United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1999
United States Training on and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Resolution - Calls upon the President: (1) to provide for appropriate training and materials to all Foreign Service officers, officials of the Department of State, and any other executive branch employee involved in responding to issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide by familiarizing them with the U.S. record relating to the Armenian Genocide and the consequences of the failure to enforce the judgments of the Turkish courts against the responsible officials; and (2) in his annual message commemorating the Armenian Genocide issued on or about April 24, to characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide and to recall the proud history of U.S. intervention in opposition to the Armenian Genocide.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1999
Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 1999 - Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from prescribing any rules authorizing the operation of new, low power FM radio stations, or establishing a low power radio service, as currently proposed. Terminates previously prescribed rules which would violate such prohibition and voids licenses issued pursuant to such rules.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1999
Makes it in order at any time on November 18, 1999, for the Speaker of the House of Representatives to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1999
Fair Credit Reporting Amendments Act of 1999 - Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to exclude from its definition of "consumer report" certain employer investigative reports concerning possible violations of law by an employee. Requires any person intending to take adverse action based in whole or part on such report to disclose to such employee the nature and substance of information in the report on which the proposed adverse action is based, and to make such report available to any employee who brings an action concerning such information.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1999
Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on the results of a study of production alternatives for the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft program and the effects on the tactical fighter aircraft industrial base of each alternative considered.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1999
Extends the law making continuing appropriations for FY 2000 through November 18, 1999. Extends, until November 18, 1999, a certain provision of law that allows fewer than three members of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States to constitute a quorum.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
Authorizes the American Battle Monuments Commission to place within the Vietnam Veterans Memorial a plaque to honor those Vietnam veterans who died after service in the Vietnam War, but as a direct result of such service, and whose names are not otherwise eligible for placement on the Memorial wall.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
Makes it in order at any time on or before November 17, 1999, for the Speaker of the House of Representatives to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1999
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) a Freedom Day should be celebrated each year in the United States; and (2) the United States should join with other nations, specifically including those which liberated themselves to help end the Cold War, to establish a global holiday called Freedom Day.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
State Flexibility Clarification Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require a congressional committee report on a public bill or joint resolution that includes a Federal intergovernmental mandate that reduces the Federal Government's responsibility to provide funding to State, local, or tribal governments under the then-existing program, to include in such report a statement of how the committee specifically intends the States to implement the reduction and to what extent the legislation provides additional flexibility, if any, to offset it. Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to include in the estimate statement required with respect to such legislation: (1) if no additional flexibility is provided in the legislation, a description of whether and how the States can offset the reduction under existing law; or (2) if additional flexibility is provided, whether the resulting savings would offset the reductions in that program, assuming the States fully implement such flexibility.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1999
Makes it in order at any time on or before November 10, 1999, for the Speaker of the House of Representatives to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1999
Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act - Provides authority for the identification of and worldwide sanctions against foreign narcotics traffickers whose activities threaten U.S. security, foreign policy, or the economy. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Director of Central Intelligence to consult and provide information to the President, in order that he may submit an unclassified annual report to specified congressional committees: (1) publicly identifying significant foreign narcotic traffickers who are appropriate for sanctions; and (2) detailing intent to impose such sanctions. Requires an additional classified presidential report to Congress. Excludes from the report information which could jeopardize intelligence operations. Allows the President to waive sanctions if U.S. national security would be harmed. Requires congressional notification of waivers. Subjects significant foreign narcotics traffickers publicly identified in the report to the blocking of assets. Prohibits transactions by U.S. persons in property or interests of such traffickers. Imposes criminal penalties for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1999
Encourages the Secretary of Education to use funds available in the Fund for the Improvement of Education (part A of title X of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) to promote personal financial literacy programs. Encourages State and local educational agencies to incorporate personal financial management curricula into their education programs.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1999
Declares that Congress: (1) deplores the slaying of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Vazgen Sargsian, the Chairman of the Armenian Parliament, Karen Demirchian, the Deputy Chairman of the Armenian Parliament, Yuri Bakhshian, the Minister of Operative Issues, Leonard Petrossian, and other members of the Armenian Government; (2) strongly shares the determination of the Armenian people that the perpetrators will be swiftly brought to justice so that Armenia may demonstrate its resolute opposition to acts of terror; (3) commends the efforts of the late Prime Minister and the Armenian Government for their commitment to democracy and the rule of law and for supporting free market movements internationally; and (4) continues to cherish the strong alliance between Armenia and the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1999
Fair Competition in Foreign Commerce Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report to the President and to appropriate congressional committees a plan for promoting international government procurement reforms relating to the U.S. participation in international financial institutions, including the use of third-party procurement monitoring where appropriate. Requires such plan to include an instruction by the Secretary to the U.S. Executive Director of each international financial institution to use the vote of the United States to oppose the use of funds appropriated or made available by the United States for any non-humanitarian assistance, until: (1) the institution has adopted an anticorruption plan that requires the use of independent third-party procurement monitoring services in which the country receiving such assistance lacks the necessary organization, resources, and expertise to ensure openness, efficiency, and transparency in government procurement; and (2) each recipient country institutes specific strategies for minimizing corruption and maximizing transparency in each stage of the procurement process. Prohibits the use of funds for nonhumanitarian foreign assistance programs (including Agency for International Development (AID) activities) unless each recipient country and each international financial institution has demonstrated that significant progress is being made toward institutionalizing: (1) procurement practices that are open, transparent, and free of corruption, fraud, inefficiency, and other misuse; and (2) independent third-party procurement monitoring of government procurement in countries that lack necessary organization, resources, and expertise. Specifies national security, emergency humanitarian, and other exceptions to the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1999
Tribal Sovereignty Protection Act - Amends the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to prohibit negotiated Tribal-State compacts from including, or being conditioned upon, any provision relating to labor terms or conditions for employees of tribally owned businesses located on Indian lands.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1999
State Initiative Fairness Act - Prohibits a U.S. district court or judge thereof from granting any application for an interlocutory or permanent injunction restraining the enforcement, operation, or execution of a State law adopted by referendum upon the ground of unconstitutionality unless such application is heard and determined by a three-judge court. Requires, in any such case, the additional judges to be designated as soon as practicable and the court to expedite the consideration of the application for an injunction. Requires any appeal of a determination on such application to be to the Supreme Court.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1999
Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to issue a marketing order, subject to producer and importer referendum approval, providing for research and promotion of Hass avocados. Sets forth marketing order terms and related provisions, including establishment of a Hass Avocado Board. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1999
Youth Financial Education Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a new part L, Promoting Youth Financial Literacy, under title X (Programs of National Significance). Authorizes the Secretary of Education to provide grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) to develop and integrate youth financial education programs for students in elementary and secondary schools. Sets forth requirements for State plans and for allocation of grants to States. Requires States to use grants to: (1) provide funds to local educational agencies (LEAs) and public schools to carry out financial education programs for students in kindergarten through grade 12 based on the concept of achieving financial literacy through the teaching of personal financial management skills and the basic principles involved with earning, spending, saving, and investing; (2) carry out professional development programs to prepare teachers and administrators for financial education; and (3) monitor and evaluate programs. Directs the Secretary to make a grant to or contract with an entity with substantial financial education experience for a national clearinghouse for instructional materials and information on model financial education programs and best practices. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop performance measures for the part L programs of State grants and of the clearinghouse; and (2) report to the Congress annually on the implementation of part L programs. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1999
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present congressional gold medals to astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, in recognition of their monumental and unprecedented feat of space exploration, as well as their achievements in the advancement of science and promotion of the space program. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell bronze duplicates. Requires receipts from such sales to be deposited in the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1999
Requires Congress, in addressing issues of information technology and electronic commerce policy, to: (1) focus on a broad spectrum of issues essential to the evolution and strength of the American information technology industry; (2) ensure that it plays an enabling and not inhibiting role in supporting the movement of industry and people into the Information Age; (3) incorporate a principle of minimal and predictable government regulation; and (4) refrain from actions that would enshrine or favor specific technologies or standards.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1999
Expresses the sense of Congress that making concessions to terrorists is deplorable and that President Clinton should not have offered or granted clemency to the FALN (Armed Forces of National Liberation) terrorists.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Prohibits the United States from operating a U.S. consulate in Jerusalem unless it is under the supervision of the U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Requires any official U.S. Government document which lists countries and their capital cities to identify Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Declares that, for purposes of registration of birth, certification of nationality, or issuance of a passport of a U.S. citizen born in the city of Jerusalem, the Secretary of State shall, upon the citizen's request, record the place of birth as Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Policyholder Disaster Protection Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the creation of disaster protection funds by property and casualty insurance companies for the payment of policyholders' claims arising from certain catastrophic events.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: H-1B Nonimmigrant Workers Title II: Elimination of Earnings Penalty on Senior Citizens New Workers for Economic Growth Act - Title I: H-1B Nonimmigrant Workers - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase the permitted number of H-1B temporary worker and trainee visas for FY 2000 through 2002. Excludes from such limitation aliens with: (1) specified higher degrees and salaries; and (2) at least a bachelor's degree and a job or job offer at an institution of higher education (excludes such aliens from certain labor attestation requirements). Title II: Elimination of Earnings Penalty on Senior Citizens - Amends the Social Security Act to eliminate the reduction in Social Security benefits for individuals under 70 years old whose earnings exceed specified annual limits.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1999
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize spouses of intracompany transferee aliens to work in the United States if their country extends reciprocal treatment to U.S. citizens and nationals.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1999
Provides that the House of Representatives and the Senate shall not adjourn for a period in excess of three days or adjourn sine die until both Houses of Congress have adopted a concurrent resolution providing either for an adjournment (in excess of three days) to a day certain or for adjournment sine die.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1999
Access to Medical Treatment Act - Defines: (1) "danger" as an adverse reaction to an unapproved drug or medical device that causes serious harm, would not otherwise have occurred, and is more serious than contraindications for drugs or devices approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration for the same disease or condition; and (2) other terms as used in this Act including, "unapproved drug or medical device." (Sec. 4) Allows, notwithstanding any other provision of Federal law, a patient to receive and a health care practitioner to provide any unapproved drug or device the patient desires if it is: (1) recommended by a practitioner (within that practitioner's scope of practice); (2) not a violation of State law; and (3) the practitioner abides with all recommendation requirements. Sets forth the recommendation requirements, including that the practitioner: (1) does not violate the Controlled Substances Act; (2) has informed the patient of certain matters, including that the drug or device is unapproved and experimental; and (3) does not impose a charge for the drug or device in excess of costs. Prohibits the practitioner from making any advertising claims for the drug or device, but allows dissemination of information on the results of the practitioner's use of the drug or device so long as: (1) the practitioner does not offer to sell the drug or device in connection with the dissemination; or (2) the claims are permitted under provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) relating to misbranded food and to dietary supplement labeling. (Sec. 5) Requires a practitioner who discovers that an unapproved drug or device creates a danger to a patient to immediately cease use and recommendation of the unapproved drug or device and provide specified information to the drug's or device's manufacturer. Requires the manufacturer that receives the information to: (1) immediately cease sale and distribution of the drug or device; (2) notify all practitioners to whom the drug or device has been provided; (3) report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Directs the Secretary, on receiving the report from the manufacturer, to promptly disseminate information on the danger to all practitioners in the United States, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and agencies of States having responsibility for regulating unsafe or adulterated drugs and devices. Requires the manufacturer to investigate to determine the actual cause of the danger and take specified actions depending on the outcome of that investigation. (Sec. 6) Requires a practitioner who discovers that an unapproved drug or device used in the treatment of a life threatening condition produces results that are significantly more beneficial than results from approved drugs or devices for that condition to provide specified information to the drug's or device's manufacturer. Requires that manufacturer to provide information to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Requires the Center to annually report to Congress on beneficial results and make the report available to the public. (Sec. 7) Declares that this Act does not: (1) have any effect on FDCA provisions regarding pharmacy compounding; and (2) supersede any State or political subdivision law. (Sec. 8) Authorizes a practitioner, in conformity with this Act, to take certain actions regarding an unapproved drug or device and interstate commerce. (Sec. 9) Requires that a practitioner found to have knowingly violated this Act be denied coverage under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1999
Sets forth the rule (closed) for the consideration of a concurrent resolution waiving the requirement of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 that the Congress adjourn sine die not later than July 31, 1999.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1999
Realistic Tests for Realistic Threats National Security Act of 1999 - Requires the Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization of the Department of Defense to: (1) conduct, no later than September 30, 2001, at least one intercept test of the Navy Theater-Wide defense system and the Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system against target missiles with velocities of not less than the maximum velocity of the Taepo Dong I missile of North Korea; (2) take immediate steps to modify plans for managing the development of such systems to meet such deadline. Urges the Director, in order to improve the likelihood that the tests are successful, to review changes in the configuration of the systems to: (1) increase the speed of their interceptor missiles to well in excess of three kilometers-per-second; and (2) allow such missiles to receive and use targeting data provided by a variety of external sensors.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1999
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 for the construction of a U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, Israel. Prohibits the United States from operating a U.S. consulate in Jerusalem unless it is under the supervision of the U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Requires any official U.S. Government document which lists countries and their capital cities to identify Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Declares that, for purposes of registration of birth, certification of nationality, or issuance of a passport of a U.S. citizen born in the city of Jerusalem, the Secretary of State shall, upon the citizen's request, record the place of birth as Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1999
Designates the U.S. Post Office building located at 3101 West Sunflower Avenue in Santa Ana, California, as the Hector G. Godinez Post Office Building.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1999
Eastern Santa Clara Basin Water Quality Act - Establishes in the Treasury an Eastern Santa Clara Basin Restoration Fund to be administered by the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, in cooperation with the city of Santa Clarita, California, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the Castaic Lake Water Agency. Requires that the proceeds from such Fund be used for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of water quality projects that: (1) are related to sites that are sources of perchlorates or any associated contaminants; (2) are located in Santa Clarita; and (3) potentially affect the Eastern Santa Clara groundwater basin. Authorizes appropriations for such Fund. Authorizes the Secretary to accept and administer in cooperation with Santa Clarita, the Department, and the Agency any funds which the State of California, local government agencies, or private entities may contribute to such Fund. Requires the Secretary to integrate the water projects with other Federal and State water projects in and around the Eastern Santa Clara groundwater basin. Prohibits counting any of the funds made available for such projects as part of the Federal share of any previously authorized Federal project or activity. Authorizes the Secretary, in cooperation with State and local government agencies, to participate in studies and other investigative activities and in the planning and design of projects that offer a long-term solution to groundwater contamination caused by perchlorates. Authorizes appropriations and provides that no less than $2 million per fiscal year of such appropriated amounts shall be for projects located in Santa Clarita conducted in cooperation with the Agency.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1999
Expresses that the House of Representatives: (1) condemns the crimes that occurred in Sacramento, California, at Congregation B'Nai Israel, Congregation Beth Shalom, and Kenesset Israel Torah Center on June 18, 1999; (2) interprets such attacks as an attack on all Americans; (3) is committed to using Federal law enforcement personnel and resources to bring the persons who committed these attacks to justice; (4) recognizes the residents of the Sacramento, California, area who have so quickly joined together to lend support and assistance to the victims and who remain committed to preserving the freedom of religion of all members of the community; and (5) calls upon all Americans to categorically reject similar crimes of hate and intolerance.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1999
Fair Care for the Uninsured Act of 1999 - Title I: Refundable Credit for Health Insurance Coverage - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual a tax credit in an amount equal to the amount paid for qualified health insurance, subject to stated limitations. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make payments to the provider of an individual's qualified health insurance equal to such individual's qualified health insurance credit advance amount (the Secretary's estimate of the amount of credit allowable) with respect to such provider. Title II: Study of Safety-Net Health Insurance Programs for the Medically Uninsurable - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a study on the current state of all existing State safety-net health insurance programs.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
American Values Tax Savings Plan for the 21st Century - Title I: Marriage Penalty Relief - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the standard deduction for married individuals shall be twice the deduction for unmarried individuals. Eliminates the marriage penalty in individual income tax rates. Title II: Phaseout of Estate and Gift Taxes - Provides for the phaseout of the estate and gift taxes. Title III: Phaseout of Alternative Minimum Tax for All Taxpayers - Provides for the phaseout of the alternative minimum tax. Title IV: Reduction in Individual Capital Gain Tax Rates - Reduces individual capital gain tax rates. Title V: Increased Incentives for Retirement Savings - Increases and indexes the IRA contribution limit. Increases the income limitation applicable to conversions. Title VI: Incentives for Health Insurance Coverage - Provides for the deduction of 100 percent of the health insurance costs of the self-employed. Permits the carryover of unused benefits from cafeteria and flexible spending arrangements. Title VII: Incentives for Education - Excludes from gross income education distributions from qualified State tuition plans. Expands such plans to include eligible educational institutions. Title VIII: Repeal of Telephone Excise Tax - Provides for the phaseout of the telephone excise tax. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal Communications Commission E-rate discount program for schools and libraries should be terminated. Title IX: Extension of Expiring Provisions - Provides extensions for the: (1) credit for increasing research activities; (2) work opportunity credit; and (3) subpart F exemption for active income financing. Title X: Pay-Go Reform - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to set forth pay-as-you-go provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1999
Increases from 50 to 100 percent the amount of gain excluded from the sale of certain small business stock. Reduces from five to three years the holding period applicable to such a sale. Makes such exclusion available to corporations. Makes the stock of larger businesses eligible. Repeals the minimum tax preference for the exclusion for incentive stock options.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1999
History of the House Awareness and Preservation Act - Directs the Librarian of Congress to: (1) prepare a new and complete written history of the U.S. House of Representatives; (2) in preparing the history, consult, commission, or engage the services or participation of eminent historians and Members or former Members of the House; (3) arrange for the printing of the history and the dissemination of excerpts of the history over the Internet; (4) make the history available for sale to the public; and (5) make available, free of charge, a limited number of copies to each Member of the House of Representatives and to the Senate. Sets forth guidelines for the history. Authorizes the Librarian to solicit and accept private funding for the publication, marketing, and public distribution of the history. Directs the Librarian to accept for deposit, preserve, maintain, and make accessible, an oral history of the House as told by its Members and former Members, compiled and updated (on a voluntary or contract basis) by the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress or other outside organization. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) orientation programs for freshman Members of the House should contain a seminar on the history of the House; and (2) the Speaker of the House should conduct a series of forums on the topic of such history.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1999
Academic Achievement for All Act (Straight A's Act) - Allows States flexibility in combining and using use specified Federal elementary and secondary education formula program funds for State education priorities and programs, in exchange for being held accountable for meeting, in a five- year period, certain performance goals which they propose. (Sec. 3) Allows a State to opt to enter into such a performance agreement with the Secretary of Education, under which provisions of law relating to specified eligible programs shall not apply to the State, with certain exceptions. Includes under the terms of such agreements requirements relating to: (1) use of such funds to improve student achievement; (2) an accountability system; (3) performance goals and measures, and student achievement data; (4) fiscal responsibilities; (5) civil rights; (6) private school student and staff participation; (7) State financial participation; and (8) annual reports. (Sec. 4) Lists such eligible programs, under various provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), the Department of Education Appropriations Act of 1999, the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, and the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. (Sec. 5) Sets forth requirements relating to: (1) within-State distribution of funds; (2) local participation; and (3) a set-aside for State administrative expenditures. (Sec. 8) Requires performance reviews at the end of the five-year period. Requires reductions of State administrative funds for States that have made little or no progress. Allows States that have met at least 80 percent of their performance goals to apply for renewal of performance agreements for an additional five-year period. (Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary annually to set aside sufficient funds from the Fund for the Improvement of Education under ESEA to grant achievement gap reduction rewards to States. Requires a performance reward to equal at least five percent of funds allocated to the State during the first year of the performance agreement for programs included in the agreement. Makes a State eligible to receive a reward if, over the five-year term of the performance agreement, it reduces by at least 25 percent the difference between the percentage of highest and lowest performing groups of students that meet the State's definition of proficient, with such reduction occurring in at least: (1) two content areas, one of which must be mathematics or reading; and (2) one grade level.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1999
Sets forth the rule (modified closed) for the consideration of H.R. 1501 ( consequences for juvenile offenders) and H.R. 2122 (mandatory background checks at gun shows). Requires the Clerk of the House of Representatives, in the engrossment of H.R. 1501, to: (1) await the disposition of H.R. 2122; (2) add the text of H.R. 2122, as passed by the House, as new matter at the end of H.R. 1501; (3) conform the title of H.R. 1501 to reflect the addition of the text of H.R. 2122 to the engrossment; (4) assign appropriate designations to provisions within the engrossment; and (5) conform provisions for short titles within the engrossment. Lays H.R. 2122 on the table upon the addition of its text to the engrossment of H.R. 1501.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1999
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act - Amends the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to authorize appropriations for FY 2000 through 2004 for research and development activities of the following departments and agencies in connection with the High-Performance Computing Program (establishing goals and priorities for, and engaging in, Federal high-performance computing research, development, networking, and related activities): (1) the National Science Foundation (NSF); (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (3) the Department of Energy; (4) the National Institute of Standards and Technology; (5) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and (6) the Environmental Protection Agency. Earmarks specified amounts of such authorized funds for: (1) long-term basic research on networking and information technology, including grants for information technology research centers; (2) grants for the development of major research equipment; and (3) information technology internship grants. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 and 2002 for support by such departments and agencies of the Next Generation Internet Program (research, development, and demonstration of advanced networking technologies to increase Internet capabilities and performance). Requires a previously-established advisory committee on high-performance computing to: (1) conduct periodic evaluations of high-performance computing and networking and information technology research and development programs; and (2) report at least once every two fiscal years to specified congressional committees on its findings and recommendations. Directs the NSF to study and report to Congress comparing the availability of encryption technologies in foreign countries to such technologies subject to export restrictions in the United States. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent a credit allowed for increased research activities as compared to the prior taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1999
Tax Relief for Working Americans Act of 1999 - Title I: Marriage Penalty Relief - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set the basic standard deduction for married individuals at twice the deduction for unmarried individuals. Title II: Adjustment of Social Security Earning Limit - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to increase, for any taxable year ending after 1999 and before 2001, the monthly exempt amount for individuals who have attained retirement age. Title III: Incentives for Health and Long-Term Care Coverage - Provides a limited credit for the insurance costs of health and long-term care coverage for previously uninsured individuals and individuals with COBRA continuation coverage. Phases-in a deduction for the health insurance and long-term insurance costs of employees and the self-employed. Allows a limited credit for taxpayers with long-term care needs. Title IV: Expansion of Dependent Care Credit - Increases the percentage of employment-related expenses allowed as a credit. Establishes a limited credit for certain stay-at-home parents. Title V: Alternative Minimum Tax Relief - Provides that the aggregate amount of credits allowed under subpart A (Nonrefundable Personal Credits) of part IV (Credits Against Tax) of the Code shall not exceed the sum of a taxpayer's regular tax liability and the alternative minimum tax. Provides that income averaging for farmers shall not increase alternative minimum tax liability. Title VI: Elimination of 60-Month limit on Student Loan Interest Deduction - Eliminates the 60-month limit on the student loan interest deduction. Title VII: Increase in Low-Income Housing Credit State Ceiling - Increases, and links to the cost-of-living adjustment, the State low-income housing credit ceiling. Title VIII: Farm and Ranch Risk Management Accounts - Allows an individual engaged in an eligible farming (or ranching) business a deduction (in computing adjusted gross income) for any taxable year of up to 20 percent of taxable income attributable to the eligible farming business which was paid in cash by the taxpayer to a Farm and Ranch Risk Management Account (FARRM Account). Includes distributions from a FARRM account in the taxpayer's gross income, and subjects to a special ten percent surtax any distributions not made within five years of contribution. Establishes a tax on excess contributions, but exempts the taxpayer from the tax on certain prohibited transactions. Title IX: Incentives for Urban Revitalization and Open Space - Expands the areas eligible for the expensing of environmental remediation costs from qualified contamination sites within targeted areas only to qualified contamination sites anywhere within the United States. Sets forth provisions concerning the donation of capital gain real property for qualified conservation purposes. Title X: Extension of Expiring Provisions - Permanently extends the: (1) credit for increasing research activities; (2) work opportunity credit; and (3) subpart F exemption for active income financing. Modifies the placed-in-service rules for qualified facilities producing electricity from certain renewable sources. Makes the credit allowed for such production inapplicable to electricity sold to utilities under certain contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Fair Access to Indemnity and Reimbursement Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act to allow the recovery of attorney's fees and costs by certain employers and labor organizations which are prevailing parties in administrative or court proceedings brought by or against the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), or by or against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) through the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Requires that such employers or labor organizations have not more than 100 employees and a net worth of not more than $7 million at the time of such proceedings. Provides for such recovery without regard to whether the position of the NLRB, the Secretary of Labor (for OSHA), or the United States was substantially justified or special circumstances make an award unjust.
![Official portrait of Rep. Dreier, David [R-CA-26]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000492_200.jpg)