116 HR 5076 IH: Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act of 2019
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-11-13
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.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 5076IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESNovember 13, 2019Ms. Shalala (for herself, Mr. Bucshon, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, and Mr. David P. Roe of Tennessee) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
			 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide information regarding vaccines for
			 seniors as part of the Medicare & You handbook and to ensure that the treatment of cost sharing for vaccines under Medicare part D
			 is consistent with the treatment of vaccines under Medicare part B, and
			 for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act of 2019. 2.FindingsCongress makes the following findings:
 (1)The immune system deteriorates with age, leaving older adults more susceptible to many vaccine-preventable diseases that could result in hospitalizations and other costly medical interventions.
 (2)Vaccines play an essential role in preventing disease, thereby helping to keep older adults active and independent.
 (3)There are more than a dozen immunizations recommended for adult populations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including—
 (A)influenza; (B)tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap);
 (C)measles, mumps, rubella (MMR); (D)herpes zoster (shingles);
 (E)human papillomavirus (HPV); (F)pneumococcal;
 (G)hepatitis A; (H)hepatitis B; and
 (I)meningococcal. (4)Through new research and technology, additional vaccines may be approved for older adults.
 (5)Although immunizations are lifesaving and cost-effective interventions, adult vaccination rates in the United States remain below Federal Healthy People benchmarks.
 (6)There are disparities in adult vaccination rates across different races and ethnicities with rates generally lower among Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian Americans.
 (7)Important vaccines, including those for shingles and Tdap, are covered under the Medicare Prescription Drug Program under part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act. Coverage under the Medicare part D has resulted in barriers to optimal and consistent uptake, including lack of patient and provider awareness, beneficiary cost sharing, and low provider reimbursement, as well as geographic, cultural, and linguistic challenges.
 (8)The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the Tdap vaccine should be administered every 10 years for all ages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Surveillance of Vaccination Coverage Among Adults in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2016, vaccination rates remain low for tetanus and diphtheria (Td) and tetanus and diphtheria with acellular pertussis (Tdap) for adults age 65 and older, at 58 percent and 20 percent respectively.
 (9)Being up-to-date with Tdap is especially important for adults who are around babies, because they are not only protecting their own health but helping to form a cocoon of disease protection around the baby during the first few months of life.
 (10)The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the shingles vaccine for individuals aged 50 and older. While vaccine coverage for shingles has increased each year since licensure, in 2016, only 33 percent of adults over 60 years reported receiving the vaccine.
 (11)Almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime. The risk increases with age, and older individuals are much more likely to experience postherpetic neuralgia non-pain complications, hospitalizations, and interference with activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, and bathing.
 (12)A 2018 study of Tdap and shingles vaccine claims in Medicare part D demonstrated that higher out-of-pocket cost sharing was associated with higher rates of cancelled vaccination claims, suggesting vaccination was abandoned. In this study, cost sharing of $51 or greater was associated with a 2 to 2.7-times greater rate of cancelled vaccination claims compared with $0 cost sharing.
 (13)There is an opportunity to improve education around adult immunization, including the risks and consequences of vaccine-preventable disease, and which vaccines are recommended for older adults.
			3.Provision of information regarding vaccines for seniors as part of Medicare & You handbook and coverage of adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization
			 Practices under Medicare part D
			(a)Provision of information regarding vaccines for seniors as part of Medicare & You handbook
 (1)In generalSection 1804 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395b–2) is amended— (A)in subsection (a)(1), by inserting , including information with respect to coverage of vaccines for seniors described in subsection (e) before the comma at the end; and
 (B)by adding at the end the following new subsection:  (e)The notice provided under subsection (a) shall include information with respect to vaccines for seniors, including information with respect to coverage of adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (as defined in section 1860D–2(b)(8)(B)) under part D for individuals enrolled in a prescription drug plan under such part..
 (2)Effective dateThe amendments made by this subsection shall apply to notices distributed prior to each Medicare open enrollment period beginning after the date of implementation of section 1860D–2(b)(8), as added by subsection (b)(2).
				(b)Coverage of adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices under
			 Medicare part D
				(1)Provision of educational materials regarding the availability of adult vaccines recommended by the
 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices with no cost sharingSection 1860D–4(a)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–104(a)(1)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:

 (vii)For plan years beginning on or after January 1 of the first year beginning more than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this clause, information regarding access to adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (as defined in section 1860D–2(b)(8)(B))..
 (2)Ensuring treatment of cost sharing is consistent with treatment of vaccines under medicare part bSection 1860D–2(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–102(b)) is amended— (A)in paragraph (1)(A), by striking the coverage and inserting Subject to paragraph (8), the coverage;
 (B)in paragraph (2)(A), by striking and (D) and inserting and (D) and paragraph (8); (C)in paragraph (3)(A), by striking and (4) and inserting (4), and (8);
 (D)in paragraph (4)(A)(i), by striking The coverage and inserting Subject to paragraph (8), the coverage; and (E)by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

							(8)Treatment of cost sharing for adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization
			 Practices consistent with treatment of vaccines under part b
 (A)In generalFor plan years beginning on or after January 1 of the first year beginning more than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the following shall apply with respect to an adult vaccine recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (as defined in subparagraph (B)):
 (i)No application of deductibleThe deductible under paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to such vaccine. (ii)No application of coinsuranceThere shall be no coinsurance under paragraph (2) with respect to such vaccine.
 (iii)No application of initial coverage limitThe initial coverage limit under paragraph (3) shall not apply with respect to such vaccine. (iv)No cost sharing above annual out-of-pocket thresholdThere shall be no cost sharing under paragraph (4) with respect to such vaccine.
 (B)Adult vaccines recommended by the advisory committee on immunization practicesFor purposes of this paragraph, the term adult vaccine recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices means a vaccine approved for use by adult populations and in accordance with recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention..
 (3)Conforming amendments to cost sharing for low-income individualsSection 1860D–14(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–114(a)) is amended— (A)in paragraph (1)(D), in each of clauses (ii) and (iii), by striking In the case and inserting Subject to paragraph (6), in the case;
 (B)in paragraph (2)— (i)in subparagraph (D), by striking The substitution and inserting Subject to paragraph (6), the substitution; and
 (ii)in subparagraph (E), by striking subsection (c) and inserting paragraph (6) and subsection (c); and (C)by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

							(6)No application of cost sharing for adult vaccines recommended by the advisory committee on
 immunization practicesConsistent with section 1860D–2(b)(8), for plan years beginning on or after January 1 of the first year beginning more than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, there shall be no cost sharing under this section with respect to an adult vaccine recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (as defined in subparagraph (B) of such section)..
					(c)Study and report
 (1)StudyThe Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this subsection as the Secretary), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in collaboration with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall conduct a study on the uptake of vaccines among the Medicare beneficiary population, including the herpes zoster vaccine and the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine, and anticipated vaccines against such diseases as respiratory syncytial virus, clostridium difficile, and others. Such study shall include an analysis of ways to—
 (A)increase the baseline target rate of coverage for vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Healthy People 2020 goals;
 (B)ensure that baseline targets focus on reducing racial and socioeconomic disparities in the vaccine coverage rates for all adult vaccines;
 (C)help facilitate immunization of Medicare beneficiaries, by developing and evaluating a specific set of actions that will address physician and health care provider administrative challenges, such as difficulty verifying beneficiary coverage and complexity of physician office billing of vaccines covered under Medicare part D, that impact access for beneficiaries;
 (D)support adoption of the HEDIS adult immunization status composite measure (Tdap, pneumococcal, influenza, and zoster) in order to close gaps in adult immunization performance measurement and incentivize vaccination through adoption of evidence-based measures; and
 (E)strengthen immunization information systems to allow all States to have electronic databases for immunization records.
 (2)ReportNot later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study under paragraph (1), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate.


110 HR 5101 IH: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to accelerate the phasein of the deduction for domestic production activities.
U.S. House of Representatives
2008-01-23
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5101
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 23, 2008
Mr. Manzullo (for himself, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Cantor, Mr. Herger, and Mr. Fortenberry) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to accelerate the phasein of the deduction for domestic production activities.

