116 HR 5248 IH: Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-11-21
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 5248IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESNovember 21, 2019Mr. Suozzi introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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 award a Congressional gold medal to the 369th Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the Harlem Hellfighters, in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during World War I.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act. 2.FindingsCongress finds the following:
 (1)When the United States officially entered World War I in April 1917, the Armed Forces were still segregated, even though African-American soldiers had served and distinguished themselves in every war since the Revolutionary War.
 (2)The 15th New York National Guard Regiment was mobilized in 1917 as the 369th Infantry Regiment and called into Federal service on July 25, 1917.
 (3)The 369th completed its basic military practice training at Camp Whitman, New York. (4)To receive combat training, the 369th reported on October 8, 1917, to Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina, where the 369th experienced many incidents of racial discrimination.
 (5)Because many White soldiers refused to perform combat duty with Black soldiers, members of the 369th were initially assigned manual labor tasks, such as loading and unloading supplies, and constructing roads and railroads.
 (6)To escape such prejudice, the Regiment shipped off to France in early 1918 and, on April 8 of that year, was assigned to the French Army for the duration of American participation in the war.
 (7)On September 25, 1918, the Fourth French Army went on the offensive in conjunction with the American drive in the Meuse-Argonne where the 369th captured the important village of Sechault despite sustaining severe losses.
 (8)The 369th was also present in the Champagne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, Champagne 1918, and Alsace 1918 campaigns, and fought in the Battles of Belleau Wood and Chateau-Thierry.
 (9)On November 26, 1918, the 369th reached the banks of the Rhine River, the first Allied unit to do so.
 (10)The 369th was relieved of its assignment with the French 161st Division on December 12, 1918, then returned to New York, and was demobilized on February 28, 1919.
 (11)The 369th received a parade down 5th Avenue in New York on February 17, 1919, receiving applause and cheers from hundreds of thousands of onlookers.
 (12)For his courageous and patriotic service, Private Henry Johnson of the 369th received the French Croix de Guerre, with Palm, for extraordinary valor, the first American to be awarded this honor. He also belatedly received a Purple Heart, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and in 2015 was awarded the Medal of Honor.
 (13)Over 170 individual members of the 369th received the Croix de Guerre, many, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the 369th was awarded a unit citation.
 (14)The 369th was dubbed the Harlem Hellfighters by German soldiers, who found the men to be incredibly determined and courageous in battle. (15)The 369th was one of the first regiments of African Americans to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I and one of the first units in the United States to have Black officers lead enlisted men.
 (16)Altogether, the 369th spent 191 days on the front line in World War I, more than any other American unit.
 (17)The 369th never lost a foot of ground or had a man taken prisoner, despite suffering greater losses than any other American regiment, with over 1,500 casualties.
			3.Congressional gold medal
 (a)Award authorizedThe Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design to the 369th Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the Harlem Hellfighters, in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during World War I.
 (b)Design and strikingFor the purposes of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
			(c)Smithsonian Institution
 (1)In generalFollowing the award of the gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be displayed as appropriate and made available for research.
 (2)Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal received under this Act available for display elsewhere, particularly at other locations and events associated with the Harlem Hellfighters.
 4.Duplicate medalsUnder such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe, the Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3(b), at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
 5.Status of medalsMedals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.


114 HRES 866 IH: Expressing support for designation of the month of September as “National Voting Rights Month”.
U.S. House of Representatives
2016-09-13
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.

IV114th CONGRESS2d SessionH. RES. 866IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSeptember 13, 2016Mr. Veasey submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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 concernedRESOLUTIONExpressing support for designation of the month of September as National Voting Rights Month.

 Whereas from 1954–1968 African-Americans in the South suffered from the oppressive effects of Jim Crow laws designed to prevent political, economic, and social mobility;
 Whereas African-Americans were subject to violence, poll taxes, literacy tests, all White primaries, property ownership tests, grandfather clauses, voter roll purges, and the prevention of former prisoners from voting;
 Whereas in 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to protect the rights of African-Americans and other traditionally disenfranchised groups to vote;
 Whereas in 2013, the Supreme Court invalidated section four of the Voting Rights Act, dismantling the pre-clearance provision in the law that protected voters in States that historically have suppressed the rights of minorities to vote;
 Whereas the Shelby vs. Holder Supreme Court decision calls on Congress to fix the Voting Rights Act formula of 1965;
 Whereas in 33 States some form of restrictive voting law has been instituted since 2013; Whereas these restrictive voting laws encompass cut backs in early voting, voter roll purges, placement of faulty equipment in minority communities, requirement of photo identification—the procurement of which amounts to a modern day poll tax, and elimination of same day registration;
 Whereas more than 80 million minority, elderly, poor, and disabled voters could be disenfranchised by these changes in voting;
 Whereas in 2016 discriminatory laws in North Carolina, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Texas have been ruled unconstitutional and overturned by the courts;
 Whereas there are local elected officials who refuse to adhere to Federal court decisions that have struck down suppressive voting laws instituted since the Supreme Court’s Shelby vs. Holder case;
 Whereas there is much more work to be done to ensure all Americans have the right to vote; Whereas the 2016 Presidential election, one of the most important elections in recent history, is upon us and millions of Americans will be unable to vote;
 Whereas National Voter Registration Day is September 27; and Whereas the month of September would be an appropriate month to designate as “National Voting Rights Month”: Now, therefore, be it

 That the House of Representatives— (1)supports the designation of “National Voting Rights Month”;
 (2)encourages all people in the United States to uphold the right of every American to exercise their sacred and fundamental right to vote; and
 (3)endorses the following solutions to further the mission of allowing all citizens to vote— (A)that our Nation's public schools and universities develop an academic curriculum, whereby students learn about the importance of voting, how to become registered to vote, where to vote, and the different forms of voting. This curriculum would include teaching the history of voter suppression in America before the 1965 Civil Rights Act was passed. It would also teach students about current issues that are related to laws that have been passed to restrict the vote since 1965 or any actions taken by local, State, and the Federal Government officials since passage of the 1965 Civil Rights Act that have created barriers to being able to vote. The right to vote education curriculum would include an examination of bills that have been introduced on the Federal, State, and local level to ensure the right to vote in an election;
 (B)that the Department of the Treasury issue a special Martin Luther King or Fannie Lou Hamer stamp during the month of September, to remind Americans about how ordinary citizens risked their lives, marched, and participated in our great democracy so all Americans would have the fundamental right to vote;
 (C)that Members of Congress during the month of September, in a bi-partisan fashion, go to the House Floor in order to highlight the importance of voting in elections, or to highlight any problems with being able to vote;
 (D)Congress should allocate the requisite funds needed for public service announcements on television, radio, newspapers, magazines, social media, bill boards, buses, and other forms of media to remind Americans when elections are being held, and to urge people to get out and vote; and
 (E)Members of Congress pass legislation that will allow all citizens upon reaching the age of 18, determined by using birth records, to be automatically enrolled to vote in Federal elections.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 5754
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 15, 2012
			Mr. Scott of South
			 Carolina introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Ways and
			 Means

		A BILL
		To suspend temporarily the duty on 4-Nitrobenzoyl
		  chloride.

