
							(b)Prioritization of patient care
 (1)In generalThe Secretary shall use amounts that are not obligated or expended during the fiscal year for which the amounts are made available, and that remain available, only to support patient care, specifically for—
 (A)costs of essential medical equipment; (B)the Purchased/Referred Care program; or
 (C)any other purpose approved by the Secretary after consultation with appropriate Indian tribes. (2)RestrictionsThe Secretary shall not use amounts described in paragraph (1) for—
 (A)interior decorating or remodeling of a facility of the Service; or (B)an increase in rate of pay for an employee of an Area office.
 (c)Spending reportsThe Secretary shall provide a report each quarter of a fiscal year describing the expenditures, outlays, transfers, reprogramming, obligations, and other spending of each level of the Service, including the headquarters, each Area office, each Service unit, and each facility, to—
 (1)Indian tribes; (2)in the Senate—
 (A)the Committee on Indian Affairs;
 (B)the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions;
 (C)the Committee on Appropriations; and (D)the Committee on the Budget; and
 (3)in the House of Representatives— (A)the Committee on Natural Resources;
 (B)the Committee on Energy and Commerce; (C)the Committee on Appropriations; and
 (D)the Committee on the Budget. (d)Status reports (1)In generalThe Secretary shall provide to each entity described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (c) a report each quarter of a fiscal year, except as provided in paragraph (2), describing the safety, billing, certification, credential, and compliance statuses of each facility managed, operated, or otherwise supported by the Service.
 (2)UpdatesOn a change of a status described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall immediately provide to each entity described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (c) an update describing the change.
						.
		10.Transparency and accountability for patient safety
 (a)Transparency and accountabilityTitle VI of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661 et seq.) (as amended by section 9) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					610.Transparency and accountability for patient safety
 (a)TransparencyThe Secretary shall ensure that all surveys, reports, and other materials of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services relating to patient safety and compliance are posted on the websites of each hospital and clinic wholly or partially owned, operated, managed, or funded by the Service.
						(b)Accountability
 (1)In generalThe Inspector General of the Department (referred to in this section as the Inspector General) shall investigate each patient death in which the Service is alleged to be involved by an act or omission.
 (2)NoticeThe Secretary shall notify the Inspector General of each patient death that occurs— (A)in a facility of the Service; or
 (B)under the care of the Service. (3)ReportsNot less frequently than once each year, the Inspector General shall provide to Indian tribes in the relevant Service area and Congress a report describing the investigations described in paragraph (1).
 (4)DisclosureOn completion of each investigation described in paragraph (1), the Inspector General shall provide to the family of the deceased patient information relating to—
 (A)the findings of the investigation; and (B)any action taken by the Inspector General, including any criminal referral.
 (c)Quality monitoringThe Secretary, in consultation with the Inspector General, shall establish within the Service a program to monitor the quality of patient care in the Service.
 (d)Reporting systemsThe Inspector General shall— (1)conduct an audit of reporting systems of the Service as of the date of enactment of this section; and
 (2)provide to the Service recommendations and technical assistance to implement improved reporting systems, procedures, standards, and protocols..
 (b)Compliance surveysSection 1880 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395qq) is amended by adding at the end the following:

 (g)(1)Not less frequently than once every 2 years, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall conduct surveys to assess the compliance of each hospital or skilled nursing facility of the Indian Health Service with—
 (A)section 1867; and (B)conditions of participation in the program under this title.
 (2)Each survey completed under this subsection shall be made available on the public Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services..


