[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 26, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H5902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RETURNED AMERICANS PROTECTION ACT OF 2006

  Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 5865) to amend section 1113 of the 
Social Security Act to temporarily increase funding for the program of 
temporary assistance for United States citizens returned from foreign 
countries, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, and 
concur in the Senate amendment.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The Clerk read the Senate amendment, as follows:

       Senate amendment:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. PAYMENTS FOR TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO UNITED STATES 
                   CITIZENS RETURNED FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

       (a) Increase in Aggregate Payments Limit for Fiscal Year 
     2006.--Section 1113(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1313(d)) is amended by inserting ``, except that, in the case 
     of fiscal year 2006, the total amount of such assistance 
     provided during that fiscal year shall not exceed 
     $6,000,000'' after ``2003''.

     SEC. 2. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION IN THE DIRECTORY OF NEW 
                   HIRES TO ASSIST ADMINISTRATION OF FOOD STAMP 
                   PROGRAMS.

       Section 453(j) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     653(j)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating the second paragraph (7) as paragraph 
     (9); and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph
       ``(10) Information comparisons and disclosure to assist in 
     administration of food stamp programs.--
       ``(A) In general.--If, for purposes of administering a food 
     stamp program under the Food Stamp Act of 1977, a State 
     agency responsible for the administration of the program 
     transmits to the Secretary the names and social security 
     account numbers of individuals, the Secretary shall disclose 
     to the State agency information on the individuals and their 
     employers maintained in the National Directory of New Hires, 
     subject to this paragraph.
       ``(B) Condition on disclosure by the secretary.--The 
     Secretary shall make a disclosure under subparagraph (A) only 
     to the extent that the Secretary determines that the 
     disclosure would not interfere with the effective operation 
     of the program under this part.
       ``(C) Use and disclosure of information by state 
     agencies.--
       ``(i) In general.--A State agency may not use or disclose 
     information provided under this paragraph except for purposes 
     of administering a program referred to in subparagraph (A).
       ``(ii) Information security.--The State agency shall have 
     in effect data security and control policies that the 
     Secretary finds adequate to ensure the security of 
     information obtained under this paragraph and to ensure that 
     access to such information is restricted to authorized 
     persons for purposes of authorized uses and disclosures.
       ``(iii) Penalty for misuse of information.--An officer or 
     employee of the State agency who fails to comply with this 
     subparagraph shall be subject to the sanctions under 
     subsection (l)(2) to the same extent as if the officer or 
     employee were an officer or employee of the United States.
       ``(D) Procedural requirements.--State agencies requesting 
     information under this paragraph shall adhere to uniform 
     procedures established by the Secretary governing information 
     requests and data matching under this paragraph.
       ``(E) Reimbursement of costs.--The State agency shall 
     reimburse the Secretary, in accordance with subsection 
     (k)(3), for the costs incurred by the Secretary in furnishing 
     the information requested under this paragraph.''.

  Mr. HERGER (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the Senate amendment be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 5865. The purpose of the bill is to increase the funds in the 
program aiding Americans currently fleeing the crisis in the Middle 
East from $1 million to $6 million. It is important to help these 
Americans get out of harm's way and to provide them with the assistance 
they need to return to their homes in the United States.
  However, when we considered this bill on the House floor, we learned 
that provisions within it allowed it to pass only on the condition that 
the program, established under the Social Security Act, is terminated. 
I thank my colleague Mr. McDermott for his comments on this matter and 
his criticism of this condition.
  I am pleased that the Senate added an amendment to allow this 
valuable program to continue after this year. This is absolutely 
essential to the well-being of all Americans who may find themselves in 
such a situation in the future and look to their government for help. 
The United States received enough criticism already for mobilizing less 
quickly to assist our citizens in leaving war-ravaged areas of Lebanon. 
It is our job to protect them and help them return home, and I am 
pleased to give my support to this new version of the bill.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5685 to let the 
American people know that their representatives in Congress are 
concerned about their safety. Let us send a clear message that we will 
do all we can to help them get out of harm's way should they find 
themselves in such a crisis situation overseas.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request 
of the gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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