		1.4-Nitrobenzoyl
			 chloride
			(a)In
			 generalSubchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff
			 Schedule of the United States is amended by inserting in numerical sequence the
			 following new heading:

								9902.01.004-Nitrobenzoyl chloride (CAS No. 122–04–3) (provided for in
						subheading 2916.39.03)FreeNo changeNo changeOn or before 12/31/2015

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


116 S3588 IS: Justice for Victims of Coronavirus Act
U.S. Senate
2020-05-04
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II116th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 3588IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMay 4, 2020Mr. Hawley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsA BILLTo secure justice for victims of novel coronavirus in the United States and abroad. 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Justice for Victims of Coronavirus Act.2.Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that—(1)beginning in December 2019, if not earlier, the Government of the People’s Republic of China concealed the emergence and spread of the novel coronavirus (referred to in this Act as COVID–19) by, among other things—(A)silencing medical professionals, journalists, and academic researchers;(B)halting research and destroying or otherwise denying access by Chinese and international public health authorities to COVID–19 viral samples and relevant medical information and research;(C)obstructing access by international public health authorities to parts of the COVID–19 outbreak epicenter;(D)releasing partial or incorrect data about the number of COVID–19 cases and deaths in the People’s Republic of China and COVID–19 modes of transmission;(E)using the World Health Organization to amplify its false messaging; and(F)waging a global propaganda offensive to deflect attention away from its mishandling of the COVID–19 outbreak and create unfounded accounts of the origins of the virus;(2)since December 2019, COVID–19 has transformed from a local disease outbreak in Wuhan, China, into a global pandemic, as declared by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, that is infecting millions, killing hundreds of thousands, and imposing severe economic hardship on billions of people worldwide;(3)initial actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19 facilitated the transformation of COVID–19 from a local disease outbreak into a global pandemic by obstructing the timely and effective containment of the virus within the Chinese mainland and limiting the availability of information that other nations needed to prevent or control the spread of the virus into their territories;(4)the failure by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to fully disclose information on the COVID–19 outbreak in a timely manner to the World Health Organization and other nations appears to constitute a violation of the International Health Regulations (2005), a legally binding agreement among 196 countries, including the People’s Republic of China;(5)the Government of the People’s Republic of China should be held accountable for the harm inflicted upon the lives and livelihoods of the people of the United States and other nations due to its efforts to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19;(6)although nation states are ordinarily entitled to sovereign immunity in the courts of other nations, the extraordinary harm caused by the COVID–19 global pandemic, and the evidence strongly indicating that this pandemic was caused by deliberate decisions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19, justify removing the privilege of foreign sovereign immunity from that Government to facilitate the payment of damages to individuals harmed by this pandemic;(7)the United States Government should also establish and lead an international commission to determine fully how actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19 contributed to the transformation of COVID–19 from a local disease outbreak into a global pandemic; and(8)if the international investigation establishes that actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19 caused or substantially aggravated the transformation of COVID–19 from a local disease outbreak into a global pandemic, or if the Government of the People’s Republic of China refuses to cooperate fully with the international investigation, then the United States Government should lead international efforts—(A)to quantify the harm caused or substantially aggravated by actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19 to the health and economic well-being of the people of the United States and other nations; and(B)to secure damages from the Government of the People’s Republic of China, especially by identifying ways to compel the Government of the People’s Republic of China to pay damages. 3.Responsibility of foreign states for reckless actions or omissions causing the COVID–19 global pandemic in the United States(a)ResponsibilityChapter 97 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1605B the following:1605C.Responsibility of foreign states for reckless actions or omissions causing the COVID–19 global pandemic in the United States(a)Responsibility of foreign statesA foreign state shall not be immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States in any case in which money damages are sought against a foreign state for physical or economic injury to person, property, or business occurring in the United States following any reckless action or omission (including a conscious disregard of the need to report information promptly or deliberately hiding relevant information) of a foreign state, or of any official, employee, or agent of that foreign state while acting within the scope of his or her office, employment, or agency, that caused or substantially aggravated the COVID–19 global pandemic in the United States, regardless of where the action or omission occurred.(b)Rule of constructionA foreign state shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States under subsection (a) on the basis of an omission or act that constitutes mere negligence.(c)Jurisdiction(1)Exclusive jurisdictionThe courts of the United States shall have exclusive jurisdiction in any action in which a foreign state is subject to the jurisdiction of a court of the United States under subsection (a).(2)Personal jurisdictionThe courts of the United States shall have personal jurisdiction, to the maximum extent permissible under the Constitution of the United States, over any defendant in an action described in subsection (a).(3)Additional authority to issue ordersIn addition to authority already granted by other laws, the courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to make and issue any writ or order of injunction necessary or appropriate for the enforcement of this section, including pre-judgment injunctions related to transfer or disposal of assets. (d)InterventionThe Attorney General may intervene in any action in which a foreign state is subject to the jurisdiction of a court of the United States under subsection (a) for the purpose of seeking a stay of the civil action, in whole or in part if the Secretary of State certifies that the United States is engaged in good faith discussions with the foreign state defendant concerning the resolution of the claims against the foreign state, or any other parties as to whom a stay of claims is sought.(e)Duration of stay(1)In generalA stay under this section may be granted for not more than 180 days.(2)Extension(A)In generalThe Attorney General may petition the court for an extension of the stay for additional periods not to exceed 180 days.(B)RecertificationA court shall grant an extension under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary of State recertifies that the United States remains engaged in good faith discussions with the foreign state defendant concerning the resolution of the claims against the foreign state, or any other parties as to whom a stay of claims is sought. (f)Dismissal of actions following foreign state agreement(1)InterventionThe Attorney General may intervene in any action in which a foreign state is subject to the jurisdiction of a court of the United States under this section for the purpose of seeking the dismissal of the case.(2)Dismissal with prejudicePrior to the entry of judgment, a court of the United States may dismiss with prejudice a proceeding under this section against a foreign state or any official, employee, or agent of the foreign state if the Secretary of State certifies that the United States and the foreign state have entered into an agreement with respect to the resolution of a claim against such a defendant, regardless of whether the plaintiff is a party to such agreement or consents to the dismissal..(b)ApplicabilityThe amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to any action or omission described in section 1605C of title 28, United States Code, as added by that subsection, that occurred before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.(c)Removal of immunity from attachment or executionSection 1610 of title 28, United States Code, is amended—(1)in subsection (a)(7), by striking section 1605A or section 1605(a)(7) (as such section was in effect on January 27, 2008) and inserting section 1605A, section 1605(a)(7) (as such section was in effect on January 27, 2008), or section 1605C;(2)in subsection (b)(2), by striking or 1605(b) and inserting , 1605(b), or 1605C; (3)by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:(d)The property of a foreign state, as defined in section 1603(a) of this chapter, used for a commercial activity in the United States, shall not be immune from attachment prior to the entry of judgment in any action brought in a court of the United States or of a State, or prior to the elapse of the period of time provided in subsection (c) of this section, if—(1)the foreign state has explicitly waived its immunity from attachment prior to judgment, notwithstanding any withdrawal of the waiver the foreign state may purport to effect except in accordance with the terms of the waiver;(2)the purpose of the attachment is to secure satisfaction of a judgment that has been or may ultimately be entered against the foreign state, and not to obtain jurisdiction; or(3)the attachment relates to a claim for which the foreign state is not immune under section 1605C.; and(4)in subsection (g)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 1605A and inserting 1605A or 1605C. (d)Cause of actionAny citizen or resident of the United States injured in his or her person, property, or business by reason of any reckless action or omission (including a conscious disregard of the need to report information promptly or deliberately hiding relevant information) of a foreign state, or of any official, employee, or agent of that foreign state while acting within the scope of his or her office, employment, or agency, that caused or substantially aggravated the COVID–19 global pandemic in the United States, regardless of where the action or omission occurred, may sue therefor in any appropriate district court of the United States and shall recover threefold the damages he or she sustains and the cost of the suit, including attorney's fees.(e)Enforcement by state attorneys generalAny State, on its own behalf or on behalf of the citizens or residents of the State, may bring a civil action under subsection (d) in a district court of the United States. Nothing in this Act may be construed to prevent a State from exercising its powers under State law.(f)Time limitation on the commencement of civil actionNotwithstanding any other provision of law, a civil action arising under subsection (d) may be commenced up to 20 years after the cause of action accrues. (g)Technical and conforming amendmentThe table of sections for chapter 97 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1605B the following:1605C. Responsibility of foreign states for reckless actions or omissions causing the COVID–19 global pandemic in the United States..4.Justice for victims of Coronavirus Task Force(a)EstablishmentThe President shall establish the Justice for Victims of Coronavirus Task Force (referred to in this Act as the Task Force) to investigate and secure damages from the Government of the People’s Republic of China.(b)LeadershipThe President shall appoint the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or a designee serving at the level of Deputy Assistant to the President or higher, to oversee and coordinate activities by Task Force members.(c)MembershipThe Task Force shall consist of the heads of the following Federal agencies, who may act through their respective designees at or above the level of Under Secretary or equivalent rank:(1)The Department of State.(2)The Department of Health and Human Services.(3)The Department of Justice.(4)The Department of Commerce.