[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 238 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 238

Permitting payments to be made by employing authorities of the House of 
   Representatives to reimburse Members, officers, and employees for 
                      qualified adoption expenses.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              July 1, 1999

   Mr. Bliley (for himself and Mr. Oberstar) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Permitting payments to be made by employing authorities of the House of 
   Representatives to reimburse Members, officers, and employees for 
                      qualified adoption expenses.

    Resolved, 

SECTION 1. PAYMENT OF QUALIFIED ADOPTION EXPENSES OF MEMBERS, OFFICERS, 
              AND EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any 
rule or regulation, upon authorization by the employing authority of a 
Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives, payment 
may be made from the account of the employing authority to reimburse 
the Member, officer, or employee for qualified adoption expenses.
    (b) Limit on Amount of Payment.--The amount that may be paid under 
this section with respect to any child adopted by a Member, officer, or 
employee may not exceed $2,000.
    (c) Individuals Covered.--Payment may be made pursuant to this 
section to reimburse any individual whose salary is disbursed by the 
Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, including 
any individual whose employing authority is a Member of the House, a 
Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress, a committee of the 
House, the Clerk or any other officer of the House of Representatives, 
or any other employing authority of the House of Representatives.
    (d) Qualified Adoption Expenses Defined.--
            (1) In general.--In this resolution, the term ``qualified 
        adoption expenses'' means reasonable and necessary adoption 
        fees, court costs, attorney fees, and other expenses--
                    (A) which are directly related to, and the 
                principal purpose of which is for, the legal adoption 
                of an eligible child by the Member, officer, or 
                employee involved;
                    (B) which are not incurred in violation of State or 
                Federal law or in carrying out any surrogate parenting 
                arrangement;
                    (C) which are not expenses in connection with the 
                adoption by an individual of a child who is the child 
                of the individual's spouse; and
                    (D) which are not otherwise reimbursed.
            (2) Eligible child.--The term ``eligible child'' means any 
        individual who--
                    (A) has not attained age 18; or
                    (B) is physically or mentally incapable of caring 
                for himself.

SEC. 2. REGULATIONS.

    The Committee on House Administration shall issue such regulations 
as may be necessary to carry out this resolution.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This resolution shall apply with respect to the second session of 
the One Hundred Sixth Congress and each succeeding session of Congress.
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