116 HR 4993 IH: Refer and Equip Veterans And Military Personnel Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-11-08
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 4993IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESNovember 8, 2019Ms. Gabbard introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed ServicesA BILLTo amend title 10, United States Code, to require members of the Armed Forces to receive physical
			 examinations and mental health assessments during the 90-day period before
			 separation from the Armed Forces, to include health care planning in the
			 Transition Assistance Program for members of the Armed Forces, to require
			 the Secretary of Defense to issue an annual report to Congress regarding
			 health care for separating members of the Armed Forces, and for other
			 purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Refer and Equip Veterans And Military Personnel Act or REVAMP Act. 2.Physical examination and mental health assessment required during the 90-day period before separation from the Armed ForcesSection 1145 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
 (1)in subsection (a)(5)(A), by striking immediately and inserting not more than 90 days; and (2)in subsection (d)—
 (A)in paragraph (1)— (i)by inserting and a mental health assessment after physical examination each place it appears;
 (ii)in subparagraph (A), by inserting and after the semicolon; (iii)in subparagraph (B), by striking ; and and inserting a period; and
 (iv)by striking subparagraph (C); (B)in paragraph (2), by inserting and mental health assessment after physical examination both places it appears; and
 (C)in paragraphs (3) and (4), by inserting or mental health assessment after physical examination both places it appears. 3.Health care planning in the Transition Assistance ProgramSection 1142(b)(10) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting health care, after educational,.
 4.Annual report regarding members separating from the Armed ForcesSection 1073b of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection (c):

				(c)Annual report on members separating from the armed forces
 (1)Not later than July 1 of each year, the Secretary of Defense shall issue a report to Congress on data compiled from physical examinations and mental health assessments of members of the armed forces conducted under section 1145(a)(5) of this title. The report shall cover the calendar year preceding the year in which the report is submitted.
 (2)The report under paragraph (1) shall, with respect to members described in section 1145(a)(5) of this title, include the following information:
 (A)A breakdown of members by age, rank, length of service, duties, deployment, contingencies, sex, race, and military department.
 (B)What percentage of members received physical examinations and mental health assessments in such calendar year.
 (C)The most common physical and mental health conditions identified by such physical examinations and mental health assessments.
 (D)The risk factors and co-morbidities associated with the conditions described in subparagraph (C). (E)Plans of the Secretary to address the conditions described in subparagraph (C).
 (F)What percentage of members received preseparation counseling under section 1142 of this title. (G)Challenges (including wait times and administrative burdens) to providing services to members under the Transition Assistance Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of this title.
 (3)The Secretary shall cooperate with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Labor to improve implementation of the Transition Assistance Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of this title.
 (4)The Secretary shall publish each report under paragraph (1) on a publicly available website of the Department of Defense..


		III
		110th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. CON. RES. 98
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			September 15, 2008
			Mrs. Clinton submitted
			 the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
			 and Pensions

		CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
		Expressing the sense of Congress on the
		  need for a national AIDS strategy.

		Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
			 estimate that more than 1,000,000 people are currently living with HIV in the
			 United States;
		Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
			 estimate that 56,300 individuals were newly infected with HIV in 2006;
		Whereas approximately 25 percent of individuals with HIV
			 are unaware that they are infected;
		Whereas the estimate by the Centers for Disease Control
			 and Prevention utilizes a new methodology that has resulted in more accurate
			 estimates of new infections than the previous methodology;
		Whereas previous estimates of HIV infection rates
			 undercounted the rate of infection by 40 percent;
		Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
			 have determined that the leading transmission category of HIV infection is
			 male-to-male sexual contact, followed by heterosexual contact and injection
			 drug use;
		Whereas the 2000 United States Census noted that
			 African-Americans account for approximately 13 percent of the population of the
			 United States, but in 2006 African-Americans accounted for 45 percent of new
			 infections;
		Whereas, of the estimated 18,849 people under the age of
			 25 who were diagnosed with HIV between 2001 and 2005, more than 60 percent were
			 African-American;
		Whereas the rate of AIDS diagnoses for African-American
			 adults and adolescents is 10 times higher than that of their White counterparts
			 and the rate of diagnoses for Black women is nearly 23 times the rate for White
			 women;
		Whereas, in 2006, Black women accounted for 61 percent of
			 new HIV infections among women and had an infection rate that was almost 15
			 times higher than that of White women;
		Whereas AIDS is the leading cause of death for Black women
			 between the ages of 25 and 34;
		Whereas the Black AIDS Institute notes that there are more
			 African-Americans living with HIV in the United States than there are people
			 living with HIV in 7 out of the 15 focus countries served by the President’s
			 Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief;
		Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
			 note that socioeconomic issues impact the rates of HIV infection among Blacks,
			 and studies have found an association between higher AIDS incidence and lower
			 incomes;
		Whereas, in 2006, Hispanics accounted for 18 percent of
			 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses, but account for approximately 15 percent of the overall
			 population, according to the Bureau of the Census;
		Whereas, in 2005, HIV/AIDS was the fourth leading cause of
			 death among Hispanic men and women between the ages of 35 and 44;
		Whereas, in 2006, Hispanic women were 5 times more likely
			 to have AIDS than non-Hispanic White women;
		Whereas, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation,
			 funding for domestic HIV prevention programs was decreased by more than
			 $40,000,000 in the 5-year period beginning with fiscal year 2003 and ending
			 with fiscal year 2008, despite the evidence that HIV infections continue to
			 increase in at-risk communities;
		Whereas, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the
			 President’s fiscal year 2009 budget requests a decrease of $15,700,000 for the
			 Minority AIDS Initiative, despite the fact that HIV has a disproportionate
			 impact on African-Americans and other racial and ethnic minority
			 populations;
		Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are
			 engaging in outreach programs to increase HIV testing in jurisdictions with the
			 highest AIDS case rates among African-Americans, and those outreach programs
			 are expected to identify approximately 20,000 previously undiagnosed
			 cases;
		Whereas, despite those efforts, the Centers for Disease
			 Control and Prevention have noted that new strategies are warranted to
			 increase HIV testing, particularly among persons who are disproportionately
			 affected by HIV infection;
		Whereas the United States must do more to address the
			 disproportionate impact of HIV and AIDS in minority communities;
		Whereas the United States needs to address the stigma
			 faced by individuals living with HIV and AIDS and help communities have an open
			 discussion about HIV and the behaviors that contribute to increased
			 transmission rates;
		Whereas the United States needs to ensure that prevention
			 efforts are founded on a base of scientific evidence and reinforce
			 interventions that have proven successful;
		Whereas the United States must do more to provide
			 education and testing in the communities most at risk;
		Whereas the United States needs to involve individuals
			 living with HIV and AIDS in the development of policies and programs regarding
			 prevention and treatment; and
		Whereas the United States needs to develop a comprehensive
			 national AIDS strategy that will unite efforts to prevent new HIV infections,
			 treat HIV and AIDS, reduce stigma, and increase education about HIV and
			 associated conditions: Now, therefore, be it

		That Congress—
			(1)calls upon the
			 President to develop a national AIDS strategy, with the input of individuals
			 living with HIV and the communities that have been adversely impacted by the
			 AIDS epidemic;
			(2)calls upon the
			 Federal Government to partner with African-American communities, particularly
			 faith-based groups and community-based organizations, to develop strategies to
			 reduce and reverse the impact of the epidemic upon Black communities;
			(3)calls upon the
			 Department of Health and Human Services to increase education and outreach
			 regarding HIV prevention, testing, and treatment, to ensure that all people in
			 the United States are aware of how to protect themselves from infection;
			 and
			(4)calls upon the
			 people of the United States to educate themselves about HIV infection and the
			 ways in which they can protect themselves.


114 HR 1613 RH: Federal Vehicle Repair Cost Savings Act of 2015
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-09-24
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.