(5)The Department of the Treasury.(6)The Department of Agriculture.(7)The Office of the United States Trade Representative.(8)The Office of Science and Technology Policy.(9)The Office of the Director of National Intelligence.(10)Any other Federal agency that the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, determines to be appropriate.(d)ResponsibilitiesTask Force members shall ensure relevant offices in their respective Federal agencies take all appropriate measures to support—(1)the Delegation established under section 5(a);(2)the Working Group to Quantify Harm established under section 6(a); and(3)the Working Group to Secure Damages established under section 7(a).(e)MeetingsTask Force members shall meet at least quarterly—(1)to update the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, on contributions by their respective Federal agencies to the activities of the organizations listed under paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (d);(2)to notify the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, of any disputes requiring resolution to ensure the ability of the organizations listed under paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (d) to perform the duties assigned to them under this Act; and(3)to provide the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, and other Task Force members with recommendations to strengthen coordination between or otherwise improve the effectiveness of the organizations listed under paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (d).(f)TerminationThe Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, shall terminate and disband the Task Force following the termination and disbandment of—(1)the Delegation established under section 5(a);(2)the Working Group to Quantify Harm established under section 6(a); and(3)the Working Group to Secure Damages established under section 7(a). 5.United States Delegation to the International Commission to Investigate the Role of the Government of the People’s Republic of China in the COVID–19 Global Pandemic(a)In generalNot later than 30 days after the establishment of the Task Force, the Secretary of State shall form the United States Delegation to the International Commission to Investigate the Role of the Government of the People’s Republic of China in the COVID–19 Global Pandemic (referred to in this Act as the Delegation).(b)LeadershipThe Secretary of State, acting through the United States Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, shall direct and coordinate the activities of the Delegation.(c)MembershipThe Delegation shall include representatives, at the level of Deputy Assistant Secretary or equivalent rank, from the following Task Force member agencies:(1)The Department of State.(2)The Department of Health and Human Services.(3)The Department of Justice.(4)The Department of Agriculture.(5)The Office of Science and Technology Policy.(6)Any other Task Force member agency that the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, determines to be appropriate.(d)Duties(1)In generalNot later than 90 days after the formation of the Delegation, the Delegation shall undertake to establish and lead the International Commission to Investigate the Role of the Government of the People’s Republic of China in the COVID–19 Global Pandemic (referred to in this Act as the International Commission in accordance with this subsection).(2)MembershipThe Delegation shall establish the International Commission in cooperation with—(A)allies and partners of the United States; and(B)other similar nations, if their membership in the International Commission would not adversely affect the ability of the International Commission to fulfill the purpose described in paragraph (3).(3)PurposeThe International Commission shall allow the United States Government and other members of the International Commission (referred to in this Act as International Commission Members) to work together—(A)to gather, share, and analyze data in order to understand how COVID–19 grew from a local disease outbreak into a global pandemic; and (B)to prevent similar tragedies in the future.(4)FunctionsThe International Commission shall enable the United States Government and other International Commission Members—(A)to share and coordinate the collection of information related to the emergence and spread of COVID–19;(B)to leverage unique expertise or other capabilities resident in individual International Commission Members to advance the understanding of all International Commission Members of the emergence and spread of COVID–19;(C)to apply multilateral pressure to the Government of the People’s Republic of China or other parties, as necessary, in order to encourage their cooperation with the international investigation; and(D)to develop ways to generate actionable findings irrespective of the cooperation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.(5)AdministrationThe Delegation, in negotiation with other International Commission Members, shall determine—(A)the organizational structure of the International Commission;(B)the rules and procedures governing activities by the International Commission;(C)whether the International Commission will issue reports on findings and recommendations or defer to International Commission Members to issue their own reports on findings and recommendations; and(D)other items related to the administration of the International Commission, as the Delegation determines to be appropriate.(e)Triannual report(1)In generalNot later than 180 days after the formation of the Delegation, and every 4 months thereafter until the Delegation is disbanded, the Delegation shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees and to the public that describes the activities undertaken and the information produced by the International Commission.(2)Matters to be includedEach report under paragraph (1) shall include—(A)procedural updates regarding—(i)changes in International Commission membership;(ii)changes related to the administration of the International Commission;(iii)investigative or other official actions taken by the International Commission; and(iv)responses by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to actions taken by the International Commission; and(B)the latest information available relating to—(i)the emergence and spread of COVID–19 in the People’s Republic of China, including—(I)the source of COVID–19;(II)the date and circumstances of initial transmission of COVID–19 to a human;(III)the number of COVID–19 cases, by date and location, before January 23, 2020 (the date on which the Government of the People’s Republic of China began implementing quarantine measures in Wuhan, China, and other locations);(IV)the number of deaths as a result of COVID–19 infection, by date and location, before January 23, 2020; and(V)evidence of human-to-human transmission of COVID–19 before January 20, 2020 (the date on which the Government of the People’s Republic of China first publicly acknowledged that COVID–19 was capable of human-to-human transmission);(ii)knowledge by the Government of the People’s Republic of China of the information referenced under clause (i), including details about when the Government of the People’s Republic of China first became aware of said information;(iii)methods used by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal information listed under clause (i), including—(I)silencing medical professionals, journalists, and academic researchers;(II)halting, destroying, or otherwise denying access by Chinese and international public health authorities to COVID–19 viral samples and relevant medical information and research;(III)obstructing access by international public health experts to parts of the COVID–19 outbreak epicenter; and(IV)releasing partial or incorrect data about the number of COVID–19 cases and deaths in the People’s Republic of China and COVID–19 modes of transmission;(iv)methods used by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to gain influence in the World Health Organization and use that influence to persuade, compel, or otherwise cause leaders of the World Health Organization—(I)to spread false, incomplete, or misleading information provided by the Government of the People’s Republic of China; and(II)to praise the Government of the People’s Republic of China for its handling of the COVID–19 outbreak, despite ample reporting to show that the Government of the People’s Republic of China was suppressing or distorting information about the COVID–19 outbreak by December 2019, if not earlier, in order to protect its own political fortunes;(v)the impact of actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19 on the transformation of COVID–19 from a local disease outbreak into a global pandemic;(vi)actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China that contravened the legal obligations set forth in the International Health Regulations;(vii)actions the Government of the People’s Republic of China could have taken—(I)to control the outbreak of COVID–19;(II)to prevent the spread of COVID–19 outside of Wuhan, China, and into other parts of the People’s Republic of China; and(III)to prevent the spread of COVID–19 outside the People’s Republic of China; and(viii)any other information that the Delegation determines to be appropriate.(3)FormEach report under paragraph (1)—(A)shall be submitted to the appropriate congressional committees in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex; and(B)shall be posted on a publicly available website of the Department of State, with the exception of any classified annex.(4)Appropriate congressional committees definedIn this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—(A)the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;(B)the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;(C)the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;(D)the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;(E)the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;(F)the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives;(G)the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives;(H)the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives;(I)the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives;(J)the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and(K)any congressional committee not listed in subparagraphs (A) through (J) that provides oversight for any of the Federal agencies assigned to the Delegation by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, pursuant to subsection (c)(6).(f)TerminationThe Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, shall terminate and disband the Delegation at such time as the United States Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, certifies that—(1)the International Commission has fulfilled its purpose by rendering a full and impartial account of the facts associated with actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19 and the impact thereof on the transformation of COVID–19 from a local disease outbreak to a global pandemic; or(2)the International Commission is unable to fulfill its purpose due to obstruction by the Government of the People’s Republic of China. 6.Interagency Working Group to Quantify Harm Caused by the Government of the People’s Republic of China(a)In generalThe Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, shall establish the Interagency Working Group to Quantify Harm Caused by the Government of the People’s Republic of China (referred to in this Act as Working Group to Quantify Harm) not later than 30 days after either of the following conditions is met:(1)The international investigation establishes that actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19 caused or substantially aggravated the transformation of COVID–19 from a local disease outbreak into a global pandemic.(2)The United States Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, certifies that the International Commission is unable to fulfill its purpose.(b)DutiesThe Working Group to Quantify Harm shall—(1)encourage other International Commission Members to form their own interagency working groups or equivalent bodies; and(2)use information or findings produced by the International Commission and data from other sources—(A)to quantify the harm caused or substantially aggravated by actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19 to the health and economic well-being of the people of the United States and other nations; and(B)to provide data, technical support, and other support to International Commission Members and other similar nations seeking to quantify the harm caused or substantially aggravated by actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the health and economic well-being of their respective nations.