United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1998
American Economy Protection Act - Prohibits the use of Federal funds to implement the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, unless or until the Senate has given its advice and consent to ratification of the Protocol. Prohibits Federal agencies from having authority to promulgate regulations to limit the emissions of carbon dioxide, unless a law is enacted specifically granting such authority.
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
Child Online Protection Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require anyone who, in interstate or foreign commerce, is engaged in the business of selling or transferring, by means of the World Wide Web, material that is harmful to minors to restrict access to such materials by persons under 17 years of age. Provides civil and criminal penalties for violations of such requirement, as well as an affirmative defense. Directs the Federal Communications Commission to post on its Internet website a definition of material that is harmful to minors.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1998
Stalking Prevention and Victim Protection of 1998 - Rewrites stalking provisions of the Federal criminal code. Prohibits and sets penalties for stalking an individual, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, or within Indian country. Provides that a person stalks an individual if the person, on two or more occasions: (1) engages in any conduct that results in the individual's reasonable fear of death or bodily injury to that individual or to a member of that individual's immediate family; and (2) knows or has reasonable cause to believe that such conduct results in that fear. Directs the court, at the time of sentencing for such offense, to issue an appropriate protection order designed to protect the victim from further stalking by the convicted person, which shall continue in effect until the victim communicates to the court that the order is no longer needed. Requires the judicial officer, where a stalking violation is charged and the person has a prior conviction for a crime of violence under Federal or State law, to order the detention of the person before trial, if that conviction was for an offense against the same victim as in the current charge or a member of that victim's family, or if that conviction became final less than five years before the conduct constituting the alleged stalking violation took place. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to amend the sentencing guidelines to provide an appropriate sentence enhancement for a defendant convicted of stalking where the defendant has a prior conviction under Federal or State law of a crime of violence against the same victim as in the current offense or against a member of that victim's family.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1998
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Health Care Financing Administration should: (1) further postpone its plans to implement the documentation guidelines for evaluation and management services, as currently constituted; (2) continue consultation with organizations representing physicians on how to reduce the complexity of any such guidelines before their use by Medicare or its agents in review of claims; (3) conduct a pilot study of any such documentation requirements before use in audits and other review activities; and (4) assure that any such documentation guidelines, if applied by Medicare or its agents in review activities, contribute to quality care and do not detract from good patient care by requiring physicians to spend undue time documenting their services (at the expense of spending less time with patients) or lead to sanctions being imposed for unintentional coding and documentation errors.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1998
Independent Contractor Tax Simplification Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth standards for determining whether individual service providers are not employees.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1996 Title II: Unemployment Trust Fund Accounts Title III: Grants to States for Employment Security Administration Title IV: Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1998 Title V: Federal Employment Security Service Title VI: Advances to State Unemployment Compensation Benefit Accounts Title VII: Conforming Amendments Employment Security Financing Act of 1998 - Title I: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1996 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Chapter 23 to revise Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) employer excise tax rate requirements. (Sec. 101) Repeals the 0.2 surtax for calendar years 2004 through 2007. (Ends the current FUTA employer tax rate of 6.2 percent of total employee wages after 2003, and begins a 6.0 rate in 2004.) Requires, for calendar year 2000 and thereafter, such FUTA tax, including accounts receivable from prior years, to be collected by the State agencies responsible for administration of the State unemployment compensation law as agents for the Secretary of the Treasury. Requires amounts collected by such State agencies to be deposited in: (1) the Employment Security Administration Account (the ESAA) within the Unemployment Trust Fund (the Fund), for years prior to calendar year 2003; and (2) the State's Employment Security Administration Account (State ESAA) within the Fund, for calendar year 2003 and thereafter. Requires amounts collected after January 1, 2000, by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to be deposited in the Employment Security Transition Account (Transition ESA) within the Fund. (Sec. 103) Sets forth additional requirements for approval of State laws. (Sec. 105) Revises the definition of State unemployment funds. (Sec. 106) Defines a State Employment Security Administration Account (State ESAA) as a special account within the Unemployment Trust Fund (the Fund) to provide administrative funds to pay the cost of services performed by the State agency in accordance with FUTA and the Social Security Act. (Sec. 107) Provides for collection of FUTA taxes by, as well as payment of FUTA taxes to, State agencies. (Sec. 109) Amends the IRC to repeal the prohibition against assessment of unpaid FUTA taxes. Title II: Unemployment Trust Fund Accounts - Amends title IX (Employment Security Administrative Financing) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish in the Unemployment Trust Fund (the Fund): (1) a State Employment Security Administration Account (State ESAA) for each State; (2) a Supplemental Employment Security Administration Account (Supplemental ESAA) for the administration of employment security programs, under FUTA and SSA titles IX and III (Grants to States for Unemployment Compensation Administration), by States whose average civilian labor force populations number less than one million; and (3) the Secretary of Labor Employment Security Administration Account (Labor Secretary ESAA) for the Secretary to carry out administrative duties under such SSA and FUTA provisions. Makes appropriations to the Fund for credit to such accounts according to specified formulas. (Sec. 201) Authorizes to be made available from State ESAAs, upon State request and subject to appropriation by the legislative body of each State, in addition to amounts otherwise appropriated by the Congress, special administrative funds for: (1) determining whether individuals claiming unemployment compensation under conforming State laws are available to accept suitable work and have not refused suitable work as prescribed by the State unemployment law; (2) job search and placement services to individuals claiming unemployment compensation benefits and other job seekers including counseling, testing, occupational and labor market information, assessment, and referral to employers; (3) appropriate recruitment services and special technical services for employers; and (4) collection of the FUTA tax imposed under IRC. (Sec. 202) Amends SSA title IX to repeal authority for the Employment Security Administration Account (the ESAA) in the Unemployment Trust Fund. (Sec. 203) Authorizes, for FY 2004 and thereafter, certain administrative expenditures from State ESAAs for: (1) State administration of unemployment compensation laws; (2) public employment services under the Wagner-Peyser Act; (3) certain veterans' programs; (4) collection of amounts due under FUTA; and (5) administration of statistical programs essential for development of estimates of the gross domestic product and other national statistical series, including those related to employment and unemployment. Provides for such expenditures upon State request, subject to appropriation by the State legislative body, in amounts up to 140 percent of the amount appropriated to the State agency from Federal employment security funds for the previous fiscal year. Authorizes $5 million out of the Supplemental ESAA for each of FY 2000 through 2003 for expenditures by States whose average civilian labor force populations number less than one million, for: (1) determining whether individuals claiming unemployment compensation under conforming State laws are available to accept suitable work and have not refused suitable work as prescribed by the State unemployment law; (2) job search and placement services to individuals claiming unemployment compensation benefits and other job seekers including counseling, testing, occupational and labor market information, assessment, and referral to employers; and (3) appropriate recruitment services and special technical services for employers. Authorizes, for FY 2004 and thereafter, expenditures out of the Supplemental ESAA by States whose average civilian labor force populations number less than one million, for the same administrative purposes for which expenditures from State ESAAs are authorized. Establishes the Council of States with Lesser Populations to determine the allocation methodology for and to allocate such amounts from the Supplemental ESAA, subject to appropriation by the legislative body of each State. Authorizes, for FY 2004 and thereafter, expenditures from the Secretary of Labor ESAA, in amounts up to 140 percent of that appropriated for the prior year, for the Department's performance of functions for the same administrative purposes for which expenditures from State ESAAs are authorized, plus: (1) establishment and maintenance of the employment security system under the Wagner-Peyser Act; and (2) payments of the Federal share of annual amortization costs of the unfunded liability for the State employment security agencies with independent retirement plans as determined by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, for FY 2004 and thereafter, to pay from the Labor Secretary ESAA into the Treasury the amount determined by the Secretary of Labor to be allocated to the Department of the Treasury to cover its costs for performing its functions under: (1) SSA titles III (Unemployment Insurance), IX (Employment Security), and XII (Advances to State Unemployment Funds), including the expenses of banks for servicing unemployment benefit payment and clearing accounts which are offset by the maintenance of balances of Treasury funds with such banks; (2) FUTA; and (3) any Federal unemployment compensation law with respect to which responsibility for administration is vested in the Secretary of Labor. (Sec. 204) Provides for transfer of amounts attributable to reduced credits to State ESAAs. (Sec. 205) Provides for advances from a revolving fund within the Federal Unemployment Account (FUA) to State ESAAs. (Sec. 206) Provides for treatment of excess amounts in State ESAAs. (Sec. 207) Requires that excess amounts in the Federal Unemployment Account (FUA) be transferred to State ESAAs according to a State allocation formula. (Sec. 208) Repeals a reporting requirement relating to transfers between FUA and the ESAA. (Sec. 209) Terminates Extended Unemployment Compensation Account (EUCA). Transfers at the end of FY 2003: (1) excess EUCA amounts to State ESAAs, according to a specified formula; and (2) the remaining EUCA balance to the Unemployment Compensation Benefits Accounts of the States in the Fund, with specified exceptions where a State is ineligible. (Sec. 210) Provides for treatment of amounts elected by ineligible States. (Sec. 211) Revises SSA requirements relating to State use of certain funds (known as Reed Act funds) transferred to a State unemployment benefit account. (Sec. 212) Revises SSA provisions for the Unemployment Trust Fund (the Fund). Requires deposit into: (1) the State's Unemployment Compensation Benefit Account (UCBA) of contributions and payments in lieu of contributions under the State law; (2) the State ESAA of State agency collections under FUTA and of certain other transfers or deposits under SSA and FUTA; and (3) the Transition ESA of IRS collections under FUTA after January 1, 2000. (Sec. 213) Provides as separate book accounts in the Fund: (1) the Transition ESA; (2) each State UCBA; (3) each State ESAA; (4) the Supplemental ESAA; (5) the Labor Secretary ESAA; (6) the FUA; (7) the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Account; and (8) the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Administration fund. Establishes within the Fund an Employment Security Transition Account (Transition ESA) to: (1) receive IRS collections under FUTA; and (2) transfer such moneys to other specified accounts within the Fund. (Sec. 214) Revises SSA requirements for payments to State agencies and to the Railroad Retirement Board. (Sec. 215) Repeals provisions for the Extended Unemployment Compensation Account (EUCA). Sets forth the terms of transfer of EUCA funds to State UCBAs. (Sec. 216) Amends SSA title IX to repeal interfund borrowing authority with respect to the ESAA, FUA, EUCA, and other Federal accounts. Title III: Grants to States for Employment Security Administration - Repeals requirements for use and payments of specified available funds to assist States in administering their unemployment compensation laws, under SSA title III (Grants to States for Unemployment Compensation Administration). (Sec. 302) Revises requirements relating to: (1) certification of State laws; (2) limitations on use of State UCBA funds; and (3) proper use of administrative funds, and replacement of such funds expended for other purposes. (Sec. 303) Provides that States shall not be required to comply with the Secretary of Labor's interpretations of methods of administration requirements under SSA title III, if such interpretations impose additional administrative burdens on them, unless the Congress enacts legislation approving such an interpretation. Title IV: Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1998 - Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1998 - Amends the Employment Security Amendments of 1970 to revise the title II Extended Unemployment Compensation Program (currently the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970), as of November 1, 2003. (Sec. 401) Includes such extended compensation program among State law requirements under FUTA. Requires the State law to establish within the State UCBA an extended compensation account for each eligible individual who files. Deems State laws certified as meeting requirements of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act on October 31, 1999, as meeting certification requirements under this title (EUCA98) for the year ending October 31, 2000, as long as the State law is not amended so as to conflict with the requirements of this title. Sets forth extended unemployment compensation program requirements for the extended benefit period, on-and-off-indicators, rate of insured unemployment, and covered employment. Title V: Federal Employment Security Service - Amends the Wagner-Peyser Act (WPA) to direct the U.S. Employment Security Service (USESS), as of October 1, 1999, to assist in coordinating public employment services throughout the country and assure that the requirements of SSA titles III and IX and of FUTA are met. (Eliminates current functions of the USESS as of such date.) (Sec. 503) Revises WPA requirements for: (1) transfer of USESS property to States; and (2) State use of public employment service funds. (Sec. 504) Repeals, as October 1, 2003, WPA provisions for: (1) Federal appropriations authority; (2) Federal use of funds; (3) State and Federal planning, fiscal controls, and accounting procedures; (4) the Secretary's authority to make rules and establish performance standards; and (5) authorization of appropriations to the Secretary to provide funds for reimbursable agreements with the States to operate certain statistical programs for estimates of gross national product and other national statistical series, including those related to employment and unemployment. Title VI: Advances to State Unemployment Compensation Benefit Accounts - Amends SSA title XII (Advances to State Unemployment Funds) to revise requirements for: (1) transfers from the Federal Unemployment Account (FUA) to State UCBAs; (2) State use of such transferred funds; (3) determination of the interest rate on such advances to States; and (4) repayable advances to FUA. Title VII: Conforming Amendments - Makes conforming amendments to the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33) and the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-34).
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
Prohibits the President from transferring a veterans memorial object that was brought to the United States as a memorial of combat abroad to a foreign country or entity controlled by a foreign government, or to any person for ultimate transfer or conveyance to such a country or entity, unless specifically authorized by law.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1998
Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 1998 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), after July 1, 1998, from making any reallocations of amateur radio service (ARS) frequency bands, diminishing the secondary allocations of such bands to ARS, or making additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce their utility to ARS, unless at the same time the FCC provides equivalent replacement spectrum to ARS.
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
Health Care Claims Guidance Act - Amends Federal law relating to claims against the U. S. Government to prohibit any action under such provisions based on a claim submitted: (1) under a federally funded health care program unless the amount of damages alleged is a material amount; (2) in reliance on erroneous information supplied by a Federal agency or in reliance on written statements of Federal policy which affects such claim provided by a Federal agency; or (3) by a person that is in substantial compliance with a model compliance plan issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in consultation with the Secretary of Defense). Requires that the Government prove an allegation of a false health care claim by clear and convincing evidence. Defines, for the amendments made by this Act, "federally funded health care program" to mean a program that provides health benefits, directly or otherwise, established under Social Security Act titles XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), or XXI (Children's Health Insurance) or provisions of Federal law relating to the armed forces.
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 · 4 March 1998
Royalty Enhancement Act of 1998 - Declares that all royalty oil and royalty gas accruing to the United States under any oil and gas lease shall be taken in kind by the United States at the applicable delivery point for each lease premises. Sets forth rights, obligations, and responsibilities pertaining to such royalty oil and gas with respect to: (1) the United States; (2) the States; (3) the lessee; and (4) qualified marketing agents. Allocates costs responsibility and transporter charges between the lessee and the United States. Prescribes procedures for resolving royalty share imbalances between: (1) the amount of royalty oil or gas production taken by the United States from a lease premises during a calendar month; and (2) the amount of such production attributable to such lease premises for that month. Sets forth guidelines for transportation by truck, tanker, or barge for royalty oil or gas taken in kind from onshore or offshore lease premises for which there is no pipeline connection at the well. Exempts from coverage by this Act: (1) compensatory royalties; (2) minimum royalties; and (3) net profit share lease royalties prior to payout. Sets forth reporting requirements for lessees and qualified marketing agents. Empowers the Secretary of the Interior to audit their reports. Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary shall direct qualified marketing agents to offer for sale to eligible small refiners an eligible small refiner portion, which is intended for processing, or trading for equivalent barrels for processing, in the eligible small refiner's refineries located in the United States, and not for resale in-kind or value. Instructs the Secretary to: (1) convene an eligible small refiner advisory panel to assist in developing policies and procedures to implement this Act; and (2) develop and implement procedures to ensure a fair and equitable opportunity for eligible small refiners to purchase royalty oil from the eligible small refiner portion. Amends the Mineral Leasing Act and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to repeal existing royalty-in-kind authority. Declares that this Act does not: (1) affect the Deep Water Royalty Relief Act of 1995 or any other Federal law applicable to stripper or marginal production; or (2) apply to Indian lands.
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 · 26 February 1998
Calls for the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend and the Postal Service to issue a commemorative postage stamp honoring the U.S. Submarine Force on its 100th anniversary.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1998
Credit Union Membership Protection Act - Amends the Federal Credit Union Act to permit any person who is a Federal credit union member as of February 25, 1998, to retain member status if such status would be lost as a result of a certain Supreme Court decision construing membership criteria.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1998
Dollars to the Classroom Act - Requires the Secretary of Education to award the total amount of certain applicable education funding directly to the States. (Sec. 2) Requires such direct awarding of all the funds (except those used for specified multiyear awards) that are appropriated for the Department of Education for the fiscal year for programs or activities under specified provisions of: (1) the Goals 2000: Educate America Act; (2) the Educational Research, Development, Disseminations, and Improvement Act of 1994; (3) the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994; (4) the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA); and (5) the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. Sets deadlines for: (1) each State to conduct a census to determine, and report to the Secretary, the number of kindergarten through grade 12 students in the State for the academic year; and (2) the Secretary to publish and disburse the amount each State will receive under this Act for the succeeding fiscal year. Sets forth: (1) a formula for determination of such award amounts, based on relative numbers of such students in each State; and (2) penalties for false information. Provides for continuation of certain multiyear awards made prior to enactment of this Act. Requires award amounts under this Act to be paid to the State Governor, who shall make them available to the individual or entity in the State responsible for the State administration of Federal education funds. Prescribes requirements for the use of such funds, earmarking not less than 95 percent for distribution to local educational agencies (LEAs) for the costs of activities or services provided in the classroom that LEAs determine appropriate, excluding associated administrative expenses, but including nonadministrative expenses associated with statewide or districtwide initiatives directly affecting classroom learning. Prohibits: (1) any head of a Federal department or agency other than the Secretary from promulgating regulations under this Act; and (2) the Secretary from issuing any regulation regarding the type of classroom activities or services that may be assisted under this Act. (Sec. 3) Amends ESEA title I (Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards) to require the use of at least 95 percent of title I funds for an LEA for a fiscal year according to the requirements of this Act. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement a plan for streamlining regulations and eliminating bureaucracy so that 95 percent of such ESEA title I funds for LEAs are used for the costs of activities and services provided in the classroom; and (2) recommend to Congress legislation containing changes to Federal law needed for the use of such funds. (Sec. 4) Requires each LEA that receives funds under this Act to provide for the participation of children enrolled in private and home schools.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1998
Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1998 - Amends the Fair Housing Act to state that: (1) nothing in such Act shall be construed to make the expression of an opinion or the seeking of redress from public authority a violation of such Act; and (2) a party shall not be liable for engaging in litigation or administrative proceedings unless done so for an improper purpose, or not supported by evidence or warranted by existing law. (Sec. 3) Requires specificity of complaint. (Sec. 4) States that a provision of State or local law shall not be construed to violate fair housing provisions if the alleging party has not first exhausted State remedies. (Sec. 5) Provides that familial status protection shall apply to persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption and certain foster children. (Sec. 6) States that fair housing provisions shall not prevent local control of residential uses.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1998
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) it has never granted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the authority to compel broadcast station licensees to provide free broadcast time for the airing of political advertising, other than the specific equal time obligations required under the Communications Act of 1934; (2) such Act contains specific and reasonable limits on the compensation that may be required of candidates for such advertising; (3) the FCC may not further expand the public interest obligations of such licensees to accept such advertising without express statutory authority from the Congress; and (4) the FCC should not engage in litigation concerning limits on its authority over such advertising.
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 · 3 February 1998
Amends the Federal criminal code to treat the following as an antique firearm for purposes of the Federal firearms laws: any firearm in which black powder and a projectile are loaded through the muzzle, and such powder is ignited by a percussion-activated ignition system to expel the projectile, and which does not use fully assembled or fixed, rimfire, or conventional centerfire ammunition.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1998
Tax Code Termination Act - Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2001; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2001. Excepts the: (1) tax on self-employment income (chapter 2 of the Code); (2) Federal Insurance Contributions Act (chapter 21 of the Code); and (3) Railroad Retirement Tax Act (chapter 22 of the Code). Declares that any new Federal tax system should be a simple and fair system.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1997
Notch Fairness Act of 1997 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to revise the formula for the computation of minimum old age insurance benefits for individuals who reached age 65 in or after 1979 and to whom applies the 15-year transition period for the changes in benefit computation rules enacted in the Social Security Amendments of 1977. Sets forth a schedule of additional benefit increases for such beneficiaries (and related beneficiaries), with percentages declining from 55 percent to five percent and keyed to the year an individual became eligible for such benefits between 1979 and 1988. Allows such beneficiaries, in the alternative, to receive lump sum payments over four years totaling $5,000. Specifies offsetting nondefense and discretionary spending reductions the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall make over a four-year period for the increase in direct spending estimated to result from enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
United States-Panama Security Act of 1997 - Bars U.S. assistance to Panama during any period in which a defense site or military installation located in Panama that was at any time part of a site or installation built or formerly operated by the United States has been conveyed by the Government of Panama to any foreign government-owned entity. Directs the President to instruct the U.S. representatives to the international financial institutions to oppose any loans or other assistance to Panama during any such period. Requires the President to report to the Congress on how Hutchison Whampoa, a Chinese firm with ties to the Chinese Government, was selected to receive a grant for management control of the Panamanian ports of Balboa and San Cristobal. Directs the Secretary of Defense to report to the Congress on: (1) the extent to which the control of such ports by such firm poses a threat to U.S. security; and (2) how U.S. strategic interests with respect to the Panama Canal will continue to be protected after the Government of Panama assumes sole responsibility for the defense of the Canal and becomes the only entity entitled to have military forces, defense sites, or military installations in Panama after December 31, 1999. Requires: (1) the Director of Central Intelligence to report annually to the Congress on the intelligence activities of China against or affecting U.S. interests in Panama; and (2) the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to report to the Congress on the utility of maintaining a military presence in Panama for interdicting illegal drugs. Authorizes and directs the President to confer with the Government of Panama to renegotiate the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty and the Treaty Concerning the Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal or to negotiate a new agreement to supersede such treaties. Expresses the sense of the Congress that any negotiations should include: (1) a ban on foreign government investment in or management of the Canal and related projects; (2) the right to a continued U.S. military presence in Panama and a continued presence to interdict and eradicate illegal drug trafficking through Panama; and (3) the right to control or prohibit the use of the Canal by hostile powers, terrorist states, or criminal groups by redefining the terms of the 1977 Treaty Concerning the Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Multichannel Video Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 1997 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to: (1) initiate, and report to specified congressional committees on, an inquiry on the extent to which a certain differential fee decision (relating to the per subscriber per month royalty fee for the retransmission of superstation and distant network signals by direct-to-home satellite service providers) constitutes an impediment to the development of effective market competition for multichannel video programming distribution; and (2) based on such inquiry, make necessary regulatory changes. Includes direct-to-home satellite services under provisions protecting telecommunications services from piracy. Prohibits any U.S. officer or employee from taking any action to implement or enforce the differential fee decision until 120 days after FCC submission of its report.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Amends the General Education Provisions Act to prohibit the use of funds provided to the Department of Education, or to an applicable program, to develop, plan, implement, or administer any national testing program. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a similar prohibition against use of certain funds (from the Fund for the Improvement Education) for any national testing program. Exempts from such funding prohibitions the Third International Mathematics and Science Study.
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 · 5 November 1997
Directs the House Committee on the Judiciary to: (1) investigate whether grounds exist to impeach President Clinton; and (2) report its findings, recommendations, and, if the Committee so determines, a resolution of impeachment.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1997
Irrigation Project Contract Extension Act of 1997 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to extend through December 31, 2001, each of ten specified water service or repayment contracts for the Glendo Unit of the Missouri River Basin Project. Requires such contracts to be extended for the same term that a specified cooperative agreement concerning the Platte River may be extended.
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 · 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
Second Amendment Protection Act of 1997 - Repeals the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act and restores and revives any provisions they amended as if the repealed Acts had not been enacted. Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to machine guns, destructive devices, and certain other firearms and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to revise the definition of "destructive device" and make other changes.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1997
Amends Federal law regarding Channel Islands National Park, California, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to grant to specified individuals rights of use and occupancy of the Gherini Ranch on Santa Cruz Island for a term of 25 years.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1997
Sound Scientific Practices Act - Requires the Secretary of Labor, upon determining that a standard should be promulgated under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, to appoint a panel of individuals to review and report on: (1) the scientific and economic data which form the basis for such standard; and (2) the relevance of the data to industries and workers which such standard would affect.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1997
Social Security Information Act of 1997 - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act to revise requirements for the social security account statements distributed annually by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Requires such statements to include: (1) a separate estimate of the interest earned on employee and self-employment contributions for hospital insurance and old-age, survivors, and disability insurance; (2) specified information on the projected value of the aggregate amount of employer and employee contributions for old-age and survivors insurance, as well as annual and total amounts of benefits, in dollars adjusted for inflation; (3) the average annual rates of return on Treasury ten-year savings bonds and the Standard and Poor's 500; and (4) monthly and projected annual trust fund balances.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1997
Paycheck Protection Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to make it unlawful, except with the separate, prior, written, voluntary authorization of each individual, for: (1) national banks or corporations to collect from or assess its stockholders or employees any dues, initiation fee, or other payment as a condition of employment if any part of such dues, fee, or payment will be used for political activities in which the national bank or corporation is engaged; and (2) labor organizations to collect from or assess its members or nonmembers any dues, fee, or other payment if any part of such dues, fee, or payment will be used for political activities in which the labor organization is engaged. States that an authorization shall remain in effect until revoked and may be revoked at any time. Requires each entity collecting from or assessing amounts from an individual with an authorization in effect to provide the individual with a statement that the individual may at any time revoke the authorization.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1997
Marriage Penalty Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow as a deduction, on a joint return, an amount equal to the lesser of: (1) $30,000; or (2) the qualified earned income of the spouse with the lower qualified earned income.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1997
Guadalupe-Hidalgo Treaty Land Claims Act of 1997 - Establishes the Guadalupe-Hidalgo Treaty Land Claims Commission to determine the validity of land claims arising out of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo of 1848. Authorizes three or more eligible Mexican descendants in the State of New Mexico who are also descendants of the same community land grant to petition the Commission for such a determination on behalf of themselves and all other descendants. Directs the Commission to establish a Community Land Grant Study Center at the Onate Center in Alcalde, New Mexico, to be responsible for directing the research, study, and investigations necessary to assist the Commission in performing its duties. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1997
Medicare Beneficiary Freedom To Contract Act of 1997 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise provisions added by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 regarding the use of private contracts by Medicare beneficiaries for professional services. Outlines specific requirements for private contracts between Medicare beneficiaries and physicians or health care practitioners for services for which no Medicare claims may be submitted.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1997
Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2001; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2001. Declares that any new Federal tax system should be a simple and fair system.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1997
Marriage Tax Elimination Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a husband and wife to file a combined income tax return on which each spouse is taxed separately at the unmarried return rate.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1997
Amends Federal law relating to health insurance for Federal employees to authorize the Office of Personnel Management to contract for or approve one or more high deductible plans providing specified benefits. Allows the Government contribution for high deductible plans to be 100 percent of the subscription charge. Requires that, if 60 percent of the average subscription charge exceeds the total subscription charge of an employee's or annuitant's plan, the excess be paid into the employee's or annuitant's medical savings account. Determines that average disregarding high deductible plans. Amends Internal Revenue Code medical savings account provisions to require, for those provisions, treating the Federal Government as a small employer. Exempts individuals in high deductible plans from provisions limiting: (1) the medical savings account deduction to the compensation of the individual (provides for coordination with the exclusion for employer contributions); and (2) the number of taxpayers having medical savings accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a husband and wife to file a combined income tax return on which each spouse is taxed separately at the unmarried return rate.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1997
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should: (1) manage its public domain national forests to maximize the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and recognize the scientific validity of carbon sequestration and sinks of trees and wood products; and (2) serve as an example and as a world leader in actively managing such forests in a manner that substantially reduces the amount of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1997
Amends the National Trails System Act to: (1) delete provisions prohibiting the interim use of any established railroad rights-of-way for historic or recreation trails under such Act from being treated as abandonment of the use of such rights-of-way for railroad purposes; and (2) authorize the Surface Transportation Board, if a State, political subdivision, or qualified private organization is prepared to assume full responsibility with respect to the portion of any railroad right-of-way donated, transferred, leased, or otherwise conveyed for use for establishment of such a trail, for its management, for any legal liability arising out of such right-of-way, and for the payment of any and all taxes that may be levied or assessed against such rights-of-way, to impose such terms and conditions as a requirement of any transfer or conveyance for interim use in furtherance of the national policy to preserve established railroad rights-of-way for future reactivation of rail service. States that such Act shall not preempt State law with respect to the establishment of, and rights incident to, an easement, right-of-way, or other property interest in land.
United States · United States Congress · 4 September 1997
Declares that the following conduct by the Attorney General constitutes a failure to take care that the laws are faithfully executed: (1) refusal to seek application for an independent counsel pursuant to a House Committee on the Judiciary request in letters dated March 12, 1997, and September 3, 1997; and (2) failure to send to the Senate a nomination for the now vacant office of Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, while allowing the functions of such office to be carried out by a person acting in apparent violation of the Vacancies Act, resulting in the absence of prosecutors accountable to the Congress as well as the executive branch with respect to criminal-law-related investigations of executive branch officials.
![Official portrait of Rep. Cubin, Barbara [R-WY-At Large]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000962_200.jpg)