IB
Union Calendar No. 202
114th CONGRESS 1st Session
H. R. 1613
[Report No. 114–266]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 25, 2015
Mr. Huizenga of Michigan (for himself and Mr. Ashford) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

September 24, 2015
Additional sponsors: Mrs. Brooks of Indiana, Mr. Messer, Mrs. Miller of Michigan, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Long, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. Rokita, Mr. Yoho, Mr. Issa, Mr. Pittenger, Mr. Benishek, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Walorski

September 24, 2015
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

A BILL
To reduce the operation and maintenance costs associated with the Federal fleet by encouraging the use of remanufactured parts, and for other purposes.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Federal Vehicle Repair Cost Savings Act of 2015. 2.FindingsCongress finds that, in March 2013, the Government Accountability Office issued a report that confirmed that—
(1)there are approximately 588,000 vehicles in the civilian Federal fleet; (2)Federal agencies spent approximately $975,000,000 on repair and maintenance of the Federal fleet in 2011;
(3)remanufactured vehicle components, such as engines, starters, alternators, steering racks, and clutches, tend to be less expensive than comparable new replacement parts; and (4)the United States Postal Service and the Department of the Interior both informed the Government Accountability Office that the respective agencies rely on the use of remanufactured vehicle components to reduce costs.
3.DefinitionsIn this Act— (1)the term Federal agency has the meaning given that term in section 102 of title 40, United States Code; and
(2)the term remanufactured vehicle component means a vehicle component (including an engine, transmission, alternator, starter, turbocharger, steering, or suspension component) that has been returned to same-as-new, or better, condition and performance by a standardized industrial process that incorporates technical specifications (including engineering, quality, and testing standards) to yield fully-warranted products. 4.Requirement to use remanufactured vehicle componentsThe head of each Federal agency—
(1)shall encourage the use of remanufactured vehicle components to maintain Federal vehicles, if using such components reduces the cost of maintaining the Federal vehicles while maintaining quality; and (2)shall not encourage the use of remanufactured vehicle components to maintain Federal vehicles, if using such components—
(A)does not reduce the cost of maintaining Federal vehicles; (B)lowers the quality of vehicle performance, as determined by the employee of the Federal agency responsible for the repair decision; or
(C)delays the return to service of a vehicle.   September 24, 2015 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed


I
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1653
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 19, 2009
Ms. Norton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL
To provide for nuclear disarmament and economic conversion in accordance with District of Columbia Initiative Measure Number 37 of 1992.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act of 2009.
2.Requirement for nuclear disarmament and economic conversionThe United States Government shall—
(1)disable and dismantle all its nuclear weapons and refrain from replacing them at any time with any weapons of mass destruction;
(2)redirect resources that are currently being used for nuclear weapons programs to use—
(A)in converting all nuclear weapons industry employees, processes, plants, and programs smoothly to constructive, ecologically beneficial peacetime activities during the 3 years following the effective date of this Act, and
(B)in addressing human and infrastructure needs such as housing, health care, education, agriculture, and environmental restoration, including alternative fuel sources;
(3)undertake vigorous good faith efforts to eliminate war, armed conflict, and all military operations; and
(4)actively promote policies to induce all other countries to join in these commitments for world peace and security.
3.Effective dateThis Act shall take effect when the President certifies to the Congress that all foreign countries possessing nuclear weapons have established legal requirements comparable to those set forth in section 2 and those requirements have taken effect.


		IV
		111th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. RES. 1780
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			December 17, 2010
			Mr. Lewis of Georgia
			 submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Oversight and Government
			 Reform

		RESOLUTION
		Supporting the goals and ideals of
		  National Nonviolence Week to raise awareness of youth violence
		  in the United States.