(c)Leadership(1)Quantifying harm to human healthThe Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through a designee at the level of Assistant Secretary or above, shall direct and coordinate efforts by the Working Group to Quantify Harm to quantify the harm caused or substantially aggravated by actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the health of the people of the United States and other nations.(2)Quantifying economic harmThe Secretary of Commerce, acting through a designee at the level of Assistant Secretary or above, shall direct and coordinate efforts by the Working Group to Quantify Harm to quantify the harm caused or substantially aggravated by actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the economic well-being of the people of the United States and other nations.(d)MembershipThe Working Group to Quantify Harm shall include representatives, at the level of Deputy Assistant Secretary or equivalent rank, from the following Task Force Member agencies:(1)The Department of Health and Human Services.(2)The Department of Commerce.(3)The Department of State.(4)The Department of the Treasury.(5)The Office of the Director of National Intelligence.(6)The Office of Science and Technology Policy.(7)Any other Task Force Member agency that the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, determines to be appropriate.(e)Foreign engagementThe Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Commerce, acting through their respective designees, shall coordinate with the United States Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy when providing support to other nations seeking to quantify the harm caused by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.(f)Report(1)In generalNot later than 90 days after the establishment of the Working Group, and every 6 months thereafter until the Working Group to Quantify Harm is disbanded, the Working Group to Quantify Harm shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees and to the public that describes the activities undertaken and the information produced by the Working Group to Quantify Harm.(2)Matters to be includedEach report under paragraph (1) shall include—(A)the latest assessments of the harm caused or substantially aggravated by actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19 to the health and economic well-being of the people of the United States;(B)the latest assessments of the harm caused or substantially aggravated by actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19 to the health and economic well-being of other nations; and(C)an update on support provided by the Working Group to Quantify Harm to other nations seeking to quantify the harm suffered by their respective nations on account of actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19.(3)FormEach report under paragraph (1)—(A)shall be submitted to the appropriate congressional committees in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex; and(B)shall be posted on a publicly available website of the Department of State, with the exception of any classified annex.(4)Appropriate congressional committees definedIn this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—(A)the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate;(B)the Committee on Finance of the Senate;(C)the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;(D)the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;(E)the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;(F)the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives;(G)the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives;(H)the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives;(I)the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives;(J)the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and(K)any congressional committee not listed in subparagraphs (A) through (J) that provides oversight for any of the Federal agencies assigned to the Working Group by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, pursuant to subsection (d)(7).(g)TerminationThe Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, shall terminate and disband the Working Group to Quantify Harm on the later of the date—(1)on which the Task Force determines, by consensus, that the Working Group to Quantify Harm has completed its duties; or(2)that is 2 years after the establishment of the Working Group to Quantify Harm.7.Interagency Working Group to Secure Damages from the Government of the People’s Republic of China(a)In generalThe Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, shall establish the Interagency Working Group to Secure Damages from the Government of the People’s Republic of China (referred to in this Act as Working Group to Secure Damages) not later than 30 days after either of the following conditions is met:(1)The international investigation establishes that actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19 caused or substantially aggravated the transformation of COVID–19 from a local disease outbreak into a global pandemic.(2)The United States Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, certifies that the International Commission is unable to fulfill its purpose.(b)DutiesThe Working Group to Secure Damages, in consultation with the Working Group to Quantify Harm, shall—(1)identify ways for the United States Government to compel the Government of the People’s Republic of China to pay damages—(A)to ease the pain suffered by individual citizens and residents of the United States for actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19; and(B)to reimburse expenses incurred by the United States Government to provide relief and economic recovery to the people of the United States for actions or omissions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China; and(2)encourage other International Commission Members to form their own interagency working groups or equivalent bodies to secure damages from the Government of the People’s Republic of China and provide technical and other support to such working groups.(c)LeadershipThe Secretary of State, acting through a designee at or above the level of Assistant Secretary, shall direct and coordinate activities by the Working Group to Secure Damages.(d)MembershipThe Working Group to Secure Damages shall include representatives, at the level of Deputy Assistant Secretary or equivalent rank, from the following Task Force Member agencies:(1)The Department of State.(2)The Department of Justice.(3)The Department of Commerce.(4)The Department of the Treasury.(5)The Office of the United States Trade Representative.(6)The Department of Health and Human Services.(7)The Office of the Director of National Intelligence.(8)Any other Task Force Member agency that the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, determines to be appropriate.(e)Report(1)In generalNot later than 90 days after the establishment of the Working Group to Secure Damages, and every 6 months thereafter until the Working Group to Secure Damages is disbanded, the Working Group to Secure Damages shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the activities undertaken and the information produced by the Working Group to Secure Damages.(2)Matters to be includedEach report under paragraph (1) shall include—(A)descriptions of unilateral measures that may be taken by the United States Government to compel the Government of the People’s Republic of China to pay damages, such as—(i)seizure of assets owned by the Government of the People’s Republic of China in the United States and its territories, including assets owned by Chinese state-owned enterprises or otherwise tied to the Government of the People’s Republic of China;(ii)suspension by the United States Government of legal obligations owed by the United States Government to the Government of the People’s Republic of China; or(iii)employment of other countermeasures as deemed necessary by the United States Government to secure damages from the Government of the People’s Republic of China;(B)descriptions of multilateral action that may be taken by the United States Government to compel the Government of the People’s Republic of China to pay damages, such as—(i)using the vote and influence of the United States, in cooperation with International Commission Members and other allies and partners, to seek—(I)the expulsion or temporary suspension of the Government of the People’s Republic of China from international institutions whose mandates, rules, or guiding principles the Government of People’s Republic of China undermined in its attempt to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19;(II)to downgrade the status of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, such as through the suspension of voting rights or disqualification from serving in certain roles, in international institutions whose mandates, rules, or guiding principles the Government of People’s Republic of China undermined in its attempt to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19; or(III)the removal of representatives of the Government of the People’s Republic of China from leadership, senior, and other influential positions in international institutions whose mandates, rules, or guiding principles the Government of People’s Republic of China undermined in its attempt to conceal the emergence and spread of COVID–19; or(ii)collaborating with International Commission Members and other allies and partners to compel the Government of the People’s Republic of China—(I)to cease operations at its Biosafety Level-4 laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and halt research related to bat coronavirus at other biosafety laboratories, including by restricting or terminating international assistance to these or other Chinese institutions; or(II)to provide timely and sufficient access for international monitors, including representatives from the United States Government, to ensure the Government of the People’s Republic of China has taken all measures necessary to prevent other outbreaks within the territory of the People’s Republic of China that may cause another global pandemic;(C)recommendations for—(i)the establishment of a victim’s fund or another vehicle to deliver damages secured by the United States Government from the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the people of the United States; and(ii)any additional authorities required to enable the United States Government to secure damages from the Government of the People’s Republic of China; and(D)an update on support provided by the Working Group to Secure Damages to other nations seeking—(i)to compel the Government of the People’s Republic of China to pay damages, including through unilateral and multilateral actions such as the actions described in subparagraphs (A) through (C); and(ii)to design vehicles by which to deliver such damages to their respective populations or governments.(3)FormEach report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the appropriate congressional committees in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.(4)Appropriate congressional committees definedThe term appropriate congressional committees means—(A)the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate;(B)the Committee on Finance of the Senate;(C)the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;(D)the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;(E)the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;(F)the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;(G)the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives;(H)the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives;(I)the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives;(J)the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives;(K)the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives;(L)the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and(M)any congressional committee not listed in subparagraphs (A) through (L) that provides oversight for any of the Federal agencies assigned to the Working Group to Secure Damages by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, pursuant to subsection (d)(8).(f)TerminationThe Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, or his or her designee, shall terminate and disband the Working Group to Secure Damages on the later of the date—(1)on which the Task Force determines, by consensus, that the Working Group to Secure Damages has completed its duties; or(2)that is 2 years after the establishment of the Working Group to Secure Damages.8.Authorities and appropriations(a)AuthoritiesTask Force members shall—(1)coordinate use of the programs and authorities resident in their respective Federal agencies to perform the duties assigned to them under this Act; and(2)notify Congress upon the discovery of any lack of authority that might impede the ability of their respective Federal agencies to perform the duties assigned to them under this Act.(b)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for Task Force members to perform the duties assigned to them under this Act.


