H.R. 1, aka “Boy, I Hope No One Actually Reads This Damn Bill”

VOTE ON STIMULUS PACKAGE IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY

Democrats Lower Hopes Stimulus Package Will Shore Up Battered Economy

Administration warns the country could face a long and painful financial recovery, even with major government intervention to stimulate the economy.

Obama met with Republican and Democratic congressional leaders at the White House last week to listen to Republican concerns about the package. Obama plans to meet with more Republican lawmakers this week, though Boehner said there is little support among House Republicans for the package in its current form.

A House vote is expected Wednesday. Democrats, if united, have a large enough majority to pass it without GOP backing. But Obama is seeking bipartisan support on this critical early test of his presidency. Senate Republicans could block the package but they would have to be united to do so.

Summers said Obama has inherited the worst economy since World War II, coupled with a federal budget deficit of more than a $1 trillion and soaring costs for entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The nation lost a total 2.6 million jobs last year as the housing market contracted and financial markets collapsed.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/25/democrats-lower-hopes-stimulus-package-shore-economy/

Reposted from downstairs:

Susie1945 01.26.09 at 10:55 pm

Thanks Anti – see – this is why we need PUMAs – I don’t understand all of this stuff about the military and the way it is written in this pkg – nothing is specified – just says amts and says stuff like” For an additoinal amount for “Grants-In-Aid for Airports, to enable the Sec of Transp to make grants for discretionary projects as authorized by sub=chapter 1 of chapter 471 and subchapter 1 of chaptger 475 of title 49, United States Code, $3,000,000,000: Provided that such funds shall not be subject to apportionment formulas, special apportionment categories, or minimum percentages under chapter 471, and on and on -
In order to figure out what the hell is being written you need the expertise of someone who is actually knowledgeable about things like the military – thank you antifish – but now I gotta try & find out what the hell subchapter 1 of chapter 471 of title 49 is and also why this is also listed – the deadline for grantees to enter into contracts or other binding commitments to make use of not less than 50 percent of the funds awarded shall be 120 days after award of the grant…….huh???

Oh well, off to find the United States Code & see what it is…

Well okay – I found out in the broadest sense what the United States Code is——–

United States Code: Main Page
The United States Code is the codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States. It is divided by broad subjects into 50 titles and published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Since 1926, the United States Code has been published every six years. In between editions, annual cumulative supplements are published in order to present the most current information. Documents are available only as ASCII text files. More.

I’m just learning more and more about my country that I never knew…………..damn – guess you can teach old dogs new tricks…..

Is there a place to post our finished pages?

Ignore me – I found them………………………

FROM JOHN BOEHNER, HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER

Top 20 Fast Facts About the House Democrats’ Trillion Dollar Spending Plan

House Democrats Derail Bipartisan Process, Plow Ahead with Proposals to Fund Digital TV Coupons, Cars for Bureaucrats, and Contraceptives … In a Bill Allegedly About the Economy

Washington, Jan 26 – Earlier this month, when then-President-elect Obama met with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders, he laid out a vision of crafting a bipartisan economic recovery package focused on creating jobs and fast-acting tax relief. However, in the weeks since that meeting, Democratic leaders in Congress have taken that vision and turned it upside down, crafting a plan loaded with hundreds of billions in spending on programs and projects – most of which will not impact our ailing economy for many years, if ever, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Rather than working with Republicans on a proposal that lets families, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and the self-employed keep more of what they earn to create jobs and help fix our economy, it seems congressional Democrats are prepared to barrel ahead with the same-old, same-old – more and more aimless spending – at a time when the American people expect so much more out of their elected officials in Washington. For a taste of just how badly Capitol Hill Democrats have strayed from the vision of a bipartisan plan to get our economy moving again, take a look at these 20 fast facts about their bloated plan:

1. The $825 billion package slated for a House vote later this week will exceed more than $1.1 trillion when adding in the interest ($300 plus billion) between 2009-2019 to pay for it.

2. The Capitol Hill Democrats’ plan includes funding for contraceptives; regardless of where anyone stands on taxpayer funded contraception, there is no question that it has NOTHING to do with the economy.

3. The legislation could open billions of taxpayer dollars to left-wing groups like the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), which has been accused of voter fraud, is reportedly under federal investigation; and played a key role in the housing meltdown.

4. Here are just a few of the programs and projects that have been included in the House Democrats’ proposal:

· $650 million for digital TV coupons.

· $600 million for new cars for the federal government.

· $6 billion for colleges/universities – many which have billion dollar endowments.

· $50 million in funding for the National Endowment of the Arts.

· $44 million for repairs to U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters.

· $200 million for the National Mall, including $21 million for sod.

5. The plan establishes at least 32 new government programs at a cost of over $136 billion. That means more than a third of this plan’s spending provisions are dedicated to creating new government programs.

6. The plan provides spending in at least 150 different federal programs, ranging from Amtrak to the Transportation Security Administration. Is this the “targeted” plan Democratic leaders promised?

7. Even though the legislation contains at least 152 separate spending proposals, the authors of the plan can only say that 34 have any chance at keeping or growing jobs.

8. Just one in seven dollars of an $18.5 billion expenditure on “energy efficiency” and “renewable energy programs” would be spent within the next 18 months.

9. The total cost of this one piece of legislation is almost as much as the annual discretionary budget for the entire federal government.

10. The House Democrats’ bill will cost each and every household $6,700 in additional debt, paid for by our children and grandchildren.

11. The bill provides enough spending – $825 billion – to give every man, woman, and child in America $2,700. $825 billion is enough to give every person in Ohio $72,000.

12. $825 billion is enough to give every person living in poverty in the United States $22,000.

13. Although the House Democrats’ proposal has been billed as a transportation and infrastructure investment package, in actuality only $30 billion of the bill – or three percent – is for road and highway spending. A recent study from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that only 25 percent of infrastructure dollars can be spent in the first year, making the one year total less than $7 billion.

14. Much of the funding within the House Democrats’ proposal will go to programs that already have large, unexpended balances. For example, the bill provides $1 billion for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) – a program that already has $16 billion on hand. States also are sitting on some $9 billion in unused highway funds – funds that Congress is prepared to rescind later this year.

15. All board members of the “Accountability and Transparency Board” created by this legislation are appointees of the President; none will be appointed by Congress.

16. A scant 2.7 percent, or $22.3 billion of the overall package, is dedicated to small business tax relief.

17. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that the legislation increases by seven million the number of people who get a check back from the IRS that exceeds what they paid in payroll and income taxes.

18. The “Making Work Pay” tax credit at the center of the plan amounts to $1.37 a day, or about the price of a cup of coffee.

19. Almost one-third of the so-called “tax relief” in the House Democrats’ bill is spending in disguise, meaning that true tax relief makes up only 24 percent of the total package – not the 40 percent that President Obama had requested.

20. $825 billion is just the beginning – many Capitol Hill Democrats want to spend even more taxpayer dollars on their “stimulus” plan. In fact, the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. David Obey (D-WI), told Roll Call earlier this month, “I would not be surprised to see us go further on some of these programs down the line.”

Pages 21-30
(Begins page 19, line 18)
PART 2—ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY BOARD
The “Board” is composed of seven members whose terms are determined by the President.The Chief Performance Officer of the President, (Chair), six members designated by the President from the inspectors general and deputy secretaries of the Depts of Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and other Federal departments and agencies to which funds are made available in this Act. An Independent Advisory Panel is also established to work with the “Board”. The Board coordinates the audits and investigations of spending under this Act by agency inspectors general and State auditors. Holds public meetings. May secure official data directly from any department or agency
http://WWW.RECOVERY.GOV
The Board is required to establish and maintain an internet website to foster greater accountability and transparency in the use of funds, and provide a window to other Government websites with related information

SEC. 1230. FUNDING. Funding appropriated to the Board is $14,000,000
SEC. 1231. BOARD TERMINATION. Shall terminate 12 months after 90 percent of the funds made available under this Act have been – expended, as determined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Susie1945
see #205 downstairs
I don’t want to repost/rehash on this thread

The seven member Accountability and Transparency Board, with their advisory panel get $14 million
and
Shall terminate 12 months after 90 percent of the funds made available under this Act have been – expended, as determined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

SHOULD BE THE ONE BELOW:

blog.unheardamericanvoices.com/2009/01/26/economic-stimulus-or-pissing-into-the-wind.aspx

http://blog.unheardamericanvoices.com/2009/01/26/economic-stimulus-or-pissing-into-the-wind.aspx

http://republicanleader.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=109402

THOSE ARE THE TWO LINKS ABOVE … TO WHICH I WAS REFERRING… GOOD ARTICLES ON THE BAILOUTS AND MONEY GIVEAWAYS…HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY… AND THANKS ONCE AGAIN MURPHY

Summary – pages 11 – 19

Funds may not be used for gambling, golfing, aquarium, zoo or swimming pools, Or construction that does not use iron and steel which is not a product of the US. This is waived if deemed inconsistent with public interest or there is a lack of iron and steel produced in the US. Or iron and steel companies hike prices more than 25%. To waive this you must have a waiver from the Federal Register

Construction applies to airports, bridges, canals, dams, dikes, 9 pipelines, railroads, multiline mass transit systems, roads, 10 tunnels, harbors, and piers.

Wages are not to be lower similar project wages within the geographic area

Illinois cannot access these funds unless approved in legislation enacted by the State after the date of the enactment of this Act, or (2) Rod R. Blagojevich no longer holds the office of Governor of the State of Illinois.

Must designate at least 10% for assistance in persistent poverty counties. 6201 C:\TEMP\HR1.XML HOLCPC

All receiving funds must participate in the E-verify program, see Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note).

What must be published on the website recovery.org
- a plan for using funds made available in this Act to the agency
- all announcements for grant competitions
- allocations of formula grants
- awards of competitive grants using those funds.
- notification of particular infrastructure investments
- description of the infrastructure investment funded.
- purpose of the infrastructure investment.
- total cost of the infrastructure investment.
- rationale of the agency for funding the infrastructure investment
- name of the person to contact at the agency if there are concerns from the public
- certification from the Governor, mayor, or other chief executive, that the infrastructure investment has been vetted
– intended use of funds
- Each contract that has been awarded
- Findings from investigations of public concerns
- bimonthly review reports carried out by the Comptroller General of the United States

The Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Secretary of the Treasury, will submit quarterly reports to Congress detailing the estimated impact of programs under this Act on employment, economic growth, and other key economic indicators.

Contracts shall be awarded as fixed-price contracts through the use of competitive procedures.

The amounts of money theyre throwing at so many areas tells me we’re in worse shape than they lead of to believe.

DancesWithPumas 01.26.09 at 11:49 pm [edit]

Trish 11-19 excerpt:
“Illinois cannot access these funds unless approved in legislation enacted by the State after the date of the enactment of this Act, or (2) Rod R. Blagojevich no longer holds the office of Governor of the State of Illinois.”

—

lol I laughed to kill myself over that

#38
LOL! Jumped right out at me!
Obama musta tucked that little zinger in there. LOL

DancesWithPumas 01.26.09 at 11:56 pm

I’ll re-summarize mine tomorrow.

—

I’ll be joining you, adding headers

#43 kat in your hat
Sorry about that, I went up to the next section and didn’t realize I went so far into your section. You probably did a better analysis of the content though.

Sorry I’ve been off the Blog all day, could someone tell me if I captured this right:
Hillstheone: pp 311-320

Sunshinelvr, “Disconnected Youth,” sounds like me at 17,lol.

Thanks, Dances. Unbelievable freaking bill.

(((ipotter)))

Yours looks pretty good to me! Really. What you posted is basically about the size of it. Your summaries are very good.

I can see you covered my whole section.

You did a lot of work. So, you actually did:
pgs. 71–103!

Ok, where is that running list. I need a new 10 pages.

(ipotter, you are probably sick of looking at the stimulus package…!)

There will be a protest against Bill Ayers when he comes to speak at St. Marys College Moraga, on Wednesday. Perhaps there are some here who would like to stop by?

http://www.pipelinenews.org/stmarys.html

Grathwohl, the only one to infiltrate the Weather Underground, will be a guest speaker at the protest, with the hope of confronting Ayers.
Here is Grathwohl discussing what the Underground wanted to do regarding re-education camps and the killing of millions who refused to be re-educated –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWMIwziGrAQ

Screenshots of Bill Ayers long forgotten communist manifesto here -
http://www.zombietime.com/prairie-fire/
or
http://www.zombietime.com/obama_and_the_weatherunderground/

Not just a youthful endeavor. It is a life-long goal (google ‘Ayers in Venezuela). Certainly a problem as he is a close friend of Obama.

321-330
got it

Oh, before I log off: amazing job everyone! I have been reading some of the summaries.

And, as I wrote in an email to Murphy, brilliant idea. I like reading an actual document. Having the pumas take the time to summarize it rather than getting others’s summaries is, well, brilliant.

Night all you hard working pumas.

hillstheone 01.27.09 at 12:14 am
I think the term “dis-connected Youth’ will apply to quite a few of our youth. I was not very much aware of it until recently, but there are places where the ‘drop-out’ rate is still very high. And that is sad!

Thought I could take another 10 but got to call it a night. BB tommorrow.

Any questions on HUD related Acts and grants can now be sent my way thanks to this exercise. Wonder if we could qual for some of those funds. Anything on equal opportunity or gender discrimination?

PP281-290

SUMMARY:
This section primarily amends tax laws for 2009 and 2010.

Sec 1431 Places limitations on losses that can be claimed following an ownership change of a bank. It states that Internal Revenue Service Notice 2008-83 dealing with built-in losses and deductions shall not apply after Jan 16, 2009 unless the contract was considered binding before that date. This gives the Sec of Treasury discretion to issue guidance.

Subtitle F Part 1- Improves the marketability of tax exempt bonds by removing some tax exempt interest expenses of financial institutions for bonds issued during 2009 and 2010 as well as loans made to state and local governments. It increases the limit on these to $30,000,000. Also eases alternative minimum tax requirements on these bonds.

Part 2- Defines Tax Credit Bonds for school construction. Explains limitations for their use and how they will be distributed by the Education Secretary. Limits these bonds to $11 billion nationally for 2009 and $11 billion with limitations for 2010. Explains the criteria to be used for allocation.

PP281-290

SUMMARY:
This section primarily amends tax laws for 2009 and 2010.

Sec 1431 Places limitations on losses that can be claimed following an ownership change of a bank. It states that Internal Revenue Service Notice 2008-83 dealing with built-in losses and deductions shall not apply after Jan 16, 2009 unless the contract was considered binding before that date. This gives the Sec of Treasury discretion to issue guidance.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-08-83.pdf

Subtitle F Part 1- Improves the marketability of tax exempt bonds by removing some tax exempt interest expenses of financial institutions for bonds issued during 2009 and 2010 as well as loans made to state and local governments. It increases the limit on these to $30,000,000. Also eases alternative minimum tax requirements on these bonds.

http://www.irs.gov/taxexemptbond/article/0,,id=132040,00.html

Part 2- Defines Tax Credit Bonds for school construction. Explains limitations for their use and how they will be distributed by the Education Secretary. Limits these bonds to $11 billion nationally for 2009 and $11 billion with limitations for 2010. Explains the criteria to be used for allocation.

http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=5624&type=0

Sunshinelvr #60,
I, myself, was not aware of my own disconnected youth until recently.

((ROFLMAO))!!!

“Disconnected youth” is what will happen to all our youth who fell for That One and smoked the Hopey-Changey Bong, lol..

The Blagojevich Provision in the Stimulus Bill

http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZWMxMzAwMmM1YzI4MmJlNTU5ZjM4OTMzNzUxYjU1ZjQ=

VOLUNTEER TO READ 10 PAGES of the STIMULUS PACKAGE BILL
and Summarize in a 1/2 Page Report
http://www.rules.house.gov/111/LegText/111_hr1_text.pdf

[Copy the text above, type your name and range of pages, in mulitiples of 10, below it. Please don't paste the entire list… blog clog. Your name and page range will be added to the master list.]

Murphy: pp 1-10
Trish: pp 11-20
Dances pp 21-30
slyt pp. 31-40
HP pp 41-50
Susie1945: pp 51-60
gosuef4hil: pp 61-70
ipotter: pp 71-80
ipotter: pp 81-90
katinyourhat: pp 91-100
prplvette85: pp 101-110
LJSNAustin: pp 111-120
TerryDo: pp 121-130
Ex-DemInVA: pp 131-140
puma.sf1: pp 141-150
PUMAbear: pp 151-160
webfoot: pp 161-195
Susie1945: pp 195-210
Murphy: pp 211-220
KerryLINY: pp 221-230
CasperCat: pp 231-240
HiHat: pp 241-260
MKfromLA: pp 261-270
Sunshinelvr: pp 271-280
antifish: pp 281-290
taggles1: pp 291-300
Trish: pp 301-310
Hillstheone: pp 311-320
kat in your hat: pp 321-330
HiHat: pp 331-340

Just in case you missed my bold and capitalized note … the tuition refund for college expense comes with a new requirement that the Treasury Dept must study how to REQUIRE COMMUNITY SERVICE in order to get the tuition tax credit, and the Treasury has to report back it’s findings to congress within 1 year.

Ok, dances. np. go to bed honey.

I’m going too, gnight all.
sweet dreams.
xo

This may need an Action Monday night and Tuesday morning!

Officials: Family planning money may be dropped
WASHINGTON – House Democrats are likely to jettison family planning funds for the low-income from an $825 billion economic stimulus bill, officials said late Monday, following a personal appeal from President Barack Obama at a time the administration is courting Republican critics of the legislation.
Several officials said a final decision was expected on Tuesday, coinciding with Obama’s scheduled visit to the Capitol for separate meetings with House and Senate Republicans. [....]
Several Democrats said Monday night that Obama had spoken personally with Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., about removing the provision. Waxman is chairman of the committee with jurisdiction over Medicaid and a close ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

VOLUNTEER TO READ 10 PAGES of the STIMULUS PACKAGE BILL
and Summarize in a 1/2 Page Report
http://www.rules.house.gov/111/LegText/111_hr1_text.pdf

[Copy the text above, type your name and range of pages, in mulitiples of 10, below it. Please don't paste the entire list… blog clog. Your name and page range will be added to the master list.]

Murphy: pp 1-10
Trish: pp 11-20
Dances pp 21-30
slyt pp. 31-40
HP pp 41-50
Susie1945: pp 51-60
gosuef4hil: pp 61-70
ipotter: pp 71-80
ipotter: pp 81-90
katinyourhat: pp 91-100
prplvette85: pp 101-110
LJSNAustin: pp 111-120
TerryDo: pp 121-130
Ex-DemInVA: pp 131-140
puma.sf1: pp 141-150
PUMAbear: pp 151-160
webfoot: pp 161-195
Susie1945: pp 195-210
Murphy: pp 211-220
KerryLINY: pp 221-230
CasperCat: pp 231-240
HiHat: pp 241-260
MKfromLA: pp 261-270
Sunshinelvr: pp 271-280
antifish: pp 281-290
taggles1: pp 291-300
Trish: pp 301-310
Hillstheone: pp 311-320
kat in your hat: pp 321-330

Will Obama defend Rove?
http://edgeoforever.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/will-obama-defend-rove/

Seems voters don’t buy Ted’s version of “Paterson did it”
http://edgeoforever.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/sorry-teddy-ny-ers-blame-caroline-not-the-governor/

THE GREAT AMERICAN RIP OFF

The BO “stimulus package” kind of dwarfs the $300 Million Graft of his presidential campaign funds. Talk about a return on investment. This is the payoff for the financing for his fraudulent campaign.

Murphy – we need to tie this to FECK and Acorn and blog this around.

MKfromLA 01.27.09 at 1:40 am
Just in case you missed my bold and capitalized note … the tuition refund for college expense comes with a new requirement that the Treasury Dept must study how to REQUIRE COMMUNITY SERVICE in order to get the tuition tax credit, and the Treasury has to report back it’s findings to congress within 1 year.
——————-

I didn’t miss it. How is this a stimulus for t he economy? The next step would be for anyone who gets a tax credit to do community service. Are property taxes a tax credit?

Megan Kelly was just talking to a Republican Senator about the stimulus package giving money to “community organizers” and i had to laugh at how shocked she was about giving money to them and that ACORN would be the ones that would get most of the money. Come on she is not that stupid ACORN did their job they got BO elected now it’s time to get their pay. Not to mention keep them happy and they will work twice as hard in 4 years to get BO his second term.

CALL CONGRESS re Family Planning vote Tues

Officials: Family planning money may be dropped
WASHINGTON – House Democrats are likely to jettison family planning funds for the low-income from an $825 billion economic stimulus bill, officials said late Monday, following a personal appeal from President Barack Obama at a time the administration is courting Republican critics of the legislation.

Several officials said a final decision was expected on Tuesday [....]

Several Democrats said Monday night that Obama had spoken personally with Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., about removing the provision. Waxman is chairman of the committee with jurisdiction over Medicaid and a close ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Waxman’s contacts:
h……w
henrywaxman.house.gov/contact.htm
(202) 225-3976 (phone)
(202) 225-4099 (fax)

(323) 651-1040 (phone)
(818) 878-7400 (phone)
(310) 652-3095 (phone)
(323) 655-0502 (fax)

Pages 101-110- TITLE VII-HOMELAND SECURITY
My part is on Homeland Security. The total amount of money allocated is $ 1100,000,000.00 ELEVEN MILLION! This is how it is broken down:

U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION
1. For an additional amount for ‘‘Salaries and Expenses”
$100,000,000, for non-intrusive detection technology to be deployed at sea ports of entry.

2. For an additional amount for “ Construction” $150,000,000, to repair and construct inspection facilities at land border ports of entry.
(this means above what they get now)
Transportation Security Administration
Aviation Security
3. Aviation Security. An additional amount of $500,000,000 for the purchase and installation of explosive detection systems and “emerging checkpoint technologies”: provided, that the TSA shall prioritize the award of these funds to accelerate the installations at locations with “completed design plans” and expeditiously award new letters of intent.
Coast Guard
4. An additional amount of $150,000,000 for “Alteration of Bridges”, or removal of obstructive bridges as authorized by Section 6 of the Truman-Hobbs Act, Provided the Coast Guard ward these funds to bridges that are ready to proceed to construction

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+33USC516

I can’t seem to summarize in a half page. I will have the rest in a while, I am trying to do in spare moments at work. I thought the money portion was the most important right now.

Trish
DancesWithPumas 01.26.09 at 11:49 pm
Trish 11-19 excerpt:
“Illinois cannot access these funds unless approved in legislation enacted by the State after the date of the enactment of this Act, or (2) Rod R. Blagojevich no longer holds the office of Governor of the State of Illinois.”
—
lol I laughed to kill myself over that
________________________
That same quote is posted at hotair. Who could have dreamed that a dry stimulus package could provide so much entertainment?
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/01/26/read-the-stimulus/

In am checking in everyday, but involved in some serious family matters. I have to say this bailout has my blood boiling. My Bof A cards were closed, even though I have perfect payment history, because I was trying to reduce the 28% interest. I rely on credit as a small business and the stress is overwhelming. How can we give so much to the banks and be treated like this. Change, I am still waiting.

Mornin’PUMAs – finished a recap of the second bunch of pages

God I hate doublespeak and freakin’ language of this stuff – just say it……

Anyway – here it is and guess what – it pertains to the first set of pages I summarized plus a few new allocations
Ppgs 195-211
Corporation for National and Community Services
Operating Expenses – $160,000,000 to expand existing AmeriCorps grants – bunch of doubletalk about matching requirements authorized by the 1990 ACT with the CEO of the National and Community Service can make determinations on approval of the funds – obligated to report to Congress no later than November 1, 2009 and every 6 months thereafter (as long as the funding is available) detailing the allocation of resources and the increased number of volunteers supported by the AmeriCorps program; also a report on the actual obligations, expenditures and unobligated balances for each activity funded
National Service Trust (including Transfer of Funds)
Trust established under the National and Community Service Act of 1990 – $40,000,000 – available for transfer from Operating Expenses for grants if necessary and after notice to the House of Representatives – also provides that the amount appropriated for or transferred to the National Service Trust may be invested
Social Security Administration
Limitation on Administrative Expenses (including Transfer of Funds)
$900,000,000 used as follows:
$400,000,000 for construction & associated costs to establish a new National Computer Center – subject to review & approval by the Office of Management and Budget
$500,000,000 for processing disability and retirement workloads – $40,000,000 may be used by the Commissioner of Social Security to put info on-line
Department of Defense
Military Construction
Army – $920,000,000
Navy & Marine Corps – $350,000,000
Air Force – $280,000,000
Defense-Wide – $3,750,000,000
Army National Guard – $140,000,000
Air National Guard – $70,000,000
Army Reserve – $100,000,000
Navy Reserve – $30,000,000
Air Force Reserve – $60,000,000
Department of Defense Base Closure Account 1990 – $300,000,000

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Medical Facilities
$950,000,000 – energy projects for non-recurring maintenance for Medical Facilities –Sec of Veterans Affairs has 30 days to submit expenditure plan after stimulus pkg approval

National Cemetery Administration
$50,000,000 for monument and memorial repairs – Secretary of Veterans Affairs has 30 days to submit expenditure plan after pkg approved
Department of State
Administration of Foreign Affairs
Capital Investment Fund
$276,000,000 – $120,000,000 available for design & construction of a backup info mgmt facility in the US to support mission-critical Operations & Projects (spy programs?) – $98,527,000 to carry out Dept of State’s responsibilities under the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative – detailed plans to be submitted to Appropriations committees within 90 days of stimulus pkg approval
International Commissions
International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico Construction (including Transfer of Funds)
$224,000,000 – immediate repair and rehabilitation requirements for water quantity program – $2,000,000 may be transferred to and merged with, funds available under the heading ‘International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico-Salaries and Expenses” – detailed spending plan to be submitted to Appropriations Committees within 90 days of stimulus pkg approval
Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Grants-In-Aid for Airports
$3,000,000,000 – Grants for discretionary projects per Title 49 of United States Code – 50 percent of funds awarded shall be 120 days after award of grant
Federal Highway Administration
Highway Infrastructure Investment
$300,000,000 for Indian Reservation roads
$250,000,000 for Park Roads and Parkways
$20,000,000 for Highway Surface Transportation and Technology Training & $20,000,000 for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Bonding Assistance ( amount set aside can’t be more than .2 percent of funds available instead of percentage specified in section 332(e) of Title 49, US Code
Also after making set-asides authorized by previous provisos, the funds available under this heading shall be distributed among the States, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in same ratio as the obligation limitation for fiscal year 2008 distribution
Priority to projects that can award contracts within 120 days after stimulus pkg approval – also if less than 50 percent of the funds made available are obligated within 180 days – the remaining 50 percent will be redistributed to States and territories that have obligated 50 percent of the funds

Pages 301-310 – This section deals with issuance of bonds, tax exemptions and types of bonds and regulations surrounding them.

CREDIT FOR QUALIFIED BONDS ALLOWED TO ISSUER.
Issuers of qualified bonds issued prior to Jan 1, 2011, will be allowed a credit for interest payments. This credit amounts to 35% of the interest payable. Credit can be used to reduce yields on the bond. Credits and interest payments will follow the income tax laws of the applicable state for exemption from federal income tax.

RECOVERY ZONE BONDS – for states that have an employment decline from 2008 over 2007. These are allocated according to county and municipality over 100,000 population that has employment decline. If a county is part of a municipality it counts towards the municipality not the county. Economic development bonds have a limit of $10,000,000,000.

Recovery Zone Facility Bonds have a limit of $15,000,000,000.

Bonds will cover:
- capital expenditures paid or incurred with respect to property located in such zone,
- expenditures for public infrastructure and construction of public facilities, and
- expenditures for job training and educational programs.

TRIBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BONDS.
The Secretary shall allocate the national tribal economic development bond limitation among the Indian tribal governments in such manner as the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, determines appropriate. There is a national tribal economic development bond limitation of $2,000,000,000.

Tribal economic development bond interest are exempt from taxes when a) the interest would already be exempt if issued by a State or local government, and b) when the bond is designated by the Indian tribal government as a tribal economic development bond.

admin 01.27.09 at 11:42 am

Hey Trish, will the bond issuers who get tax credits for the bonds they write after January 11th be FORCED TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE in exchange for THEIR tax credits???— good question, most of this around the tax credits seemed to be a lot of double talk, almost as if they were writing it, then canceling it out just so they could say they addressed it

106 TrishInCanada 01.27.09 at 11:34 am

Pages 121 – 130 – This section deals with issuance of bonds, tax exemptions and types of bonds and regulations surrounding them.

CREDIT FOR QUALIFIED BONDS ALLOWED TO ISSUER.
*************************

Trish I did pages 121 through to 130 and it did not cover these issues (see my post)……….

# 33 TerryDo 01.26.09 at 11:44 pm
Pages 121-130 RULES HOUSE GOVERNMENT 111TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION

I am sorry Murphy, I missed this. Do you still need help

My husband helped on this one because I’m overwhelmed with work.
Here is the breakdown for items listed in pages 131-140 of Bill.

$462M to Center for Disease Control, Disease Control, Research and Training (pg 131)
Renovation, construction, repair of facilities leased or owned. CDC is also required to consolidate and relocate property and facilities with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Not sure if this is an end run to move the CDC from Atlanta to the NIH in Bethesda, MD

$2.0B to National Institute of Health (pg 132-134)
$1.5B to renovate or repair non-federal research facilities. Funding is split between 09 and 10 but is allowed to be used for 10 years (most federal funding is only for 1 year).
$500M to renovate or repair NIH facilities in Bethesda, MD

$1.2B to Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (part of HHS) (pg 135-136)
Includes $700M for “comparative effectiveness” which is connected to Medicare Prescription Drug benefit of 2003. Also $400M for HHS Secretary to do more comparative research. And, $1.5M for HHS to write a report to House/Senate on how they spent the $1.2B.

$1.0B for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act (pg 139).
Used to make payments into fund.

$2.0B for Childcare Development Block Grant (pg 139)
Used to support but not supplant state funding for child care for low income families

$3.2B for Children and Families Services Program (pg 139-140)
Distributed as follows:
$1.0B for Head Start Act
$1.1B to expand Early Head Start program
$1.0B for Community Services Block Grant

Note – the last three items, totaling $6.2B, were all campaign promises.

Okay, here’s how I read it:

Pages: 450 – 460
______________________________________________________________

Summary: this an overall explanation of the steps to applying for a Grant, with three specific criteria:

Shared/Technological information between appropriate facilities, under specific guidelines implemented by the Secretary of the Grant. listed below:
———————————————————-

II: Steps and Qualifications as in a “PLAN” must be submitted through the application process to get the Grant Award, once approved the FEDS SET UP A LOAN FUND — an established “Loan Fund” (similar to a checking account)—-and this money is to implement your “PLAN” that you showed to the Secretary and she Approved it based on these requirments as follows: (no. 1 above)—-

2.)A system has to be in place for shared and exchange of info,

3.)Improvements for the improved quality of Health care and what procedures and equipment are required to do this,

4.)Promotion of care coordination between Health Providers and educational information accessible to the patients/public.

After two years the program is in place: and ALL qualifications and goals are adhered to (according to the Secretary)—-the grant may continue. First two years is Federally funded: as of 2011 the STATE has to kick in matchup funding. $1—for every $10 of care provided, 2012 $1—-for every $7 of care provided, 2013 $1—–for every $3 of care provided etc……and it continues if the program continues.

Not sure what I’m looking for: but this is the meat of my pages !!

National Limitation on Amount of Bonds Designated

pgs. 291-300

National qualified school construction bond limit for each calendar year.

11,000,000 for 2009
11,000,000 for 2010
0 for 2011

60% of limitation allocated among states for any calendar to be allocated by the Secretary among the states in porportion to the number of students in each state who have attained the age of 5.

Allocation of Indian schools 200,000,000 for construction, rehabilitation, and repair of schools funded by the bureau of Indian Affairs. Indian Tribal Governments are qualified issuers.

40% large school allocation. 1,400,000,000 for 2009 and 2010.

Bonds will receive tax credit of 35% on payable interest.

PP 431-440

SUMMARY: Establishes duties of the Sec of Health and Human Services to include reports, studies, and reporting requirements to Congress as well as dispersal of funds related to electronic Health Information Technology. Also provides grants to establish centers for testing the technology.

The Sec, HHS shall submit a report that—Describes actions taken by the Federal Government and private entities toward adoption of a nationwide electronic health information reporting system, barriers to implementation and recommendations to achieve full implementation.

The Sec, HHS must carry out, or contract a study to examine creation of efficient reimbursement incentives to improve health care quality in federally qualified, rural and free health centers and clinics.

The Sec, HHS must carry out, or contract a study which evaluates methods for identifying current, emerging, and future health technology that can be used to meet the needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities and their caregivers, methods for fostering scientific innovation in aging services technology within the business and academic communities; and developments in aging services technology in other countries that may be applied in the United States. The study must further identify barriers to innovation and adoption of aging services technology and devise strategies for removing such barriers.

Report and studies are due NLT 2 years after enactment of the Act.

The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology will provide grants to institutions of higher education (including nonprofit entities and Federal Government labs) for establishing Centers for Health Care Information Enterprise Integration. Grants will be awarded on a merit-reviewed competitive basis. Explains the purposes of the Centers and procedures to apply for grants. .

The National High-Performance Computing Program will coordinate R&D programs for the development of hardware and software to deploy health information technology.

Establishes incentives for use of HIT and gives the Sec, HHS discretion in coordinating the dispersal of funds allocated under Section 3018 to all agencies involved in establishing the nationwide electronic information exchange infrastructure.

Well- here’s the pork in pp 61-70:

126 M for water reclamation and re-use
80 M for rural water progects
2 B for energy efficiency, research, ,development, deployment- including adv. batteries
500 M to “implement” programs under E of title III of energy policy
1 B- grants for sustainability and efficiency
6 B for “Weatherization Energy Assistance Program”
3 B 500 M energy efficiency & conservation block grants
300 M “expenses necessary to implement” above
1 B “expenses necessary” to manufacture advanced batteries
4 B 500 M- “Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability”
1 T for Advanced Battery Loan Guarantee
2 T 400 M to demonstrate Carbon capture
2 T “science”
500 M Environmental Defense Clean UP

Pages 111-120 pertain to the Interior and Environment.

To the Bureau of Land Management, $325 million for priority road, bridge, and trail repair, hazardous fuels reduction and remediation of abandoned mine or well sites.
To the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, $300 million for priority road, bridge repair as well as improvement projects on National Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries.
To the National Park Service, $1 billion, $700 million for projects to address critical needs within the National Park System. $200 million shall be for projects related to preservation/repair of historical/cultural resources within the park system.
To the National Mall Revitalization Fund (http://nationalmall.org/pdfs/Website-Press-Kit-080521.pdf), $200 million, of which $100 million shall only be made available to the extent those funds are matched by non-Fed contributions.
To the Centennial Challenge (http://www.funoutdoors.com/files/Centennial%20issue%20paper.pdf), $100 million for National Park Service Centennial Challenge signature projects and programs.
To the U.S. Geological Survey, $200 million for repair and restoration of facilities, equipment replacement, and upgrades such as stream gages, seismic/volcano monitoring systems, and national map activities.
To the Bureau of Indian Affairs, $500 million for priority repair/replacement of schools, detention centers, roads, bridges, employee housing. Not less than $250 million shall be used for new/replacement schools and detention centers.
To the Environmental Protection Agency, $800 million for the Superfund Remediation Program (http://www.epa.gov/superfund/partners/osrti/index.htm).
For the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program, $200 million for carrying out leaking underground storage tank cleanup activities authorized by the Solid Waste Disposal Act.
For State and Tribal Assistance Grants, $8 billion, $400 million of which $6 billion shall be for capitalization grants for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds (http://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/)and $2 billion shall be for capitalization grants for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf/index.html). Further, $300 million shall be for grants regarding the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Policy_Act_of_2005)and the remaining $100 million for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (http://www.epa.gov/oecaagct/lcla.html).
To the Forest Service, $650 million for reconstruction, capital improvement, maintenance of forest roads, bridges, trails, and alternative energy technologies, energy efficiency enhancements.
To the Wildland Fire Management, $850 million. $300 million is for hazardous fuels reduction, forest health, wood-to-energy grants, and rehab/restoration activities on Federal lands. The remaining $550 million is for the same basic things at the State level.

Murphy, it looks like my summary at #130 is in moderation…

pg. 171-179
Redistribution of Uncommitted Funds
If the states don’t commit the funds in accordance with the “use it or lose it” paragraph (pg. 170) they are to redistribute it to other local eligible educational agencies.

Allowable Use of Funds
modernization, renovation, or repair of public schools and facilities. Allowable uses include repairing/replacing roofs, plumbing, electrical wiring, sewage systems, components of systems, doors, windows, heating systems, ventilation systems, air conditioning, insulation, and indoor air quality assessments.

bringing schools into compliance with fire, health, and safety codes and installation of fire/life safety systems.

modifications to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Acot of 1973 but these two areas cannot be the primary use of the grant.

asbestos or polychlorinated biphenyls abatement or removal from public schools.
removal/containment of lead based health risks
reduce exposure to mold/mildew.

upgrading or installing educational technology infrastructure; ensure students have access to u-to-date educational technology including wiring, hardware, software, connectivity linkages, microwave, fiber optics, cable, satelltie transmission, modernization of science and engineering laboratory facilities.

Impermissible Use of Funds
payment of cost, stadiums or other facilities for athletic contests or exhibits.

Supplement Not Supplant-the schools cannot replace the money they would have otherwise been using for these projects (i.e. they can’t move the money already in their budget for these projects elsewhere)

SPECIAL RULE ON USE OF IRON AND STEEL PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES.—
IN GENERAL.—A local educational agency shall not obligate or expend funds received under this section for a project for the modernization, renovation, or repair of a public school facility unless all of the iron and steel used in such project is pro16
duced in the United States.
(2) EXCEPTIONS.—The provisions of paragraph(1) shall not apply in any case in which the local educational agency finds that—
A) their application would be inconsistent with the public interest;
(B) iron and steel are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality; or
(C) inclusion of iron and steel produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project contract by more than 25 percent.

Technical Assistance
The Sec. of Education, Secretary of Energy, and Administrator of the EPA will coordinate with the Secretary of Labor to promote appropriate opportunities for participants in a Youth Build program to gain employment experience.
Local Educational Agencies must submit reports to the State educationagency who will compile and submit them to the Secretary of Education.

The Secretary of Education will submit a report no later than Dec. 31, 2011 to the Committees on Education, Labor, and Appropriates of the House of Representatives.

Pages 411-420

Section 3002, HIT Policy Committee: Establish a HIT Policy Committee to make recommendations to the National Coordinator relating to the implementation of a nationwide health information technology infrastructure, including implementation of the strategic plan. The HIT Policy Committee shall recommend a policy framework for the development and adoption of a nationwide health information technology infrastructure. The technologies should protect the privacy of health information and promote security. The infrastructure must allow for: electronic use and accurate exchange of health information; creation and utilization of a certified electronic health record for each person in the United States by 2014; disclosures to be made for purpose of treatment, payment and health care operations. Appropriate uses for the data include: public reporting, biosurveillance, research, drug safety, telemedicine, monitoring home health care, reducing medical errors, and more.

Membership of the HIT Policy Committee shall reflect providers, ancillary healthcare workers, consumers, purchasers, health plans, technology vendors, researchers, relevant federal agencies, and individuals with technological expertise on healthcare quality, privacy and security, and on the electronic exchange and use of health information. The Committee shall serve as a Federal Advisory Committee.

Section 3003, HIT Standards Committee: Establish a HIT Standards Committee to recommend to the National Coordinator standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for the electronic exchange and use of health information. The standards shall be consistent with the latest recommendations made by the HIT Policy Committee. In the development, harmonization, or recognition of standards and implementation specifications, the HIT Standards Committee shall, as appropriate, provide for the testing of such standards and specifications by NIST.

pg. 180-192
Sec. 9302 Higher Education Modernization, Renovation and Repair
(a) Purpose-modernizing, renovating, and repairing institutions of higher learning educational facilities that are primarily used for instruction, research, or student housing.

Grants to State Higher Education Agencies-based on the number of students in proportion to the total number of full time equivalent in all states.

Application-Institutions have to apply for the money.

ReAllocation-money not obligated within six months are returned to the Secretary and given to other institutions.

Administration and Oversight-not more than $6 million available to the Secretary for administration and oversight expenses.

Use of Grants by State Higher Agencies and Subgrants-same as in public schools.

Priority consideration-those institutions with eligibility for Federal assistance under Title III or Title V of HEA of 1965; institutions that have been impacted by major disaster or emergency (speaking specific Act requirements), and institutions demonstrating it will increase energy efficiency.

Administrative and Oversight Expenses-a State Higher Education agency may reserve not more than 5% of such amount or $500,000 whichever is less for administrative expenses.

Permissible Uses of Funds-same as public schools (previously summarized)

Prohibited Uses of Funds-same as for public schools (previously summarized)

Application of GEPA-applicable program of the General Education Provision Act. The Secretary shall establish such program rules as may be necessary to implement such grant program by notice in the Federal Register.

Reporting-
reports by institutions are due no later than Sept. 30, 2011.
reports by states no later than Dec. 31, 2011.
reports by the Secretary due by March 31, 2012. The Secretary shall submit them to the Committee on Education and Labor and the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pension in the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

Reposted from Upstairs:

Wow. Looking at the Pork Package and his Campaign Finances it is plain that BO is an addict. Yea, addicted to OPM – Other People’s Money. That’s what it is all about, a big money grab. What are the chances that the Pig Bill will pass?

I should have the $4,600 Exceedance finished by tonight. Here’s what he did: About half the exceedances seen in the Pre-General FEC report were reimbursed during the next reporting period, but even more were generated. There were twice as many exceedances found in the Post-General report than were found in the Pre-General report.

BO’s Campaign Finance Reporting can be considered to be GROSS FINANCIAL IRRESPONSIBILITY.

michelina 01.28.09 at 12:25 pm
Maybe the Sec of Health and Human Services? Sounds like this is meant to enforce use of the EHR or it will cost them money.

BCL: Your correct about the Health and Human Services and yes, that’s exactly what it sounds like.
Here comes: 510 – 519
__________________________________________________________________

Payments made to hospitals that are EHR meaningful is referencing patients enrolled in a MA plan (Medicare Advantage organization Plan)

EHR Meaningful Hospital users VS: Hospital/MA organizations.(not users)

An “incentive payment” is in the loop and the Secretary will hold responisibility to Collect data from MA organizations to ensure against duplicate payments. If said hospital and or organization are not meaningful EHR users, payment amount will be reduced.

In addition to funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, these are to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Program MAnagement ACCOUNT: $ 60,000,000 for years 2009 – 2015, and $ 30,000,000 for succeeding years through 2019.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study to determine the extent to which payment incentives and other funding for purposes of implementing and using certified EHR technology should be made availale to health care providers who are receiving minimal or no payment incentives or other funding under this ACT.

Summary of STUDY: an examination of———–

-the adoption rates of certified EHR technology by such health care providers.
-The clinical utility of such technology by such providers
-the services furnished by such providers are appropriate or would benefit from the use of such technology
-The extents to such providers work in settings that might otherwise receive an incentive payment or other funding under this ACT.
-potential costs and benefits making payment incentives and other funding available to such providers
-any other issues Secretary deems appropriate.

***NO LATER THAN JUNE 30, 2010 THE SECRETARY SHALL SUBMIT TO CONGRESS A REPORT ON THE FINDING OF THIS STUDY.****

471-480

This section concerns Medicare Providers and the adoption of Electronic Health Records technologies (EHR)
(for some reason my text editor appends the line numbers to the end of the line when I copy and paste)
This section does not contain dollar amounts, but percentage formulas for what I am sure are recondite dollar numbers. D.G.

pg. 471

PART II—MEDICARE PROGRAM 9
SEC. 4311. INCENTIVES FOR ELIGIBLE PROFESSIONALS. 10

‘‘(o) INCENTIVES FOR ADOPTION AND MEANINGFUL 14
USE OF CERTIFIED EHR TECHNOLOGY.—15
‘‘(1) INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.—16

pg 472
this part, there also shall be paid to the eligible 1
professional (or to an employer or facility in the 2
cases described in clause (A) of section 3
1842(b)(6)), from the Federal Supplementary 4
Medical Insurance Trust Fund established 5
under section 1841 an amount equal to 75 per-6
cent of the Secretary’s estimate (based on 7
claims submitted not later than 2 months after 8
the end of the payment year) of the allowed 9
charges under this part for all such covered 10
professional services furnished by the eligible 11
professional during such year. 12

pg. 473
‘‘(I) For the first payment year
for such professional, $15,000. 2
‘‘(II) For the second payment 3
year for such professional, $12,000. 4
‘‘(III) For the third payment 5
year for such professional, $8,000. 6
‘‘(IV) For the fourth payment 7
year for such professional, $4,000. 8
‘‘(V) For the fifth payment year 9
for such professional, $2,000. 10
‘‘(VI) For any succeeding pay-11
ment year for such professional, $0. 12

pg. 476
‘‘(2) MEANINGFUL EHR USER.—18
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of para-19
graph (1), an eligible professional shall be 20
treated as a meaningful EHR user for a report-21
ing period for a payment year (or, for purposes 22
of subsection (a)(7), for a reporting period 23
under such subsection for a year) if each of the 24
following requirements is met: 25

pg. 477
‘‘(i) MEANINGFUL USE OF CERTIFIED 1
EHR TECHNOLOGY.—The eligible profes-2
sional demonstrates to the satisfaction of 3
the Secretary, in accordance with subpara-4
graph (C)(i), that during such period the 5
professional is using certified EHR tech-6
nology in a meaningful manner, which 7
shall include the use of electronic pre-8
scribing as determined to be appropriate 9
by the Secretary. 10
‘‘(ii) INFORMATION EXCHANGE.—The 11
eligible professional demonstrates to the 12
satisfaction of the Secretary, in accordance 13
with subparagraph (C)(i), that during such 14
period such certified EHR technology is 15
connected in a manner that provides, in 16
accordance with law and standards appli-17
cable to the exchange of information, for 18
the electronic exchange of health informa-19
tion to improve the quality of health care, 20
such as promoting care coordination. 21

The rest of these 10 pages are full of reporting and oversight details, none of which made much sense naturally, and left a lot of wiggle room, though this might be interesting:

pg. 481
‘‘(C) LIMITATIONS ON REVIEW.—There 14
shall be no administrative or judicial review 15
under section 1869, section 1878, or otherwise 16
of the determination of any incentive payment 17
under this subsection and the payment adjust-18
ment under subsection (a)(7), including the de-19
termination of a meaningful EHR user under 20
paragraph (2), a limitation under paragraph 21
(1)(B), and the exception under subsection 22
(a)(7)(B). 23

Whew Finally!

Pages 491-500

In summary a portion of the pages deal with definition relating to MA (Medicare Advantage) professionals and MA organizations and whether they qualify as a user of Certified EHR (Electronic Health Record) Technology.

Ok after cutting through the gobblygook, here it is in a nutshell:
Hospitals can receive incentive payments for using certified EHR technology. This money will come from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund

The amount per hospital depends on:
1. a base amount – 2,000,000
2. the discharge related amount for a 12 month period – the sum of the amount, based upon total discharges per 12 month period for each discharge up to the 23,000th (Basically don’t unpack cause you’re not staying in a hospital for long if you’re above the 23,000 bracket)
For the 1,150th through the 23,000th discharge, $200. For any discharge greater than the 23,000th, $0.

MEDICARE SHARE.
Based on a formula of inpatient-bed days established by the Secretary and the number of inpatient bed days for those who qualify divided by the actual number of bed days of each hospital in combination with hospital charges.

Short explanation (I used to calculate bed days vs. inpatient bed days when I worked in long term care) – Basically they’re looking at the total number of beds filled in a year divided by the total number of beds in a hospital. You can have 10 beds but 50 patients in those beds in a given month, each patient staying 3-4 days. The 10 beds would be divided by number of days in a given month to give you the actual bed days. The 50 patients multiplied by number of 10 beds then multiplied by the number of days each patient was in a bed multiplied by the number of days in a month are the inpatient bed days.

Payment to eligible hospitals who adopt EHR are”
(I) For the first payment year for such hospital, 1.
(II) For the second payment year for such hospital, 3⁄4.
(III) For the third payment year for such hospital, 1⁄2.
(IV) For the fourth payment year for such hospital, 1⁄4.
(V) For any succeeding payment year for such hospital, 0.

If the first payment year for an eligible hospital is after 2013, then the transition factor is 1
If the first payment year for an eligible hospital is after 2015 then the transition factor is 0

Payment year means fiscal year beginning with year 2011 payments can be spread out or paid in a lump sum

The hospital must demonstrate they are using the certified EHR technology to be eligible and this technology must be used in a manner that it is connected in a manner that provides, in accordance with law and standards applicable to the exchange of information, for the electronic exchange of health information to improve the quality of health

Pages 551 – 560 – Continuation of breach of records

REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall create regulations on what information shall be collected about each disclosure no later than 18 months after the date on which the Secretary adopts standards on accounting for disclosure.
- All entities with current health records fall under the same protection that will apply in 2014.
- All entities with records created after Jan 1, 2009 fall under the same protection that apply in Jan 2011 or the date that it acquires an electronic health record.

PROHIBITION ON SALE OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS OR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION.
A covered entity or business associate shall not directly or indirectly receive paymentin exchange for any protected health information of an individual unless the covered entity obtained from the individual, a valid authorization that includes, and a specification of whether the protected health information can be further exchanged for payment by the entity receiving protected health information of that individual.

Exceptions to this are:
- Research or public health activity reasons.
- The purpose for the treatment of the individual.
- The purpose of the exchange is for remuneration that is provided by a covered entity to a business associate for activities involving the exchange of protected health information that the business associate undertakes on behalf of and at the specific request of the covered entity pursuant to a business associate agreement.
- The individual requests a copy of their protected health information
- The purpose of the monetary exchange is otherwise determined by the Secretary.

ACCESS TO CERTAIN INFORMATION IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT.
- You may obtain a copy of your health information in an electronic format; and
- Any fee that the covered entity may impose for you a copy of your electronic information shall not be greater than the entity’s labor costs in responding to the request for the copy.

PAYMENT FOR CERTAIN COMMUNICATIONS.—A covered entity or business associate may not receive direct or indirect payment in exchange for making any communication except:
(A) when such communication is performed on behalf of the covered entity that is consistent with the written contract
(B) if the entity obtains from the recipient of the communication, a valid authorization

TEMPORARY BREACH NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR VENDORS
Each vendor of personal health records, following the discovery of a breach of security of unsecured PHR identifiable health information maintained or offered by such vendor, shall notify each individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States whose unsecured PHR identifiable health information was acquired by an unauthorized person as a result of such a breach of security; and notify the Federal Trade Commission.

NOTIFICATION BY THIRD PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS.—A third party service provider that provides services to a vendor of personal health records or to an entity in connection with the offering or maintenance of a personal health record or a related product or service and that accesses, maintains, retains, modifies, records, stores, destroys, or otherwise holds, uses, or discloses unsecured PHR identifiable health information in such a record as a result of such services shall, following the discovery of a breach of security of such information, notify such vendor or entity, respectively, of such breach.

Such notice shall include the identification of each individual whose unsecured PHR identifiable health information has been, or is reasonably believed to have been, accessed, acquired, or disclosed during such breach.

SUMMARY: Pages 519-531 (extended due to section overlaps)

Medicaid Funding: $40 million in 2009-2015, $20 million from 2015-2019.
Establishment of certified EHR technology
- EHR support services, maintenance by Medicaid providers
- Establishes the percentage borne by Medicaid. Varies between 85 and 100%. Mostly 100%.
- Medicaid provider eligible for funds includes:
- Eligible professional as defined in accordance with standards established by the Secretary.
- Children’s hospital
- Acute-care hospital
- Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic.
- Certified EHR technology defined as a qualified electronic health record.
- In no case shall the aggregate allowable costs for initial HER implementation for each provider exceed $25,000.
- In no case shall support or operating costs exceed $10,000.
- Payments by the Medicaid program in support for the technology shall not exceed a period of more than 5 years.
- Payments must not exceed provider or nursing facilities total adoption and operating cost.
- Total costs (purchase, initial implementation, maintenance,… ) per provider shall not exceed $75,000.
- Where program is administered through the State, payments is made directly to provider without deduction or rebate.
The EHR technology must be compatible with State or Federal administrative management systems.
- The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register the overall hospital HER amount paid under the program.
- In the case of health care providers other than hospitals, the Secretary shall ensure coordination of the different programs for health information technology (including HER) to ensure no duplicate funding.
- To qualify, States must demonstrate they are using the funds, tracking providers, are conducting adequate oversight, and pursuing initiatives to encourage HER adoption.
The Secretary shall set up the regular grants program for disbursement, training of appropriate personnel, target nursing facilities and hospitals.

http://www.centerforhit.org/x1072.xml

Pages 330-340

*Grants for Specified Energy:
Sec of Energy shall within 60 give a grant to each person who who places in service specified enerty property during 2009-2010 and be re-imbursed for a portion. The re-embursement is 30% of any property described above.
*Study of Economic, Employment and related effects of this Act:
On Feb 1 2010 and every 3 months thereafter, the Comprtoller General will submit a report on the economic & employment effects of this Act.
*Assistance of Unemployed Workers and struggling families:
Changed title to ” Assitance for Unemployed workers and struggling families ACT”
*Unemployment Insurance:
Unemployment benefits to be extended by 6-9months. Increase in Unemployment benefits will be left up to the Sate but has to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Labor. Any state will have 30 days to terminate agreement in writing with SOL. They will have to specify how they will be paying for these benefits and how often they will provide them. Full reimbursement will be given to each state upon the increase in benefits, including any additional administrative expenses incurred by the State regarding this agreement. The States will be reimbursed or be paid in advance to be agreed upon by both the State and the SOL

PAGES: 630 – 640
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NTIA shall submit an annual report to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation of the Senate for 5 years assessing grants funded on the basis of objectives and criteria.

“eligibility entity” means – a provider of wireless voice service, advanced wireless broadband service, basic broadband service or advanced broadband service, including a satellite carrier.

NTIA authorizes all service providers by rule to participate in the programs.

“interoperable broadband communications systems” means – communications systems which enable public safety agencies to share information among local, State, Federal and tribal public safety agencies in the same area using voice or data signals via advanced wireless broadband service.

“wireless voice service” means – two-way, real-time, voice communications using a mobile service.

NTIA makes a broadband inventory map of the US accessible to the public.

FCC shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation of the Senate, a report containing a national broadband plan. The national broadband plan required shall seek to ensure that all people of the US have access to broadband capability and establish benchmarks for meeting that goal. The plan shall also include:

-an analysis most effective and efficient mechanisms for ensuring broadband access by all people of the US.
-a detailed strategy for achieving affordabililty of service and maximum utilization of broadband infrastrucure and service by the public.
-a plan for use of broadband infrastructure and services in advancing consumer welfare, civic participation, public safety and homeland security, community development, health care delivery, energy independence and efficiency, education, worker training, private sector investment, entreprenueurial activity, job creation and economic growth and other national purposes.
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ENERGY:
The Secretary provides financial support to smart grid demonstration projects in urban, suburban and rural areas, including areas where electric system assets are controlled by tax-exempt entities, electric system assets are controlled by investor owned utilities.

The Secretary shall provide to an electric utility or to other parties, financial assistance for use (GRANTS), no more than 50% of the cost.

The Secretary shall establish and maintain a smart grid informaltiontio clearinghouse available to the public. A utility or other participant in a smart grid demonstration project will provide such information as the Secretary may require.

The Secretary shall assure that business proprietary information and individual customer information is not included through the clearinghouse.

The Secretary shall reuire demonstration projects utilize open Internet-based protocols and standards.

The Secretary shall:

-establish the enactment of the AMERICAN RECOVERY and REINVESTMENT ACT of 2009, by which applicants can obtain grants.

-require that grant recipients utilize open Internet-based protocols and standards.
-establish procedures that there is no duplication or multiple payment or recovery, the grant goes to the party making the actual expenditures of qualifying smart grid investments and the grants made a significant effect in encouraging and facilitiating the development of a smart grid.
-maintain public records of grants, recipients and qualifying smart grid investments.
-establish procedures to provide advance payment of moneys up to grant award.
-excercise discretion to deny grants that do not qualify.
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The Secretary may make guarantees for commercial technology projects that will commence construction not later than September 30, 2011.

Projects from the following categories are eligible for support (only)
-Renewable energy systems including hydropower, that generate electricity
-Electric power transmission systems including upgrading and reconductoring projects.
-Leading edge biofuel projects
-Secretary determines who are likely to become commercial technologies and produce transportation fuels that reduce life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions.

The Secretary shall consider:

-the viability of the project
-the availability of other Federal and State incentives
-the importance of the project in meeting reliability needs.
-the effect of the project in meeting a State or region’s environment (including climate change) and energy goals.

The Secretary shall provide reasonable assurance that all laborers and mechanics, including those employed by contractors or sub-contractors, wages will be paid in line with Department of Labor standards.

Pages 560-569

This section is like reading your federal income tax long form schedule.
Boring and all about the penalties and charges to any facility that passes citizen health records to someone that shouldn’t have it, $100 fines to tens of thousands of dollar fines depending on what part of the law is broken.
Just legal bs to try and sound like they are protecting the citizen.

HR I
Summary of pagfes 611-621
Part of Title V Medicaid Provisions
(See table of contents p.587, sections 5000-5007)

P 611 (Last page of section 5004 on eligibility options for Family Planning Services)
Conformity: Makes small corrections and adds amendments so that the SS Act and the
The provisions of this bill are in conformity.
Clarification: Stipulates that the State may not add individuals who already have benchmark
coverage unless it includes family planning services and supplies
Effective Date:
On the date of enactment and applies to items and services after that date

P 612
Charges Indians may not be charged for any services, in any fashion, for benefits
provided by Indian health programs or those provided through contracts,
including those provided by tribal organizations or urban Indian organizations
P 613
Deductions: No deductions in payments may be made to any Indian providers or to agencies
under contract with them.
No restrictions apply

P 614
Conformity: Wording is changed so that previous laws and this law are in conformity
Effective Datel
Effective date is 10 October 2009

P. 615
Eligibility: No Indian lands held in trust under the Sec. of the Interior, including former
reservations in OK and AK, may be used to determine eligibility/

P 616
Other Exemptions
No Indian lands held by federally recognized tribes, not described above.
No ownership interests in rents, leases, royalties, or extraction rights involving
natural resources, plants, animals, timber, fish , shellfish, which are federally
,protected rights
Further ownership rights that are unique, such as:

P 617
religious, spiritual, traditional, or culturally significant, also rights supporting
sustenance or traditional lifestyles according to tribal law or custom.
Re; :CHIP CHIP provisions are amended to disregard those lands and rights listed above
when determining eligibility for benefits.
Current law is continued in the protection of certain Indian property from
Medicaid Estate
Recovery Northing in the new sub-paragraphs may prevent the Sec. of Interior from
providing additional estate recovery exemptions for Indians
Section 5006 Consultation on Medicaid and CHIP

P 618
Consultation with Tribal Technical Advisory Board of 2003 shall be continued
which prescribes a representative from the Urban Indian Organization to be an
an elected official of a tribal government under the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act of 1995.
Solicitation of Advice

P 619
States furnishing one or more Indian Health Programs must on a regular basis
Must seek advice on furnishing such services from the organizations on
applications of the Title regarding the likely impact of any changes before they
are initiated.
That may include the appointment of a Commission and a designee to the
Medical Care Advisory Committee advising the State.
CHIP Amended Application to CHIP amended

P. 620
Nothing in these amendments made by this section supersedes existing
advisory committees, working groups, or panels established by the Sec. of
Health and Human Services or by any State re: the care of Indians.
Recession Temporary Increase in DSH allotments

P. 621
Application Not applicable in such States and in such years if the benefit would have been
higher without these provisions
In 2009 benefits will be 102.5% of the previously planned benefit.
2010 benefits will be 102.5% of 2009 benefits as determined for 2009 above.
Benefits beyond 2010 will not be increased due to recession
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Sorry, I don’t know how I posted that twice.
There are some small errors which I can correct after I finsih supper, if you want. Shall I post it here? Or where?

Pages 591 – 610
This section deals with timelines, qualifications, eligibily and payment of Medicaid.

TEMPORARY INCREASE OF MEDICAID FMAP
PERMITTING MAINTENANCE OF FMAP (Federal medical assistance percentage)
For calendar quarters during the recession adjustment period for qualifying states, the FMAP shall be increased by 4.9 percentage points per quart.

SPECIAL ELECTION FOR TERRITORIES
If a State is not one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia, the temporary increase option shall only apply if the State makes a one-time election, in a form and manner specified by the Secretary and for the entire recession adjustment period, to apply the increase in FMAP and a 10 percent increase instead of applying a 20 percent increase.

ADJUSTMENTS TO REFLECT INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT
HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT STATE
The term ‘‘high unemployment State’’ means, with respect to a calendar quarter in the recession adjustment period, a State that is 1 of the 50 States or the District of Columbia and for which the State unemployment increase percentage for the quarter is not less than 1.5 percentage points.

If a State is a high unemployment State for a calendar quarter, it shall remain a high unemployment State for each subsequent calendar quarter ending before July 1, 2010.

HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT PERCENTAGE POINT ADJUSTMENT
The high unemployment percentage point adjustment for a high unemployment State for a quarter is equal to the product of (i) the SMAP (for a State, 100 percent minus the Federal medical assistance percentage) for such State and quarter.

STATE UNEMPLOYMENT REDUCTION FACTOR
In the case of a high unemployment State for which the State unemployment increase percentage between 1.5 and 2.5 % points, the State unemployment reduction factor for the State and quarter is 6% percent; between 2.5 and 3.5 % points, the State unemployment reduction factor for the State and quarter is 12%; or greater than 3.5% points, the State unemployment reduction factor for the State and quarter is 14%.

COMPUTATION OF STATE UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASE PERCENTAGE
The average monthly unemployment rate for the State the most recent previous 3-consecutive-month period for which data are available, exceeds the lowest average monthly unemployment rate for the State for any 3-consecutive-month period preceding the period beginning on or after January 1, 2006.

The ‘‘average monthly unemployment rate’’ means the average of the monthly number unemployed, divided by the average of the monthly civilian labor force.

INCREASE IN CAP ON MEDICAID PAYMENTS TO TERRITORIES
With respect to entire fiscal years occurring during the recession adjustment period the amounts otherwise determined for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa shall each be increased by 20%.

STATE INELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATION
A State is not eligible for an increase in its FMAP if eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures under its State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act are more restrictive.

STATE’S APPLICATION TOWARD RAINY DAY FUND.
A State is not eligible for an increase in its FMAP if any amounts attributable (directly or indirectly) to such increase are deposited or credited into any reserve or rainy day fund of the State.

REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN STATES
In the case of a State that requires political subdivisions within the State to contribute toward the non-Federal share of expenditures under the State Medicaid plan, the State is not eligible for an in, if the State requires that such political subdivisions pay a greater percentage of the non-Federal share of such expenditures for quarters during the recession adjustment period.

MEDICAID MORATORIUM
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, with respect to expenditures for services furnished during the period beginning on December 8, 2008 and ending on June 30, 2009, the Secretary shall not take any action (through promulgation of regulation, issuance of regulatory guidance, use of Federal payment audit procedures, or other administrative action, policy, or practice, including a Medical Assistance Manual transmittal or letter to State Medicaid directors) to implement the final regulation relating to outpatient hospital facility services.

COLLECTION AND REPORTING OF PARTICIPATION INFORMATION
Each State shall collect and submit to the Secretary (and make publicly available), information on average monthly enrollment and average monthly participation rates for adults and children under this section and of the number and percentage of children who become ineligible for medical assistance under this section whose medical assistance is continued under another eligibility category or who are enrolled under the State’s child health plan under title XXI.

Using the above information, the Secretary shall submit to Congress annual reports concerning enrollment and participation rates.

STATE ELIGIBILITY OPTION FOR FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES
COVERAGE AS OPTIONAL CATEGORICALLY NEEDY GROUP
Individuals described in this subsection are individuals whose income does not exceed an income eligibility level established by the State that does not exceed the highest income eligibility level established under the State plan for pregnant women; and who are not pregnant.

ADMINISTRATION
The State agency shall provide qualified entities with necessary forms and information on how to assist such individuals in completing and filing such forms.

NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Within 5 working days after approval notify the State agency and individual must be informed no later than the month during which the determination is made.

PAYMENT
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, medical assistance that is furnished to an individual shall be treated as medical assistance provided by such plan.

All of these monies combined will create less stimulus than just letting everybody pay down their debts, interest free. The financial institutions won’t be hurt by interest free paydowns because it will actually stabilize their monthly intake from their indebted customers for several years to come.

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