The world's political record
Person
![Official portrait of Rep. English, Phil [R-PA-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/e000187_200.jpg)
United States · Official source
4,140 records where Rep. English, Phil [R-PA-3] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Caddie Relief Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat golf caddies performing services for nonprofessional golfers as nonemployees for employment tax purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Capital Gains Tax Reduction Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the maximum capital gains tax rates for both individuals and corporations. Provides for the indexing of assets for determining gain or loss.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Constitutional Amendment - Authorizes the President to disapprove any item of appropriation in any bill. Requires any item of appropriation contained in a bill approved by the President which is not disapproved to become law. Permits the Congress to reconsider any item so disapproved.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts (except those derived from borrowing) for that fiscal year unless the Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to the Congress. Requires the approval of a majority of each House by roll call vote before any bill to increase revenue may become law. Authorizes the Congress to waive these provisions when: (1) a declaration of war is in effect; or (2) the United States is engaged in a military conflict which poses a threat to national security as declared by a joint resolution adopted by a majority of each House. Makes this article effective beginning with FY 2002 or with the second fiscal year beginning after its ratification, whichever is later.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Constitutional Amendment - Makes any person who has been elected for a full term: (1) two times to the Senate ineligible for election or appointment to the Senate; or (2) six times to the House ineligible for election to the House. Bars any person who has served as a: (1) Senator for more than three years of a term to which some other person was elected from being subsequently eligible for election to the Senate more than once; and (2) Representative for more than one year from being subsequently eligible for election to the House more than five times. Excludes election or service occurring before this article becomes operative when determining eligibility.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Deems the New Year's Day holiday in the year 2000 to occur on January 3, 2000, in order to provide the public and technology professionals with an additional day, prior to the start of the workweek, to begin repairs on failed computer systems caused by the Year 2000 computer problem.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that all Federal agencies would benefit from reviewing specified recommendations for the purpose of improving equitable access for women-owned businesses to the Federal procurement market.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that a Mental Health Advisory Committee should be established to probe the serious national dimensions of the mentally ill.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Repeals rule XXIII (statutory limit on public debt) of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to promoting long-term care coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 14 October 1998
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that its integrity has been impugned by the failure of the executive branch to expeditiously enforce title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 in response to the surge of steel imports resulting from the financial crises in Asia, Russia, and other regions. Calls upon the President to: (1) immediately review the entry into the U.S. customs territory of all steel products from Australia, China, South Africa, Ukraine, Indonesia, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, or Brazil; (2) impose a one-year ban on all steel products from any country not abiding by the international trade agreements with respect to imports of all steel products into the United States; (3) establish a task force to closely monitor U.S. imports of steel from other countries to determine whether or not such agreements are being violated; and (4) report to the Congress by January 5, 1999, on any other actions the President has taken, or intends to take, to ensure that all U.S. trading partners abide such agreements with respect to U.S. imports of steel.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1998
Calls upon the President to: (1) pursue vigorous enforcement of U.S. trade laws relating to unfair trade practices with respect to the significant increase of steel imports into the United States, using all available remedies under those laws; (2) pursue consultations with Japanese, Korean, and European Union officials, and other nations to eliminate import barriers that affect steel mill products and to increase access to their markets; (3) closely monitor U.S. imports of steel and make the data gathered from such monitoring available to the public as soon as possible; and (4) report to the Congress by January 5, 1999, on the impact that the significant increase in steel imports is having on employment, prices, and investment in the U.S. steel industry.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1998
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prepare a report on the current Federal program costs and Federal revenues attributable to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including (among other matters) possible alternative forms of Federal taxation in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico which will result in revenues equal to or exceeding the annual costs of the Federal Government in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1998
Uruguay Round Agreements Compliance Act of 1998 - Directs the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to take action to implement certain trade sanctions under the Trade Act of 1974 as if a determination had been made that the practices of the European Union (EU) regarding the importation of bananas, or EU's ban on the use of hormones in beef, violate, or are inconsistent with, or otherwise deny benefits to the United States under the Uruguay Round Agreements. Requires that any sanction to eliminate such practices be devised so as to affect EU goods or services in an amount equivalent in value to the burden or restriction being imposed by the EU on U.S. commerce. Requires the USTR to implement trade sanctions unless it is certified to the Congress that: (1) the Dispute Settlement Body has adopted a report that U.S. rights under the Uruguay Round Agreements are not being denied by EU practices (or such practices are not a violation of, or inconsistent with, such rights) regarding the importation of bananas or the EU's ban on the use of hormones in beef; (2) the EU has agreed to eliminate or phase out such practices; or (3) the taking of action under this Act would cause serious harm to the national security of the United States. Requires the USTR to continue to make efforts to preserve U.S. rights under the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes concerning EU measures on the importation of bananas and EU's ban on the use of hormones in beef.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1998
Prohibits the importation into the United States during a one-year period of hot-rolled steel products or plate steel products from Japan, Russia, or Brazil. Requires the Secretary of Commerce, in any case in which antidumping duties are imposed upon steel products of a foreign country, to assess such duties on entries made for the period that dumping occurred before the issuance of the order (as well as on entries made after the order), but in no case earlier than one year before an antidumping duty petition was filed or the Secretary initiated an antidumping duty investigation. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should respond to complaints filed by U.S. trading partners regarding this prohibition on steel imports by: (1) addressing the failure of those countries' governments to make their companies abide by international trade agreements with respect to dumping; and (2) stating that their failure constitutes a legitimate national security concern to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1998
Veterans Burial Benefits Act of 1998 - Increases from $300 to $600 the authorized allowance for burial and funeral expenses for deceased veterans who: (1) at the time of death were in receipt of veterans' disability compensation or veterans' pension benefits; or (2) were veterans of any war or were discharged or released from active military service for a service-connected disability and for whom there is no next of kin or sufficient resources to cover funeral and burial costs.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Findings; Need to Replace the Income Tax Title II: Simplified USA Tax for Individuals Title III: Simplified USA Tax for Business Title IV: Deferred Compensation Plans Title V: Repeal of Estate and Gift Taxes Title VI: Technical and Administrative Changes; Effective Dates Simplified USA Tax Act of 1998 - Title I: Findings; Need to Replace the Income Tax - Sets forth findings, the main features of the Simplified USA Tax System, and the concepts and structure of the Simplified USA Tax System. Title II: Simplified USA Tax for Individuals - Establishes a new chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), "Simplified USA Tax for Individuals." Establishes tax rates at 15, 25, and 30 percent. Sets forth provisions defining gross income, exclusions from gross income, alimony and child support deductions, personal and dependency deductions, the family living allowance, the homeowner deduction, the education deduction (equal, as a general rule, to the sum of all qualified education expenses), the philanthropic transfer deduction, the kiddie tax (concerning taxable income of children), and tax credits (including allowing a payroll tax credit). Sets forth provisions concerning a Roth IRA, a deductible IRA, annuities, endowment contracts, and life insurance contracts. Permits contributions to a Roth IRA of up to the amount of an individual's adjusted gross income. Provides, as a general rule, for the exclusion from gross income of Roth IRA distributions. Sets forth provisions concerning basis, business transactions, and nonrecognition transactions. Establishes rules for exclusion from gross income, rules relating to deductions, and rules for the rental of real estate. Requires a trust or estate to prepay the Simplified USA Tax for individuals. Sets the tax rate at 30 percent on the taxable income of a trust or estate when the taxable income exceeds $3,800. Sets forth rules concerning trusts and estates, including rules for credits, deductions, trust income, distributions, beneficiaries, charitable remainder trusts, reversionary interests, and funeral trusts. Title III: Simplified USA Tax for Businesses - Renumbers the current chapter 2 (Tax on Self-Employment Income) of the IRC as chapter 3. Establishes a new chapter 2, "Simplified USA Tax for Businesses." States that the tax equals the amount by which the business tax exceeds the payroll tax credit. Defines the "business tax" as the sum of: (1) 8 percent of the portion of the gross profits of the business entity for the taxable year that does not exceed $150,000; and (2) 12 percent of such portion of the gross profits of the business entity for the taxable year that exceeds $150,000. Directs the Secretary to prescribe rules under which the gross profits of business entities under common control are aggregated for purposes of applying the benefit of the lower rate. States that such rules shall be similar to rules applicable under IRC sections 1551 (Disallowance of the benefits of the graduated corporate rates and accumulated credit) and 1561 (Limitations on certain multiple tax benefits in the case of controlled corporations). Defines the "payroll tax credit" as a credit for the social security, railroad retirement, and hospital insurance taxes paid by an employer. Sets forth subchapters governing: (1) the basic rules for the business tax; (2) capital contributions, mergers, acquisitions, and distributions; (3) accounting method rules; (4) land and rental property; (5) insurance and financial products; (6) financial intermediation and financial institutions; (7) tax-exempt organizations; (8) cooperatives; (9) sourcing rules; (10) business conducted in a possession; (11) the payroll tax credit; (12) the import tax (as a general rule, eleven percent of the customs value of property or services); and (12) transition, administration, and consolidated returns (permitted, if it would have been permitted under the IRC provisions governing consolidated returns and such provisions were applied by treating each business entity as a corporation and its owners or partners as shareholders). Repeals chapter 6 (Consolidated Returns) of the IRC. Title IV: Deferred Compensation Plans - Provides, in general, that subchapter D (Deferred Compensation) of chapter 1 of the IRC is saved. Title V: Repeal of Estate and Gift Taxes - Repeals Subtitle B (Estate and Gift Taxes) of the IRC. Title VI: Technical and Administrative Changes: Effective Dates - Renames the IRC the "USA Tax Code." Makes other amendments to the IRC which reflect the amendments made by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1998
Community Savings and Investment Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish a separate tax rate for a qualified community lender; and (2) permit the exclusion from gross income of distressed community banking income. Defines terms.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1998
Keep Kids Safe at Schools Act - Amends the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to include elementary and secondary schools as qualified entities that are subject to such Act's requirements for a national system of child abuse crime information and background checks.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1998
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President and the Senate should act to prevent the sale or diversion of Great Lakes water to foreign countries, businesses, corporations, and individuals until procedures are established to guarantee that any such sale or diversion is fully negotiated and approved by representatives of the U.S. and Canadian Governments, in consultation with any impacted Great Lakes State or Province.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1998
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives regarding breast cancer, mammograms, biopsies, and related awareness, availability, and research.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Estuary Habitat Restoration Title II: Chesapeake Bay and Other Regional Initiatives Estuary Habitat Restoration Partnership Act of 1998 - Title I: Estuary Habitat Restoration - Establishes the Estuary Habitat Restoration Collaborative Council, to be composed of specified Federal officials. (Sec. 105) Directs the Council to develop an estuary habitat restoration strategy to ensure a comprehensive approach to the selection and prioritization of estuary habitat restoration projects and to foster the coordination of Federal and non-Federal activities related to such restoration. Sets forth factors to be considered by the Council in determining project assistance eligibility. Grants a restoration project a higher priority for funding if it meets selection criteria and: (1) it is part of a federally approved estuary management or habitat restoration plan; (2) the non-Federal share of the project exceeds 50 percent; or (3) there is a program within the project watershed that addresses sources of pollution and other activities that would re-impair the restored habitat. Provides that an activity shall not be considered to be a restoration activity if it constitutes: (1) mitigation for the adverse effects of an activity regulated by Federal or State law; or (2) restitution for natural resource damages required under such laws. Permits the Council to pay up to 25 percent of the cost of interim actions of restoration activity, pending completion of the strategy. Prohibits selection of a project until non-Federal interests have entered into specified written cooperation agreements. Requires such agreements to provide for project maintenance and monitoring. Authorizes appropriations for the Council and for acquiring and managing project monitoring data. (Sec. 106) Requires non-Federal applicants for assistance to demonstrate that a project meets this title's requirements and criteria established by the Council. Limits the Federal share of assistance to 65 percent of a project's cost. (Sec. 107) Directs the Secretary of the Army to maintain a database of information on projects funded under this title. (Sec. 110) Makes certain funds provided under the Water Resources Development Acts of 1986 and 1996 available to States and non-Federal persons in carrying out interim actions or projects under this title. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 111) Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to permit certain grants for the development of estuary conservation and management plans to be used for the implementation of plans as well. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the National Estuary Program through FY 2000. (Sec. 112) Requires the Secretary to ensure that estuary habitat restoration is included as a primary mission of the Army Corps of Engineers. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out estuary habitat restoration projects. Directs the Comptroller General to report to the Congress and the Secretary on the extent to which the Council needs additional personnel and administrative resources to carry out this title, including recommendations for necessary additional funding. Title II: Chesapeake Bay and Other Regional Initiatives - Revises provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) continue the Chesapeake Bay Program; and (2) maintain a Program Office to provide specified support to the Chesapeake Executive Council. Authorizes the Administrator to provide technical assistance and assistance grants to nonprofit private organizations and individuals, State and local governments, colleges and universities, and interstate agencies to carry out the Program. Provides the Federal and non-Federal share of various Program costs. Provides for Chesapeake Bay Agreement (an agreement among signatory members to restore and protect the Bay's ecosystem) signatory management mechanism implementation grants, with specified Federal and non-Federal shares. Requires any Federal agency that owns or operates a facility within the Bay watershed to participate in regional and subwatershed planning and restoration programs. Directs the Administrator to ensure that management plans are developed and that implementation is begun by Agreement signatories for the Bay tributaries to achieve specified nutrient, water quality, toxics reduction, and habitat restoration and protection goals. Authorizes the Administrator to offer technical assistance and assistance grants for cooperative tributary basin strategies that address the Bay's water quality and living resource needs or locally-based protection and restoration programs that complement such strategies. Directs the Administrator to study and report to the Congress on Program goals, effects, and needs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 202) Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for specified activities related to the Management Conference of the Long Island Sound Study.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1998
After-School Children's Education (ACE) Act - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to provide for grants, a national clearinghouse, and a report to improve the quality and availability of after-school programs. Increases the amount authorized to be appropriated for child care programs under the Act. Requires States to use at least one percent of each fiscal year's funds, in coordination with child care resource and referral centers to the extent practicable, for activities designed to improve the quality and availability of after-school programs, including: (1) informational assistance; (2) coordination of after-school programs; (3) development of innovative, age-appropriate, age-appealing, and enriching after-school programs; or (4) development of creative funding strategies to make after-school programs affordable for all parents. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Commissioner on Children, Youth, and Families, to establish a clearinghouse for after-school program technical assistance and models. Requires the clearinghouse to be available to the public, including via Internet. Directs the General Accounting Office to report to the Congress on after-school programs in each State: (1) describing types of programs, unmet needs, and barriers to participation, quality, and improvement; and (2) analyzing in detail such programs in 15 communities selected to represent a variety of regional, population, and demographic profiles. Includes among after-school programs in such report those sponsored by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America, YMCAs, and athletic and other programs operated by public schools and other State and local agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1998
Veterans Personal Security Act - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify appropriate local law enforcement agencies immediately, and also in writing within 48 hours, after receiving notice that any of the following has occurred at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility: (1) a patient is missing; (2) a patient or staff member has caused physical abuse or battery to another patient or staff member; (3) a patient or staff member has unlawfully possessed or used a controlled substance; or (4) a rape or any other felony or indictable offense has been committed. Requires the Department to provide appropriate assistance in the investigation of any such allegations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1998
Prescribes guidelines under which State lessees may withhold payment of Federal offshore royalties owed to the United States under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act if such lessees pay the State of Louisiana, on or before such royalty due date, 44 cents for every dollar of royalty withheld. Requires such lessees to report quarterly to the Director of the Minerals Management Service on the Federal leases for which the royalty payments are withheld. Identifies such State lessees as holders of lease rights in certain State leases during a specified Critical Time Period who did not also hold lease rights in a specified Federal lease.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1998
Calls upon the President to: (1) pursue enhanced enforcement of U.S. trade laws with respect to the surge of steel imports into the United States, including offsetting duties, quantitative restraints, and other authorized remedial measures; (2) pursue a more equitable sharing of the burden of accepting imports of finished steel products from Asia and the countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States; (3) establish a task force with responsibility for closely monitoring U.S. imports of steel; and (4) report to the Congress by January 5, 1999, with a comprehensive plan for responding to the import surge, including ways of limiting its deleterious effects on employment, prices, and investment in the U.S. steel industry.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Provisions Primarily Affecting Individuals and Families Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Education Subtitle C: Provisions Relating to Social Security Title II: Provisions Primarily Affecting Farming and Other Businesses Subtitle A: Increase in Expense Treatment for Small Businesses Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Farmers Subtitle C: Increase in Volume Cap on Private Activity Bonds Title III: Extension and Modification of Certain Expiring Provisions Subtitle A: Tax Provisions Subtitle B: Generalized System of Preference Title IV: Revenue Offset Title V: Technical Corrections Title VI: American Community Renewal Act of 1998 Subtitle A: Designation and Evaluation of Renewal Communities Subtitle B: Tax Incentives for Renewal Communities Taxpayer Relief Act of 1998 - Title I: Provisions Affecting Individuals and Families - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to: (1) make the basic standard deduction on a joint return equal to twice the deduction of a single return; (2) make the aged or blind additional deduction amounts the same for married and unmarried individuals; (3) as a general rule, exclude from gross income up to $200 ($400 in the case of a joint return) of dividends and interest received by an individual; (4) revise provisions concerning the aggregate amount of nonrefundable personal credits allowed to provide that the aggregate amount of such credits shall not exceed the sum of the taxpayer's regular tax liability and the alternative minimum tax; (5) allow for the deduction of 100 percent of the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals; (6) set forth a special rule for members of the uniformed services and foreign service in determining the exclusion of gain from the sale of a principal residence; and (7) accelerate the $1 million exemption from the estate and gift taxes. Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Education - Permits private educational institutions to maintain qualified tuition programs which are comparable to qualified State tuition programs. Modifies arbitrage rebate rules applicable to public school construction bonds. Subtitle C: Provisions Relating to Social Security - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to: (1) increase the limit on earnings before there is a reduction in benefits for individuals who have attained retirement age but who are under age 70; and (2) provide for the recomputation of benefits resulting from earnings after reaching retirement age. Title II: Provisions Primarily Affecting Farming and Other Businesses - Subtitle A: Increase in Expense Treatment for Small Businesses - Amends the IRC to accelerate the increase in the dollar limitation on the cost of property which may be expensed by businesses as depreciable assets. Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Farmers - Amends the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 to permanently extend income averaging for farmers. Amends the IRC to provide a five-year carryback period for farming losses. Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to disregard the payment option provided by the Emergency Farm Financial Relief Act. Subtitle C: Increase in Volume Cap on Private Activity Bonds - Amends IRC provisions concerning State private activity bond volume limits to repeal the adjustment for years after 1987. Title III: Extension and Modification of Certain Expiring Provisions - Subtitle A: Tax Provisions - Extends, for a limited period, the: (1) credit for increasing research activities; (2) work opportunity credit; and (3) welfare-to-work credit. Extends permanently the special rule for contributions of stock for which market quotations are readily available. Establishes rules for the public inspection of the returns of private foundations. Revises provisions concerning the special rule for income derived in the active conduct of banking, financing, or similar businesses to provide, as general rule, that foreign personal holding company income shall not include qualified banking or financing income of an eligible controlled foreign corporation. Revises the definition of insurance income and provides that, as a general rule, foreign personal holding company income shall not include qualified insurance income of a qualifying insurance company. Subtitle B: Generalized System of Preferences - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to extend the Generalized System of Preferences through February 29, 2000. Provides for the retroactive application of certain liquidations and reliquidations. Title IV: Revenue Offset - Amends IRC provisions concerning the complete liquidations of subsidiaries to provide that if a corporation receives a distribution form a regulated investment company or a real estate investment trust which is considered as being in complete liquidation of such company or trust, then such corporation shall treat as a dividend from such trust or company an amount equal to the deduction for dividends paid allowable to such company or trust by reason of such distribution. Title V: Technical Corrections - Revises provisions of the IRC, the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, the Tax Reform Act of 1984, and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. Title VI: American Community Renewal Act of 1998 - American Community Renewal Act of 1998 - Subtitle A: Designation and Evaluation of Renewal Communities - Renewing American Communities Act of 1998 - Amends the IRC to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to designate (upon local or State nomination) up to 20 renewal communities, of which at least 20 percent shall be in rural areas. Requires for nomination purposes that: (1) the area be experiencing high rates of poverty and unemployment and general distress; and (2) State and local governments enter into written contracts with community organizations to promote specified economic growth and employment activities. Treats renewal communities as labor surplus areas for all Federal law purposes. Subtitle B: Tax Incentives for Renewal Communities - Excludes from gross income capital gains on the sale or exchange of a qualified community asset (stock, business property, or partnership interest) held for more than five years. Allows a specified deduction for amounts paid into a family development account on behalf of an individual or another qualified individual who is a renewal community resident. Excludes from gross income account distributions used for qualified family development expenses (postsecondary education, first-home purchase, business capitalization, medical, and rollovers). Provides a penalty (with exceptions) in addition to inclusion as gross income for nonqualifying distributions. Provides for designation of up to 25 percent of qualifying renewal communities as matching demonstration areas eligible to receive family development account matching contributions. Authorizes: (1) designation of earned income tax credit payments for family development account deposit; (2) a commercial building revitalization tax credit; (3) increased first year expensing for renewal community businesses; (4) extension of environmental remediation cost expensing and the work opportunity credit for renewal communities; and (5) similar tax treatment of renewal communities and enterprise zones for specified youth residence requirements. Permits a deduction for contributions to a family development account whether or not a taxpayer itemizes. Makes conforming amendments to provisions respecting: (1) tax on excess contributions and prohibited transactions; (2) trust and annuity information; (3) tax exemption applications; and (4) the commercial revitalization credit.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1998
Family Farm Preservation Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the $675,000 limitation on the estate tax deduction shall not apply to interests in qualified family-owned farming business interests.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1998
Medicare Home Health Care Interim Payment System Refinement Act of 1998 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA'97), to: (1) increase per beneficiary and per visit payment limits under the interim system of limited payments for services provided by home health agencies; and (2) provide for the exclusion of certain additional Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) costs from determination of the Medicare part B monthly premium. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to the Congress on research paid for by the Secretary on the development of a prospective payment system (PPS) for Medicare home health services, including one or more alternative means to provide for savings equivalent to the savings estimated to be made by the mandatory 15 percent reduction in payment limits for such services for FY 2000. Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to: (1) report to the Congress its analysis of the Secretary's report, including any recommendations with respect to the matters contained in it; and (2) include in its annual report to the Congress for June 1999 an analysis of whether changes in law made by BBA'97 and this Act with respect to payments for Medicare home health services impede access to them by Medicare beneficiaries. Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to audit the sums obligated or expended by the Health Care Financing Administration for PPS research and the information provided by it.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1998
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should: (1) publicly declare that there is reason to believe that Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, has committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide; (2) establish a collection of information that can be supplied to the International Criminal Court for use as evidence to support an indictment and trial of Hun Sen; (3) provide the Court any such information already collected; (4) work with members of interested countries and nongovernmental organizations relating to information any country or organization may hold concerning allegations against Hun Sen and any person under his authority in Cambodia and give all such information to the Court; (5) work with other interested countries relating to measures to be taken to apprehend indicted war criminals and persons indicted for crimes against humanity in Cambodia with the objective of concluding a plan of action that will result in the prompt delivery of these indictees into the custody of the Court; and (6) urge the Court to promptly review all information relating to Hun Sen's possible criminal culpability for conceiving, directing, and sustaining a variety of actions in Cambodia that have had the effect of genocide, of war crimes, and other crimes against humanity with a view toward prompt issuance of a public indictment of Hun Sen.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Provisions Primarily Affecting Individuals Title II: Provisions Primarily Affecting Businesses Subtitle A: Certain Expiring Provisions Modified and Made Permanent Subtitle B: Credit for Clinical Testing Research Expenses Attributable to Certain Qualified Academic Institutions Including Teaching Hospitals Tax Relief for Working Americans Act of 1998 - Title I: Provisions Primarily Affecting Individuals - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the basic standard deduction for married individuals twice the deduction for unmarried individuals. (Sec. 102) Provides for the full deduction for health insurance costs of individuals not eligible to participate in employer-subsidized health plans. (Sec. 103) Revises provisions concerning the aggregate amount of nonrefundable personal credits allowed to provide that the aggregate amount of such credits shall not exceed the sum of the taxpayer's regular tax liability and the alternative minimum tax. (Sec. 104) Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to increase, for any taxable year ending after 1998 and before 2000, the monthly exempt amount for individuals who have attained retirement age. Title II: Provisions Primarily Affecting Businesses - Subtitle A: Certain Expiring Provisions Modified and Made Permanent - Makes permanent the credit for increasing research activities. Increases the alternative incremental credit rate. (Sec. 202) Makes permanent the work opportunity credit. Sets forth, as a general rule, that the amount equal to the work opportunity credit amount with respect to any wages paid for any calendar quarter by an eligible tax-exempt employer shall be treated as payment by such employer of such employer's tax liability for such calendar quarter. (Sec. 203) Extends permanently the special rule for contributions of stock for which market quotations are readily available. (Sec. 204) Excludes from the definition of "foreign personal holding company income" income which is derived in the active conduct by a controlled foreign corporation of a banking, financing, or similar business, subject to stated conditions. Subtitle B: Credit for Clinical Testing Research Expenses Attributable to Certain Qualified Academic Institutions Including Teaching Hospitals - Establishes a medical innovation credit equal to 20 percent of the excess (if any) of: (1) the qualified medical innovation expenses for the taxable year; over (2) the medical innovation base period amount. Defines terms.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1998
Establishes the National Commission on Terrorism to review and report to the President and Congress on counter-terrorism policies regarding the prevention and punishment of international acts of terrorism directed at the United States. Directs the Commission to: (1) review the laws, regulations, policies, directives, and practices relating to counterterrorism (laws) in the prevention and punishment of international terrorism directed towards the United States; (2) assess the extent to which such laws have been effective in preventing or punishing such terrorism; and (3) recommend changes to counterterrorism policy. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1998
Sherrice Iverson Act - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to require a State, to be eligible to receive Federal grants for child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment, to provide a certification that it has in effect and is enforcing a law providing for a criminal penalty on an individual age 18 or older who fails to report to a State or local law enforcement official that the individual has witnessed another individual in the State sexually abusing a child.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to conduct a study regarding improved outdoor recreational access for persons with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Military Retiree Health Care Task Force Act of 1998 - Establishes the Medicare Eligible Military Retiree Health Care Consensus Task Force to study and report to the Congress on matters relating to health care coverage of retired military personnel and their families, Federal sharing agreements relating to such care, and proposals to provide a full continuum of such coverage to Medicare-eligible military retirees and their dependents.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Telecommunications Trust Act of 1998 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to state that contributions currently required of providers of interstate telecommunications services for the preservation and enhancement of universal telecommunications services shall no longer be required after the date on which appropriated funds are first available for Federal universal service support. Authorizes the Federal Communications Commission to continue to distribute balances of such contributions that remain available on such date. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2004 from the Telecommunications Trust Fund (established under this Act) to provide Federal universal service support, such funds to be the exclusive source of funding for such support. Allow such funds to be available on a school year basis in lieu of a fiscal year basis. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish the Telecommunications Trust Fund for the deposit of amounts appropriated for universal services support. Transfers to such Fund 100 percent of amounts received in the Treasury after December 31, 1998, as certain communications excise taxes. Makes Fund amounts available only to provide for Federal universal service support mechanisms.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure Act - Provides that, in any civil action arising under Federal or State law, no Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure (a statement concerning Year 2000 computer compliance information) (Y2K problem) shall be admissible unless the proponent of admissibility establishes that the Disclosure was material and: (1) the Disclosure was made with knowledge of its being false and misleading and with an intent to deceive; or (2) where the Disclosure was a republication of a third party, the republication was made without a disclosure by the maker that the Disclosure is based on a republication and that the maker has not verified the original statement. Provides similar requirements for an action based on an allegedly false, inaccurate, or misleading Year 2000 statement. Provides that, in any covered action in which the adequacy of notice about Year 2000 processing is at issue, and except as provided by contract, the posting of notice by the entity purporting to have provided such notice on that entity's Year 2000 Internet Website shall be presumed to be an adequate mechanism for providing such notice. Prohibits in any covered action a Year 2000 Disclosure from being interpreted or construed as an amendment to or alteration of a written contract or warranty, whether entered into by a public or private party (with exceptions). Authorizes a Federal entity, agency, or authority to expressly designate requests for the voluntary provision of information relating to Year 2000 processing as "Special Year 2000 Data Gathering Requests," thereby protecting information received from such requests from: (1) disclosure to any third party, including disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act; and (2) use in any civil action arising under any Federal or State law (with an exception). Provides exclusions from this Act. Makes this Act applicable to any Year 2000 Disclosure made on or after January 1, 1998, through December 31, 2001. Provides for the treatment of prior written disclosures.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to repeal authority for the Interstate System Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Pilot Program.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Designates portions of the highway formerly designated as U.S. Route 66 that remain in existence as "America's Main Street." Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) establish the Office for the Preservation of America's Main Street; and (2) designate National Park Service officials stationed at locations convenient to the States in which a portion of Route 66 is located and interested persons in such States to perform Office functions. Requires the Office to: (1) support efforts of State and local public and private persons and entities in such States to preserve Route 66 by providing technical assistance, participating in cost-sharing programs, and making grants and loans; (2) act as a clearinghouse for communication among Federal, State, and local agencies and private persons and entities interested in the preservation of Route 66; and (3) assist such States in determining the appropriate form of and establishing and supporting a non-Federal entity or entities to perform the Office's functions after it is terminated. Authorizes the Office to: (1) enter into cooperative agreements; (2) accept donations; (3) provide cost-share grants; (4) provide technical assistance in historic preservation and fundraising; and (5) conduct research. Requires the Office: (1) to sponsor a road sign program on Route 66 to be implemented on a cost-sharing basis with State and local organizations; (2) to provide assistance in the preservation of Route 66 that is compatible with the idiosyncratic nature of the highway; (3) not to prepare an overall management plan for Route 66, but to cooperate with the States and local public and private persons and entities in developing local preservation plans to guide efforts to protect the most important or representative resources of Route 66; (4) to develop a technical assistance program in the preservation of Route 66, including guidelines for setting priorities for preservation needs; and (5) to coordinate a program of historic research, curation, preservation strategies, and collection of oral and video histories of Route 66 designed for continuing use and implementation by other organizations after the Office is terminated. Makes available cost-share grants for the preservation of Route 66 for resources that meet the guidelines under the program. Authorizes appropriations. Terminates the Office ten years after the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Crime Does Not Pay Act of 1998 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide for a reduction by five percent (and redistribution to States in compliance) of funds available for a State under the drug control and system improvement (Byrne) grant program unless, on the first day of each fiscal year after FY 2000, the State has in effect throughout the State a law which prohibits any individual who has been convicted of a felony from recovering, in any civil action under the law of such State, any compensatory, actual, or general damages for any physical or mental injury, harm, or suffering caused in the commission of the felony.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Long-Term Care and Retirement Security Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a deduction for eligible long-term health care premiums for an individual who is not eligible for an employer-subsidized long-term care health plan.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Nonqualified Aliens Discovery Act - Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to extend the transition and redetermination of eligibility period for certain aliens who were receiving supplemental security income benefits on the date of enactment of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Recognizes and commends those Gabonese who have demonstrated their love for free and fair elections. Calls on the Gabonese Government to: (1) take measures to help ensure a credible election and to ensure that the election commission remains independent and impartial; (2) invite appropriate international nongovernmental organizations to organize and supervise the December 1998 Presidential election in Gabon; and (3) take all necessary and lawful steps toward conducting free and fair elections. Calls on the international community to join the United States in offering assistance toward free and fair elections. Urges the United States: (1) to provide support directly and through appropriate nongovernmental organizations for the organization of free and fair elections in Gabon; (2) to work with the international community in urging the Government of Gabon to create the conditions necessary to guarantee free and fair elections; and (3) with the international community, to continue to encourage the Government of Gabon to ensure a lasting and committed transition to democracy.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the international agencies charged with inspections in Iraq (the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations Special Commission) must continue to maintain complete inspections, including surprise inspections, within Iraq; and (2) the U.S. Representative to the United Nations should vehemently oppose any efforts to weaken the inspections regimes on Iraq as long as there is evidence that the Government of Iraq is seeking to develop or acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1998
Declares that it is U.S. policy to deploy a national missile defense.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1998
Declares that Members of Congress should: (1) follow the example of Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson of the U.S. Capitol Police by living lives of love, respect, and integrity every day at all times, including on the floor of the Senate and House of Representatives; and (2) deserve the title "Honorable" by setting an example so that such individuals did not die in vain.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1998
Expresses the sense of Congress that State and local governments and local educational agencies are encouraged to: (1) dedicate at least one day of learning to the study and understanding of the significance of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Federalist Papers; and (2) include a requirement that, before receiving a certificate or diploma of graduation from high school, students be tested on their competency in understanding those works.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1998
Designates the national cemetery in Saratoga, New York, as the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1998
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care and medical services, and authorizes the Secretary to furnish nursing home care, to any veteran who has a tobacco-related illness if, and to the extent that, such veteran would have been eligible for such care and services under the laws and regulations in effect before the enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1998
Designates certain lands in the Valley Forge National Historical Park as the Valley Forge National Cemetery. Transfers administrative jurisdiction over such lands from the Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.