114 S796 IS: Investing in States to Achieve Tuition Equality for Dreamers Act of 2015
U.S. Senate
2015-03-19
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.

II114th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 796IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 19, 2015Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Hirono) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsA BILLTo incentivize State support for postsecondary education and to promote increased access and
			 affordability for higher education for students, including Dreamer
			 students.

		1.Short
 titleThis Act may be cited as the Investing in States to Achieve Tuition Equality for Dreamers Act of 2015 or the IN-STATE for Dreamers Act of 2015.
		2.Findings and purposes
 (a)FindingsCongress makes the following findings: (1)The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found that comprehensive immigration reform would reduce the national deficit by billions, strengthen Social Security solvency, increase the number of jobs, and raise Gross Domestic Product.
 (2)According to a report by the Partnership for a New American Economy, more than 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children, generating a combined revenue of $4,200,000,000,000.
 (3)Thousands of deferred action childhood arrival students graduate from high schools in the United States every year but only a small fraction of those students enroll in higher education.
 (4)Many jobs in the 21st century economy require some form of postsecondary education. (5)Education provides an important pathway to the middle class; college graduates have higher earnings and lower unemployment rates than their less educated peers.
 (6)Since 2008, States are spending 28 percent less per student in higher education, and tuition and fees continue to rise. The increased costs are being shifted to students and student loan debt continues to grow.
 (7)Investments in higher education provide youth a ladder to achieving the American dream. (b)PurposesThe purposes of this Act are to—
 (1)allow States to provide immigrant students timely and affordable access to higher education; (2)incentivize States to maintain support for higher education; and
 (3)promote increased access and affordability to postsecondary education for students through State need-based financial aid.
				3.American dream grants
 (a)In generalSubpart 4 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070c et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					415G.American dream grants
						(a)Dreamer students
 (1)In generalIn this section, the term Dreamer student means an individual who— (A)was younger than 16 years of age on the date on which the individual initially entered the United States;
 (B)has provided a list of each secondary school (as that term is defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) that the student attended in the United States; and
 (C)(i)has earned a high school diploma, the recognized equivalent of such diploma from a secondary school, a high school equivalency diploma in the United States, or is scheduled to complete the requirements for such a diploma or equivalent before the next academic year begins;
 (ii)has acquired a degree from an institution of higher education or has completed not less than 2 years in a program for a baccalaureate degree or higher degree at an institution of higher education in the United States and has made satisfactory academic progress, as defined in section 484(c), during such time period;
 (iii)is a beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program pursuant to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary’s memorandum on June 15, 2012, or November 20, 2014; or
 (iv)has served in the uniformed services, as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code, for not less than 4 years and, if discharged, received an honorable discharge.
 (2)Hardship exceptionThe Secretary shall issue regulations that direct when a State shall waive the requirement of subparagraph (A) or (B), or both, of paragraph (1) to qualify as a Dreamer student under such paragraph, if the individual—
 (A)demonstrates compelling circumstances for the inability to satisfy the requirement of such subparagraph (A) or (B), or both; and
 (B)satisfies the requirement under paragraph (1)(C). (b)Grants to States (1)Reservation for administrationFrom the amounts appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve not more than 1 percent of such amounts to administer this section.
 (2)Grants authorized to eligible StatesFrom the amounts appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal year and not reserved under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall award grants to eligible States to enable the States to carry out the activities described in this section.
 (3)Eligible stateAn eligible State means a State that— (A)increases access and affordability to higher education for students by—
 (i)offering in-State tuition for Dreamer students; and (ii)expanding in-State financial aid to Dreamer students; and
 (B)submits an application to the Secretary that contains an assurance that— (i)notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State will not discriminate, in awarding student financial assistance or determining who is eligible for in-State tuition, against a Dreamer student if the student would otherwise be eligible for in-State financial aid; and
 (ii)for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2025, the State will maintain State support for public institutions of higher education located in the State (not including support for capital projects, research and development, or tuition and fees paid by students) at not less than the level of such support for fiscal year 2013 adjusted annually for inflation as determined by the Consumer Price Index (as such term in defined in section 478(f)) for the previous calendar year.
 (4)AllotmentsThe Secretary shall allot the amount appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal year and not reserved under paragraph (1) among the eligible States in proportion to the number of Dreamer students enrolled at least half-time in postsecondary education who reside in the State for the most recent fiscal year for which satisfactory data are available, compared to the number of such students who reside in all eligible States for that fiscal year.
 (c)Supplement not supplantGrant funds awarded under this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, non-Federal funds that would otherwise be used for activities authorized under this section.
 (d)Authorization and appropriation of fundsThere are authorized to be appropriated, and there are appropriated, to carry out this section— (1)$55,000,000 for fiscal year 2016;
 (2)$55,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; (3)$60,000,000 for fiscal year 2018;
 (4)$60,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; (5)$75,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
 (6)$75,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; (7)$85,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
 (8)$85,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; (9)$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and
 (10)$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.. (b)OffsetSection 281 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1351) is amended—
 (1)by striking The fees and inserting the following:  (a)In generalThe fees;
 (2)by striking : Provided, That nonimmigrant visas and inserting the following:  (b)United Nations visitorsNonimmigrant visas;
 (3)by striking Subject to and inserting the following:  (c)Fee waivers or reductionsSubject to; and
 (4)by adding at the end the following:  (d)F–1 visa feeIn addition to the fees authorized under subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall collect a $150 fee from each nonimmigrant admitted under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i), which fee shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury..
				(c)Restoration of State option To determine residency for purposes of higher education
 (1)RepealSection 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1623) is repealed.
 (2)Effective dateThe repeal under paragraph (1) shall take effect as if included in the original enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C of Public Law 104–208).
 (d)NaturalizationSection 328(a) (8 U.S.C. 1439(a)) is amended by inserting , without having been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence, and after naturalized.