1.Accelerating the phasein of domestic production activities deduction
(a)In generalSubsection (a) of section 199 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to allowance of deduction) is amended to read as follows:

(a)Allowance of deductionThere shall be allowed as a deduction an amount equal to 9 percent of the lesser of—
(1)the qualified production activities income of the taxpayer for the taxable year, or
(2)taxable income (determined without regard to this section) for the taxable year..
(b)Conforming amendmentParagraph (2) of section 199(d) of such Code is amended by striking subsection (a)(1)(B) and inserting subsection (a)(2)
(c)Effective dateThe amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 6563
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			September 25, 2012
			Mr. Markey introduced
			 the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Veterans’
			 Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on
			 Ways and Means,
			 the Budget,
			 Armed Services,
			 Foreign Affairs,
			 the Judiciary,
			 Science, Space, and
			 Technology, and Education
			 and the Workforce, 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 require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish
		  a veterans jobs corps, and for other purposes.

		1.Short title; table of
			 contents
			(a)Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited
			 as the Veterans Jobs Corps Act of
			 2012.
			(b)Table of
			 contentsThe table of
			 contents for this Act is as follows:

					Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
					Sec. 2. Veterans Jobs Corps.
					Sec. 3. Employment of veterans with the Federal
				Government.
					Sec. 4. Requirement that States recognize military experience
				of veterans when issuing licenses and credentials to veterans.
					Sec. 5. Support for job searches of veterans through one-stop
				centers.
					Sec. 6. State consideration of military training in granting
				certain State certifications and licenses as a condition on the receipt of
				funds for veterans employment and training.
					Sec. 7. Study on value and utility of a skill credential
				registry.
					Sec. 8. Minimum funding levels for disabled veterans' outreach
				program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives.
					Sec. 9. Off-base transition training.
					Sec. 10. Expansion of contracting goals and preferences of
				Department of Veterans Affairs to include small business concerns 100 percent
				but conditionally owned by veterans.
					Sec. 11. Modification of treatment under contracting goals and
				preferences of Department of Veterans Affairs for small businesses owned by
				veterans of small businesses after death of disabled veteran
				owners.
					Sec. 12. Treatment of businesses after deaths of
				servicemember-owners for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs contracting
				goals and preferences.
					Sec. 13. Special rule for treatment under contracting goals and
				preferences of Department of Veterans Affairs of small business concerns
				licensed in community property States.
					Sec. 14. 100 percent continuous levy on payment to medicare
				providers and suppliers.
					Sec. 15. Extension of modified pension for certain veterans
				covered by medicaid plans for services furnished by nursing
				facilities.
					Sec. 16. Revocation or denial of passport in case of certain
				unpaid taxes.
					Sec. 17. Time for payment of corporate estimated
				taxes.
					Sec. 18. Scoring of budgetary effects.

			2.Veterans Jobs
			 Corps
			(a)Establishment
				(1)In
			 generalThe Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in cooperation
			 with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of
			 Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Interior,
			 and the Commanding General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers,
			 establish a veterans jobs corps to employ veterans—
					(A)in conservation,
			 resource management, and historic preservation projects on public lands and
			 maintenance and improvement projects for cemeteries under the jurisdiction of
			 the National Cemetery Administration; and
					(B)as firefighters
			 and law enforcement officers.
					(2)Advisory
			 inputThe Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor may
			 provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with advice regarding the
			 establishment of the veterans jobs corps.
				(b)Conservation,
			 resource management, historic preservation, and cemetery maintenance and
			 improvement projects
				(1)In
			 generalAs part of the veterans jobs corps, the Secretary of
			 Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the
			 Secretary of the Interior, and the Commanding General of the United States Army
			 Corps of Engineers shall—
					(A)employ veterans to
			 carry out projects described in subsection (a)(1); or
					(B)award grants to,
			 or enter into contracts with, State governments, local governments, tribal
			 governments, or nongovernmental entities to employ veterans to carry out
			 projects described in subsection (a)(1).
					(2)PriorityIn
			 employing or awarding grants or contracts to employ veterans under this
			 subsection, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Agriculture,
			 the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Commanding
			 General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers shall give priority
			 towards the employment of veterans who served on active duty in the Armed
			 Forces on or after September 11, 2001.
				(3)CoordinationThe
			 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall coordinate the activities of the Attorney
			 General, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary
			 of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Commanding General
			 of the United States Army Corps of Engineers to employ veterans as part of the
			 veterans job corps.
				(4)Oversight of
			 projectsThe secretaries referred to in paragraph (1) and the
			 Commanding General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers shall each
			 provide oversight of the projects for which they employ veterans under
			 subparagraph (A) of such paragraph or award grants or enter into contracts
			 under subparagraph (B) of such paragraph.
				(c)First
			 responders
				(1)FirefightersAs
			 part of the veterans jobs corps, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall award
			 grants under section 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974
			 (15 U.S.C. 2229a) to hire veterans as firefighters.
				(2)Law enforcement
			 officersAs part of the veterans jobs corps, the Attorney General
			 shall award grants under part Q of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and
			 Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd et seq.) to hire veterans as law
			 enforcement officers.
				(3)PriorityIn
			 awarding grants under this subsection to hire veterans, the Secretary of
			 Homeland Security and the Attorney General shall give priority to the hiring of
			 veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces on or after September
			 11, 2001.
				(d)Assistance
				(1)In
			 generalThe Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide assistance
			 to the secretaries described in subsection (a), the Attorney General, and the
			 Commanding General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers to carry out
			 the veterans jobs corps. Such assistance may take the form of a transfer under
			 paragraph (2).
				(2)TransfersExcept
			 as otherwise provided in this subsection, of amounts appropriated or otherwise
			 made available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out this section,
			 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may transfer such amounts as the Secretary
			 considers appropriate to carry out the veterans jobs corps to the
			 following:
					(A)The Attorney
			 General.
					(B)The Secretary of
			 Agriculture.
					(C)The Secretary of
			 Commerce.
					(D)The Secretary of
			 Homeland Security.
					(E)The Secretary of
			 the Interior.
					(F)The Commanding
			 General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
					(3)Assistance for
			 conservation, resource management, historic preservation, and cemetery
			 maintenance and improvement projects
					(A)ApplicationIf
			 a secretary referred to in subsection (b)(1) or the Commanding General of the
			 United States Army Corps of Engineers seeks assistance under paragraph (1) to
			 employ a veteran to carry out a project under subparagraph (A) of subsection
			 (b)(1) or to award a grant or contract to carry out a project under
			 subparagraph (B) of such subsection, such secretary or the Commanding General
			 shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs an application therefor at
			 such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of
			 Veterans Affairs may require.
					(B)SelectionThe
			 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in consultation with the steering
			 committee established under subparagraph (C), award assistance under this
			 paragraph in accordance with such criteria as the steering committee
			 establishes.
					(C)Steering
			 committee
						(i)In
			 generalThe Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a
			 steering committee—
							(I)to establish
			 selection criteria for the awarding of assistance under paragraph (1) to employ
			 a veteran to carry out a project under subparagraph (A) of subsection (b)(1) or
			 to award a grant or contract to carry out a project under subparagraph (B) of
			 such subsection; and
							(II)to provide the
			 Secretary of Veterans Affairs with advice on awarding assistance under this
			 subsection with respect to projects described in subsection (a)(1) and carrying
			 out the veterans jobs corps under subsection (b).
							(ii)CompositionThe
			 steering committee shall be composed of the following:
							(I)The Secretary of
			 Veterans Affairs.
							(II)The Secretary of
			 Agriculture.
							(III)The Secretary of
			 Commerce.
							(IV)The Secretary of
			 the Interior.
							(V)The Commanding
			 General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
							(iii)ChairpersonThe
			 chairperson of the steering committee shall be the Secretary of Veterans
			 Affairs.
						(iv)Advisory
			 inputThe Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor may
			 provide advice to the steering committee.
						(4)Assistance for
			 first respondersNot more than 10 percent of amounts appropriated
			 or otherwise made available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out
			 this section may be transferred to the Attorney General and the Secretary of
			 Homeland Security to employ veterans under subsection (c).
				(e)Reporting
			 frameworkThe Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a
			 reporting framework to regularly monitor and evaluate the veterans jobs corps
			 to ensure proper oversight and accountability of the veterans jobs
			 corps.
			(f)OutreachThe
			 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in consultation with the Secretary of
			 Labor, ensure that veterans employed under the veterans jobs corps are aware of
			 benefits and assistance available to them under laws administered by the
			 Secretary of Veterans Affairs and benefits and assistance available to them
			 under laws administered by the Secretary of Labor, particularly with respect to
			 education, training, and related benefits that might complement their
			 employment under the veterans jobs corps.
			(g)Authorization of
			 appropriations
				(1)In
			 generalThere is available without further appropriation to the
			 Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out this section, $1,000,000,000 for the
			 period of fiscal years 2012 through 2017.
				(2)LimitationOf
			 amounts made appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out this
			 section, not more than five percent may be spent to administer the veterans
			 jobs corps.
				(h)Veteran
			 definedIn this section, the term veteran has the
			 meaning given the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
			3.Employment of
			 veterans with the Federal Government
			(a)In
			 generalSection 4214 of title
			 38, United States Code, is amended—
				(1)in subsection (b),
			 by adding at the end the following:

						(4)(A)The requirement under
				this section is in addition to the appointment of qualified covered veterans
				under the authority under paragraph (1) by the Department of Veterans Affairs
				and the Department of Defense.
							(B)The head of each agency, in
				consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall
				develop a plan for exercising the authority under paragraph (1) during the
				five-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the
				Careers for Veterans Act of
				2012.
							(C)The Director of the Office of
				Personnel Management shall ensure that under the plans developed under
				subparagraph (B) agencies shall appoint to existing vacancies not fewer than
				10,000 qualified covered veterans during the five-year period beginning on the
				date of enactment of the Careers for Veterans
				Act of
				2012.
							;
				(2)in subsection (d),
			 in the third sentence, by inserting (including, during the 5-year period
			 beginning on the date of enactment of the Careers for Veterans Act of 2012, the
			 development and implementation by each agency of the plan required under
			 subsection (b)(4), which shall include information regarding the grade or pay
			 level of appointments by the agency under the plan and whether the appointments
			 are, or are converted to, career or career-conditional appointments)
			 after subsection (b) of this section; and
				(3)in subsection
			 (e)—
					(A)in paragraph
			 (1)—
						(i)in
			 the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking to the Congress
			 and inserting to the appropriate committees of Congress;
			 and
						(ii)in
			 subparagraph (A), by inserting (including, during the 5-year period
			 beginning on the date of enactment of the Careers for Veterans Act of 2012, the
			 development and implementation by the agency of the plan required under
			 subsection (b)(4), which shall include information regarding the grade or pay
			 level of appointments by the agency under the plan and whether the appointments
			 are, or are converted to, permanent appointments) before the period;
			 and
						(B)by adding at the
			 end the following new paragraph:

							(3)In this subsection, the term
				appropriate committees of Congress means—
								(A)the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and
				the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
				and
								(B)the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and
				the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of
				Representatives.
								.
					(b)ReportNot
			 later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of
			 the Office of Personnel Management shall submit to the appropriate committees
			 of Congress (as defined under section 4214(e)(3) of title 38, United States
			 Code, as amended by subsection (a)) regarding the development of a plan to
			 carry out the amendments made by subsection (a).
			4.Requirement that
			 States recognize military experience of veterans when issuing licenses and
			 credentials to veterans
			(a)In
			 generalSection 4102A(c) of
			 title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
			 paragraph:

					(9)(A)As a condition of a grant or contract under
				which funds are made available to a State under subsection (b)(5) in order to
				carry out section 4103A or 4104 of this title, the State shall—
							(i)establish a program under which the State
				administers an examination to each veteran seeking a license or credential
				issued by the State and issues such license or credential to such veteran
				without requiring such veteran to undergo any training or apprenticeship if the
				veteran—
								(I)receives a satisfactory score on completion
				of such examination, as determined by the State; and
								(II)has not less than 10 years of
				experience in a military occupational specialty that, as determined by the
				State, is similar to a civilian occupation for which such license or credential
				is required by the State; and
								(ii)submit each year to the Secretary a
				report on the exams administered under clause (i) during the most recently
				completed 12-month period that includes, for the period covered by the report
				the number of veterans who completed an exam administered by the State under
				clause (i) and a description of the results of such exams, disaggregated by
				occupational field.
							(B)Not less frequently than once each year,
				the Secretary shall submit to Congress and the Secretary of Defense a report
				summarizing the information received by the Secretary under subparagraph
				(A)(ii).
						.
			(b)Effective
			 date
				(1)ExamsSubparagraph
			 (A) of section 4102A(c)(9) of such title, as added by subsection (a), shall
			 take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of
			 this Act and shall apply with respect to grants and contracts described in such
			 subparagraph awarded after such date.
				(2)ReportsSubparagraph
			 (B) of section 4102A(c)(9), as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on
			 the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and the
			 Secretary of Labor shall submit the first report under such subparagraph not
			 later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
				5.Support for job
			 searches of veterans through one-stop centers
			(a)Furnishing of
			 list of Internet resourcesNot later than 30 days after the date
			 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall furnish each
			 one-stop center with a list of all Internet websites and applications that the
			 Secretary has identified as beneficial for veterans in pursuit of employment to
			 their pursuit.
			(b)Identification
			 of additional resourcesThe Secretary shall coordinate with
			 public and private sector entities to identify Internet websites and
			 applications not already included in a list furnished under subsection (a)
			 that—
				(1)match veterans
			 seeking employment with available jobs based on the skills the veterans
			 acquired as members of the Armed Forces; and
				(2)allow employers to
			 post information about available jobs.
				(c)SupplementsThe
			 Secretary of Labor shall furnish each one-stop center with a list of Internet
			 websites and applications identified under subsection (b).
			(d)ReportNot
			 later than 455 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
			 of Labor shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the
			 use of the Internet websites and applications identified under subsection (b)
			 for the benefit of veterans in pursuit of employment.
			(e)DefinitionsIn
			 this section:
				(1)Appropriate
			 committees of CongressThe term appropriate committees of
			 Congress means—
					(A)the Committee on
			 Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
			 of the Senate; and
					(B)the Committee on
			 Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House
			 of Representatives.
					(2)One-stop
			 centerThe term one-stop center means a center
			 described in section 134(c) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C.
			 2864(c)).
				6.State
			 consideration of military training in granting certain State certifications and
			 licenses as a condition on the receipt of funds for veterans employment and
			 training
			(a)In
			 generalSection 4102A(c) of
			 title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 4, is further amended by
			 adding at the end the following:

					(10)(A)As a condition of a
				grant or contract under which funds are made available to a State in order to
				carry out section 4103A or 4104 of this title for any program year, the
				Secretary shall require the State—
							(i)to demonstrate that when the State
				approves or denies a certification or license described in subparagraph (B) for
				a veteran the State takes into consideration any training received or
				experience gained by the veteran while serving on active duty in the Armed
				Forces; and
							(ii)to disclose to the Secretary in
				writing the following:
								(I)Criteria applicants must satisfy to
				receive a certification or license described in subparagraph (B) by the
				State.
								(II)A description of the standard
				practices of the State for evaluating training received by veterans while
				serving on active duty in the Armed Forces and evaluating the documented work
				experience of such veterans during such service for purposes of approving or
				denying a certification or license described in subparagraph (B).
								(III)Identification of areas in which
				training and experience described in subclause (II) fails to meet criteria
				described in subclause (I).”
								(B)A
				certification or license described in this subparagraph is any of the following
				that is issued or awarded by a State:
							(i)A license to be a State tested nursing
				assistant or a certified nursing assistant.
							(ii)A commercial driver’s license.
							(iii)An emergency medical technician
				license EMT–B or EMT–I.
							(iv)An emergency medical
				technician–paramedic license.
							(C)The Secretary shall share the
				information the Secretary receives under subparagraph (A)(ii) with the
				Secretary of Defense to help the Secretary of Defense improve training for
				military occupational specialties so that individuals who receive such training
				are able to receive a certification or license described in subparagraph (B)
				from a State.
						(D)The Secretary of Defense shall provide
				technical assistance and guidance to States on the training members of the
				Armed Forces receive for military occupational specialties so that States can
				make informed decisions with respect to certifying and licensing
				veterans.
						.
			(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with
			 respect to the first program year that begins on or after the date that is one
			 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and each program year
			 thereafter.
			(c)Modification of
			 training programs for military occupational specialtiesThe
			 Secretary of Defense shall work with certification and licensing organizations
			 and the Secretary of Labor to identify commonalities between military
			 occupational specialties and civilian occupations and may revise the training
			 programs for military occupational specialties so that members of the Armed
			 Forces who complete such training programs develop the skills required for
			 certification or licensing in civilian occupations that are similar to the
			 military occupational specialties for which they were trained in the Armed
			 Forces.
			7.Study on value
			 and utility of a skill credential registry
			(a)Feasibility
			 studyThe Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education, in
			 consultation with Secretary of Commerce, shall jointly conduct a study to
			 determine the value and utility of a registry of recognized postsecondary
			 credentials valued by employers, individuals, providers of education and
			 training, economic development professionals, State and local officials, and
			 other relevant stakeholders.
			(b)ContentsThe
			 study in subsection (a) shall address, at a minimum, the following:
				(1)The type of
			 organization, or consortium of organizations, that should manage or operate
			 such a registry.
				(2)The administration
			 of such a registry, especially how such administration would be supported with
			 non-Federal funds.
				(3)How such a
			 registry would be maintained and kept current so as to be of greatest
			 value.
				(4)How the quality
			 and integrity of the credentials cataloged in such a registry would be ensured,
			 so as to be of the greatest value.
				(5)How the contents
			 of such a registry could inform the provision of education and training
			 services through Federal education and workforce development programs.
				(6)How such a
			 registry would be marketed and utilized so as to be of greatest value.
				(c)ReportNot
			 later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
			 of Labor and the Secretary of Education shall jointly submit to the Committee
			 on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on
			 Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives a report on the
			 results of the study conducted under subsection (a).
			(d)Authorization of
			 appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the
			 Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education $250,000 to conduct the study
			 required by subsection (a).
			(e)DefinitionsIn
			 this section:
				(1)Industry-recognizedThe
			 term industry-recognized, used with respect to a credential, means
			 a credential that—
					(A)is sought or
			 accepted by employers within the industry sector involved as recognized,
			 preferred, or required for recruitment, screening, hiring, or
			 advancement;
					(B)is endorsed by a
			 recognized trade or professional association or organization, representing a
			 significant part of the industry sector; and
					(C)is a nationally
			 portable credential, meaning a credential that is sought or accepted, across
			 multiple States, as described in subparagraph (A).
					(2)Recognized
			 postsecondary credentialThe term recognized postsecondary
			 credential means a credential consisting of an industry-recognized
			 credential for postsecondary training, a certificate that meets the
			 requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (C) of paragraph (1) for postsecondary
			 training, a certificate of completion of a postsecondary apprenticeship through
			 a program described in Section 122(a)(2)(B) of the Workforce Investment Act of
			 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2842(a)(2)(B)), or an associate degree or baccalaureate degree
			 awarded by an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of
			 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 (a))).
				8.Minimum funding levels
			 for disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans'
			 employment representatives
			(a)In
			 generalClause (iii) of
			 section 4102A(c)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as
			 follows:

					(iii)(I)In carrying out this paragraph, the
				Secretary shall establish minimum funding levels and hold-harmless criteria for
				States.
						(II)Except as provided in subclause (III), at a
				minimum, the minimum funding levels established under subclause (I) shall
				ensure that each State receives sufficient funding to support at least one
				disabled veterans' outreach program specialist appointed under section
				4103A(a)(1) of this title and one local veterans' employment representative
				assigned under section 4104(b) of this title per 5,000 square miles of service
				delivery area within the State.
						(III)In determining minimum funding levels under
				subclause (II), the Secretary may exclude consideration of counties with a
				population density of less than one person per square
				mile.
						.
			(b)Report
				(1)In
			 generalNot later than one year after the date of the enactment
			 of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall submit to Congress a report on the
			 effect of the amendment made by subsection (a) on veterans who reside in highly
			 rural areas.
				(2)ElementsThe
			 report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
					(A)A description of
			 the effect of the amendment made by subsection (a) on veterans who reside in
			 highly rural areas.
					(B)Such
			 recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary
			 considers appropriate to improve the provision of contracts and grants under
			 section 4102A(b)(5) of such title to meet the needs of veterans who reside in
			 highly rural areas and are eligible for services furnished under chapter 41 of
			 such title.
					(3)Highly rural
			 definedIn this subsection, the term highly rural,
			 in the case of an area, means that the area consists of a county or counties
			 having a population of less than seven persons per square mile.
				9.Off-base
			 transition training
			(a)Provision of
			 off-Base transition trainingDuring the three-year period beginning on
			 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall provide the
			 Transition Assistance Program under section 1144 of title 10, United States
			 Code, to eligible individuals at locations other than military installations in
			 not less than three and not more than five States selected by the
			 Secretary.
			(b)Selection of
			 locationsIn selecting States in which to carry out the training
			 under subsection (a), the Secretary shall select the States with the highest
			 rates of veteran unemployment. The Secretary shall provide such training to
			 veterans at a sufficient number of locations within the selected States to meet
			 the need. The Secretary shall select such locations to facilitate access by
			 participants and may not select any location on a military installation other
			 than a National Guard or reserve facility that is not located on an active duty
			 military installation.
			(c)Eligible
			 individualsFor purposes of this section, an eligible individual
			 is a veteran or the spouse of a veteran.
			(d)Inclusion of
			 information about veterans benefitsThe Secretary shall ensure
			 that the training provided under subsection (a) generally follows the content
			 of the Transition Assistance Program under section 1144 of title 10, United
			 States Code.
			(e)Integrating
			 subject matter expertsThe
			 Secretary of Labor shall include in any contract entered into pursuant to
			 section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, or section 4113 of title 38,
			 United States Code, a requirement to include experts in subject matters
			 relating to human resources practices, including resume writing, interviewing
			 and job searching skills, and the provision of information about post-secondary
			 education.
			(f)Annual
			 reportNot later than March 1 of any year during which the
			 Secretary provides training under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to
			 Congress a report on the provision of such training.
			(g)Comptroller
			 General reportNot later than 180 days after the termination of
			 the three-year period described in subsection (a), the Comptroller General of
			 the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the training provided
			 under such subsection. The report shall include the evaluation of the
			 Comptroller General regarding the feasibility of carrying out off-base
			 transition training at locations nationwide.
			10.Expansion of
			 contracting goals and preferences of Department of Veterans Affairs to include
			 small business concerns 100 percent but conditionally owned by
			 veteransSection 8127(l) of
			 title 38, United States Code, is amended—
			(1)in paragraph (2),
			 by inserting unconditionally before owned by each
			 place it appears; and
			(2)by adding at the
			 end the following new paragraph:

					(3)The term
				unconditionally owned includes, with respect to ownership of a
				small business concern, conditional ownership of such small business concern if
				such business concern is 100 percent owned by one or more
				veterans.
					.
			11.Modification of
			 treatment under contracting goals and preferences of Department of Veterans
			 Affairs for small businesses owned by veterans of small businesses after death
			 of disabled veteran owners
			(a)In
			 generalSection 8127(h) of
			 title 38, United States Code, is amended—
				(1)in paragraph (3),
			 by striking rated as and all that follows through
			 disability. and inserting a period; and
				(2)in paragraph (2),
			 by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:

						(C)The date that—
							(i)in the case of a surviving spouse
				of a veteran with a service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling
				or who dies as a result of a service-connected disability, is 10 years after
				the date of the veteran's death; or
							(ii)in the case of a surviving spouse
				of a veteran with a service-connected disability rated as less than 100 percent
				disabling who does not die as a result of a service-connected disability, is
				three years after the date of the veteran's
				death.
							.
				(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on
			 the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall
			 apply with respect to contracts awarded on or after such date.
			12.Treatment of
			 businesses after deaths of servicemember-owners for purposes of Department of
			 Veterans Affairs contracting goals and preferences
			(a)In
			 generalSection 8127 of title 38, United States Code, is
			 amended—
				(1)by redesignating
			 subsections (i) through (l) as subsections (j) through (m), respectively;
			 and
				(2)by inserting after
			 subsection (h) the following new subsection (i):