		Whereas the Sojourn to the Past program annually takes
			 high school students to the historic locations of the civil rights movement,
			 teaching them how nonviolence protest mitigated discrimination, violence,
			 hatred, bigotry, and inequity in schools and communities;
		Whereas the goal of the Sojourn to the Past program,
			 created by Jeff Steinberg, is to inspire students to become civic leaders with
			 a duty and ability to unite people in their communities in equality and
			 justice, through knowledge, understanding, and compassion;
		Whereas, in 2009, a small group of Youngstown, Ohio, high
			 school students who experienced Sojourn to the Past, a 10-day journey to the
			 civil rights sites in the Southern United States, created activities for a
			 nonviolence week for the city high schools;
		Whereas Mrs. Penny Wells, a social studies teacher in the
			 Youngstown, Ohio, school district aligned the Sojourn to the Past program to
			 Ohio State standards and the school district pacing guides;
		Whereas the Sojourn to the Past program offers an
			 independent study program credit for Sojourn to the Past participants in
			 support of Mrs. Wells’ effort;
		Whereas, at the request of school superintendent Dr. Wendy
			 Webb, the Youngstown Sojourn students implemented Nonviolence Week in all the
			 Youngstown schools during the first week of October 2009;
		Whereas these Youngstown Sojourn students received a
			 declaration from Mayor Jay Williams declaring the first week in October 2009 as
			 Nonviolence Week;
		Whereas the 2010 Youngstown Sojourn to the Past students
			 successfully petitioned the Youngstown School Board, the Youngstown City
			 Council, and the Youngstown State University trustees to declare the first week
			 in October each year to be Nonviolence Week;
		Whereas the Sojourn to the Past program has afforded
			 participating students an experience that is far reaching and life changing and
			 serves as a catalyst for their becoming activists in applying nonviolence
			 principles throughout their lives;
		Whereas 48 percent of schools in the United States
			 reported at least one student threat of physical attack per year;
		Whereas most victims of school violence are first exposed
			 as early as middle school;
		Whereas hostility toward homosexuality and gender
			 nonconformity continues to plague gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth
			 and adults in United States schools;
		Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
			 Prevention (CDC), youth violence results in considerable physical, social, and
			 economic consequences;
		Whereas, according to the CDC, over 656,000 young people
			 were treated for physical assaults in United States emergency rooms in
			 2008;
		Whereas, according to the CDC, roughly 20 percent of high
			 school students reported being bullied and subjected to threatening language at
			 school in 2009;
		Whereas the United States child homicide rate, for
			 children less than 15 years of age, is 5 times greater than the combined rate
			 of 25 other industrialized countries; and
		Whereas the principle of nonviolence has been a core
			 philosophy of many successful social change movements: Now, therefore, be
			 it

		That the House of
			 Representatives—
			(1)supports the goals and ideals of “National
			 Nonviolence Week” to raise awareness of youth violence in the United States;
			 and
			(2)encourages the
			 people of the United States, State and local officials, middle schools and high
			 schools, law enforcement agencies, and other interested groups to observe
			 National Nonviolence Week with appropriate programs and activities that promote
			 awareness and prevention of youth violence.


115 HR 997 IH: English Language Unity Act of 2017
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-02-09
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.