		II

		109th CONGRESS

		1st Session

		S. 1001

		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			May 11, 2005

			Mr. Wyden introduced the

			 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the

			 Committee on

			 Finance

		A BILL

		To establish hospice demonstration projects

		  and a hospice grant program for beneficiaries under the medicare program under

		  title XVIII of the Social Security Act, and for other

		  purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the

			 Medicare Hospice Demonstration Act of

			 2005.

		2.FindingsCongress makes the following

			 findings:

			(1)Each year more than

			 1/3 of the people who die suffer from a chronic

			 illness.

			(2)Approximately 1/3 of

			 Americans are unsure about whom to contact to get the best care during life’s

			 last stages.

			(3)Americans want a team of professionals to

			 care for the patient at the end of life.

			(4)Americans want emotional and spiritual

			 support for the patient and family.

			(5)Ninety percent of Americans do not realize

			 that hospice care is a benefit provided under the medicare program under title

			 XVIII of the Social Security

			 Act.

			(6)Data of the Centers for Medicare &

			 Medicaid Services show that beneficiaries were enrolled in hospice for an

			 average of less than 7 weeks in 1998, far less than the full 6-month benefit

			 under the medicare program.

			(7)According to the most recent data

			 available, although more medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in hospice, the

			 medicare length of stay has declined.

			(8)Use of hospice among medicare beneficiaries

			 has been decreasing, from a high of 59 days in 1995 to less than 48 days in

			 1998.

			3.Hospice demonstration

			 projects and Hospice Education Grants

			(a)DefinitionsIn this section:

				(1)Demonstration

			 projectThe term

			 demonstration project means a demonstration project established by

			 the Secretary under subsection (b)(1).

				(2)Hospice

			 careThe term hospice

			 care means the items and services described in subparagraphs (A) through

			 (I) of section 1861(dd)(1) of the Social Security

			 Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(1)) that are provided to a seriously ill

			 medicare beneficiary under a demonstration project by a hospice program (or by

			 others under an arrangement with such a program) under a written plan for

			 providing such care to such beneficiary established and periodically reviewed

			 by the beneficiary’s attending physician, by the medical director of the

			 program, and by the interdisciplinary group described in section 1861(dd)(2)(B)

			 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(2)(B)).

				(3)Hospice

			 programThe term

			 hospice program has the meaning given that term in section

			 1861(dd)(2) of the Social Security Act

			 (42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(2)).

				(4)Medicare

			 beneficiaryThe term

			 medicare beneficiary means any individual who is entitled to

			 benefits under part A or enrolled under part B of the medicare program.

				(5)Medicare

			 programThe term

			 medicare program means the health benefits program under title

			 XVIII of the Social Security Act (42

			 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.).

				(6)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the

			 Secretary of Health and Human Services.

				(7)Seriously

			 illThe term seriously

			 ill has the meaning given such term by the Secretary (in consultation

			 with hospice programs and academic experts in end-of-life care), except that

			 the Secretary may not limit such term to individuals who are terminally ill (as

			 defined in section 1861(dd)(3)(A) of the Social

			 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(3)(A))).

				(b)Hospice

			 demonstration projects

				(1)EstablishmentThe Secretary shall establish demonstration

			 projects in accordance with the provisions of this subsection to increase the

			 utility of the hospice care for seriously ill medicare beneficiaries.

				(2)Participation

					(A)Hospice

			 programsExcept as provided

			 in paragraph (4)(A), only a hospice program with an agreement under section

			 1866 of the Social Security Act (42

			 U.S.C. 1395cc), a consortium of such hospice programs, or a State hospice

			 association may participate in the demonstration program.

					(B)Seriously ill

			 medicare beneficiariesThe

			 Secretary shall permit any seriously ill medicare beneficiary residing in the

			 service area of a hospice program participating in a demonstration project to

			 participate in such project on a voluntary basis.