						(i)Treatment of
				businesses after death of servicemember-Owner(1)If a member of the Armed
				Forces owns at least 51 percent of a small business concern and such member is
				killed in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service, the
				surviving spouse or dependent of such member who acquires such ownership rights
				in such small business concern shall, for the period described in paragraph
				(2), be treated as if the surviving spouse or dependent were a veteran with a
				service-connected disability for purposes of determining the status of the
				small business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by
				veterans for purposes of contracting goals and preferences under this
				section.
							(2)The period referred to in paragraph
				(1) is the period beginning on the date on which the member of the Armed Forces
				dies and ending on the date as follows:
								(A)In the case of a surviving spouse, the
				earliest of the following dates:
									(i)The date on which the surviving
				spouse remarries.
									(ii)The date on which the surviving
				spouse relinquishes an ownership interest in the small business concern and no
				longer owns at least 51 percent of such small business concern.
									(iii)The date that is ten years after
				the date of the member's death.
									(B)In the case of a dependent who is not
				a spouse, the earliest of the following dates:
									(i)The date on which the surviving
				dependant relinquishes an ownership interest in the small business concern and
				no longer owns at least 51 percent of such small business concern.
									(ii)The date that is ten years after
				the date of the member's
				death.
									.
				(b)Effective
			 dateSubsection (i) of section 8127 of such title, as added by
			 subsection (a), shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and
			 shall apply with respect to the deaths of members of the Armed Forces occurring
			 on or after such date.
			13.Special rule for
			 treatment under contracting goals and preferences of Department of Veterans
			 Affairs of small business concerns licensed in community property
			 StatesSection 8127 of title
			 38, United States Code, as amended by section 12, is further amended by adding
			 at the end the following new subsection:

				(n)Special rule for
				community property StatesWhenever the Secretary assesses, for
				purposes of this section, the degree of ownership by an individual of a small
				business concern licensed in a community property State, the Secretary shall
				also assess what that degree of ownership would be if such small business
				concern had been licensed in a State other than a community property State. If
				the Secretary determines that such individual would have had a greater degree
				of ownership of the small business concern had such small business concern been
				licensed in a State other than a community property State, the Secretary shall
				treat, for purposes of this section, such small business concern as if it had
				been licensed in a State other than a community property
				State.
				.
		14.100 percent
			 continuous levy on payment to medicare providers and suppliersParagraph (3) of section 6331(h) of the
			 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking the period at the end and
			 inserting , or, with respect to payments made on or after the date which
			 is 180 days after the date of the enactment of the
			 Veterans Jobs Corps Act of
			 2012, to a Medicare provider or supplier under title XVIII of the
			 Social Security Act..
		15.Extension of
			 modified pension for certain veterans covered by medicaid plans for services
			 furnished by nursing facilitiesSection 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United
			 States Code, is amended by striking September 30, 2016 and
			 inserting March 31, 2017.
		16.Revocation or denial of passport in case of
			 certain unpaid taxes
			(a)In generalSubchapter D of chapter 75 of the Internal
			 Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new
			 section:

					7345.Revocation or denial of passport in case of
				certain tax delinquencies
						(a)In generalIf the Secretary receives certification by
				the Commissioner of Internal Revenue that any individual has a seriously
				delinquent tax debt in an amount in excess of $50,000, the Secretary shall
				transmit such certification to the Secretary of State for action with respect
				to denial, revocation, or limitation of a passport pursuant to section 16(d) of
				the Veterans Jobs Corps Act of
				2012.
						(b)Seriously delinquent tax debtFor purposes of this section, the term
				seriously delinquent tax debt means an outstanding debt under this
				title for which a notice of lien has been filed in public records pursuant to
				section 6323 or a notice of levy has been filed pursuant to section 6331,
				except that such term does not include—
							(1)a debt that is being paid in a timely
				manner pursuant to an agreement under section 6159 or 7122, and
							(2)a debt with respect to which collection is
				suspended because a collection due process hearing under section 6330, or
				relief under subsection (b), (c), or (f) of section 6015, is requested or
				pending.
							(c)Adjustment for inflationIn the case of a calendar year beginning
				after 2012, the dollar amount in subsection (a) shall be increased by an amount
				equal to—
							(1)such dollar amount, multiplied by
							(2)the cost-of-living adjustment determined
				under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year, determined by substituting
				calendar year 2011 for calendar year 1992 in
				subparagraph (B) thereof.
							If any amount as adjusted under the
				preceding sentence is not a multiple of $1,000, such amount shall be rounded to
				the next highest multiple of
				$1,000..
			(b)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections for subchapter D of
			 chapter 75 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end
			 the following new item:

						Sec. 7345. Revocation
				or denial of passport in case of certain tax
				delinquencies.

					.
			(c)Authority for information sharing
				(1)In generalSubsection (l) of section 6103 of the
			 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new
			 paragraph:

						(23)Disclosure of return information to
				Department of State for purposes of passport revocation under section
				7345
							(A)In generalThe Secretary shall, upon receiving a
				certification described in section 7345, disclose to the Secretary of State
				return information with respect to a taxpayer who has a seriously delinquent
				tax debt described in such section. Such return information shall be limited
				to—
								(i)the taxpayer identity information with
				respect to such taxpayer, and
								(ii)the amount of such seriously delinquent tax
				debt.
								(B)Restriction on disclosureReturn information disclosed under
				subparagraph (A) may be used by officers and employees of the Department of
				State for the purposes of, and to the extent necessary in, carrying out the
				requirements of section 16(d) of the Veterans
				Jobs Corps Act of
				2012.
							.
				(2)Conforming amendmentParagraph (4) of section 6103(p) of such
			 Code is amended by striking or (22) each place it appears in
			 subparagraph (F)(ii) and in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and inserting
			 (22), or (23).
				(d)Authority To deny or revoke
			 passport
				(1)Denial
					(A)In generalExcept as provided under subparagraph (B),
			 upon receiving a certification described in section 7345 of the Internal
			 Revenue Code of 1986 from the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of State
			 may not issue a passport to any individual who has a seriously delinquent tax
			 debt described in such section.
					(B)Emergency and humanitarian
			 situationsNotwithstanding
			 subparagraph (A), the Secretary of State may issue a passport, in emergency
			 circumstances or for humanitarian reasons, to an individual described in
			 subparagraph (A).
					(2)Revocation
					(A)In generalThe Secretary of State may revoke a
			 passport previously issued to any individual described in paragraph
			 (1)(A).
					(B)Limitation for return to united
			 statesIf the Secretary of
			 State decides to revoke a passport under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of
			 State, before revocation, may—
						(i)limit a previously issued passport only for
			 return travel to the United States; or
						(ii)issue a limited passport that only permits
			 return travel to the United States.
						(3)Hold
			 harmlessThe Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of State
			 shall not be liable to an individual for any action with respect to a
			 certification by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue under section 7345 of the
			 Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
				(e)Revocation or denial of passport in case of
			 individual without social security account number
				(1)Denial
					(A)In generalExcept as provided under subparagraph (B),
			 upon receiving an application for a passport from an individual that
			 either—
						(i)does not include the social security
			 account number issued to that individual, or
						(ii)includes an incorrect or invalid social
			 security number willfully, intentionally, negligently, or recklessly provided
			 by such individual,
						the
			 Secretary of State is authorized to deny such application and is authorized to
			 not issue a passport to the individual.(B)Emergency and humanitarian
			 situationsNotwithstanding
			 subparagraph (A), the Secretary of State may issue a passport, in emergency
			 circumstances or for humanitarian reasons, to an individual described in
			 subparagraph (A).
					(2)Revocation
					(A)In generalThe Secretary of State may revoke a
			 passport previously issued to any individual described in paragraph
			 (1)(A).
					(B)Limitation for return to United
			 StatesIf the Secretary of
			 State decides to revoke a passport under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of
			 State, before revocation, may—
						(i)limit a previously issued passport only for
			 return travel to the United States; or
						(ii)issue a limited passport that only permits
			 return travel to the United States.
						(f)Effective
			 dateThe provisions of, and
			 amendments made by, this section shall take effect on January 1, 2013.
			17.Time for payment
			 of corporate estimated taxesNotwithstanding section 6655 of the Internal
			 Revenue Code of 1986, in the case of a corporation with assets of not less than
			 $1,000,000,000 (determined as of the end of the preceding taxable year)—
			(1)the amount of any
			 required installment of corporate estimated tax which is otherwise due in July,
			 August, or September of 2013 shall be increased by 0.25 percent of such amount
			 (determined without regard to any increase in such amount not contained in such
			 Code);
			(2)the amount of any
			 required installment of corporate estimated tax which is otherwise due in July,
			 August, or September of 2017 shall be increased by 0.50 percent of such amount
			 (determined without regard to any increase in such amount not contained in such
			 Code); and
			(3)the amount of the
			 next required installment after an installment referred to in paragraph (1) or
			 (2) shall be appropriately reduced to reflect the amount of the increase by
			 reason of such paragraph.
			18.Scoring of
			 budgetary effectsThe
			 budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory
			 Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest
			 statement titled Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation for this
			 Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the
			 Senate Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior
			 to the vote on passage.


