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![Official portrait of Rep. Bentsen, Ken [D-TX-25]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000400_200.jpg)
United States · Official source
982 records where Rep. Bentsen, Ken [D-TX-25] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1998
Medicare Social Work Equity Act of 1998 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to exclude clinical social worker services from coverage under the Medicare skilled nursing facility prospective payment system.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1998
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal to Gerald and Betty Ford in recognition of their dedicated public service and outstanding humanitarian contributions to the people of the United States. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell duplicate medals in bronze. Declares such medals to be national medals.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Continuing the Commitment of the Violence Against Women Act Subtitle A: Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grants to Combat Violence Against Women Subtitle B: National Domestic Violence Hotline Subtitle C: Battered Women's Shelters and Services Subtitle D: Community Initiatives Subtitle E: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel Subtitle F: Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies Subtitle G: Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement Subtitle H: National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction Subtitle I: Federal Victims' Counselors Subtitle J: Education and Prevention Grants to Reduce Sexual Abuse of Runaway, Homeless, and Street Youth Subtitle K: Victims of Child Abuse Programs Title II: Limiting the Effects of Violence of Children Subtitle A: Safe Havens for Children Subtitle B: Violence Against Women Prevention Among Youth in Schools Subtitle C: Family Safety Subtitle D: Domestic Violence and Children Subtitle E: Child Welfare Worker Training on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Subtitle F: Child Abuse Accountability Title III: Sexual Assault Prevention Subtitle A: Rape Prevention Education Subtitle B: Standards, Practice and Training for Sexual Assault Examinations Subtitle C: Prevention of Custodial Sexual Assault by Correction Staff Subtitle D: Hate Crimes Prevention Title IV: Domestic Violence Prevention Subtitle A: Domestic Violence Victims' Housing Subtitle B: Full Faith and Credit for Protection Orders Subtitle C: Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Subtitle D: National Summit on Sports and Violence Subtitle E: Keeping Firearms From Intoxicated Persons Subtitle F: Access to Safety and Advocacy Subtitle G: Federal Witness Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence Title V: Violence Against Women in the Military System Subtitle A: Civil Jurisdiction for Crimes of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Subtitle B: Transitional Compensation and Health Care for Abused Dependents of Members of the Armed Forces Title VI: Preventing Violence Against Women in Traditionally Underserved Communities Subtitle A: Older Women's Protection From Violence Subtitle B: Protection Against Violence and Abuse for Women with Disabilities Subtitle C: Battered Immigrant Women Subtitle D: Conforming Amendments to the Violence Against Women Act Title VII: Violence Against Women and the Workplace Subtitle A: National Clearinghouse on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Workplace Grant Subtitle B: Victims' Employment Rights Subtitle C: Workplace Violence Against Women Prevention Tax Credit Subtitle D: Battered Women's Employment Protection Subtitle E: Education and Training Grants to Promote Responses to Violence Against Women Subtitle F: Workers' Compensation Title VIII: Educational Institutions and Violence Against Women Subtitle A: Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women on Campus Subtitle B: Student Safety Subtitle C: Violence against Women Training for Health Professions Subtitle D: Campus Hate Crimes Right to Know Title IX: Violence Against Women Intervention, Prevention, and Education Research Violence Against Women Act of 1998 - Title I: Continuing the Commitment of the Violence Against Women Act - Subtitle A: Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grants to Combat Violence Against Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (the Act) to authorize appropriations for grants to combat violent crimes against women. (Sec. 102) Revises grant allocation guidelines governing prosecution grants, victims' services and State court systems. Expands grant purposes to include training that addresses sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking for State, local, and tribal judicial personnel. Directs the Attorney General to deny State grant applications that fail to provide documentation of collaborative efforts with other agencies or organizations. Redefines "victims' services" to include advocacy and assistance for victims seeking legal, social, and health care services. (Sec. 103) Directs the Attorney General to make grants to State domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions for purposes of coordinating with: (1) victim services activities; and (2) Federal, State, and local entities engaged in violence-against-women activities. Subtitle B: National Domestic Violence Hotline - Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) to authorize increased appropriations for the national domestic violence hotline grant. Requires grantees to submit a grant evaluation report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the HHS Secretary) for publication and public comment as a prerequisite to a grant award or renewal. Subtitle C: Battered Women's Shelters and Services - Battered Women's Shelters and Services Act - Amends the FVPSA to authorize appropriations for State grants. Modifies guidelines governing: (1) allotment of appropriations; (2) grants for information and technical assistance centers; and (3) authorization of appropriations. (Sec. 123) Instructs the HHS Secretary to award grants for: (1) State domestic violence coalitions and local domestic violence programs providing shelter or related assistance, in order to develop model strategies to address domestic violence in underserved populations; (2) each State domestic violence coalition for an emergency assistance fund for domestic violence victims; and (3) technical assistance and training for State and local domestic violence programs. Subtitle D: Community Initiatives - Authorizes appropriations for demonstration grants for community initiatives. Subtitle E: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel - Amends the Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Act of 1994 to permit training grants for judges and court personnel to include: (1) child custody, visitation, and safety issues raised by domestic violence and child sexual assault; and (2) the extent to which addressing domestic violence and victim safety contributes to the efficient administration of justice. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies - Amends the Act to reauthorize appropriations to implement the functions of the Bureau of Justice Statistics. (Sec. 153) Mandates that at least five percent of appropriated funds be used for grants to Indian tribal governments to treat domestic violence as a serious violation of criminal law. Subtitle G: Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement - Amends the Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for rural domestic violence and child abuse enforcement. Mandates that five percent of such funds be used for grants to Indian tribal governments. Subtitle H: National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction - Amends the Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for grants to enter stalking and domestic violence data into crime information databases. Subtitle I: Federal Victims' Counselors - Amends the Safe Streets for Women Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for the United States Attorneys to appoint Victim-Witness counselors for the prosecution of domestic violence and sexual assault crimes. Subtitle J: Education and Prevention Grants to Reduce Sexual Abuse of Runaway, Homeless, and Street Youth - Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations for street-based outreach and education to prevent sexual abuse and exploitation. Subtitle K: Victims of Child Abuse Programs - Amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations for: (1) the court-appointed special advocate program; and (2) child abuse training programs for judicial personnel and practitioners. (Sec. 191-3) Amends the Act to authorize appropriations for grants for closed-circuit televising of testimony of child abuse victims. Title II: Limiting the Effects of Violence on Children - Subtitle A: Safe Havens for Children - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to public or private nonprofit nongovernmental entities to establish and operate supervised visitation centers. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Violence Against Women Prevention Among Youth in Schools - Authorizes appropriations for the Secretary of Education to implement a program in primary, middle, and secondary schools to educate young people about violence against women. Subtitle C: Family Safety - Family Safety Act - Amends the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980 to include among its purposes: (1) the promotion of cooperation between State and tribal courts to protect parents and children from domestic violence or sexual assault; (2) the promotion of realistic and protective standards for interstate relocation when parents dispute custody; (3) the avoidance of jurisdictional conflicts between State courts in matters of child custody and visitation consistent with not endangering or inappropriately punishing parents who are victims of domestic violence, or children who are victims of sexual assault. (Sec. 233) Amends Federal criminal law to provide as a defense to prosecution of either a criminal custodial interference or parental abduction charge, or criminal contempt of court relating to an underlying child custody or visitation determination, that the defendant was fleeing an incident or pattern of domestic violence or sexual assault of the child, or would otherwise have a defense under the International Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act. Directs the Attorney General to issue guidelines to assist U.S. Attorneys and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine whether to initiate or terminate an action due to the potential availability of such defense. (Sec. 234) Amends the Judicial Code to declare that the intent of full faith and credit doctrine in child custody determinations is to preempt inconsistent State law. Declares that a protection order regarding custody and visitation of a minor child that is consistent with this Act shall be given full faith and credit by the courts of any State where the party who sought the order seeks enforcement. Modifies State court jurisdiction guidelines governing: (1) relocation of the child due to domestic violence or sexual assault; and (2) court authority to decline to exercise jurisdiction on behalf of parents engaged in specified conduct. Subtitle D: Domestic Violence and Children - Expresses the sense of the Congress that for purposes of determining child custody: (1) it is in the best interest of children to have a presumption that their main physical residence should be with their primary caretaker parent unless such parent is unfit; (2) child abuse and sexual abuse allegations should be fully investigated regardless of when raised, or whether the child has withdrawn the allegation; (3) States should not order specified measures if they may endanger either parent or child; and (4) States should provide training to all relevant professionals on how domestic violence and sexual assault affects determinations of custody, child support, and visitation. Subtitle E: Child Welfare Worker Training on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault - Directs the Attorney General to make grants jointly with the HHS Secretary to enable child welfare service agencies to train their staffs and modify their policies, procedures, programs, and practices in order to make them consistent with specified principles and goals. Sets forth grantee eligibility criteria. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Child Abuse Accountability - Child Abuse Accountability Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit the assignment or alienation of any pension benefit payable to a participant pursuant to a qualified child abuse order. Exempts qualified child abuse orders from preemption by ERISA. Title III: Sexual Assault Prevention - Subtitle A: Rape Prevention Education - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the use of certain State funds for rape prevention and education programs conducted by rape crisis centers and nonprofit State sexual assault coalitions for specified programs. (Sec. 301) Instructs the HHS Secretary to establish a National Resource Center on Sexual Assault to provide resource information, policy, training, and technical assistance to Federal, State, and Indian tribal agencies, State and local sexual assault coalitions and programs, and to other interested parties. Mandates that State grantors ensure that at least 25 percent of the funds are devoted to educational programs targeted for middle school, junior high, and high school aged students. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Standards, Practice, and Training for Sexual Assault Examinations - Standards, Practice, and Training for Sexual Assault Examinations Act - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) evaluate standards of training and practice for licensed health care professionals performing sexual assault forensic examinations, and develop a national recommended training standard; (2) recommend sexual assault examination training for health care students to improve recognition of injuries suggestive of rape and sexual assault; and (3) establish a mechanism for nationwide dissemination of a national protocol on sexual assault for forensic examinations. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Prevention of Custodial Sexual Assault by Correctional Staff - Prevention of Custodial Sexual Assault by Correctional Staff Act - Directs the Attorney General to establish and disseminate to the States certain guidelines regarding the prevention of custodial sexual misconduct by correctional staff. Requires withholding of specified correctional facilities funds from any State that fails to implement: (1) such guidelines; or (2) criminal penalties explicitly prohibiting custodial sexual misconduct by correctional staff against prisoners. (Sec. 335) Directs the Attorney General to create a national, confidential, toll-free telephone hotline to collect data, and to provide information and assistance to prisoners who have experienced custodial sexual misconduct by corrections staff. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Hate Crimes Prevention - Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1998 - Amends Federal criminal law to establish criminal penalties for willfully causing bodily injury because of a person's race, color, religion, or national origin. (Sec. 345) Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to study the issue of adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes, and, where appropriate, to amend Federal sentencing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements for adult defendants who do such recruiting. (Sec. 346) Directs the Administrator of the Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to make grants to State and local programs to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. (Sec. 347) Authorizes appropriations for the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Justice (including the Community Relations Service), to increase the number of personnel to prevent and respond to such hate crimes. Title IV: Domestic Violence Prevention - Subtitle A: Domestic Violence Victims' Housing - Domestic Violence Victims Housing Act - Authorizes appropriations under the United States Housing Act of 1937 solely for public housing agencies and qualified nonprofit organizations to provide tenant-based rental assistance for families leaving a residence due to domestic violence. Subtitle B: Full Faith and Credit for Protection Orders - Amends Federal criminal law to require the Attorney General to reduce the amount of certain grants to any State that fails to comply with Federal full faith and credit requirements for protection orders. (Sec. 412) Authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants to assist governmental entities to develop and strengthen law enforcement and recordkeeping strategies to enforce protective orders issued by other governmental entities. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection - Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Prohibits an insurer from denying or restricting insurance coverage on the basis that the applicant or insured (or any employee or associated person) is, has been, or may be the subject of abuse or has incurred or may incur abuse-related claims. Confers enforcement jurisdiction upon the Federal Trade Commission. Authorizes a private cause of action by an applicant or insured adversely affected by a violation of this Act. Subtitle D: National Summit on Sports and Violence - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) a national summit should be promptly convened to develop a multifaceted action plan to deter acts of violence, especially domestic violence and sexual assault; (2) the members of such summit should include sports, community, political, and media leaders, as well as Members of Congress and other governmental and community leaders with relevant expertise; and (3) summit members should assume leadership roles deterring acts of domestic violence and sexual assault. Subtitle E: Keeping Firearms from Intoxicated Persons - Amends Federal criminal law to declare unlawful the transfer of a firearm or ammunition to any person reasonably believed to be intoxicated. Subtitle F: Access to Safety and Advocacy - Access to Safety and Advocacy Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to designated grantees and services to improve legal assistance to victims of domestic violence through access to the justice system, legal advocacy, and representation. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle G: Federal Witness Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence - Amends Federal criminal law to include victims of domestic violence within the Federal Witness Protection Program. Title V: Violence Against Women in the Military System - Subtitle A: Civilian Jurisdiction for Crimes of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence - Amends Federal criminal law to declare that domestic violence and sexual assault offenses committed by persons formerly serving with, or presently employed by or accompanying the armed forces outside of the United States shall be subject to prosecution in the Federal District Court of the jurisdiction of origin of the person arrested. Provides for concurrent jurisdiction with other military tribunals and foreign governments. (Sec. 502) Amends Federal law governing separation from the armed forces to mandate that: (1) a copy of records of any penal action taken against the departing member of the armed forces be transmitted to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and (2) any member convicted by court-martial of an offense of a sexual nature provide whatever specimen is necessary to conduct DNA analysis for inclusion in the Combined DNA Identification System of the FBI. Subtitle B: Transitional Compensation and Health Care for Abused Dependents of Members of the Armed Forces - Revises Federal guidelines governing transitional compensation and health care for abused dependents of former members of the armed forces. Mandates that an abused dependent of a former member be furnished with medical, dental, and mental health care in uniformed services' facilities with the same eligibility and benefits as were applicable during the former member's active service. Title VI: Preventing Violence Against Women in Traditionally Underserved Communities - Subtitle A: Older Women's Protection From Violence - Older Women's Protection From Violence Act - Chapter 1: Violence Against Women Act of 1994 - Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to direct the Attorney General to: (1) make grants to law school clinical programs to fund the inclusion of cases addressing issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, and sexual assault against older individuals; and (2) develop curricula and provide for training programs in those issues for law enforcement officers and prosecutors. Authorizes appropriations. Chapter 2: Family Violence Prevention and Services Act - Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to require federally-funded State domestic violence coalitions to include within their scope of activities programs targeted to older individuals, including outreach, support groups, and counseling. (Sec. 604-3) Authorizes entities eligible for a community initiatives demonstration grant to include representatives of adult protective services entities. Chapter 3: Older Americans Act of 1965 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Aging to consider the importance of research about the sexual assault of older women when establishing research priorities for grants or contracts for research and demonstration projects on elder abuse. (Sec. 605-3) Authorizes appropriations without fiscal year limitation for grants to implement a State long-term care ombudsman program. (Sec. 605-4) Directs such Assistant Secretary to develop curricula and implement continuing education training programs to improve the ability of health care and social services providers to recognize and address instances of elder abuse. (Sec.605-5) Directs the Assistant Secretary, when making grants and contracts, to give special consideration to projects designed to: (1) expand access to domestic violence shelters and programs for older individuals and encourage the use of certain facilities as emergency short-term shelters; and (2) promote research on legal, organizational, or training impediments to providing services to older individuals through shelters and programs. (Sec. 605-6) Authorizes appropriations for the ombudsman and the elder abuse prevention program. (Sec. 605-7) Directs the HHS Secretary to make grants to: (1) nonprofit private organizations to support projects in local communities to coordinate activities for intervention in and prevention of elder abuse, including domestic violence and sexual assault; and (2) develop outreach programs for assisting victims of elder abuse, including some for assisting individuals in certain senior housing facilities. Authorizes appropriations. Chapter 4: Public Health Service Act - Elder Abuse Identification and Referral Act of 1998 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to instruct the HHS Secretary, when awarding grants or contracts, to give preferences to health professions schools or programs that condition the awarding of their degrees or certificates upon significant student training in specified areas of elder abuse identification and treatment. Subtitle B: Protection Against Violence and Abuse for Women with Disabilities - Protections Against Violence and Abuse for Women with Disabilities Act - Makes the protection of women with disabilities eligible for grants and research under the following Acts: (1) the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968; (2) Public Health and Human Services Act; (3) Family Violence Prevention and Services Act; (4) Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994; and Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Act of 1994. (Sec. 617) Authorizes the HHS Secretary to: (1) develop curricula and implement training programs to improve the ability of social service and health providers to recognize and address domestic violence directed against women with disabilities; and (2) make grants and enter into contracts for such training programs for health professionals. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 619) Directs the HHS Secretary to consider the importance of research about the sexual assault of, and violence against, women with disabilities in establishing certain research priorities. (Sec. 619-1) Authorizes the Attorney General to establish a grants program for States and nongovernmental private entities to provide education and technical assistance for information dissemination on abuse and violence against women with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Battered Immigrant Women - Battered Immigrant Women's Protection Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress that it is contrary to the law enforcement purposes of the Violence Against Women Act for State law enforcement officers, prosecutors, or judges to: (1) inquire into the immigration status of a domestic violence victim who is seeking protection from crimes of domestic violence, battering, or extreme cruelty to herself or her children; and (2) report such victims to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. (Sec. 623) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise guidelines governing a battered spouse or child with respect to: (1) cancellation of removal and adjustment of status; (2) ineligibility for visas or admission; (3) procedures for granting immigrant status; (4) general classes of deportable aliens; (5) status adjustment of nonimmigrant to that of person admitted for permanent residence; (6) removal proceedings; and (7) married persons and employees for certain nonprofit organizations. (Sec. 630) Authorizes the Attorney General to grant certain battered applicants documentation signifying authorization of employment during the pendency of their application. (Sec. 631) Amends the Privacy Act of 1974 to permit Federal agency disclosure of records to the spouse or child of a naturalized citizen or lawful permanent resident who requests information from the Immigration and Naturalization Service regarding the immigration status of their spouse or parent, or who needs to obtain documentation for an immigration case or domestic violence-related judicial procedure. Excludes from such disclosure the records of victims of battering or extreme cruelty by a spouse or parent. (Sec. 632) Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to redefine "qualified alien" to include certain battered aliens for purposes of welfare and public benefits eligibility. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980, the Social Security Act, and the United States Housing Act of 1937, to declare restrictions on the use of assisted housing inapplicable to certain battered aliens. (Sec. 633) Amends the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 to provide that requirements and restrictions placed upon Legal Services Corporation funding shall not be construed to prohibit a recipient from providing related legal assistance to certain aliens who have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty. (Sec. 634) Amends the Act to require each branch of the U.S. military to train its supervisory military officers in domestic violence dynamics in military families, and the protections available for battered immigrant women and children. Expands the purposes of training grants to combat violent crimes against women to include: (1) training immigration and asylum officers and judges; and (2) training justice system personnel on the judicial ramifications of the Violence Against Women Act, and the potential immigration consequences for perpetrators of domestic violence. (Sec. 635) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to express the intent of the Congress that statutory constraints upon the powers of immigration personnel not be construed as discouraging crime and domestic violence victims from reporting crimes to the police, from cooperating in criminal prosecutions, or from obtaining the legal relief needed for protection from ongoing violence. Subtitle D: Conforming Amendments to the Violence Against Women Act - Amends the Act to make technical and conforming amendments with respect to law enforcement and prosecution grants. Title VII: Violence Against Women and the Workplace - Subtitle A: National Clearinghouse on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Workplace Grant - Authorizes the Attorney General to award a grant to a private non-profit entity, including one operating within the boundaries of an Indian reservation, to provide for establishment of a national clearinghouse and resource center to disseminate information and assistance to employers and labor organizations responding to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Victims' Employment Rights - Victims' Employment Rights Act - Prohibits an employer from taking any adverse job action against an employee based upon such employee's status, experience, or condition as a victim of crime, even if the crime alleged does not result in criminal prosecution or conviction. Prohibits any adverse job action for an employee's participation in related judicial proceedings requiring absence from work. Prescribes enforcement guidelines, including civil action by an affected employee for actual and treble punitive damages. Subtitle C: Workplace Violence Against Women Prevention Tax Credit - Workplace Violence Against Women Prevention Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an employer a workplace safety program tax credit for 40 percent of the costs of implementing workplace safety and education programs to combat violence against women. Subtitle D: Battered Women's Employment Protection - Battered Women's Employment Protection Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for unemployment compensation for separation from employment as a direct result of an employee's experience of domestic violence. (Sec. 743) Amends the Social Security Act to provide for the training of claims reviewers and hearing personnel in the nature and dynamics of domestic violence, and in methods of ascertaining and keeping confidential information about domestic violence experiences so that employment separations stemming from such violence are identified and adjudicated while full confidentiality is provided for the employee's claim and submitted evidence. (Sec. 744) Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and the provisions concerning Federal employees to establish an entitlement for leave resulting from certain domestic violence situations. Prescribes confidentiality guidelines for an employee's situation of domestic violence. Requires that employees, under State law, be permitted to use existing leave for domestic violence situations. Empowers the Secretary of Labor to enforce the entitlement for leave due to an employee's domestic violence situation. Subtitle E: Education and Training Grants to Promote Responses to Violence Against Women - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to public and private nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations for the education and training of individuals who, as a result of their employment responsibilities, are likely to come into contact with victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Workers' Compensation - Expresses the sense of the Congress that State workers' compensation laws should: (1) provide benefits to eligible female victims of workplace violence, including full compensation for physical and nonphysical injuries; and (2) permit the employee to pursue an action at law (other than statutory workers' compensation benefits) against an employer's role in the act of workplace violence. Title VIII: Educational Institutions and Violence Against Women - Subtitle A: Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women on Campus - Amends the Act to authorize Department of Education grants to institutions of higher education for campus personnel and student organizations, and nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services programs to provide personnel, training, technical assistance, data collection, and other equipment for the more widespread apprehension, investigation, and adjudication of persons committing violent crimes against women on campus. (Sec. 801) Authorizes the Secretary of Education to request any Federal agency to use its authorities and resources in support of campus security, investigation, and victim services efforts. (Sec. 802) Directs the Secretary to provide for, and report to the Congress on, a national baseline study of university campus procedures when receiving a sexual assault report. Subtitle B: Student Safety - Student Safety Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to: (1) revise guidelines governing crime logs and annual statistics of criminal offenses on campus; (2) exclude from educational records open to parental review specified records of campus disciplinary proceedings or criminal activity; and (3) modify eligibility criteria for Federal student financial aid services to require institution certification of comprehensive and accurate crime statistics. (Sec. 815) Requires the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education to publish annually and transmit to certain congressional committees and the general public a report identifying model programs for improving campus safety. Subtitle C: Violence Against Women Training for Health Professions - Violence Against Women Training for Health Professions Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the HHS Secretary, when making health care grants for rural areas, to give preference to a health professions entity that requires, as a condition of receiving a degree or certificate, each student to have had significant training in identification, examination, treatment, and referral of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Subtitle D: Campus Hate Crimes Right to Know - Campus Hate Crimes Right To Know Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to mandate the separate collection and categorization of on-campus criminal offenses statistics that manifest prejudice based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or disability. Title IX: Violence Against Women Intervention, Prevention, and Education Research - Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to direct the HHS Secretary and the Attorney General to establish a multi-agency task force coordinating research on violence against women. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 901) Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to entities to: (1) support research to further the understanding of the causes of violent behavior against women; and (2) evaluate education, prevention, and intervention programs. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Departments of Health and Human Services and of Justice to make grants to domestic violence and sexual assault organizations, research organizations and academic institutions to expand knowledge about violence against women, with a particular emphasis on exploring such issues as they affect underserved communities. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to study and report to the Congress on specified aspects of domestic violence. Directs the Secretary to award grants to designated entities to gather data on the experiences of women and girls who become pregnant as a result of sexual assault within State health care, judicial, and social services systems. Authorizes appropriations. Instructs the Attorney General to conduct a national study and report to the Congress on laws regarding rape and sexual assault offenses and their effectiveness in addressing those crimes and protecting the victims. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary and the Attorney General to establish three research centers to: (1) support the development of research and training programs that focus on violence against women; (2) provide collaboration mechanisms between researchers and practitioners; and (3) provide technical assistance for integrating research into service provision. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1998