					(3)Services under

			 demonstration projectsThe

			 provisions of section 1814(i) of the Social

			 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(i)) shall apply to the payment for

			 hospice care provided under the demonstration projects, except that—

					(A)notwithstanding section 1862(a)(1)(C) of

			 such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)(1)(C)), the Secretary shall provide for

			 reimbursement for items and services provided under the supportive and comfort

			 care benefit established under paragraph (3);

					(B)any licensed nurse practitioner or

			 physician assistant may admit a seriously ill medicare beneficiary as the

			 primary care provider when necessary and within the scope of practice of such

			 practitioner or assistant under State law;

					(C)if an underserved community included in a

			 demonstration project does not have a qualified social worker, any professional

			 (other than a social worker) who has the necessary knowledge, skills, and

			 ability to provide medical social services may provide such services;

					(D)the Secretary shall waive any requirement

			 that nursing facilities used for respite care have skilled nurses on the

			 premises 24 hours per day;

					(E)the Secretary shall permit respite care to

			 be provided to the seriously ill medicare beneficiary at home; and

					(F)the Secretary shall waive reimbursement

			 regulations to provide—

						(i)reimbursement for consultations and

			 preadmission informational visits, even if the seriously ill medicare

			 beneficiary does not elect hospice care at that time;

						(ii)except with respect to the supportive and

			 comfort care benefit under paragraph (3), a minimum payment for hospice care

			 provided under the demonstration projects based on the provision of hospice

			 care to a seriously ill medicare beneficiary for a period of 14 days,

			 that—

							(I)the Secretary shall pay to any hospice

			 program participating in a demonstration project and providing such care

			 (regardless of the length of stay of the seriously ill medicare beneficiary);

			 and

							(II)may not be less than the amount of payment

			 that would have been made for hospice care if payment had been made at the

			 daily rate of payment for such care under section 1814(i) of the

			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

			 1395f(i));

							(iii)an increase in the reimbursement rates for

			 hospice care to offset—

							(I)changes in hospice care and oversight under

			 the demonstration projects;

							(II)the higher costs of providing hospice care

			 in rural areas due to lack of economies of scale or large geographic areas;

			 and

							(III)the higher costs of providing hospice care

			 in urban underserved areas due to unique costs specifically associated with

			 people living in those areas, including providing security;

							(iv)direct payment of any nurse practitioner or

			 physician assistant practicing within the scope of State law in relation to

			 hospice care provided by such practitioner or assistant; and

						(v)a per diem rate of payment for in-home care

			 under subparagraph (E) that reflects the range of care needs of the seriously

			 ill medicare beneficiary and that—

							(I)in the case of a seriously ill medicare

			 beneficiary that needs routine care, is not less than 150 percent, and not more

			 than 200 percent, of the routine home care rate for hospice care; and

							(II)in the case of a seriously ill medicare

			 beneficiary that needs acute care, is equal to the continuous home care day

			 rate for hospice care.

							(4)Supportive and

			 comfort care benefit

					(A)In

			 generalFor purposes of the

			 demonstration projects, the Secretary shall establish a supportive and comfort

			 care benefit for any eligible seriously ill medicare beneficiary (as defined in

			 subparagraph (C)).

					(B)ParticipationAny individual or entity with an agreement

			 under section 1866 of the Social Security

			 Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc) may furnish items or services covered under

			 the supportive and comfort care benefit.

					(C)BenefitUnder the supportive and comfort care

			 benefit, any eligible seriously ill medicare beneficiary may—

						(i)continue to receive benefits for disease

			 and symptom modifying treatment under the medicare program (and the Secretary

			 may not require or prohibit any specific treatment or decision);

						(ii)receive case management and hospice care

			 through a hospice program participating in a demonstration project (for which

			 payment shall be made under paragraph (2)(F)(ii)); and

						(iii)receive information and education in order

			 to better understand the utility of hospice care.

						(D)PaymentThe Secretary shall establish procedures

			 under which the Secretary pays for items and services furnished to seriously

			 ill medicare beneficiaries under the supportive and comfort care benefit on a

			 fee-for-service basis.

					(E)Eligible

			 seriously ill medicare beneficiary defined

						(i)In

			 generalIn this paragraph,

			 the term eligible seriously ill medicare beneficiary means any

			 seriously ill medicare beneficiary that meets the criteria approved by the

			 Secretary under clause (ii).

						(ii)Approval of

			 criteria

							(I)In

			 generalWith respect to each

			 demonstration project, the Secretary shall approve criteria for determining

			 whether a seriously ill medicare beneficiary is eligible for hospice care under

			 a demonstration project that has been developed by hospice programs in

			 consultation with researchers in end-of-life care and the broader medical

			 community.

							(II)Data

			 comparabilityThe Secretary

			 may only approve criteria that ensures that each demonstration project yields

			 comparable data with respect to eligible seriously ill medicare beneficiaries

			 on—

								(aa)the utilization of services by such

			 beneficiaries;

								(bb)the cost of providing services to such

			 beneficiaries, including any costs associated with providing services before an

			 individual is terminally ill (as defined in section 1861(dd)(3)(A) of the

			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

			 1395x(dd)(3)(A))); and

								(cc)the effect of the demonstration project on

			 the quality of care of such beneficiaries.

								(III)LimitationThe Secretary may not approve criteria if

			 the purpose of such criteria is to segment services or to provide a benefit for

			 the chronically ill.

							(5)Conduct of

			 demonstration projects

					(A)SitesThe Secretary shall conduct demonstration

			 projects in at least 3, but not more than 6, sites (which may be

			 statewide).

					(B)Selection of

			 sites

						(i)In

			 generalExcept as provided in

			 clause (ii), the Secretary shall select demonstration sites on the basis of

			 proposals submitted under subparagraph (C) that are located in geographic areas

			 that—

							(I)include both urban and rural hospice

			 programs; and

							(II)are geographically diverse and readily

			 accessible to a significant number of seriously ill medicare

			 beneficiaries.

							(ii)Exceptions

							(I)Underserved

			 urban areasIf a geographic

			 area does not have any rural hospice program available to participate in a

			 demonstration project, such area may substitute an underserved urban area, but

			 the Secretary shall give priority to those proposals that include a rural

			 hospice program.

							(II)Specific

			 siteThe Secretary shall

			 select as a demonstration site the State in which (according to the Hospital

			 Referral Region of Residence, 1994–1995, as listed in the Dartmouth Atlas of

			 Health Care 1998) the largest metropolitan area of the State had the lowest

			 percentage of medicare beneficiary deaths in a hospital when compared to the

			 largest metropolitan area of each other State, and the percentage of enrollees

			 who experienced intensive care during the last 6 months of life was 21.5

			 percent.

							(C)Proposals

						(i)In

			 generalThe Secretary shall

			 accept proposals by any State hospice association, hospice program, or

			 consortium of hospice programs at such time, in such manner, and in such form

			 as the Secretary may reasonably require.

						(ii)Research

			 designsThe Secretary shall

			 permit research designs that use time series, sequential implementation of the

			 intervention, randomization by wait list, and other designs that allow the

			 strongest possible implementation of the demonstration projects, while still

			 allowing strong evaluation about the merits of the demonstration

			 projects.

						(D)Facilitation of

			 evaluationThe Secretary

			 shall design the program to facilitate the evaluation conducted under paragraph

			 (7).

					(6)DurationThe Secretary shall complete the

			 demonstration projects within a period of 61/2 years that

			 includes a period of 18 months during which the Secretary shall complete the

			 evaluation under paragraph (7).

				(7)EvaluationDuring the 18-month period following the

			 first 5 years of the demonstration projects, the Secretary shall complete an

			 evaluation of the demonstration projects in order to determine—

					(A)the short-term and long-term costs and

			 benefits of changing hospice care provided under the medicare program to

			 include the items, services, and reimbursement options provided under the

			 demonstration projects;

					(B)whether any increase in payments for the

			 hospice care provided under the medicare program are offset by savings in other

			 parts of the medicare program;

					(C)the projected cost of implementing the

			 demonstration projects on a national basis; and

					(D)in consultation with hospice organizations

			 and hospice programs (including organizations and providers that represent

			 rural areas), whether a payment system based on diagnosis-related groups is

			 useful for administering the hospice care provided under the medicare

			 program.