		IA
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. J. RES. 54
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			April 6, 2011
			Mr. Walsh of Illinois
			 (for himself, Mr. Buchanan,
			 Mr. Huelskamp,
			 Mr. Bishop of Utah,
			 Mr. Chaffetz,
			 Mr. Stutzman,
			 Mrs. Hartzler,
			 Mr. Marino,
			 Mr. Rehberg,
			 Mrs. McMorris Rodgers,
			 Mr. Brooks,
			 Mr. Franks of Arizona,
			 Mr. Lance,
			 Mr. Heller, and
			 Mr. Labrador) introduced the following
			 joint resolution; which was referred to the
			 Committee on the
			 Judiciary

		JOINT RESOLUTION
		Proposing an amendment to the Constitution
		  of the United States relative to balancing the budget.

		That the following article is
			 proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall
			 be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified
			 by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years
			 after the date of its submission for ratification:

				 —
					1.Total outlays for any fiscal
				year shall not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless two-thirds of
				the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress shall provide by
				law for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a roll call vote.
					2.Total outlays for any fiscal
				year shall not exceed 18 percent of the gross domestic product of the United
				States for the calendar year ending before the beginning of such fiscal year,
				unless two-thirds of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of
				Congress shall provide by law for a specific amount in excess of such 18
				percent by a roll call vote.
					3.Prior to each fiscal year, the
				President shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the United
				States Government for that fiscal year in which—
						(1)total outlays do not exceed total receipts;
				and
						(2)total outlays do not exceed 18 percent of
				the gross domestic product of the United States for the calendar year ending
				before the beginning of such fiscal year.
						4.Any bill that imposes a new tax
				or increases the statutory rate of any tax or the aggregate amount of revenue
				may pass only by a two-thirds majority of the duly chosen and sworn Members of
				each House of Congress by a roll call vote. For the purpose of determining any
				increase in revenue under this section, there shall be excluded any increase
				resulting from the lowering of the statutory rate of any tax.
					5.The limit on the debt of the
				United States shall not be increased, unless three-fifths of the duly chosen
				and sworn Members of each House of Congress shall provide for such an increase
				by a roll call vote.
					6.The Congress may waive the
				provisions of sections 1, 2, 3, and 5 of this article for any fiscal year in
				which a declaration of war against a nation-state is in effect and in which a
				majority of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress shall
				provide for a specific excess by a roll call vote.
					7.The Congress may waive the
				provisions of sections 1, 2, 3, and 5 of this article in any fiscal year in
				which the United States is engaged in a military conflict that causes an
				imminent and serious military threat to national security and is so declared by
				three-fifths of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress by
				a roll call vote. Such suspension must identify and be limited to the specific
				excess of outlays for that fiscal year made necessary by the identified
				military conflict.
					8.No court of the United States
				or of any State shall order any increase in revenue to enforce this
				article.
					9.Total receipts shall include
				all receipts of the United States Government except those derived from
				borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States
				Government except those for repayment of debt principal.
					10.The Congress shall have power
				to enforce and implement this article by appropriate legislation, which may
				rely on estimates of outlays, receipts, and gross domestic product.
					11.This article shall take effect
				beginning with the fifth fiscal year beginning after its
				ratification.
					.


114 HR 1839 : RAISE Act of 2015
U.S. House of Representatives

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.

		IIB
		114th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 1839
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
		October 7, 2015Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban AffairsAN ACT
		To amend the Securities Act of 1933 to exempt certain transactions involving purchases by
			 accredited investors, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Reforming Access for Investments in Startup Enterprises Act of 2015 or the RAISE Act of 2015. 2.Exempted transactions (a)Exempted transactionsSection 4 of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77d) is amended—
 (1)in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:  (7)transactions meeting the requirements of subsection (d).;
 (2)by redesignating the second subsection (b) (relating to securities offered and sold in compliance with Rule 506 of Regulation D) as subsection (c); and
 (3)by adding at the end the following:  (d)Certain accredited investor transactionsThe transactions referred to in subsection (a)(7) are transactions meeting the following requirements:
 (1)Accredited investor requirementEach purchaser is an accredited investor, as that term is defined in section 230.501(a) of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
 (2)Prohibition on general solicitation or advertisingNeither the seller, nor any person acting on the seller’s behalf, offers or sells securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising.
 (3)Information requirementIn the case of a transaction involving the securities of an issuer that is neither subject to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m; 78o(d)), nor exempt from reporting pursuant to section 240.12g3–2(b) of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations, nor a foreign government (as defined in section 230.405 of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations) eligible to register securities under Schedule B, the seller and a prospective purchaser designated by the seller obtain from the issuer, upon request of the seller, and the seller in all cases makes available to a prospective purchaser, the following information (which shall be reasonably current in relation to the date of resale under this section):
 (A)The exact name of the issuer and the issuer’s predecessor (if any). (B)The address of the issuer’s principal executive offices.
 (C)The exact title and class of the security. (D)The par or stated value of the security.
 (E)The number of shares or total amount of the securities outstanding as of the end of the issuer’s most recent fiscal year.
 (F)The name and address of the transfer agent, corporate secretary, or other person responsible for transferring shares and stock certificates.
 (G)A statement of the nature of the business of the issuer and the products and services it offers, which shall be presumed reasonably current if the statement is as of 12 months before the transaction date.
 (H)The names of the officers and directors of the issuer. (I)The names of any persons registered as a broker, dealer, or agent that shall be paid or given, directly or indirectly, any commission or remuneration for such person's participation in the offer or sale of the securities.
 (J)The issuer’s most recent balance sheet and profit and loss statement and similar financial statements, which shall—
 (i)be for such part of the 2 preceding fiscal years as the issuer has been in operation; (ii)be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or, in the case of a foreign private issuer, be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or the International Financial Reporting Standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board;
 (iii)be presumed reasonably current if— (I)with respect to the balance sheet, the balance sheet is as of a date less than 16 months before the transaction date; and
 (II)with respect to the profit and loss statement, such statement is for the 12 months preceding the date of the issuer’s balance sheet; and
 (iv)if the balance sheet is not as of a date less than 6 months before the transaction date, be accompanied by additional statements of profit and loss for the period from the date of such balance sheet to a date less than 6 months before the transaction date.
 (K)To the extent that the seller is a control person with respect to the issuer, a brief statement regarding the nature of the affiliation, and a statement certified by such seller that they have no reasonable grounds to believe that the issuer is in violation of the securities laws or regulations.
 (4)Issuers disqualifiedThe transaction is not for the sale of a security where the seller is an issuer or a subsidiary, either directly or indirectly, of the issuer.
 (5)Bad actor prohibitionNeither the seller, nor any person that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration or a commission for their participation in the offer or sale of the securities, including solicitation of purchasers for the seller is subject to an event that would disqualify an issuer or other covered person under Rule 506(d)(1) of Regulation D (17 CFR 230.506(d)(1)) or is subject to a statutory disqualification described under section 3(a)(39) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 (6)Business requirementThe issuer is engaged in business, is not in the organizational stage or in bankruptcy or receivership, and is not a blank check, blind pool, or shell company that has no specific business plan or purpose or has indicated that the issuer’s primary business plan is to engage in a merger or combination of the business with, or an acquisition of, an unidentified person.
 (7)Underwriter prohibitionThe transaction is not with respect to a security that constitutes the whole or part of an unsold allotment to, or a subscription or participation by, a broker or dealer as an underwriter of the security or a redistribution.
 (8)Outstanding class requirementThe transaction is with respect to a security of a class that has been authorized and outstanding for at least 90 days prior to the date of the transaction.
							(e)Additional requirements
 (1)In generalWith respect to an exempted transaction described under subsection (a)(7): (A)Securities acquired in such transaction shall be deemed to have been acquired in a transaction not involving any public offering.
 (B)Such transaction shall be deemed not to be a distribution for purposes of section 2(a)(11). (C)Securities involved in such transaction shall be deemed to be restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 (17 CFR 230.144).
 (2)Rule of constructionThe exemption provided by subsection (a)(7) shall not be the exclusive means for establishing an exemption from the registration requirements of section 5..
 (b)Exemption in connection with certain exempt offeringsSection 18(b)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77r(b)(4)) is amended— (1)by redesignating the second subparagraph (D) and subparagraph (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively;
 (2)in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; (3)in subparagraph (F), as so redesignated, by striking the period and inserting ; or; and
 (4)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:  (G)section 4(a)(7)..