Retirement Account Portability Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit rollovers to and from State and tax- exempt instrumentality and public school retirement plans. (Sec. 3) Permits individual retirement plan (IRA) rollovers only if the entire amount is deposited into another defined contribution retirement plan and certain other conditions are met. (Sec. 4) Permits rollover of after-tax contributions in an exempt trust if such amount is reported by the trustee and the recipient retirement plan agrees to report such amount in a subsequent distribution. (Sec. 5) Provides for faster vesting of employer matching contributions. (Sec. 6) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to extend single employer missing participant provisions to multiemployer plans. Authorizes transfer of a missing participant's benefits to a corporation upon termination of certain pension plans. (Sec. 7) Amends the Code to extend the IRA and employee exempt trust 60-day rollover period in the case of combat zone service. (Sec. 9) States that a transferee defined contribution plan shall not be treated as having failed to meet certain requirements because it does not provide for some or all of the distribution forms available under a transferor defined contribution plan. (Sec. 10) Authorizes employers to disregard rollovers for purposes of employee cash-out amounts under the Code and ERISA. (Sec. 11) Authorizes trustee-to-trustee transfers to purchase permissive service credit with respect to Federal or public school and State and tax-exempt instrumentality pension plans.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1998
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to classify qualified leasehold improvement property (defined as certain improvements made to an interior portion of nonresidential real property) as ten-year property for depreciation purposes under the Accelerated Cost Recovery System.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1998
Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1998 - Establishes the Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform to study the laws relating to the financing of political activity and to report and recommend legislation to reform those laws. (Sec. 6) Requires the Commission, not later than the expiration of the 180-day period that begins on the date on which the second session of the 105th Congress adjourns, to submit to the President, the Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives, and the majority and minority leaders of the Senate, a report of the activities of the Commission. Requires the report to include any recommendations for changes in the laws (including regulations) governing the financing of political activity, including any changes in House and Senate rules, to which nine or more Commission members may agree, together with drafts of: (1) any legislation recommended by the Commission to implement such recommendations; and (2) any proposed amendment to the Constitution recommended by the Commission as necessary to implement such recommendations, except that if the Commission includes such a proposed amendment in its report, it shall also include recommendations and drafts for legislation that may be implemented prior to the adoption of such proposed amendment. Requires the Commission, in making recommendations and preparing drafts of legislation, to consider the following to be its primary goals: (1) encouraging fair and open Federal elections that provide voters with meaningful information about candidates and issues; (2) eliminating the disproportionate influence of special interest financing of Federal elections; and (3) creating a more equitable electoral system for challengers and incumbents. (Sec. 7) Provides for expedited congressional consideration of any legislation introduced the substance of which implements a recommendation of the Commission submitted, including a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution. (Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Ethical Standards for Federal Prosecutors Title II: Punishable Conduct Citizens Protection Act of 1998 - Title I: Ethical Standards for Federal Prosecutors - Subjects a Government attorney to State laws and rules, and local Federal court rules, governing attorneys in each State where such attorney engages in duties to the same extent and in the same manner as other attorneys in that State. Directs the Attorney General to make and amend rules of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assure compliance with this title. Title II: Punishable Conduct - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish by rule that it shall be punishable conduct for any DOJ employee to seek an indictment in the absence of probable cause, to fail promptly to release information that would exonerate a person under indictment, to intentionally or knowingly misstate or alter evidence, to attempt to influence or color a witness's testimony, to act to frustrate or impede a defendant's right to discovery, to offer or provide sexual activities to any government witness or potential witness, to leak or otherwise improperly disseminate information to any person during an investigation, or to engage in conduct that discredits DOJ; and (2) establish penalties for engaging in such conduct, including probation, demotion, dismissal, referral of ethical charges to the bar, loss of pension or other retirement benefits, suspension from employment, and referral of the allegations (if appropriate) to a grand jury for possible criminal prosecution. (Sec. 202) Sets forth procedures regarding written complaints of such conduct by a DOJ employee, investigation of such complaints by the Attorney General, and imposition of appropriate penalties. (Sec. 203) Establishes an independent Misconduct Review Board to review all determinations by the Attorney General with respect to such complaints and to investigate allegations made in statements that may be submitted to it with respect to complaints for which the Attorney General has made no determination or imposed no penalty. Authorizes the Board to impose penalties established above.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1998
Medicare Clinical Trial Coverage Act of 1998 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide for Medicare reimbursement of routine patient care costs for individuals participating in federally approved clinical trials; and (2) ensure coverage of such costs under Medicare+Choice plans. Requires the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and of Labor to report jointly to the Congress on the costs associated with requiring that group health plans and health insurance coverage do not deny payment of routine patient care costs for services furnished in connection with federally approved clinical trials.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1998
Medicare Private Contracting Clarification Act of 1998 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, to provide that Medicare private contracts do not apply to non-covered services.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1998
Amends Federal law to add Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday (the third Monday in January) to the list of days on which the U.S. flag should especially be displayed.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1998
Equality for Israel at the United Nations Act of 1998 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States must promote an end to the exclusion of Israel from any of the United Nations regional blocs, including rotating membership on the UN Security Council; and (2) the U.S. Ambassador to the UN should take all steps necessary to ensure Israel's acceptance in the Western Europe and Others Group regional bloc (membership which includes the non-European countries of Canada, Australia, and the United States). Directs the Secretary of State to report to appropriate congressional committees on efforts taken to achieve such goals.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1998
Biomedical Revitalization Resolution of 1998 - Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that funding for the National Institutes of Health should be increased by $2 billion in FY 1999.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1998
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela in recognition of his life-long dedication to the abolition of apartheid and the promotion of reconciliation among the people of the Republic of South Africa. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike a gold medal and sell duplicates in bronze at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals. Declares such medals to be national medals. Authorizes a maximum charge against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund to pay for the costs of the medals. Mandates that proceeds from sales of duplicate bronze medals be deposited in such Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1998
Expresses the sense of the Congress that national goals should include providing access to affordable housing and expanding home ownership opportunities pursued through policies of tax incentives and private and public sector activities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1998
Holocaust Victims Insurance Act - Requires any person engaged in the insurance business in the United States directly or through a related company during the period 1920 to 1945 to report to the Secretary of Commerce within 90 days of the enactment of this Act on the current status of the insurance policies issued during such period. Imposes a civil penalty upon any person who does not file a report. Directs the Secretary to immediately upon receipt transmit such reports to the House and Senate Committees on Commerce. Requires a person engaged in the insurance business that determines that it issued insurance policies to individuals who were Holocaust victims to pay to the beneficiaries or descendants of the victims the proceeds of such policies. Encourages strongly any such person who does not have records of the individuals to whom it issued life insurance policies during the period 1920 to 1945 to establish a substantial monetary fund to compensate Holocaust victims. Requires the Secretary to report to the House and Senate Committees on Commerce on the number of individuals who were Holocaust victims who held life insurance policies during the period 1920 to 1945. Directs the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to develop a registry of those who died in the Holocaust which shall be made available to the public, including insurance companies preparing a report under this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Prohibits any action brought by a Holocaust victim or heir or beneficiary of a Holocaust victim seeking proceeds of such policies issued or in effect between 1920 and 1945 from being dismissed for failure to comply with the applicable statute of limitations or laches provided the action is commenced on or before December 31, 2010.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1998