I115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 997IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 9, 2017Mr. King of Iowa (for himself, Mr. Collins of Georgia, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Barletta, Mr. Duncan of South Carolina, and Mr. Franks of Arizona) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
			 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo declare English as the official language of the United States, to establish a uniform English
			 language rule for naturalization, and to avoid misconstructions of the
			 English language texts of the laws of the United States, pursuant to
			 Congress’ powers to provide for the general welfare of the United States
			 and to establish a uniform rule of naturalization under article I, section
			 8, of the Constitution.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the English Language Unity Act of 2017. 2.FindingsThe Congress finds and declares the following:
 (1)The United States is comprised of individuals from diverse ethnic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, and continues to benefit from this rich diversity.
 (2)Throughout the history of the United States, the common thread binding individuals of differing backgrounds has been the English language.
 (3)Among the powers reserved to the States respectively is the power to establish the English language as the official language of the respective States, and otherwise to promote the English language within the respective States, subject to the prohibitions enumerated in the Constitution of the United States and in laws of the respective States.
			3.English as official language of the United States
 (a)In generalTitle 4, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:  6Official language 161.Official language of the United StatesThe official language of the United States is English.
 162.Preserving and enhancing the role of the official languageRepresentatives of the Federal Government shall have an affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language of the Federal Government. Such obligation shall include encouraging greater opportunities for individuals to learn the English language.
						163.Official functions of Government to be conducted in English
 (a)Official functionsThe official functions of the Government of the United States shall be conducted in English. (b)ScopeFor the purposes of this section, the term United States means the several States and the District of Columbia, and the term official refers to any function that (i) binds the Government, (ii) is required by law, or (iii) is otherwise subject to scrutiny by either the press or the public.
 (c)Practical effectThis section shall apply to all laws, public proceedings, regulations, publications, orders, actions, programs, and policies, but does not apply to—
 (1)teaching of languages; (2)requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act;
 (3)actions, documents, or policies necessary for national security, international relations, trade, tourism, or commerce;
 (4)actions or documents that protect the public health and safety; (5)actions or documents that facilitate the activities of the Bureau of the Census in compiling any census of population;
 (6)actions that protect the rights of victims of crimes or criminal defendants; or (7)using terms of art or phrases from languages other than English.
								164.Uniform English language rule for naturalization
 (a)Uniform language testing standardAll citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the laws of the United States made in pursuance of the Constitution.
 (b)CeremoniesAll naturalization ceremonies shall be conducted in English. 165.Rules of constructionNothing in this chapter shall be construed—
 (1)to prohibit a Member of Congress or any officer or agent of the Federal Government, while performing official functions, from communicating unofficially through any medium with another person in a language other than English (as long as official functions are performed in English);
 (2)to limit the preservation or use of Native Alaskan or Native American languages (as defined in the Native American Languages Act);
 (3)to disparage any language or to discourage any person from learning or using a language; or (4)to be inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States.
 166.StandingA person injured by a violation of this chapter may in a civil action (including an action under chapter 151 of title 28) obtain appropriate relief..
 (b)Clerical amendmentThe table of chapters at the beginning of title 4, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 5 the following new item:

						Chapter 6. Official Language.
			4.General rules of construction for English language texts of the laws of the United States
 (a)In generalChapter 1 of title 1, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

					9.General rules of construction for laws of the United States
 (a)English language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or private sector, shall be presumptively consistent with the laws of the United States.
 (b)Any ambiguity in the English language text of the laws of the United States shall be resolved, in accordance with the last two articles of the Bill of Rights, not to deny or disparage rights retained by the people, and to reserve powers to the States respectively, or to the people..
 (b)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of chapter 1 of title 1, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 8 the following new item:

						9. General rules of construction for laws of the United States..
 5.Implementing regulationsThe Secretary of Homeland Security shall, within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, issue for public notice and comment a proposed rule for uniform testing English language ability of candidates for naturalization, based upon the principles that—
 (1)all citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the laws of the United States which are made in pursuance thereof; and
 (2)any exceptions to this standard should be limited to extraordinary circumstances, such as asylum. 6.Effective dateThe amendments made by sections 3 and 4 shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.


		IV
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. CON. RES. 61
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			June 16, 2011
			Mr. Rogers of
			 Michigan submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
			 referred to the Committee on Natural
			 Resources

		CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
		Designating a National Railroad Memorial
		  located in Diamond District Park in historic downtown Durand, Michigan, as the
		  National Railroad Memorial.

		Whereas the National Railroad Memorial in Durand,
			 Michigan, is organized as an incorporated, not-for-profit organization in the
			 State of Michigan, and is devoted to inspiring national recognition of the men
			 and women of the railroad industry who helped build and develop the United
			 States of America;
		Whereas the National Railroad Memorial has as its mission:
			 To honor the men and women of the railroad industry by educating the public as
			 to the importance of their roles in our Nation’s past, present, and
			 future;
		Whereas the National Railroad Memorial is an idea
			 originally conceived by William Taylor, Jr., of Niles, Michigan, to honor the
			 men and women of the railroad industry;
		Whereas the National Railroad Memorial is a centerpiece of
			 Diamond District Park, located at the historic crossroads of three major
			 railroads and one of the largest surviving train stations in the United
			 States;
		Whereas the National Railroad Memorial is intended to
			 encompass the statuary, structures, and historic railroad equipment located in
			 historic Durand, Michigan;
		Whereas the National Railroad Memorial is designed to be a
			 destination attraction, located in the middle of the spectacular Great Lakes
			 region, for visitors from all over the world; and
		Whereas the National Railroad Memorial Inc., in
			 conjunction with the Michigan Railroad History Museum and the Steam Railroading
			 Institute, seeks to educate a diverse audience through exceptional exhibits,
			 that provide educational programing for adults and children: Now, therefore, be
			 it

		That it is the sense of Congress that a
			 National Railroad Museum located in Diamond District Park in historic downtown
			 Durand, Michigan, be designated as the National Railroad
			 Memorial.