	Passed the House of Representatives October 6, 2015.Karen L. Haas,Clerk


117 S2450 IS: Rural Health Innovation Act of 2021
U.S. Senate
2021-07-22
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2450IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 22, 2021Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Mr. Hickenlooper) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsA BILLTo amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a rural health center innovation awards program and a rural health department enhancement program, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Rural Health Innovation Act of 2021.2.Rural health center innovation awards programSubpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:330O.Rural health center innovation awards program(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Eligible entityThe term eligible entity means an entity that—(A)is a Federally qualified health center;(B)is a rural health clinic; or(C)agrees (as a condition of receiving a grant under this section) to establish such a center or clinic, including a hospital that agrees (as such a condition) to convert to a Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic.(2)Federally qualified health centerThe term Federally qualified health center has the meaning given such term in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act.(3)Rural areaThe term rural area means any area that is rural, within the meaning of such term as used by the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health Resources and Services Administration for purposes of determining eligibility for grants or services, including any area that is rural within such meaning as used by such Office for fiscal year 2021 or any area that is rural within such meaning as amended for a subsequent fiscal year. (4)Rural health clinicThe term rural health clinic has the meaning given such term in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act.(b)Establishment(1)In generalThe Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall establish a grant program to be known as the Rural Health Center Innovation Awards program to award grants to eligible entities that submit an application in accordance with subsection (c) to enable such entities to establish or maintain a Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic that—(A)serves individuals in a rural area as a walk-in urgent care center and as a triage center or staging facility for necessary air or ambulance transport to an emergency department; and(B)includes—(i)professional clinical staff, including physicians, physician interns, residents, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse midwives, or other health care providers providing walk-in urgent care and emergency triage; and(ii)resources, including laboratories, x-ray machines, and cardiac monitors.(2)Permissible uses of fundsThe funds of a grant awarded under this section may be used to—(A)expand the hours of operation of a Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic;(B)pay for the costs of construction and renovation of a Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic; or(C)carry out any other activity for the purposes described in paragraph (1).(c)Applications and selection(1)In generalAn eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.(2)Start up centers and clinicsAn application submitted under paragraph (1) by an eligible entity that is not a Federally qualified health center, or a rural health clinic, on the date on which the entity submits the application under paragraph (1) shall include in such application a demonstration of the costs of the equipment and staffing needed to establish the center or clinic.(3)Consideration of overlapIn the case an eligible entity submits an application under paragraph (1) that proposes to serve an area that is served by another eligible entity through a grant under this section, the Secretary may consider whether an award to the eligible entity serving such same area can be justified based on the unmet need for additional services in such area.(4)PriorityIn selecting recipients of grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity that is operating as a Federally qualified health center, or a rural health clinic, on the date on which the entity submits the application under paragraph (1). (d)Grant period and amounts(1)PeriodEach grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of 5 years.(2)Amount(A)In generalA grant awarded under this section to an eligible entity shall not exceed—(i)for the first year of the grant—(I)$500,000 if the entity is a Federally qualified health center, or a rural health clinic, on the date on which the award is made; and(II)$750,000 if the entity is using the grant to establish a Federally qualified health center or a rural health clinic; and(ii)for each of the second through fifth years of the grant, $500,000.(B)ConsiderationsIn determining the amount of a grant under this section for an eligible entity for each year after the first year in which the grant is awarded, the Secretary shall, subject to subparagraph (A)(ii), consider the number of patients treated, and the type of treatment provided, by the entity in the prior year.(e)Reporting(1)In generalNot later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall report to the committees described in paragraph (2) on the grant program under this section, including—(A)an assessment of the success of the program, challenges with respect to the program, and any action for regulatory flexibility or legislative authority needed to improve the program;(B)any savings to Federal health care programs;(C)any increase in access to care; and(D)any increase in utilization of health services in rural areas.(2)CommitteesThe committees described in this paragraph are—(A)the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on Finance, of the Senate; and(B)the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Ways and Means, of the House of Representatives.(f)Rule of constructionNo entity receiving a grant under this section shall lose status as a Federally qualified health center, or a rural health clinic, on account of carrying out any activities under this section.(g)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026..3.Rural health department enhancement programSubpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.), as amended by section 2, is further amended by adding at the end the following:330P.Rural health department enhancement program(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Rural areaThe term rural area has the meaning given the term in section 330O(a).(2)Rural health departmentThe term rural health department means a local public health department that is located in a rural area.(b)EstablishmentThe Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to rural health departments that submit an application in accordance with subsection (c) to enhance such departments and enable them to provide individuals in rural areas with emergency services, triage and transport to emergency departments, primary care services, and other services similar to services provided by emergency departments.(c)ApplicationsA rural health department seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including—(1)an indication of the estimated cost of the equipment and staffing needed by the department for the first year of the award to set up the activities and services under this section;(2)a demonstration that the department has, on the date on which the application is submitted, a facility operating that is located in a rural area; and(3)a demonstration that, on the date on which the application is submitted, the department—(A)has a nursing staff and medical equipment; and(B)agrees to use such staff and equipment towards providing the services and carrying out the activities under this section.(d)Grants(1)Annual awardsThe funds awarded through a grant under this section to a rural health department shall be awarded on an annual basis for each of 5 years.(2)Maximum amountsThe funds awarded through a grant under this section to a rural health department shall be in an amount that for a year does not exceed $500,000.(3)ConsiderationsThe Secretary shall determine the amount awarded to a rural health department through a grant under this section for a year in accordance with the following:(A)For the first year of the award, the amount shall be based on the amount the rural health department estimates for the cost of equipment and staffing needed to set up the activities and services supported under this section, as specified in the application under subsection (c).(B)For the second through fifth years of the award, the amount shall be based on the number of patients treated, and the type of treatment provided, by the department in the prior year.(e)Use of funds(1)In generalA rural health department receiving a grant under this section shall use the funds awarded through the grant to provide the services and carry out the activities described in subsection (b) at a facility that is located in a rural area, including by—(A)obtaining additional medical equipment and resources necessary for providing the services and activities described in subsection (b), such as laboratories, x-ray machines, and cardiac monitors;(B)hiring additional providers to provide the services and carry out the activities described in subsection (b), such as physician interns, residents, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurse midwives, which hiring may be through a partnership described in paragraph (2)(A); and(C)providing outreach to the community regarding the services and activities of the rural health department as supported under this section.(2)Limitations(A)PartnershipsNot more than 3 percent of the funds awarded through a grant under this section for a year may be used towards the rural health department entering into a partnership with an academic medical center to assist with the hiring described in paragraph (1)(B).(B)Community outreachFor each of the first 2 years of a grant awarded under this section, not more than 3 percent of the funds may be used by the rural health department receiving the grant for the outreach described in paragraph (1)(C).(f)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026..