Higher Education Reporting Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the higher education tuition information return requirement for educational institutions and certain related businesses; and (2) require certain institution-identifying information to be provided by the taxpayer in order to claim the tuition credit.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: International Monetary Fund Title II: New Arrangements to Borrow Title III: Policy Provisions International Monetary Fund Reform and Authorization Act of 1998 - Title I: International Monetary Fund - Amends the Bretton Woods Agreement Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to consent, subject to appropriations, to a specified increase in the U.S. IMF quota of Special Drawing Rights. Title II: New Arrangements to Borrow - Sets forth conforming amendments for Federal participation in new arrangements to borrow. Title III: Policy Provisions - Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the IMF to advocate specified policies whose goal, among other things, is to: (1) make the IMF a more effective mechanism for implementation of specified international banking and trade principles; (2) ensure by specified activities that it does not become a lender of last resort for private investors and commercial banks; (3) promote worker rights; (4) adopt appropriate environmental policies supporting macroeconomic stability; and (5) facilitate IMF transparency and accountability.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1998
Requests that the U.S. Postal Service issue a commemorative postage stamp in 1999 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 1997
Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1997 - Amends the Federal criminal code to set penalties for persons who, whether or not acting under color of law, willfully cause bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, firearm, or explosive device, attempt to cause such injury, because of the actual or perceived: (1) race, color, religion, or national origin of any person; and (2) religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of any person, where in connection with the offense, the defendant or the victim travels in interstate or foreign commerce, uses a facility or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce, or engages in any activity affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or where the offense is in or affects interstate or foreign commerce. (Sec. 5) Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to study the issue of adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes and, if appropriate, amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements for adult defendants who recruit juveniles to assist in the commission of hate crimes. (Sec. 6) Requires the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to State and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 7) Authorizes appropriations to the Department of the Treasury and to DOJ to increase the number of personnel to prevent and respond to alleged violations of provisions regarding interference with specified federally protected activities, such as voting.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1997
Technology Education Capital Investment Act of 1997 - Authorizes appropriations to the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct informal science and mathematics education programs. Requires the NSF to expand such programs. Sets forth priorities for such programs serving students at pre-kindergarten through secondary education levels. (Sec. 3) Authorizes appropriations to the NSF Director to carry out the national advanced scientific and technical education program under the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992. (Sec. 4) Establishes a technology education State stimulus scholarship program. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make matching grants to States to provide supplementary scholarships to students for study leading to a postsecondary degree in science, mathematics, engineering, or a related field. Allows such scholarships to be awarded by the State higher education system, the State scholarship commission, or an equivalent State entity. Sets forth eligibility requirements. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 5) Establishes a hands-on student training partnership grants program. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make start-up grants to institutions of higher learning to develop industry-sponsored internship programs that provide opportunities for undergraduate engineering students to receive hands-on training at local businesses. Sets forth program priorities and restrictions. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 6) Amends the Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to educational assistance programs to provide for: (1) permanent extension of the tax exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance; and (2) restoration of the tax exclusion for graduate level assistance. (Sec. 7) Establishes the Technology Workforce Commission to study and report to the President and the Congress on all matters relating to the shortage of technology workers in the United States. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the low-income State housing credit ceiling amount; and (2) provide for a cost-of-living adjustment for such amount.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
Federal Sunset Act of 1998 - Establishes the Federal Agency Sunset Commission to: (1) submit to the Congress a schedule for review by the Commission, at least once every 12 years, of the abolishment or reorganization of each agency; and (2) review and evaluate the efficiency and public need for each agency. Requires the abolishment of any agency within one year of the Commission's review, unless the agency is continued by the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
Iran Missile Proliferation Sanctions Act of 1997 - Directs the President to report periodically to specified congressional committees on foreign persons who, on or after August 8, 1995, have transferred, or attempted to transfer, controlled goods or technology, or provided, or attempted to provide, technical assistance or facilities that contributed, or would have contributed, to Iran's efforts to acquire, develop, or produce ballistic missiles. Excludes from identification in such reports any such persons who were previously identified or sanctioned, who are subject to a waiver, or who have acted on behalf of, or in concert with, the United States. Requires imposition on such persons of minimum two-year sanctions prohibiting: (1) sales to such persons of items on the United States Munitions List (and terminating sales of any controlled U.S. arms); (2) the export to such persons of dual use goods and technology; and (3) the provision of U.S. financial assistance. Authorizes the President to waive such sanctions on the basis of U.S. national security or additional information demonstrating that the sanctioned person did not commit the acts alleged. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should exercise the authority granted to him under the Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of 1992 to prevent: (1) the transfer through purchase, barter, or other acquisition of weapons-related material and delivery systems to Iran; and (2) the transfer to Iran of scientific and technical expertise with respect to such material and systems. Authorizes the use of certain assistance, otherwise available for the independent states of the former Soviet Union under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, to prevent such transfers.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income scholarship amounts received for certain teaching, research, or other services by an individual under the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Recognizes the historic significance of the fiftieth anniversary of the reestablishment of the State of Israel. Commends the Israeli people for their achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic democratic society in the Middle East. Reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. Extends congratulations and best wishes to the State of Israel and her people for a peaceful, prosperous, and successful future.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) The Women's Museum: An Institute for the Future, in Dallas, Texas, should be designated as a Millenium Project for the United States; and (2) Federal agencies and institutions should support the establishment and operation of the Museum.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Labor Relations First Contract Negotiations Act of 1997 - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to require mediation and, if necessary, binding arbitration of initial contract negotiation disputes.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code to require that, when an attending provider and the mother decide to discharge the mother or her newborn prior to specified minimum inpatient periods following delivery, the group health plan or insurer offering coverage provide coverage for timely post-delivery care in any of specified settings, as selected by the mother. Applies the requirement to coverage in the individual market under specified provisions of the PHSA.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1997
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1997 - Authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to: (1) make grants to States or units of local government to purchase armor vests for use by law enforcement officers; and (2) give preferential consideration to applications from jurisdictions that have the greatest need, a mandatory wear policy, and a violent crime rate at or above the national average. Sets forth provisions regarding matching funds and allocation of funds, State and local applications, and grant application renewal. Prohibits any State or unit of local government that receives financial assistance made available by this Act from purchasing equipment or products manufactured using prison inmate labor. Authorizes appropriations. Expresses the sense of the Congress that entities receiving assistance under this Act should, in expending such assistance, purchase only American-made equipment and products.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1997
Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1997 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) set a limitation on the amount of non-Federal money that may be contributed by any person to any political committee of a national political party; (2) redefine the term "independent expenditure"; (3) restrict the solicitation of contributions by candidates and Federal officeholders to or on behalf of certain nonprofit organizations; (4) prohibit solicitations for or donations to nonprofit organizations by political parties and specified entities; and (5) revise reporting requirements to require certain principal campaign committees to file additional monthly reports electronically and make such reports available on the Internet.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1997
Disabled Sportsmen's Access Act - Amends the Sikes Act to direct the Secretary of Defense, in developing facilities and conducting programs for public outdoor recreation at military installations, to ensure that such recreational opportunities provide equal access for disabled veterans, military dependents with disabilities, and other disabled persons when topographic, vegetative, and water resources allow equal access without substantial modification to the natural environment. Allows the Secretary to accept the services of volunteers and donations of money and property in ensuring such equal access.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1997
