Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening the
Transition and Reintegration Of the National Guard and Reserves Act''
or the ``STRONGR Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Extension of transitional health care coverage to one year for
                            members of reserve components for mental
                            health care.
Sec. 3. Increase in amount of basic educational assistance for members
                            of the Selected Reserve and members of
                            reserve components supporting contingency
                            operations.
Sec. 4. Nonreduction in pay while Federal employee is serving on active
                            duty in a reserve component of the
                            uniformed services.
Sec. 5. Assistance for State and local governments that continue to pay
                            employees who serve on active duty in a
                            reserve component of the uniformed
                            services.
Sec. 6. Active-duty reserve component employee credit added to general
                            business credit.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF TRANSITIONAL HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TO ONE YEAR FOR
              MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

    Section 1145(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended in
paragraph (3)--
            (1) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(3)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(B) In addition to the period described in subparagraph
        (A), transitional health care shall be available for an
        additional 180 days, for mental health care only, to a member
        of a reserve component described in paragraph (2)(B). The
        additional 180 days shall begin at the end of the period
        described in subparagraph (A).''.

SEC. 3. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS
              OF THE SELECTED RESERVE AND MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS
              SUPPORTING CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS.

    (a) Members of Selected Reserve.--
            (1) Increase in amount of assistance.--Section 16131(b) of
        title 10, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``at the
                following rates'' and all that follows through the end
                and inserting ``at the rate provided under paragraph
                (2).''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking all and inserting
                the following:
    ``(2)(A) Educational assistance provided under this chapter shall
be paid at a rate equal the applicable percentage under subparagraph
(B) of the rate provided under section 3015(a) of title 38 for an
approved program of education pursued on a full-time basis.
    ``(B) The applicable percentage under this subparagraph is--
            ``(i) 50 percent for each month in which the individual
        pursues an approved program of education on a full time basis;
            ``(ii) 37.5 percent for each month in which the individual
        pursues an approved program of education on a three-quarter-
        time basis;
            ``(iii) 25 percent for each month in which the individual
        pursues an approved program of education on a half-time basis;
        and
            ``(iv) an appropriately reduced percent, as determined
        under regulations which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
        prescribe, for each month in which the individual pursues an
        approved program of education on less than a half-time basis,
        except that no payment may be made to an individual for a month
        in which the individual pursues such a program on less than a
        half-time basis if tuition assistance is otherwise available to
        the individual for such pursuit from the military department
        concerned.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1)
        shall apply with respect to an educational assistance allowance
        under section 16131(b) of such title paid for months beginning
        after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Reserve Components Supporting Contingency Operations.--
            (1) Increase in amount.--Section 16162(c)(4) of title 10,
        United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``40 percent''
                and inserting ``60 percent''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``60 percent''
                and inserting ``70 percent''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1)
        shall apply with respect to an educational assistance allowance
        under section 16162(c)(4) of such title paid for months
        beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. NONREDUCTION IN PAY WHILE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE IS SERVING ON ACTIVE
              DUTY IN A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter IV of chapter 55 of title 5, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 5538. Nonreduction in pay while serving on active duty in a
              reserve component
    ``(a) An employee who is also a member of a reserve component and
is absent from a position of employment with the Federal Government
under a call or order to serve on active duty for a period of more than
30 days shall be entitled to receive, for each pay period described in
subsection (b), an amount equal to the amount by which--
            ``(1) the amount of civilian basic pay that would otherwise
        have been payable to the employee for such pay period if the
        employee's civilian employment with the Government had not been
        interrupted by the service on active duty, exceeds (if at all)
            ``(2) the amount of military compensation that is payable
        to the employee for the service on active duty and is allocable
        to such pay period.
    ``(b)(1) Amounts under this section shall be payable with respect
to each pay period (which would otherwise apply if the employee's
civilian employment had not been interrupted) that occurs--
            ``(A) while the employee serves on active duty for a period
        of more than 30 days;
            ``(B) while the employee is hospitalized for, or
        convalescing from, an illness or injury incurred in, or
        aggravated during, the performance of such active duty; or
            ``(C) during the 14-day period beginning at the end of such
        active duty or the end of the period referred to in
        subparagraph (B).
    ``(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a pay period
for which the employee receives civilian basic pay (including by taking
any annual, military, or other paid leave) to which the employee is
entitled by virtue of the employee's civilian employment with the
Government.
    ``(c) Any amount payable under this section to an employee shall be
paid--
            ``(1) by the employing agency of the employee;
            ``(2) from the appropriation or fund that would be used to
        pay the employee if the employee were in a pay status; and
            ``(3) to the extent practicable, at the same time and in
        the same manner as would civilian basic pay if the employee's
        civilian employment had not been interrupted.
    ``(d) In consultation with Secretary of Defense, the Office of
Personnel Management shall prescribe such regulations as may be
necessary to carry out this section.
    ``(e)(1) In consultation with the Office, the head of each agency
referred to in section 2302(a)(2)(C)(ii) shall prescribe procedures to
ensure that the rights under this section apply to the employees of
such agency.
    ``(2) The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration
shall, in consultation with the Office, prescribe procedures to ensure
that the rights under this section apply to the employees of that
agency.
    ``(f) For the purpose of this section--
            ``(1) the terms `active duty for a period of more than 30
        days', `member', and `reserve component' have the meanings
        given such terms in section 101 of title 37;
            ``(2) the term `civilian basic pay' includes any amount
        payable under section 5304;
            ``(3) the term `employing agency', as used with respect to
        an employee entitled to any payments under this section, means
        the agency or other entity of the Government (including an
        agency referred to in section 2302(a)(2)(C)(ii)) with respect
        to which the employee has reemployment rights under chapter 43
        of title 38; and
            ``(4) the term `military compensation' has the meaning
        given the term `pay' in section 101(21) of title 37.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 55 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 5537 the following new item:

