To provide for enactment of the Senior Citizens' Right to Work Act of 1996, the Line Item Veto Act, and the Small Business Growth and Fairness Act of 1996, and to provide for a permanent increase in the public debt limit.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Title I: Social Security Earnings Limitation Amendments
Title II: Small Business Regulatory Fairness
Subtitle A: Regulatory Compliance Simplification
Subtitle B: Regulatory Enforcement Reforms
Subtitle C: Equal Access to Justice Act Amendments
Subtitle D: Regulatory Flexibility Act Amendments
Subtitle E: Congressional Review
Title III: Public Debt Limit
Contract with America Advancement Act of 1996 - Title I: Social Security Earnings Limitation Amendments - Senior Citizens' Right to Work Act of 1996 - Amends title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide, through adjustments in the monthly exempt amount, for increases in the amounts of allowable earnings under the social security earnings limit for individuals who have attained retirement age.
(Sec. 103) Earmarks certain OASDI funding for continuing disability reviews under SSA titles II and XVI for FY 1996 through 2002.
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to provide for adjustments to discretionary spending limits under that Act for continuing disability reviews not exceeding specified levels of additional new budget authority and outlays for such reviews increasing on a graduated basis for FY 1996 through 2002.
Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to direct the appropriate congressional committee chairmen to: (1) make the prescribed adjustments under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 for continuing disability reviews for FY 1996; and (2) make other specified adjustments to reflect the additional new budget authority for such reviews provided in appropriations measures or conference reports when they are reported, and the additional outlays flowing from the amounts in them for such reviews.
Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to: (1) ensure that funds made available for continuing disability reviews are used, to the greatest extent practicable, to maximize the combined savings in the OASDI, SSI, and Medicare and Medicaid programs; and (2) provide annually at the conclusion of each of the seven years a certain report to the Congress on continuing disability reviews that includes the results of such reviews in terms of cessations of benefits or determinations of continuing eligibility, by program.
Amends SSA title VII (Administration) to provide for an Office of Chief Actuary in the Social Security Administration, headed by a Chief Actuary who shall serve as the chief actuarial officer of the Administration.
(Sec. 104) Bases the entitlement of stepchildren to children's insurance benefits under the OASDI program on their actual dependency on stepparent support.
Provides for termination of children's insurance benefits based on the work record of stepparent upon the Commissioner's receipt of the natural parent's divorce from the stepparent once it becomes final.
(Sec. 105) Provides for the denial of disability benefits under the OASDI and SSI programs to drug addicts and alcoholics whose drug addiction or alcoholism is a contributing factor to their disability.
Revises OASDI and SSI program representative payee requirements to require the payment of program benefits through a representative payee if it is in the interest of an individual with an alcohol or drug addiction condition who is incapable of managing such benefits. Requires the Commissioner to refer such individuals to the appropriate State agency for substance abuse treatment services.
Provides certain supplemental funding for alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs for FY 1997 and 1998.
(Sec. 106) Requires the Commissioner to conduct a pilot study for a report to the Congress on the efficacy of providing certain individualized information each year in the form of annualized statements designed to promote better understanding by OASDI recipients of their social security contributions and benefits.
(Sec. 107) Amends SSA title XI part A to outline specified measures for the protection of social security and Medicare trust funds, among other things prohibiting investment in public debt obligations of any amounts in the OASDI or Medicare trust funds.
(Sec. 108) Amends SSA title VII to provide for professional staff for the Social Security Advisory Board.
Title II: Small Business Regulatory Fairness - Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Regulatory Compliance Simplification - States that for each rule or group of related rules for which an agency is required to prepare a final regulatory flexibility analysis, the agency shall publish one or more guides to assist small entities (businesses) in complying. Designates such publications as small entity compliance guides. Requires such guides to be provided through comprehensive sources of information. Limits judicial review with respect to the designation of such guides.
(Sec. 213) Provides that, whenever appropriate, it shall be the practice of the agency to answer inquiries by small entities concerning information on and advice about compliance with statutes and regulations. Requires each agency regulating the activities of small entities to establish a program for responding to such inquiries within one year after enactment of this Act. Requires each such agency to report to specified congressional committees on the scope and achievements of such program.
(Sec. 214) Amends the Small Business Act to require small business development centers to provide information to small businesses concerning regulatory requirements and to develop informational publications, establish resource centers, and distribute compliance guides.
(Sec. 215) Authorizes agencies to develop guides that fully integrate requirements of both Federal and State regulations where regulations within such agency's area of interest impact small entities.
Subtitle B: Regulatory Enforcement Reforms - Requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to designate a Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman to: (1) ensure that small businesses that receive an audit, inspection, or other enforcement action are given a confidential means to comment on such enforcement activity; (2) establish means to receive comments from small businesses regarding enforcement actions; (3) report annually to the Congress on such comments; and (4) provide the affected agency with an opportunity to comment.
Directs the SBA to establish a Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board (Board) in each SBA regional office. Requires each Board to: (1) meet at least annually and report to the Ombudsman on instances of excessive enforcement actions taken against small businesses; and (2) consist of owners, operators, or officers of small entities.
(Sec. 223) Requires each agency regulating the activities of small entities to establish, within one year of enactment of this Act, a policy or program to provide for the reduction and possible waiver of civil penalties for violations of a statutory or regulatory requirement by a small entity. Requires each such agency to report to specified congressional committees concerning the implementation of its program or policy.