Authorizes the President to present a gold medal to Len "Roy Rogers" Slye and Octavia "Dale Evans" Smith, on behalf of the Congress, in recognition of their accomplishments as entertainers and humanitarians. Declares that such medals are national medals. Authorizes funding for the cost of the medals and requires deposit of sale proceeds in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1997
Superfund Recycling Equity Act of 1997- Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to absolve persons (other than owners or operators) who arranged for the recycling of recyclable material from liability for environmental response actions. Deems transactions involving scrap paper, plastic, glass, textiles, or rubber (other than whole tires) to be arranging for recycling if the person who arranged the transaction demonstrates that the following criteria were met: (1) the recyclable material met a commercial specification grade and a market existed for the material; (2) a substantial portion of the material was made available for use as a feedstock for the manufacture of a new saleable product; (3) the material (or product to be made from the material) could have been a replacement for a virgin raw material; and (4) with respect to transactions occurring 90 days after this Act's enactment, the person exercised reasonable care to determine that the facility where the material would be managed by another was in compliance with Federal, State, or local environmental laws or regulations. Deems transactions involving scrap metal to be arranging for recycling if the person who arranged the transaction demonstrates that: (1) the criteria for scrap materials were met; (2) he or she complied with applicable standards regarding activities associated with the recycling of scrap metals; and (3) the scrap metal was not melted prior to the transaction. Deems transactions involving spent lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, or other batteries to be arranging for recycling if the person involved demonstrates that: (1) the criteria for scrap materials were met; and (2) he or she complied with applicable Federal environmental regulations or standards regarding such batteries. Makes the exemptions from liability under this Act inapplicable if the person: (1) had an objectively reasonable basis to believe at the time of the recycling transaction that the recyclable material would not be recycled or would be burned as fuel or for energy recovery or incineration or that the consuming facility was not in compliance with Federal, State, or local environmental laws or regulations; (2) had reason to believe that hazardous substances had been added to the material for purposes other than processing for recycling; or (3) failed to exercise reasonable care with respect to the management of the material. Makes such exemptions inapplicable if the recyclable material contained polychlorinated biphenyls in excess of 50 parts per million or any new Federal standard or if such material is an item of scrap paper containing, at the time of recycling, a concentration of a hazardous substance determined to present a significant human health or environmental risk.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1997
Iran Missile Proliferation Sanctions Act of 1997 - Directs the President to report periodically to specified congressional committees on foreign persons (except those previously identified or sanctioned or subject to waiver) who, on or after August 8, 1995, have transferred, or attempted to transfer, controlled goods or technology, or provided, or attempted to provide, technical assistance or facilities that contributed, or would have contributed, to Iran's efforts to acquire, develop, or produce ballistic missiles. Requires imposition on such persons of minimum two-year sanctions prohibiting: (1) sales to such persons of items on the United States Munitions List (and terminating sales of any controlled U.S. arms); (2) the export to such persons of dual use goods and technology; and (3) the provision of U.S. financial assistance. Authorizes the President to waive such sanctions, with written justification to Congress, on the basis of U.S. national security or additional information demonstrating that the sanctioned person did not commit the acts alleged.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1997
Osteoporosis Federal Employee Health Benefits Standardization Act of 1997 - Amends Federal law concerning Government organization and employees to prohibit contracts from being made or plans approved under the health insurance program for Federal employees which do not include coverage of bone mass measurements of qualified individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Executive Branch Governance and Senior Management of the Internal Revenue Service Subtitle A: Executive Branch Governance and Senior Management Subtitle B: Personnel Flexibilities Title II: Electronic Filing Title III: Taxpayer Protection and Rights Subtitle A: Burden of Proof Subtitle B: Proceedings by Taxpayers Subtitle C: Relief for Innocent Spouses and for Taxpayers Unable to Manage Their Financial Affairs Due to Disabilities Subtitle D: Elimination of Interest Rate Differential on Overlapping Periods of Interest on Income Tax Overpayments and Underpayments Subtitle E: Protections for Taxpayers Subject to Audit or Collection Activities Subtitle F: Disclosures to Taxpayers Subtitle G: Low Income Taxpayer Clinics Subtitle H: Other Matters Subtitle I: Studies Title IV: Congressional Accountability for the Internal Revenue Service Subtitle A: Oversight Subtitle B: Budget Subtitle C: Tax Law Complexity Title V: Clarification of Deduction for Deferred Compensation Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1997 - Title I: Executive Branch Governance and Senior Management of the Internal Revenue Service - Subtitle A: Executive Branch Governance and Senior Management - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to replace provisions providing for the appointment of a Commissioner of Internal Revenue with provisions establishing, within the Department of the Treasury, an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Oversight Board which shall have 11 members (appointed for five year terms) consisting of: (1) eight non-Federal employees appointed by the President; (2) the Secretary of the Treasury; (3) the Commissioner of Internal Revenue; and(4) an IRS employee, appointed by the President, who is a representative of an organization representing a substantial number of IRS employees. Directs the Board, in general, to oversee the IRS in its administration, management, conduct, supervision, and implementation of the internal revenue laws and tax conventions. Prohibits the Board from having responsibility with respect to: (1) the development and formulation of Federal tax policy; (2) IRS law enforcement activities; or (3) specific IRS procurement activities. Restricts the disclosure of return information to the Board. Sets forth the specific responsibilities of the Board, including: (1) reviewing and approving the strategic plans of the IRS; (2) reviewing the operational functions of the IRS; (3) recommending a Commissioner to the President; and (4) reviewing and approving the IRS budget request. (Sec. 102) Directs the President to appoint, for a term of five years (currently, there is no specified term limit), an IRS Commissioner who shall: (1) administer, manage, and supervise the execution and application of the internal revenue laws and tax conventions; and (2) recommend to the President an IRS Chief Counsel. Reestablishes within the IRS the: (1) Office of Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations which shall be under the supervision of the IRS Assistant Commissioner; and (2) Office of Taxpayer Advocate. (Sec. 103) Authorizes the Commissioner, unless otherwise prescribed by the Secretary, (currently, the Secretary) to employ the number of persons as is proper to administer and enforce the internal revenue laws. (Sec. 104) Prohibits any applicable person (defined as any Level I Executive Schedule employee, except the U.S. Attorney General) from requesting any IRS employee to conduct or terminate any audit or investigation of a taxpayer. Requires any IRS employee receiving any such request to report to the IRS Chief Inspector. Sets forth exceptions. Subtitle B: Personnel Flexibilities - Directs the Commissioner to establish a performance management system which: (1) shall cover all IRS employees other than Oversight Board members, the Commissioner, and the Chief Counsel; (2) shall maintain individual accountability of employees by establishing performance standards, providing for periodic retention reviews, and using performance evaluations as a basis for pay adjustments and other personnel actions; and (3) establish individual, group, and organizational goals. Sets forth staffing flexibility provisions, with special provisions for veterans. Permits demonstration projects to improve personnel management, increase accountability, impose disciplinary action, and promote pay based on performance. Requires reports to the Congress. Title II: Electronic Filing - States that it is the policy of the Congress that paperless filing is the preferred form of filing, and that by the year 2007, no more than 20 percent of all returns should be filed on paper. Sets forth: (1) plans to achieve such goal; and (2) reporting requirements. Title III: Taxpayer Protection and Rights - Taxpayer Bill of Rights 3 - Subtitle A: Burden of Proof - Places the burden of proof in any court proceeding, with respect to any factual issue relevant to ascertaining the income tax liability of a taxpayer, on the Secretary, but only if: (1) the taxpayer asserts a reasonable dispute with respect to an issue; (2) the taxpayer cooperates fully with the Secretary with respect to an issue; and (3) in the case of a partnership, corporation, or trust meets the IRC definition of the term prevailing party. Subtitle B: Proceedings by Taxpayers - Sets forth provisions concerning the awarding of attorney's fees, including permitting the awarding of higher attorney fees if warranted by the difficulty of the issues in the case or the local availability of tax expertise. (Sec. 312) Permits civil damages if any IRS employee, in connection with any collection activity, negligently disregards the IRC. (Currently, damages are allowed only if the employee recklessly or intentionally disregards the IRC.) (Sec. 313) Increases, from $10,000 to $25,000, the amount in controversy permitted on the small case calendar. Subtitle C: Relief for Innocent Spouses and for Taxpayers Unable to Manage Their Financial Affairs Due to Disabilities - Provides for the relief of an innocent spouse from a tax underpayment on a joint return under specified circumstances, including that the spouse had no reason to know of the underpayment and that it is inequitable to hold the spouse liable. (Sec. 322) Provides for the suspension of the statute of limitations for claiming a refund or credit during periods of a medically determined physical or mental impairment. Subtitle D: Elimination of Interest Rate Differential on Overlapping Periods of Interest on Income Tax Overpayments and Underpayments - Establishes a net interest rate of zero on equivalent amounts of overpayment and underpayment existing for any period. Subtitle E: Protections for Taxpayers Subject to Audit or Collection Activities - Entitles a taxpayer, in any noncriminal proceeding before the IRS, to the same common law protections of confidentiality with respect to tax advice furnished by any qualified individual as the taxpayer would have if such individual were an attorney. (Sec. 342) Directs the Taxpayer Advocate, for purposes of determining whether to issue a taxpayer assistance order, to consider, among other things: (1) whether there is an immediate threat of adverse action; and (2) whether there has been an unreasonable delay; and (3) whether the taxpayer will suffer irreparable injury. (Sec. 343) Prohibits the use of financial status or economic reality