116 HR 7847 IH: Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program Act of 2020
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-07-29
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 7847IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 29, 2020Ms. Pressley (for herself and Ms. DeLauro) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial ServicesA BILLTo create a database of eviction information, establish grant programs for eviction prevention and legal aid, and limit use of housing court-related records in consumer reports, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program Act of 2020 or the HELP Act of 2020.2.Congressional findingsThe Congress finds that—(1)housing is fundamentally an issue of economic and racial justice and a critical determinant of health;(2)the 2008 financial crisis was a Great Depression-level event for Black Americans, wiping out decades of gains in Black homeownership, which has now fallen to its lowest rate since the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968;(3)Black borrowers were 76 percent more likely to have lost their home to foreclosure than White borrowers during the foreclosure crisis;(4)Black and Hispanic households continue to be about twice as likely as White households to rent their homes;(5)in 2016, 58 percent of Black household heads and 54 percent of Hispanic household heads were renting their homes, compared with 28 percent of White household heads;(6)while cost burdens affect households of all races and ethnicities, Black and Brown renters are much more likely to be burdened, with 55 percent of Black renters considered to be rent burdened compared to only 43 percent of White renters;(7)Black households account for 12 percent of all households in the United States, but 19 percent of all renters and 26 of all renter households with extremely low incomes;(8)prior to the coronavirus pandemic, it was estimated that around 3.7 million evictions are filed every year, a rate of about 7 every minute;(9)across the United States, one in 20 renters faces an eviction every year, but for Black renters, the number is one in 11;(10)every day families are displaced by the eviction crisis, a reality that is only further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and that falls disproportionately on Black renters, and particularly Black women renters;(11)the Department of Housing and Urban Development does not require the reporting or collection of eviction data, including among households in federally assisted housing, and should be required to do so;(12)the American Civil Liberties Union’s analysis of Eviction Lab data found that, on average, Black renters had evictions filed against them at nearly twice the rate of White renters and that Black women specifically were filed against for eviction at double the rate of White renters or higher in 17 of 36 [S]tates;(13)right to counsel is a matter of racial justice, equity, and ensuring equal protection under the law;(14)nationally, it is estimated that more than 90 percent of landlords are represented in housing court proceedings, compared to less than 10 percent of tenants in such proceedings;(15)a Massachusetts study found that tenants provided full representation were twice as likely to remain in their homes, saved 4 times as much rent, and paid $0 to their landlord as compared to those receiving limited or no legal assistance; and(16)a California study of the Shriver Civil Counsel Program found that 91 percent of Shriver cases ended with the eviction record sealed, 81 percent with the eviction not reported to a credit agency, and 71 percent with a neutral reference provided by the landlord, tenants in such cases saved nearly $800 more in reduced rent and other fees while paying holdover damages or attorney’s fees only half as often, and 71 percent of represented clients that had been required to move had obtained a new rental unit, compared to 43 percent of unrepresented tenants.3.Database of eviction information(a)Reports by housing providers(1)In generalThe Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall require each State and local entity that receives covered housing assistance to submit to the Secretary annual reports under this section regarding evictions from assisted dwelling units of the covered housing occurring during the preceding year.(2)ContentsEach report submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall include—(A)for each household subject to an eviction proceeding during the year which the report covers—(i)the reason or reasons that the eviction proceeding was undertaken and, in the case of any eviction proceeding undertaken in whole or in part based on an arrearage in rent owed, the amount of such arrearage and the amount of the tenant's required contribution toward rent;(ii)the date on which the household was ordered to be evicted;(iii)the address of the dwelling unit from which the household was evicted;(iv)whether the household was represented by legal counsel in any eviction proceeding, if such information is available;(v)the number of days the household was given to vacate the dwelling unit, if such information is available; and(vi)whether a writ of execution was issued in regards to the eviction; and(B)for each individual in any household subject to an eviction proceeding during the year which the report covers—(i)the name of the individual;(ii)the annual income of the individual in the fiscal year prior to the year during which the individual was evicted, if available;(iii)the disability status of the individual evicted, if available;(iv)any available demographic information about the individual including race, ethnicity, age, and gender;(v)any foster care history for the individual, if available;(vi)any serious physical health problems or serious mental illness of the individual, if such information is available;(vii)any history of prior homelessness of the individual, if such information is available; and(viii)whether the individual has a criminal record, if such information is available.(3)Data requirementsThe Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall develop requirements for States and local entities that receive covered housing assistance that—(A)provide that the provision of the information being collected under this subsection shall be voluntary on the part of any individual or household who is or was a tenant in an assisted dwelling unit of covered housing;(B)provide limitations on how long the information described in paragraph (2) shall be retained;(C)establish data privacy and security requirements for the information described in paragraph (2) that include appropriate measures to ensure that the privacy of the individuals and households is protected and that the information, including any personally identifiable information, is collected and used only for the purpose of submitting reports under paragraph (1); and(D)confidentiality protections for data collected about any individuals who are survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, or stalking.(b)Database(1)In generalThe Secretary shall establish a database for collecting and maintaining information submitted in reports pursuant to subsection (a).(2)Privacy protectionsThe Secretary shall establish appropriate measures regarding information in the database to ensure that the privacy of the individuals and households is protected and that any personally identifiable information is not disclosed.(3)DisaggregationTo the extent possible, such database shall be disaggregated by race, gender, income, and disability. 4.Assistance for eviction related legal aidThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, to remain available until expended, for assistance under the Emergency Solutions Grants program under subtitle B of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11371 et seq.), to be used only for—(1)providing legal counsel for tenants subject to or at risk of eviction with regard to any eviction-related legal proceeding; and(2)costs of any court fees associated with an eviction-related legal proceeding for a tenant (excluding any attorneys fees for the attorney of the landlord of the tenant).5.Consumer reportsThe Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) is amended—(1)by inserting after section 605B the following:605C.Adverse information relating to housing court records(a)In generalA consumer reporting agency may only furnish a consumer report containing an adverse item of information relating to a landlord tenant action if—(1)the landlord in the action prevailed in a final judgment; and(2)the tenant in such action was not a minor on the date that such court claim was filed.(b)1 year limitationA consumer reporting agency shall remove from a consumer report any adverse item of information relating to a landlord tenant action not later than one year after the date of such landlord tenant action.; and(2)in the table of contents, by inserting after the item relating to section 605B the following new item: 605C. Adverse information relating to housing court records..6.Eviction information(a)In generalThe Secretary shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, issue rules that require each owner of a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit to ensure that each tenant of such dwelling unit owned by such owner receives information not less than once each year about—(1)the rights and responsibilities of such owner with regard to eviction; and(2)local organizations and resources that can provide assistance in eviction-related matters.(b)HotlineThe Secretary shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish a hotline to provide assistance with regard to eviction-related matters to tenants of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units.7.Definitions(a)For purposes of this Act:(1)AssistanceThe term assistance means any grant, loan, subsidy, contract, cooperative agreement, or other form of financial assistance, but such term does not include the insurance or guarantee of a loan, mortgage, or pool of loans or mortgages.(2)Covered federally assisted rental dwelling unitThe term covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit means a residential dwelling unit that is made available for rental and for which assistance is provided, or that is part of a housing project for which assistance is provided, under any program administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, including—(A)the public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.);(B)the program for rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f);(C)the HOME Investment Partnerships program under title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.);(D)title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360 et seq.);(E)the Housing Trust Fund program under section 1338 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4568);(F)the program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q);(G)the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013);(H)the AIDS Housing Opportunities program under subtitle D of title VIII of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.);(I)the program for Native American housing under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.); and(J)the program for housing assistance for Native Hawaiians under title VIII of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4221 et seq.).(3)Covered housingThe term covered housing means a dwelling unit assisted with amounts made available, or a loan or mortgage made, insured, or guaranteed, under any of the following programs:(A)The programs for tenant- and project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f).(B)The program for public housing under the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.).(C)The program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q).(D)The program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013).(E)The community development block grant program under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).(F)The HOME Investment Partnerships program under titles I and II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12704 et seq.).(G)The program for housing opportunities for persons with AIDS under subtitle D of title VIII of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.).(H) The programs for homeless assistance under title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11361 et seq.).(4)Covered housing assistanceThe term covered housing assistance means assistance under any program specified in paragraph (3).(5)Legal counselThe term legal counsel means full representation by an attorney throughout proceedings in issue.(6)OwnerFor the purposes of this Act, the term owner means any private person or entity, including a cooperative, an agency of the Federal Government, or a public housing agency, having the legal right to lease or sublease dwelling units.(7)SecretaryThe term Secretary means Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.