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 · 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 · 31 July 1997
Redesignates the Federal building located at 701 South Santa Fe Avenue in Compton, California, known as the Compton Main Post Office as the Mervyn Dymally Post Office Building.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1997
WIPO Copyright Treaties Implementation Act - Amends Federal copyright law to grant copyright protection to: (1) sound recordings that were first fixed in a treaty party (a country or intergovernmental organization other than the United States that is a party to specified international copyright and other agreements); and (2) pictorial, graphic, or scuptural works incorporated in a building or other structure or an architectural work embodied in a building located in the United States or a treaty party. Treats works published in the United States or a treaty party within 30 days after publication in a foreign nation that is not a treaty party as first published in the United States or a treaty party for purposes of conferring protection. Provides that no works other than sound recordings shall be eligible for protection solely by virtue of U.S. adherence to the Geneva Phonograms Convention or the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty. Revises the definition of "eligible country," for purposes of provisions regarding copyright in restored works, to include nations other than the United States that: (1) become World Trade Organization member countries after the date of enactment of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act; (2) are or become nations adhering to the Berne Convention; (3) adhere to the WIPO Copyright or Performances and Phonograms Treaties; or (4) become subject to a certain presidential proclamation of copyright restoration after such enactment date. Includes sound recordings in the definition of "restored work" if the source country for the work is an eligible country solely by its adherence to the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty. Prohibits: (1) circumvention of technological protection measures that control access to protected works; or (2) manufacturing or trafficking in technology designed to circumvent measures that control access to, or protect rights of copyright owners in, such works. Bars the provision or distribution of false copyright management information with the intent to induce or conceal infringement. Defines "copyright management information" as certain information, including title, name of author and copyright owner, and terms for use of the work, conveyed in connection with copies or phonorecords of a work or performances or displays. Prohibits the intentional removal or alteration of such information or the distribution of information or works so altered knowing that such acts will induce or conceal infringement. Establishes civil remedies for violations regarding the circumvention of technological protection measures and copyright management information. Prescribes criminal penalties for willful violations committed for commercial advantage or private financial gain. Imposes a statute of limitations on criminal proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1997
Directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Office of Personnel Management to conduct a demonstration project under which covered members and beneficiaries under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) who are or become entitled to hospital insurance benefits under part A of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act will be eligible to enroll in health benefits plans offered through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. Requires the demonstration project to be conducted in two geographic areas and to last at least two, but not more than three, contract years. Provides for: (1) management of participation in the project; (2) Government contributions for beneficiary coverage under the FEHB program; and (3) reporting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1997
Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act of 1997 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to proscribe bringing a private class action based upon State or municipal law in State or Federal court by any private party alleging: (1) an untrue statement or omission in connection with the purchase or sale of a covered security; or (2) that the defendant used any manipulative or deceptive device in connection with such a transaction. Declares that any class action brought in any State court involving a covered security shall be removable to the Federal district court for the district in which the action is pending.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1997
Declares that the Congress: (1) maintains that the standard for the "Made in USA" label should continue to be that a product was all or virtually all made in the United States; and (2) urges the Federal Trade Commission to refrain from lowering the standard at the expense of consumers and jobs in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1997
Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue one-dollar and half-dollar coins emblematic of the expedition of Lewis and Clark. Allocates surcharges from coin sales between the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council and the National Park Service for activities associated with the bicentennial commemoration of the expedition.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1997
Trade and Professional Association Free Flow of Information Act of 1997 - Grants immunity from civil liability for acts done for the purpose of transmitting information among trade and professional associations and their members regarding product defects, quality, or performance, except to the extent such acts are proven by clear and convincing evidence to involve factual statements that are fraudulent, knowingly false, or made with reckless indifference to their truth or falsity. Authorizes a trade or professional association to file a special motion to strike any claim in a judicial proceeding on the ground that the claim is based on or relates to an act that is immune from liability under this Act. Grants a party filing such motion the right to remove the case to Federal court. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) procedures with respect to a special motion to strike; (2) qualified immunity of such associations from third-party discovery; (3) a special motion to quash a subpoena to enforce such immunity; (4) procedures with respect to a special motion to quash; (5) a qualified association member privilege not to disclose confidential information received from the association relating to litigation involving product defects, quality, or performance; and (6) preemption of State laws.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1997
Victims' Rights Constitutional Amendment Implementation Act of 1997 - Grants each victim of a Federal felony offense or any other Federal crime of violence the right: (1) to notice of, and not to be excluded from, all public proceedings relating to the offense; (2) to be heard, if present, and to submit a written statement at all public proceedings relating to the offense (and non-public parole proceedings to the extent the convicted offender is afforded such rights) to determine a release from custody, an acceptance of a negotiated plea, or a sentence; (3) to notice of any release or escape from custody relating to the offense; (4) to seek relief from an unreasonable delay of the final disposition of the proceedings relating to the offense; (5) to an order of restitution from the convicted offender pursuant to law; (6) to consideration for the safety of the victim in determining any release from custody; (7) to notice of such rights; (8) to be treated with fairness and respect for the victim's dignity and privacy; and (9) to confer with the attorney for the Government. Makes such rights applicable in: (1) Federal (other than military) criminal proceedings, including juvenile justice proceedings; (2) collateral proceedings such as habeas corpus; and (3) similar proceedings in the courts of any district or territory of the United States not within a State. Grants the victim standing in the proceeding to assert the rights established by this Act. Sets forth: (1) remedies for violations; and (2) exceptions and limitations to such rights. (Sec. 4) Directs the courts, and the head of each U.S. department and agency engaged in the detection, investigation, prosecution, or adjudication of crimes to which this Act applies, to designate the persons who will be responsible for identifying the victims, assuring the implementation of the rights provided in this Act, and performing specified services, at each stage of a criminal case. Requires a responsible official, at the earliest opportunity after the detection of a crime at which it may be done without interfering with an investigation, to identify the victims, inform the victims of their right to receive such services upon request, and inform each victim of the responsible official to whom the victim should address such request. Directs such official to: (1) inform a victim regarding emergency medical and social services, restitution or other relief to which the victim may be entitled, and counseling, treatment, and other support programs; (2) arrange for a victim to receive reasonable protection; (3) provide notices of specified steps or events during the investigation and prosecution of a crime and after trial; and (4) provide the victim with general information regarding the corrections process. Sets forth: (1) provisions regarding protecting the property of a victim being held, and payment or reimbursement of the cost of a physical examination of the victim, for evidentiary purposes; and (2) remedies for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1997
Constitutional Amendment - Grants victims of violent crimes or crimes for which the defendant can be imprisoned for longer than one year the right: (1) to notice of, and to not be excluded from, all public proceedings relating to the crime; (2) to be heard, if present, and to submit a written statement at all public proceedings (and non-public parole proceedings to the extent the convicted offender is afforded such rights) relating to the crime to determine a release from custody, an acceptance of a negotiated plea, or a sentence; (3) to notice of any release or escape from custody relating to the crime; (4) to seek relief from an unreasonable delay of the final disposition of the proceedings relating to the crime; (5) to an order of restitution from the convicted offender; (6) to consideration for the victim's safety in determining any release from custody; and (7) to notice of the rights established by this amendment. Grants the victim standing to assert such rights. Grants power to the Congress and the States to enforce this amendment.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1997
Imported Produce Labeling Act of 1997 - Requires country of origin labeling of perishable agricultural commodities imported into the United States. Authorizes fines for violations of such provision.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1997
Veterans American Dream Homeownership Assistance Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code concerning the eligibility of veterans for State-financed veterans' home mortgages.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1997
Honors the memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide. Calls for the United States to encourage the Republic of Turkey to acknowledge and commemorate the atrocity committed against the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1997
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) any bilateral or international agreement that imposes certain performance, testing, and deployment limits on U.S. missile defense systems would not be in the national security interests of the United States; (2) no additional international agreements are required to deploy such systems; and (3) the Congress will not be receptive to any agreement that serves to reduce the potential of U.S. theater missile defense systems to defend the U.S. armed forces abroad or the armed forces or population of allies of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: General Provisions Title II: Emission Reduction Credits Title III: Tax Incentives Title IV: Revision of Purchase Mandates Title V: Federal Transit Incentives for Natural Gas Vehicles Title VI: Government Contract Incentives for Natural Gas Vehicles Title VII: Research, Development, and Demonstration Incentives for Natural Gas Vehicles Title VIII: Minimum Distance Natural Gas Vehicle Incentives Act of 1997 - Title I: General Provisions - Sets forth the findings of Congress with respect to increased use of domestic natural gas as a transportation fuel. Title II: Emission Reduction Credits - Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish an emission reduction credit program for natural gas vehicles, Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV)-certified alternative fuel vehicles, and fueling infrastructure. Title III: Tax Incentives - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish natural gas vehicle property credits for any of the following property placed in service during the taxable year: (1) natural gas vehicles (50 percent of the cost); (2) fueling stations (the lesser of $25,000 or ten percent of the cost); and (3) transportation fuel (25 cents per gallon of liquefied natural gas plus 25 cents per gasoline gallon equivalent of compressed natural gas). (Sec. 302) Imposes an excise tax of 3.54 cents per gallon on liquefied natural gas sold for use or used as motor vehicle or motorboat fuel unless there was a taxable sale of such gas. (Sec. 303) Provides for shorter depreciation recovery periods for natural gas vehicles (three years) and refueling property (seven years). Title IV: Revision of Purchase Mandates - Declares U.S. policy to be that the low emission vehicle market should be based on voluntary, economically sound decisions, not Federal mandates. (Sec. 402) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to repeal private fleet mandates. Sets forth sunset provisions to end the fuel provider mandate and the State fleet mandate. Title V: Federal Transit Incentives for Natural Gas Vehicles - Amends Federal transportation law to require metropolitan mass transportation planning organizations, in developing plans, to consider opportunities to stimulate the use of natural gas vehicles and ULEV-certified alternative fueled vehicles and the installation of a fueling infrastructure to support such vehicles. (Sec. 504) Declares that research and investigations for which non-profit institutions of higher learning may receive Department of Transportation grants include the relationship between environmental policy and transportation policy, particularly the potential applications for natural gas vehicles and ULEV-certified alternative fueled vehicles in urban settings. (Sec. 505) Requires any Federal grant for a mass transportation project that involves acquiring buses powered by natural gas, or any ULEV-certified alternative fueled bus, and all related fueling property or equipment, to cover at least 90 percent of the project cost. Title VI: Government Contract Incentives for Natural Gas Vehicles - Amends Federal law for Armed Services acquisitions and the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to direct the Secretary of Defense and Federal civilian agencies, respectively, to give a preference in procurement contracts to contractors and subcontractors using motor vehicles that: (1) operate on natural gas; or (2) operate on alternative fuel and meet the ULEV standard. Title VII: Research, Development, and Demonstration Incentives for Natural Gas Vehicles - Directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a five-year program of natural gas vehicle research, development, and demonstration projects, including specified activities. Title VIII: Minimum Distance - Amends Federal transportation law to mandate that the minimum driving range for dual fueled automobiles capable of operating on natural gas shall be 100 miles.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the post-1987 reduction in the State ceiling on private activity bonds. Provides, beginning in 1999, for cost-of-living adjustments in the State ceiling on such bonds.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1997
Social Security Preservation Act of 1997 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to require the Managing Trustee of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (trust funds) to ensure that the annual surplus of the trust funds is invested in: (1) marketable interest-bearing obligations of the United States or obligations guaranteed by the United States; or (2) certificates of deposit in insured depository institutions. Outlines provisions for determining the annual surplus of the trust funds. Prohibits disinvestment of trust fund amounts from public debt obligations, any refraining from making such investments, or any delay in making normal deposits in such trust funds for public debt limit-related purposes. Authorizes the sale of trust fund public debt obligations for the payment of cash benefits and administrative expenses, with conditions, including notification to each House of Congress and the Comptroller General at least three days in advance of such sale.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1997
Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 1995 (sic) - Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to include certain service in the organized military forces of the Philippines and service as Philippine Scouts within the definition of active U.S. military service for purposes of eligibility for various veterans' benefits for former active-duty military personnel.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 1997
Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 1997 - Waives the English language naturalization requirement for certain aliens (or their spouses or widows) who served with special guerilla units in Laos. Provides for naturalization under the Immigration and Nationality Act through such service.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 1997
Uniformed Services Medicare Subvention Demonstration Project Act - Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Health and Human Services (HHS) to jointly establish a demonstration project to provide the Department of Defense (DOD) with reimbursement, under provisions of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, for health services provided to Medicare-eligible covered military beneficiaries who participate in the project and receive such services through the managed care option of the TRICARE program (a DOD managed health care program). Requires the project to be conducted during the three-year period beginning on January 1, 1998, in no more than five geographic regions designated by the Secretaries. Makes project enrollment voluntary. Requires the Secretary of Defense to waive the TRICARE enrollment fee for project participants for whom Medicare reimbursement may be made. Requires inclusion in the project of a provision for expansion to incorporate health care services provided to such beneficiaries under the fee-for-services options of the TRICARE program if the Secretaries determine that such expansion is feasible and advisable. Directs the HHS Secretary to make monthly payments to DOD from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund representing appropriate reimbursement amounts. Provides for the determination of such amounts. Directs the Secretary of Defense to: (1) maintain the DOD health care efforts for Medicare-eligible covered military beneficiaries; (2) estimate the amount expended by DOD for FY 1997 for providing health care items and services to such beneficiaries; and (3) establish monthly targets for the number of such beneficiaries enrolled in the project necessary to meet DOD maintenance of health care efforts for such individuals. Limits to $65 million the annual payments to DOD for the project. Requires the Comptroller General, for each project year, to submit to the Secretaries and the Congress a report on the extent to which costs under the TRICARE program and the Medicare program have increased as a result of the project. Directs the Secretaries to modify the project at the end of each year to correct for any discrepancy between cost targets and actual spending under the project. Directs the Secretaries to submit to the Congress an interim and final report on various project aspects.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 1997
National Right-to-Work Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act to repeal those provisions that permit employers, pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement (union security agreement), to require employees to join a union as a condition of employment (including provisions permitting railroad carriers to require, pursuant to such an agreement, payroll deduction of union dues or fees as a condition of employment).
![Official portrait of Rep. Bono, Mary [R-CA-44]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b001228_200.jpg)