examination techniques to determine the existence of unreported income unless there is a reasonable indication that there is a likelihood of such unreported income. (Sec. 344) Prohibits the issuance of a summons to produce or examine any tax-related computer source code, subject to exceptions. (Sec. 345) Requires notification to a taxpayer of the taxpayer's right to refuse to extend the statute of limitations, or to limit such extension to particular issues, on each occasion when the taxpayer is requested to provide consent. (Sec. 346) Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and publish schedules of national and local allowances designed to provide that taxpayers entering into a compromise have an adequate means to provide for basic living expenses; and (2) prepare a statement which sets forth in simple terms the rights of a taxpayer and the obligations of the IRS relating to offers-in-compromise. (Sec. 347) Requires the Secretary to include on a deficiency notice the last date on which a taxpayer can file a petition with the tax court. (Sec. 348) Permits the refund of any uncontested overpayments before there is a final determination by the Tax Court of a contested deficiency. (Sec. 349) Requires IRS employees to be instructed that they cannot threaten to audit any taxpayer in an attempt to coerce the taxpayer into entering into a Tip Reporting Alternative Commitment Agreement. Subtitle F: Disclosure to Taxpayers - Requires the establishment of procedures to clearly alert married taxpayers of their joint and several liabilities on all appropriate publications and instructions. (Sec. 352) Requires a revision of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights contained in IRS Publication No. 1 so that it more clearly informs taxpayers of their rights to be represented at interviews and to suspend an interview. Requires: (1) the inclusion in such publication of a statement which sets forth in simple terms the procedure and criteria for selecting taxpayers for examination; and (2) the submission of drafts of such statement to specified congressional committees. (Sec. 354) Requires that a field service advice memorandum be treated as a written determination, thereby making it open to public inspection, subject exceptions and special rules. (Sec. 355) Requires the inclusion, with any first letter of deficiency allowing a taxpayer an opportunity for administrative review in the IRS Office of Appeals, of an explanation of the appeals process with respect to such proposed deficiency. Subtitle G: Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics - Directs the Secretary to make grants to provide matching funds for the development, expansion, or continuation of qualified low income taxpayer clinics. Subtitle H: Other Matters - Grants jurisdiction to the U.S. district courts and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims over any action by the representative of an estate, consisting largely of an interest in a closely held business, which elects the installment method of payment. (Sec. 372) Requires the Secretary to maintain and report records of taxpayer complaints of misconduct by IRS employees on an individual basis. (Sec. 373) Requires the Secretary, on request from the Archivist of the United States, to disclose or authorize the disclosure of returns and return information to officers and employees of the National Archives and Records Administration if necessary for the scheduling of records for destruction or retention. (Sec. 374) Directs the Secretary to establish such rules as necessary to allow payment of taxes by check or money order. Subtitle I: Studies - Directs the Joint Committee on Taxation to conduct studies and report findings concerning: (1) penalty administration; and (2) taxpayer confidentiality. Title IV: Congressional Accountability for the Internal Revenue Service - Subtitle A: Oversight - Expands the duties of the Joint Committee on Taxation with respect to: (1) investigations; (2) joint hearings; and (3) reports. Subtitle B: Budget - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the IRS efforts to resolve the century date change computing problems should be fully funded. (Sec. 412) Provides for the establishment of a financial management advisory group. Subtitle C: Tax Law Complexity - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the IRS should provide the Congress with an independent view of tax administration, and that during the legislative process, the Congress should hear from front-line technical experts at the IRS concerning pending IRC amendments. (Sec. 422) Requires any legislation amending the IRC that is reported by either the Senate Committee on Finance or the House Committee on Ways and Means to include in the report a Tax Complexity Analysis prepared by the Joint Committee on Taxation. Title V: Clarification of Deduction for Deferred Compensation - Provides that, except for severance pay, no amount shall be treated as deferred compensation until it is actually received by the employee.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 1997
Human Rights Information Act - Requires certain Federal agencies to identify and organize all human rights records regarding activities occurring in Guatemala and Honduras after 1944 for declassification and disclosure purposes, and to make them available to the public and other official entities, including Latin American or Caribbean countries. Instructs the President to report to the Congress regarding agency compliance. Prescribes guidelines under which the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (the Panel) shall review agency determinations to postpone public disclosure of any human rights record. Authorizes postponement of such public disclosures on specified grounds. Directs the Information Security Policy Advisory Council to report to the Congress on declassification of human rights records relating to other Latin American and Caribbean countries and to make such report available to the public. Creates two additional positions in the Panel in order to implement this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 1997
Medicare Prostate Cancer Screening Act of 1997 - Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to accelerate from January 1, 2000, to January 1, 1998, the effective date for the prostate cancer screening test benefit under the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1997
Religious Liberty and Charitable Donation Protection Act of 1997 - Amends Federal bankruptcy law with respect to avoidance by the trustee in bankruptcy of fraudulent transfers and obligations to cite circumstances under which a transfer of a charitable contribution to a qualified religious or charitable unit shall not be considered to be fraudulent. Prohibits the trustee from avoiding such charitable contributions when acting as lien creditors and successor to certain creditor and purchasers. Excludes from "disposable income," for purposes of bankruptcy plan confirmation, up to 15 percent of the gross income of the debtor when it is expended for such charitable contributions. Prohibits the bankruptcy court, when it determines whether to dismiss a case, from taking into consideration whether a debtor makes charitable contributions to any qualified religious or charitable entity.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Heirless Assets Title II: Works of Art Holocaust Victims Redress Act - Title I: Heirless Assets - Directs the Secretary of State to direct the commissioner representing the United States on the Tripartite Commission for the Restitution of Monetary Gold to seek and vote for a timely agreement under which all signatories to the Paris Agreement on Reparation with claims against the monetary gold pool in the Commission's jurisdiction contribute all or a substantial portion of such gold to charitable organizations to assist survivors of the Holocaust. Authorizes the Secretary of State to commit the United States to pay up to $25 million for distribution under such an agreement. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of State to reserve a portion of the appropriation for the United States Holocaust Museum for archival research to assist in the restitution of assets looted or extorted from victims of the Holocaust and such other activities that would further Holocaust remembrance and education. Title II: Works of Art - Expresses the sense of the Congress that, consistent with the 1907 Hague Convention, all governments should undertake good faith efforts to facilitate the return of private and public property, such as works of art, to the rightful owners in cases where assets were confiscated from the claimant during the period of Nazi rule and there is reasonable proof that the claimant is the rightful owner.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1997
Authorizes the President to present gold medals, on behalf of the Congress, to named individuals referred to collectively as the "Little Rock Nine," in recognition of the selfless heroism they exhibited and the pain they suffered in the cause of civil rights by integrating Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell duplicates of such medals in bronze. States that these medals are national medals.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1997
Amends Federal civil service law with respect to the Civil Service Retirement System, the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS), and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Program to: (1) repeal the limitations on individual TSP contributions, including those from judges and other specified personnel of the Federal judicial branch; (2) allow an employee or member under FERS to contribute to the Thrift Savings Fund an eligible rollover distribution from a qualified trust; and (3) eliminate certain waiting periods for purposes of making contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1997
Supports National Mammography Day and urges all American women to take an active role in the fight against breast cancer by all means available to them. Calls for recognition of the role played by community organizations and health care providers in promoting awareness of the importance of regular mammograms and in helping to expand the availability of low-cost mammograms.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1997
Volunteers for Children Act - Amends the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to authorize youth-serving nonprofit organizations and institutions, in the absence of State procedures requiring qualified entities designated by the State to contact an authorized State agency to request a nationwide background check, to contact such agency to request such check, including a check of fingerprint records. Modifies fee provisions to limit fees collected by authorized State agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the case of a background check requested by a qualified entity to the actual costs of the background check conducted with fingerprints. Authorizes (current law requires) the State to establish fee systems that insure that fees to nonprofit entities for background checks do not discourage volunteers from participating in child care programs. Reauthorizes funding for improvement of child abuse crime information through 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1997
Landmine Elimination Act of 1997 - Prohibits Federal agencies from funding any new deployments of anti-personnel landmines as of January 1, 2000. Directs the Secretary of Defense to report to the Congress on actions and proposals to substitute for new deployments of such landmines on the Korean Peninsula. Authorizes the President to delay implementation of the funding proscription with respect to the Korean Peninsula if he certifies annually to the Congress that new deployments of anti-personnel landmines on such Peninsula would be indispensable to the defense of the Republic of Korea.
United States · United States Congress · 4 September 1997
Substance Abuse Treatment Parity Act of 1997 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code to require parity and nondiscriminatory application of treatment limitations and financial requirements to substance abuse treatment benefits under private group and individual health plans which offer such treatment benefits in addition to medical and surgical benefits. Exempts from this Act small employers with 50 or fewer employees.
United States · United States Congress · 4 September 1997
Makes veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart eligible for veterans' hospital care and medical services. Provides such veterans with a priority in the veterans' system of annual patient enrollment.
United States · United States Congress · 3 September 1997
Secret Tobacco Giveaway Repeal Act - Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, as amended by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, to repeal the provision crediting the increase in excise taxes on certain tobacco products against payments made pursuant to specified tobacco industry settlement legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Executive Branch Governance and Senior Management of the Internal Revenue Service Subtitle A: Executive Branch Governance and Senior Management Subtitle B: Personnel Flexibilities Title II: Electronic Filing Title III: Taxpayer Protection and Rights Title IV: Congressional Accountability for the Internal Revenue Service Subtitle A: Oversight Subtitle B: Budget Subtitle C: Tax Law Complexity Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1997 - Title I: Executive Branch Governance and Senior Management of the Internal Revenue Service - Subtitle A: Executive Branch Government and Senior Management - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to replace current provisions establishing the office of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue with provisions establishing the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board (the Board). Requires that seven of the nine members of the Board not be full-time Federal officers or employees. Requires that all Board members have expertise in, among other things: (1) management of large service organizations; (2) customer service; and (3) the needs and concerns of taxpayers. Requires the Board to: (1) review and approve strategic plans of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); (2) review the operational functions of the IRS; (3) select the Commissioner of Internal Revenue (Commissioner), as well as senior IRS managers, and review the Commissioner's reorganization plans; and (4) review and approve the IRS budget request, as well as ensure audits of the IRS. (Sec. 102) Replaces current provisions which authorize the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to employ such personnel as necessary for the proper administration and enforcement of the internal revenue laws with provisions requiring there to be in the Department of the Treasury a Commissioner who shall be appointed by the Board for a five-year term. Sets forth the duties of the Commissioner, including the: (1) administration and management of the internal revenue laws; and (2) Commissioner's responsibility to consult with the Board. Establishes and sets forth duties for: (1) a Chief Counsel for the IRS to be appointed by the President; (2) the Office of Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations; (3) an Office of the Taxpayer Advocate. (Sec. 103) Replaces current provisions concerning the effect of reorganization plans with provisions which authorize the Commissioner to employ such number of persons as proper to administer and enforce the internal revenue laws. Subtitle B: Personnel Flexibilities - Directs the Commissioner to establish a performance management system covering IRS employees which: (1) establishes retention standards; and (2) establishes performance goals or objectives. Provides for awards based on performance, but prohibits making an award solely on the basis of tax enforcement results. Sets forth other provisions concerning: (1) classification and pay; (2) staffing; and (3) demonstration projects. Title II: Electronic Filing - Provides for paperless filing and payment of taxes. Title III: Taxpayer Protection and Rights - Sets forth provisions concerning taxpayer protections and rights, including provisions concerning: (1) authority to issue taxpayer assistance orders; (2) authority to award costs and fees; (3) damages for negligence in collection actions; (4) criteria and procedures for selecting taxpayers for examination; (5) archival treatment of IRS records; (6) freedom of information; (7) offers-in-compromise; (8) jurisdiction of the Tax Court; (9) cataloging of complaints; and (10) procedures for taxpayer interviews. (Sec. 309) Eliminates the interest differential on overpayments and underpayments. (Sec. 310) Eliminates the failure to pay penalty as long as an installment payment agreement is in effect. (Sec. 311) Directs the Secretary to accept installment tax liability payments if: (1) such liability does not exceed $10,000; (2) the taxpayer has, during the past five years, paid on time; and (3) the taxpayer has not entered into a prior installment agreement. (Sec. 313) Directs the Secretary to make grants to provide matching funds for qualified low-income taxpayer clinics. (Sec. 319) Provides for studies concerning: (1) taxpayer confidentiality; (2) penalty administration; (3) treating all taxpayers as separate filing units; and (4) burden of proof. Title IV: Congressional Accountability for the Internal Revenue Service - Subtitle A: Oversight - Authorizes the Joint Committee on Taxation (Joint Committee) to procure the services of experts for investigations of the IRS by the General Accounting Office. (Sec. 402) Establishes additional reporting requirements for the Joint Committee. Subtitle B: Budget - Provides for additional budget authority for the IRS, but only on annual basis and only if specified improvements are made in taxpayer services. (Sec. 413) Directs the Commissioner to convene a financial advisory management group to advise the Commissioner. Subtitle C: Tax Law Complexity - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the IRS should provide the Congress with an independent view of tax administration. (Sec. 422) Requires a Senate or House of Representatives committee, when reporting legislation including any provision amending the IRC, to contain within the report a Tax Complexity Analysis. (Sec. 423) Declares it to be the policy of the Congress that employers should have a single point of filing tax and wage reporting information. (Sec. 424) Requires the Joint Committee to prepare a study of the feasibility of developing a baseline estimate of taxpayers' compliance burdens against which future legislative proposals could be measured.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1997
Requires each State to establish an Advisory Board for Risk Assessment which shall comply with the requirements and guidelines regarding notification and release of sexually violent offenders established for a State board under the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act and under this Act. Directs: (1) the Chief Executive Officer of each State (CEO) to develop guidelines and procedures for use by the Board to assess the risk of a repeat offense by such an offender and the threat posed to the public safety; and (2) any State or local correctional facility, hospital, or institution to forward relevant information pertaining to a sex offender to be discharged, paroled, or released to the Board for review prior to the release (and provides for the confidentiality of records so provided, with exceptions). Requires the Board to use the guidelines established under this Act to recommend to the appropriate State court one of three levels of notification. Directs such court to: (1) make a determination regarding the level of notification after receiving a tier recommendation from the Board; and (2) upon the reversal of a conviction of a sexual offense, order the expungement of any records required to be kept pursuant to this Act. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) penalties for misuse of registration information; (2) juvenile offenders; (3) official immunity from liability; and (4) exclusion of the victim's identity from public access or dissemination. Requires: (1) each CEO to establish reasonable notification requirements and to appoint a voluntary advisory council to design a policy to assist communities in which a sex offender resides to plan and prepare for such a resident; and (2) the department required to coordinate the sex offender registration program to compile and update offender information.