United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Treatment and Assistance Act of 1999 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for a waiver of the 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage for individuals disabled by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease. Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to provide for Medicare coverage of any drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment or alleviation of ALS-related symptoms.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Amends the Clean Air Act to allow reformulated gasoline rules of States for which a certain waiver is in effect (permitting them to enforce State motor vehicle emissions standards) to apply in an ozone nonattainment area in lieu of Environmental Protection Agency-promulgated requirements if the State rules will achieve reductions in the aggregate mass of emissions of toxic air pollutants and the aggregate mass of emissions of ozone-forming compounds at least as great as would result from application of the Federal requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Government Shutdown Prevention Act - Provides for continuing appropriations (at 100 percent of the rate of operations provided for in FY 1999) in the absence of regular appropriations for FY 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Bill Emerson English Language Empowerment Act of 1999 - Amends Federal law to declare English to be the official language of the U.S. Government. States that representatives of the Federal Government have an affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language of the Federal Government. Requires such representatives to conduct official business in English. Prohibits anyone from being denied Government services because he or she communicates in English. Requires that all officials conduct all naturalization ceremonies entirely in English. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the preservation or use of Native Alaskan or Native American languages.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Citizenship Reform Act of 1999 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to deny citizenship at birth to children born in the United States to parents who are not U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Postal Service Core Business Act of 1999 - Prohibits the Postal Service from making available to the public any commercial nonpostal service except to the extent that such service was made available nationwide by the Postal Service to the public (whether under the Domestic Mail Manual or otherwise) as of January 1, 1994.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Senior Tax Relief Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to repeal the tax increase on social security benefits enacted by the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993. Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to remove the limitation on the amount of outside income which a beneficiary may earn (earnings test) without incurring a reduction in benefits. Amends the IRC to repeal the estate tax, gift tax, and the tax on generation-skipping transfers.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Small Business Common Sense and Fairness Act of 1999 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) review the size standards of industries with the Standard Industrial Classification Codes of 15, 16, and 17 which were excluded in the 1994 SBA inflationary adjustment; and (2) adjust such standards for inflation for the purpose of deeming an enterprise in any such industry as a small business. Requires the Administrator, at least once every five years, to: (1) review and adjust for inflation such size standard for an enterprise deemed a small business for purposes of competing for Federal contracting opportunities based solely on annual revenues; and (2) report to the Congress and the President on findings and conclusions reached upon such review.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Capital Gains Tax Reduction Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the maximum capital gains tax rates for both individuals and corporations. Provides for the indexing of assets for determining gain or loss.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Constitutional Amendment - Makes any person who has been elected for a full term: (1) two times to the Senate ineligible for election or appointment to the Senate; or (2) six times to the House ineligible for election to the House. Bars any person who has served as a: (1) Senator for more than three years of a term to which some other person was elected from being subsequently eligible for election to the Senate more than once; and (2) Representative for more than one year from being subsequently eligible for election to the House more than five times. Excludes election or service occurring before this article becomes operative when determining eligibility.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Deems the New Year's Day holiday in the year 2000 to occur on January 3, 2000, in order to provide the public and technology professionals with an additional day, prior to the start of the workweek, to begin repairs on failed computer systems caused by the Year 2000 computer problem.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should: (1) publicly urge the People's Republic of China to abide by the articles of the United Nations Convention on Civil and Political Rights; (2) publicly show its support and encouragement for political reforms in China, including a peaceful transition to a multiparty political system; (3) publicly urge China to permit the registration of the China Democracy Party (CDP); and (4) urge the release from detention and house arrest of all CDP members and other peaceful advocates for democracy and civil and human rights and a cessation of intimidation and persecution against advocates of democracy in China.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1998
United States-Panama Partnership Act of 1998 - Authorizes the President, any time before December 31, 1999, to certify to the Congress that the United States and the Government of Panama have reached an agreement permitting the United States, for a period of not less than 15 years beginning on January 1, 2000, to maintain its military presence at Howard Air Force Base, Fort Kobbe, Rodman Naval Station, and Fort Sherman, under terms and conditions substantially similar to those that have applied since October 1, 1979. Authorizes specified assistance to Panama, upon such certification by the President, including: (1) assistance for the construction of a new bridge across the Panama Canal; (2) assistance to the Cooperative Association of States for Scholarships program for scholarships for deserving students from Panama to study in the United States; and (3) preferential tariff and quota treatment to certain textile and apparel and certain other articles.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1998
Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 - Declares that it should be the policy of the United States to seek to remove the Saddam Hussein regime from power in Iraq and to replace it with a democratic government. Authorizes the President, after notifying specified congressional committees, to provide to the Iraqi democratic opposition organizations: (1) grant assistance for radio and television broadcasting to Iraq; (2) Department of Defense defense articles and services and military education and training; and (3) humanitarian assistance, with emphasis on addressing the needs of individuals who have fled from areas under the control of the Hussein regime. Prohibits assistance to any group or organization that is engaged in military cooperation with the Hussein regime. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the President to designate one or more Iraqi democratic opposition organizations that meet specified criteria as eligible to receive assistance under this Act. Urges the President to call upon the United Nations to establish an international criminal tribunal for the purpose of indicting, prosecuting, and imprisoning Saddam Hussein and other Iraqi officials who are responsible for crimes against humanity, genocide, and other criminal violations of international law. Expresses the sense of the Congress that once the Saddam Hussein regime is removed from power in Iraq, the United States should support Iraq's transition to democracy by providing humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people and democracy transition assistance to Iraqi parties and movements with democratic goals, including convening Iraq's foreign creditors to develop a multilateral response to the foreign debt incurred by the Hussein regime.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure Act - Provides that, in any civil action arising under Federal or State law, no Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure (a statement concerning Year 2000 computer compliance information) (Y2K problem) shall be admissible unless the proponent of admissibility establishes that the Disclosure was material and: (1) the Disclosure was made with knowledge of its being false and misleading and with an intent to deceive; or (2) where the Disclosure was a republication of a third party, the republication was made without a disclosure by the maker that the Disclosure is based on a republication and that the maker has not verified the original statement. Provides similar requirements for an action based on an allegedly false, inaccurate, or misleading Year 2000 statement. Provides that, in any covered action in which the adequacy of notice about Year 2000 processing is at issue, and except as provided by contract, the posting of notice by the entity purporting to have provided such notice on that entity's Year 2000 Internet Website shall be presumed to be an adequate mechanism for providing such notice. Prohibits in any covered action a Year 2000 Disclosure from being interpreted or construed as an amendment to or alteration of a written contract or warranty, whether entered into by a public or private party (with exceptions). Authorizes a Federal entity, agency, or authority to expressly designate requests for the voluntary provision of information relating to Year 2000 processing as "Special Year 2000 Data Gathering Requests," thereby protecting information received from such requests from: (1) disclosure to any third party, including disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act; and (2) use in any civil action arising under any Federal or State law (with an exception). Provides exclusions from this Act. Makes this Act applicable to any Year 2000 Disclosure made on or after January 1, 1998, through December 31, 2001. Provides for the treatment of prior written disclosures.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1998
Declares that Members of Congress should: (1) follow the example of Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson of the U.S. Capitol Police by living lives of love, respect, and integrity every day at all times, including on the floor of the Senate and House of Representatives; and (2) deserve the title "Honorable" by setting an example so that such individuals did not die in vain.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1998
Expresses the sense of Congress that State and local governments and local educational agencies are encouraged to: (1) dedicate at least one day of learning to the study and understanding of the significance of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Federalist Papers; and (2) include a requirement that, before receiving a certificate or diploma of graduation from high school, students be tested on their competency in understanding those works.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1998
Schools and Libraries Internet Access Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to repeal provisions authorizing the Federal Communications Commission to take certain actions to provide access to advanced telecommunications services for schools, health care providers, and libraries. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the excise tax paid for telephone and other communications services to one percent (currently, three percent) of the total paid for such services beginning with bills rendered on or after January 1, 1999, and before October 1, 2003. Repeals such communications taxation provisions with respect to bills rendered on or after October 1, 2003. Establishes in the Treasury the Telecommunications Technology Trust Fund and appropriates into such Fund all amounts received pursuant to the above taxation authority after December 31, 1998. Makes such funds available to carry out provisions of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (NTIAO) as added under this Act. Terminates this section on October 1, 2003. Amends the NTIAO to direct the Secretary of Commerce to award a fiscal year grant to each State having an approved plan for the acquisition of telecommunications and related services for: (1) the provision of health care services by any public or nonprofit health care provider that serves persons residing in a rural area; or (2) elementary and secondary schools and libraries, for educational purposes. Provides for an allocation of State funding based on relative populations. Requires the State plan to take into consideration the relative economic need of the eligible entities, including the number of students living in low-income or sparsely populated areas. Authorizes appropriations from the Fund for FY 1999 through 2003 for such grants and administrative expenses. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 and thereafter for such purposes from general Treasury funds.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1998
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) Taiwan should be represented in the World Health Organization; and (2) it should be U.S. policy to support Taiwan's representation in the Organization.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1998
Declares that the Congress affirms: (1) its longstanding commitment to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act; (2) its expectation that the future status of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means, that the people of both sides of the Taiwan Strait should determine their own future, and that it considers any effort to determine or influence Taiwan's future status by other than peaceful means a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific region and of grave concern to the United States; (3) its commitment to make available to Taiwan such defense articles and services, including appropriate ballistic missile defenses, as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability; (4) that only the President and Congress shall determine the nature and quantity of defense articles and services needed by Taiwan; and (5) its strong support of appropriate membership for Taiwan in international financial institutions and other international organizations. Urges the President to seek a public renunciation by the People's Republic of China of any use of force, or threat to use force, against the free people of Taiwan.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1998
Y2K Liability and Antitrust Reform Act - Provides that an action resulting from a computer date failure which is brought in Federal or State court shall be deemed to be based solely in contract and shall only allow recovery for consequential business loss and costs of repair or replacement resulting from the failure if the plaintiff has not suffered any personal injury, excluding emotional harm, as a result and the defendant is: (1) a person who is engaged in commerce to design, develop, or manufacture a computer system, program, software, or component, has given specified notice to buyers, has made available at no charge repair or replacement of hardware and software for products sold after December 31, 1994, and has made available to the buyer a repair or replacement for a computer program or software or hardware that was introduced for sale before January 1, 1995; or (2) any other person who has made reasonable efforts to protect its system, program, or software from computer date failure, has conducted reasonable tests to prevent a computer date failure by July 1, 1999, and has notified its customers and the President's Council on the Year 2000 Conversion by August 1, 1999, of efforts to avoid such failure. (Sec. 3) Makes the antitrust laws inapplicable to conduct engaged in between the enactment date of this Act and December 31, 2001, solely for the purpose of establishing responses designed to mitigate the impact of computer date failure in a computer system, with an exception for conduct that results in a boycott.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1998
Savings and Investment Relief Act of 1998 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with respect to transaction fees for both exchange-traded and exchange-regulated securities and off-exchange trades of last-sale-reported securities. Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to prescribe annually a fiscal year fee limitation based upon the pro rata share of the aggregate dollar amount of securities sales, so that total fee payments will not exceed specified limits. Requires each national securities exchange and national securities association to adopt implementing rules which provide fee reductions for all market participants. Directs the SEC to report annually to the Congress on the total amount of transaction fees collected by each national securities exchange and national securities association. Authorizes future appropriations Acts to increase such fee limitations in any year in which the total fees collected are insufficient for SEC budget authority provided under such Acts.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1998
Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to replace provisions regarding the rescission of budget authority with those authorizing the President to propose the rescission of any budget authority provided in an appropriation Act or repeal of any targeted tax benefit provided in any revenue Act. Authorizes the President to transmit a draft bill to the Congress with such a proposal that clearly identifies the budget authority proposed to be rescinded or the targeted tax benefit to be repealed. Includes within such bill a Deficit Reduction Account. Permits the President to place in the Account an amount not to exceed total rescissions in the bill. Establishes expedited procedures in the Senate and the House of Representatives for consideration of such bill. Makes any amount of budget authority proposed to be rescinded available for obligation on the day after the date either House rejects such bill. Deems any targeted tax benefit proposed for repeal to be repealed unless either House rejects such bill during a prescribed time frame.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1998
Declares that the Government of Iraq is in material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations and urges the President to act accordingly.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1998
Internet Tax Freedom Act - Prohibits, for three years after enactment of this Act, any State or political subdivision from imposing, assessing, collecting, or attempting to collect taxes on Internet access, bit taxes, or multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce. Provides an exception for such taxes imposed by certain States and in effect on the date of enactment of this Act (requiring such States, within one year, to expressly affirm that such a tax is imposed on Internet access). Establishes the Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce to study State and local taxation of transactions using the Internet and Internet access, examine model State legislation with respect to such taxation and simplified administrative procedures concerning such taxation, and transmit to the President and the Congress proposed legislation reflecting the findings of such study and examination. Directs the President to review such proposals and submit to the Congress such policy recommendations as deemed necessary or expedient. Provides for the expedited consideration of the proposed legislation. (Sec. 3) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 (the Act) to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission or any State commission from having regulatory authority or jurisdiction with respect to charges paid by subscribers for Internet access or online services. (Sec. 4) Exempts providers of such services from Federal regulatory fees. Requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to determine whether any direct or indirect Federal regulatory fees, other than the fees identified under the Act, are imposed on such providers, and if so, make recommendations to the Congress regarding whether such fees should be modified or eliminated. (Sec. 5) Requires the Secretary of Commerce to examine: (1) barriers imposed in foreign markets on U.S. providers of property, goods, services, or information engaged in electronic commerce and on U.S. providers of telecommunications services; (2) how the imposition of such barriers will affect U.S. consumers, the competitiveness of U.S. citizens acting as such providers in foreign markets, and the growth and maturing of the Internet; and (3) measures the Government should pursue to foster, promote, and develop electronic commerce in the United States and in foreign markets. Directs: (1) the Secretary to report to the Congress on the results of the examination; and (2) the President to review such report and submit to the appropriate congressional committees such policy recommendations as deemed necessary or expedient. (Sec. 6) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should seek bilateral and multilateral agreements to remove barriers to global electronic commerce through various international organizations to require that the provision of Internet access or online services be free from undue and discriminatory regulation by foreign governments and that electronic commercial transactions between U.S. and foreign providers of property, goods, services, and information be free from undue and discriminatory regulation, international tariffs, and discriminatory taxation.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1998
Ronald Reagan National Airport Preservation and Protection Act of 1998 - Prohibits the Director of the National Park Service from erecting any new signs on, near, or adjacent to the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Northern Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, or elsewhere, displaying the name "National Airport," but omitting the name "Ronald Reagan." Requires the Director: (1) on or before August 5, 1998, to replace all signs on, near, or adjacent to such locations displaying the name "National Airport" with signs prominently displaying the name "Ronald Reagan National Airport"; and (2) to fund the replacement of any signs that had been erected after February 4, 1998, entirely out of the budget of the Director.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1998
Expresses grave concern regarding the findings of the report of the International Commission of Jurists on Tibet issued in December 1997 concerning religious and cultural repression in Tibet. Supports report recommendations that call on: (1) the People's Republic of China to enter into discussions with the Dalai Lama on a solution to the question of Tibet, to ensure respect for the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people, to end practices which threaten to erode the distinct cultural, religious, and national identity of the Tibetan people, and to cease policies which result in the movement of Chinese people to Tibetan territory; (2) the United Nations General Assembly to resume its debate on the question of Tibet; and (3) the Dalai Lama to enter into discussions with the Chinese Government on a solution to the question of Tibet. Commends the appointment by the Secretary of State of a U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. Calls on: (1) the People's Republic of China to release from detention the nine-year old Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, to his home in Tibet from which he was taken on May 17,1995, and to allow him to pursue his religious studies; and (2) the President, as a central objective of the 1998 presidential summit meeting with Jiang Zemin in Beijing, to work toward securing an agreement to begin substantive negotiations between the People's Republic of China and the Dalai Lama.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Designation and Evaluation of Renewal Communities Title II: Tax Incentives for Renewal Communities Title III: Additional Provisions American Community Renewal Act of 1998 - Title I: Designation and Evaluation of Renewal Communities - Renewing American Communities Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to designate (upon local or State nomination) up to 100 renewal communities, of which at least 20 percent shall be in rural areas. Requires for nomination purposes that: (1) the area be experiencing high rates of poverty and unemployment and general distress; and (2) State and local governments enter into written contracts with neighborhood organizations to promote specified economic growth and employment activities. Treats renewal communities as labor surplus areas for all Federal law purposes. Title II: Tax Incentives for Renewal Communities - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income capital gains on the sale or exchange of a qualified community asset (stock, business property, or partnership interest) held for more than five years. Allows a specified deduction for amounts paid into a family development account on behalf of an individual or another qualified individual who is a renewal community resident. Excludes from gross income account distributions used for qualified family development expenses (postsecondary education, first-home purchase, business capitalization, medical, and rollovers). Provides a penalty (with exceptions) in addition to inclusion as gross income for nonqualifying distributions. Provides for designation of up to 25 percent of qualifying renewal communities as matching demonstration areas eligible to receive family development account matching contributions. Authorizes: (1) designation of earned income tax credit payments for family development account deposit; (2) a commercial building revitalization tax credit; (3) increased first year expensing for renewal community businesses; (4) extension of environmental remediation cost expensing and the work opportunity credit for renewal communities; and (5) similar tax treatment of renewal communities and enterprise zones for specified youth residence requirements. (Sec. 205) Makes conforming amendments to provisions respecting: (1) tax on excess contributions and prohibited transactions; (2) trust and annuity information; (3) tax exemption applications; and (4) the commercial revitalization credit. Title III: Additional Provisions - Provides for local government transfer of unoccupied and substandard Department of Housing and Urban Development multifamily and single family housing in renewal communities, with subsequent disposition priority to be given to community development corporations. (Sec. 302) Amends the Public Health Service Act to make religious organizations eligible to administer specified substance prevention and abuse programs. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 303) Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to provide that a financial institution's investments in community development organizations located in renewal communities may be considered in evaluations under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1998
Internet Tax Freedom Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 (the Act) to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or any State commission from having regulatory authority or jurisdiction with respect to charges paid by subscribers for Internet access or online services (IAOs). Preserves FCC authority and the State commission's authority to: (1) implement the Telecommunications Act of 1996 or the amendments made by such Act; and (2) regulate common carriers that offer IAOs in conjunction with the provision of any telephone toll, telephone exchange, or exchange access services as such terms are defined in title I of the Act. (Sec. 3) Exempts IAOs providers from Federal regulatory fees. Requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to determine whether any direct or indirect Federal regulatory fees, other than the fees identified under the Act, are imposed on IAOs providers, and if so, make recommendations to the Congress regarding whether such fees should be modified or eliminated. (Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with appropriate congressional committees, to examine: (1) barriers imposed in foreign markets on U.S. providers of property, goods, services, or information engaged in electronic commerce and on U.S. providers of telecommunications services; (2) how the imposition of such barriers will affect U.S. consumers, the competitiveness of U.S. citizens providing property, goods, service, or information in foreign markets, and the growth and maturing of the Internet; and (3) what measures the Government should pursue to foster, promote, and develop electronic commerce in the United States and in foreign markets. Directs: (1) the Secretary to report to the President on the results of the examination; and (2) the President to review the report and submit to appropriate congressional committees such policy recommendations as the President deems necessary or expedient. (Sec. 5) Prohibits, for three years after enactment of this Act, any State or political subdivision from imposing, assessing, collecting, or attempting to collect specified taxes on Internet access and services, with an exception for taxes imposed and actually enforced under State law before March 1, 1998. Provides that: (1) such exception shall be enforceable only if a State enacts a law to expressly impose such tax within one year from the date of enactment; and (2) failure of a State to act does not affect liabilities for taxes accrued and enforced prior to March 1, 1998, nor does it affect ongoing litigation relating to such assessments. Provides that this moratorium shall not apply with respect to the provision of IAOs that are offered for sale as part of a package of services that includes services other than IAOs, unless the service provider separately states that portion of the billing that applies to such services on the user's bill. (Sec. 6) Establishes the Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce to, among other things: (1) identify the taxes, fees, and charges imposed on electronic commerce within the United States that could impede the development of such commerce; and (2) propose both a uniform system of definitions of electronic commerce that may be subject to sales and use tax within each State, as well as a simplified system for such taxes. (Sec. 7) Directs the Commission, within two years of enactment, to transmit to the President and the Congress proposed legislation. Directs the President to then review such proposals and to submit to appropriate congressional committees such policy recommendations as the President deems necessary or expedient. (Sec. 8) Provides for the expedited congressional consideration of such legislative recommendations. (Sec. 9) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should seek bilateral and multilateral agreements through various international organizations to require that the provision of IAOs be free from undue and discriminatory regulation by foreign governments and that electronic commercial transactions between U.S. and foreign providers of property, goods, services, and information be free from undue and discriminatory regulation, international tariffs, and discriminatory taxation.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1998
Comprehensive Travel Reform Rule of 1998 - Requires each Member, officer, and employee of the House of Representatives to report to the Clerk of the House on the following categories of travel undertaken by the individual: (1) travel for which payment is made from the Members' representational allowance or from the accounts of a House committee or office, other than travel undertaken by a Member (or by his or her employee or an employee of a committee on which the Member is the chair or ranking minority member) between the Member's district and the District of Columbia; (2) travel within a foreign country for which payment is made by the foreign government; and (3) travel in support of the official business of such individual for which payment is made from any source other than described above. Sets forth the contents of such reports and includes within them (for travel paid for by certain nonprofit organizations) a copy of the organizations' contributions and expenditures filed with the IRS and a copy of their schedule of contributions of $5,000 or more received by them during a taxable year. Requires the report within 30 (currently, 60) days after the completion of the travel involved. Makes conforming amendments to rule XI (committee travel expenses) and rule LI (gift ban) of the Rules of the House. Requires the Clerk to notify the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of any Member, officer, or employee who reports after the applicable deadline or whose report fails to meet the requirements of this Act. Provides for: (1) quarterly compilations of such travel reports as well as annual reports of all House travel to be published in the Congressional Record; and (2) availability of such reports on the Internet. Prohibits a Member, officer, or employee from accepting any of the travel described in this Act for which: (1) first class airfare is provided; or (2) the total costs of meals and lodging exceed the amount of the maximum per diem rate set forth in applicable Federal law for other government employees. Exempts travel expenses incurred on behalf of either the spouse or a child of the Member, officer, or employee from restrictions on privately-funded gifts for spouse or family member travel only if the travel is not offered or enhanced because of the official position of the Member, officer, or employee and is customarily provided to others in similar circumstances. Allows the total expenditure for travel under this Act for an individual to exceed the published per diem rate applicable for Federal employees who are not Members, officers, or employees of the House only if the Member or officer involved authorizes the expenditure of a greater amount before the travel occurs. Prohibits a Member, officer, or employee of the House from accepting any official travel paid by private sources unless the travel is preauthorized by the Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1998
Library of Congress Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act of 1998 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue five-dollar gold coins and one-dollar silver coins emblematic of the Library of Congress. Authorizes the Secretary to mint and issue $10 bimetallic coins of gold and platinum in lieu of the gold coins. Requires payment of coin sale surcharges to the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board to support Library activities.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1998
Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to present to the IMF's Executive Board, and work for the adoption of, a proposal to amend the IMF's bylaws to disallow it from issuing a tax allowance to the Governors, the Executive Directors, their alternates, the Managing Director, or any other IMF employee.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1998
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should seek, at the June summit meeting this year in Beijing, a public renunciation by the People's Republic of China of any use of force, or threat to use force, against Taiwan.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1998
English for the Children Act - Repeals the Bilingual Education Act (BEA). Terminates the Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs in the Department of Education. Repeals specified provisions of the Department of Education Organization Act relating to such Office. Directs the Secretary of Education, at the end of a specified transition period, to deposit in the Treasury any funds that have not been awarded or obligated for BEA grants. Requires completion of the most recent school year that commences after enactment of this Act before a BEA program is terminated. Authorizes the Secretary, during the one year period after such enactment, to assist local educational agencies in the transition of children enrolled in BEA programs to special alternative instructional programs that do not make use of the student's native language. Declares that this Act shall not: (1) preempt any State law; or (2) be construed as requiring that a State or local educational agency develop, implement, provide, or maintain a program of bilingual education. Voids any consent decree with either the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare or the Department of Education that requires a State, locality, or local educational agency to develop, implement, provide, or maintain any form of bilingual education.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
Child Custody Protection Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit and set penalties for transporting an individual under age 18 across a State line to obtain an abortion if the requirements of a law in the State where the individual resides, requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision, are not met before obtaining the abortion. Makes an exception if the abortion was necessary to save the life of the minor. Authorizes any parent or guardian who suffers legal harm from a violation to obtain appropriate relief in a civil action.
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 · 4 March 1998
IMF Transparency and Efficiency Act of 1998 - Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to prohibit any U.S. officer, employee, or agent from providing, directly or indirectly, Federal funds to, or for the benefit of, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) unless: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury certifies to specified congressional committees that the IMF has met certain informational and loan rate requirements, and has established an independent advisory board to review its research, operations, and loan programs; and (2) the Congress has enacted a joint resolution approving the certification.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1998
Small Business Paperwork Reduction Act Amendments of 1998 - Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act to require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to publish annually in the Federal Register a list of requirements applicable to small business concerns with respect to collection of information by agencies. Requires each Federal agency, with respect to the collection of information and the control of paperwork: (1) to establish one agency point of contact to act as a liaison with small businesses; (2) in the case of a first-time information collection violation by a small business which does not cause actual serious harm to the public health or safety, to impose no civil fine on such business if the violation is corrected within six months of violation notification; and (3) if a violation presents an imminent and substantial danger to public health or safety, to impose no civil fine if the violation is corrected within 24 hours after violation notification. Allows an agency to waive the suspension of such fines after congressional notification. Excludes the Internal Revenue Service as a Federal agency for purposes of (2) and (3), above. Establishes a task force to study and report to specified congressional committee members on the feasibility of streamlining requirements with respect to small businesses regarding the collection of information.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1998
Prohibits issuance of an interim or final rule to suspend road construction in roadless areas on public domain units and other units of the National Forest System pending public participation and determination that such rule will not adversely affect forest health and multiple or governmental use.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1998
Constitutional Amendment - Requires that a bill to increase the internal revenue shall laws shall require for final adoption in each House the concurrence of two-thirds of the whole of the number of that House, unless the bill does not increase the internal revenue by more than a de minimis amount. Permits the waiver of such requirement, for up to two years, if there is a declaration of war or if the United States is engaged in a military conflict which causes an imminent and serious threat to national security and is so declared by a joint resolution which becomes law.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1998
Amends the Indian Self-Determination Act to prohibit the exemption of certain former officers and employees of the United States from restrictions related to aiding and advising Indian tribes.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1998
Amends the Indian Self-Determination Act to prohibit the exemption of certain former officers and employees of the United States from restrictions related to aiding and advising Indian tribes.
![Official portrait of Rep. Cox, Christopher [R-CA-48]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000830_200.jpg)