[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6878-6879]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 4576. Mr. AKAKA (for himself and Mr. Burr) proposed an amendment 
to the bill S. 1315, to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance 
veterans' insurance and housing benefits, to improve benefits and 
services for transitioning servicemembers, and for other purposes; as 
follows:

       On page 12, beginning on line 8, strike ``June 1, 2008'' 
     and insert ``April 1, 2009''.
       On page 13, line 17, strike ``January 1, 2008'' and insert 
     ``January 1, 2009''.
       On page 14, line 9, strike ``January 1, 2008'' and insert 
     ``January 1, 2009''
       On page 29, line 7, strike ``October 1, 2007'' and insert 
     ``October 1, 2008''.
       On page 29, line 12, strike ``December 31, 2008'' and 
     insert ``December 31, 2009''.
       On page 30, line 19, strike ``December 31, 2008'' and 
     insert ``December 31, 2009''.
       On page 35, line 22, add after the period the following: 
     ``The amendment made by the preceding sentence shall take 
     effect on October 1, 2008, and shall expire on January 1, 
     2010.''.
       On page 38, beginning on line 21, strike ``the date of the 
     enactment of this Act'' and insert ``April 1, 2009''.
       On page 41, line 16, strike ``May 1, 2008'' and insert 
     ``April 1, 2009''.
       On page 41, line 18, strike ``May 1, 2008'' and insert 
     ``April 1, 2009''.
       On page 41, line 24, strike ``the date of the enactment of 
     this Act'' and insert ``April 1, 2009''.

[[Page 6879]]

       On page 42, line 1, strike ``the date of the enactment of 
     this Act'' and insert ``that date''.
       On page 59, line 17, strike ``October 1, 2007'' and insert 
     ``October 1, 2008''.
       On page 62, line 22, strike ``October 1, 2007'' and insert 
     ``October 1, 2008''.
       On page 67, line 23, strike ``October 1, 2007'' and insert 
     ``October 1, 2008''.
       On page 71, beginning on line 9, strike ``October 1, 2007, 
     and ending on September 30, 2011'' and insert ``October 1, 
     2008, and ending on September 30, 2012''.
       On page 71, line 23, strike ``March 31, 2011'' and insert 
     ``March 31, 2012''.
       On page 72, line 3, strike ``September 30, 2011'' and 
     insert ``September 30, 2012''.
       On page 72, line 14, strike ``fiscal years 2008 through 
     2011'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2009 through 2012''.
       On page 73, line 4, strike ``fiscal year 2011'' and insert 
     ``fiscal year 2012''.
       On page 75, beginning on line 22, strike ``December 31, 
     2010'' and insert ``December 31, 2011''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 4577. Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Grassley, and Ms. 
Stabenow) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the 
bill S. 334, to provide affordable, guaranteed private health coverage 
that will make Americans healthier and can never be taken away; which 
was referred to the Committee on Finance; as follows:

       On page 7, line 18, strike the period and insert the 
     following: ``or an employer-sponsored health coverage plan 
     described under section 103 offered by an employer.''.
       On page 11, beginning on line 3, strike ``offered through 
     the HHA of the adult individual's State of residence''.
       On page 12, beginning on line 4, strike ``offered through 
     the HHA of the adult individual's State of residence''.
       On page 16, between lines 3 and 4, insert the following:

     SEC. 103. HEALTH COVERAGE PLANS OFFERED BY EMPLOYERS.

       (a) Plan Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--A health coverage plan described in 
     section 105(h)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
     (relating to self-insured plans) that is offered by an 
     employer shall be subject to--
       (A) the requirements of subtitle B (except for subsections 
     (a), (d)(2), and (d)(4) of section 111); and
       (B) a risk-adjustment mechanism used to spread risk across 
     all health plans.
       (2) Other plans.--A health coverage plan that is not 
     described in section 105(h)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code 
     of 1986 that is offered by an employer shall be subject to 
     the requirements of subtitle B (except for subsection (a) of 
     section 111).
       (b) Distribution of Information.--Employers that offer an 
     employer-sponsored health coverage plan shall distribute to 
     employees standardized, unbiased information on HAPI plans 
     and supplemental health insurance options provided by the 
     State HHA under section 502(b).
       (c) Plans Offered Through Employers.--An employer-sponsored 
     health coverage plan shall be offered by an employer and not 
     through the applicable State HHA.
       On page 22, on line 13, insert ``(including a risk-
     adjustment mechanism)'' after ``rating principals''.
       On page 102, line 19, insert ``The preceding sentence shall 
     not apply to any employer who has less than 10 employees.'' 
     after ``when paid.''.
       On page 117, line 9, insert ``(except for employer-
     sponsored health coverage plans described under section 103 
     offered by employers)'' after ``HHA''.
       On page 117, between lines 15 and 16, insert the following:
       (4) make risk-adjusted payments to all health insurance 
     issuers and employers offering a HAPI plan in such State to 
     account for the specific population covered by the plan, in 
     accordance with guidelines established by the Secretary;

                          ____________________