``5538. Nonreduction in pay while serving on active duty in a reserve
                            component.''.
    (c) Application of Amendment.--Section 5538 of title 5, United
States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to
pay periods (as described in subsection (b) of such section) beginning
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT CONTINUE TO PAY
              EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE ON ACTIVE DUTY IN A RESERVE COMPONENT
              OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 37, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 911. Assistance for State and local governments that continue to
              pay employees who serve on active duty
    ``(a) Continuation of Civilian Basic Pay.--It is the purpose of
this section to encourage States and local governments to continue to
pay a portion of the civilian compensation of those employees who are
also members of a reserve component and are absent from a position of
employment with the State or local government under a call or order to
serve on active duty for a period of more than 30 days so that the
employees receive compensation in an amount that, when taken together
with their military pay, is at least equal to their civilian
compensation.
    ``(b) Reimbursement Offered.--(1) At the request of a State or
local government that continues to pay all or a portion of the civilian
compensation of an employee described in subsection (a), the Secretary
concerned shall reimburse the State or local government for 50 percent
of the civilian compensation paid by the State or local government for
each pay period described in subsection (c), but not to exceed 50
percent of the difference (if any) between--
            ``(A) the amount of civilian compensation that would
        otherwise have been payable to the employee for such pay period
        if the employee's civilian employment with the State or local
        government had not been interrupted by the service on active
        duty; and
            ``(B) the amount of military pay that is payable to the
        employee for the service on active duty and is allocable to
        such pay period.
    ``(2) If the pay periods described in subsection (c) extend more
than nine consecutive months after the first day of the first month
during which the employee began to serve on active duty for a period of
more than 30 days, the reimbursement rate shall become 100 percent for
the subsequent payments. However, as is the case under paragraph (1),
reimbursement shall be provided only for the difference (if any)
between--
            ``(A) the amount of civilian compensation that would
        otherwise have been payable to the employee for such pay period
        if the employee's civilian employment with the State or local
        government had not been interrupted by the service on active
        duty; and
            ``(B) the amount of military pay that is payable to the
        employee for the service on active duty and is allocable to
        such pay period.
    ``(c) Pay Periods.--Reimbursement shall be provided under this
section with respect to each pay period (which would otherwise apply if
the employee's civilian employment had not been interrupted) that
occurs--
            ``(1) while the employee serves on active duty for a period
        of more than 30 days;
            ``(2) while the employee is hospitalized for, or
        convalescing from, an illness or injury incurred in, or
        aggravated during, the performance of such active duty; or
            ``(3) during the 14-day period beginning at the end of such
        active duty or the end of the period referred to in
        subparagraph (B).
    ``(d) Effect of Failure To Return to Employment.--(1) If an
employee described in subsection (a), with respect to whom
reimbursement is provided to a State or local government under this
section, fails to report or apply for employment or reemployment with
the State or local government by the end of the period referred to in
subsection (c)(3), the employee shall refund to the Secretary concerned
the total amount of the reimbursement provided with respect to the
employee.
    ``(2) Subject to paragraph (3), an obligation to refund moneys to
the United States imposed under paragraph (1) is for all purposes a
debt owed to the United States.
    ``(3) The Secretary concerned may waive, in whole or in part, a
refund required under paragraph (1) if the Secretary concerned
determines that recovery would be against equity and good conscience or
would be contrary to the best interests of the United States.
    ``(4) A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 that is entered less
than five years after the end of the period referred to in subsection
(c)(3) does not discharge the employee from a debt arising under
paragraph (1). This paragraph applies to any case commenced under title
11 after the date of the enactment of this section.
    ``(e) Regulations.--The Secretaries concerned shall prescribe
regulations to carry out this section.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `civilian compensation' means the wages or
        salary that an employee of a State or local government normally
        receives from the employee's employment by the State or local
        government.
            ``(2) The term `local government' means an agency or
        political subdivision of a State.
            ``(3) The term `military pay' has the meaning given the
        term `pay' in section 101(21) of this title.
            ``(4) The term `State' means each of the several States of
        the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
        of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and other territories
        or possessions of the United States.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 17 of title 37, is amended by inserting after the item relating
to section 909 the following new item:

``911. Assistance for State and local governments that continue to pay
                            employees who serve on active duty.''.
    (c) Application of Amendment.--Section 911 of title 37, United
States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to
pay periods (as described in subsection (b) of such section) beginning
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 6. ACTIVE-DUTY RESERVE COMPONENT EMPLOYEE CREDIT ADDED TO GENERAL
              BUSINESS CREDIT.

    (a) Addition of Credit.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of
chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business-
related credits) is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:

``SEC. 45N. ACTIVE-DUTY RESERVE COMPONENT EMPLOYEE CREDIT.

    ``(a) General Rule.--For purposes of section 38, in the case of an
employer, the active-duty reserve component employee credit determined
under this section for the taxable year is an amount equal to 50
percent of the compensation paid by the employer to an employee who is
also a member of a reserve component during the taxable year when the
employee was absent from employment for a reason described in
subsection (b).
    ``(b) Limitation.--The amount allowed as a credit under subsection
(a) shall not exceed 50 percent of the difference (if any) between--
            ``(1) the amount of compensation that would otherwise have
        been payable to the employee during such absence if the
        employee's employment with the employer had not been
        interrupted by the employee's absence; and
            ``(2) the amount of military pay that is payable to the
        employee during the absence.
    ``(c) Covered Pay Periods.--Subsection (a) shall apply with respect
to an employee who is also a member of a reserve component--
            ``(1) while the employee serves on active duty for a period
        of more than 30 days;
            ``(2) while the employee is hospitalized for, or
        convalescing from, an illness or injury incurred in, or
        aggravated during, the performance of such active duty; or
            ``(3) during the 14-day period beginning at the end of such
        active duty or the end of the period referred to in paragraph
        (2).
    ``(d) Days Not Taken Into Account.--No credit shall be allowed
under subsection (a) with respect to an employee on any day on which
the employee was not scheduled to work (for a reason other than such
service on active duty) and ordinarily would not have worked.
    ``(e) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) The terms `active duty for a period of more than 30
        days', `member', and `reserve component' have the meanings
        given such terms in section 101 of title 37, United States
        Code.
            ``(2) The term `compensation' means any remuneration for
        employment, whether in cash or in kind, which is paid or
        incurred by a taxpayer and which is deductible from the
        taxpayer's gross income under section 162(a)(1).''.
    (b) Credit To Be Part of General Business Credit.--Subsection (b)
of section 38 of such Code (relating to general business credit) is
amended by striking ``plus'' at the end of paragraph (30), by striking
the period at the end of paragraph (31) and inserting ``, plus'', and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(32) the active-duty reserve component employee credit
        determined under section 45N(a).''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 45M the following new
item:

``Sec. 45N. Active-duty reserve component employee credit.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.

Output:
Strengthening the Transition and Reintegration of the National Guard and Reserves Act or STRONGR Act - Provides an additional 180-day period of military mental health care coverage for members of the reserves separated from service following active duty of more than 30 days in support of a contingency operation.

Increases the amount of basic educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill for members of the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel supporting contingency operations.

Entitles a federal employee who is a member of a reserve component to receive the difference in pay between military compensation and civilian compensation during periods of active duty exceeding 30 days.

Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to reimburse states or local governments for 50% of the civilian compensation paid by such governments to equalize military and civilian pay. Increases the reimbursement rate to 100% if active duty extends beyond nine months.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish an active-duty reserve component employee credit for employers who provide compensation to employees on active duty.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mandatory Spending Control Act of
1993''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to determine appropriate methods for
limiting the growth of mandatory spending, including decreased funding
levels, growth limits, and improved cost efficiency.

SEC. 3. MANDATORY SPENDING CONTROL COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established an independent commission
to be known as the ``Mandatory Spending Control Commission''.
    (b) Duties.--The Commission shall carry out the duties specified
for it in this Act.
    (c) Appointment.--(1)(A) The Commission shall be composed of 9
members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate.
    (B) By January 1, 1995, the President shall submit to the Senate
the nominations of those first appointed to the Commission.
    (2) In selecting individuals for nominations for appointments to
the Commission, the President should consult with--
            (A) the Speaker of the House of Representatives concerning
        the appointment of 2 members;
            (B) the majority leader of the Senate concerning the
        appointment of 2 members;
            (C) the minority leader of the House of Representatives
        concerning the appointment of 1 member; and
            (D) the minority leader of the Senate concerning the
        appointment of 1 member.
    (3) At the time the President nominates individuals for appointment
to the Commission, the President shall designate 1 such individual to
serve as Chairman of the Commission.
    (4) A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in
which the original appointment was made.
    (d) Terms.--(1) Except as provided by paragraphs (2) and (3),
members (including the member designated as chairman) shall be
appointed for terms of 3 years.
    (2) Of the members first appointed--
            (A) 1 appointed in consultation with the Speaker, 1
        appointed in consultation with the majority leader of the
        Senate, and 1 appointed by the President shall be appointed for
        terms of 1 year; and
            (B) 1 appointed in consultation with the minority leader of
        the House of Representatives, 1 appointed in consultation with
        the minority leader of the Senate, and 1 appointed by the
        President shall be appointed for terms of 2 years.
    (3) Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the
expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be
appointed only for the remainder of that term. A member may serve after
the expiration of his term until his successor has taken office. No
individual may serve on the Commission for more than 1 term.
    (e) Meetings.--(1) Each meeting of the Commission, other than
meetings in which classified information is to be discussed, shall be
open to the public.
    (2) All the proceedings, information, and deliberations of the
Commission shall be open, upon request, to the chairman and ranking
minority party member of the Committee on the Budget of each House of
Congress.
    (f) Pay and Travel Expenses.--(1)(A) Each member, other than the
Chairman, shall be paid at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the
minimum annual rate of basic pay payable for level IV of the Executive
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each
day (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in the
actual performance of duties vested in the Commission.
    (B) The Chairman shall be paid for each day referred to in
subparagraph (A) at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the minimum
annual rate of basic pay payable for level III of the Executive
Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code.
    (2) Members shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title
5, United States Code.
    (g) Director of Staff.--(1) The Commission shall, without regard to
section 5311(b) of title 5, United States Code, appoint a Director who
has not served as a Federal employee during the one-year period
preceding the date of such appointment.
    (2) The Director shall be paid at the rate of basic pay payable for
level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5,
United States Code.
    (h) Staff.--(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Director,
with the approval of the Commission, may appoint and fix the pay of
additional personnel.
    (2) The Director may make such appointments without regard to the
provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in
the competitive service, and any personnel so appointed may be paid
without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of
chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General
Schedule pay rates, except that an individual so appointed may not
receive pay in excess of the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable
for a position above GS-15 of the General Schedule.
    (3) Not more than one-third of the personnel employed by or
detailed to the Commission may be on detail from any Government agency
or from the legislative branch.
    (4) Upon request of the Chairman, the head of any Federal
department or agency may detail any of the personnel of that department
or agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out
its duties under this Act.
    (i) Consultants and Property.--(1) The Commission may procure by
contract, to the extent funds are available, the temporary or
intermittent services of experts or consultants pursuant to section
3109 of title 5, United States Code.
    (2) The Commission may lease space and acquire personal property to
the extent funds are available.
    (j) Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 to
the Commission for fiscal year 1995 and for each subsequent fiscal year
to carry out its duties under this Act. Upon confirmation of all
Commissioners, each cabinet level department shall transfer from its
administrative expenses account necessary funding to the Commission on
a pro rata basis based on that department's funding percentage of the
total executive branch budget.
    (k) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the thirtieth
calendar day beginning after the President notifies the Commission, in
writing, that the budget has been in balance (or in surplus) for two
consecutive fiscal years, unless, as a part of that notificiation, the
President states that for budgetary reasons he has determined that the
Commission shall not so terminate.

SEC. 4. PROCEDURE FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATION FOR PROPOSED CUTS.

    (a) Review and Recommendations by the Commission.--(1) Before May
15 of each calendar year, the Commission shall examine and review all
mandatory spending programs, and conduct public hearings, to determine
appropriate methods for limiting the growth of these programs to 103
percent of aggregate spending for mandatory programs for the preceding
fiscal year.
    (2) The Commission shall request recommendations for mandatory
spending reductions from the heads of executive departments and
agencies, chairmen of congressional committees, the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office, the Director of the Office of Management
and Budget, the Director of the General Accounting Office, and any
other persons who may be of assistance. These heads shall also provide
to the Commission information respecting programs within their
jurisdiction. The Commission may also consider unsolicited comments.
    (3) Individuals named in paragraph (2) shall endeavor to promptly
comply with requests made to them by the Commission under that
paragraph.
    (b) The Commission shall, by May 15th, transmit to the President a
report containing the Commission's findings and conclusions based on a
review and analysis of the recommendations.
    (c) Review by the President.--The President shall, by June 1st,
transmit to the Commission a report containing the President's comments
and suggestions respecting the Commission's recommendations.
    (d) Final Recommendations.--After reviewing the comments and
suggestions of the President, the Commission shall transmit, by June
15th, a report of its final recommendations to the Congress and to the
public. This report shall take into account any net reduction in
spending for mandatory programs set forth in the concurrent resolution
on the budget (as agreed to) for the fiscal year covered by the report.
If that concurrent resolution is in compliance with the growth
limitation provision for that fiscal year as set forth in subsection
(a)(1), then the report of the Commission shall recommend no
congressional action respecting that fiscal year.
    (e) Growth Limitation.--All reports described in this section shall
be in full compliance with the growth limitation provision of
subsection (a)(1).
    (f) Criteria for Recommendations.--All reports described in this
section shall set forth the criteria upon which its recommendations are
based.

SEC. 5. CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF COMMISSION'S REPORT.

    (a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            (1) the term ``implementing bill'' means only a bill which
        is introduced as provided under subsection (b), and contains
        the proposed legislative recommendations contained in the final
        report submitted to the Congress under section 4(e) without
        modification; and
            (2) the term ``session day'' means a day that either the
        Senate or the House of Representatives is in session.
    (b) Introduction.--On the fifth calendar day beginning after the
date on which a final report is submitted to the Congress under section
4(e), an implementing bill shall be introduced--
            (1) in the Senate by the majority leader for himself and
        the minority leader; and
            (2) in the House of Representatives by the majority leader
        for himself and the minority leader.
    (c) Discharge.--If the committee to which an implementing bill is
referred has not reported that bill within one month, that committee
shall be immediately discharged from further consideration of such
bill, and such bill shall be placed on the appropriate calendar of the
House involved.
    (d) Consideration.--(1)(A) On or after the first day after the date
on which the committee to which an implementing bill is referred has
reported, or has been discharged (under subsection (c)) from further
consideration of, such a bill, it is in order (even though a previous
motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) for any member of the
House of Representatives or the Senate, respectively, to move to
proceed to the consideration of the bill (but only the day after the
calendar day on which the member announces to the House concerned the
member's intention to do so).
    (B) All points of order against an implementing bill (and against
consideration of that bill) are waived except the point of order set
forth in subsection (g).
    (C)(i) A motion to proceed to the consideration of an implementing
bill is highly privileged in the House of Representatives and is
privileged in the Senate and is not debatable.
    (ii) A motion described in clause (i) is not subject to amendment,
to a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or to a
motion to table.
    (iii) A motion to reconsider the vote by which a motion described
in clause (i) is agreed to or not agreed to shall not be in order.
    (iv) If a motion described in clause (i) is agreed to, the House of
Representatives or the Senate, as the case may be, shall immediately
proceed to consideration of the bill without intervening motion, order,
or other business, and the bill shall remain the unfinished business of
the House of Representatives or the Senate, as the case may be, until
disposed of.
    (2)(A) Debate on an implementing bill and on all debatable motions
and appeals in connection therewith shall be limited to not more than 4
hours in the House of Representatives and 10 hours in the Senate, which
shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the
bill.
    (B) An amendment to an implementing bill is not in order. This
provision is not subject to a motion to suspend, nor can a unanimous
consent agreement wave this section.
    (C) A motion further to limit debate on an implementing bill is in
order and not debatable.
    (D) A motion to postpone consideration of an implementing bill, a
motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, a motion to
table, or a motion to recommit the bill is not in order.
    (E) A motion to reconsider the vote by which an implementing bill
is agreed to or not agreed to is not in order.
    (3) Immediately following the conclusion of the debate on an
implementing bill and a single quorum call at the conclusion of the
debate if requested in accordance with the rules of the House of
Representatives or the Senate, as the case may be, the vote on final
passage of the bill shall occur.
    (4) Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the
application of the rules of the House of Representatives or of the
Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to an
implementing bill shall be decided without debate.
    (e) Consideration by Other House.--(1) If, before the passage by
one House of an implementing bill that was introduced in that House,
that House receives from the other House an implementing bill--
            (A) the bill of the other House shall not be referred to a
        committee and may not be considered in the House that receives
        it otherwise than on final passage under subparagraph (B)(ii);
        and
            (B)(i) the procedure in the House that receives such a bill
        with respect to such a bill that was introduced in that House
        shall be the same as if no bill had been received from the
        other House; but
            (ii) the vote on final passage shall be on the bill of the
        other House.
    (2) Upon disposition of an implementing bill that is received by
one House from the other House, it shall no longer be in order to
consider such a bill that was introduced in the receiving House.
    (f) Date Certain.--If the Senate and the House of Representatives
have not acted upon the implementing bill by July 20th, then on that
day or the next day of session thereafter the bill shall be called up
by the Presiding Officer of each House upon convening and a roll call
vote shall be conducted on passage, but after that House of Congress
has debated the bill pursuant to the provisions of subsections
(d)(2)(A) and (C). If the bill passes one House, the bill shall be
transmitted on the same legislative day to the other House and that
House shall vote on passage of that bill on its next session day.
    (g) Point of Order.--It shall not be in order in the House of
Representatives or the Senate to consider any implementing bill that is
not in full compliance with the growth limitation provision of section
4(a)(1) or that contains any provision that increases taxes.
    (h) Rules of the Senate and House of Representatives.--This section
is enacted by Congress--
            (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate
        and House of Representatives, respectively, and is deemed to be
        part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable
        only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House
        in the case of an implementing bill, and it supersedes other
        rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such
        rules; and
            (2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of
        either House to change the rules (so far as they relate to the
        procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and
        to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that
        House.

SEC. 6. BUDGET OUTLAY REDUCTIONS PERMANENT.

    All obligational authority reduced pursuant to this Act shall be
done in a manner that shall make such reductions permanent.

SEC. 7. ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS.

    No reductions in direct spending pursuant to this Act shall be
treated as a net deficit decrease for purposes of section 252 of the
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

SEC. 8. COMPLIANCE REPORT BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL.

    Within 15 days after the end of a session of Congress, the
Comptroller General shall submit to the Congress and the President a
report stating whether the requirements of this Act have been complied
with and indicating the respects (if any) in which they have not.

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS AND SCOREKEEPING.

    (a) Definition.--(1) As used in this Act, the term ``direct
spending'' has the meaning given to that term by section 250(c) of the
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
    (2) As used in this Act, the term ``mandatory spending'' has the
meaning given to ``direct spending'' by section 250(c) of the Balanced
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, except that, for
purposes of this Act only, it includes social security and excludes net
interest and deposit insurance.
    (b) Scorekeeping.--The Congressional Budget Office shall prepare
all necessary estimates to carry out this Act in conformance with its
scorekeeping guidelines.

Output: Mandatory Spending Control Act of 1993 - Establishes the Mandatory Spending Control Commission to determine appropriate methods for limiting the growth of mandatory spending programs. Sets forth procedures for the Commission to report legislative recommendations to the Congress.  Provides for congressional consideration of a bill to implement such recommendations.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Headwaters Forest Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that:
            (1) Redwoods are a significant national symbol and a
        defining symbol of the State of California.
            (2) Old growth redwood trees are a unique and irreplaceable
        natural resource.
            (3) Most of the Nation's old growth forests have been cut.
        Less than 5 percent of the original 2,000,000 acre Coast
        redwoods remain standing. The groves that are left are crucial
        to maintain habitat needed for survival of old-growth dependent
        species. The Headwaters Forest, for example, is home to one of
        California's three largest population of marbled murrelets,
        rare sea birds that nest only in coastal old growth trees; the
        Northern Spotted Owl; and native salmon stocks that spawn in
        the Forest's creeks.
            (4) The remaining unprotected stands of old growth forests
        and old growth redwoods are under immediate threat of being
        harvested without regard to their ecological importance and
        without following Federal timber harvest guidelines.
            (5) Significant amounts of old growth redwoods in the
        proposed National Forest additions are being cut at a pace that
        is based on paying high interest rates on poor quality bonds
        and not at a pace that is based on sound forest management
        practices.
            (6) The continued fragmentation and loss of irreplaceable
        ecosystems creates an urgent need to develop creative solutions
        to achieve the long-term benefits of permanent protection and
        preservation.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to provide for the sound
management and protection of old growth Redwood forest areas in
Humboldt County, California, and to preserve and enhance habitat for
the marbled murrelet, Northern Spotted owl, native salmon stocks, and
other old growth forest dependent species, by adding certain lands and
waters to the Six Rivers National Forest and by including a portion of
such lands in the national wilderness preservation system.
    (c) Definitions.--For purposes of this Act:
            (1) The terms ``Six Rivers National Forest Addition'' and
        ``Headwaters Forest'' mean the area authorized for land
        acquisition activities under section 3, as depicted on the map
        described in section 3(b)(1).
            (2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
        Agriculture.

SEC. 3. ADDITION TO SIX RIVERS NATIONAL FOREST.

    (a) Modification of Boundaries.--Effective upon the consummation of
a land acquisition conducted as provided in subsection (b), the
Secretary of Agriculture shall modify the exterior boundaries of the
Six Rivers National Forest in the State of California to include the
acquired lands.
    (b) Acquisition of Land.--
            (1) Area for acquisition activities.--The Secretary may
        acquire lands and interests in land within the boundaries of an
        area comprising approximately 44,000 acres, as generally
        depicted on the map entitled ``Six Rivers National Forest
        Addition proposed'' and dated June 1993, for inclusion in the
        Six Rivers National Forest under subsection (a). The map shall
        be on file and available for public inspection in the offices
        of the Forest Supervisor, Six Rivers National Forest, and in
        the offices of the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of
        Agriculture.
            (2) Manner of conducting acquisition.--Lands and interests
        in lands within the Six Rivers National Forest Addition may be
        acquired by the Secretary only by donation, by purchase with
        donated or appropriated funds, or by exchange.
            (3) Special rule for federal transfers.--For purposes of
        making an exchange under paragraph (2), excess or surplus lands
        under the jurisdiction of any other department, agency, or
        instrumentality of the United States may be transferred,
        subject to the advance approval of the transfer by law, to the
        administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary if the Secretary
        identifies the lands as suitable for use in making an exchange.
        To facilitate the approval of a transfer of lands under this
        paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
        Agriculture and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House
        of Representatives and to the Committee on Agriculture,
        Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate proposed legislation in
        connection with the proposed transfer. The transfer of lands
        under this paragraph shall be made without compensation to the
        transferring department, agency, or instrumentality.
            (4) Acquisition of certain lands outside addition.--When a
        tract of land proposed to be acquired is only partly within the
        Six Rivers National Forest Addition, the Secretary may acquire
        all or any portion of the land outside of the Six Rivers
        National Forest Addition to minimize the payment of severance
        costs. Land acquired outside of the boundaries may be exchanged
        by the Secretary for non-Federal lands within the boundaries.
        Land acquired outside of the boundaries of the Six Rivers
        National Forest Addition under this paragraph and not used for
        exchange shall be reported to the Administrator of the General
        Services Administration for disposal under the Federal Property
        and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471 et
        seq.).
            (5) Special rule for state or local government lands.--
        Lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of the Six
        Rivers National Forest Addition that are owned by the State of
        California or any political subdivision thereof, may be
        acquired only by donation or exchange.
            (6) Acceptance and use of funds.--The Secretary may accept
        from the State of California funds to cover the cost of
        acquiring lands within the Six Rivers National Forest Addition.
        Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may
        retain and expend such funds for purposes of such acquisition.
        Such funds shall be available for such purpose without further
        appropriation and without fiscal year limitation.
    (c) Land Acquisition Plan.--The Secretary shall develop and
implement, within 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act,
a land acquisition plan that contains specific provisions addressing
how and when lands will be acquired under subsection (b). The plan
shall give priority first to the acquisition of lands within the Six
Rivers National Forest Addition proposed for inclusion in the National
Wilderness Preservation System. The plan shall include an analysis of
the possibilities for acquisition through means other than the
expenditure of funds, including the use of excess and surplus Federal
properties. The Secretary shall identify and list these properties. The
Secretary shall submit copies of the plan to the Committee on Natural
Resources, the Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations; Limitation.--There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry
out this Act; except that the total amount obligated or expended to
acquire lands or interests in lands in the Six Rivers Forest Addition
shall not exceed $200,000,000.
    (e) Termination of Acquisition Authority.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of this section, the Secretary may not acquire lands
under the authority of this section after the end of the 10-year period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (f) Consent of Owner Required for Acquisition.--Lands and interests
in lands within the Six Rivers National Forest Addition may not be
acquired by the Secretary for purposes of this Act without the consent
of the owner of the lands. The Secretary may not acquire lands or
interests in lands within the Six Rivers National Forest Addition by
condemnation.

SEC. 4. WILDERNESS AREAS.

    (a) Designation.--In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness
Act (16 U.S.C. 1131-1136), lands in the State of California acquired
under section 3 of this Act which are within the areas generally
depicted on the map referred to in section 3 as the ``Headwaters Forest
Wilderness (Proposed)'' shall be designated as wilderness and therefore
as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System,
effective upon acquisition under section 3. Such lands shall be known
as the Headwaters Forest Wilderness.
    (b) Map and Description.--As soon as practicable after the
inclusion of any lands in the Headwaters Forest Wilderness, the
Secretary shall file a map and a legal description of the area so
included with the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives and with the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate. The Secretary may correct clerical and typographical
errors in such legal description and such map. Each such map and legal
description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the
offices of the Forest Supervisor, Six Rivers National Forest, and in
the offices of the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of
Agriculture.
    (c) Buffer Zones Not Intended.--The Congress does not intend that
designation of any area as wilderness under this section lead to the
creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones around the wilderness
area. The fact that nonwilderness activities or uses can be seen or
heard from areas within a wilderness shall not, of itself, preclude
such activities or uses up to the boundary of the wilderness area.
    (d) State Authority Over Fish and Wildlife.--As provided in section
4(d)(8) of the Wilderness Act, nothing in this Act shall be construed
as affecting the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the State of
California with respect to wildlife and fish in any areas designated by
this Act as wilderness.

SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Management Plan.--Within 1 year after acquiring all or part of
the lands identified to be acquired in section 3, the Secretary shall
develop a comprehensive management plan for the acquired lands
detailing measures for the preservation of the existing old growth
redwood ecosystems. The management plan shall include each of the
following with respect to the lands so acquired:
            (1) Prohibition of the sale of timber from lands within the
        old growth redwood groves as depicted generally on the map
        referred to in section 3(b)(1). Timber sales in other areas
        within the Six Rivers National Forest Addition shall be allowed
        consistent with the purposes of this Act and other applicable
        Federal laws and regulations.
            (2) Measures to restore lands affected by previous timber
        harvests to mitigate watershed degradation and impairment of
        habitat for the marbled murrelet, northern spotted owl, native
        salmon stocks, and other old-growth forest dependent species.
The management plan shall be reviewed and revised each time the land
and resource management plan for the Six Rivers National Forest is
revised or more frequently as necessary to meet the purposes of this
Act.
    (b) Applicable Laws and Policies.--(1) The Secretary, acting
through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall administer the lands
acquired under section 3(b) in accordance with the Management Plan,
this Act, and with the other laws, rules, and regulations applicable to
such national forest. In addition, subject to valid existing rights,
any lands acquired and designated as wilderness under section 4(a)
shall also be administered in accordance with the provisions of the
Wilderness Act governing areas designated by that Act as wilderness,
except that any reference in such provisions to the effective date of
the Wilderness Act (or any similar reference) shall be deemed to be a
reference to the date of acquisition of such lands under section 3 of
this Act.
    (2) To the maximum extent practicable, all work to implement the
management plan's Restoration Measures shall be performed by unemployed
forest and timber workers, unemployed commercial fishermen, or other
unemployed persons whose livelihood depends on fishery and timber
resources.
    (3) In order to facilitate management, the Secretary, acting
through the Chief of the Forest Service may enter into agreements with
the State of California for the management of lands owned by the State
or purchased with State assistance.

SEC. 6. PAYMENTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

    (a) PILT.--Solely for purposes of payments made pursuant to chapter
69 of title 31 of the United States Code, all lands added to the Six
Rivers National Forest by this Act shall be deemed to have been
acquired for the purposes specified in section 6904(a) of such title
31.
    (b) 10-Year Payment.--(1) Subject to annual appropriations and the
provisions of subsection (c), for a period of 10 years after
acquisition by the United States of lands added to the Six Rivers
National Forest by this Act, the Secretary, with respect to such
acquired lands, shall make annual payments to Humboldt County in the
State of California in an amount equal to the State of California
Timber Yield Tax revenues payable under the California Revenue and
Taxation Code (sec. 38101 et seq.) in effect as of the date of
enactment of this Act that would have been paid with respect to such
lands if the lands had not been acquired by the United States, as
determined by the Secretary pursuant to this subsection.
    (2) The Secretary shall determine the amounts to be paid pursuant
to paragraph (1) of this subsection based on an assessment of a variety
of factors including, but not limited to--
            (A) timber actually sold in the subject year from
        comparable commercial forest lands of similar soil type, slope
        and such determination of appropriate timber harvest levels,
            (B) comparable timber size class, age, and quality,
            (C) market conditions,
            (D) all applicable Federal, State, and local laws and
        regulations, and
            (E) the goal of sustainable, even-flow harvest or renewable
        timber resources.
    (c) California Timber Yield Tax.--The amount of State of California
Timber Yield Tax payments paid to Humboldt County in any year pursuant
to the laws of California for timber sold from lands acquired under
this Act shall be deducted from the sums to be paid to Humboldt County
in that year under subsection (b).
    (d) 25-Percent Fund.--Amounts paid under subsection (b) with
respect to any land in any year shall be reduced by any amounts paid
under the Act of May 23, 1908 (16 U.S.C. 500) which are attributable to
sales from the same lands in that year.

SEC. 7. FOREST STUDY.

    The Secretary shall study the lands within the area comprising
approximately 13,620 acres and generally depicted as ``Study Area'' on
the map referred to in section 3(a). The study shall analyze the area's
potential to be added to the Headwaters Forest and shall identify the
natural resources of the area including the location of old growth
forests, old growth redwood stands, threatened and endangered species
habitat and populations including the northern spotted owl and marbled
murrelet, commercial timber volume, recreational opportunities,
wildlife and fish, watershed management, and the cost of acquiring the
land. Within one year of the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall submit a report with the findings of the study to the
Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture of the United States
House of Representatives and the Committees on Energy and Natural
Resources, and Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the United
States Senate.

SEC. 8. NO ADVERSE EFFECT ON LANDS UNTIL ACQUIRED.

    (a) In General.--Until the lands in the Six River National Forest
Addition are acquired under section 3, the owners of the lands and
their designees shall be entitled to the full and lawful use and
enjoyment of the lands. Nothing in this Act may be--
            (1) construed to impose any limitations upon any otherwise
        lawful use of the lands by the owners of the lands or their
        designees;
            (2) construed as authority to defer the submission, review,
        approval, or implementation of any timber harvest or similar
        plan with respect to any portion of the lands; or
            (3) construed to grant a cause of action against the owner
        of the lands or their designees.
    (b) Voluntary Deferment of Use.--The owners of lands described in
section 3 or their designees may agree of their own accord to defer
some or all lawful enjoyment and use of the land for a certain period
of time.

SEC. 9. SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS IN SIX RIVERS NATIONAL FOREST.

    As provided in section 4(c) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1133(c)), mechanical transport (including motor vehicles, motorized
equipment, and the landing of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft) shall be
permitted anywhere within the boundaries of the Six Rivers National
Forest with respect to any emergency involving the health or safety of
an individual within the national forests.

SEC. 10. PURCHASE OF AMERICAN-MADE EQUIPMENT AND PRODUCTS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that, to
the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and products purchased
with funds made available under this Act should be American-made.
    (b) Notice Requirement.--In providing payments under section 6 or
other financial assistance to, or entering into any contract with, any
entity using funds made available under this Act, the Secretary, to the
greatest extent practicable, shall provide to such entity a notice
describing the statement made in subsection (a) by the Congress.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 21, 1994.

            Attest:

                                           DONNALD K. ANDERSON,

                                                                 Clerk.

HR. 2866 RFS----2

Output: Headwaters Forest Act - Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to modify the boundaries of the Six Rivers National Forest, California, to include certain lands acquired under this Act and referred to as the Six Rivers National Forest Addition. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire land, with the owner's consent, within the boundaries of the Addition by donation, by purchase, or by exchange for other excess or surplus lands under the jurisdiction of any other department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States (subject to the advance approval of the transfer of such lands by law to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary if the Secretary identifies the lands as suitable for use in making an exchange).  Prohibits the Secretary from acquiring such lands by condemnation.  Directs the Secretary to develop and implement a land acquisition plan giving priority to the acquisition of lands within the boundaries of the Addition.  Authorizes appropriations.  Terminates the Secretary's authority to acquire lands under this Act after the end of the ten-year period beginning on the enactment of this Act. Designates acquired lands in California which are within the Headwaters Forest Wilderness as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Requires the Secretary to develop a comprehensive management plan for the acquired lands detailing measures for the preservation of the existing old growth redwood ecosystems, including:  (1) a prohibition on timber sales from lands within the old growth redwood groves in the Addition; and (2) measures to restore lands affected by previous timber harvests to mitigate watershed degradation and impairment of habitat for the marbled murrelet, northern spotted owl, native salmon stocks, and other old-growth forest dependent species. Sets forth provisions regarding payments to local governments in lieu of taxes for lands acquired under this Act. Directs the Secretary to analyze an area's potential to be added to the Addition, to identify the area's natural resources, to study the watershed management of the area and the cost of acquiring the land, and to report the results to specified congressional committees. Provides that until the lands in the Addition are acquired under this Act, the owners of the lands shall be entitled to full and lawful use and enjoyment of the lands.  Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed:  (1) to impose any limitations upon any otherwise lawful use of the lands by the owners; (2) as authority to defer the submission, review, approval, or implementation of any timber harvest or similar plan with respect to any portion of the lands; or (3) to grant a cause of action against the owner of the lands.  Allows the owners of such lands to agree of their own accord to defer some or all lawful enjoyment and use of the land for a certain period of time. Permits mechanical transport anywhere within the boundaries of the Forest with respect to any health or safety emergency. Expresses the sense of the Congress that only American-made equipment and products should be purchased with funds made available under this Act. Requires the Secretary to notify entities of this congressional statement when providing payments under this Act.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Health Care Eligibility
Reform Act of 1994''.

SEC. 2. VETERANS HEALTH CARE ELIGIBILITY REFORM.

    Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:
            (1) Section 1701 is amended by adding at the end the
        following new paragraphs:
            ``(10) The term `continuum of health care' includes
        specialized treatment and rehabilitative services of the
        Department, including comprehensive prevention and health
        screening programs and services to treat needs of disabled
        veterans with spinal cord dysfunction, blindness, prosthetics,
        and mental illness.
            ``(11) The term `noninstitutional long-term care' includes
        the following services:
                    ``(A) Hospital-based home care.
                    ``(B) Adult day health care.
                    ``(C) Fee basis care.
                    ``(D) Hospice care.
                    ``(E) Homemaker services.
                    ``(F) Home health aid.
                    ``(G) Case management services.
                    ``(H) Congregate meals.
                    ``(I) Home delivered meals.
                    ``(J) Senior center services.
                    ``(K) Shopping and transportation services.
                    ``(L) Phone check services.''.
            (2) Section 1710(a)(1) is amended by striking out ``shall
        furnish'' and all that follows through ``which the'' and
        inserting in lieu thereof ``shall furnish a continuum of health
        care (including hospital care, outpatient medical services
        provided on an outpatient or ambulatory basis, and
        noninstitutional long-term care) which the''.
            (3) Subchapter II is amended by inserting after section
        1710 the following new section:
``Sec. 1710A. Institutional long-term care for certain veterans
    ``(a) The Secretary shall provide institutional nursing home care
to any veteran who is described in subparagraph (A) or (D) of section
1710(a)(1), or in subparagraph (C) of section 1712(a)(1), of this title
or who is in receipt of pension from the Secretary.
    ``(b) If a veteran who is provided nursing home care by reason of
subsection (a) is also eligible for payment for the costs of nursing
home care under a State plan title XIX of the Social Security Act, the
Secretary shall be entitled to recover from that State plan the amount
that the State plan would pay for that care if provided by an
authorized provider. For purposes of this subsection, the veteran shall
be deemed to have paid any deductible or copayment otherwise required
as a condition of payment by the State plan.''.
            (4) Section 1710(d) is amended by inserting ``1710A or''
        after ``section''.
            (5) Subchapter III is amended by inserting after section
        1729 the following new section:
``Sec. 1729A. Medicare coverage and reimbursement
    ``(a) For purposes of any program administered by the Secretary of
Health and Human Services under title XVIII of the Social Security Act,
a Department facility shall be deemed to be a Medicare provider.
    ``(b)(1) A VA medical center (or group of medical centers) shall be
considered to be a Medicare HMO.
    ``(2) For purposes of this section, the term `Medicare HMO' means
an eligible organization under section 1876 of the Social Security Act.
    ``(c) In the case of care for a non-service-connected disability
that is provided to a veteran who is eligible for benefits under the
Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall reimburse a Department
health-care facility providing services as a Medicare provider or
Medicare HMO in the same amounts and under the same terms and
conditions as that Secretary reimburses other Medicare providers or
Medicare HMOs, respectively. The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall include with each such reimbursement a Medicare explanation of
benefits.
    ``(d) In the case of a veteran whose eligibility for hospital care
from the Department is by reason of section 1710(a)(2) of this title,
the Secretary shall, when providing care to the veteran for which the
Secretary receives reimbursement under this section, require the
veteran to pay to the Department any applicable deductible or copayment
that is not covered by Medicare.''.

SEC. 3. PLAN FOR ENTITLEMENT TO INSTITUTIONAL NURSING HOME CARE FOR
              OTHER VETERANS.

    (a) Establishment of Plan.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
develop a plan to implement (over a specified period of years) the
provision of institutional long-term care for any veteran described in
subsection (b). The plan may provide for the provision of institutional
long-term care through facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs
or through a long-term care insurance contract, or a combination
thereof. In specifying benefits, or a proposed range of benefits, under
the plan, the Secretary shall consider a representative range of the
different types of health benefits provisions (which include cost-
sharing) typically offered as long-term institutional care coverage in
the small employer health coverage market.
    (b) Covered Veterans.--The plan shall propose to cover any veteran
not covered by section 1710A of title 38, United States Code, as added
by section 2, who--
            (1) has a service-connected disability rated at less than
        50 percent;
            (2) has an annual income (as determined under section 1503
        of such title) that does not exceed three times the maximum
        annual rate of pension that would be applicable to the veteran
        if the veteran were eligible for pension under section 1521(d)
        of such title;
            (3) has a catastrophic nonservice-connected disability (as
        defined by the Secretary); or
            (4) requires institutional long-term care as a follow up to
        inpatient care, as authorized under section 1720 of this title.
    (c) Premiums and Copayments.--The plan shall include the
establishment of a schedule of premiums and copayments for care
provided through Department of Veterans Affairs institutional care
programs in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this
Act. The plan shall specify a range of premiums and copayments that
would apply based upon different combinations of levels of payments by
the Government, copayments, and premiums, as specified in the plan.
    (d) Long-Term Care Insurance Contract.--For purposes of this
section, the term `long-term care insurance contract' means any
insurance contract issued if--
            (1) the only insurance protection provided under the
        contract is coverage of institutional long-term care services
        (as specified in the contract) and benefits incidental to such
        coverage,
            (2) the maximum benefit under the policy for expenses
        incurred for any day does not exceed $200,
            (3) the contract does not cover expenses incurred for
        services or items to the extent that such expenses are
        reimbursable under title XVIII of the Social Security Act or
        would be so reimbursable but for the application of a
        deductible or coinsurance amount,
            (4) the contract is guaranteed renewable,
            (5) the contract does not have any cash surrender value,
        and
            (6) all refunds of premiums, and all policyholder dividends
        or similar amounts, under the contract are to be applied as a
        reduction in future premiums or to increase future benefits.
    (e) Report to Congress.--Not later than September 30, 1996, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the plan. The report
shall include--
            (1) a cost analysis, including a range of premiums and
        copayments and Government cost-sharing;
            (2) a discussion of the cost of establishing a long-term
        care insurance program for veterans described in subsection (b)
        using contract authority (if such contract authority is
        provided by law); and
            (3) a draft of legislation to make any necessary changes in
        law to enable the Department to implement the plan.

SEC. 4. ENROLLMENT SYSTEM FOR OTHER PERSONS.

    (a) In General.--(1) Title 38, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after chapter 17 the following new chapter:

                   ``CHAPTER 18--VA GROUP HEALTH PLAN

``Sec.
``1801. Definitions.
``1802. VA Group Health Plan.
``1803. Enrollment.
``1804. Limitation on preexisting conditions.
``1805. Plan to be self supporting.
``1806. Annual report.
``Sec. 1801. Definitions
    ``For purposes of this chapter:
            ``(1) The term `eligible veteran' means any veteran other
        than a veteran eligible for health care under section
        1710(a)(1) of this title.
            ``(2) The term `VA enrollee' means an individual enrolled
        in the VA Group Health Plan.
``Sec. 1802. VA Group Health Plan
    ``(a) The Secretary shall administer a program of health insurance
under this chapter to be known as the VA Group Health Plan. The
Secretary may provide such insurance directly or may contract with an
insurance provider in the private sector for the provision of such
insurance. The plan may be established as a single, nation-wide plan or
as a composite of regional health insurance plans.
    ``(b) The Secretary shall establish and carry out the VA Group
Health Plan as a managed-care plan and so that it meets the following
requirements:
            ``(1) The plan shall be designed to be self-sustaining
        through required premiums, copayments, deductibles, and other
        charges, and without appropriated funds.
            ``(2) The plan shall provide such benefits as the Secretary
        determines.
    ``(c) The Secretary may award contracts under this section for the
operation of the VA Group plan.
    ``(d) The Secretary may provide treatment in Department facilities
for any enrollee, if cost effective.
``Sec. 1803. Enrollment
    ``(a) The following individuals are eligible to enroll in the VA
Group Health Plan:
            ``(1) Any eligible veteran.
            ``(2) The spouse or child of any veteran.
    ``(b)(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish an
enrollment (and disenrollment) process for the VA Group Health Plan in
accordance with this subsection. Such process shall be established in
consultation with veterans and other individuals to be served by the
plan.
    ``(2) For each eligible veteran, when the veteran first becomes
eligible to enroll in the VA Group Health Plan, there shall be an
initial enrollment period (of not less than 30 days) during which the
veteran may enroll in the plan.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall establish an annual period, of not less
than 30 days, during which eligible veterans may enroll in the VA Group
Health Plan.
    ``(4) If a veteran enrolls in the VA Group Health Plan, the veteran
may at the same time enroll, as a family enrollment, the veteran's
spouse and children in the plan.
    ``(5) In the case of individuals who through marriage, divorce,
birth or adoption of a child, or similar circumstances, experience a
change in family composition, the Secretary shall provide for a special
enrollment period in which the individual is permitted to change the
individual or family basis of coverage. The circumstances under which
such special enrollment periods are required and the duration of such
periods shall be specified by the Secretary.
    ``(6) The Secretary shall provide for a special transitional
enrollment period during which eligible individuals may first enroll.
    ``(c) Enrollment of the spouse (including a child of the spouse)
and any dependent child of an eligible veteran shall be considered to
be timely if a request for enrollment is made either--
            ``(1) within 30 days of the date of the marriage or of the
        date of the birth or adoption of a child, if family coverage is
        available as of such date, or
            ``(2) within 30 days of the date family coverage is first
        made available.
    ``(d) Family coverage shall become effective not later than the
first day of the first month beginning after the date of the marriage
or the date of birth or adoption of the child (as the case may be).
    ``(e) The Secretary may terminate coverage for nonpayment of
premiums.
    ``(f) Coverage of a spouse under a policy under this chapter may
not be canceled by reason of the death of the veteran unless the
surviving spouse remarries.
``Sec. 1804. Limitation on preexisting conditions
    ``(a) The VA Group Health Plan may not impose (and an insurer under
that plan may not require the Secretary impose through a waiting period
for coverage under the plan or similar requirement) a limitation or
exclusion of benefits relating to treatment of a condition based on the
fact that the condition preexisted the effective date of the plan with
respect to an individual if--
            ``(1) the condition relates to a condition that was not
        diagnosed or treated within three months before the date of
        coverage under the plan;
            ``(2) the limitation or exclusion extends over more than
        six months after the date of coverage under the plan;
            ``(3) the limitation or exclusion applies to an individual
        who, as of the date of birth, was covered under the plan; or
            ``(4) the limitation or exclusion relates to pregnancy.
In the case of an individual who is eligible for coverage under a plan
but for a waiting period imposed by the employer, in applying
paragraphs (1) and (2), the individual shall be treated as having been
covered under the plan as of the earliest date of the beginning of the
waiting period.
    ``(b)(1) The Secretary, for purposes of the VA Group Health Plan,
shall waive any period applicable to a preexisting condition for
similar benefits with respect to an individual to the extent that the
individual, before the date of such individual's enrollment in such
plan, was covered for the condition under any other health plan that
was in effect before such date.
    ``(2) Paragraph (1) shall no longer apply if there is a continuous
period of more than 60 days (or, in the case of an individual who loses
coverage under a group health plan due to termination of employment,
six months) on which the individual was not covered under a group
health plan.
    ``(3) In applying paragraph (2), any waiting period imposed by an
employer before an employee is eligible to be covered under a plan
shall be treated as a period in which the employee was covered under a
group health plan.
``Sec. 1805. Plan to be self supporting
    ``The Secretary shall administer the VA Group Health Plan so as to
ensure that no appropriated funds are required for the operation of the
plan (other than as necessary for startup and transition costs). The
Secretary shall establish such premiums, copayments, and other charges
for the plan as necessary.
``Sec. 1806. Annual report
    ``(a) The Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report on
the VA Group Health Plan. The report shall provide information on
prices, health outcomes, and enrollee satisfaction under the plan and
any other information the Secretary considers appropriate concerning
the quality of the plan, including a breakdown of the portion of
premiums under the plan that are attributable to the overhead
operations of the plan.
    ``(b) The report shall be submitted each year before the annual
general enrollment period. The Secretary shall make such report
available to other interested persons.''.
    (2) The table of chapters at the beginning of part II of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
chapter 17 the following new item:

``18. VA Group Health Plan..................................   1801.''.
    (b) Initial Report.--The initial report of the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs under section 1806 of title 38, United States Code, as
added by subsection (a), shall be submitted no later than September 30,
1995. The report shall include a cost analysis for the plan and a range
of premiums and copayments that may be implemented under the plan.

SEC. 5. MANAGED CARE SYSTEM OF HEALTH DELIVERY.

    (a) Chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after section 7306 the following new sections:
``Sec. 7307. Managed care
    ``(a) The Secretary shall administer the health programs of the
Veterans Health Administration through use of the model of medical
practice known as `managed care'.
    ``(b) In implementing a managed care system, the Under Secretary
shall, to the extent possible--
            ``(1) shift the focus of care provided by the Veterans
        Health Administration to primary care;
            ``(2) establish enhanced quality assurance mechanisms; and
            ``(3) establish utilization review procedures to prevent
        inefficient practices.
``Sec. 7308. Veterans Service Areas
    ``The Secretary shall organize the health care delivery services
and resources of the Veterans Health Administration into geographic
regions to be known as Veterans Service Areas.''.
    (b) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7306 the
following new items:

``7307. Managed care.
``7308. Veterans Service Areas.''.
    (c) If, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, the position
of Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs is
vacant, the provisions of section 7308 of title 38, United States Code,
as added by subsection (a), shall not take effect until an individual
is appointed to that position.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal years 1995 through 1999 (in
constant fiscal year 1995 dollars)--
            (1) $200,000,000 to acquire medical equipment to relieve
        the existing medical equipment backlog in Department of
        Veterans Affairs medical facilities; and
            (2) $500,000,000 for improvements of infrastructure,
        patient care amenities, primary care services, and personnel
        and for medical facility construction projects (subject to
        section 8104 of title 38, United States Code).

Output:
Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1994 - Defines "continuum of health care" and "noninstitutional long-term care" under veterans' health care provisions.  Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a continuum of health care to veterans eligible for veterans' benefits.
(Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary to provide institutional nursing home care to certain disabled veterans or those in receipt of a veterans' pension.  Allows for recovery of nursing home care costs by the Secretary if the veteran is also eligible for such care through a State plan under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act.
Designates a Department of Veterans Affairs facility as a Medicare provider for purposes of any program administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.  Declares a Department medical center as a Medicare HMO.  Directs the HHS Secretary to reimburse a Department facility or medical center for providing services as a Medicare provider in the case of care for a non-service-connected disability of a veteran eligible for Medicare benefits.
(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary to develop a plan to implement the provision of institutional long-term care for veterans who:  (1) have a service-connected disability of less than 50 percent; (2) have an annual income below a formulated amount; (3) have a catastrophic nonservice-connected disability; or (4) require such care as a follow-up to inpatient care.  Outlines, with respect to such care, provisions concerning:  (1) premiums and copayments for covered veterans; (2) the issuance of a long-term care insurance contract; and (3) a report from the Secretary to the Congress on the costs of the plan and the insurance contract and legislation required for plan implementation.
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to administer a program of health insurance known as the VA Group Health Plan as a managed-care plan meeting specified requirements.  Allows any eligible veteran and his or her spouse or child to be enrolled in the Plan. Provides Plan enrollment requirements.  Prohibits the Plan from imposing a limitation or exclusion of benefits relating to treatment for certain preexisting conditions.  Directs the Secretary to administer the Plan so that no appropriated funds are required for Plan operation.  Requires an annual report to the Congress by the Secretary on Plan operation, as well as an initial report.
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to administer the health programs of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) through use of a managed care medical practice model, with limitations.  Directs the Secretary to organize the VHA health care delivery and resources into geographic regions known as veterans service areas.
(Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for FY 1995 through 1999 for:  (1) acquiring medical equipment to relieve existing medical equipment backlogs in Department facilities; and (2) infrastructure improvement, patient care amenities, primary care services and personnel, and medical facility construction projects.