Subtitle C: Equal Access to Justice Act Amendments - Amends Federal provisions concerning administrative and judicial proceedings to: (1) require the award of defense fees and costs in an adjudication or action in which the demand of a regulatory agency against a small entity is found to be substantially excessive and unreasonable; and (2) increase from $75 to $125 the authorized hourly rate of attorney fees that may be awarded in such proceedings.
Subtitle D: Regulatory Flexibility Act Amendments - Amends the Regulatory Flexibility Act to: (1) require initial and final regulatory analyses for proposed and final interpretative rules involving the internal revenue laws; and (2) require final regulatory analyses to include information on the number of small entities affected, the compliance requirements imposed, and the steps taken by the agency to minimize the significant economic impact on small entities.
(Sec. 242) Revises judicial review procedures for small entities adversely affected or aggrieved by agency regulatory actions or requirements.
(Sec. 243) Requires the statement published with an agency's certification that a rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities to provide the factual basis for such certification.
(Sec. 244) Revises procedures concerning the gathering of comments on regulatory rules to allow the solicitation and reception of comments over computer networks. Provides that, prior to publication of an initial regulatory flexibility analysis of a rule, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration shall provide, through the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA, notice and information to small entities concerning the potential impacts of such rule. Requires each such agency to convene a review panel to review the rule, collect advice and recommendations from small entities identified to be affected by such rule, and report on such comments and other issues raised. Requires such report to be made public as part of the rulemaking record. Authorizes the Chief Counsel to waive the review panel requirements of this section if the Chief Counsel finds that such requirements would not advance the effective participation of small entities in the rulemaking process.
Requires the head of each agency that has conducted a final regulatory flexibility analysis to designate a small business advocacy chairperson to be responsible for implementing this section and to act as permanent chair of the agency's review panels established under this section.
Subtitle E: Congressional Review - Provides that before a rule can take effect as a final rule, the Federal agency promulgating such rule shall submit to each House of Congress and the Comptroller General a report containing: (1) a copy of the rule; (2) a concise general statement relating to the rule, including whether such rule is a major rule; and (3) the proposed effective date of the rule. Requires such agency to submit to the Comptroller General and make available to each House of Congress certain other relevant information, including a cost-benefit analysis of the rule. Directs the Comptroller General to report on each major rule to the committees of jurisdiction of each House of Congress. Prohibits: (1) a rule from taking effect if the Congress passes a joint resolution of disapproval under procedures prescribed in this Act; or (2) a disapproved rule from being reissued in substantially the same form. Makes a major rule effective as a final rule on the latest of: (1) the latter of the date 60 days after the Congress receives the report on such rule or the rule is published in the Federal Register; (2) the earlier of the date on which either House of Congress fails to override a presidential veto of a joint resolution disapproving the rule or the date occurring 30 session days after the Congress received the veto; or (3) the date the rule would have otherwise taken effect. Allows a rule to take effect notwithstanding such time requirements if the President determines, and notifies the Congress in writing, that the rule should take effect because such rule is: (1) necessary because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency; (2) necessary for the enforcement of criminal laws; (3) necessary for national security; or (4) issued pursuant to any statute implementing an international trade agreement. Outlines the procedure for the congressional treatment of rules issued 60 days or earlier before the Congress adjourns a session. Provides transition rules for rules issued before enactment of this title. Provides congressional rule disapproval procedures. Defines "major rule" for purposes of this section as a rule having an annual economic effect of $100 million or more, resulting in a major increase in costs or prices, or having a significant adverse effect on competition, employment, investment, productivity or the ability of U.S. companies to compete with foreign companies.
Provides that, in the case of any deadline for or relating to any rule which does not take effect because of the enactment of a congressional joint resolution, such deadline is extended until 12 months after the enactment date of such resolution.
Prohibits judicial review of determinations made under this title.
States that the congressional review procedures of this title shall not apply to rules that concern monetary policy proposed or implemented by the Federal Reserve System or Federal Open Market Committee.
Allows the promulgating Federal agency to determine the effective date for any rule: (1) that establishes, modifies, opens, closes, or conducts a regulatory program for a commercial, recreational, or subsistence activity related to hunting, fishing, or camping; or (2) for which an agency finds that notice and public procedure are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to public interest.
Title III: Public Debt Limit - Amends Federal law to increase the public debt limit to $5.5 trillion.
Became Public Law No: 104-129.
For Further Action See H.R.3136.
Became Public Law No: 104-130.
For Further Action See H.R.3136.
On motion to table the motion to appeal the ruling of the chair Agreed to by recorded vote: 232 - 185 (Roll no. 99).
Roll Call #99 (House)The House resumed debate on the point of order.
Mr. Bonior moved to consider the motion to recommit with instructions.
On motion to consider the motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 192 - 228 (Roll No. 100). (consideration: CR H3020-3025)
Roll Call #100 (House)Mr. Orton moved to recommit with instructions to Ways and Means.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Orton motion to recommit with instructions.
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 159 - 256 (Roll no. 101). (consideration: CR H3028)
Roll Call #101 (House)Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 328 - 91 (Roll no. 102).
Roll Call #102 (House)Enacted as Public Law 104-121
checking server…
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line
For Further Action See H.R.3136.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 328 - 91 (Roll no. 102).
Roll Call #102 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3114-3123)
Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3114-3123)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Became Public Law No: 104-121.
Became Public Law No: 104-121.