					(8)Reports to

			 congress

					(A)Preliminary

			 reportNot later than 3 years

			 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the

			 Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and to the

			 Committee on Finance of the Senate a preliminary report on the progress made in

			 the demonstration projects.

					(B)Interim

			 reportNot later than 30

			 months after the implementation of the demonstration projects, the Secretary,

			 in consultation with participants in the projects, shall submit to the

			 committees described in subparagraph (A) an interim report on the demonstration

			 projects.

					(C)Final

			 reportNot later than the

			 date on which the demonstration projects end, the Secretary shall submit a

			 final report to the committees described in subparagraph (A) on the

			 demonstration projects that includes the results of the evaluation conducted

			 under paragraph (7) and recommendations for appropriate legislative

			 changes.

					(9)Waiver of

			 medicare requirementsThe

			 Secretary shall waive compliance with such requirements of the medicare program

			 to the extent and for the period the Secretary finds necessary to conduct the

			 demonstration projects.

				(10)Special rules

			 for payment of medicare advantage organizationsThe Secretary shall establish procedures

			 under which the Secretary provides for an appropriate adjustment in the monthly

			 payments made under section 1853 of the Social

			 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–23) to any Medicare Advantage

			 organization offering a Medicare Advantage plan to reflect the participation of

			 each seriously ill medicare beneficiary enrolled in such plan in a

			 demonstration project.

				(c)Hospice

			 Education Grant program

				(1)In

			 generalThe Secretary shall

			 establish a Hospice Education Grant program under which the Secretary awards

			 education grants to entities participating in the demonstration projects for

			 the purpose of providing information about—

					(A)the hospice care under the medicare

			 program; and

					(B)the benefits available to medicare

			 beneficiaries under the demonstration projects.

					(2)Use of

			 fundsGrants awarded under

			 paragraph (1) shall be used—

					(A)to provide—

						(i)individual or group education to medicare

			 beneficiaries and the families of such beneficiaries; and

						(ii)individual or group education of the

			 medical and mental health community caring for medicare beneficiaries;

			 and

						(B)to test strategies to improve the general

			 public knowledge about hospice care under the medicare program and the benefits

			 available to medicare beneficiaries under the demonstration projects.

					(d)Funding

				(1)Hospice

			 demonstration projects

					(A)In

			 generalExcept as provided in

			 subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall provide for the transfer from the Federal

			 Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 1817 of the

			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i)

			 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

					(B)Supportive and

			 comfort care benefitThe

			 Secretary shall provide for the transfer from the Federal Hospital Insurance

			 Trust Fund under section 1817 of the Social

			 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i) and the Federal Supplementary Medical

			 Insurance Trust Fund established under section 1841 of such Act (42 U.S.C.

			 1395t), in such proportion as the Secretary determines is appropriate, such

			 sums as may be necessary to provide for payment of the costs attributable to

			 the supportive and comfort care benefit.

					(2)Hospice

			 Education GrantsThe

			 Secretary shall expend such sums as may be necessary for the purposes of

			 carrying out the Hospice Education Grant program established under subsection

			 (c)(1) from the Research and Demonstration Budget of the Centers for Medicare

			 & Medicaid Services.


116 HRES 416 IH: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on support for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-06-03
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. RES. 416IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJune 3, 2019Mr. Conaway submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign AffairsRESOLUTIONExpressing the sense of the House of Representatives on support for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

 Whereas the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are highly valued allies of the United States, and they have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to advancing our mutual interests as well as those of the NATO Alliance;
 Whereas Operation Atlantic Resolve is a series of exercises and coordinating efforts demonstrating the United States commitment to its European partners and allies, including the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, with the shared goal of peace and stability in the region;
 Whereas Operation Atlantic Resolve strengthens communication and understanding, and is an important effort to deter Russian aggression in the region;
 Whereas through Operation Atlantic Resolve, the European Deterrence Initiative undertakes exercises, training, and rotational presence necessary to reassure and integrate our allies, including the Baltic countries, into a common defense framework;
 Whereas all three Baltic countries contributed to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, sending troops and operating with few caveats; and
 Whereas the Baltic countries continue to commit resources and troops to the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan: Now, therefore, be it

 That the House of Representatives— (1)reaffirms its support for the principle of collective defense in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty for our NATO allies, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania;
 (2)supports the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and inviolability of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as well as their internationally recognized borders, and expresses concerns over increasingly aggressive military maneuvering by the Russian Federation near their borders and airspace;
 (3)expresses concern over and condemns subversive and destabilizing activities by the Russian Federation within the Baltic countries; and
 (4)encourages the Administration to further enhance defense cooperation efforts with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and supports the efforts of their Governments to provide for the defense of their people and sovereign territory.


117 SRES 409 ATS: Designating the week beginning October 17, 2021, as “National Character Counts Week”.
U.S. Senate
2021-10-07
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.

III117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. RES. 409IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESOctober 7 (legislative day, October 6), 2021Mr. Grassley (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Warren, Mr. Braun, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Lankford, and Mr. Warnock) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed toRESOLUTIONDesignating the week beginning October 17, 2021, as National Character Counts Week.Whereas the well-being of the United States requires that the young people of the United States become an involved, caring citizenry of good character;Whereas the character education of children has become more urgent, as violence by and against youth increasingly threatens the physical and psychological well-being of the people of the United States;Whereas, more than ever, children need strong and constructive guidance from their families and their communities, including from schools, youth organizations, religious institutions, and civic groups;Whereas the character of a nation is only as strong as the character of its individual citizens;Whereas the public good is advanced when young individuals are taught the importance of good character and the positive effects that good character can have in personal relationships, in school, and in the workplace;Whereas scholars and educators agree that individuals do not automatically develop good character and that, therefore, institutions and individuals that influence youth must make conscientious efforts to help young individuals develop the essential traits and characteristics that comprise good character;Whereas, although character development is, first and foremost, an obligation of families, the efforts of faith communities, schools, and youth, civic, and human service organizations also play an important role in fostering and promoting good character;Whereas Congress encourages students, teachers, parents, youth, and community leaders to recognize the importance of character education in preparing young individuals to play a role in determining the future of the United States;Whereas effective character education is based on core ethical values, which form the foundation of a democratic society;Whereas examples of character are trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship, and honesty;Whereas elements of character transcend cultural, religious, and socioeconomic differences;Whereas the character and conduct of youth reflect the character and conduct of society, and, therefore, every adult has the responsibility to teach and model ethical values and every social institution has the responsibility to promote the development of good character;Whereas Congress encourages individuals and organizations, especially those that have an interest in the education and training of the young individuals in the United States, to adopt the elements of character as intrinsic to the well-being of individuals, communities, and society;Whereas many schools in the United States recognize the need, and have taken steps, to integrate the values of their communities into teaching activities; andWhereas the establishment of National Character Counts Week, during which individuals, families, schools, youth organizations, religious institutions, civic groups, and other organizations focus on character education, is of great benefit to the United States: Now, therefore, be itThat the Senate—(1)designates the week beginning October 17, 2021, as National Character Counts Week; and(2)calls upon the people of the United States and interested groups—(A)to embrace the elements of character identified by local schools and communities, such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship; and(B)to observe National Character Counts Week with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities.