[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1856 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1856

To direct the Attorney General to establish a panel to study the issue 
  of Federal benefits received by persons convicted of drug offenses.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 18, 1999

Mr. Thornberry introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Attorney General to establish a panel to study the issue 
  of Federal benefits received by persons convicted of drug offenses.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Tough on Drugs Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PANEL.

    (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall establish a panel to 
study, and make findings, conclusions, and recommendations, with regard 
to the issues related to Federal benefits received by persons convicted 
of drug offenses.
    (b) Issues To Be Examined.--The panel established in subsection (a) 
shall examine the following issues as they relate to Federal benefits 
received by persons convicted of drug offenses:
            (1) The number of individuals in the United States 
        receiving Federal benefits who have been convicted of a drug 
        offense.
            (2) The amount of Federal money, per Federal benefit 
        program, that goes to individuals convicted of a drug offense.
            (3) The legal and constitutional implications, limitations, 
        or impediments related to a denial of Federal benefits to 
        individuals convicted of a drug offense.
            (4) The specific Federal and State drug offenses which 
        could be utilized as a trigger for a denial of Federal 
        benefits.
            (5) Ways in which the Federal and State Governments could 
        improve the exchange of information about individuals convicted 
        of a drug offense.
            (6) The length of time for which Federal benefits might be 
        denied to individuals convicted of a drug offense, and the 
        effect of such denial on such convicted individual, as well as 
        on any dependent of any such individual.
            (7) The cost-effectiveness of a denial of Federal benefits 
        to individuals convicted of a drug offense, including any 
        savings to the Federal Government resulting from such a denial 
        of Federal benefits.
    (c) Definition of Federal Benefit.--In this Act, the term ``Federal 
benefit'' means any program or entitlement in which the Federal 
Government provides a payment of money or a direct financial benefit to 
the recipient, including Federal housing benefits, Medicaid, Medicare, 
food stamps, and Social Security.
    (d) Report.--The panel shall submit a report to Congress detailing 
its methodology, findings, conclusions, and recommendations, not later 
than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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