117 HRES 605 IH: Honoring John H. Johnson, a renowned and loved figure not only around the world but in the 7th Congressional District and Chicago, whose astonishing life and contributions have a lasting influence.
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-08-24
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.

IV117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. RES. 605IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESAugust 24, 2021Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and ReformRESOLUTIONHonoring John H. Johnson, a renowned and loved figure not only around the world but in the 7th Congressional District and Chicago, whose astonishing life and contributions have a lasting influence.Whereas, on November 1, 2019, the Friends of John H. Johnson, the curators of the John H. Johnson Day and the John H. Johnson Museum, led the effort to establish a special holiday to honor John Harold Johnson in the State of Arkansas for his accomplishments in the publishing industry in spite of tremendous challenges for African Americans;Whereas John Harold Johnson, born Johnny Johnson on January 19, 1918, in Arkansas City, Arkansas, to Gertrude and Leroy Johnson, was a direct descendent of slaves and rose to international acclaim as owner and publishing icon of Chicago’s Johnson Publishing Company, publisher of Ebony and Jet magazine, in the 7th Congressional District of Illinois;Whereas Johnson was born into poverty, and he lost his father at a young age to a sawmill accident and was forced to start working;Whereas Johnson’s mother remarried James Williams, who became an important figure in Johnson's life;Whereas Arkansas City had no opportunities for education beyond the eighth grade for African Americans, and schools were overcrowded and segregated;Whereas these were difficult times for African Americans in rural Arkansas, and Johnson's passion to overcome disadvantages and for learning laid the foundation for his eventual rise as the founder of the largest African-American publishing company in the world;Whereas after a trip to Chicago to attend the World’s Fair, the Johnson family realized opportunities for African Americans were far greater in the North than they had experienced in the South, and they stayed in Chicago;Whereas Johnson was more determined than ever to excel, and even though he was teased by his classmates at DuSable High School on the South Side of Chicago for his ragged clothes and Southern manner, he was empowered by the knowledge of the existence of an African-American middle class, something he had never experienced;Whereas Johnson excelled at DuSable High School, was elected class president, and graduated in 1936;Whereas Johnson spoke at the Urban League that same year and started courses at the University of Chicago, while also working at Supreme Liberty Life Insurance as editor of the company magazine;Whereas the owner of Supreme Liberty Life Insurance was impressed with Johnson after hearing him speak at the Urban League and gave him a job and money for college tuition;Whereas at 24, Johnson became inspired while working at Supreme Liberty and came up with the idea for his first magazine, Negro Digest, published in November 1942;Whereas, in 1941, John H. Johnson married Eunice Walker, from Selma, Alabama, who, along with his mother, was his constant support, and she later helped him run other business pursuits, most notably Fashion Fair Cosmetics, and they adopted two children, Linda and John, Jr.;Whereas John H. Johnson was a man of exemplary character and extraordinary will with a powerful determination to succeed;Whereas Johnson was in the inaugural class of inductees into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, and he was the first African American to receive the Young Man of the Year award by the United States Chamber of Commerce;Whereas Johnson received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and he was the first African American to be on the Forbes 400 and the first to own a building on Michigan Avenue in Chicago; andWhereas Johnson’s legacy will be treasured through the positive influence he had on his community and his commitment to covering race relations: Now, therefore, be itThat the House of Representatives honors John H. Johnson, a renowned and loved figure not only around the world but in the 7th Congressional District and Chicago, whose astonishing life and contributions have a lasting influence.