United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1999
Tax Simplification and Burden Reduction Act - Title I: Alternative Minimum Tax - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the alternative minimum tax to: (1) provide a nonrefundable personal credit; (2) provide an income-based personal exemption; and (3) increase the gross receipts exemption for small corporations. Title II: Provisions Relating to Individuals - Amends the Code to provide itemizing and nonitemizing individuals with a 50 percent capital gains deduction. Sets forth: (1) a capital gains tax rate; and (2) an estate deduction computation. Repeals the tax preference on small business stock exclusions. Treats the gain or loss from all sales of collectibles, including certain partnership-related items, as a short-term capital gain or loss if used in computing taxable income. (Sec. 202) Permits a deduction in the year paid for residential refinancing points (to the extent such refinancing does not exceed the amount of refinanced indebtedness). (Sec. 203) Increases the exclusion for employee group term life insurance. (Sec. 204) Repeals: (1) the percentage limitation on contributions to defined contribution plans; and (2) the use of graduated percentage of preceding year's tax in determining certain taxpayer's estimated tax installments. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to study the rationale for and simplification of head of household and surviving spouse filing statuses. Title III: Provisions Relating to Businesses - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Amends the Code to permit expensing (rather than depreciating) of: (1) certain computer software; and (2) personal property used in rental property. (Sec. 302) Prohibits qualified personal service corporations in C corporation or in partnership with a C corporation formats from using the cash method of accounting. Increases the gross receipts cap permitting a corporation or partnership to use the cash method of accounting. (Sec. 303) Extends the gross receipts exception to inventory cost capitalization rules to real or tangible ( including books, films, sound recordings, or video tapes) property produced by a taxpayer, with a gross receipts-based exception for certain taxpayers. Subtitle B: S Corporations - Repeals the limitation on the number of S corporation shareholders. Makes a publicly traded corporation ineligible for S corporation status. (Sec. 312) Permits S corporations to issue qualified preferred stock. (Sec. 313) Extends the S corporation election date to the tax return filing date. Title IV: Provisions Relating to Information Reporting and Filing - Amends the Code to increase the reporting threshold for dividend and interest payments. (Sec. 402) Treats the postmark date as the filing date for all filings. (Sec. 403) Revises specified record keeping provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the patronage dividends of cooperatives shall not be reduced by stock dividends to the extent the stock dividends are in addition to amounts otherwise payable.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1999
Health Care Worker Needlestick Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to amend the bloodborne pathogens standard to require that: (1) employers utilize needleless systems and sharps with engineered sharps injury protections in their work sites to prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens; and (2) non-managerial direct care health care workers of employers participate in the identification and evaluation of such systems and sharps. Provides an exemption where an employer demonstrates that needleless systems and sharps: (1) do not promote employee safety, interfere with patient safety, or interfere with the success of a medical procedure under certain circumstances in the employer's work facility; or (2) are not commercially available to the employer. (Sec. 2) Includes under such revised standard requirements relating to: (1) exposure control plans; (2) sharps injury logs; and (3) worker training in the use of such systems and sharps. (Sec. 3) Requires the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to establish and maintain a national database on existing needleless systems and sharps with engineered sharps injury protections. Requires the Director to: (1) develop a set of evaluation criteria for use by employers, employees, and other persons in evaluating and selecting such systems and sharps; (2) develop a model training curriculum to train employers, employees, and other persons in such evaluation process, and provide requested technical assistance to the extent feasible; and (3) establish a national system to collect comprehensive data on needlestick injuries to health care workers, including data on mechanisms to analyze and evaluate prevention. Authorizes NIOSH access to information recorded by employers in sharps injury logs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to require hospitals, as a condition of their Medicare program participation, to comply with the bloodborne pathogen standard as amended under this Act with respect to hospital employees, even if they are not otherwise subject to such standard because they are exempt from OSHA regulation.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1999
Savings Advancement and Enhancement (SAVE) Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from income, for an individual, a limited amount of dividends and interest.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1999
Disapproves the rule submitted by the U.S. Postal Service relating to delivery of mail to a commercial mail receiving agency (as published in the Federal Register on March 25, 1999). Declares that such rule shall have no force or effect.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1999
Stalking Prevention and Victim Protection Act of 1999 - 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. Deems a person to be stalking 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 · 19 May 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Soft Money and Contributions and Expenditures of Political Parties Title II: Indexing Contribution Limits Title III: Expanding Disclosure of Campaign Finance Information Title IV: Effective Date Campaign Integrity Act of 1999 - Title I: Soft Money and Contributions and Expenditures of Political Parties - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to prohibit any national committee of a political party, including the national congressional campaign committees of a political party, and any party committee officers or agents, from soliciting, receiving, or directing any contributions, donations, or transfers of funds, or spending any funds, which are not subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of such Act. Declares that no candidate for Federal office, individual holding Federal office, or any agent of such candidate or officeholder may solicit, receive, or direct: (1) any funds in connection with any Federal election unless they are subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of such Act; (2) any funds that are to be expended in connection with any non-Federal election unless they are not in excess of the amounts permitted contributions to Federal candidates and political committees, and are not from prohibited sources; or (3) any funds on behalf of any person which are not subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of such Act if such funds are for the purpose of financing any activity on behalf of a candidate for election to Federal office or any communication which refers to a clearly identified candidate for election to Federal office. Exempts from the prohibitions of this Act: (1) the solicitation or receipt of funds by a candidate for a non-Federal office if such activity is permitted under State law; or (2) the attendance by a Federal office-holder or a candidate for election to Federal office at a fundraising event for a State or local committee of a political party of the State which the individual represents or seeks to represent as a Federal officeholder, if the event is held in that State. Prohibits a State committee of a political party from transferring any funds to a State committee of a political party of another State, except according to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of such Act. (Sec. 102) Increases the aggregate annual limit on contributions by individuals to political parties from $20,000 to $25,000. (Sec. 103) Repeals limitations on the amount of coordinated expenditures by the national and State committees of political parties. (Sec. 104) Increases from $15,000 to $20,000 the limit on contributions by multicandidate political committees (PACs) to national political parties. Title II: Indexing Contribution Limits - Amends FECA to mandate indexing of contribution limits, according to a specified formula involving the Consumer Price Index, beginning calendar 2001. Title III: Expanding Disclosure of Campaign Finance Information - Prescribes reporting requirements for expenditures for radio or television broadcast communications regarding a candidate for the Senate or the House of Representatives. Applies such requirements to any person who expends an aggregate amount of more than $25,000 during a calendar year for such communications relating to a single candidate for election to Federal office (or an aggregate amount of more than $100,000 during a calendar year for all such communications relating to all such candidates). Establishes civil fines for violations of such requirements. (Sec. 302) Amends FECA to require the principal campaign committees of candidates for the Senate or the House, and all political committees other than authorized committees of such a candidate, to file monthly reports (instead of quarterly reports, as currently), by specified deadlines. (Sec. 303) Directs the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to require electronic filing of campaign finance reports, unless the aggregate amount of contributions or expenditures (as the case may be) reported by the committee in all reports filed with respect to the election involved (taking into account the period covered by the report) is less than $50,000. Requires the FEC to make available without charge a standardized package of software to enable persons filing reports by electronic means to meet such requirements. (Sec. 304) Revises the waiver of strict compliance with FECA reporting requirements where a political committee's treasurer shows that best efforts have been used to obtain, maintain, and submit the information required. Denies such a waiver with respect to information regarding the occupation or the name of the employer of any individual who makes a contribution or contributions aggregating more than $200 during a calendar year. Title IV: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1999
Amends the Clean Air Act to incorporate specified provisions of transportation conformity regulations (regulations to determine conformity of Federal transportation programs with Federal and State implementation plans) as in effect on March 1, 1999.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1999
Mother Teresa Religious Worker Act of 1999 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide permanent authority for U.S. special immigrant entry by certain religious workers.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1999
Taiwan Security Enhancement Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments should make every effort to reserve additional positions for Taiwan military officers at the National Defense University and specified other professional military education schools, and at the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should, when considering foreign military sales to Taiwan, to take into account Taiwan's special status and make every effort to ensure it has full and timely access to price and availability data for defense articles and defense services. Directs the President, upon the request of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, to use Department of Defense (DOD) funds for the assignment of additional technical staff to the American Institute in Taiwan. Directs the President to report annually to Congress with respect to Taiwan's defense needs. Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan for the enhancement of programs for operational training and exchanges of personnel between U.S. armed forces and Taiwanese armed forces for work in threat analysis, doctrine, force planning, operational methods, and other areas. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish secure direct communications between the U.S. Pacific military command and the Taiwan military command. Authorizes the President, subject to the Arms Export Control Act, to make available for sale to Taiwan, at reasonable cost, theater missile defense equipment and related items, satellite early warning data, modern air-defense equipment, and naval defense systems.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1999
Living Organ Donation Incentives Act of 1999 - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and Federal civil service law to allow unpaid leave for living organ donations for civilian and Federal employees. Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants or contracts to States, transplant centers, qualified organ procurement organizations, or other public and private entities to provide for payment of travel and related organ donation expenses. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary to increase by 2.9 percent each composite rate payment for Medical renal dialysis services. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1999
Medicare Rehabilitation Benefit Improvement Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide certain Medicare beneficiaries with an exemption to the financial limitations imposed on physical, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy services under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance). Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study of specified effects of this Act for a report to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1999
Sugar Program Reform Act - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act with respect to the sugar program to: (1) reduce sugarcane loan rates through crop year 2002; (2) revise the sugar beet loan rate; (3) eliminate nonrecourse loans; and (4) eliminate sugar price supports after crop year 2002. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to repeal sugar and crystalline fructose marketing quota and allotment provisions. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985, beginning after the 1998- 1999 quota year, to direct the President to use all available authority to ensure that U.S. market raw sugar shall be available at not more than the higher of the world sugar price or the U.S. loan rate.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1999
Access to Thermal Imaging Cameras Act - Authorizes the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make competitive grants to fire departments for the purpose of acquiring thermal imaging cameras. Requires the non-Federal share of acquisition costs to be 33 percent. Authorizes appropriations. Declares the sense of Congress that any funds appropriated to FEMA for this purpose should be offset with corresponding reductions in funds appropriated to carry out other Federal programs.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1999
Government Waste Corrections Act of 1999 - Requires each Federal executive agency to: (1) conduct recovery audits with respect to each payment activity of the agency that expends $10 million or more annually (permits an agency to conduct such audits for any other payment activity); (2) give priority to the most recent payments; and (3) implement such recovery audit requirement in a manner ensuring the greatest financial benefit to the Government. Permits agencies to conduct such audits directly, by procuring performance of such audits by contract, or by any combination thereof. Sets forth agency authorities with respect to recovery audits procured by contract. Provides for agencies to include in such contracts a requirement that the contractor: (1) provide reports on conditions giving rise to overpayments and recommendations on how to mitigate such conditions; and (2) notify the agency of any overpayments. Allows the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to exempt any agency payment activity if conducting recovery audits for that activity would not be practical or cost-effective. Requires the Director to designate no fewer than five recovery audit model programs for the purpose of stimulating and enhancing recovery audits in the Federal Government by developing best practices and otherwise identifying ways to make recovery audits more effective, ensuring that such programs complement, and in no way preempt or delay, other Federal recovery audit activities. Requires such programs to: (1) reflect a representative range of executive agencies, program activities, and payment practices; and (2) continue for at least one year. Sets forth provisions for the disposition of amounts collected by agencies through recovery audits. Directs each agency to conduct a management improvement program consistent with rules prescribed by the Director. Requires the agency, as the first priority of the program, to address problems that contribute directly to agency overpayments. Permits the agency to seek to reduce errors and waste in other executive programs and operations by improving its staff capacity, information technology, and financial management. Permits an agency to pay cash awards to the agency's career employees who have made extraordinary contributions to improving the agency's operations in a way that reduces waste and error. Requires the Director to coordinate and oversee the implementation of this Act, issue rules, provide support to agencies in implementing this Act, and submit three annual reports on this Act's implementation to the President, the House Committee on Government Reform, the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, and the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Requires the Comptroller General, after the issuance of each such report, to report on this Act's implementation to such Government officials.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1999
Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1999 - Amends the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 to: (1) repeal certain State law requirements under the extended unemployment compensation benefit program; (2) establish certain mandatory triggers based on total unemployment; (3) revise requirements for supplemental benefits during high unemployment periods; and (4) modify provisions for alternative triggers that States may establish. Amends title IX (Employment Security Administrative Financing) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to modify the ceiling on the Federal Unemployment Account. Provides for special distributions of funds to the States under SSA title IX. Directs the Secretary of Labor to reserve specified amounts for grants to States to assist in implementing alternative base periods for determining the eligibility of claimants for unemployment compensation. Requires States to achieve or make substantial progress toward achieving certain solvency targets for their unemployment compensation accounts. Directs the Secretary to transfer to other States' accounts the amount that would otherwise be transferred to the account of a State that violates such requirement under SSA title IX. Revises SSA title IX requirements for distribution to States of certain excess amounts in the Employment Security Administration Account as of the close of FY 2002. Amends the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act to extend the self-employment assistance program. Amends the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) under the Internal Revenue Code to set forth requirements for treatment of short-time compensation programs.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1999
Clinical Research Enhancement Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to: (1) support and expand the NIH's involvement in clinical research; (2) support and expand the resources available for the clinical research community; and (3) establish peer review mechanisms. (Sec. 4) Mandates grants to: (1) establish general clinical research centers to provide the infrastructure for clinical research, including clinical research training and career enhancement; (2) support individual careers in clinical research at general clinical research centers or other institutions (to be known as Mentor Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Awards); (3) support individual clinical research projects at general clinical research centers or other institutions (to be known as Mid-Career Investigator Awards in Patient-Oriented Research); and (4) support individuals pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in clinical investigation (to be known as graduate training in clinical investigation awards). Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 5) Increases the limit on the aggregate number of scholarship (regarding professions needed by the NIH) and loan repayment (regarding clinical researchers from disadvantaged backgrounds) contracts under specified provisions. Modifies the loan repayment program to: (1) remove current references to disadvantaged backgrounds; and (2) require a period of service in a general clinical research center, in clinical NIH research, or as a physician receiving a clinical research career enhancement award or a graduate training in clinical investigation award (currently, a period of service as an NIH employee). Requires that at least 50 percent of the loan repayment contracts involve individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the loan repayment provisions. (Sec. 7) Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the extent to which the NIH has complied with requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1999
Authorizes the Pyramid of Remembrance Foundation to establish a memorial in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor members of the U.S. armed forces who have lost their lives during peacekeeping operations, humanitarian efforts, training, terrorist attacks, or covert operations. Prohibits the use of Federal funds in establishing such memorial, except as provided by the Commemorative Works Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1999
Federal Law Enforcement Animal Protection Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit, and set penalties for, willfully harming a police animal, or attempting or conspiring to do so. (Defines a "police animal" as a dog or horse employed by a Federal agency for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection of criminal activity, enforcement of laws, or apprehension of criminal offenders.)
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1999
Nazi Benefits Termination Act of 1999 - Denies Federal public benefits to individuals who have been participants in Nazi persecution. Authorizes the Attorney General, if an individual who has applied for or is receiving a Federal public benefit may have been such a participant, to provide an opportunity for a hearing on the record with respect to the matter. Allows the Attorney General to delegate the conduct of the hearing to an immigration judge. Describes hearing procedures under this Act. Requires an immigration judge who finds that the respondent has been a participant in Nazi persecution to: (1) promptly issue an order declaring the respondent to be ineligible for any Federal public benefit and prohibiting any person from providing such a benefit to the respondent; and (2) transmit a copy of the order to any governmental entity or person known to be so providing such a benefit. Authorizes the Attorney General to review any finding or conclusion made, or order issued, and to complete the review within a specified period, or the finding, conclusion, or order shall be final. Allows any party aggrieved by a final order issued under this Act to obtain judicial review of the order by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Estuary Habitat Restoration Title II: Chesapeake Bay Program Estuary Habitat Restoration Partnership Act of 1999 - Title I: Estuary Habitat Restoration - Establishes the Estuary Habitat Restoration Council (Council), which shall: (1) develop a national strategy for estuary habitat restoration; and (2) review project applications. (Sec. 105) Establishes six Regional Councils to represent the: (1) Gulf region; (2) Middle Atlantic region; (3) Northeast region; (4) Northwest region; (5) Southeast region; and (6) Southwest region. States that such Councils shall: (1) be made up of the Governors and their appointees for each member State; (2) develop regional strategies for project prioritization and selection; and (3) evaluate and forward project applications to the Council. Directs the Secretary of the Army to coordinate technical support and provide, upon request, administrative support to the Councils. (Sec. 106) Directs the Council to develop an estuary restoration strategy within a specified time which shall provide for the integration of estuary restoration plans, programs, and partnerships. (Sec. 107) Sets forth project application and administrative provisions, including Federal cost-sharing limits. (Sec. 109) Directs the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department of Commerce to develop a project monitoring database. (Sec. 110) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) estuary restoration activities; and (2) database monitoring. Obligates administrative funds for the Council and Regional Councils. Title II: Chesapeake Bay Program - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for the Chesapeake Bay Program, with an annual limitation on funds available for the Program office in the Environmental Protection Agency.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Removal of Barriers to Housing Affordability Title II: Homeownership Through Mortgage Insurance and Loan Guarantees Title III: Section 8 Homeownership Option Title IV: Community Development Block Grants Title V: Home Investment Partnerships Program Title VI: Local Homeownership Initiatives Title VII: Manufactured Housing Improvement Title VIII: Indian Housing Homeownership Title IX: Transfer of Unoccupied and Substandard Hud-Held Housing to Local Governments and Community Development Corporations Title X: Private Mortgage Insurance Cancellation and Termination American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 1999 - Title I: Removal of Barriers to Housing Affordability - Housing Affordability Barrier Removal Act of 1999 - Requires proposed and final agency rules to analyze their impact upon affordable housing availability, including provision for interested parties to offer alternatives, which shall be incorporated into the final rule if found to accomplish required objectives with a less deleterious effect upon housing. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop model housing impact analyses. (Sec. 103) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to authorize direct appropriations for State and local grants for regulatory barrier removal. Makes consortia of local governments eligible grantees. Requires grant use in coordination with the local comprehensive affordability strategy under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. (Sec. 104) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to require jurisdictions to make good faith efforts at affordable housing barrier removal in order to qualify for community development block grants (CDBG) (without creating a private right of action). (Sec. 105) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to state that the regulatory barriers clearinghouse shall be established within the Office of Policy Development of HUD under the direction of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. Title II: Homeownership Through Mortgage Insurance and Loan Guarantees - Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study of mandatory inspection requirements under the single family housing mortgage insurance program. (Sec. 202) Amends the National Housing Act to extend the loan term for manufactured home lot purchases. (Sec. 203) Neighborhood Teachers Act - Amends the National Housing Act to establish a (temporary) discounted home purchase program for elementary and secondary teachers. Sets forth program provisions, including a three-year residential use requirement. (Sec. 204) Authorizes mortgage insurance to refinance existing home equity conversion mortgages. Title III: Section 8 Homeownership Option - Amends the United States Housing Act to provide a single grant home ownership downpayment option under the section 8 housing assistance program. Title IV: Community Development Block Grants - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for the CDBG program. Prohibits set-asides, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 403) Authorizes block grant use for: (1) qualifying municipal employee (including teachers) home ownership assistance; and (2) brownfields projects environmental cleanup and economic development. (Sec. 405) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to authorize appropriations for the housing opportunities for persons with AIDS program. Title V: Home Investment Partnerships Program - Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to authorize appropriations for affordable housing programs. Prohibits set-asides, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 502) Makes limited equity cooperatives and mutual housing associations eligible for home investment partnerships. (Sec. 503) Permits loan pool investment of partnership funds. (Sec. 504) Authorizes the Secretary to make home investment partnerships loan guarantees. Sets forth an aggregate loan guarantee limitation. (Sec. 505) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to make qualifying municipal employees (including teachers) eligible for home ownership assistance. Title VI: Local Homeownership Initiatives - Amends the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Act to authorize appropriations for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation. (Sec. 602) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to revise the home ownership zone grant program, including providing: (1) grant eligibility for units of general local government (currently nonprofit organizations); and (2) assistance targeting for specified low-income home buyers. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 603) Expresses the sense of Congress in favor of lease-to-own tenancies as home ownership tools. (Sec. 604) Amends the HUD Demonstration Act of 1993 to make the National Association of Housing Partnerships eligible for local capacity grants. Removes the specified amount of authorized appropriations. (Sec. 605) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to provide for a consolidated application and planning submission under the following programs: (1) HOME investment partnerships; (2) CDBG; (3) the economic development initiative; (4) emergency shelter grants; and (5) housing opportunities for persons with AIDS. Title VII: Manufactured Housing Improvement - Manufactured Housing Improvement Act - Amends the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 to revise Federal construction and safety provisions for manufactured homes based upon a consensus standards development process. Eliminates the National Manufactured Home Advisory Council. Title VIII: Indian Housing Homeownership - Establishes the Lands Title Report Commission to facilitate home loan Mortgages on Indian trust lands. Terminates the Commission one year after its initial meeting. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 802) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to make permanent Indian housing loan guarantee authority. Title IX: Transfer of Unoccupied and Substandard HUD-Held Housing to Local Governments and Community Development Corporations - Amends the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to transfer ownership of qualified HUD-held properties (substandard or unoccupied multifamily or unoccupied single family properties) to local governments and community development corporations under specified conditions. Title X: Private Mortgage Insurance Cancellation and Termination - Amends the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 with respect to adjustable rate mortgages to: (1) revise definitions of "cancellation date" and "termination date"; (2) define "amortization schedule"; and (3) revise high risk loan provisions. (Sec. 1002) Authorizes modifications of termination, cancellation, and final termination date provisions. (Sec. 1003) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) disclosure; and (2) balloon payments.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1999
Emergency Ambulance Services Access Assurance Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require a group health plan, or coverage offered in connection with a health insurance issuer, if it provides emergency services coverage, to cover emergency services (and, if it provides coverage for emergency ambulance services, to cover emergency ambulance services): (1) without a prior authorization requirement; (2) whether or not the provider is a participating provider; (3) in a manner so that, if the services are provided by a nonparticipating provider without prior authorization, the participant, beneficiary, or enrollee is not liable for amounts exceeding the amount that would be incurred with a participating provider with authorization; and (4) without regard to most other conditions of coverage. Defines "emergency medical condition" by a prudent layperson standard. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to apply the same requirements and standard to a group health plan. Amends the Public Health Service Act to apply the same requirements to an issuer in the individual market.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1999
Conduit Contribution Prevention Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to increase civil money and criminal penalties for knowing and willful violations of the prohibition against making or accepting contributions in the name of another. Sets both civil and criminal fines at not less than 300 percent of the amount involved in the violation and not more than the greater of $50,000 or 1,000 percent of such amount. Mandates a criminal fine or two years' imprisonment, or both. Limits criminal penalties to violations involving an amount aggregating $1,000 or more during a calendar year. Changes from discretionary to mandatory the authority of the Federal Election Commission to refer to the Attorney General any instance of probable cause that a violation of such prohibition has occurred. Revises the current ban on contributions by foreign nationals to encompass all disbursements by foreign nationals, including any disbursement to a political committee of a political party and any disbursement for an independent expenditure.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1999
America's Better Classrooms Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide a limited tax credit to holders of qualified public school construction bonds; and (2) treat such credit as taxable interest income. Amends the General Education Provisions Act to provide for the application of certain labor standards to projects financed under this Act. Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to establish provisions concerning employment and training activities related to the construction or reconstruction of public school facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1999
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations to the Department of Labor for FY 1999 through 2003 for: (1) trade adjustment assistance to displaced workers and for firms; and (2) the North American Free Trade Agreement Transitional Adjustment Assistance Program. Increases the total amount of payments for job training of displaced workers due to import competition to $30 million for the period October 1, 1998 through June 30, 1999. Provides that a certification of eligibility to apply for trade adjustment assistance shall not cover a worker whose last total or partial separation from a firm occurred more than two years (currently, one year) before the date of a petition on which such certification was granted (effectively extending the time for filing the petition for worker assistance).
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1999
First-Time Homebuyers Assistance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Act to permit the installment method to be used to report income from the sale of certain residential real property to a purchaser having no ownership interest in such a property during the prior three-year period. (Exempts such sale from specified dealer disposition provisions.) Applies certain pledge of installment obligation provisions to such sales.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1999
Commends President Glafcos Clerides of Cyprus for his decision to cancel the deployment of the S-300 antiaircraft missiles in Cyprus. Urges the President of the United States to use the influence of the U.S. Government to persuade Turkey to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1217 and 1218 and to cooperate for a solution to the Cyprus problem.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1999
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to define employees engaged in fire protection activities. Prohibits such definition from being construed to reduce or substitute for compensation standards in a collective bargaining agreement which result in compensation greater than that available to such employees (time-and-a-half) under the overtime exemption to maximum hours of labor requirements under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1999
Religious Liberty Protection Act of 1999 - Prohibits a government (defined as a State, an entity created under State authority, the United States, an instrumentality or official of the United States, or any person acting under color of State or Federal law) from substantially burdening a person's religious exercise: (1) in a government-operated program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance; or (2) in any case in which the burden affects, or in which removal of the burden would affect, international or interstate commerce or commerce with Indian tribes. Allows a substantial burden if the government demonstrates that it is the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling governmental interest. (Sec. 3) Places the burden of persuasion, when a claimant alleges a violation of the Free Exercise Clause or this Act, on: (1) the claimant regarding whether a substantial burden exists; and (2) the State regarding any other element of the claim. Prohibits a State, when applying a land use regulation or exemption in which the State has the authority to make individual assessments of proposed uses, from imposing a substantial burden unless the State demonstrates a that the burden is the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling governmental interest. Prohibits a State from: (1) imposing a land use regulation in a way that does not treat religious assemblies or institutions on equal terms with nonreligious assemblies or institutions; (2) imposing a land use regulation that discriminates against any assembly or institution on the basis of religion or religious denomination; or (3) unreasonably excluding or limiting from a jurisdiction assemblies or institutions principally devoted to religious exercise. Declares that adjudication of a claim of a violation of the Free Exercise Clause or this paragraph in a non-Federal forum shall be entitled to full faith and credit in a Federal court only if the claimant had a full and fair adjudication of that claim in the non-Federal forum. Declares that this Act does not preempt State law that is equally or more protective of religious exercise. (Sec. 4) Empowers a person to assert a violation of this Act as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and obtain appropriate relief against a government, with standing governed by general standing rules under article III of the Constitution. Amends Federal law to add a reference to the Religious Liberty Protection Act of 1998 (sic) to provisions allowing the award of attorney's fees. Applies the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 to litigation under this Act by prisoners. Empowers the United States to sue for injunctive or declaratory relief to enforce this Act. (Sec. 5) Declares that this Act does not: (1) authorize a State to burden any religious belief; (2) create any basis for burdening religious exercise or for claims against a religious organization not acting under color of law; (3) create or preclude a right of any religious organization to receive government funding or assistance or of any person to receive government funding for a religious activity (but allows this Act to require government to incur expenses in its own operations to avoid imposing a burden or a substantial burden on religious exercise); (4) authorize a government to regulate or affect, directly or indirectly, the activities or policies of a person other than a government as a condition of receiving funding or other assistance; or (5) restrict any authority that may exist under other law to so regulate or affect, except as provided in this Act. Declares that this Act should be construed in favor of broad protection of religious exercise, to the maximum extent permitted by its terms and the Constitution. (Sec. 6) Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect, interpret, or address the Establishment Clause of the Constitution (prohibiting laws respecting an establishment of religion). (Sec. 7) Amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to end its applicability to the States and to make it applicable only to the Federal Government, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories and possessions. Redefines exercise of religion to mean conduct that constitutes the exercise of religion under the first amendment to the Constitution. Declares that: (1) the conduct need not be compulsory or central to a system of religious belief; and (2) the use, building, or converting of real property for religious exercise is itself religious exercise. (Sec. 8) Defines, for this Act, religious exercise to mean conduct that constitutes the exercise of religion under the first amendment to the Constitution. Declares that: (1) the conduct need not be compulsory or central to a system of religious belief; and (2) the use, building, or converting of real property for religious exercise is itself religious exercise.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1999
Small Investors Tax Simplification Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that a partner's distributive share of all items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit of a qualified investment club shall be determined under the simplified method. Defines such method, in general, as a method pursuant to which a partnership allocates each of the items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit for its taxable year to its partners based on their proportionate interests on the last day of such taxable year in partnership profits.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1999
Urges the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the Administration to support the efforts and recommendations of the U.S. Congress-Russian Duma meeting in Vienna, Austria, held April 30 to May 1, 1999, to bring about a fair, equitable, and peaceful settlement between warring factions in Yugoslavia. Urges that focus be provided on the following three tasks (without regard to sequence) to achieve such a settlement: (1) the termination of bombing by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; (2) the withdrawal of Serbian armed forces from Kosovo; and (3) the cessation of the military activities of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Calls for such tasks to be accomplished through a specified series of confidence-building measures, including: (1) the release of all prisoners of war; (2) the repatriation of all refugees; and (3) an agreement on the composition of the international forces which would administer Kosovo after the Serbian withdrawal.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1999
East Timer Paramilitary Accountability Resolution - Declares that the United States will no longer accept, condone, finance, or supply the Indonesian military occupiers or their proxies, the paramilitary civilian militia units, in East Timor. Urges the Secretaries of State and Defense to take an active and visible role in urging the Government of Indonesia and the Indonesian military to: (1) permit an international investigation of the massacre at Liquica; and (2) bring to justice those individuals responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights in East Timor. Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. military assistance and arms transfers should not be provided to the Government of Indonesia unless the President certifies to the Congress that the Government of Indonesia: (1) is no longer arming, financing, or supporting paramilitary units in East Timor, and ceases its own military attacks on civilians, separate from and together with these paramilitary units; (2) has assisted in the disarming and disbanding of such paramilitary units; (3) allows free and open access to East Timor to a continuing United Nations (UN) presence, international human rights and relief and development organizations, and the press; and (4) has reduced substantially the Indonesian military (ABRI) troop presence in East Timor as the beginning of a UN-monitored withdrawal.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1999
Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish general rules relating to civil forfeiture proceedings. Requires that, in any nonjudicial civil forfeiture proceeding under a civil forfeiture statute with respect to which the agency conducting a seizure of property must give written notice to interested parties, such notice be given within 60 days after the later of the date of the seizure or the date the identity of the interested party is first known or discovered by the agency, with an exception. Authorizes a person entitled to written notice to whom such notice is not given to void the forfeiture as to that person's interest in the property on motion unless the agency shows good cause for the failure to give notice or that the person had actual notice of the seizure. Directs the Government, if it does not provide notice, to return the property and not take any further action to effect the property's forfeiture. Authorizes any person claiming property seized in a nonjudicial forfeiture proceeding to file a claim with the appropriate official after the seizure within 30 days after the date of final publication of notice of seizure or, in the case of a person entitled to written notice, the date that notice is received. Requires that the claim state the claimant's interest in the property. Directs the Attorney General, within 90 days, to file a complaint for forfeiture in the appropriate court or return the property, except that a court in the district in which the complaint will be filed may extend the period for filing a complaint for good cause shown or upon agreement of the parties. Provides that if the Government does not file such a complaint it shall return the property and may not take further action to effect the forfeiture of such property. Allows any person to bring such a claim without posting bond. Provides that in any case where the Government files in the appropriate U.S. district court a complaint for forfeiture of property, any person claiming an interest in the seized property may file a claim asserting such person's interest in the property within 30 days of service of the Government's complaint or, where applicable, within 30 days of alternative publication notice. Requires a person asserting an interest in seized property to file an answer to the Government's complaint for forfeiture within 20 days of the filing of the claim. Authorizes the court to appoint counsel to represent that person with respect to the claim when the person filing a claim is financially unable to obtain representation by counsel. Directs the court: (1) in determining whether to appoint counsel to represent the person filing the claim, to take into account such factors as the claimant's standing to contest the forfeiture and whether the claim appears to be made in good faith or to be frivolous; and (2) to set the compensation for that representation, which shall be equal to that provided for court- appointed representation under the code. Authorizes appropriations. Places the burden of proof upon the Government, in all suits or actions brought under any civil forfeiture statute for the civil forfeiture of any property, to establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture. Prohibits an innocent owner's interest in property from being forfeited under any civil forfeiture statute. Provides that, with respect to a property interest: (1) in existence at the time the illegal conduct giving rise to forfeiture took place, "innocent owner" means an owner who did not know of the conduct giving rise to forfeiture or who, upon learning of such conduct, did all that reasonably could be expected under the circumstances to terminate such use of the property; and (2) acquired after the conduct giving rise to the forfeiture has taken place, "innocent owner" means a person who, at the time that person acquired the interest in property, was a bona fide purchaser or seller for value or was a person who received an interest in property through probate and was, at the time of the purchase or receipt, reasonably without cause to believe that the property was subject to forfeiture. Provides that, where the property subject to forfeiture is real property, and the claimant uses the property as the claimant's primary residence and is the spouse or minor child of the person who committed the offense giving rise to the forfeiture, an otherwise valid innocent owner claim shall not be denied on the ground that the claimant acquired the interest in the property through dissolution of marriage or by operation of law, or as an inheritance upon the death of a parent and not through a purchase. Entitles a claimant to immediate release of seized property if: (1) the claimant has a possessory interest in the property; (2) the continued possession by the United States Government pending the final disposition of forfeiture proceedings will cause substantial hardship to the claimant; and (3) the claimant's likely hardship from such continued possession outweighs the risk that the property will be destroyed, damaged, lost, concealed, or transferred if it is returned to the claimant during the pendency of the preceding. Requires a claimant seeking release of property to request possession of the property from the appropriate official, setting forth the basis on which requirements of this Act are met. Authorizes the claimant, if within ten days after the date of the request the property has not been released, to file a motion or complaint in any district court that would have jurisdiction of forfeiture proceedings relating to the property setting forth the basis on which this Act's requirements are met and the steps the claimant has taken to secure release of the property. Directs the district court, if a motion or complaint is filed, to order that the property be returned to the claimant pending completion of proceedings by the Government to obtain forfeiture of the property, if the claimant shows that such requirements have been met. Authorizes the court to place such conditions on release of the property as appropriate to preserve the availability of the property or its equivalent for forfeiture. Requires the court to render a decision within 30 days after the date of the filing unless such period is extended by consent of the parties or by the court for good cause shown. (Sec. 3) Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize the use of funds in the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund for payment of: (1) court-awarded compensation for representation of claimants; and (2) compensation for property damages under the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act. Repeals provisions of the Controlled Substances Act regarding expedited procedures for seized conveyances. (Sec. 4) Makes the Federal Tort Claims Act applicable to claims based on the negligent destruction, injury, or loss of goods, merchandise, or other property while in the possession of any officer of customs or excise or any other law enforcement officer, if the property was seized for the purpose of forfeiture but the interest of the claimant is not forfeited. Authorizes the Attorney General, with respect to a claim that cannot be settled under tort claims procedures, to settle for not more than $50,000 in any case a claim for damage to, or loss of, privately owned property caused by an investigative or law enforcement officer who is employed by the Department of Justice acting within the scope of his or her employment, subject to specified limitations. (Sec. 5) Makes the United States liable for post-judgment interest upon entry of judgment for the claimant in any proceeding to condemn or forfeit property seized or arrested under any Act of Congress, but not for prejudgment interest, with exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1999
National Medal of Honor Memorial Act - Designates the memorial being constructed at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California, to honor Medal of Honor recipients as the National Medal of Honor Memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1999
Cuban Food and Medicine Security Act of 1999 - Exempts from the embargo on trade with Cuba the export of food and other agricultural products (including fertilizer), medicines, medical supplies, instruments, or equipment, or any travel incident to the delivery of such items. Declares that such exemption shall not apply to certain restrictions imposed under the Export Administration Act of 1979 or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to study and report to specified congressional committees on existing U.S. agricultural export promotion and credit programs to determine how such programs can be carried out to promote the consumption of U.S. agricultural commodities in Cuba. Directs the President to report to Congress on: (1) the extent (expressed in volume and dollar amounts) of sales to Cuba of food and other agricultural products (including fertilizer), medicines, medical supplies, instruments, and equipment; (2) the types and end users of such items; and (3) whether there has been any indication that any medicines, medical supplies, instruments, or equipment exported to Cuba since enactment of this Act have been used for torture or other human rights abuses, were reexported, or were used in the production of any bio-technological product.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1999
Consumer Disclosure and Rental Purchase Agreement Act - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to create a new title on rental purchase agreements. Declares that the title does not apply to rental-purchase agreements primarily for business, commercial, or agricultural purposes or made with Government instrumentalities. Regulates: (1) the content and manner of disclosures by merchants in rental-purchase agreements; and (2) the contents of rental-purchase agreements. Prohibits a rental-purchase agreement from containing specified inclusions. Sets forth provisions for: (1) quarterly reports from merchants to consumers; (2) renegotiations and extensions of rental-purchase agreements; and (3) the content of rental-purchase advertising. Imposes individual and class action civil liability for violations. Establishes merchant defenses and provides for the liability of merchant assignees. Mandates model disclosure forms and clauses. Sets forth conditions under which this Act shall preempt State laws relating to rental-purchase agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1999
Border Improvement and Immigration Act of 1999 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 with respect to the automated entry-exit control system to exempt from required recordkeeping: (1) land border crossings and seaports; and (2) permanent resident and certain other aliens. (Sec. 3) Requires the Attorney General to report: (1) on the feasibility of implementing an automated entry-exit control system that would include land border and seaport arrivals and departures; and (2) annually on the development status of the automated entry-exit control system, and on visa overstays identified through such system. Requires integration of overstay information into Department of State and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) databases. (Sec. 5) Authorizes appropriations for INS and United States Customs Service border control and enforcement activities. Sets forth specified set-asides. Authorizes: (1) use of equipment funds for new technologies; and (2) transfer up to ten percent of specified set-asides for other equipment uses. Sets aside specified funds for peak hours and investigative resource enhancement. Provides for increased numbers of full-time INS and Customs inspectors at U.S. land borders.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact Title II: Southern Dairy Compact Dairy Consumers and Producers Protection Act - Title I: Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to include Maryland, New Jersey, and New York within the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact. Includes Ohio among the additional States that may join such Compact, and eliminates Virginia from such group. Eliminates and revises specified provisions regarding Compact implementation, duration, restricting authority, and Commodity Credit Corporation compensation. Title II: Southern Dairy Compact - States that Congress consents to the Southern Dairy Compact entered into by Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Includes Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas as additional States that may join such Compact. Limits price regulatory authority to Class I fluid milk unless otherwise consented to by Congress. Provides for Commodity Credit Corporation compensation. Sets forth the Southern Dairy Compact.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1999
Regulatory Fairness and Openness Act of 1999 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a transition analysis report with respect to pesticide tolerances before releasing any product safety information to the public, or making final tolerance decisions. Includes within such report's requirements a description of the extent to which specified assumptions have been used to support findings or regulatory recommendations. (Sec. 5) Sets forth interim review or reassessment procedures. (Sec. 6) Requires the Administrator to issue within one year of enactment of this Act final implementing rules for tolerances and exemptions for pesticide chemical residues. (Sec. 7) Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Administrator to issue guidelines specifying required data in support of tolerances and exemptions. Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to provide for related notice and opportunity for hearing. (Sec. 8) Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to provide for an expedited replacement product registration process. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize an expedited tolerance for an emergency exemption if no significant (food) consumer risk exists. (Sec. 9) Requires the Administrator and the Secretary of Agriculture to report with respect to related pesticide, residue, and food use priorities and resources. (Sec. 10) Requires the Secretary to develop a program to monitor the competitive international market strength of major U.S. agricultural commodity sectors. (Sec. 11) Establishes the Pesticide Advisory Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1999
Individual Investment Account Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for amounts contributed to individual investment accounts. Allows tax-free distributions, limited to $15,000 for all taxable years, from such accounts for use in the purchase of a principal residence by a first-time homebuyer. Makes such accounts tax-exempt unless the individual engages in prohibited transactions. Exempts such an account from the additional tax on prohibited transactions even if the account ceases to be an individual investment account as the result of a prohibited transaction. Adjusts dollar limitations under this Act for inflation. Allows such deduction in determining adjusted gross income. Exempts such accounts from estate tax. Excludes from gross income gain from the sale or exchange of property if, during the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange, such property has been owned and used by the taxpayer as a principal residence for periods aggregating two years or more. Limits such exclusion to the amount paid to an individual investment account during the one-year period beginning on the date of the sale or exchange. Provides for adjusting the basis of a residence acquired through the use of an individual investment account.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1999
Real Estate Investment Trust Modernization Act of 1999 - Title I: Treatment of Income and Services Provided by Taxable REIT Subsidiaries - Excludes taxable REIT subsidiaries (TRSs) from the five and ten percent asset tests. Allows TRSs to provide non-customary tenant services. Allows a REIT to establish a TRS (as defined). Includes in the definition of "disqualified interest" (Sec. 163 of the IRC) any interest paid or accrued by a TRS to the REIT. Imposes a 100 percent tax on any interest payments by a TRS to the REIT in excess of the commercially reasonable interest rate. Title II: Health Care REITs - Includes within the definition of the term "foreclosure property" any qualified health care property acquired by a REIT as the result of the termination of a lease of such property. Title III: Conformity With Regulated Investment Company Rules - Changes the distribution requirement from 95 percent to 90 percent. Title IV: Clarification of Definition of Independent Contractor - Provides, with respect to the definition of an independent contractor, that in the event that any class of stock of is regularly traded on an established securities market, only owners who own, directly or indirectly, more than five percent of such class of stock shall be taken into account as owning any of the stock of such class for purposes of applying the 35 percent limitation. Title V: Modification of Earnings and Profits Rules - Provides rules for determining whether a Regulated Investment Company (RIC) has earnings and profits form a non-RIC year.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $19,000 (or $25,000 for taxable year 2003 or thereafter) to $60,000 the amount of depreciable business assets (section 179 property) which may be expensed (deducted for the taxable year in which it is placed in service, as an expense not chargeable to capital account). Increases from $200,000 to $300,000 the threshold cost of such property at which phaseout of such deduction begins. Increases by $15,700 the limitation on the amount of the depreciation deduction for any taxable year for any (luxury) passenger automobile.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1999
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the court-martial charges against then-Captain Charles McVay, U.S. Navy, arising from the sinking of the USS INDIANAPOLIS on July 30, 1945, while under his command were not morally sustainable; (2) Captain McVay's conviction was a miscarriage of justice; (3) the American people should now recognize Captain McVay's lack of culpability for the loss of such ship and the lives of the men who died as the result of her sinking; and (4) the President should award a Unit Citation to the final crew of the INDIANAPOLIS in recognition of their courage and fortitude in the face of tremendous hardship and adversity after their ship was torpedoed and sunk.
![Official portrait of Rep. English, Phil [R-PA-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/e000187_200.jpg)